HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Thu 14 May 2026:

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

◼️ Western Cape Flood Disaster: 10 dead, nearly 90,000 displaced: Authorities have warned that several river systems in the province are experiencing high flow volumes. The Clanwilliam Dam is 103% full, with all sluices open. Downstream communities are being monitored to ensure public safety, and residents are urged to follow all instructions issued by authorities.
https://iol.co.za/news/environment/2026-05-14-western-cape-flood-disaster-10-dead-nearly-90000-displaced/
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◼️ Court finds Zuma has been deliberately delaying arms deal trial: Judge Nkosinathi Chili added: “Failure by the court to intervene in circumstances where it has been sufficiently established that the strategy implemented by the defence is designed to delay the commencement of the trial will no doubt compromise the integrity of the court and the administration of justice.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/zuma-thales-arms-deal-trial-npa-ruling/

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◼️ SA allows 11 private firms to operate trains on its freight rail network: South Africa has allowed 11 private firms to operate trains on the country’s freight rail network, the state company ‌that manages the network said on Wednesday, part of a government drive to boost freight volumes and lift economic growth. South Africa’s government is pushing to increase annual ⁠rail volumes from approximately 180 million metric tons to 250 million tons by 2030.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-allows-11-private-firms-operate-trains-its-freight-rail-network-2026-05-13/

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◼️ Bad news about Starlink in SA: Under South Africa’s black economic empowerment (BEE) laws and regulations, people of Chinese descent may also sometimes be considered “Black” if they became citizens before 27 April 1994. “The Authority remains committed to advancing transformation, empowerment and economic inclusion within the telecommunications sector and all other sectors it regulates,” ICASA stated.
mybroadband.co.za/news/telecomsa647306-bad-news-about-starlink-in-south-africa-2.html

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◼️ SAPVIA warns about a blanket solar tax in SA: South Africa’s rapid solar buildout over the past few years made it unrealistic to expect the country to establish a fully-fledged local manufacturing industry in a short period. “It took China well more than 20 years to put all sorts of instruments in place to support their solar PV industry, and they’re beginning to reap the benefits now,” she said. “For us to be expected to build an entire industrial solar PV base in two to three years when we have energy security challenges was pretty much almost impossible.”
https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/860288/sapvia-warns-about-a-blanket-solar-tax-in-south-africa/

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