The Comic Con Cape Town 2025 concluded in South Africa on Sunday, after four days of celebration of pop culture and gaming among cosplayers, gaming enthusiasts, and comic book aficionados from around the world.
The third edition of the event gathered international exhibitors and visitors at the Cape Town International Convention Center, featuring a diverse array of entertainment, shopping opportunities, exclusive merchandise, and interactive panels for guests to engage their fans.
Through the comic con, global exhibitors, including those from China, have seen the growth potential of South Africa's animation industry fueled by increasing investments in creative content and global demand.
Rick, a Chinese trendy toy retailer who participated in the event for the first time this year, has a keen interest in expanding market presence in the country, buoyed by the popularity Chinese cultural commodities enjoyed among South Africans.
"[Our] market in Africa is quite small at the moment. I think it's because we haven't expanded yet. We're quite new we are only four months old. But we can see that there's a very big interest, obviously, and so I think there's definitely a market for it and you can definitely expand a lot more, especially if we get new designs in," he told China Central Television in an interview.
Carol Weaving, managing director for RX Africa, said the expansion of Comic Con Cape Town over the years indicates the growing interest of global animation industry players in the promising South African market.
"What we started off with one country, for instance, now we've got half a dozen countries that are all coming in because they know that Africa is the future. It's got a very young population, and obviously then there's massive retail opportunities," she said.
Comic Con Cape Town 2025 closes
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
