British American Tobacco’s decision to shut down its only manufacturing plant in South Africa has raised concerns about the growing scale of illicit trade in the country.

The company will cease cigarette production locally by the end of the year.

Area Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Johnny Moloto and Lesedi Local Municipality representative Mluleki Nkosi say the closure will have significant economic impacts.

Moloto explained that despite years of cost-cutting, staff reductions and efficiency improvements, the plant is no longer sustainable or competitive within the group.

Nkosi added that the municipality is already feeling the financial strain, with monthly payments dropping from R18 million before COVID-19 to about R1.2 million. Latest news on our website

As South African pupils and teachers are preparing for the beginning of the new academic year, Teacher's Unions, continue to advocate for better working environments for their members ---- be it infrastructure, violent behaviour from school children or mental health.

Nomfundo Twala posed some of these questions to Basil Manuel.

He told her, that no teacher should be ashamed when they experience violence in the classroom. Latest news on our website

The thrill of online gambling has hit South Africa. Its popularity has surged, especially among young people. According to official data presented by the National Gambling Board to Parliament in October, the total gambling turnover for the 2024/25 financial year reached R1.5 trillion. November is recognised as Gambling Awareness Month in South Africa.

Chanel September has more... Latest news on our website

The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the healthcare system in Gaza has been destroyed.

MSF's International President, Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, has called on world leaders to drastically increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza.

Emile Pienaar spoke with MSF's Emergency Coordinator in Gaza, Jacob Granger. Latest news on our website

Artificial Intelligence is trickling into every part of our daily lives, and the classroom is no exception. AI is here to stay, and although a bit of initial hesitance could be valuable, avoiding it completely could become a significant setback for both teacher and educator. Latest news on our website

Die fotograaf Wim van den Heever, gebore en getoeë hier in Suid-Afrika, het die wêreld aan die gons. Sy foto van ‘n bruin hiëna in Kolmanskop, Namibië het daartoe gelei dat hy aangewys is as die Natural History Musem in Londen wildlewe- fotograaf van die jaar.

Dis basies fotograwe se Oscars.

Dit het hom tien jaar geneem om dié wenfoto vas te lê in Namibië se spookdorp.

Van den Heever het vroeër die week tyd afgestaan om vanuit Londen met Marlinée Fouché te praat oor die pad tot hier. Latest news on our website

The grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela has recalled the harsh conditions they experienced while detained at Israeli prison.

The group of South African activists who formed part of the Global Sumud Flotilla returned to home soil on Wednesday after being prevented from accessing Gaza and subsequently deported from Israel. Latest news on our website

On Monday the Nobel Prize for Physiology was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries on how the immune system functions and how autoimmune disease work.

Emile Pienaar spoke with the Head of Medical Research in School of Medicine at the University of Pretoria, Botle Damane, to unpack the real world impact of this discovery. Latest news on our website

Paediatric Oncologist Professor Mariana Kruger at Stellenbosch University explained that there is a vast population in rural areas where it takes longer to get to primary medical facilities and secondary hospitals. Latest news on our website

Suid-Afrika se biodiversiteit is onlosmaakbaar deel van die land se erfenis, en voordat Erfenismaand verby is, vier ons die ontdekking van ‘n splinternuwe plantspesie, Moraea Anastasia. Dr Brian du Preez, verbonde aan die Universiteit Kaapstad - is passievol oor bewusmaking en die bewaring van inheemse plante. Dit het daartoe gelei dat hy 'n nuwe plantspesie ontdek het - en skouer aan die wiel sit om die omgewing te bewaar. Marlinée Fouché het by hom gaan kers opsteek: Latest news on our website