HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

Wed 27 May 2026:

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

◼️ New laws for workers in SA: Broadly, the laws aim to regulate the employment of foreign nationals and “enhance job opportunities for South African citizens”. The Bill amends the Employment Services Act 4 of 2014 to address rising unemployment and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. Frustrated South Africans, especially those without jobs, often blame foreign nationals for taking what little work is available in the country.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/861638/new-laws-for-workers-in-south-africa-are-coming/

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◼️ ‘Show us the registers’: For years, survivors of abuse in South Africa’s religious spaces have carried their pain largely in silence. They have been told to forgive, to submit, to protect the institution. Now, for the first time, their voices are being heard in parliament. Erika Bornman told the committee she was abused as a child in the church and, when she reported it through internal processes, was told to “repent of the sin of making a man of God stumble and speak of this to nobody, not even your mother.”
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/survivors-take-centre-stage-church-accountability-parliament/

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◼️ Minister mounts forensic probe into dodgy R1.6bn textbook tender: This follows recent reports by News24 that the department had enlisted the services of several companies, including an inexperienced one with no traceable track record, to supply learning material in the foundation phase (Grade 1 to 3) textbook procurement process at a cost of R1.6bn. This is about ensuring that quality textbooks reach learners on time through a lawful, fair, transparent process worthy of public confidence. Corruption in education is never victimless. And neither is weak governance. Both are ultimately paid for by children, Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube said.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-05-27-minister-mounts-forensic-probe-into-dodgy-r16bn-textbook-tender/

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◼️ AI tools increasingly shape children’s online habits in SA: “Your child is almost certainly using AI tools – and may be more comfortable with them than you are. Rather than restricting access outright, the most effective approach is to explore these tools together, set boundaries around their use, and help children understand what AI can and cannot do reliably,” said Anna Larkina, web content analysis expert at Kaspersky. She added that digital parenting tools could help parents guide children’s online activity “without relying on blunt restrictions alone”.
https://iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/2026-05-27-ai-tools-increasingly-shape-childrens-online-habits-in-sa-study-finds/

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◼️ Only 40% pass South Africa’s learner’s licence test: Aspiring drivers are bombing South Africa’s new computerised learner’s licence test, with many complaining the questions are oddly phrased, confusing and designed to catch them out. Many applicants said the difficulty was not necessarily the work itself, but the way questions were phrased, with several describing the test as confusing, overly specific and sometimes misleading. Others said nerves, timed conditions, and repeatedly missing the pass mark by only a few points added to the frustration.
https://iol.co.za/news/2026-05-23-only-40-pass-south-africas-learners-licence-test-can-you/

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