South Africa

South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12

A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday. The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16. At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown. According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6. An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle. The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to h

10 killed in mass shooting in South Africa's Johannesburg; gunmen at large

The police said around 12 unidentified gunmen allegedly opened fire on people inside the tavern and continued shooting indiscriminately as they fled

At least 12 killed in mass shooting at bar in South Africa's Pretoria

At least 11 people, including three children, were killed in a mass shooting at a bar in a township near the South African administrative capital of Pretoria, police said on Saturday. Another 14 people were wounded and taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds, according to a statement from the South African Police Services. Police didn't give details on the ages of those who were injured. The shooting happened at an unlicensed bar in the Saulsville township west of Pretoria in the early hours of Saturday. The children killed were a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Police said they were searching for three suspects. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 an average of more than 70 a day.

Will PM Modi take up South Africa's cause with 'good friend' Trump: Cong

With US President Donald Trump announcing that he is barring South Africa from participating in next year's G20 summit in Miami, the Congress on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the "self-proclaimed champion" of both Africa and the Global South and asked whether he will take up South Africa's cause with his "good friend". Trump said Wednesday that he is barring South Africa from participating in the Group of 20 summit next year in Miami and will "stop all payments and subsidies" to the country over its treatment of a US government representative at this year's global meeting. Reacting to the development, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said South Africa has been in the G20 from the very beginning simply because it is the largest economy measured by size of GDP in the African continent. "It is not there because the US is doing it some favour. It was very much present at the very first G20 Summit held in Washington DC that was chaired by ..

Trump bars South Africa from participating in 2026 G20 summit in Miami

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is barring South Africa from participating in the Group of 20 summit next year in Miami and will "stop all payments and subsidies" to the country over its treatment of a US government representative at this year's global meeting. Trump chose not to have an American delegation attend the recent summit hosted by South Africa, saying he did so because white Afrikaners were being violently persecuted -- a claim that South Africa, which was mired for decades in racial apartheid, has rejected as baseless.

PM Modi returns after 3-day visit to South Africa for G20 summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday returned to India after a three-day visit to South Africa for the G20 and IBSA meetings. At the G20 Leaders Summit, Modi called for a global compact to prevent misuse of artificial intelligence and made a strong pitch for critical technologies to be human-centric, instead of finance-centric. At the India-Brazil-South Africa leaders meeting, the prime minister said the reform of the UN Security Council was no longer an option, but a necessity and asserted that the troika should send a clear message for changes to institutions of global governance. "The successful Johannesburg G20 will contribute to a prosperous and sustainable planet," Modi said in a post on X on Sunday. "My meetings and interactions with world leaders were very fruitful and will deepen India's bilateral linkages with various nations. I'd like to thank the wonderful people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa and the Government of South Africa for organising the Summit," Modi .

Unfortunate that US didn't participate in G20: South African trade minister

It is unfortunate that the US did not participate in the G20 in Johannesburg this weekend because important matters relating to world trade were discussed, South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau said on Sunday. Tau, asked whether the US would lose out by not attending and reduce its influence on global trade, said this needed to be judged in the context of what the outcomes of the G20 have been. It's been an important discussion around global trade, issues around the World Trade Organisation (WTO), discussion around industrialisation, financing for development, around debt. All those issues are important for the entire world and it is quite unfortunate that their (the US) voice was not coming across at these meetings, Tau said in a media briefing. The minister said discussions with the US around trade would continue. G20 is a separate process. Of course, I can't pretend that it does not reflect on the issues that have been discussed, but so far it hasn

G20 seeks stronger developing nation representation in MDB decisions

G20 nations have underscored the need for enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in decision making in Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) like the World Bank and IMF and other international economic and financial institutions. "In that context, we welcome the creation of a 25th chair at the IMF Executive Board to enhance the voice and representation of Sub-Saharan Africa," as per the leaders' declaration during the G20 South Africa Summit held in Johannesburg. G20 leaders reaffirm the critical role of MDBs in driving poverty reduction, economic growth, and development across client countries. "We welcome the inaugural Progress Implementation Report on the G20 MDB Roadmap by the Heads of MDBs Group. We further acknowledge the Capital Adequacy Framework's (CAF) potential to help MDBs more efficiently utilise existing resources, share more risk with the private sector and utilise new instruments to increase lending capacity over the next decade and recognise

PM Modi pushes global AI safeguards at G20, warns against deepfake misuse

Speaking at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, PM Modi urged a global compact to curb deepfakes, crime and terror-linked misuse of AI, stressing the need for human oversight

Rites to export in-service diesel locomotives to South Africa: CMD Mithal

RITES Limited, a firm under the Ministry of Railways, for the first time will export in-service diesel locomotives to South Africa from the end of this fiscal year, the company's chairman and managing director, Rahul Mithal, said. Since Indian Railways is almost fully electrified, it is exploring opportunities to export its in-service diesel locomotives, having over 15 years of functional life remaining, he said. RITES has secured orders to export 18 in-service locomotives to South Africa after suitable modifications to suit the country's operational requirements, he said. While RITES has been exporting new locomotives, this is the first time the company has secured an order for the export of in-service locomotives, he added. South Africa follows the Cape Gauge system, where the distance between the tracks is 1,067 mm, whereas India's rail system operates on the Broad Gauge system with a track width of 1,676 mm. "We will deliver the first modified in-service diesel locomotive by .

G20 summit in South Africa adopts joint declaration despite US boycott

The heads of state attending the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg on Saturday adopted a Declaration by consensus despite US attempts to stop it. It is a great moment for us because we believe that this will revolutionise the (African) continent, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said on host broadcaster SABC, calling the Declaration as an affirmation of multilateralism. Generally, the adoption of the Declaration happens at the end of the Leaders' Summit. This time it happened at the start of the meet. The Declaration has been negotiated and agreed upon by the Sherpas that needed to agree on (it). The various leaders who are here have been briefed by their Sherpas on what is in the Declaration, so there was nothing that stops us from putting the Declaration forward for adoption by the leaders who are in the first segment of this (two-day) meeting, Lamola said about the unusual step of adopting the Declaration early in the start of the

Solidarity, equality, sustainability key pillars of growth: G20 declaration

Acknowledging the impact of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition, a Declaration adopted at the G20 Leaders' Summit here on Saturday confirmed that solidarity, equality and sustainability are key pillars of inclusive growth. Energy security, climate action and disaster resilience and response too was prominently mentioned in the text of the Declaration that was adopted by the heads of state attending the Summit by consensus despite US attempts to stop it. We understand our interconnectedness as a global community of nations and reaffirm our commitment to ensure that no one is left behind through multilateral cooperation, macro policy coordination, global partnerships for sustainable development and solidarity, the Declaration read. The 39-page document acknowledges the impact of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflicts and wars, and deepening inequality increasing global economic uncertainty and fragmentation. In the face of

India's priorities shine through in G20 South Africa Leaders' Declaration

The declaration unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reflecting India's consistent stance on the issue

Global wealth, development gaps 'unjust, unsustainable': Ramaphosa at G20

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday described disparities in wealth and development within and among countries as unjust and unsustainable, calling them one of the biggest impediments to global growth as he opened the G20 Leaders' Summit here. In his address to some 40 heads of state, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gathered in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa also underscored the need to dismantle divisions based on economic status, gender, race and geography to ensure a sustainable future. "It is essential that we break down divisions of economic status, gender, race and geography. Sustainability involves meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, he said. The President said as a founding member of the G20, South Africa has sought to ensure that the development priorities of the Global South and the African continent find expression firmly and permanently on the agenda of the G20. This is importa

'Special' summit: PM Narendra Modi begins SA visit to attend G20 meet

In a departure statement before leaving for Johannesburg, Prime Minister Modi backed South Africa's G20 agenda and stressed continuity of Global South priorities

PM Modi arrives in Johannesburg for G20 summit under SA's Presidency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Johannesburg on Friday to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit being held under South Africa's Presidency. Modi arrived at Waterkloof Air Force Base (AFB) in Gauteng, where he was accorded a traditional welcome. He was greeted by artists who performed cultural song and dances. This is the first G20 Summit being held in Africa. The African Union became a member of the G20 during India's presidency in 2023. On the margins of the summit, the prime minister is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg. He will also attend the 6th summit of IBSA - a trilateral grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa. "Will be attending the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is a particularly special Summit as it is being held in Africa. Various global issues will be discussed there. Will be meeting various world leaders during the Summit," Modi posted on social media before departure. "I will present India's ...

S Africa refuses to hand over G20 baton to junior official amid US spat

South Africa has decided not to hand over the annual G20 Presidency to a junior US official at the end of the leaders' summit, even as a White House official cautions Cyril Ramaphosa over running his mouth against the US and President Donald Trump. South African President Ramaphosa adopted a reconciliatory approach on Thursday evening after the US requested accreditation for an eight-member team led by US charg d'affaires, Marc Dillard, to receive the baton on Sunday. However, late on Thursday evening, Ramaphosa's spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, posted a message on social media, saying the president will not hand over the G20 Presidency to a junior official. The President will not hand over to a charg d'affaires. It's a breach of established protocol. No head of state and government anywhere in the world would do it, Magwenya told local media. There was also anger in South Africa about remarks by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, which analysts said was a breach of protoco

South Africans are flourishing more than you might expect: Here's why

Insights from South Africa could offer clues about how to support the well-being of people living in places that are going through significant social and structural challenges

US to attend but not participate in deliberations at G20 in South Africa

The US will attend only the closing ceremony of this weekend's G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, but will not participate in any deliberations, the US confirmed in a statement late on Thursday. South Africa will hand over the annual Presidency of the G20 to the US on Sunday, and had indicated that it would do so ceremonially to an empty chair after repeated threats by US President Donald Trump that there would be no representation from the US. The US announcement followed some tough talk earlier on Thursday, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took several swipes at Trump without naming him specifically. It cannot be that a country's geographical location or income level or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to. It basically means that there should be no bullying of one nation by another nation we are all equal, Ramaphosa said to huge applause from the delegates at the G20 Social Summit. By early evening, Ramaphosa was more conciliatory as he ...

Leaders press on with G20 summit in South Africa without US and Trump

Leaders and delegates from the world's richest nations and top developing countries are gathering this weekend for the Group of 20 summit in South Africa, an event overshadowed by the boycott of US President Donald Trump and his administration. Africa's first G20 summit will see representatives of 42 countries, but not the United States, a founding member of the group and one that's supposed to be taking over its rotating presidency in Johannesburg. Trump has denounced South Africa's leadership of the G20 and said he would not attend, citing alleged discrimination of the country's white farmers. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he's told Trump that information about the alleged persecution of Afrikaners is completely false. Last Friday, Trump also said that no US officials would attend the gathering. The US boycott has dominated discussions more so than the summit's agenda, which includes climate resilience, debt sustainability for poor nations and growing ...