HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 07 April 2026:

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

◼️ 18% drop in Easter road fatalities: More than 500 drivers were arrested for drunk driving, 14 for speeding and 93 pedestrians were arrested for jaywalking on freeways. Creecy said 291 road deaths had been recorded at the start of the long weekend – a significant decline from 356 during the same period in 2025. “Preliminary statistics indicate that the number of fatal crashes during the period declined from 306 in the same period in 2025 to 255 this year, representing a 16.7% decrease,” Creecy said.
https://mg.co.za/news/2026-04-06-transport-minister-creecy-reports-18-drop-in-easter-road-fatalities/

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◼️Ramaphosa to make an important move for SA’s relationship with the US: South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will receive the credentials of US Ambassador-designate Brent Bozell this week, a step that may signal a tentative easing of strained ties between the two countries. Tensions have persisted even since Bozell’s arrival. Last month, he was issued a démarche by South Africa’s foreign ministry over remarks questioning a domestic court ruling on hate speech. Bozell will present his credentials alongside envoys from 19 other nations, including Cuba, according to a statement from Ramaphosa’s office on Monday.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/856059/ramaphosa-to-make-an-important-move-for-south-africas-relationship-with-the-united-states/

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◼️ Rising Fuel Prices Drive Dangerous Petrol Stockpiling: However, the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) is sounding the alarm, warning of the significant safety, environmental, and insurance risks associated with storing petrol at home. Petrol is classified as a hazardous substance under local occupational and fire safety legislation, making home storage a risky venture. The highly flammable nature of petrol means that even a minor spark can lead to catastrophic fires or explosions.
https://iol.co.za/business-report/economy/2026-04-06-rising-fuel-prices-push-south-africans-towards-dangerous-petrol-stockpiling/

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◼️ South Africa among global leaders in shift away from alcohol: The trend comes despite the country’s historically high consumption levels. Data from the World Health Organization, according to media reports, shows the country consumes about 7.8 litres of alcohol per person annually, well above the global average of 5.5 litres. Among drinkers, consumption is
significantly higher, with estimates placing South Africa among the top five globally.
https://www.businessday.co.za/companies/2026-04-07-south-africa-among-global-leaders-in-shift-away-from-alcohol/

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◼️ Positive Update for South African Internet Users: More and more essential services are migrating online, including banking, education, job applications, government services, and even the running of small businesses. The commission said that while it is encouraging that both wired and wireless Internet prices remain below overall inflation, the average cost of data is still high. It said that South Africa still has room to lower prices, as the country ranked 31st out of 45 countries in Africa for a monthly 1GB data package in Q2 20
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/638268-good-news-for-people-who-pay-for-internet-in-south-africa.html

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