Author: WAJ Reporter

Hillclimb racing, one of South Africa’s oldest and most storied traditions, will return after a 60-year hiatus. The first edition of the event was held in 1912, where both drivers and cars were tested to their limits on challenging routes. The races, held along Camps Bay Drive, Signal Hill Road, and Kloof Road, even continued through the Second World War. However, in 1962, stricter regulations and increasing traffic volumes brought an end to Cape Town’s hillclimb era, leaving the city’s iconic roads silent for decades. Now, after more than 60 years, the legendary race is set to make a comeback.…

The Round of 16 matchups have been confirmed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Following the conclusion of the group stage, three African teams have advanced to the knockout round. Nigeria will face a tough challenge against Argentina, while Morocco, one of the standout teams of the tournament, will take on South Korea. South Africa is set to meet Colombia in their Round of 16 clash. The tournament consists of six groups, with the top two teams from each group and the three best third-placed teams advancing to the next stage. In Group A, Japan remained unbeaten and topped the…

One of the most prestigious trophies in South African football, the Carling Knockout Cup, is approaching its quarter-final stage. The teams that have advanced to the quarter-finals are now confirmed, and the draw will soon determine the matchups. The tournament has already seen several surprising results that have caught the attention of fans. Last season’s league champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, were eliminated after a dramatic encounter. Despite the match ending 0-0 after regular time and extra time, the Sundowns — who were reduced to ten men — lost to Marumo Gallants in a tense penalty shootout. Another South African powerhouse, Kaizer…

Nigeria has made changes to its squad ahead of crucial World Cup qualifying matches. Former Fenerbahçe star Bright Osayi-Samuel and Panathinaikos FC striker Cyriel Dessers will miss the final two group games. Crystal Palace midfielder Christantus Uche and Porto defender Zaidu Sanusi have been called up to the expanded squad. Several key players, including Ola Aina, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Raphael Onyedika, are struggling with injuries. The team’s talisman, Victor Osimhen, has also not fully recovered from his injury. The upcoming matches against Benin and Lesotho are extremely important. Any dropped points could mean Nigeria’s elimination from the World Cup qualifiers.…

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) finals will feature 16 teams starting from 2026. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the expansion, increasing the number of participating teams from 12 to 16. Originally launched in 1998, the tournament was held with eight teams until 2018. In 2022, the number was raised to 12. This latest change highlights the growing importance and recognition of women’s football across Africa. Even this year, the total prize pool increased by 45%, reaching $3.45 million. The champion team earned a $1 million reward. CAF President Patrice Motsepe commented on the developments,…

South Africa defeated Argentina to win the Rugby Championship, securing back-to-back titles for the first time in their history. They finished the tournament with four wins and two losses. Head coach Rassie Erasmus wasn’t afraid to use his depth, fielding 47 different players throughout the competition. This approach not only expanded the player pool but also allowed for greater rotation during matches. After losing two of their first three games, the team came under pressure. However, by winning their next three matches, they proved that last year’s championship was no coincidence. Twenty-three-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu set a national record by scoring…

The Carling Knockout Cup has officially begun in South Africa. Featuring 16 teams and played in a single-elimination format, the tournament’s round of 16 matches will be completed over today, tomorrow, and Sunday. Today’s opening clash will see Durban City face Polokwane. Tomorrow, Orlando Pirates will take on Siwelele FC, ORBIT College will meet TS Galaxy, Golden Arrows will battle Sekhukhune, and Mamelodi Sundowns will face Marumo Gallants. On Sunday, defending champions Magesi will square off against AmaZulu, Kaizer Chiefs will play Stellenbosch, and Richards Bay FC will clash with Chippa United. Earlier this season, Orlando Pirates lifted the MTN8…

UEFA and Gavi are working together to harness the power of football to raise awareness about vaccines in Africa. Through the Goal Getters program, supported by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its member associations, youth tournaments will be used to teach children about the role of vaccines in preventing deadly diseases. The campaign kicked off on Thursday at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, Eswatini’s capital. Around 400 children aged 10-14 temporarily paused their participation in the national phase of the CAF African Schools Football Championship to attend a groundbreaking vaccine awareness workshop. The program aims to provide…

Experts are warning South Africans to be cautious when sending voice notes via WhatsApp. The warning comes from Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager at Zoho Corporation Africa. Speaking to CapeTalk, Bourne highlighted that cybercriminals can steal voice biometrics. Bourne emphasized that silent calls are one of the easiest ways to capture a person’s voice. “When you pick up the phone and say ‘hello, hello, hello’ and there’s no one on the other end, it may not just be a dropped call. Criminal organizations could actually be collecting data,” he said. Simply saying “hello” can provide enough material to create a convincing…

US-based data center operator ChillMine and Netherlands-based energy company AAAS Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a new data center in Botswana. The new facility will be designed to serve global hyperscale companies, artificial intelligence (AI) computing, and energy-intensive computing operations. GROWING DEMAND IN SOUTHERN AFRICA The data center is being built in response to the increasing demand for economically sustainable and reliable data infrastructure in Southern Africa. The facility will be part of an Energy Hub and Industrial Park project near Palapye. SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS The project will also feature a 250-MEGAWATT (MW)…

Victor Osimhen, who fired his team to victory with a goal against Liverpool, is at the center of speculation over whether he will be fit to feature for Nigeria in their crucial World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic. Ahead of the Istanbul derby against Beşiktaş, doubts over the striker’s fitness grew after he missed training on Thursday. The 26-year-old forward had also been absent in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa, with his recovery taking longer than initially expected. Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has yet to announce his squad and is anxiously awaiting positive updates. With just…

Namibia and Zimbabwe have secured their places in the 2026 T20 World Cup after reaching the final of the African qualifying tournament. Namibia defeated Tanzania by 63 runs in the semi-final, while Zimbabwe comfortably beat Kenya by seven wickets. This marks Namibia’s fourth consecutive qualification for the tournament, whereas Kenya last appeared in the finals back in 2022. The final between the two teams will be played on Saturday, but regardless of the result, both sides have already booked their tickets to the World Cup. Namibia failed to progress beyond the group stage in the 2022 and 2024 tournaments. However,…

The teams advancing to the Round of 16 in the U20 World Cup in Chile are starting to take shape. Among the three African nations remaining in the tournament, Morocco became the first team to secure a place in the Round of 16 by defeating Brazil 2-1. Gessime Yassine was the standout player of the match, providing two assists and earning the man of the match award. Morocco’s goals were scored by Othmane Maamma and Yassir Zabiri, while Brazil’s lone goal came from Iago Teodoro via a penalty. Later tonight, South Africa will face New Caledonia, and Nigeria will play…

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Planning and Development, Seyoum Mekonnen, stated that the convergence of biological and digital domains can play a key role in overcoming food security challenges. He also highlighted that Africa possesses over 60% of the world’s arable land, yet its low level of food imports presents a paradox. Speaking at the Pan-African conference on “Food and Agriculture” organized by the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) in Addis Ababa, Mekonnen emphasized the urgent need for a fundamental transformation of Africa’s food systems. He stressed that this transformation can be achieved through digital technology. Seyoum noted that…

South African proptech startup AIRE is bringing artificial intelligence and automation into the real estate sector. The company delivers this integration through four main systems. First, with its AI-based platform AIRE Software, the startup can produce feasibility and “Highest and Best Use” (HBU) studies within just five days. Traditionally, such studies take four to six weeks, but AIRE Software reduces this timeline significantly. In addition, AIRE Consulting provides advisory services such as market research, financial modeling, planning support, and portfolio strategy. Through AIRE Valuations, the company offers independent and standards-compliant valuation services based on local knowledge and market data, supporting…

Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey, who plays for Fulham, has stated that he loves his national team’s fans and admires the incredible passion with which they support the team. Born in Italy and having moved to England at a young age, Bassey was eligible to represent three different national teams. However, he chose Nigeria, and that decision has proven to be the right one. Last season, Bassey was named Fulham’s Player of the Season, earning praise for his performances. Having also played for big clubs like Ajax and Rangers, the versatile defender has gathered valuable experience. In a conversation with his…