Latest South Africa government News
Standoff in South Africa ends with 87 miners dead and anger over police's 'smoke them out' tactics
STILFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — The death toll in a monthslong standoff between police and miners trapped while working illegally in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa has risen to at least 87, police said Thursday. Authorities faced growing anger and a possible investigation over their...
Dozens of survivors and dead pulled from abandoned South African mine as hundreds remain underground
STILFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) — Months after South African authorities initially cut off supplies to miners working illegally in an abandoned gold mine, rescuers brought dozens of bodies and emaciated survivors to the surface Tuesday with hundreds more still believed to be underground, many of...
At least 100 illegal miners have died while trapped in a South African mine for months, group says
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least 100 men who were mining illegally in an abandoned gold mine in South Africa have died of suspected starvation and dehydration after being trapped deep underground for months while police tried to force them out, a group representing the miners said Monday. ...
Southern Africa elections brought big changes in 2024
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — In Southern Africa, where democracy remains relatively stable, elections held in 2024 saw long-governing liberation parties struggling to survive. Across Africa, power struggles involving military governments, coup attempts and armed conflict are common, but...
Janusz Walus, killer of South Africa's anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, to be deported to Poland
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Janusz Walus, the convicted killer of South Africa's anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani, will be deported to his home country of Poland after his parole came to an end this week, the government announced on Friday. Hani, who was the leader of the African National...
Namibia will have its first female leader after VP wins presidential election for the ruling party
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) — Namibia elected its first female leader as Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was declared the winner Tuesday of a presidential election last week that was tarnished by technical glitches that caused a three-day extension to allow votes to be cast, and rejected as...
The G20 has 'shock absorbers' to deal with Trump's return as US president, South Africa says
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The Group of 20 has sufficient “shock absorbers” to function effectively if the incoming Donald Trump administration promotes an America First policy at the expense of international cooperation, South Africa's leader said Tuesday as his country took over the...
Namibia votes and could have its first female leader. But election upsets have shaken the region
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP) — A woman who joined Namibia's underground independence movement in the 1970s is a strong contender to become its first female leader as the country voted Wednesday in a presidential election. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, is the current vice president and the...
'Ernest Cole: Lost and Found' resurrects a once-forgotten anti-apartheid photographer
NEW YORK (AP) — When the photographer Ernest Cole died in 1990 at the age of 49 from pancreatic cancer at a Manhattan hospital, his death was little noted. Cole, one of the most important chroniclers of apartheid-era South Africa, was by then mostly forgotten and penniless. Banned...
South African government seeks experts' help to bring illegal miners to the surface
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The South African government said on Friday it has put together a team including mine rescue experts to come up with a plan to bring to surface illegal miners who remain under a disused gold mine. The move signaled the government was taking a more conciliatory...