The year started with a fire which gutted Parliament’s National Assembly, and ended with a devastating gas tanker explosion that claimed more than 30 lives, and caused significant damage to infrastructure in Boksburg on Gauteng’s East Rand.

On the political front, African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected to lead the party for a second term at the ANC’s 55th National Conference in December. However, he is still caught in the middle of a political storm around the theft of foreign currency at his Phala Phala farm in 2020.

Economically, households and businesses endured the longest and most intense period of rolling blackouts since they were first implemented by power utility Eskom. This saw more businesses fold, and people looked to alternative energy sources which remain unaffordable for many.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic took more of a background role for much of the year as infection numbers eased and countries ended hard lockdowns. Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in a prolonged conflict that continues to threaten the global economy and engulf other nations. European nations which relied on Russia for gas set their sights on Africa for possible sources of energy.

Entertainers, activists, politicians and sporting icons passed on, Banyana Banyana emerged the champions of WAFCON, and Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

PLAYLIST | 2022 Year in Review

2022 SABC News Features

SABC News takes a look at the news that dominated and defined the year, both in South Africa and abroad. Click here for more. 

In Memoriam | South African celebrities we lost in 2022

The South African arts and entertainment sector lost a number of musicians, actors and broadcasters who captured the imagination with their presence and performance in the public arena. Click here for more.

In Memoriam | Prominent people who passed on in 2022

A number of high-profile South Africans and international people have died, ranging from icons in arts, entertainment and sports, to leaders in science and politics. Click here for more.

2022 SA stories you may have missed

While news in 2022 was dominated by politics and economics, SABC News reported other stories from all 9 provinces. These displayed South Africa’s diversity, uniqueness, and ability to surprise, delight and shock. Click here for stories you may have missed.

2022 SA Google Trends

Banyana Banyana’s WAFCON victory, celebrities who passed on, climate change and ‘how to check SASSA status’ are just some of the 2022 SA Google Trends. Click here for more.

Biggest tech stories of 2022

As the year comes to a close, we look back at some of the year’s most significant tech news and developments, which include outages on social media giants Twitter and WhatsApp. Click here for more.