HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Thu 20 August 2026:

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

◼️ NIH reverses Trump-era ban on South African research funding: South African researchers, who are at the forefront of global research into HIV and tuberculosis, have historically been the biggest recipients of NIH grants awarded outside the US. But their world was thrown into turmoil last year after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order halting all foreign aid and assistance to South Africa, citing concerns about the government’s “egregious actions” against white Afrikaner farmers and Israel. Research units have been forced to jettison some projects and retrench staff whose salaries were covered by grant funding.
Read more here:
https://www.businessday.co.za/news/health/2026-08-20-nih-reverses-trump-era-ban-on-sa-research-funding/

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◼️ Chidimma Adetshina’s future in South Africa hangs in the balance: Former Miss South Africa finalistAdetshina appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday, as her legal battle over her right to remain in South Africa continues. The case started as a dispute over her citizenship and eligibility to enter Miss South Africa, but has a bigger legal battle involving immigration law, detention powers and the rights of people whose identity documents are disputed.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-08-19-chidimma-adetshinas-fight-to-stay-in-sa-delayed-again/

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◼️ Al Jama-ah: Zille wants to ‘finish the job’ and sabotage Joburg: Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks has slammed former Wits University vice-chancellor Adam Habib for publicly endorsing DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille as the right person to fix Joburg. According to reports, Habib said Zille has the necessary experience and capacity to save the metro from further decline. Hendricks said the DA was given two opportunities to lead the municipality and failed both times.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/the-da-had-two-chances-and-failed-twice-al-jama-ah-slams-former-wits-vice-chancellor-for-endorsing-zille/

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◼️ New strategies to combat gambling harm among students: “Sports betting is particularly prominent among young people, with online and mobile platforms making betting readily accessible…Students can place bets from their phones at virtually any time and from almost anywhere, often without the physical or social barriers associated with traditional forms of gambling,” Seoheng said. The campaign encourages universities to include gambling awareness in orientation, wellness programmes and support services.
Read more here:
https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-times/20260819/281548002728121

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◼️ Solar surge leaves Eskom chasing billions in lost revenue: Eskom is losing more than R50 billion a year in revenue because off-grid solar power installations – many rooftop systems in suburban areas – now account for 20% of the country’s total installed electricity generation capacity. “For more than a decade, Eskom and government have responded to operational inefficiency, poor maintenance, corruption and declining sales by repeatedly pushing electricity tariffs significantly above inflation,” said Duvenage.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/business/solar-surge-leaves-eskom-chasing-billions-in-lost-revenue/

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