HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Fri 24 April 2026:

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

◼️ President Ramaphosa suspends police chief over $21m contract: The police minister, national commissioner and his deputy have all now been suspended or placed on leave in a rare concentration of upheaval at the top of the force. Masemola is accused of flouting procurement laws in the awarding of a 360-million-rand ($21.7m) police tender for health services to the company Medicare24. The firm is run by businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who is suspected of links to organised crime. The contract has since been cancelled.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/23/south-africa-president-suspends-police-chief-over-21m-contract

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◼️ New rules for gold and crypto: New draft regulations published could require South African residents to sell their gold, foreign currency, or crypto assets to the National Treasury if they exceed a specific threshold set by the Finance Minister. There are several proposals South African investors should take note of in these draft regulations, including the mandatory sale of gold, foreign currency, and crypto assets.
https://dailyinvestor.com/cryptocurrency/131124/south-africans-could-be-forced-to-sell-their-crypto-gold-and-forex-to-the-government/

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◼️ Type of scam worse than email and SMS phishing: 46% of respondents in the survey said they were targeted with courier and delivery scams, topping 41% that reported being targeted by email and SMS phishing attempts. With online shopping becoming more common in South Africa, many consumers were more frequently awaiting packages for delivery.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/642991-type-of-scam-worse-than-email-and-sms-phishing-in-south-africa.html

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◼️ South Africa coal phase-out delay could cause 32,000 deaths: The delay could also result in 41,000 pre-term births, 17,000 new childhood asthma cases, and 370 deaths among children under five, the report said. “Coal’s true cost is being hidden in hospitals and in early graves,” said Greenpeace’s Cynthia Moyo.
https://www.africanews.com/2026/04/23/south-africa-coal-phase-out-delay-could-cause-32000-deaths-report/

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◼️ Seatbelt reminders are the most annoying in-car tech: “Drivers clearly value technology that makes everyday tasks easier, such as parking or navigation, but features that interrupt the driving experience (such as unexpected safety warnings) or that feel overly sensitive can quickly become frustrating,” adds Clamp. “Some of these technologies are designed to improve safety. But if they activate too frequently or without notice, drivers can see them as annoying rather than helpful.
https://www.citizen.co.za/motoring/seatbelt-reminder-most-annoying-in-car-technology/

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