HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 14 April 2026:

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

◼️ US doubles down on investigation into SA: US Ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell, recently expressed Washington’s frustrations with the local government’s refusal to engage on these points. Regardless, there have been positive indications, from both sides, that a workable trade deal is still possible. Unfortunately for South Africa, time is not on its side. According to Desai, tariffs will remain a central pillar of the Trump administration’s economic agenda, and more tariffs are on the way.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/857077/united-states-doubles-down-on-investigation-into-south-africa/

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◼️ Rising fuel, fertiliser costs threaten SA food prices: “We’re going into the planting season for winter grains down in the Western Cape, in particular, wheat. So this comes at the most unfortunate time in terms of the production cycle,” Andrag told Business Day. “The reality of the food system is that it’s priced entirely in fuel. So it’s not just farmers; it’s the entire food system and everyone will start absorbing these costs, and ultimately it will start having an impact on food inflation. Adding to farmers’ pain is that South Africa imports most of its fertiliser — about 80% — from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Russia and China.
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-04-14-rising-fuel-fertiliser-costs-threaten-sa-food-prices-farmers-warn/

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◼️ ‘Move on!’ The Presidency has told South African-born SpaceX and Tesla boss Elon Musk to move on and focus on making money in America amid claims that Starlink was offered multiple opportunities to “bribe” its way to a telecoms licence in the country by pretending that a black person ran the company’s local entity. Musk has not provided any evidence of when the bribery claims were made, but instead spewed expletives at South African officials who questioned their veracity.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/move-on-presidency-tells-elon-musk-amid-starlink-bribery-claims/

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◼️ Municipal water, electricity losses total R25bn a year: In some cities, up to 40% of all bulk water purchased generates no revenue and the average electricity losses stand at 25%. This is the result of water leaks, transmission losses, electricity theft, and old meters that should have been replaced and are bypassed by major consumers, according to National Treasury. The cost is recovered through tariffs paid by customers.
https://www.citizen.co.za/business/municipal-water-electricity-losses-total-r25bn-a-year/

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◼️ Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla returns to High Court: The State argues that her online posts contributed to a wave of looting, arson and widespread destruction across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which saw shopping centres ransacked, infrastructure damaged, and communities left in fear. Political analyst Zweli Ndevu told IOL that the drawn-out legal battle raises serious public concern about delays in justice and accountability.
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-04-14-duduzile-zuma-sambudla-returns-to-high-court-as-terrorism-related-trial-resumes-over-2021-unrest/

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