HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Sat 18 October 2025:

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

◼️ Will Gaza ceasefire change SA’s ICJ genocide case against Israel? “The ceasefire is a welcome step because, of course, we want to end the killing,” Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s former foreign minister said. “But I’m concerned because the struggle of the people of Palestine is about much more than the war that has been under way, [and] this genocide of the past [two years].” Palestinians are “striving for self-determination, freedom, and justice”, she said, speaking in a personal capacity after retiring from government service last year. “I don’t think the ceasefire addresses the core issues relevant to the struggle of the Palestinian people,” she added.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/17/will-gaza-ceasefire-change-south-africas-icj-genocide-case-against-israel

————-
◼️ Defamation lawsuit against Mkhwanazi: Private investigator Paul O’Sullivan spoke to several media publications, in which he accused the police commissioner of being a criminal himself. He told Newzroom Afrika that Mkhwanazi had approved R36 million of public funds to purchase luxury cars in 2021. He further accused the commissioner of having joined a police supplier on an overseas trip and came back with a Louis Vuitton handbag.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/paul-osullivan-hits-mkhwanazi-with-defamation-lawsuit/

————-
◼️ Eskom much worse than SABC, Transnet, and SA Post Office: Years of mismanagement and corruption have crushed state-owned enterprises. Their service levels are abysmal, and taxpayer money is used to bail them out year after year. The only reason they exist is due to their legally protected monopolies. The largest SOE, Eskom, had the worst rating of all South African companies. Simply put, it has a serious perception problem.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/614132-eskom-much-worse-than-sabc-transnet-and-sa-post-office-in-media-sentiment-rankings.html

————-
◼️ Mass protest in Joburg: Civil society group WaterCAN has announced a mass protest in Johannesburg on Saturday, 1 November. The protest has been organised by a coalition of residents, community organisations, and civil society groups. These include WaterCAN, Abahlali Freedom Park, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, CADE, Defend our Democracy, JoburgCAN, Joburg Crisis Alliance, Professionals and Business for Change, and others.
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/7407/mass-protest-in-johannesburg-planned/

◼️ Important information about free temporary driving licences: The Road Traffic Management Corporation says motorists must still pay for temporary driving licences, despite the Department of Transport’s announcement that the fee had been waived. The fee exemption only applies if motorists meet three conditions, including that their licence must have expired in a specific time window.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/614368-important-information-about-free-temporary-driving-licences-in-south-africa.html

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22