SA faces more power cuts but Eskom denies threat of grid collapse

SA faces more power cuts but Eskom denies threat of grid collapse

South Africans faced another round of power cuts on Sunday night as the country’s chronic Eskom electricity grid failures continue, despite reassurances from officials that there will be no system collapse in the face of increasing winter demand. Stage 4 loadshedding was planned into Monday and will be “repeated daily…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Ramaphosa says six African nations plan Russia-Ukraine talks

Ramaphosa says six African nations plan Russia-Ukraine talks

A delegation of African leaders plans a peace mission with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, according to South African President Cyril Ramphosa. The delegation will include six African nations: Zambia, Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Egypt, in addition to South Africa, Ramaphosa said….

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

SA to investigate U.S. charge of weapons transfer to Russia

SA to investigate U.S. charge of weapons transfer to Russia

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said an independent investigation is planned to look into allegations that South Africa is providing arms to Russia, a charge made public by Reuben Brigety, the United States Ambassador to South Africa. An unnamed retired judge will lead the inquiry, with Ramaphosa making clear that…

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

South Africa walks back Ramaphosa remarks on leaving ICC

South Africa will not revoke its participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite comments made by the African National Congress and President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier in the week. That’s according to a statement from the presidency, assuring that South Africa will remain a signatory to the Rome Statute that…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

South Africa opens vaccine production facility

South Africa is moving forward with plans to produce mRNA vaccines at a facility in Cape Town, where leaders including Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization were on hand for a ribbon-cutting at the technology hub facility launched by biotech firm Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines. Afrigen has…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

South Africa plans appeal after UAE denies Gupta extradition

South Africa has responded to news that an extradition request for Rajesh and Atul Gupta, long wanted in connection with its years-long “state capture” corruption investigations, was denied this week by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a statement issued by Chrispin Phiri, spokesman for the Ministry of…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Botswana denies Khama is threatened by its government

Officials in Botswana have denied allegations of a plot to harm or kill former president Ian Khama, the latest in a series of claims and disputes that date back to 2018 and the rise of current President Mokgweetsi Masisi. “There is no threat by the state on Dr. Khama’s life,”…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Robotic telescope station in South Africa completes global network

An observatory station in South Africa is one of the last two to be installed in a now-completed network that allows scientists across the world to monitor the night sky around the clock. The Burst Observer and Optical Transient Exploring System (BOOTES) system relies on automated robotic stations to detect…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Africa vows support, solidarity as Turkey quake toll soars

African leaders offered condolences and pledged their assistance, as rescuers in Turkey and Syria continued to search through the rubble for survivors following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that leveled wide swaths of the region. The initial quake, with an epicenter near Nurdaği, was followed by dozens of aftershocks that leveled buildings…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

SA energy, economy in focus during Ramaphosa’s ANC anniversary speech

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address on Sunday as the African National Congress marked its 111th year, prioritizing the country’s energy crisis and economic challenges in his speech at Mangaung, Free State. Ramaphosa, re-elected as ANC leader in December despite being the subject of recent corruption investigations,…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

SA’s Biovac seals deal to produce cholera vaccines in Africa

South Africa’s Biovac has announced a deal with the nonprofit International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to begin manufacturing cholera vaccines, a move that will advance the African continent’s goal of manufacturing its own vaccines. The licensing and technology transfer deal will mean that Biovac is equipped to make oral cholera vaccines…

African leaders congratulate Brazil’s Lula on election win

President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique was among the first global leaders to congratulate Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won a close presidential election Sunday against incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. “It was a victory won by perseverance, humility, faith in justice and, above all, it was a victory for the…

SA diamond mine dam fails, fatal deluge hits Charlesville

Rescue efforts are under way in South Africa, where a mine tailings dam burst early Sunday and flooded nearby communities. The ensuing mudslides and deluge from the abandoned diamond mine in Jagersfontein claimed at least three lives with others unaccounted for, according to local media reports. The office of Nkosazana…