HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Wed 22 October 2025:

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

◼️ SA won’t compromise on its policies to appease US: US President Donald Trump’s administration previously led a disinformation drive against South Africa, incorrectly claiming a genocide against Afrikaner farmers. Lamola gave a brief update on trade talks while speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on Tuesday. He said that South Africa won’t compromise on its policies to appease Washington.
https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/10/22/lamola-sa-won-t-compromise-on-its-policies-to-appease-us

————-
◼️ Between politics and economics: The legal point is cleaner than the tonnage: South African coal exports are regulated by domestic South African law, not a corridor treaty. Pretoria can put “coal to Israel” behind export permits (and refuse them), for which there is precedent, or issue a time-bound prohibition via Government Gazette under the International Trade Administration Act and Export Control Regulations. That is an administratively straightforward, domestically lawful switch.
https://independentpress.cc/between-politics-and-economics-who-has-more-leverage-over-israeli-energy-supplies/2025/10/22/

————-
◼️ Major crackdown on gambling advertisements: Many South Africans have noticed an increasing number of gambling advertisements across the country, with the logos of gambling giants prominently displayed anywhere from airports to sport stadiums to social media. The NGB explained that this proliferation has happened without sufficient guidelines, which has normalised gambling in society and fostered harmful gambling habits.
https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/106524/major-crackdown-on-gambling-advertisements-in-south-africa/

————-
◼️ RAF leaves hospital bankrupt and victims stranded: According to testimony before parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), between 2013 and 2025, the hospital helped hundreds of patients referred by over 130 state hospitals, including Standerton and Kwamhlanga hospitals in Mpumalanga, which often lacked beds, equipment or theatre time.
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/raf-leaves-hospital-bankrupt-and-victims-stranded/

————-
◼️ New rules for SA passport holders travelling to Europe: The EES is an automated IT system for non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries using the system. From 12 October 2025, 29 European countries have started introducing the EES gradually or in full at their external borders. This rollout will take place over six months.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/840593/new-rules-for-south-african-passport-holders-travelling-to-europe/

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22