South Africa

South African singer Tyla has won her second Grammy, taking the Best African Music Performance award for "Push-to-Start," a track from her debut album, the Recording Academy announced Monday. The victory makes Tyla the first artist to win the category twice after her 2024 win for the global hit "Water." The award caps a rapid rise for the Johannesburg-born performer, whose blend of pop, R&B and South African township sounds has found a wide international audience. The Recording Academy recognized "Push-to-Start" amid a…

South Africa’s government says it has logged formal violations by Israel after what it described as a series of public affronts against President Cyril Ramaphosa and failures in diplomatic protocol. In a government statement released Tuesday, officials said the violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch “insulting attacks” against Ramaphosa and a “deliberate failure” to inform the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of purported visits by senior Israeli…

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s government accused Israel on Tuesday of multiple diplomatic violations, alleging that official Israeli channels launched “insulting attacks” against President Cyril Ramaphosa and that Israeli officials failed to inform the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) about visits by senior Israeli representatives. The allegations were set out in a government statement that cited two specific breaches: the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to attack…

Major cinema chains in South Africa have pulled a documentary about Melania Trump just before its scheduled release, citing concerns over "the current climate," the exhibitors said Friday. The film, which follows Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to her husband Donald Trump's second inauguration, was withdrawn from listings by multiple theatres only days before it was to premiere, according to distribution notices and exhibitor statements. Organisers did not provide further detail on specific security or diplomatic…

South Africa announced Monday that it will temporarily withdraw from G-20 engagements while the United States holds the presidency, a move that South African officials called a pause rather than a permanent exit and that analysts say could dent Africa’s voice in the world’s most powerful economic forum. The withdrawal follows a sharp deterioration in ties after U.S. President Donald Trump declined to attend the 2025 G-20 summit in South Africa and publicly accused Pretoria of pursuing policies hostile to American interests.…

National Disaster Declared Amid Deadly Floods in Southern Africa South Africa and Mozambique are grappling with devastating floods that have claimed lives and displaced thousands. Authorities in both countries are working tirelessly to respond to this catastrophic event. Severe flooding declared a national disaster in South Africa. Heavy rains have affected Mozambique, with entire neighborhoods submerged. Rescue efforts are ongoing as both nations strive to recover and assist survivors. Impact in South Africa…

South African officials say the school taxi driver involved in the Vanderbijlpark crash did not have a valid operating licence, authorities announced Wednesday. The disclosure, made by provincial transport officials, raises immediate questions about the legal status of the vehicle and the oversight of school transport in the area. Officials did not provide further details about the driver’s identity, the nature or severity of casualties, or exactly when the licence lapsed. Vanderbijlpark, an industrial city in Gauteng…

Mozambique and South Africa Face Catastrophic Flooding Relentless rainfall has triggered severe flooding in Mozambique and northern South Africa, resulting in widespread devastation. Critical emergency measures are underway to ensure public safety and mitigate damage. Heavy rains have led to significant flooding, particularly affecting Kruger National Park. At least 19 fatalities have occurred, with continued risks for low-lying communities. Urgent evacuations and helicopter rescues are in progress. Immediate…

Search-and-rescue teams from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have launched an emergency operation after heavy downpours and rising water levels caused severe flooding in the South African province of Limpopo, officials said Friday. The floods have killed 19 people and caused widespread destruction of homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, authorities reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who inspected flood damage in the area, described what he saw as "catastrophic." The South African Weather…

Iran has withdrawn from a planned multilateral naval exercise in South Africa’s False Bay, officials said, after initially assembling warships in the area. South African, Russian, Chinese and United Arab Emirates vessels are still scheduled to sail this week for Exercise Will for Peace 2026, a drill organized under the BRICS+ framework. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) described the maneuvers as a joint exercise for the 10-member BRICS+ forum but said most member states will have limited or no active…