South Africa News in English - Expat Guide to South Africa

February 20, 2019

S.Africa announces $1.6-bn bailout to keep lights on

South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni announced Wednesday a $1.6 billion-a-year bailout for the country’s electricity utility in a bid to stave off further downgrades to Pretoria’s credit rating as he unveiled a new budget. Credit ratings agencies have warned…

February 20, 2019

S.Africa to deliver budget faced with debt mountain and blackouts

South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni faces a balancing act ahead of his maiden budget Wednesday to reassure investors over the country’s troubled public electricity company without alienating union allies ahead of national elections. He is under pressure to bail…

February 18, 2019

Tiny S. Africa beach restaurant crowned best in world

A tiny beach restaurant in an isolated South African fishing village was named the best in the world on Monday. Chef Kobus van der Merwe, who did not begin to cook seriously until he was 30, forages every day for…

February 18, 2019

Tiny S.Africa beach restaurant crowned best in world

A tiny beach restaurant in an isolated South African fishing village was named the best in the world on Monday. Chef Kobus van der Merwe, who only began to properly cook when he was 30, forages every day for ingredients…

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…