157 of its 610 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at about twice the usual rate (5 stories).
25 Sep to 24 Oct: 29 in every 100 of its stories were about people being harmed — about one and a half times the world's share (19).
What stood out
The news pointed at South Africa on 15 of the 30 days held.
Most on Sunday 27 September 2026: 185 of its 330 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%.
Compared with
the world's news over the same days; "usual" is its own 30 days before.
How it moved
South Africa: stories about people being harmed, out of every 100 of its stories
Dashed line: the world. Shaded: its normal range over these days. Blue dots: its biggest days.
South AfricaThe world
Key events
the events its news covered most, newest on the rightSeptember 2026
27 Sep
Durbanattacks & violence
14 stories, 14 outlets
27 Sep
Cape Townattacks & violence
31 stories, 54 outlets
27 Sep
Johannesburgattacks & violence
83 stories, 221 outlets
28 Sep
Cape Townattacks & violence
25 stories, 16 outlets
28 Sep
Johannesburgattacks & violence
83 stories, 83 outlets
30 Sep
Durbanprotests & strikes
14 stories, 17 outlets
October 2026
8 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
30 stories, 21 outlets
9 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
129 stories, 111 outlets
10 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
28 stories, 33 outlets
12 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
23 stories, 25 outlets
14 Oct
Katlehongattacks & violence
53 stories, 29 outlets
15 Oct
Kwazuluattacks & violence
13 stories, 8 outlets
22 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
24 stories, 27 outlets
23 Oct
Cape Townprotests & strikes
8 stories, 7 outlets
23 Oct
Durbanprotests & strikes
20 stories, 16 outlets
Scroll sideways for earlier events. Key events are the most covered, not necessarily the most harmful: attacks, accidents and disasters, displacement, protests and outbreaks, ranked by the share of the day's outlets that reported them and how clearly they were about one thing, so every year competes fairly.
Its biggest days
when the news pointed at South Africa most91 of its 270 stories (34%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 10 of Durban's 18 stories were about protests or strikes.
266 of its 713 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 77 of Durban's 129 stories were about protests or strikes.
221 of its 603 stories (37%) were about people being harmed, usually 29%. Reports of people injured ran at about 5 times the usual rate (73 stories).
185 of its 330 stories (56%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Johannesburg accounted for 83 of South Africa's 185 stories about harm, carried by 221 outlets.
54 of its 212 stories (25%) were about people being harmed, usually 28%. Reports of evacuations ran at more than ten times the usual rate (5 stories).
9 more days the news pointed at South Africa
145 of its 550 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (8 stories).
171 of its 601 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of people falling ill ran at more than ten times the usual rate (6 stories).
203 of its 625 stories (32%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Outbreaks were named in 17 of its stories about harm, about 5 times usual, with norovirus.
187 of its 603 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 32%. Reports of evacuations ran at about 7 times the usual rate (6 stories).
78 of its 249 stories (31%) were about people being harmed, usually 31%. 19 of Durban's 28 stories were about protests or strikes.
182 of its 649 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of refugees ran at about 5 times the usual rate (21 stories).
176 of its 632 stories (28%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of refugees ran at about twice the usual rate (7 stories).
143 of its 548 stories (26%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at about 4 times the usual rate (5 stories).
82 of its 251 stories (33%) were about people being harmed, usually 30%. Reports of abductions ran at about 8 times the usual rate (5 stories).
In detail
against the world's news, same daysPeople and attention
a tenththe world's rateten times
About 60 million people live in South Africa. Over these days its news carried 74 stories about people being harmed for every million people — about twice the world's rate (36 per million).
How much of the world's attention reached it for its size: coverage per person, not harm per person. Population is approximate (about 2023).
Parts of life
Share of its stories about people being harmed, by part of life.
Rights & justice40%1,723 stories
Health17%748 stories
Conflict & violence12%511 stories
Food & livelihood9%407 stories
Shelter & services8%333 stories
Disasters & accidents7%311 stories
Displacement4%159 stories
Deaths & injuries, cause not given4%154 stories
Where it happened
South Africa (bright) and its neighbours. Dots: its key events in these days, coloured by kind. Click a dot for its stories.
Harm reported
Stories, not people: a story counts once however many people it reports.
Stories reporting people killed1,142 Stories reporting arrests629 Stories reporting people affected536 Stories reporting people injured298 Stories reporting refugees125 Stories reporting abductions57 Stories reporting people displaced34 Stories reporting evacuations31 Stories reporting people falling ill22Harsh or warm words
harshwarm
Its stories' words were harsher than the world's.
Filled dot: South Africa. Ring: the world. Measured over 4,403 stories.
Feelings
Angera little angrier than the world's
Against its own usual: about as usual
Griefa little more grief-stricken than the world's
Against its own usual: about as usual
Fearabout as fearful as the world's
Against its own usual: about as usual
Warmthabout as warm as the world's
Against its own usual: about as usual
a quarterlike the worldfour times
Dot: South Africa in these days. Line: the world. Dashed ring: South Africa's own usual (the 30 days before).
Its neighbours, same days
South Africa29 in 100
of its 15,007 stories were about people being harmed · mostly rights & justice
Mozambique28 in 100
of its 318 stories were about people being harmed · mostly disasters & accidents
Eswatini38 in 100
of its 13 stories were about people being harmed · mostly rights & justice
Namibia22 in 100
of its 1,390 stories were about people being harmed · mostly health
Zimbabwe21 in 100
of its 2,243 stories were about people being harmed · mostly disasters & accidents
Botswana14 in 100
of its 443 stories were about people being harmed · mostly health
Countries that share a border on the map (the nearest ones for an island). A country with few stories ranks lower.
Diseases and disasters named far more than usual
outbreaks20 Oct17 of its stories that day, about 5 times its usual · also 19 OctCounted where the stories mention most, so a storm abroad can land under a country only mentioned. Opens that day.