With tensions simmering in South Africa and protesters demanding tougher action on immigration, Ghana has started flying home its nationals in a move aimed at heading off the threat of xenophobic violence. Ghanaian authorities began repatriating the first group of citizens from South Africa as fears grew over anti-immigrant demonstrations and the possibility of attacks on foreigners. Around 300 people were expected to depart from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, and 800 Ghanaians have registered to return…

In a significant twist to a long-running legal saga, Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi said Home Affairs would lift the five-year entry ban on Nigerian evangelist Pastor Timothy Omotoso if the National Prosecuting Authority succeeds in its attempt to appeal his acquittal on sexual offences charges. Omotoso was declared an undesirable person in South Africa and handed a five-year ban in May 2025, after which he left the country voluntarily. The move came on the heels of his acquittal following a seven-year trial on…

Seasoned political negotiator Roelf Meyer formally presented his credentials to President Donald Trump on Thursday, stepping in as South Africa’s new ambassador to the US at a moment when political relations between the two countries remain frosty.

Friday May 22, 2026 Pretoria (AX) — Somalia’s Embassy in South Africa has warned Somali citizens to stay alert after fresh xenophobic attacks in parts of the country targeted African and Asian foreign nationals. In its advisory, the embassy urged Somalis to remain vigilant, steer clear of areas where violence or security threats have been reported, and avoid any gatherings that could escalate into unrest. It also advised Somali business owners to consider closing their shops during periods of heightened tension in order to…

South Africa will begin offering the twice-yearly HIV prevention shot lenacapavir (LEN) on June 5, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced, hailing a major step forward in the fight against the virus. For individuals who are HIV-negative, the long-acting injection has proven to be almost completely effective at preventing sexual transmission. But new drugs alone won’t end the epidemic, argue Mitchell Warren, executive director of the international health advocacy group AVAC, and Wawira Nyagah, executive director of…

After coordinated protests by the anti-immigrant group March and March targeting undocumented migrants in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban, Human Rights Watch urged South African authorities to act decisively. South Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch Nomathamsanqa Masiko-Mpaka said authorities "should intensify efforts to address anti-immigrant sentiments and violence to ensure the safety and protection of at-risk foreign nationals in the country," calling for stronger measures to curb hostility and safeguard…

A rare visit by a North Korean football club to South Korea has triggered a rush for seats, with tickets disappearing in less than half a day, according to Seoul's football association. All 7,087 general admission tickets for the 20 May meeting between Suwon FC Women and Naegohyang Women's FC were gone roughly 12 hours after sales opened on Tuesday, a Korea Football Association official said. Suwon FC players celebrate a goal at the AFC Women's Champions League quarter final in China The teams will face off in the…

South Africa’s political temperature rose sharply after the Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to relaunch impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa, reigniting the Phala Phala scandal and placing him under fresh legal and political scrutiny. Ramaphosa has dismissed demands that he step down and says he will fight the process in court. He intends to seek a judicial review of the 2022 Section 89 panel report, which concluded there was preliminary evidence he may have breached the Constitution or engaged…

BAIDOA, Somalia — Pressure is building in Somalia’s South West State as leading presidential contenders accuse rivals of preparing to manipulate the vote, warning they will reject any outcome they believe is tainted by fraud. In remarks to reporters late Tuesday, candidate Ilyaas Ali Nuur singled out his opponent, Aden Madobe, saying any win for Madobe under the current setup would amount to nothing less than a "theft" of the electoral process. "If the results of the South West election are not what we expect, we will step…

South Africa’s top court has drawn a clear line in the sand: foreign nationals whose asylum bids have already been rejected may not file fresh applications. In its ruling, the Constitutional Court warned that permitting repeat filings without a legal framework to govern them would fuel a “never-ending cycle,” stall deportations, and overwhelm the system with administrative disorder. Leon Schreiber, the minister of home affairs in South Africa’s coalition government, hailed the judgment as a “major victory” against what he…