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A man collects plastic bottles amongst debris at the Blue Lagoon beach in Durban

South Africa flood toll rises to 443 as deluge eases

The death toll from floods that have battered South Africa's east coast has risen to 443, including a rescuer, a regional official said today, as dozens more are still missing.

World • 17 Apr 22

A woman in the Inanda district of Durban near a waterfall created by a collapsed road, after flooding that killed nearly 400 people

More rain lashes South Africa's flood ravaged east

South Africa's flood-ravaged east was hit by more rain today after the deadliest storm to strike the country in living memory killed nearly 400 people and left tens of thousands homeless.

World • 16 Apr 22

Several homes were destroyed at Umdloti beach north of Durban

341 dead in floods as S Africa searches for survivors

The death toll from South Africa's "unprecedented" floods climbed to 341 as helicopters fanned out across the southeastern city of Durban in an increasingly desperate search for survivors.

World • 14 Apr 22

A damaged structure following a mudslide at the United Methodist Church of South Africa in Clermont, near Durban

South Africa's devastating floods leave 306 people dead

Devastating floods left 306 dead in the South African city of Durban, officials said today, after hillsides washed away, homes collapsed, and more people were still feared missing.

World • 13 Apr 22

Containers fell over at a storage facility following heavy rain and strong winds in Durban

At least 45 killed in South Africa floods

At least 45 people have died in floods and mudslides after rainstorms struck the South African port city of Durban and surrounding KwaZulu-Natal province, the authorities said.

World • 12 Apr 22

Firefighters have said that the National Assembly building will not be used for months because of the fire

Firefighters battle new blaze at S. African parliament

South African firefighters are struggling to extinguish a new blaze at the complex housing the two chambers of the national parliament in Cape Town, a day after a devastating fire swept through the buildings.

World • 03 Jan 22

A plume of smoke rises above the parliament building in Cape Town

Man held as South African parliament destroyed by fire

A massive fire in South Africa's houses of parliament in Cape Town has burned down the entire National Assembly where parliamentarians sit, a spokesperson said this afternoon.

World • 02 Jan 22

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule

Tutu was South Africa's 'moral compass', mourners told

A state funeral for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a hero of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, has been held at St George's Cathedral, Cape Town, where for years he preached against racial injustice.

World • 01 Jan 22

The coffin of Archbishop Desmond Tutu lying in state at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town today

Simple pine coffin as Tutu returns 'home' to cathedral

The body of Archbishop Desmond Tutu was carried this morning into a historic cathedral where he once railed against white rule, to allow South Africans to bid farewell before the weekend funeral.

World • 30 Dec 21

The death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu was announced in South Africa this morning

Anti-apartheid veteran Desmond Tutu dies aged 90

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and veteran of South Africa's struggle against apartheid, has died aged 90.

World • 26 Dec 21

South Africa has given 44% of its adult population at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, more than many African countries but well short of the government's year-end target

S Africa says vaccines helping to keep disease milder

South Africa's health minister has said that the government believed that vaccines and high levels of prior Covid-19 infection were helping to keep disease milder in a wave driven by the Omicron variant.

World • 17 Dec 21

Ardagh operates 56 metal and glass production facilities in 12 countries, employing more than 16,000 people

Ardagh Group buys South Africa's Consol Holdings

Glass bottle and metal container firm Ardagh Group has agreed a deal to buy South Africa's Consol Holdings Proprietary Limited for an equity value of $635m.

Business • 26 Nov 21

The first known confirmed Omicron infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November

What we know so far about the new Omicron variant

The World Health Organization has declared the recently-discovered B.1.1.529 strain of Covid-19 to be a variant of concern, renaming it Omicron.

Coronavirus • 26 Nov 21

Growing concern over discovery of Omicron variant (stock image)

EU, US to halt air travel to and from southern Africa

European Union states have agreed to suspend travel from southern Africa after the detection of a new Covid-19 variant named Omicron, the presidency of the EU has said.

Coronavirus • 26 Nov 21

Nelson Mandela and then South African president FW de Klerk at peace signing ceremony

FW de Klerk brokered end to white rule in South Africa

South Africa's last apartheid president FW de Klerk, who has died aged 85, stunned the world when he scrapped the system and negotiated a peaceful transfer of power to a Black-led government under Nelson Mandela.

World • 11 Nov 21

FW de Klerk died at his home in Fresnaye

FW de Klerk dies leaving apology for hurt of apartheid

South Africa's last apartheid president FW de Klerk died today leaving a final apology for crimes against other ethnic groups during decades of apartheid.

World • 11 Nov 21

The mangled body was discovered yesterday during an intelligence operation (File photo)

Suspected poacher trampled to death by elephant

An elephant has trampled a suspected poacher to death in South Africa's famed Kruger National Park, a spokesman has said.

News Lens • 22 Oct 21

Crocodiles and lions' claws, skin or bones are illegally trafficked from Africa to the Far East

Arrest as S Africa police seize lions' teeth and claws

Police in South Africa have arrested a Vietnamese man and seized about 60 kilos of lion claws, teeth and other items following a four-month probe into wildlife trafficking, the government said.

World • 14 Aug 21

Jacob Zuma is serving a 15 month sentence for contempt of court

Jacob Zuma admitted to hospital from prison

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, who was jailed for contempt of court last month, has been admitted to hospital, less than a week before he is due in court for a separate corruption trial.

World • 06 Aug 21

On 29 June, Mr Zuma was separately found guilty of contempt of South Africa's top court for snubbing graft investigators probing his time as president

Zuma corruption trial to resume virtually amid violence

The long-running corruption trial of South Africa's jailed ex-president Jacob Zuma is due to resume virtually today, despite deadly violence that swept the nation after his imprisonment in an unrelated case.

World • 19 Jul 21

Locals clean-up debris left by looting and rioting on Queen Nandi Drive in Durban

Clean-up operation in South Africa after deadly unrest

Residents in South Africa cleaned up shopping centres and stores looted during a week of shocking violence that rocked the country and left more than 200 dead.

World • 17 Jul 21

Looting at the Jabulani Mall in Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg

At least 72 killed during unrest in South Africa

The death toll from five days of violence in South Africa has risen to 72, police have said, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's deployment of troops to quell the unrest.

World • 13 Jul 21

Six people have died and 219 people have been arrested, according to a police tally

South African army responds to unrest after Zuma jailed

South Africa's army has said it is deploying troops to two provinces, including its economic hub of Johannesburg, to help police tackle deadly violence and looting as unrest sparked by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma entered its fourth day.

World • 12 Jul 21

A convoy, believed to be carrying former South African president Jacob Zuma, left his Nkandla home last night

South Africa's Zuma could be paroled in four months

South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma, who has been in police detention since last night as he starts a 15-month prison sentence for contempt, will be eligible for parole after around four months, the justice minister said.

World • 08 Jul 21

Jacob Zuma only testified once at the commission of inquiry that he set up to examine fraud

Zuma gets 15-month jail term for contempt of court

South Africa's highest court sentenced former President Jacob Zuma to 15 months in jail today for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry, and gave him five days to appear before police.

World • 29 Jun 21