HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Mon 24 August 2026:

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

◼️ South Africans are taxed to death: Economist Dawie Roodt said that all South African political parties promise to spend public funds better. However, none of them promises to spend less. They have no plan to cut government spending and, as a result, reduce the tax burden on individuals and businesses. To fund continued spending, Roodt said the Finance Minister gave the South African Revenue Service (SARS) additional resources to collect more tax revenue.
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/25238/south-africans-are-taxed-to-death/

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◼️ Zolani Tete murder: Eastern Cape police have confirmed the arrest of two more suspects in connection with the murder of former world champion boxer Zolani Tete, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four. Tete was fatally shot in NU 17, Mdantsane, on August 21. Gantana said more arrests are expected as the investigation continues and police follow up on leads. “Due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation, the SAPS is unable to disclose further details at this time,” she said.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-08-24-zolani-tete-murder-police-make-three-more-arrests-as-probe-intensifies/

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◼️ France completes investigation into Mthethwa’s death as SA officials demand clarity: Former Interpol ambassador Andy Mashaile has raised sharp concerns about the handling of the investigation, questioning why South African law enforcement was not invited to participate. “If you say you have not received the final outcome, please – a simple analysis says we don’t know what happened. You haven’t told us what actually transpired,” Mashaile told eNCA, pressing for clarity.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/france-rules-mthethwas-death-suicide-as-sa-officials-demand-clarity/

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◼️ Human Rights Commission takes aim at data centres in SA: “The regions, towns, cities and host communities of data centres and the mining for critical minerals and waste sites for electronic waste, are those that are most impacted,” it stated. The CJC said data centres could worsen energy inequality, as they consume enormous amounts of electricity and may receive favourable tariffs or require publicly funded grid upgrades. It insisted that data centres’ electricity needs must not take priority over affordable household access, particularly given South Africa’s cost-of-living crisis and history of load-shedding.
Read more here:
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cloud-hosting/664037-human-rights-commission-takes-aim-at-data-centres-in-south-africa.html

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◼️ The rise of gaming in SA and its impact on young people: A 2026 study reported that up to 71% of children between the ages of 2 and 17 play video games, with as much as 90% of teenagers doing so. Approximately 4 in 10 teenagers identify as gamers, with 41% reporting they play games daily. “A persistent concern regarding psychological well-being is the link between violence in a video game and physical aggression,” the study said. Video games can also enhance cognitive ability, with fast-paced action games supporting quicker reaction times and complex strategy games promoting executive functioning.
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/business/25095/the-rise-of-gaming-in-south-africa-and-its-impact-on-young-people/

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