HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Sat 18 July 2026:

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

◼️ Zimbabwean MP calls for expulsion of 25 000 South Africans: “In diplomacy there is a policy of reciprocity. Our people are being chased away from South Africa at the moment. In Zimbabwe, we have at least 25 000 South Africans. Don’t you think, in the spirit of reciprocity, there is a need for us to chase these South Africans back to their country?” Chiduwa asked Parliament. The proposal was swiftly rejected by Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who said President Emmerson Mnangagwa would not support the expulsion of fellow Africans and remained committed to the principles of Pan-Africanism.
Read more here:
https://www.news24.com/world/africa/zimbabwean-mp-calls-for-expulsion-of-25-000-south-africans-in-retaliation-for-xenophobia-20260717-1060

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◼️ Did Gwarube lie about progress of eradicating pit toilets in schools? Vangqa added the department could not give a figure of how much was needed to completely eradicate pit toilets in public schools. South Africa’s overall school infrastructure backlog exceeds R120 billion, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, fencing and other facilities. Although the 2018 Safe Initiative backlog had been dealt with, “it does not mark the end of government’s responsibility for school sanitation”, said Vangqa.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/education/did-gwarube-lie-pit-toilets-schools-progress/

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◼️ Cape Town wants its own detectives: Democratic Alliance (DA) leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, has announced plans for Cape Town to form its own metro detective squad. “Each time we’ve asked for the same thing: give investigative powers to Cape Town’s Metro Police so that we can help SAPS investigate violent crimes,” Hill-Lewis said. “We will recruit, train and deploy dedicated Metro Police investigators to work gang violence, firearms and drug-related cases.”
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/22220/cape-town-wants-its-own-detectives/

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◼️ Why is SA searching ‘narcissist’? “One of the most striking findings is that South Africa’s top searched definitions in 2026 are dominated by abstract concepts rather than objects. From gaslighting and narcissist to integrity and democracy, people are searching for words that help them navigate relationships, emotions and the wider world,” Sallihall said. He said the research shows that emotional wellbeing, values, society and personal growth are the categories that stand out the most.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-07-17-narcissists-and-gaslighting-these-are-the-25-most-searched-word-definitions-in-south-africa/

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◼️ Illegal and unregistered pesticides are entering SA: Unregistered pesticides entering South Africa through illicit channels are used in unsafe conditions, creating a risk of contamination within the food chain. Toxicologist Dr Gerhard Verdoorn said these chemicals can have serious health consequences, particularly for children. He said stronger controls are needed to prevent them from reaching communities.
Read more here:
https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories/illegal-and-unregistered-pesticides-are-entering-south-africa

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