South African diplomats were working to rescue 17 South African men from Ukraine's Donbas region where they were engaged in "suspected mercenary activities."

Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday rejected opposition allegations that a recent pause in the electricity cuts that have plagued the country for years was due to an election coming up on May 29.

South Africa’s government said on Thursday it will investigate how 17 of its citizens joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict after the men sent distress calls for help to return home.

A South African court on Wednesday ordered anti-immigrant group Operation Dudula to cease attempts to block foreigners from public spaces.

People in the city of Laayoune, in Western Sahara, take to the streets on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of the Green March, when Morocco took after the disputed territory. It came several days after the UN said genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty was the "most feasible solution" to the conflict.

Green Point, an upscale, suburban neighborhood about two miles north of Cape Town’s center, has many outdoor attractions. The Biodiversity Showcase Garden has hundreds of Indigenous plant species, all nestled within Green Point Park. Nearby is the DHL Stadium, which holds up to 55,000 people and hosts rugby matches and other events.

South African’s appetite for buying clothes, food and fridges online is likely to defy weak consumer spending as e-commerce grows by as much 50% in the next year, according to the head of local apparel retailer The Foschini Group Ltd.