South Africa has decided to withdraw its troops deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement issued on Saturday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African contingent stationed in Congo will be brought back. He informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres of the decision, citing the need to reorganize the country’s armed forces as the main reason for the withdrawal.

According to TRT World, South Africa has participated in the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo for the past 27 years and currently has more than 700 soldiers deployed there. When the mission’s mandate was extended in December last year, around 11,000 troops and police officers were serving under the UN mission. The mission’s primary role is to combat various rebel groups in Congo, where decades of conflict have intensified in recent times.

The statement added that South Africa will coordinate with the UN to finalize the withdrawal timeline and process, aiming to complete it before the end of 2026. Ramaphosa’s office said the country will continue close bilateral relations with Congo and support international efforts for lasting peace.

West Indies claimed a six-run victory under the DLS method against South Africa in the third and final T20 match at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium. The match was reduced to ten overs per side due to rain. Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 114 for three wickets, led by Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, who both scored 48 runs. South Africa were set a revised target of 125 runs but managed only 118 for six wickets.

Despite the defeat, South Africa had already secured the three-match T20 series 2–1 after winning the first two games. Quinton de Kock, who scored 28 runs in this match, was named Player of the Series, while Gudakesh Motie earned the Player of the Match award for his three wickets for 17 runs. The rain interruptions and lightning delays added further drama to the shortened contest.

The result gave West Indies a morale-boosting finish to the series, while South Africa maintained overall dominance with the series win.

South Africa has expelled Israeli diplomat Ariel Sidman, declaring him persona non grata for alleged violations of diplomatic norms. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation announced on Friday that Sidman, the chargé d’affaires at the Israeli embassy, was given 72 hours to leave the country. Authorities accused him of actions that challenged South Africa’s sovereignty and breached acceptable diplomatic conduct.

According to the department’s statement, Sidman allegedly launched insulting attacks on President Cyril Ramaphosa through social media and deliberately failed to inform the ministry about a purported visit by senior Israeli officials. The statement described his behavior as a severe abuse of diplomatic privileges and a fundamental violation of the Vienna Convention, undermining trust and protocol essential to bilateral relations.

The department urged the Israeli government to ensure that its future diplomatic activities respect the principles of the Republic of South Africa and established norms of international engagement.

Quinton de Kock’s explosive century powered South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second T20 match at Centurion, securing the three-match series 2–0 with one game remaining. Chasing 222, South Africa reached 225 for 3 in 17.3 overs. De Kock struck 115 off 49 balls with 10 sixes and 6 fours, while Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 77 from 36 balls. Their 162-run stand for the second wicket laid the foundation for the win.

Earlier, the West Indies posted 221 for 4, driven by Shimron Hetmyer’s 75 off 42 balls and Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 57 off 24. Brandon King added 49 from 30 balls. West Indies captain Shai Hope said the batting was strong but bowling in Centurion’s conditions was difficult. With this innings, De Kock surpassed Faf du Plessis to become South Africa’s highest run-scorer in recognized T20s, amassing 12,113 runs in 416 innings across 430 matches.

The third and final match of the series will be played in Johannesburg tomorrow.

South Africa defeated West Indies by nine wickets in the first match of their three-game T20 series. The match, held on Wednesday, saw South Africa chase down a target of 174 runs with 13 balls to spare. Aiden Markram led the hosts with an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes. Reeza Hendricks contributed 44 runs from 28 balls, while Ryan Rickelton added 40 not out. George Linde was named Player of the Match for taking three wickets for 25 runs.

Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 173 for seven in 20 overs. Despite a 39-run opening stand, they lost quick wickets and were reduced to 95 for five. Shimron Hetmyer scored 48 and Rovman Powell remained unbeaten on 29, helping their side reach a competitive total. For South Africa, Linde and Bosch shared five wickets between them.

With this victory, South Africa took a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The second T20 is scheduled to be played in Centurion on Thursday.

Tipu Chowdhury, a 50-year-old resident of Mirsharai in Chattogram, was shot dead by assailants in South Africa. The incident occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, around 3 p.m. local time at his business establishment in the KwaMthlanga area of Pretoria. According to family sources, he had been living in South Africa for about 35 years. His body is currently kept at a local police station, and arrangements are underway to bring it back to Bangladesh.

Tipu’s cousin Litu Chowdhury said that the attackers opened fire suddenly while Tipu was at his business premises, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene. He also mentioned that about 20 years ago, Tipu’s brother Abu Sayem was similarly shot dead by assailants in South Africa. Another expatriate, Md. Ashraf Uddin, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, recalling personal memories with Tipu.

The report did not mention any arrests or official statements from South African authorities regarding the attack.

Severe flooding caused by continuous heavy rainfall has killed more than 100 people across southern Africa, according to a report by Al Jazeera on Saturday. The floods have affected South Africa, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, where rivers have overflowed and infrastructure has collapsed, cutting off communication in many areas. In South Africa’s Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, at least 30 people have died, prompting the deployment of army helicopters to rescue stranded residents. A border checkpoint near Zimbabwe was evacuated after being surrounded by floodwaters.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited affected areas in Limpopo, reporting nearly 400 millimeters of rain in less than a week and the destruction of 36 houses in one district. Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes were damaged. In Zimbabwe, the disaster management agency confirmed at least 70 deaths since the start of the year, with over 1,000 homes destroyed and multiple schools, roads, and bridges washed away.

The World Food Programme (WFP) stated that over 200,000 people have been affected, with 70,000 hectares of farmland submerged, raising fears of worsening food insecurity for small farmers in the region.

South Africa has defended its weeklong naval exercises with Russia, Iran, China and other BRICS Plus members as essential, describing the “Will for Peace 2026” drills off Cape Town as a necessary response to increasing maritime tensions. The exercises began on Saturday, shortly after the United States seized a Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic, citing sanctions violations. South African officials said the drills were planned well before the recent rise in global tensions and aimed to strengthen cooperation among BRICS nations.

Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint task force commander, said the exercises represented a collective commitment to maritime security and cooperation. The drills involve warships from China, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, with Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil participating as observers. Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa urged calm, emphasizing that the United States’ disputes with other countries should not define South Africa’s foreign policy.

The event follows previous BRICS naval collaborations and comes amid U.S. criticism of South Africa’s ties with Russia and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Washington has accused BRICS of anti-American policies and warned of potential new tariffs on member states.

The group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations has concluded, setting the stage for the Round of 16 matches beginning on January 3 and continuing until January 6. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, was the first team to qualify for the knockout phase, while Mozambique became the last to advance. Defending champions Ivory Coast defeated Gabon 3–2 to top Group F with seven points and will face Burkina Faso in the next round.

In the same group, Cameroon beat Mozambique 2–1 to qualify as the second team and will meet South Africa in the Round of 16. Mozambique advanced as one of the four best third-placed teams. Algeria topped Group E with nine points after a 3–1 win over Equatorial Guinea and will play DR Congo. The knockout fixtures also include Senegal vs Sudan, Mali vs Tunisia, Morocco vs Tanzania, Egypt vs Benin, and Nigeria vs Mozambique.

Quarterfinals are scheduled for January 9–10, semifinals on January 14, the third-place match on January 17, and the final on January 18 at 1 a.m. Bangladesh time.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues to capture global football fans’ attention as key group-stage matches air live this weekend. Broadcasters have lined up several high-profile fixtures, including Mali vs Zambia, South Africa vs Angola, and Egypt vs Zimbabwe, offering fans a packed schedule of continental action. Matches will be streamed across major sports networks and digital platforms such as FanCode and Bet365.

The tournament, known for its passionate crowds and unpredictable outcomes, remains Africa’s most prestigious football competition. Sports analysts note that this year’s edition features a strong mix of emerging talents and established stars, with several teams aiming to secure early qualification for the knockout rounds. Broadcasters report strong viewership from both African and international audiences.

As the group stage intensifies, attention will turn to powerhouse nations like Egypt and South Africa, whose performances could shape the tournament’s later stages. Fans worldwide are expected to tune in for the high-stakes matches leading into the new year.

At least nine people were killed and ten others injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police said around a dozen unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire inside a bar in Bekkersdal township shortly before 1 a.m. local time. The attackers continued shooting as they fled the scene, prompting an extensive police operation to track them down.

National and provincial crime units, along with detectives and intelligence officers, have been deployed to investigate. Authorities are interviewing witnesses, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This incident follows a similar bar shooting earlier in December near Pretoria that left at least 12 people dead, highlighting growing concerns over violent crime and gun-related attacks in South Africa. Police have urged the public to assist with information as investigations continue.

At least 11 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed when gunmen opened fire inside a hostel in Pretoria, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police reported that 25 people were shot, with 14 hospitalized and 12 others injured. The attack occurred in the Soshanguve area, about 18 kilometers from central Pretoria, at a hostel known for illegal alcohol sales.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said three armed men entered the hostel’s unlicensed drinking area around 4:30 a.m. and began shooting indiscriminately at a group of men. Victims also included a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Authorities have yet to determine a motive, and no arrests have been made as investigations continue.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, and officials warn that illegal liquor outlets often become flashpoints for deadly violence. The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement against unlicensed taverns and better policing in high-risk communities.

More than 60,000 African penguins have died from starvation along South Africa’s coast, according to a new study published in the journal Ostrich: Journal of African Ornithology. The research found that between 2004 and 2012, over 95% of penguins at key breeding sites on Dassen Island and Robben Island vanished due to lack of food during molting periods. The decline is attributed to climate change and overfishing, which have drastically reduced sardine populations—the penguins’ main food source. Scientists from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Ecology and Conservation warn that similar declines are occurring elsewhere. Over the past 30 years, the African penguin population has dropped by about 80%, and the species was declared critically endangered in 2024, with fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining. Changes in ocean temperature and salinity have disrupted sardine spawning, while fishing pressure continues to rise, worsening the crisis for these seabirds.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma and a member of parliament from the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has resigned following allegations that she deceived 17 young South Africans into traveling to Russia under the pretense of receiving bodyguard training. Reports suggest the recruits were instead sent to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine’s Donbas region. Zuma-Sambudla denies intentionally misleading anyone, claiming she too was misled and believed the training was legitimate. The MK Party stated that her resignation was a personal decision and that she is now working to help repatriate the stranded youths. One of the trapped men, identified by the pseudonym ‘Sifo,’ described the dire conditions in a voice note shared with the BBC. Families of the victims are demanding accountability and safe return of their relatives. The scandal has sparked political and ethical controversy in South Africa, raising questions about recruitment practices and foreign involvement.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Robin Ali, aged 39, was fatally stabbed by his South African wife during a domestic altercation in Welkom’s Hofstad area of the Free State province early Saturday night. Originally from Jatrabari, Dhaka, Robin had been living in South Africa for several years and worked at a shop in Upington, Northern Cape. He visited his wife and children in Welkom every few months. According to local Bangladeshi residents, a late-night argument between the couple escalated into violence, resulting in Robin being stabbed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Following the incident, the accused wife fled the scene. Local police have visited the site, filed a case, and launched an investigation into the murder.