South Africa News in English - Expat Guide to South Africa

February 15, 2019

Kampala expels boss of MTN’s Uganda arm, citing ‘national security’

Kampala has deported the Belgian CEO of the Ugandan branch of MTN on security grounds, in the fourth such expulsion targeting the South African telecoms giant within a month. Police spokesman Fred Enanga said MTN’s Wim Vanhelleputte had been deported…

February 15, 2019

New species of Angolan ‘horned’ spider unearthed

South African researchers have revealed the discovery of a new species of spider with an unusual horn-like protrusion on its back from the forests of central Angola, considered the first of its kind. Named ‘Ceratogyrus attonitifer’, the arachnid belongs to…

February 15, 2019

Ex-South African ambassador to Iran arrested over ‘bribe’

A former South African ambassador to Tehran was arrested and brought before a commercial crimes court on Thursday for allegedly taking a bribe linked to a major Iran mobile phone tender, police said. Yusuf Saloojee, 75, who is now retired,…

February 15, 2019

Court denies bail to Mozambican ex-minister held in S.Africa

A South African court denied bail Friday to Mozambique’s ex-finance minister, held in a Johannesburg jail since December under an international arrest warrant issued by the United States. Manuel Chang, 63, who is still an MP, was arrested at Johannesburg’s…

February 15, 2019

Uganda deports MTN chief over ‘national security’

Uganda has deported the Belgian head of South African telecoms giant MTN’s local branch, the company said Friday, making him the fourth employee to be kicked out of the country this year. Police spokesman Fred Enanga said that MTN Uganda’s…

February 15, 2019

Six killed in fire on fishing vessel in South Africa

Six people were killed after fire engulfed a fishing vessel in a harbour in South Africa’s southwestern city of Durban, rescue services said on Friday. The fire broke out on Thursday while the trawler was docked. “Rescuers worked through the…

February 15, 2019

Hong Kong seizes $1m of rhino horn in record airport haul

Two men carrying at least 24 severed rhino horns were arrested in Hong Kong airport by customs officers who said it was their largest ever seizure of rhino contraband smuggled by air passengers. The haul — worth some HK$8 million…

February 14, 2019

Sibanye to cut 6,000 jobs at South African gold mines

South African gold mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater announced plans Thursday to shed more than 6,000 jobs, or 10 percent of its workforce, from underperforming gold mines. The company is one of the biggest employers in the South African mining industry, and…

February 14, 2019

S.Africa president denies selling out anti-apartheid comrades

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Thursday denied claims by a former comrade that he sold out fellow anti-apartheid activists to the secret police in the 1970s. Defending his role in the struggle against white minority rule, Ramaphosa told parliament he…