HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 21 July 2026:

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

◼️ High-profile contract killing cases head to trial: Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (Saps), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has praised investigators for driving three high‑profile contract killing cases to trial, with alleged mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala among the accused.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/police-praise-breakthrough-alleged-hitman-cat-matlala-faces-trial/

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◼️ Chidimma Adetshina deportation battle: Former Miss South Africa finalist and Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 winner Chidimma Adetshina was back in court on Monday as she fights the Department of Home Affairs’ bid to deport her from South Africa. The case started as a dispute over her citizenship and eligibility to enter Miss South Africa, but has now become 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/2026-07-21-chidimma-adetshina-deportation-battle-everything-you-need-to-know-as-court-proceedings-hit-a-legal-impasse/

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◼️ Gayton McKenzie spent R1.1 million on himself for the 2026 World Cup trip: McKenzie shared this information in a press statement about his department’s spending connected to the FIFA World Cup 2026. He previously revealed that the trip cost R31 million. However, he clarified that he did not spend all this money on himself. “This money was distributed among 75 people, along with the project delivery service provider, with as much as half of the rest of the total delegation sponsored,” he said.
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/22926/gayton-mckenzie-spent-r1-1-million-on-himself-for-the-2026-world-cup-trip/

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◼️ Scam targeting shoppers in SA: “He just told us that he didn’t want some money. He just wanted a bag of rice and two cans of fish from a nearby supermarket,” she said in an interview with CapeTalk. The request appeared genuine, and the couple wanted to help. “When I went inside the shop, he was already inside waiting with the groceries. So, of course, you pay without thinking much of it because you can only assume it would be a small amount. It’s a bag of rice and some fish.”
Read more here:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/866362/scam-tactic-targeting-anyone-shopping-at-pick-n-pay-checkers-woolies-and-spar-making-a-comeback-in-south-africa/

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◼️ Big changes for WhatsApp in SA: WhatsApp is by far the most preferred and dominant digital messaging service in South Africa. According to Yazi, it was the most used social media platform in the country in the first half of 2026. Moreover, it had a 96% reach among Internet users in South Africa and was used by 93.8% of people with active social media accounts.
Read more here:
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/658853-big-changes-for-whatsapp-in-south-africa.html

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