A growing controversy surrounding the so-called “Harm This Natasha” trend on Chinese social media has reignited debate about online racism, the exploitation of vulnerable communities and the responsibilities of digital platforms in moderating harmful content. The trend centres on videos featuring a black baby doll commonly referred to as “Natasha.” In widely shared clips, users are seen striking, stomping on or otherwise mistreating the dolls, often under the guise of comedy

PRETORIA, South Africa – South Africa is set to introduce a new high-tech border management system that uses facial recognition technology and electronic traveller verification as part of a broader strategy to combat illegal migration, passport fraud and corruption at ports of entry.

Mmusi Maimane has condemned anti-migrant violence in South Africa and called for a regulated immigration system that protects human dignity while strengthening border management. Speaking during an Africa Day event at Constitution Hill on Monday, 25 May, the leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) warned that xenophobia was rooted in “fear, tribalism and division”.

Senegal is witnessing one of the most dramatic political ruptures seen in modern African politics, as the once-powerful alliance between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko appears to have completely collapsed. The political crisis has intensified after Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister last week before lawmakers loyal to Sonko swiftly reinstated him into parliament and elected him Speaker of the National Assembly.

Authorities in the Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus have arrested an Israeli national suspected of involvement in illegal embryo trafficking following a dramatic interception at Ercan Airport.

Law enforcement authorities in South Africa intercepted 48 undocumented foreign nationals at the Polokwane Traffic Control Centre after stopping two minibuses travelling from Zimbabwe to Gauteng.

Security has been intensified at Kruger National Park following the shocking deaths of two tourists whose bodies were discovered inside the world-famous wildlife reserve, authorities in South Africa confirmed on Sunday. The victims, identified as a Mossel Bay couple, Dina (73) and Ernst Marais (71), were found on Friday, May 22. They had multiple stab wounds and reportedly disappeared after failing to return to their lodge on Wednesday evening. Their disappearance triggered a

Fresh scrutiny has fallen on the late Jeffrey Epstein network after longtime associate Sarah Kellen reportedly gave closed-door testimony to United States lawmakers investigating the handling of Epstein-related cases and potential accomplices. The deposition, conducted before the House Oversight Committee, is part of a wider congressional probe examining Epstein’s operations, federal investigations and individuals allegedly connected to his inner circle. Kellen, who worked fo

At least 82 people have been confirmed dead, and two others remain missing following a devastating gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, in what authorities say is the country’s deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade. The blast occurred at the Liushenyu Coal Mine in Shanxi Province at around 7:29 pm local time on Friday, while 247 miners were reportedly underground. Chinese authorities initially placed the death toll at more than 90 before revising the figu

The Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court has convicted a 43-year-old Zimbabwean woman of murdering her two young children by poisoning them at a public park in Johannesburg nearly three years ago. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that Lister Nkomo was found guilty on two counts of murder relating to the deaths of her two-year-old daughter and seven-month-old son. The tragic incident occurred on 3 June 2023 at Empire Park in Parktown, Johannesburg.

Mmusi Maimane has formally written to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa demanding clarity over his relationship with Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo following the circulation of a controversial video appearing to show the two together in a private and informal setting.

The long-running Phala Phala scandal involving South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny over Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa, the man identified as having paid US$580,000 in cash for buffalo at the president’s Limpopo game farm in 2019. While Mustafa has consistently maintained that the money was legitimate and properly declared, investigators and political critics continue questioning whether the full story behind the controversial tran

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has condemned violent attacks reportedly targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, warning that the incidents threaten constitutional values and social cohesion.

Hamandishe, a British politician, mental health nurse, digital transformation consultant and author, was officially elected mayor on 13 May 2026. He represents the Gillingham North ward as a Labour and Co-operative Party councillor. His appointment makes him the ceremonial First Citizen of Medway, where he will chair Full Council meetings and represent the unitary authority at official civic engagements throughout the 2026/27 municipal year.

A Polish truck driver has been sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison after authorities discovered more than US$8.4 million worth of cocaine concealed inside a shipment of clothing linked to Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa may soon discover that in politics, the cover-up often causes more damage than the original controversy itself. What initially appeared to be a routine attempt by the South African presidency to distance Ramaphosa from controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo is now threatening to evolve into a wider political credibility problem with regional implications.

HARARE — The Zimbabwean government is facing growing criticism after telling Parliament it has not received official reports of widespread xenophobic violence against Zimbabweans living in South Africa, despite mounting anxiety among migrant communities following recent anti-immigrant demonstrations. The issue was raised in Parliament after Warren Park legislator Shakespeare Hamauswa asked the government to explain what diplomatic and practical measures were being taken to pr

The World Health Organization has declared the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), warning that the rare Bundibugyo strain poses a serious regional threat amid rising infections, healthcare worker deaths, and cross-border transmission.

Thousands of South Africans are increasingly questioning whether their savings are truly safe after a growing wave of alleged fraud cases linked to Standard Bank left victims counting losses worth millions of rand. From pensioners losing retirement savings to small business owners watching accounts emptied within minutes, the scale and consistency of complaints are raising concerns about banking security, fraud response systems, data protection, and transparency within one of

A Zimbabwean family is mourning the devastating loss of three relatives following a horrific chain of road accidents near Bela-Bela in South Africa that claimed the lives of a father, mother, and child within minutes. South African authorities said the tragedy unfolded on Saturday along the busy N1 highway and involved two separate collisions, including one linked to the security detail of South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.