South Africa News in English
South Africa news in English — markets, mining, politics, and daily life, tracked every day by The Rio Times, with the company and economic intelligence our readers rely on.
South Africa news in English, updated daily: the rand and the Reserve Bank, load-shedding and the Eskom turnaround, gold and platinum, the JSE, and coalition politics in Pretoria. The Rio Times covers Johannesburg and Cape Town for international readers — markets, energy, mining, and the companies behind Africa's most industrialized economy — with the latest South Africa news and analysis on one page. Independent reporting, in English.
The Big Picture South Africa Explained: The Country, the Coalition Government and What to Watch Economy, politics, society and daily life — the whole country in one essential read.The Big Read: Today in South Africa
The stories that matter most today. Updated Oct 28, 11:30 PM ET.
South Africa Opens Offices for Local ElectionHome Affairs offices will open 08:00–18:00 on 2–4 November and 07:00–21:00 on election day, so South Africans can get the ID needed to vote.
Wed 10:26 AM ET
- African Rainbow Backs US$900M Mining Push
African Rainbow Minerals will spend almost R16 billion (about US$900 million) on the Bokoni platinum expansion and the Nkomati nickel restart.
Wed 5:32 PM ET
- FirstRand Kenya Bank Buyout Plan, 27 Oct
South Africa's FirstRand says it wants a larger presence in Kenya and is weighing a Kenyan bank purchase, with no target, price or timetable announced.
Wed 3:10 AM ET
- IRONMAN South Africa 2027 Heads to Mossel Bay on 18 April
The full-distance IRONMAN South Africa race moves to Mossel Bay on Sunday 18 April 2027.
Wed 8:46 AM ET
South Africa — the brief
South Africa and the United States, Relations Explained
South Africa US relations in October 2026: a 12.5% US tariff, AGOA extended to 2028, a US visa policy and an order to halt aid.
Market snapshot
Analysis & Deep Dives
All analysis →South Africa Travel Authorisation Is Optional for Americans
The South Africa travel authorisation is optional for US passport holders. See the R500 (about US$30)...
Khampepe Commission Tests South Africa’s Rule of Law
The Khampepe Commission is probing whether post-apartheid authorities blocked Truth and Reconciliation prosecutions; its report is...
Bollywood Singer Shreya Ghoshal Plays Pretoria 5 December
Shreya Ghoshal plays SunBet Arena in Pretoria on Saturday, 5 December 2026, after Durban on 4...
Latest from South Africa
England vs South Africa Test, Cape Town 2027
England vs South Africa Test at Newlands, Cape Town, from Sunday 3 January 2027: tickets are sold out...
136,790 Run in South Africa Local Election
South Africa votes on 4 November: 136,790 candidates, 10,526 council seats, 257 municipalities and what two or three...
Comrades Marathon Finishes in Durban on 13 June 2027
The 100th Comrades Marathon runs Sunday, 13 June 2027, from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. All 28,000 places are taken;...
Shoprite Director Row Over US$5,100 Tax Fine
The Shoprite director Sipho Maseko was not personally convicted, the retailer says, after five dormant companies paid about...
Pick n Pay Narrows Loss to US$18M
Pick n Pay narrows loss to about US$18 million in the 26 weeks to 30 August, the grocer...
South Africa Union Leaders Lose Power 25 Oct
A South Africa union, Numsa, stripped its general secretary Irvin Jim and top officers of their powers on...
South Africa Seizes 250 Kilos of Cocaine
South Africa seizes 250 kilos of cocaine worth over US$12 million in five bags at OR Tambo airport,...
S&P Likes Sanlam’s US$1.3B Santam Buyout
S&P says the Santam buyout should strengthen Sanlam's business risk profile, on a cash offer worth about US$1.3...