HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Tue 28 April 2026:

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

◼️ US signals thaw with SA after months of diplomatic strain: “On behalf of the US, I extend warm greetings to the people of South Africa as you commemorate Freedom Day,” Rubio said in the statement issued by the state department. “More than three decades since South Africa’s democratic transition, this occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the country’s history and future. As we look ahead, we remain open to constructive engagement where our interests align.”
https://www.businessday.co.za/news/2026-04-27-us-says-its-open-to-engagement-with-south-africa-on-its-own-terms/

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◼️ SA withdraws AI policy due to fake AI-generated sources: “The most plausible explanation is that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened,” Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi said. “This failure is not a mere technical issue but has compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy,” he wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africa-withdraws-ai-policy-due-fake-ai-generated-sources-2026-04-27/

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◼️ Ramaphosa faced ‘no harm or security threat’: Government has moved swiftly to dismiss misleading claims of a “disruption” at the National Freedom Day celebrations in Bloemfontein, Free State, stressing there was no security threat or attempt to cause harm to President Cyril Ramaphosa or Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/government-confirms-ramaphosa-faced-no-harm-security-threat-freedom-day-stage-incident/

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◼️ Inside the huge South African electronics store: Founded in 1977 by Mohammed Hassim and Shabir Shaboddin, Communica started out in a small shop in Pretoria West. Hassim had been working at the hi-fi and audio components store Philtron for roughly four years. It was here where he first started developing an interest in electronics. He set up the small shop with a loan from a friend. Due to Apartheid laws, the company’s trading license had to be held under the name of a white friend.
https://mybroadband.co.za/news/hardware/643512-inside-the-huge-south-african-electronics-store-with-more-than-30000-products-and-a-49-year-history.html

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◼️ Deepfake warning: The South African Reserve Bank has warned South Africans about fake AI-generated images purporting to show its governor, Lesetja Kganyago, fighting media personalities Tim Modise and Bruce Whitfield. In a similar but separate case, Biznews founder Alec Hogg was shown to be in confrontation with President Cyril Ramaphosa.
https://dailyinvestor.com/investing/131321/cyril-ramaphosa-lesetja-kganyago-and-alec-hogg-used-in-fake-confrontations-to-scam-south-africans/

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