HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Thu 08 January 2026:

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

◼️ SA agrees not to interfere in the US refugee programme for Afrikaners: “We may not agree with the classification of certain South Africans as facing possible genocide, but their right to move to a destination of their choice is guaranteed and the government of South Africa won’t interfere,” the summary quoted Thabo Thage, one of the South African officials in the meeting, as saying.
https://newsday.co.za/international/14521/south-africa-agrees-not-to-interfere-in-the-us-refugee-programme-for-afrikaners/

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◼️ The richest people in SA at the start of 2026: South Africa currently has eight dollar billionaires ranked among the world’s richest people at the start of 2026, with a combined net worth of $43.6 billion, equivalent to approximately R715 billion. The billionaire list for South Africa, based on the live tracking from Forbes, has expanded since the start of 2025, with two additional names now featured on the list.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/wealth/847283/the-richest-people-in-south-africa-at-the-start-of-2026/

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◼️ Ramaphosa mulls over crackdown on ‘unpatriotic’ lobbying: Ramaphosa said the government will not take premature action against the organisations. “We continue to examine all matters very carefully and with due diligence and due process. We are not a type of government that acts outside due process. We act in terms of what the law process requires. So all those matters will be addressed,” said Ramaphosa.
https://www.ewn.co.za/2026/01/08/ramaphosa-weighs-crackdown-on-unpatriotic-lobbying

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◼️ High cost of uniforms demands national action: The notable rise in the price of school uniforms and other learning goods and services is a societal problem that demands societal action. The constitution compels us to guarantee education as a basic human right, one that must be accessed through equitable and affordable means.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/ideas/2026-01-08-siya-makunga-high-cost-of-uniforms-demands-national-action/

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◼️ Green light for government printer to produce driving licence cards: Creecy asked the AG to investigate the award process after the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) provided her with new evidence of alleged serious irregularities in the tender decision. The tender, worth R898 million, was awarded by the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) to Idemia Identity and Security South Africa, part of French multinational technology company Idemia. The budget set by the DLCA for the purchase of the machine was just over R486 million.
https://www.citizen.co.za/business/green-light-for-government-printer-to-produce-driving-licence-cards/

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