From Refilwe to the North Pole

South African Learner Makes History on Russia’s Icebreaker of Knowledge

By Kester Kenn Klomegah, Moscow Bureau Correspondent, The Diplomatic Society and Rosatom

2 September 2026

From a classroom in Refilwe, east of Pretoria, to the frozen reaches of the Arctic, Ntsako Sithole has taken an extraordinary journey that places a young South African at the intersection of science, education, international cooperation and exploration.

Women Rising celebrates courage, legacy and the power of women’s stories

By Anisha Pemjee

30 August 2026

Women’s Month was celebrated through diplomacy, literature and women’s empowerment at an event hosted by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in South Africa, in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia and the International Diplomatic Spouses Association (IDSA). The gathering featured the presentation of Women Rising: An International Anthology, a collection which sets out to gather the voices and experiences of women from more than one hundred countries, across five continents.

Semipalatinsk: 35 Years Since the Closure of Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Test Site

By H.E. Mr. Yerkin Akhinzhanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of South Africa

 On 29 August 1991, Kazakhstan took a decision of historic significance for nuclear disarmament: it closed the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site.

ASEAN Day brings Southeast Asia’s vibrant diversity to South Africa

by Anisha Pemjee

28 August 2026

The vibrant cultures of Southeast Asia were showcased in Pretoria as the ASEAN Pretoria Committee hosted a reception marking ASEAN Day, bringing together diplomacy, culture and cuisine in a colourful celebration of the region’s diversity.

Flanders celebrates Women’s Month by inspiring the next generation of leaders

by Anisha Pemjee

The Delegation of Flanders in Southern Africa marked Women’s Month with a leadership event in Pretoria that brought together women leaders and Grade 11 and 12 learners from Hoërskool Silverton and Vlakfontein Secondary School. The event, held under the theme “Inspiring Change: Celebrating Female Leadership”, used dialogue and mentorship to connect young people with women who have built careers in government, diplomacy, media and literature.

South African Businesses Presented with Kazakhstan’s Investment Opportunities

TDS - 27 August 2026

A roundtable dedicated to the investment potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the prospects for expanding economic cooperation with the Republic of South Africa was held in Pretoria. The event was organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the South Africa–Kazakhstan Trade and Cultural Association (SAKTCA). Representatives of the local business community, investors and the media attended the meeting.

India’s 80th Independence Day Highlights Deepening Strategic Partnership with South Africa

By Anisha Pemjee and Kirtan Bhana

26 August 2026

India’s 80th Independence Day was celebrated in Pretoria against the backdrop of an increasingly dynamic India-South Africa relationship, with the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi set to provide another major platform for cooperation between the two countries.

Kurultai Vote Raises Stakes for Parties, Parliament and Foreign Policy, Experts Say 

BY ASSEL SATUBALDINA, Astana Times

25 August 2026 

Astana - Kazakhstan’s first election to the new Kurultai is reshaping more than the country’s parliamentary architecture, said experts at an Aug. 24 meeting in Astana organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KazISS). They pointed to voter turnout, a bigger role for political parties and growing geopolitical competition around Central Asia at a moment when Kazakhstan is seeking to translate constitutional reform into a more durable political system.

South Africa and Zimbabwe - Turning a Shared Future into Shared Prosperity

TDS - 25 August 2026

South Africa and Zimbabwe have an opportunity to move their relationship into a new phase in which political solidarity and shared history are matched by deeper economic integration, stronger infrastructure and greater opportunities for their citizens.

First Lady calls for regional action to give children a stronger start in life

24 August 2026

First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe has called for greater regional cooperation to expand access to quality Early Childhood Development (ECD), highlighting that millions of young children in South Africa remain outside early learning programmes.

SADC’s Integration Test is Turning Regional Potential into Results

TDS - 24 August 2026

The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), held in Durban, has placed regional integration, industrialisation and infrastructure development firmly at the centre of Southern Africa’s development agenda. South Africa has assumed the SADC chairship with a commitment to accelerate implementation and deepen economic cooperation across the region.