HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Thu 02 April 2026:

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

◼️ Public demands urgent access to sex offenders register amid escalating violence: The first South African national gender-based violence study in 2024 survey found that an estimated 33,1% of all women in South Africa, aged 18 and older, have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. South Africa’s murder rate for the 2024/2025 financial year is estimated at 45,2 per 100,000 people. On average, 27,000 people are murdered each year. This is roughly 959% higher than the average for G20 countries. In the 2023/2024 financial year, South Africa recorded approximately 42,500 reported rapes.
https://iol.co.za/thepost/opinion/2026-04-02-public-demands-urgent-access-to-sex-offenders-register-amid-escalating-violence/

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◼️ Half of SA’s water is lost before it reaches the tap: The committee raised alarm over failures in South Africa’s water quality and warned that non-compliance with drinking water and wastewater standards may harm communities. “Literally, of the water that has been treated, we lose more than we actually use, and that is a matter of serious concern,” committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize said. Water losses result in what experts call “non-revenue” water, meaning it does not reach the end user. Instead, it is lost through leakages and theft.
https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/127234/half-of-south-africas-water-is-lost-before-it-reaches-the-tap/

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◼️Government raises ministers’ car cap to R1.1m, but can’t say what it costs taxpayers: National Treasury has increased the official vehicle threshold for ministers and premiers by 37.5%, yet admits it has no consolidated figure for what executive perks actually cost the public. The price cap for official vehicles for ministers and premiers has been increased from R800 000 to R1.1 million, a move the opposition party Bosa says is “offensive to millions of South Africans” as citizens cope with a R3-per-litre fuel hike.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/ministers-car-cap-r1-1m-costs-taxpayers/

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◼️ South Africans struggling to afford basic food items: The report highlights steep increases in administered prices, with electricity costs rising by about 85% and water by around 68% since 2020, well above the roughly 30% increase in overall inflation over the same period. Healthcare and education costs have also continued to rise above headline inflation, further eroding household purchasing power.
https://iol.co.za/business/economy/2026-04-02-rising-food-prices-leave-south-africans-struggling-to-afford-basic-food-items/

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◼️Vodacom taking on banks in SA: Vodacom customers using the super app have four levels of VodaPay wallets available, each with varying payment, money transfer, and cash withdrawal services. These wallet tiers carry no monthly fees and are available to non-Vodacom customers. However, they vary based on wallet limits. For example, the entry-level wallet has a limit of R3,000, while the highest-tier Pro wallet has a limit of R100,000.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/636412-vodacom-taking-on-banks-in-south-africa.html

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