HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Mon 04 May 2026:

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

◼️ Madlanga Commission Day 100: Last month, the commission granted Witness G permission to testify partially in camera, after his legal team argued that disclosing his identity could place him and his informants at risk. His lawyer, Tshepo Matlala, previously told the commission that his client requested portions of his evidence be heard in camera, with the option to testify remotely and off camera. Witness G is likely to be asked about the status of controversial political fixer Brown Mogotsi, who previously told the commission he was also a crime intelligence informant.
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-05-04-madlanga-commission-day-100-witness-g-to-testify-in-camera/

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◼️Three cruise passengers dead after rare zoonotic virus infection: A Johannesburg hospital is reportedly treating one patient, with another patient dying in South Africa while being transferred to Europe. Hantavirus is contracted through exposure to the bodily fluids and excrement of rats and mice. “Hantavirus infections are zoonotic viruses typically transmitted to humans via infected rodents,” The Lancet stated.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/three-cruise-passengers-dead-after-rare-zoonotic-virus-infection-one-hospitalised-in-joburg/

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◼️ Big changes for work hours, dismissals, and leave: These bills amend five key employment-related statutes, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act. New section 9B of the BCEA (Basic Conditions of Employment Act) provides protections for workers on “on-call,” zero-hours, or min-max contracts. These employees, often working in sectors such as retail, security, or hospitality, can be vulnerable to irregular hours, lack of guaranteed income, and last-minute cancellations.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/858832/big-changes-for-work-hours-dismissals-and-leave-in-south-africa/

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◼️ Trouble at South African Airways: SAA had not turned a profit since 2011 and was technically insolvent. The company went into voluntary business rescue in December 2019, and resumed operations in September 2021. However, one of the most serious aspects of SAA’s operations that needs to be addressed concerns governance and financial mismanagement at the entity. Vermooten said the airline “has not been able to stabilise its financial and accounting records,” a basic requirement for any large organisation. Adding to this is the fact that SAA recently confirmed there is an organised group of criminals stealing valuable aircraft components.
https://topauto.co.za/features/149988/trouble-at-south-african-airways/

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◼️ South Africans say goodbye to cash: The analysis found that although cash use was “holding steady” in South Africa, cards and digital payments were the preferred payment method for 94% of respondents. 42% of South Africans only used cash a few times in a month, while 23% used cash once a month or not at all. The remaining 32% said they used cash a few times a week or nearly every day. “This pattern suggests that cash is no longer the default, but rather a fallback option,” Discovery Bank said.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/banking/643000-south-africans-say-goodbye-to-cash.html

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