Here's a breakdown of key events that happened in South Africa and globally, month by month review

January

- Global Events:

    - World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (January 20-24)

    - Poland assumes Presidency of the Council of the European Union

    - Belarusian presidential election

- South Africa:

    - 18 killed in a multi-vehicle crash at Van Reenen's Pass

    - Fire at Booysens slum in Johannesburg destroys 1,500 homes

    - Deaths: Olga Meshoe Washington, Winnie Khumalo, Doc Shebeleza, Wynand Havenga 

February

- Global Events:

    - AI Action Summit

    - ICC Champions Trophy (February 19 - March 9)

- South Africa:

    - 13 people die in horrific Limpopo crash

    - World's 'first openly gay imam' shot dead in South Africa

    - Africa Regional Hub event: "Chains for Local and Global Markets" in Addis Ababa 

March

- Global Events:

    - China's annual Two Sessions parliamentary meeting

    - International Women's Day (March 8)

- South Africa:

    - South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi withdraw troops from eastern Congo

    - South African ambassador 'no longer welcome' in US

    - Death: Athol Fugard, playwright 

April

- Global Events:

    - Sustainability Leadership Conference in Cape Town, South Africa (April 30)

- South Africa:

    - US pastor kidnapped during church service found after shoot-out

    - Large fires burn on Table Mountain slopes

    - Bodies of 3 missing police officers found in a river 

May

- Global Events:

    - UN Ocean Conference in France (June 9-13, but preparations start in May)

- South Africa:

    - Africa's only anti-doping lab status revoked by WADA

    - 260 miners stuck underground after 'incident' at South African shaft

    - Death: Cornal Hendricks, rugby player 

June

- Global Events:

    - G20 Summit preparations in South Africa

- South Africa:

    - 10 killed, 24 injured in crash involving minibus taxi and truck

    - South Africa wins WTC to land first major title

    - 12 EFF supporters killed in crash between bus and truck in KZN

July

- Global Events:

    - No specific global events listed, but preparations for G20 Summit continue

- South Africa:

    - South African police minister suspended over organised crime allegations

    - Ex-owner of world's largest rhino farm arrested for trafficking 

August

- Global Events:

    - No specific global events listed

- South Africa:

    - US hunter reportedly killed by buffalo during expedition

    - South Africa's firebrand MP found guilty of hate speech

    - Chinese nationals jailed over kidnapping and forced labour 

September

- Global Events:

    - No specific global events listed

- South Africa:

    - South Africa's top diplomat in France found dead near Paris hotel

    - South African opposition leader Julius Malema found guilty on gun charges

    - South African fathers entitled to equal parental leave 

October

- Global Events:

    - No specific global events listed

- South Africa:

    - Fort Hare student protests: university shut as buildings set on fire

    - Bus crash in mountainous region kills at least 42 people

November

- Global Events:

    - G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa (November 22-23)

    - UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Brazil (November 10-20)

    - APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea

    - ASEAN Summit and East Asia Summit in Malaysia

- South Africa:

    - South Africa declares gender violence a national disaster

    - Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx named World Player of the Year

    - Zuma's daughter pleads not guilty over deadly South African riots

December

    - 10th Anniversary of Paris Climate Agreement (December 12)

- South Africa:

    - South Africa begins administering HIV prevention injection drug lenacapavir

    - Two former police officers convicted for murder of anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka

    - Death toll climbs to 5 in South African temple building collapse