General Information
Johannesburg is the most populous city in South Africa. The City of Johannesburg itself has a population of 5,538,596, while the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 6,599,190, making it one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, and seat of the country's highest court, the Constitutional Court. Situated on the mineral-rich Witwatersrand hills, the city has long been at the epicentre of the international mineral and gold trade. The richest city in Africa by GDP and private wealth, Johannesburg functions as the economic capital of South Africa and is home to the continent's largest stock exchange, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- Population: 5,900,000+ (Metro Area)
- Area: 1,645 km²
- Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
- Coordinates: Latitude: -26.204444885254, Longitude: 28.045555114746
- Timezone: Timezone info not available
- Current Local Time: ailab
Johannesburg Latest News
IOL
Young South African dancers shine at Walt Disney World, winning world championship titles
Two talented 14-year-old dancers from Knysna, Fiah-Bella Fredericks and Chioma Tagbo, have made South Africa proud by winning gold at the prestigious Dance the World event in Florida. Their inspiring journey, supported by their community, showcases the power of determination and talent on the global stage.
IOL
A friendly braai, but Boks will give nothing on the pitch
The double World Champions determined to build on their perfect start to the new tournament, which pits the best of the northern hemisphere against their southern counterparts.
The Citizen
From the President’s Walk to community clean-ups: Here’s how Joburg will mark Mandela Day
Johannesburg will mark Mandela Day this weekend with a range of community initiatives, including clean-up campaigns, school refurbishment projects, charity drives and the annual Mandela Day Walk and Run. Mandela Day is commemorated annually on 18 July in honour of former president Nelson Mandela. The day encourages people to spend 67 minutes in community service, recognising the 67 years Mandela devoted to public service. Ramaphosa to join Mandela Day Walk and Run President Cyril Ramaphosa will participate in the Mandela Day Walk and Run at DP World Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, 19 July. He is expected to join thousands of participants in the annual event and take part in the 5km walk in support of Nelson Mandela International Day. President @CyrilRamaphosa will on Sunday, 19 July 2026, participate in the Mandela Day Walk and Run 2026 at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.The President will join thousands of South Africans in the annual event and participate in the 5-kilometre walk in support… pic.twitter.com/ZmSWkORMXn— The Presidency (@PresidencyZA) July 16, 2026 Mandela Day clean-up The Corlett Drive Improvement Precinct (CDIP) will host a clean-up on Corlett Drive between Rudd Road and the M1 on Saturday morning. Acting CDIP chair Mark Pencharz said the initiative is about taking responsibility for the neighbourhood. “Let us all take responsibility and make our precinct a place we can be proud of. Little steps in the right direction lead to focused outcomes.” Starbucks South Africa is supporting the initiative with reusable cups. Marketing co-ordinator Daniela Jordaan said Mandela Day highlighted the importance of small acts of service. “Mandela Day reminds us that meaningful change starts with simple acts of service. Whether it is choosing to reuse a cup or giving 67 minutes to your neighbourhood, every action counts.” Classroom refurbishments, coding and more The Adopt-a-School Foundation will also host hundreds of volunteers at a school in Soweto. The project will include classroom refurbishments, coding and robotics activities, literacy programmes, learner wellbeing initiatives and the establishment of a vegetable garden. Good Morning Angels Jacaranda FM’s Good Morning Angels has raised more than R2.3 million to fund 23 cochlear implant surgeries for children and adults on the waiting list at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital through former Miss South Africa Mia le Roux’s About Sound initiative. Hands-On Heroes Mandela Day activities will continue on 22 July when Ladles of Love hosts its Hands-On Heroes event at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec. Volunteers will assemble items for 20 000 preschool children, while proceeds from ticket sales will help provide meals for children in need.
The Citizen
Mjolo in mind? What SA’s most searched words tell us about the state of relationships
South Africans have a lot on their minds when it comes to love, and Google Search is where they’re going to figure it out. New research analysing search data for 2026 has revealed the most searched word definitions in South Africa, and the results paint a telling picture of a nation trying to navigate modern relationships, emotional wellbeing and everyday mjolo drama, one Google search at a time. Topping the list nationally is “narcissist”, searched 38 200 times a month, narrowly beating “gaslighting” (36 300 searches) and “love” (34 500 searches). Rounding out the top five are “anxiety” (31 000 searches) and “metaphor” (30 800 searches). The full top 25 Narcissist – 38 200 searches Gaslighting – 36 300 searches Love – 34 500 searches Anxiety – 31 000 searches Metaphor – 30 800 searches Integrity – 28 500 searches Fatigue – 26 200 searches Agile – 25 000 searches Stress – 23 700 searches Spiritual – 23 500 searches Capacity – 23 400 searches Clingy – 23 200 searches Equity – 22 800 searches Nonchalant – 22 700 searches Democracy – 22 600 searches Ethics – 22 400 searches Science – 22 200 searches Empathy – 21 200 searches Grace – 21 000 searches Resilience – 19 500 searches Power – 18 000 searches Corruption – 14 700 searches Discernment – 14 100 searches Eligible – 12 900 searches Apathy – 9 400 searches It’s hard to miss the relationship red flags hiding in plain sight here. “Narcissist”, “gaslighting” and “clingy” all crack the top 15, while “nonchalant” – internet shorthand for the emotionally unavailable situationship partner – isn’t far behind at number 14. Add “love” sitting comfortably in third place, and it’s clear that matters of the heart are driving a huge chunk of South Africa’s search behaviour this year. Official statistics from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) indicate that traditional marriage is declining significantly in the country, while divorce rates are rising. On the romantic front; society is shifting toward cohabitation and single life, with women increasingly driving divorce filings. Emotional wellbeing tops the list The word definitions weren’t searched at random. According to the findings, they cluster into distinct themes that reveal what’s actually keeping South Africans up at night – or up scrolling. A spokesperson for Unscramblerer.com, the word-based platform behind the research, said the standout trend was just how abstract this year’s most-searched definitions were. “One of the most striking findings is that South Africa’s top searched definitions in 2026 are dominated by abstract concepts rather than objects,” the unnamed spokesperson said. “From gaslighting and narcissist to integrity and democracy, people are searching for words that help them navigate relationships, emotions and the wider world.” The research grouped the 25 words into three broad categories: Emotional wellbeing: gaslighting, narcissist, love, anxiety, stress, fatigue, empathy, clingy, nonchalant and apathy. Value-based and societal: integrity, democracy, equity, ethics, corruption, power and capacity. Personal growth and educational: resilience, discernment, spiritual, science, metaphor, agile, grace and eligible. “Our research shows that emotional wellbeing, values, society and personal growth are the categories that stand out the most. People are searching for definitions to better understand personal experiences and public conversations.” How your province stacks up The national list is only half the story. Search habits shift noticeably from region to region, suggesting that different provinces are grappling with different priorities. Mpumalanga – Nonchalant Limpopo – Narcissist Northern Cape – Spiritual Eastern Cape – Resilience Free State – Spiritual North West – Gaslighting Western Cape – Integrity Gauteng – Grace KwaZulu-Natal – Agile The bigger picture Taken together, the data suggests South Africans are using search engines as a kind of low-stakes therapist – a place to quietly check whether what they’re going through has a name, whether it’s a difficult ex, a demanding job or the state of the country.
The South African
‘It’s real’: Mbokazi’s agent breaks silence on transfer speculation
Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s future has become the subject of growing speculation following his impressive performances at the FIFA World Cup. The 20-year-old centre-back, who is currently on the books of MLS side Chicago Fire, has reportedly attracted interest from several top European clubs. His agent, Basia Michaels, has now provided an update on the youngster’s situation, revealing that scouts have been monitoring the defender closely. Mbokazi set for a big move to Europe “Extremely busy – but busy is good… so we take it,” Michaels said as per iDiski Times. “It’s very, very early to tell, but there have been a good number of scouts that have reached out and are doing the initial groundwork that needs to be done. “When the sporting directors start calling, then I know it’s real.” Mbokazi joined Chicago Fire in December after an impressive spell with Orlando Pirates, but he could already be on the move after just six months in Major League Soccer. Although Michaels did not disclose which clubs have expressed interest, she confirmed that several scouts have made enquiries about the highly rated South African international. Earlier this month, reports linked Mbokazi with a move to Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest, while Serie A champions Napoli have also been credited with an interest in the talented defender. Since joining Chicago Fire, the 20-year-old South African defender has featured in 12 games for the MLS-based club. He is yet to score but has been awarded Man of the Match several times, thus becoming a fan favourite. Where should TLB go next?
The South African
18 July is Mandela Day: Why Tata Madiba’s legacy lives on
Every year on 18 July, South Africans and millions of people around the world come together to celebrate Mandela Day by giving back to their communities. The annual event honours the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first democratically elected president and one of the world’s most respected human rights leaders. Mandela died at his Johannesburg home on 5 December 2013, aged 95. While many people know Mandela Day for encouraging 67 minutes of community service, the day carries a much deeper meaning. It serves as a reminder that everyone has the power to create positive change, no matter how small the act. Why do we celebrate Mandela Day? Mandela Day marks Nelson Mandela’s birthday, which falls on 18 July. In 2009, the United Nations officially declared 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of Mandela’s lifelong commitment to peace, reconciliation, justice and human rights. Rather than celebrating Mandela himself, the day encourages people to continue the values he lived by through acts of kindness and service. The Nelson Mandela Foundation describes the day as a global call to action, encouraging people to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Why 67 minutes? The tradition of dedicating 67 minutes to community service represents the 67 years Mandela spent fighting for social justice. The idea is simple: spend at least one hour and seven minutes helping someone else, whether by volunteering, donating, mentoring or supporting a local initiative. Many South Africans choose to give far more than 67 minutes, turning Mandela Day into an opportunity for lasting community impact. How can you celebrate Mandela Day? There are many ways to get involved, regardless of your budget or available time. You could: Donate food, clothing or blankets to a local charity. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or community organisation. Read to children at a school or library. Visit an elderly care home. Plant trees or clean up a public space. Support an animal shelter. Mentor a young person or share your skills with others. The focus is not on grand gestures but on making a meaningful contribution. Mandela Day remains relevant More than a decade after the United Nations established Mandela Day, its message remains as important as ever. South Africa continues to face challenges including poverty, unemployment and inequality. Mandela Day offers an opportunity for individuals, businesses and organisations to work together to uplift communities and inspire hope. As South Africans mark Mandela Day tomorrow, the challenge remains the same: What can you do today to make someone else’s tomorrow a little better?
TechCentral
iOCO snaps up ERP firm as acquisition machine cranks up
ERP specialist Astraia Technology is iOCO's second purchase in four months as dealmaking accelerates.
TechCentral
Paratus again voted Namibia’s most reliable internet provider
An independently audited public vote has crowned Paratus Namibia as the most reliable internet provider - again.