AFRICA

Niger’s capital Niamey was calm as the country counted down hours to Sunday’s vote. On Saturday, the country’s electoral commission prepared materials to be used in the presidential and parliamentary elections. More than 7 million people are eligible to vote. Campaigning for the more than a dozen presidential candidates closed …

Two people have died and two others were seriously injured when two vehicles collided on the R28 in Westonaria, Gauteng. ER24 spokesperson Ineke van Huyssteen said the incident took place on Friday. Van Huyssteen said when ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 23:00, provincial EMS were already in …

Another new variant of the new coronavirus seems to have emerged in Nigeria, the head of Africa’s disease control body has said, cautioning more investigation was needed. The discovery could add to new alarm in the pandemic after similar variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that appear to be more contagious …

Limpopo police are investigating a case of murder after the body of a man was found floating in the Nwanedzi river on Christmas morning. In a statement, police said they were called out to the scene by community members in the early hours of Friday. “The police in Letsitele were …

A boat accident on Lake Albert on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has left at least 26 people dead. A “strong wind” caused the vessel to go under water, a local official told AFP news agency. Dozens of people were on board and at least …

Several people are dead in northeast Nigeria after Boko Haram militants raided a mostly Christian village and burnt down a church on Christmas Eve. Local sources said at least 11 people had been killed, according to AFP news. Fighters rode into Pemi, in Borno state, on trucks and motorbikes shooting …

Five people have died in what has been described as the worst congestion in the history of the Beitbridge border post. Queues of trucks and other vehicles are reaching 20km  in both directions at the Musina, Limpopo, border crossing — and truck drivers are taking up to nine days to …

A 10-year-old girl shocked her family when she revealed she threw her step-brother into a well at Akure in Nigeria. While being paraded alongside other 34 suspects of other crimes, she confessed she murdered her 20 months old brother because her step-mother maltreated her. She said she did not know that …

Surprise Mokoebo, 27, and Thabang Maleka, 26, were sentenced on Friday for the murder of Constable Samuel Hlongwane of the Brits Tactical Response Team. Hlongwane, who was 35, was walking along Letlhabile main road when his friend, driving a BMW, stopped for a chat, said police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda …

A magistrate court in Ondo state has ordered the remand of a 27-year old Indian hemp farmer, Owalum Benedict Ochin, to prison custody for beheading his friend and roommate identified as Ekon after a brawl over ingredients to put in a soup. This incident occurred at their home in Jungle forest, Ipele, …