Smith, Burger to carry SA flag at Winter Games

With the 2026 Winter Olympic Games set to get underway, cross-country skier Matthew Smith and skeleton athlete Nicole Burger have been selected to carry the South African flag at the opening ceremony of the games.

“Smith (35) and Burger (31) are the oldest members among the five athletes who will do duty for Team SA at the XXV Winter Olympics. This is the biggest delegation that the country has ever sent to a Winter Games. All five are experiencing their first Winter Olympics at senior level,” the

Minister Tau leads SA delegation to China for key trade talks

By Themba Thobela

Beijing, China - South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, is leading a high-level delegation to Beijing, China, for the Joint Economic Trade Commission (JETC), where he is meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

The move underscores the importance of the strategic

South African Indie Studio Launches GrowBud, a Desktop Cannabis Game Blending Productivity and Play

GrowBud

Make Games Play launches GrowBud, a desktop cannabis grow game that runs as a sidebar while you work, blending productivity-friendly play with plant simulation.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA, January 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- South African indie studio **Make Games Play** has launched *GrowBud*, a desktop-based cannabis cultivation game designed to run as a

Strong Room Door Audit Checklist (2026): What Insurers and Security Auditors Expect

avansa

Insurer-ready 2026 checklist for strong room doors: standards, installation proof, access controls, monitoring, and maintenance records.

JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG, SOUTH AFRICA, January 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As insurers tighten underwriting criteria and security audits become more evidence-driven, strong room doors are receiving increased scrutiny across retail, banking, logistics, and industrial environments.

Businesses that store cash, valuables, firearms, sensitive records, or high-value stock are

Learners urged to have a clear plan as 2026 school year gets underway

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has encouraged learners across the country to approach the 2026 school year with renewed focus, discipline and a commitment to academic excellence. 

In a series of back-to-school messages shared on its

SA concerned by developments in Iran

Thursday, January 15, 2026

The Presidency says the South African government is following the developments in Iran with concern.

The reports of unrest and the subsequent loss of life are concerning, said the Presidency in a statement, and South Africa urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

“South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception.

“We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace,” it said.

Sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through solutions that centre the agency of the Iranian people. – SAnews.gov.za

Festive season stats show a 5% reduction in fatal crashes

Preliminary data from the 2025/26 Festive Season Road Safety Campaign indicates a five percent reduction in both fatalities and crashes when compared to the same period last year.

“This year, a total of 1 427 fatalities were recorded