HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Mon 20 October 2025

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

◼️ Calls grow for major security reforms in SA: “We can definitely show a correlation between a leadership deficit and a growth in serious crime. “When it comes to one of the most important components of Saps, that being the role of crime intelligence, we have to see more accountability and transparency from the leadership, without compromising ongoing covert operations.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/relationships-have-broken-down-calls-for-major-security-reforms-in-sa-grow-amid-saps-crisis/

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◼️ Electricity price changes coming: Electricity and energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has read Eskom the riot act over its electricity price increases, emphasising that the era of double-digit hikes is over. The minister said that the department has found a “path forward” with pricing, hoping to tie any future increases to inflation. Eskom electricity prices have increased by 937% since 2007, while inflation over the same period was 155%.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/614502-electricity-and-energy-minister-read-eskom-the-riot-act-on-electricity-prices.html

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◼️ New target for criminals: Criminals often enter church services posing as worshippers, taking advantage of the quiet and trusting atmosphere. Once the congregation is engaged in prayer or worship, they brandish weapons and use intimidation to seize cash, smartphones, and other valuables. Churches are particularly attractive targets because they collect cash offerings, and congregants often carry personal items, such as phones and wallets.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/839928/new-target-for-criminals-now-firmly-entrenched-in-south-africa/

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◼️ Crypto finds its place in SA: “I think a typical misconception is it can be used as a driver of a crime because it cannot be traced when, in actual fact, everything is recorded on that ledger and actually more easily traceable and transparent than your normal sort of currency movements,” Mosime said. Cryptocurrencies are mainly used to store value and make digital payments. Bitcoin, for example, is often viewed as a digital version of gold because of its limited supply and lasting value.
https://mg.co.za/business/2025-10-20-crypto-finds-its-place-in-south-africa-as-retailers-adopt-digital-payments/

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◼️ Travellers warned of rise in airline booking scams:Victims are then asked to download a fake airline app through a link, giving scammers remote access to their devices. Once access is gained, the fraudster asks the victim to log in to their banking app, after which the screen goes blank and unauthorised transactions are made.
https://iol.co.za/business/2025-10-20-travellers-warned-of-rise-in-airline-booking-scams-ahead-of-december-holidays/

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