South Africa

Animal rescuers evacuate a lion cub from war-torn Lebanon to South Africa

1:20pm November 15, 2024

The group Animals Lebanon says it rescued Sara the lion cub from abuse by a Lebanese social media influencer, kept it safe in Beirut and sent it to a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.

South Africa's government won't help the illegal miners inside a closed mine

3:23am November 15, 2024

Miners are believed to be suffering from a lack of food, water and other basic necessities after police closed off the entrances used to transport supplies.

'America's Nobel' goes to a power couple who made a startling discovery about HIV

5:41pm September 30, 2024

This year's Lasker Prize for public service goes to South African researchers Salim and Quarraisha Abdool-Karim. The married couple made a startling discovery about HIV — and did something about it.

South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla Briefs The Media On Mpox Outbreak

Health & Safety

Mpox did not fade away. Africa faces two alarming outbreaks -- and lacks vaccines

10:48am July 17, 2024

by Melody Schreiber

The Global North has moved on from the mpox scare of 2022. The Global South is seeing outbreaks — and lacks the tools to address stem the virus.

From convict to cabinet: South Africa’s new sports minister promotes gangland motorsport

5:14am July 11, 2024

by Kate Bartlett

South Africa's new sports minister once drove getaway cars in bank heists. Now he's in government, with plans to bring the dangerous pastime of car spinning into the mainstream.

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World News

These are the major elections NPR correspondents are watching

12:31pm June 30, 2024

by International Desk

2024 is an extraordinary year of global elections, with dozens of national votes worldwide. Here are some of the ones we are closely following.

World News

South Africa’s ANC and opposition announce a unity government, in a big power shift

9:30pm June 14, 2024

by Kate Bartlett

The African National Congress and its main opposition, the Democratic Alliance, along with the smaller Inkatha Freedom Party, have agreed to form a government of national unity.

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Music & Culture

On his latest album, Abdullah Ibrahim hears the world in many 'different colors'

2:55pm June 05, 2024

One of South Africa's greatest jazz musicians joins us to talk about his latest work and embarking on a world tour as he turns 90 years old.

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Former South African President Jacob Zuma arrives at Orlando stadium in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, for the launch of his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party's manifesto Saturday, May 18, 2024.

World News

Jacob Zuma banned from running in South Africa's election

11:14am May 20, 2024

by Kate Bartlett

Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been barred from contesting in next week's elections, South Africa's top court ruled Monday.

Paramedic Papinki Lebelo waits for a police escort before responding to an emergency call-out in the Red Zone neighborhood of Philippi East in Cape Town, South Africa. Due to a rise in attacks on paramedics, large parts of the city are only accessible to ambulance crews when they have a police escort. This severely delays response times.

Health & Safety

'There is no respect anymore' as ambulances come under attack in South Africa

8:10am May 19, 2024

by Tommy Trenchard

That's what one paramedic says of the targeting of ambulance crews. Criminals are after phones and wallets along with medical equipment and drugs. We ride along with a Cape Town crew in a Red Zone.