HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 22 September 2026:

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

◼️ Mbeki best person to break US-SA diplomatic impasse, says Bozell: “President Mbeki understands the mechanics of international diplomacy and economic engagement at the highest level,” US ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell said. “When you are dealing with fundamental economic frameworks and trying to move past impasse into actionable agreements, you need someone who commands immense respect in both capitals,” Bozell said. Bozell expressed “disappointment” in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s handling of relations, saying Washington has “run out of patience”.
Read more here:
https://www.businessday.co.za/politics/2026-09-21-mbeki-best-person-to-break-us-sa-diplomatic-impasse-says-bozell/

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◼️ Drone surveillance over nude beach: South African National Parks (SANParks) said that it would use drones to surveil the famous Sandy Bay beach in Cape Town to ensure that beachgoers follow the rules, including keeping their clothes on. New signage installed at entrances and along its route has outright banned nudity at Sandy Bay, Cape Town’s only unofficial beach for naturists and nudists. “No nudity and or sexual misconduct in any public space, including the beaches and pathways. Fines will be issued in terms of Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act,” the sign said.
Read more here:
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/gadgets/668390-drone-surveillance-over-iconic-nude-beach-in-south-africa.html

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◼️ Here’s how much it costs to operate the 10111 hotline: IOL in 2024 reported that former police minister Bheki Cele detailed the mess at the 10111 centre. He admitted that millions of calls were dropped every year, and only 40% of the required 10111 call centre personnel had been deployed over three years. The call centres were meant to be staffed by 3 344 people, but as at April 2022 there were only 1 315 personnel. In 2023, almost seven million calls went unanswered because there were no staff to take them.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/business/heres-how-much-it-costs-to-operate-the-10111-systems-saps/

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◼️Homeowners with prepaid electricity meters face fines up to R75,000: “When residents report power problems, technicians often arrive without spare parts and bypass the meters to temporarily restore power,” it said. “Shortly afterwards, inspectors visit the same residents’ properties and accuse them of having tampered with the meters.” The FF+ said that some residents were subsequently offered the opportunity to have fines removed in exchange for cash payments. The FF+ also advised that ratepayers should photograph their meters before and after technicians carry out work, and should not make cash payments to have a fine removed.
Read more here:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/876009/homeowners-with-prepaid-electricity-meters-face-fines-up-to-r75000-in-south-africa/

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◼️ Facebook Marketplace scams: Sellers are also at risk, with scammers using fake payment confirmations to obtain goods without paying. Buyers, meanwhile, can lose money after paying deposits or making upfront payments for goods that never arrive. In some cases, people responding to online advertisements have also been lured to isolated locations and robbed. Scammers may use low prices to attract potential buyers before pressuring them to make a deposit or payment. If a seller insists that you pay immediately because another buyer is supposedly interested, take a step back.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/lifestyle/2026-09-14-facebook-marketplace-scams-warning-signs-buyers-and-sellers-should-know/

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