Pics: Top news stories of 2015

State power utility Eskom implemented loadshedding earlier this year. Electricity was cut across large parts of the country for hours at a time. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

On January 7, gunmen stormed the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The shooting killed at least 12 people, including two police officers. Picture: REUTERS/Hazir Reka

The #RhodesMustFall movement was a call to transform the UCT campus by eliminating all vestiges of a racist past, says the writer. File picture: David Ritchie

File photo: The city's Theo Layne said that the 'large vegetation fire' was visible from the Glencairn Expressway.

A spate of xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and Durban in April sparked a media frenzy and public outcry. Picture: Willem Law

Picture: Itumeleng English

Walter Palmer caused an uproar in July when he killed Zimbabwe's Cecil the Lion with a rifle. The death was deemed a 'great loss' to the country. Picture: River Bluff Dental Facebook

The EFF was forcibly removed from Parliament. File photo: Rodger Bosch/EPA

DA leader Mmusi Maimane File picture: Ziphozonke Lushaba

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2014 file photo, former South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan arrives for the yearly South African budget speech in Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. Gordhan who previously served as the minister from 2009 to 2014, was reappointed finance minister by President Jacob Zuma Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 after firing Nhlanhla Nene and then David van Rooyen who was sworn in last week, succeeding Nene. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File)

Feeebearing - Cape Town - 151123 - Lawyers of Banting diet advocate and sports scientist Tim Noakes are expected to flash out evidence that provides more insight into his controversial diet as the hearing into his professional conduct began this morning. Noakes appeared to before the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), which is charging him with "unprofessional conduct " following dietary advice that he gave on social media. Pictured: Noakes takes a seat amongst his legal team as proceedings start. REPORTER: SIPOJAZI FOKAZI. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Convicted of culpable homicide, former paralympian Oscar Pistorius now faces a new charge of murder and will be re-sentenced on 18 April 2016. Picture: REUTERS

Jayde Panayiotou was abducted outside her PE home in April 2015 and was later found murdered. Her husband Chris Panayiotou will face trial for allegedly plotting her murder. Picture: Facebook

Cape Town 151021. Students from different tertiary institutions forced their entry to Parliament to speak to the Minister of Tertiary education Blade Nzimande to decrease the fees at the institutions. Some students were arrested during the protest. Picture Cindy Waxa.Reporter Siya/Argus

This March 2015 photo provided by National Geographic from their October 2015 issue shows a reconstruction of Homo naledi's face by paleoartist John Gurche at his studio in Trumansburg, N.Y. In an announcement made Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, scientists say fossils found deep in a South African cave revealed the new member of the human family tree. (Mark Thiessen/National Geographic via AP) IMAGE MUST INCLUDE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LOGO; CROPPING NOT PERMITTED; MANDATORY CREDIT: "MARK THIESSEN/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC"

Trevor Noah, a well-known South African comedian made international news in September 2015 when he was chosen as the new host of The Daily Show, replacing Jon Stewart. Picture: AP

170915 Metro police officer Laurentia Shitlelana poses for a picture during an interview at the JMPD head offices in Shopiatown. Shitlelana became famous after her video recorded by a motorist known as Clive who failed to stop at a traffic light went viral on social media as they exchanged words. picture:Paballo Thekiso

German car giant VW were caught with their pants down after manipulating exhaust-control software thus allowing their TDI diesel cars to emit up tp 40 times more nitrogen oxide than allowed. Picture: EPA