As 2024 draws to a close, let's take a moment to relive the stories that kept us on the edge of our seats.
We gasped as Wilgenhof's dark veil of secrecy was lifted, held onto hope as George rescuers searched through the rubble, and watched expectantly while votes were tallied locally and across the globe.
We roared with pride as a South African superstar mesmerised the masses and our golden rugby champs showed the world what we already knew.
Divorce, deception, and an unending war left our hearts sore, and our blood boiling.
From jaw-dropping headlines to heart-warming tales, South Africa turned to News24 for the year's defining stories.
It was an eventful year with countless stories to be told, and News24 could not have brought them to light without the 110 000 individuals who support our work. Become a News24 subscriber to contribute to quality journalism that keeps the country clicking.
Story of the Year:
South Africa's new political dawn
The GNU
Imagine DA leader John Steenhuisen sitting on the right side of the National Assembly chamber among ANC MPs and ministers and answering MPs’ questions about an Agri-BEE Fund which finances rural women in agriculture.
This is the government of national unity (GNU) at work.
It all started on 29 May 2024 when the ANC lost its majority in the elections which brought a shift in South African politics, where it no longer called the shots as it had done for 30 years.
Andisiwe Makinana, News24 Political editor
The stories that shaped 2024
Wilgenhof:
The dark side of
initiations
The battle for Wilgenhof was arguably triggered by an exposé published by News24 on 25 January headlined, "Inside Stellenbosch University’s house of horrors".
Prega Govender, Senior education journalist
Springboks' road to rugby immortality
With 11 wins from 13 in 2024 – including two home victories over the All Blacks – the Springboks took their global dominance to new heights.
Lloyd Burnard, News24 Sport editor
Donald Trump: America's president-elect
News24 traditionally offers live reporting of US presidential elections, as in the voting day and the tabulation, both because it matters in South Africa who runs America and because there is a compelling pageantry that just gets better every time.
Phillip de Wet, Foreign editor
Markus Jooste's
sudden death
On 21 March, the day before he was meant to hand himself over to the Hawks, Steinhoff's former CEO Markus Jooste shot himself on the rocks beneath the coastal path in Hermanus.
Jan Cronje, News24 Business journalist
Thembi Simelane's
VBS skeletons
When president Cyril Ramaphosa shifted Thembi Simelane from being minister of justice to human settlements on 3 December, she had been in the job for only 153 days.
Kyle Cowan, News24 Investigative journalist
The era of Tyla
This year, Tyla became the continent's biggest musical export, opening and closing the year on a bang.
She has made numerous headlines on News24, but her stardom trajectory already started at the end of 2023.
Joel Ontong, News24 arts and entertainment journalist
The George
building collapse
“ALIVE!” screamed the push notification to News24 readers’ phones just after 10:00 on Saturday, 11 May.
It was five days after rescue workers had started combing through the rubble of a collapsed building in the coastal town of George.
Nicole McCain, News24 journalist
A fast-changing war - and an Israeli sniper in SA
A faraway war that has gone on for well over a year has no place in an end-of-year roundup of this sort.
Phillip de Wet, Foreign editor
Rachel and Siya: The love story that ended in heartache
Siya and Rachel Kolisi's separation announcement reverberated across South Africa, marking one of the most shocking celebrity splits of the year.
Kaunda Selisho, News24 Deputy lifestyle editor
And that's not all
Immersive Storytelling
Oh what a Life
Sport
Food
News & Investigations
The Business End
Opinions
The Best of Friday Briefing
The year illustrated
Click on the cartoons below to enlarge them, or click here to see the full offering from 2024.
From our subscribers
Well done News24 for exposing this, switching on the limelight on the various dubious people involved and putting the SAPS under pressure for not doing their job - that's why I'm a proud subscriber! - jcf.7140
Kyle [Cowan] should head up the countries intelligence services - iandavidgwilt
News24 investigative journalists must register a forensic investigation company and assist SAPS. This is FBI calibre. - me.jabu10
I DO NOT MIND THE SUB-FEE I PAY TO NEWS24 . THEY DO THE WORK ! - INDLELA3933
Excellent reporting, News24. Your tenaciousness is creating results. Don’t stop. - CitizenSarah
Every exclusive we break and every story we tell is thanks to you, our incredible subscribers. You fuel our journey and inspire us to push boundaries. Thank you for standing with us at every turn. The work doesn't stop.
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