The year 2024 looks set to be an even tougher one for many countries around the world, including South Africa.
The country is heading to the polls in the same year it marks 30 years of democracy, and experts are predicting the year to be a turning point for our nation.
Several polls suggest support for the ANC may dip below 50% of the national vote in the upcoming elections.
South Africa also looks set to battle high interest rates and unemployment, as well as rising poverty and crime levels, in the year ahead.
On the international stage, conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, as well as Palestine and Israel, look set to continue unabated in the new year.
After Hamas killed 1,200 Israeli citizens and captured 240 hostages on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with an assault that has laid much of Gaza to waste.
Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza have said nearly 21,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, with more feared buried under rubble. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3-million people have been driven from their homes — many several times.
Earlier this week, it was reported the US would provide up to $250m (R4.6bn) in arms and equipment to Ukraine in the final package of aid this year to help Kyiv in its war against Russia.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the latest aid package included air defence munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and more than 15-million rounds of ammunition.
— Additional reporting by Reuters
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