HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY | WEDNESDAY

Wed 04 February 2026:

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

◼️ How Jeffrey Epstein used SA as his hunting ground: The emails also reveal that Epstein had a number of intermediaries supplying him with the pictures and profiles of South African girls keen on international modelling – or what they assumed was international modelling. At one time, another redacted correspondent even plotted with Epstein about luring in an unnamed young South African man using the same kind of acquisitive language that Epstein used for women. “We need to find a way to get this boy for my birthday… I will send you details and then I need to devise a plan of action,” Epstein’s friend wrote.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-03-how-jeffrey-epstein-used-south-africa-as-his-hunting-ground/

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◼️ Households advised to ignore Eskom: These threats for non-compliance include fines of over R6,000 and disconnecting the electricity supply to homes where solar systems remain unregistered. He said the strategy, messaging, and threats by Eskom and some municipal electricity distributors on this matter have been misguided and confused.
https://newsday.co.za/business/16674/tell-eskom-to-take-a-hike/

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◼️ How much you must pay your domestic worker in 2026: This means that South African households employing a domestic worker will have to adjust their budgets to accommodate the hikes and align their pay with the changes. Notably, under South Africa’s NMW laws, employers are required to pay at least the minimum for four hours of work a day, regardless of how many hours they have worked.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/849725/how-much-you-must-pay-your-domestic-worker-in-2026/

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◼️ Speculation grows: Will DA leader John Steenhuisen’s address to members of the media today “concerning matters of national importance and public interest” include the news that he will be stepping aside as party leader by not standing for re-election at its April congress?
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/speculation-grows-over-steenhuisens-future-as-da-leader/

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◼️ Universities collect millions in application fees: On average, if a university received 100,000 applications and charged R100 per application, it would rake in R10million. There have been growing calls from student organisations, which argue that application fees place an unfair financial burden on learners from low-income and rural households and serve as an early barrier to access to higher education.
https://iol.co.za/news/education/2026-02-04-r100-to-r300-just-to-apply-thousands-compete-for-limited-spots-as-universities-collect-millions-in-application-fees/

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