HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 25 August 2026:

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

◼️ Sassa grant reviews strand vulnerable South Africans in systemic chaos: An intensified grant review process by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has turned into a nightmare for South Africa’s most vulnerable. Launched to weed out fraud, the nationwide audit has instead trapped lawful beneficiaries of various grants in bureaucratic chaos – suspending vital payouts without warning and forcing thousands into endless, pre-dawn queues at overcrowded offices to undergo verification processes and biometric registration.
Read more here:
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-24-sassa-grant-reviews-strand-vulnerable-south-africans-in-systemic-chaos/

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◼️ MTN Group suffers R3.9 billion Irancell blow: Sanctions imposed on the Central Bank of Iran by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control continue to trap outstanding receivables owed by Irancell. MTN Group reported that these outstanding receivables were R886 million, which it cannot access due to the geopolitical situation between the two nations. Group management reiterated that its long-term strategy is to exit the Middle East and its Irancell business. MTN’s net assets in Irancell stood at R10.5 billion.
Read more here:
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/business-telecoms/664070-mtn-group-suffers-from-r3-9-billion-irancell-blow.html

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◼️ Warning for estates that scan driver’s licences in SA: Wasserman spoke on Cape Talk about the laws governing entry to private estates and businesses and said that these properties have the right to refuse entry. She said that while an estate is not allowed to refuse entry to residents or property owners, it does have control over policies governing whether others may enter. “You have an absolute right when you are an owner, occupant, or tenant to enter an estate and they are not allowed to refuse you access,” she said.
Read more here:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/871676/warning-for-estates-that-scan-drivers-licences-in-south-africa/

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◼️Two Gauteng learners accused of trying to sexually assault Grade 8 girl: The department said a Grade 8 girl learner went to the school toilets when two male learners allegedly followed her inside. The two learners allegedly restrained the girl and attempted to remove some of her clothing. The alleged incident was interrupted when members of the school’s general staff approached the toilets while carrying out cleaning duties. The two male learners allegedly fled from the toilets after the staff members arrived.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/2026-08-24-two-gauteng-learners-accused-of-trying-to-sexually-assault-grade-8-girl-at-villa-liza-secondary-school/

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◼️Fight against race laws in SA: Sakeliga and NEASA (National Employers’ Association of SA) urge CEOs to protect operational autonomy by hiring strictly on merit, not according to race. Le Roux and Papenfus argue that state-mandated race-based hiring quotas are unconstitutional, absurd, and destructive to business in South Africa. “We do not want to cooperate with the wishes of politicians who think they can organise society based on tables and spreadsheets with quotas,” said le Roux. He urged South African businesses not to blindly comply. Under the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA), there are hiring quotas for designated people groups – Black, Coloured, Indian, women, and people with disabilities.
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/25078/fight-against-race-laws-in-south-africa/

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