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| PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA CONGRATULATES BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT ON RE-ELECTION |
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| President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, extended his warm congratulations and well wishes to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his re-election for a historic fourth term. |
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In a statement on Monday, 26 October 2026, President Ramaphosa described President Lula’s re-election as a victory that extends beyond Brazil, highlighting its significance for the Global South and progressive forces around the world.
“On behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, I congratulate my dear brother and friend, President Lula, and the people of Brazil. This victory will echo beyond the shores of Brazil. It is a victory for the global south and progressive forces throughout the world.
“We affirm our commitment to continue strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries and working closely together in all multilateral fora to forge a just and better world order underpinned by solidarity and adherence to international law,” the President said.
South Africa and Brazil maintain close bilateral and strategic relations founded on South-South cooperation, multilateralism and shared leadership in international forums, including BRICS, the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, the Group of 77 and China (G77+China) and the Group of 20 (G20).
In March 2026, President Ramaphosa undertook a state visit to Brazil at the invitation of President Lula, a visit that further strengthened the existing trade and political relations between the two countries.
The re-election comes as the two countries continue to cooperate on shared priorities, including multilateralism, international solidarity and efforts to advance a more just international order.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| MINISTER LAMOLA CALLS FOR RENEWED PAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY AT GLOBAL AFRICA AND AFRICAN DIASPORA CONFERENCE |
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| Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, delivered remarks at the Second Global Africa and African Diaspora Conference at the OR Tambo International Conference Centre in Birchwood on 27 October 2026, calling for renewed Pan-African solidarity and collective action to advance Africa’s freedom, dignity and development. |
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Addressing delegates, Minister Lamola emphasised that political independence alone was insufficient to achieve lasting freedom without transforming the global structures that perpetuate inequality and economic dependency. He highlighted the continuing challenges facing Africa, including unsustainable debt, unequal access to global financial systems, climate change, resource exploitation and conflicts.
The Minister underscored the importance of strengthening Africa’s voice in international institutions, promoting economic justice and ensuring that the continent derives greater value from its natural resources through beneficiation, processing and manufacturing. He also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to addressing xenophobia and anti-migrant violence, advocating a continent-wide dialogue to tackle the underlying causes of migration and discrimination.
Highlighting ongoing efforts to advance African agency, Minister Lamola pointed to initiatives aimed at promoting reparative justice, reforming the global financial architecture, strengthening public health systems and expanding regional infrastructure and intra-African trade.
Concluding his address, Minister Lamola stressed that the responsibility to build a world free from domination, occupation, conflict and genocide rests with the present generation, just as it did with the generations who fought against colonialism.
“The task of building a world free of domination, free of occupation, free of wars and genocide remains ours as much as it was theirs,” said Minister Lamola.
– Source: www.dirco.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICA SENDS CONDOLENCES TO JORDAN FOLLOWING VIOLENT ATTACK ON A CHURCH IN KARAK GOVERNORATE |
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| The Government of the Republic of South Africa conveys its deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty, King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, the Government and the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan following a heinous attack on mourners at a funeral service in a church in Karak Governorate, where seven mourners lost their lives and forty more people were injured. |
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We join the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, in condemning this senseless act of violence against civilians in a place of worship, which is meant to be a place of peace and sanctity.
Minister Ronald Lamola stated that “In this time of sorrow, we extend our heartfelt sympathies and support to the families of the victims and wish the injured people a speedy recovery.”
– Source: www.dirco.gov.za |
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| UNITED NATIONS DAY 2026 COMMEMORATED IN PRETORIA |
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| The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the United Nations Country Team, commemorated United Nations Day 2026 in Pretoria on 27 October 2026. |
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Held under the theme Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All, the commemoration marked the 81st anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the role of the United Nations in promoting international peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and international cooperation, as well as the importance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges.
Among those in attendance were Deputy Minister Kenny Morolong, Deputy Minister in the Presidency; Mr Nelson Muffuh, United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa; and Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa and former Executive Director of UN Women.
– Source: DIRCO Public Diplomacy Platforms |
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| SOUTH AFRICA SEEKS TO TURN CHINA’S ZERO-TARIFF ACCESS INTO JOBS, INDUSTRIAL GROWTH |
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| South Africa is working to turn China’s zero-tariff treatment for African countries into increased exports, local manufacturing and job creation. |
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Speaking at a briefing reception on China’s Zero-Tariff Treatment to African countries in Pretoria on Thursday, 22 October 2026, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau urged South African businesses to take advantage of duty-free access to the Chinese market, while government continues negotiations aimed at providing long-term certainty for exporters and protecting local industries.
“Let us move from interest to deals, and from deals to prosperity,” the Minister said.
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China introduced the unilateral preference scheme, which provides duty-free market access for 100% of products, with the exception of 47 tariff lines subject to tariff-rate quotas, for the period from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028.
Minister Tau said South African products that meet the applicable rules of origin can enter the Chinese market without customs duties. Between 1 June and 31 August 2026, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued 25 975 certificates of origin, while customs declarations increased by 199% year-on-year.
The Minister said South Africa had also developed a Top 100 value-added product portfolio for the Chinese market, covering sectors including agro-processing, beverages, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, machinery, medical equipment, fabricated metals, plastics and rubber, automotive products and other industrial capabilities.
The portfolio is intended to help direct export-promotion activities towards products with identified commercial opportunities.
Strengthening trade ties
China remains South Africa’s largest trading partner globally and an important source of investment.
Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached R642 billion in 2025, up from R483 billion in 2021. South African exports to China increased from R198 billion to R222 billion over the same period, while imports from China rose from R284 billion to R420 billion.
Chinese foreign direct investment stock in South Africa stood at R117 billion in 2024, with more than 200 Chinese companies having invested in the country. More than 25 South African companies have also invested in China.
Minister Tau said the scale of the relationship made predictable trade rules and balanced trade essential.
“A relationship of this importance must rest on predictable rules and balanced trade. The zero-tariff treatment runs for two years, and we are not waiting for it to expire.”
In February 2026, Tau and Chinese Minister Wang Wentao signed a framework agreement on economic partnership in Beijing. South Africa and China are now negotiating an Early Harvest Agreement through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with officials in Beijing this week working towards concluding the negotiations.
The proposed arrangement is intended to provide exporters with greater certainty beyond 2028, while including safeguards to protect South African industry and jobs.
“South Africa trades with all its partners. Diversifying our markets is how we protect South African jobs in an uncertain world. Predictable market access gives investors the confidence to build production in South Africa.
“That is what we want: not only more trade, but also more factories, more processing and more jobs here at home,” the Minister said.
Expanding industrial cooperation
He also highlighted progress in industrial development, including investment in special economic zones, automotive manufacturing, electric vehicles and battery production.
Last week, Minister Tau visited the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone, which is situated between the Lion and Samancor chrome smelters in Limpopo.
He said the focus on the zone forms part of South Africa’s Industrial Development Strategy, which prioritises the reopening of smelters to support economic growth.
In the automotive sector, Chinese vehicle manufacturers are contributing to local manufacturing through partnerships and investment in South Africa’s production capacity.
BAIC operates through a joint venture with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to manufacture and assemble vehicles locally. Chery has also acquired Nissan South Africa’s manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria, which officially opened in July 2026.
According to the Minister, Chery retained 692 former Nissan employees and plans to scale up to nearly 3 000 direct and indirect jobs.
In the electric vehicle and battery value chain, the IDC is supporting a market feasibility study on local battery cell manufacturing, led by the Localisation Support Fund, with Afrivolt as the applicant and Gotion High Tech as the technical contributor.
The IDC is also pursuing strategic partnerships in battery mineral processing, battery component manufacturing and local battery energy storage system production, alongside technical support for utility-scale stationary storage.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICA TO BOOST BRICS ASTRONOMY COOPERATION |
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| South Africa will participate in the 12th Annual BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) Meeting in India to strengthen scientific collaboration and advance joint research priorities among BRICS member countries. |
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The meeting will take place from 26 to 30 October 2026 and will focus on multi-messenger and multi-wavelength transients while exploring opportunities for research collaboration, skills development and public engagement in astronomy.
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s Chief Director of Astronomy, Takalani Nemaungani, will lead South Africa’s 17-member delegation, which includes representatives from the South African Astronomical Observatory, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape, the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy and the University of Johannesburg.
The delegation will participate in presentations on the state of astronomy in BRICS member countries, highlighting scientific developments, strategic priorities and policy perspectives.
The discussions are expected to assist in informing collective planning and provide an opportunity to identify shared challenges and opportunities across the BRICS astronomy community.
“Their participation highlights South Africa’s contribution to the Working Group and the role of national research institutions and universities in advancing collaborative astronomy,” the National Research Foundation (NRF) said in a statement.
At the meeting, researchers, government representatives, educators and science communicators will review progress on existing initiatives, strengthen partnerships and identify new opportunities for cooperation in astronomy research and technology development.
The programme will also include the BAWG Data Science Hackathon, organised in collaboration with the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences and the Indian Space Research Organisation.
Other activities will include science communication training, the launch of the BRICS Astronomy Robotics and Coding Training initiative and a public exhibition showcasing astronomy facilities across BRICS countries.
Furthermore, discussions will cover research, technology development, education, data science, human capital development and public engagement.
For South Africa, these engagements are important for strengthening the national astronomy landscape, connecting local expertise with international research networks, while supporting the development of skills, innovation and public engagement.
“By bringing together scientific research, policy dialogue, capacity building and public engagement, the BAWG reinforces astronomy’s contribution to scientific advancement and sustainable development across BRICS countries.”
About the BAWG
The BRICS Astronomy Working Group was established in 2015 to promote cooperation among member countries in astronomy research, technology development and capacity building.
Its flagship initiative, the BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN), supports long-term collaboration through shared research infrastructure and data capabilities.
The working group aims to strengthen astronomy research and innovation while advancing scientific cooperation and skills development across BRICS countries.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SADC COUNTRIES URGED TO STRENGTHEN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES |
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| South Africa has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to strengthen public employment services and ensure that jobseekers are better supported in accessing employment opportunities. |
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The call was made by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Acting Director-General, Jacky Molisane, as South Africa hosts the SADC Employment and Labour Sector Joint Tripartite Technical Committee Meeting in Gauteng from 26 to 30 October 2026.
The meeting brings together representatives from SADC Member States, governments, employers and workers’ organisations, as well as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), to discuss employment challenges and strengthen regional cooperation.
Molisane urged delegates to focus on practical solutions that would improve the delivery of public employment services and make it easier for jobseekers to access available opportunities.
She highlighted the financial challenges faced by people seeking work, including transport costs for attending interviews, internet data for submitting job applications and the cost of printing documents.
“When we discuss employment services this week, I ask that we keep that person in mind. The decisions we make here should make the next encounter with an employment office more useful and the job search less difficult,” Molisane said.
South Africa’s unemployment challenges underscore the need for employment programmes to deliver meaningful results, with the country’s official unemployment rate standing at 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026. Unemployment among young people aged 15 to 34 in the labour force stood at 47.4%.
Molisane said the figures highlight the importance of assessing whether government employment programmes are making a tangible difference in people’s lives.
“We all know how to describe a programme. We can explain its objectives, structure and the number of people it has reached. The more demanding conversation begins when someone asks what happened afterwards,” Molisane said.
She challenged delegates to examine whether referrals translate into jobs, whether training equips people for available vacancies and whether employers continue to use public employment services to recruit suitable candidates.
Molisane emphasised that the success of employment programmes should be assessed not only by the number of people assisted, but also by the quality of jobs secured and the support provided to jobseekers.
“An online application should reduce the burden on jobseekers. People who need assistance must be able to reach someone who can provide it,” Molisane said.
She said employment services should complement broader efforts to stimulate economic growth and create more jobs.
Molisane also stressed the importance of ensuring that young people have access to relevant training and practical work experience to improve their prospects of securing employment.
She called on delegates to use the meeting to share lessons, address common challenges and agree on practical measures that could be implemented in their respective countries.
“Trust also depends on what happens after we leave. If we agree to act, we should be clear about who will do the work and when progress will be reviewed,” she said.
– Source: SAnews.gov.za |
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| SOUTH AFRICA SHOWCASES FOOD PRODUCTS AT SIAL PARIS 2026 |
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| H.E. Ayanda Dlodlo, Ambassador of South Africa to France, visited South African exhibitors at the SIAL Paris 2026 International Food Products Exhibition on Sunday, 18 October 2026, reaffirming South Africa’s efforts to promote locally manufactured food products and expand export opportunities in international markets. |
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Held from 17 to 21 October 2026 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France, SIAL Paris brought together producers, distributors, importers, exporters and other key players in the international food industry.
The South African National Pavilion, organised and funded by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), provides a platform for South African companies to showcase a diverse range of locally manufactured products. These include processed and preserved foods, canned and frozen fruit and vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, tea and botanicals, beverages, spices, sauces, confectionery, seafood and speciality food products. |
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South Africa’s participation offers local companies opportunities to engage with international buyers, explore commercial partnerships and expand their presence in France and the broader European market. The initiative also supports the dtic’s broader objectives of diversifying export markets, increasing exports of value-added products and establishing sustainable international trade relationships.
The department has emphasised the importance of targeted business-to-business engagements and sustained follow-up to translate exhibition participation into tangible commercial outcomes, including export orders, distribution partnerships, business growth and employment opportunities.
South Africa’s participation at SIAL Paris 2026 highlights the country’s diverse food manufacturing capabilities and its commitment to strengthening international trade relations while creating opportunities for local businesses to access global markets.
– Sources: www.thedtic.gov.za I www.facebook.com/SAEmbassyParis |
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| TWO SHOEBILLS, ONE CANOE: ISAK PRETORIUS WINS AT WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, AGAIN |
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| South African photographer Isak Pretorius has won Wildlife Photographer of the Year again, this time with two elusive shoebills. |
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South African photographer Isak Pretorius has done it again. He was exploring a swamp in a narrow canoe when he spotted something remarkable. Not one, but two of Africa’s most elusive birds. That moment has now won him one of the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography awards.
Pretorius won the Behaviour: Birds category at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 competition, run by the Natural History Museum in London. The winners were announced on 13 October 2026.
Pretorius’s image, Scenes from the Swamp, shows two shoebill storks among wetland vegetation. He was exploring the swamp in a narrow canoe with a guide and felt exceptionally lucky to see two of the elusive birds at once.
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Shoebills are among Africa’s most sought-after birds for wildlife lovers and photographers. They’re known for their huge, shoe-shaped bills, which they use to catch prey such as catfish and lungfish in the swamps where they live.
They’re also hard to find and face threats including fires, disturbance and the illegal live bird trade, according to research by the University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology.
It’s not Pretorius’s first time on the winners’ list. In 2013, he became the first South African to win the bird behaviour category, with an image of a noddy bird trapped in a spider web.
Pretorius is a specialist wildlife photography guide. He says he uses his images to raise awareness about conservation.
“In showing people the beauty of wildlife, they will care more about it,” he has said. “That’s our best chance of protecting it.”
Southern Africa featured strongly in this year’s awards. The overall winner, Italian photographer Federico Veronesi, won with The Aftermath, a black-and-white image of an elephant carrying a dead calf in Namibia.
The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year title went to Oscar Whitfield, a British photographer living in Zimbabwe, for Labour of Love, an eye-level image of a dung beetle pushing its cargo through the sand.
It’s another proud moment for South African wildlife photography. Last year, South Africa’s Wim van den Heever was named the overall Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2025 for a ghostly image of a rare brown hyena in a deserted diamond mining town.
This year’s competition attracted 65 403 entries. An international panel judged the images anonymously, looking for originality, technical excellence, ethical practice and creativity.
– Source: www.sapeople.com |
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| CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL KITE FESTIVAL GIVES HOPE TO THOSE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES |
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| For the past three decades, the Cape Town International Kite Festival has played a pivotal role in helping people speak openly about mental health without the fear of stigma. |
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Organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Cape Mental Health, the festival has become a beacon for mental health awareness.
The sky above the Youngsfield Military Base in Wynberg was transformed into a spectacle of colour and creativity. This was as various kites took to the sky during the 31st edition of the Cape Town International Kite Festival returning to the Mother City.
Cape Mental Health CEO Professor Ingrid Daniels says the festival has long been a symbol of hope and resilience.
“In South Africa about 16.5 people live with a mental health condition, and 92% of that group have no access to mental health services. This is a problem for us, and so what Cape Mental Health does is that it provides free mental health services, which is why the Kite Festival is a very important event for us because the proceeds go towards helping those battling with mental health issues.”
– Source: www.sabcnews.com |
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| NDLOVU CHOIR SCORES GRAMMY CONSIDERATION WITH QUEEN DRUMMER ROGER TAYLOR |
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| From their roots in Limpopo to potential GRAMMY glory alongside Queen’s Roger Taylor, the phenomenally talented Ndlovu Choir continues to captivate the world with their authentic spirit and unforgettable voice. |
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Recently, the choir featured as prominent collaborators on Roger Taylor’s latest single, Come On Summer (It’s Party Time). Released from the legendary Queen drummer’s 2026 album, Violence Insane In A Beautiful World, their trademark vocals help drive the song’s anthemic energy.
In exciting news, the track has now been submitted for 2027 GRAMMY consideration in the categories of Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance.
This major collaboration and GRAMMY nod further raise the choir’s international profile ahead of their year-end show, African Christmas, running at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg from 11 to 13 December 2026. It will also help introduce the Limpopo collective to fans of Queen and Roger Taylor, as well as the massive worldwide audience that looks to the GRAMMYs for the best music across all genres.
Ndlovu Choir founder and conductor Ralf Schmitt shared that working with Roger Taylor has been a truly special experience for everyone involved – one they will remember for a very long time.
“Having our song entered for two GRAMMY Awards is incredibly exciting, and we’re just so proud to be part of it.”
It is impossible not to admire the Ndlovu Choir for the way they carry their roots from Moutse onto the biggest stages in the world, staying entirely authentic to who they are while captivating global audiences. We congratulate and wish the choir the very best with their GRAMMY consideration, their upcoming African Christmas shows and every future note of their extraordinary journey.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| EIGHT CAPE TOWN ANIMATION STUDIOS GET BIG BACKING TO DREAM BIGGER |
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| Eight Cape Town animation studios have been selected for a United Nations (UN)-backed programme that will help them grow their businesses and bring more African stories to life. |
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The talent certainly exists here in South Africa, but turning that creativity into real business is the difficult part. Finding investors, securing funding and getting original projects into international markets can all be really big challenges for smaller studios. A new initiative is giving eight Cape Town animation studios a helping hand to take their businesses to the next level.
The studios have been selected for an eight-month accelerator programme backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It’s part of the UNDP’s timbuktoo Creatives Hub, with support from the Government of Japan, in partnership with Digital Frontiers and Triggerfish Foundation.
The programme is designed to help promising animation studios grow into more successful businesses through mentorship, masterclasses and opportunities to connect with investors and industry professionals.
An important part of this is helping African studios develop and own more of their original stories and characters, rather than being limited to creating animation for other companies. This means they have a greater opportunity to benefit from the success of their own creations.
Some of the selected studios have already worked on major productions like Star Wars: Visions, Mad Max: Fury Road and Disney+’s Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire. Others have earned international awards and Emmy nominations, collaborated with entertainment giants like Netflix and Sony, and produced animated series that have reached audiences in more than 40 countries.
The eight studios selected are Bugbox Animation, Fancy Horse Studios, Goon Valley, Lucan, Motif Studios, Pixcomm, Sparks Flew Development Studio and Studio Bo.
According to the International Finance Corporation, Africa’s creative economy could contribute 20 million jobs and $200 billion in economic value by 2030. Yet creative businesses in emerging markets receive less than one per cent of global financing for the sector.
Despite the industry’s huge potential, many creative businesses still struggle to access the financial support they need to grow.
The timbuktoo Creatives Hub, which is hosted in South Africa, aims to be the change by connecting African creatives and entrepreneurs with the skills, people, investment opportunities and international markets they need to succeed.
Over the next eight months, the selected studios will get to build valuable partnerships, explore new projects and get more homegrown stories onto screens around the world.
The more these studios can grow, the more opportunities there could be for South African animators, artists and storytellers to build careers doing what they love.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| SOUTH AFRICAN PADDLERS MAKE THEIR MARK AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS |
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| South Africa’s canoe marathon team had plenty to celebrate at the 2026 Canoe Marathon World Championships in Gualeguaychú, Argentina, with experienced international campaigner Hamish Lovemore and rising schoolboy star Keegan Vogt both striking gold. |
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The pair delivered their victories in the men’s senior and junior short-course K1 finals on Friday, 23 October 2026, giving South Africa a memorable double on the second day of competition.
Lovemore’s win was particularly significant. After collecting eight silver medals at international events over the previous three years, the KwaZulu-Natal paddler finally claimed another major title.
The race came down to a dramatic sprint against Portugal’s Fernando Pimenta and Denmark’s Mads Pedersen. After the leading trio battled throughout the three-lap course, Lovemore produced a powerful finish to take gold.
“I had a solid race from the start,” he said afterwards. “I’ve had eight silver medals from various international events over the last three years, so it's nice to get on the top step for a change.”
Vogt, meanwhile, produced a commanding performance in the junior men’s short-course race. The Maritzburg College schoolboy broke away early and held off his challengers to finish 13 seconds ahead of Hungary’s Armin Palinkas, with Portugal’s Martim Conceição taking bronze.
Vogt continued his strong showing by adding a silver medal in the junior men’s long-course event on Saturday. South African paddler Ulvard Hart also claimed silver in the senior men’s long course after a determined race against Pedersen, who secured his fourth consecutive world title in the event.
Georgia Singe added to the team’s medal tally with bronze in the women’s under-23 long-course race. Singe and Jade Wilson then teamed up to claim bronze in the senior women’s K2, according to the team’s competition update.
The championship campaign included both breakthrough performances and tough finishes. Lovemore, despite his short-course triumph, finished ninth in the senior men’s long-course race, while other South Africans also faced strong international competition.
For Vogt, who is still at school, the medals mark an encouraging step in his development. For Lovemore, the gold represents a reward for years of perseverance on the international circuit.
Together, their performances offered a reminder of the talent emerging in South African paddling and the promise of what these athletes could achieve in the years ahead.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| TEAM SA READY TO PEDAL FOR GLORY AT AFRICAN ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS |
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| Twenty-five riders will represent South Africa in Kenya as the country looks to make its mark against Africa’s best cyclists. |
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Cycling South Africa has named a squad of 25 riders who will represent the country at the 2026 CAC African Road Championships in Kisumu, Kenya.
The team features men and women competing in the Elite, Under-23 and Junior categories, with 11 riders also selected to take on the individual time trial (TT) alongside the road race.
The championships bring together Africa’s leading cycling talent, giving riders the opportunity to compete for continental honours while gaining valuable experience on the international stage. |
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For those who finish on top, there’s an extra prize. The right to wear the African champion’s jersey for the following season. It’s a chance to carry that achievement into future races while representing South Africa with pride.
Kisumu, situated on the shores of Lake Victoria, will host the competition on a largely flat lakeside course. The road races are expected to feature repeated laps of a circuit through the city, with the elite and under-23 men’s race covering the longest distance at approximately 175 km.
South Africa heads to Kenya with a strong tradition of competing for podium places at these championships. The event will also give the country’s junior and under-23 riders an important opportunity to test themselves against some of the continent’s strongest competitors as they continue developing their careers.
Cycling South Africa’s team management includes Durwan Benjamin, Thabiso Rengane and Adrian Salzwedel, who will support the riders throughout the competition.
With national colours on their backs and a continental title up for grabs, the squad will be looking to make every kilometre count.
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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| FROM GQEBERHA TO GERMANY: SACHIN PADAYACHEE MAKES HIS MARK ON THE HOCKEY WORLD |
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| A move to Germany’s second-tier Bundesliga has made the past year a memorable one for hockey player Sachin Padayachee. |
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South African hockey player Sachin Padayachee is getting a taste of professional competition in Germany, where he is adapting to new tactics, facing tough opposition and working towards another season with Bremen Hockey Club.
The move followed his representation of South Africa at the Junior World Cup. Respected hockey mentor Solly Casoojee helped open the door by connecting him with a coach at Bremen, which competes in Germany’s second-tier Bundesliga.
Padayachee hopes his experience will encourage other local players to pursue their own international ambitions. |
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“This is proof that anything is possible no matter where you come from,” Padayachee said from his European base. “I hope that my being here can pave the way for the next generations to filter into Germany.”
His progress has also earned recognition at home. Padayachee was recently named Mandela University’s top male athlete at the Madibaz Sport awards after an impressive 12 months in hockey.
He missed the gala evening and had no idea he was in contention until messages of congratulations started arriving.
“It is massive, as there are thousands of athletes it could potentially have been awarded to.”
He described the honour as “a blessing and an honour” and was particularly pleased that Madibaz Hockey received the recognition.
Adapting to German hockey has presented its own challenges, particularly when it comes to man-to-man marking systems. The league also demands consistency, with every club chasing promotion to the top division. Padayachee compares the intensity to South Africa’s toughest interprovincial matches.
Even life off the field has taken some getting used to, with the long summer daylight hours making it difficult to adjust to sleeping while the sun was still up.
His immediate goals are to perform consistently, help Bremen finish in the top four and secure another season with the club. He will spend another month abroad before returning home, with plans to head back to Germany for the 2027 season.
Padayachee graduated from Mandela University in April 2026 with a national diploma in sport administration. He credits his time with Madibaz Hockey and the national under-21 team for preparing him for the demands of competition overseas.
“My time with Madibaz Hockey has definitely been of the highest importance. Everything I’ve learnt from the coaches and players has been applicable in Germany.”
The experience has helped him develop technically, tactically, physically and mentally.
“It has genuinely shaped me,” Padayachee said.
Despite the individual accolade, he insists his progress would not have been possible without the people who supported him along the way.
“I genuinely wouldn’t be the player that I am today without them. They deserve all the glory and praise.”
– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com |
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