HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Fri 04 September 2026:

Here’s what’s happening in South Africa today:👇🏼

◼️ Private security ‘opens door to crime’: For criminologist Prof Kholofelo Rakubu, the key concern is not simply whether criminals enter the security industry, but whether legitimate security structures can be part of organised crime. She said security companies operate in an environment which is attractive to criminal networks. They provide protection, access control, surveillance, transportation and information, while their employees routinely work in restricted environments and around sensitive sites.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/private-security-opens-door-to-crime-experts-warn-about-infiltration-fears/

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◼️ SA’s Synthetic-drug crisis deepens: Several crystal meth labs discovered on isolated farms in South Africa are prompting concern over the country’s expanding part in making and moving synthetic drugs. Officers found the newest suspected site in a late-night raid on a farm about 200 km north of Johannesburg after locals flagged unusual activity and a powerful, foul odor. Police seized various exhibits, including raw materials, chemicals, suspected drug manufacturing equipment, tools and a suspected final product believed to be “cat”. The white Mahindra bakkie, allegedly used in the commission of the crime, was also seized for further investigation.
Read more here:
https://independentpress.cc/sas-synthetic-drug-crisis-deepens-after-another-meth-lab-is-uncovered-on-an-isolated-farm/2026/09/04/

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◼️ Online shopping is now 10% of all retail turnover: South Africa’s e-commerce sector has reached 10% of national retail turnover for the first time, according to a study. The report also notes that the competition is not between online retailers Takealot and Amazon, but between all retailers, as more commerce moves online, with clothing the biggest winner in the online space. Subscription offerings, where users pay monthly fees for free or quicker delivery, are becoming a battleground, says the report.
Read more here:
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/tech/online-shopping-is-now-10-of-all-retail-turnover/

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◼️ Who are the men in the ‘Big Five’ photo shown at Madlanga? Photographs revealed to the Madlanga Commission on Wednesday, showing the alleged ‘Big Five’ cartel, are emerging as a striking piece of context in the Commission’s examination of the group. The photos are particularly noteworthy as Retired Hawks head, Dr Godfrey Lebeya, insists he did not know the alleged criminal grouping or some of the people linked to it. The photos were recovered from the phone of murder-accused businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-09-04-who-are-the-men-in-the-big-five-photo-shown-at-madlanga/

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◼️ New rules for WhatsApp use at schools in SA: The Department of Basic Education (DBE) in South Africa is taking steps to strengthen regulations regarding WhatsApp communication between teachers and students. The move aims to clarify professional boundaries and ensure safe communication. “This is so that they report them, because sometimes children don’t know what to do. They are confronted with this situation where a teacher is making sexual advances on them,” Likho Bottoman said. “Sometimes they post a meme. Just a meme, but a meme that has got sexual connotations, and children don’t know how to respond to that.”
Read more here:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/873535/new-rules-for-whatsapp-use-at-schools-in-south-africa/

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