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
Shoppers buying more as grocery prices fall, Boxer says, but food inflation could return
Boxer's selling prices fell 2.4% as customers bought more goods, although the retailer expects food inflation to return in the coming months.
IOL
DA candidate disputes claims over qualifications
DA Ward 66 candidate Sebastian Petersen has rejected allegations that he misrepresented his qualifications, saying a LinkedIn profile cited in a complaint was not created or controlled by him.
The Citizen
Pirates look to bounce back to winning ways against Galaxy
Orlando Pirates will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they face TS Galaxy at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday (kick-off is at 7.30 pm). The Buccaneers suffered a 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium this past weekend. Teboho Mokoena put Sundowns ahead in the first half, and Iqraam Rayners sealed the win with a late penalty. Ghampani Lungu had a chance to grab the equaliser for Pirates from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, but Ronwen Williams saved it. Following the defeat, Lungu took to Instagram to acknowledge the disappointment of not winning the competition for the fifth time in a row. The Zambian winger also expressed gratitude to those who had reached out to offer messages of support. “Yesterday wasn’t the outcome we worked for,” wrote Lungu on Sunday. “We did our best as a team, but we know there’s more we could have done. Football comes with wins and losses, and this is one of those moments to reflect, learn, and come back stronger. “To everyone who has reached out with messages of encouragement and support, thank you. Every message is appreciated, and none of the love goes unnoticed. “We take the lessons, keep our heads up and continue working.” ‘A difficult one to take’ Meanwhile, Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has called for his teammates to regroup following the loss to Sundowns. Speaking to Pirates TV after the loss, a visibly hurt Sibisi acknowledged that the coming days would be challenging for everyone associated with the club after the missed opportunity to defend their MTN8 title. “A difficult one to take, you know,” Sibisi admitted. “Very, very difficult. It’s going to be a very painful week for us,” he continued. “But we have to move on; we still have more games coming. I think we can still build from the performance; the boys left everything on the field, but it was just not meant to be.” The unbeaten Pirates outfit head into this clash as favourites to win this encounter against a Galaxy side that has struggled this season under the leadership of former Kaizer Chiefs striker Bernard Parker. The Rockets are currently 12th on the Betway Premiership standings with six points after seven games, having won just one game and drawn three and lost three. Pirates, on the other hand, are second with 19 points after seven games. They trail Sundowns by one point but have a game in hand.
The Citizen
Inseta CEO dismissal a ‘victory for accountability’ says Outa
The board of the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta) has dismissed CEO Gugu Mkhize with effect from 9 October following an investigation into her conduct. In a statement issued over the weekend, Inseta says chief financial officer Zanele Malaza will continue to act as CEO, pending the appointment of a permanent CEO. No specific charges or findings for Mkhize’s dismissal were given, though her tenure has been dogged by claims of spending and tender irregularities. Inseta says it will not comment further on the matter “out of respect for confidentiality and potential legal proceedings”. Wayne Duvenage, CEO of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), says recognition must go to the Inseta board and its chair, Refilwe Matenche, “who did what we had expected the prior board to do”. Advocate Stefanie Fick, Outa executive director for accountability, adds: “This is an important step forward for accountability at Inseta. Outa has been raising concerns about the leadership and governance of this institution for years, and we are pleased to see that action has finally been taken.” Legal action to continue Inseta is responsible for supporting skills development and training in the insurance and related sectors. Funded by skills development levies, it manages and disburses funds to broaden skills across the sector and provide employment access. Outa says despite Mkhize’s dismissal, it will continue with the court challenge launched in December 2025 in the Pretoria High Court to set aside Mkhize’s reappointment by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela. It says the appointment process was flawed and did not give proper consideration to Mkhize’s previous performance and governance concerns surrounding her at Inseta. “How can a minister appoint someone to run a public institution and leave it to the accounting authority to investigate their suitability afterwards?” asks Fick. “That is precisely the problem we want the court to address.” Outa says in a statement the case is no longer simply about whether Mkhize should remain in office. It is about ensuring that future appointments to public institutions are subjected to proper scrutiny before they are finalised. Removing CEO doesn’t remove concerns Mkhize’s dismissal leaves several questions unanswered around procurement irregularities and the appointment of service providers at high cost. As Moneyweb previously reported, Inseta set up the Insurance Sector Student Fund (ISSF) to support transformation in the insurance industry by funding student bursaries. The value of approved ISSF funding jumped from R20 million to R442.8 million between 2024 and 2025 – nearly 22 times over the previous year’s allocation. The amount recorded as ISSF expenditure in the 2025 financial year was R158.7 million. Of this, R70 million was paid over to a little-known company called Mabophe Business Solutions. Despite the massive increase in education funding, the Sunday Times reported that 879 bursary recipients went without funding during the first five months of 2026, leaving some to pay for their own accommodation, while others were evicted. Mkhize was suspended on 3 June following growing concerns over the inflation of the ISSF, with Outa saying it had identified systematic vulnerabilities within the fund dating back to 2022. Questions remain Outa’s concerns extend beyond Mkhize’s appointment as CEO to questions about financial management, procurement, transparency and oversight at the authority. Attempts to obtain information on these matters from Inseta have been stalled and delayed. Outa wants a full investigation into the expenditure and procurement decisions associated with the fund, and other procurement decisions during Mkhize’s tenure, including access to financial records to establish how the money was allocated and spent. Mkhize’s dismissal presents an opportunity for Inseta to begin rebuilding public confidence in its leadership and governance, says Outa. “The real victory will be ensuring that the same failures cannot simply happen again under a different CEO.” This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
The South African
Cape Town mayoral race: Meet the candidates for the 2026 local elections
The Cape Town mayoral race is heating up as political parties unveil their candidates for the 4 November local government elections. The City of Cape Town has been governed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) since 2006, with the party maintaining majority support in the metropolitan municipality. The city has often been praised for its governance and audit performance. However, inequality remains a major challenge, with some residents living in informal settlements without reliable access to water, proper sanitation and electricity. Affordability is also a concern, as rising living costs and property prices put pressure on residents. With smaller parties seeking to expand their support and competition from parties such as the Patriotic Alliance (PA) and ActionSA, the DA faces a contest to retain control of the metro. HERE ARE SOME OF THE CAPE TOWN MAYORAL CANDIDATES Geordin Hill-Lewis – Democratic Alliance Geordin Hill-Lewis is the incumbent mayor of Cape Town and the DA’s federal leader. He is seeking another term as the party attempts to retain control of the municipality. The DA will be looking to defend its record in the city while addressing concerns about service delivery, inequality and the cost of living. Cape Town’s SWAT and Drone Unit have arrived 🚨👏Highly skilled SWAT and drone teams are now ready to help SAPS tackle gang violence, extortion and violent crime.Next up, we will build a Metro Police Detective Unit and keep fighting for the power to investigate crime so we… pic.twitter.com/YaFktZlfAY— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) October 7, 2026 Nontando Nolutshungu – Economic Freedom Fighters Nontando Nolutshungu, the EFF’s national chairperson and a Member of Parliament, is the party’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town. The EFF will be seeking to expand its support in the metro and advance its political programme in the city. The DA cannot continue selling well-located municipal land to private developers for developments that working-class communities cannot afford.We must use public land strategically to expand affordable housing and dismantle apartheid spatial planning.Catch the full… pic.twitter.com/7DnMIdE2jt— Nontando Nolutshungu (@Nolutshungu_N) September 11, 2026 Dereleen James – ActionSA Dereleen James, a Member of Parliament for ActionSA, has been selected as the party’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town. ActionSA is seeking to strengthen its presence in the metro and challenge the DA’s long-standing dominance. Cape Town continue's to show me that this is a city with heart, compassion, love and diversity! I love this for me! 🥹🥰#VoteActionSA pic.twitter.com/HvOv0BL4ai— Dereleen James MP (@DereleenJ) October 11, 2026 Brett Herron – GOOD Party and Rise Mzansi Brett Herron, the secretary-general of the GOOD Party, is the joint mayoral candidate for GOOD and Rise Mzansi. The partnership aims to offer voters an alternative in the city’s mayoral contest. Mother & son snap at @mothercitydoc screening… pic.twitter.com/Tt8znFQpGG— Brett Herron 🇿🇦🍉 (@brettherron) October 3, 2026 Cheslyn Daniels – Patriotic Alliance Cheslyn Daniels is the Patriotic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Cape Town. The PA will be seeking to build on its support in the city as it competes with established parties for votes in the upcoming local government elections. 🔥 CAPE TOWN, TOMORROW WE RISE! 💚🇿🇦Join PA President @GaytonMcK and Mayoral Candidate Cheslyn Daniels for the Cape Metro Manifesto Launch!📍 Highlands Primary, Mitchells Plain🗓️ Sun, 11 Oct | 15:00Cape Town, the PA is ready!#OnsBaizaNie #MaakToe #Vision2026 pic.twitter.com/wOlZ48FGmL— Patriotic Alliance (@OnsBaizaNie) October 10, 2026 The African National Congress (ANC) is yet to announce its mayoral candidate for the metro.
The South African
Cape Town now has its own SWAT team
Cape Town has launched a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit, giving the City a new capability to respond to serious crime and high-risk incidents. The unit was showcased alongside the City’s Metro Police Aviation Unit, which provides aerial surveillance and support for policing operations across Cape Town. The SWAT unit will assist with gang-related crime and extortion, high-risk arrest warrants, hostage and barricaded-suspect situations, as well as security at high-profile events. It is equipped with an armoured vehicle, modern firearms and technology including night-vision and heat-detection equipment. According to the City, members of the team have extensive experience with the SAPS Special Task Force and are also helping develop training for future SWAT officers. Cape Town also expands aerial policing In another boost for policing, the City of Cape Town will also expand its aerial surveillance. The City’s Metro Police Aviation Unit includes certified pilots and four types of aircraft for different operational requirements. Its work includes crime hotspot patrols, suspect tracking, search and rescue, crowd and event monitoring and land protection. The aircraft use thermal and zoom cameras, AI-assisted tracking and laser rangefinders to help officers locate suspects and activity, including in difficult-to-see areas such as bush and rooftops. Live aerial footage can be streamed to control centres, allowing officers on the ground to be directed more quickly. The City said the units have already supported operations resulting in arrests in Delft, Somerset West, Strand, Tafelsig and Elsies River, among other incidents. New digital nerve centre The new specialised units form part of Cape Town’s wider policing expansion, which includes more than 1 300 new City police officers added during the current term of office. The City is also finalising its Joint Policing Services Operational Centre (JPSOC), a digital nerve centre intended to bring together live information from drones, body-worn cameras, in-vehicle cameras, CCTV and automatic number plate recognition systems. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City was building its policing capacity to tackle serious crime and wanted its officers to have expanded powers to investigate gang, gun and drug crime. The City also said requests from SAPS to access its camera footage for investigations increased by 35% over the past year.
TechCentral
Xiaomi wants to sell South Africans a lot more than phones
Phones, scooters, robot vacuums and smart TVs: how Xiaomi plans to win over South African consumers.
TechCentral
Malatsi can’t use telecoms rules to curb lawful gambling, lawyer warns
A bet doesn't become unlawful because it's placed on a cellphone, says gambling lawyer Wayne Lurie.