SA-Israel diplomatic fallout, Steenhuisen’s DA exit and the Agoa trade reprieve

SA-Israel spat: Tit-for-tat envoy expulsions rooted in much bigger ‘ideological war’ over Gaza

By J Brooks Spector. South Africa’s expulsion of the Israeli chargé d’affaires and Israel’s reciprocal response emphasise a collapse in relations. These ‘persona non grata’ declarations are symptoms of an ideological war of attrition over the Gaza conflict. Read more.

How Steenhuisen broke the DA’s key rule and the difficult job ahead for his successor

By Stephen Grootes. The chain of events that began with John Steenhuisen’s personal finances and his subsequent decision to remove Dion George from the Cabinet now appears to have reached its conclusion. His imminent departure as DA leader clears the way for a new leader – and for the party to now change direction. Read more.

Agoa extension offers relief to agricultural sector, but US tariffs still bite

By Wandile Sihlobo. South Africa’s agricultural sector has welcomed the US’ decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to the end of 2026, offering temporary relief to exporters navigating a far tougher trade environment. While the extension prevents even higher tariffs on key products, US “Liberation Day” duties of 30% continue to erode SA’s competitiveness against rivals such as Chile and Peru, underscoring the urgency of securing a more durable trade agreement with Washington. Read more.

Why the tribunal’s finding does not clear Judge Mbenenge, and what happens next

By Alison Tilley and Mbekezeli Benjamin. Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge was found not guilty of gross misconduct, but he was not exonerated. Read more.

Unlocking skills: how TVET and CET colleges can reshape South Africa's educational landscape

By Siyabonga Goni. As the 2026 academic year begins, Technical and Vocational Education Training and Community Education and Training colleges are vital for developing employable skills and supporting the economy. Read more.

We fear the violence but ignore the missing fathers who shaped it

By Themba Dlamini. Violence often looks impulsive. It rarely is. More often, it is the final eruption of something that has been forming quietly for years – unprocessed humiliation, fear, anger and grief. It arrives suddenly only because no one has been watching what has been building underneath. Read more.

How to resuscitate South Africa's film and television industry

By Richard Poplak and Diana Neille. In Part 1 of this gripping whodunnit, we’ve established that the South African government has helped murder the film industry. Now, we try to figure out what can be done to bring it back from the dead. Read more.

Nobody Told Me: A gripping holocaust tale brought home to Johannesburg

By Douglas Mason. Nobody Told Me powerfully intertwines past and present, revealing the haunting legacies of Holocaust survival. Read more.

Teen sensation Lara Markthaler takes South Africa to the Olympic slopes

By Annemieke Thomaidis. At 18, Lara Markthaler is already carving her name into Olympic snow. Nicknamed Spunkiiiiii and recognisable by her trademark pink hair, Lara heads to Milano Cortina to race the slalom and giant slalom, carrying the hopes of the country as one of only a handful representing South Africa. Read more.

The Blesbokspruit wetland: a national ecological treasure under siege

By Ed Stoddard. This mirrors the unfolding tragedy of many other South African waterways in the age of state failure, including the sewer that is running through the Cradle of Humankind. Read more.

What makes a restaurant perfect? It’s not what the restaurant guides think it is

By Tony Jackman. Some meals are worth a drive, although this place is a neighbourhood eatery. I just don’t happen to live nearby. Maybe I should relocate… because that’s how good it is. Read more.