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.

The G20 summit in Johannesburg, hosted by South Africa, concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration addressing global challenges such as climate change, despite a boycott and strong objections from the United States. The White House accused South Africa of 'weaponizing' its G20 presidency after proceeding without US participation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson stated that the declaration, developed over the past year, would not be reopened for negotiation. The US criticized the inclusion of climate change commitments, which the Trump administration rejects, and objected to the leadership handover process. Argentina, led by right-wing President Javier Milei, also abstained from endorsing the document, citing geopolitical concerns about references to the Middle East conflict. The declaration emphasizes renewable energy goals, debt relief for poor nations, and global cooperation. South Africa defended its approach, saying the majority of members supported the text and that the summit reflected Africa’s growing role in global governance.

At least 10 people were killed and 31 others injured when an interstate bus collided head-on with a truck on the N-8 highway between Bloemfontein and Botshabelo in South Africa’s Free State province early Saturday, November 15. Among the deceased were seven men and three women. According to Sifiso Toya, chairperson of the Free State Road Incident Management, six of the injured are in critical condition and all have been taken to the Pelonomi Trauma Unit for treatment. The crash occurred about five kilometers from Mandela View, causing severe damage to both vehicles and disrupting traffic on the busy route. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, which is one of the deadliest road incidents in the region this year.

The al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is intensifying attacks across West Africa, especially in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Despite military coups in these countries, JNIM has expanded control, imposing strict Sharia law and increasing violence. The group finances operations through livestock theft, taxation, and smuggling. Efforts by regional and international forces have so far failed to contain JNIM’s growth, raising fears of long-term instability and insecurity in the Sahel region.

At least 49 people, including several schoolchildren, have died in devastating floods caused by heavy rain and snowstorms in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the situation as “catastrophic,” warning that the death toll is expected to rise. Earlier this week, a bus attempting to cross a bridge in Mthatha was swept away by floodwaters, killing six, including four children. Rescue operations are ongoing for four missing children.

A training aircraft has crashed in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, killing three people, including a female trainee pilot. Fortunately, two other pilots on board survived with minor injuries, although the aircraft was significantly damaged.

The Piper Cherokee, registered as ZS-KFB, had taken off from Durban’s Virginia Airport around 3 PM on Sunday before the fatal crash.

On the second day of the ICJ hearing into genocide allegations against Israel, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that Palestinians are being subjected to atrocities, oppression, and genocide with global impunity. Representative Zane Dangor said Israel faces no accountability despite violating international law. He also alleged that entities attempting to hold Israel responsible are often met with retaliatory pressure. Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s actions in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza as clear breaches of international law. Israel has boycotted the hearing, labeling the case biased.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, has claimed responsibility for attacks on two military bases in northern Benin, reportedly killing 70 soldiers. This marks one of the deadliest assaults in the region in recent years. Jihadist violence in the Sahel began after a Tuareg uprising in Mali in 2012 and has since spread to Burkina Faso, Niger, and more recently, coastal nations like Benin, leading to thousands of deaths and mass displacement.