HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Wed 19 August 2026:

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

◼️ Big changes coming for anyone entering or leaving SA: “We must accelerate the establishment of the identified One-Stop Border Posts. A truck carrying goods across Southern Africa should not spend days waiting at a border,” President Ramaphosa said. “Our borders must facilitate legitimate trade and movement while maintaining effective security and customs controls. The SADC region has previously identified digital interventions, e-visas and cross-border identity management as important tools for facilitating movement while strengthening security.
*Read more here:*
https://topauto.co.za/news/161153/big-changes-coming-for-anyone-entering-or-leaving-south-africa/

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◼️ Don’t confuse deportations with job creation: The 33.6% unemployment rate recorded between April and June is not just a statistic: it is 8.5 million South Africans who wake up each morning without work, income and dignity. Nearly half of our youth are locked out of opportunity. This matters because one of the loudest arguments behind the crackdown on undocumented foreigners has been that South Africans are losing jobs to illegal immigrants. The numbers show no evidence that deportations have eased it, despite over 178 000 migrants leaving since 30 June.
Read more here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/opinion/dont-confuse-deportations-with-job-creation/
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◼️ Teen hit with 11 charges after FBI-SAPS child porn probe: The 16-year-old appeared in the Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court in the Western Cape on Tuesday. His charges include seven counts of sexual assault, compelled self-sexual assault, sexual exploitation of children, exposure or displaying pornography to a child by image, unlawful and intentional distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The court appearance comes after the teenager was caught red-handed on Monday by members of the SAPS, FBI, and US Homeland Security.
Read more here:
https://iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/malmesbury-teen-hit-with-11-charges-after-fbi-saps-child-porn-probe/

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◼️ Massive electricity price changes for SA being published this week: South Africa is implementing a series of reforms aimed at ending state power utility Eskom’s century-old monopoly by splitting it into three separate units and bringing in private suppliers. At the same time, it’s redesigning tariff structures so they better reflect the cost of supplying electricity. The nation’s current pricing policy dates back to 2008. The changes comes as steep increases in electricity costs bring pressure to bear on households and businesses.
Read more here:
https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/870820/massive-electricity-price-changes-for-south-africa-being-published-this-week/

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◼️ The City of Johannesburg spent R585,832 to send two officials to a four-day AIDS conference in Brazil, even as it faces severe financial challenges. “We question the relevance of this trip and why residents must fund international travel during a financial and service delivery crisis,” Johannesburg councillor Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said. She said that residents are told there is no money for service delivery, and the City of Johannesburg’s phones are cut due to non-payment. Residents also have to deal with prolonged power outages and weekly water leaks because the city does not invest enough in maintenance.
Read more here:
https://newsday.co.za/south-africa/25479/city-of-johannesburg-spent-r585831-on-an-international-trip-for-two-officials/

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