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
WATCH: Madlanga Commission faces secrecy battle as media oppose closed-door intelligence testimony
The commission plans to engage socialite Serge Cabonge and obtain a statement about allegations contained in a voice recording played during former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s bail hearing at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court last week.
IOL
Proposed MyCiTi funding cuts raise concerns over expansion to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain
The City of Cape Town says proposed reductions and the possible phasing out of the Public Transport Network Grant could threaten future MyCiTi expansion, although funding for Phase 2A is currently allocated until June 2028.
The Citizen
WIN double tickets to The Royal Countess Zingara Show valued at R1 450 a ticket!
Show date: THURSDAY, 5 NOVEMBER 2026 Date: Thursday, 5 November 2026 Time: Doors open at 5:00 PM; the show begins at 7:30 PM Venue: The Arch Pavilion, Melrose Arch. Entry to the Pavilion is via the BP Gate, opposite the BP Garage on Sunnyside Road Tickets include a welcome drink, a 4-course dinner, and the show. All other drinks will be for your own account. More about The Royal Countess Zingara Following a triumphant season in Cape Town The Royal Countess Zingara is bringing her enchantment to the City of Gold with La Dolce Royal. The production will unfold at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg from 20 June 2026, ushering in a dazzling new chapter for her Highveld audiences. After an absence of more than a decade, the fabled Countess Zingara’s dinner-cirque spectacle opened in the Mother City last October to effusive reviews and capacity houses. It’s now time to bewitch Johannesburg’s Zingarians once again, with performances delivered with skill and aplomb by an outstanding South African and international cast. Conceptualised by visionary Richard Griffin, La Dolce Royal is directed by Craig Leo and executed by an extraordinary team that have created a splendid universe where magic collides with vibrant imagination in a velvet, mirrored Spiegeltent. Guided by a Timekeeper, guests will journey through acts of wonder, music and song, spectacle and daring. Among the world-class artists performing will be former Cirque du Soleil aerial cradle specialists Juan Pablo Palacios and Victoria Perez Iacono from Argentina, rola bola balancing marvel Axel Perez from Las Vegas, acrobat Samantha Kotze from Johannesburg and The Clorettes, a vocal quartet from Cape Town. “In a world unravelling at the edges, La Dolce Royal is our poetic reply,” says co-director Valentina Leo. “It is a love letter to the human spirit and a reminder to hold fast to beauty, to hope and to one another.” Located just off the Corlett Drive off-ramp, Melrose Arch is easily reachable from all major routes, and entry to the Pavilion is via the BP Gate, opposite the BP Garage on Sunnyside Road. There is ample, secure basement parking and 24-hour security, to ensure visitors enjoy both convenience and peace of mind in a sophisticated, pedestrian-friendly setting. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the Royal Countess Zingara back,” says Natalie Stewart, Managing Director of Melrose Arch. “This unique production brings creativity, vibrancy and a fresh entertainment experience to Johannesburg, and Melrose Arch is perfectly suited to host a production of this scale that will add a bold new layer to the precinct’s experiential offering.” La Dolce Royal runs Tuesdays to Sundays from 20 June 2026. Bookings to the general public is now open with reservations through Dineplan, www.zingara.co.za and boxoffice@zingara.co.za as well as through 021 891 0448. Doors open at 5pm and the show begins at 7:30pm. Tickets start at R1,260 per person and include a welcome drink, a four-course feast and the full Zingara show experience. Bespoke hosting options range from Private Lounges and the Aperol Garden to the coveted Royal Balconies and elevated stage tables with sweeping views. For enquires about corporate bookings please email vanessa@zingara.co.za. Please note there is PG10 advisory on the show. For all media enquiries please email PR lead Allison Foat via allison@divapr.co.za. Follow @zingara_royalcountess on Instagram for news, updates and behind-the-scenes antics. The competition closes Sunday, 1 November 2026 at midnight. The competition will run online & in print. Winners will be contacted & their seating will be displayed on the registry by the entrance This prize is not transferable or exchangeable for cash Ts&Cs apply. This competition is only open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older. By entering the competition, you accept The Citizen’s standard terms and conditions. CLICK TO ENTER
The Citizen
MaWhoo and Cyan Boujee’s Instagram feud: Everything we know about the alleged love triangle
A social media spat between Amapiano singer MaWhoo (Thandeka Ngema) and DJ-influencer Cyan Boujee (Honour Zuma) has kept South African timelines busy this week. It centres on an alleged shared love interest and a claim about three houses. Neither woman has publicly confirmed who the posts are about. It starts with the houses The conversation took off after MaWhoo said her partner had bought her three houses outright, going as far as stressing the point that they weren’t rentals. In response to a previous post by Cyan that set her off, MaWhoo shared a screenshot of an incoming text on her Instagram Stories. The message began “My twin!” and ended with the line “I really be having people mad for years.” Many read it as a man reaching out to her while he was publicly linked to someone else. MaWhoo. Picture: Instagram, @mawhoo_ Cyan Boujee answered on her own Stories with captions that followed the same pattern, including “My name alone will ruin a B’s whole day.” Gossip pages and fan accounts framed it as a clash over the same man, with some suggesting Cyan had “taken” him. Cyan then posted a poolside lifestyle clip set to MaWhoo’s song Bengicela, which many read as mocking the singer. MaWhoo shared a cosy photo with a man on her WhatsApp status, captioned “My happiness”. Cyan responded with a video singing MaWhoo’s own verse back at her and telling her to post recent pictures, not old ones. Cyan Boujee. Picture: Instagram, @cyan.boujee24 MaWhoo’s sister, Amahle, reportedly joined in via the comments before later going live on TikTok to threaten the DJ. The mystery man Neither woman has named the man; however, netizens have pointed to a senior municipal official mired in controversy. In a clip circulating on X, Cyan reportedly warned she would confront MaWhoo if they were ever booked for the same gig. She has since posted that she is disappointed in her own online behaviour and needs a break from social media, without saying what prompted it.
The South African
Heyneke Meyer suggests ‘bolter’ for Springboks
The Springboks will soon regroup to continue preparing for the upcoming November Tests, which will include four matches in the northern hemisphere. As Rassie Erasmus continues to assess his squad options, it will be interesting to see whether there are many surprise selections when the team gets back together this month. Interestingly, former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer believes consideration should be given to Bulls loose forward Jeandré Rudolph, who been a reliable performer for the Pretoria-based side ever since returning from the Cheetahs. “I think Jeandré is playing brilliant rugby at the moment. His technique at the breakdown is of the highest quality,” the former Springbok coach told Rapport. “He can play six, seven and eight, but for me his greatest value is that he is an out-and-out specialist openside flank who is incredibly good over the ball. “His ability to steal balls and win turnovers puts him among the very best in the business.” Springboks are blessed with depth at loose forward Despite Meyer’s endorsement, it does seem unlikely that Erasmus would consider the 32-year-old right now, although it does come at a time when ultimate utility loose forward Kwagga Smith remains unavailable due to injury. “What makes Rudolph special is his work on the ground, his good ball-carrying ability and his versatility,” Meyer added. “He is no longer one of the youngest players, but his current form is excellent. I believe he definitely deserves an opportunity to prove himself at a higher level. “Especially with the World Cup approaching, it is important to develop enough depth in case one of our established loose forwards gets injured.” On the end-of-year tour, which will conclude the Nations Championship tournament, the Springboks will face Italy, France and Ireland as well as one final opponent at the end of November. end-of-year fixtures Saturday 7 November: Italy v Boks Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin Kick off: 16:00 Friday 13 November: France v Boks Venue: Stade de France, Paris Kick off: 22:00 Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Boks Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick off: 19:30 27–29 November: Finals Weekend Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London Kick off: TBC
The South African
‘I messed it up’: Alan Knott-Craig opens up about Mxit’s downfall
Former Mxit CEO Alan Knott-Craig has opened up about the mistakes that contributed to the downfall of one of South Africa’s pioneering social networking platforms. Launched in South Africa in 2005, Mxit was an early mobile instant messaging service that allowed users to communicate over GPRS, 3G and mobile internet at a fraction of the cost of traditional SMS messages. Before WhatsApp and BBM, Mxit was the leading app in South Africa in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The platform was compatible with thousands of basic feature phones and early smartphones, making it hugely popular among young South Africans. At its peak, millions of users accessed Mxit daily, but the platform struggled to maintain its relevance as the mobile technology landscape evolved. After experiencing a decline from 2013, Mxit eventually shut down in 2016. WhatsApp pushed Mxit out Reflecting on the platform’s demise in a post on Instagram, Knott-Craig, who served as CEO for a year after it was acquired in 2011, admitted that he made several mistakes while leading the company. “I was the CEO of Mxit for a year. Mxit was South Africa’s biggest social network; it was amazing, millions of people used it every single day. A lot of people ask me what happened to it,” he said. “Well, I messed it up, to be honest. We bought it in 2011 and then I proceeded to make a whole lot of mistakes. I got the strategy wrong. We decided to compete with WhatsApp. We should never have competed with WhatsApp, never compete with big companies. We were probably more of a dating app than a social messaging app.” Knott-Craig also acknowledged that Mxit failed to adapt its user experience as consumers moved from feature phones to smartphones. He said the company also struggled with its business model, contributing to the challenges it faced. “We didn’t migrate our experience from feature phones to smartphones. That wasn’t great, and I got my business model wrong. Eventually, my partners lost patience with me and they fired me,” he added. After just a year at the helm, Knott-Craig was removed from his position. Mxit continued operating for a few more years before eventually disappearing from the social media landscape. Which social media app is your favourite?
TechCentral
Before South Africa licenses Starlink, it should look at Ukraine
South Africa argues about Starlink's ownership, but the bigger question is who controls the switch.
TechCentral
SpaceX could swallow Tesla
AI revenue at SpaceX grew almost tenfold to $7.56-billion, more than half of total revenue.