Global Scans · South Africa · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Local elections in South Africa this year could see the ruling African National Congress lose control of key cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria for the first time. South Africa's economy is at risk of falling into recession and public confidence in the ANC is falling.

• [New] South Africa has a tremendous opportunity to become both a hub for petroleum as well as critical player in the energy transition. African Energy Chamber
• [New] Following President Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation directive, South Africa is moving to operationalise a dual training model across its 50 public TVET colleges, with 170,000 first-year spaces projected. The Skills Agenda
• [New] 400 MW data center could be built in eastern South Africa. DataX Connect
• [New] Looking ahead: As steady output plateaus take hold, the successful blend of mechanization, efficient management, and pragmatic policy will keep South African gold relevant and resilient into 2026 and beyond. Farmonaut
• [New] There are alternative shipping channels, such as the Red Sea, the Port of Jeddah, and the circumnavigation around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The National
• [New] If correct, longer-term impacts on fuel markets could be limited, and South Africa might even benefit slightly if shipping reroutes around the Cape of Good Hope. IOL
• [New] The African Continental Free Trade Area is expected to increase demand for skilled intra-African mobility, particularly between Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Fragomen - Immigration attorneys, solicitors, and consu
• [New] In South Africa, a group of women living with HIV and TB started a support group that not only improved treatment adherence but also created economic opportunities through small businesses. Nurseslab
• [New] A surge in online gambling across Africa is prompting governments to raise taxes, with South Africa proposing a 20% national tax on gambling profits that could more than double annual revenues to 10 billion rand ($607 million) from 4.8 billion rand ($285 million). OkayAfrica
• [New] The South African inflation is currently around 3.5% and now it could spike towards 4%. DailyForex
• [New] Egypt, Morocco and South Africa will continue to account for the bulk of Africa's sovereign bond issuance, while other countries remain constrained by smaller financial systems and limited domestic savings. Businessday NG
• [New] South Africa plans to expand a new credit-guarantee vehicle to support infrastructure projects, including power-grid expansion and water systems. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] The World Platinum Investment Council's latest forecast maintains that platinum will face a structural supply deficit through at least 2029, driven by declining South African mine output and growing industrial uptake in hydrogen fuel cell technology and green energy applications. Benchpeg
• [New] South Africa joined 33 other nations pledging to triple nuclear energy by 2050, even as a federal court struck down Forest Service logging rules designed to reduce wildfire risk. EnviroLink Network - The environmental news site since
• [New] High flood risks remain in northern South Africa, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, and southern Ethiopia, due to heavy rainfall in the coming week. Africa Center
• [New] The Eastern Cape plays a critical role in advancing small-scale agriculture in South Africa, with potato production offering significant potential to improve both food security and household income. AgriOrbit
• [New] A member of the African Rail Industry Association, MPR will offer a range of services from managing strategic sidings, train loading infrastructure, port-side stockpiling facilities and bulk material handling systems, amongst other things. / South Africa FlippingBook
• South Africa's government plans to finalize its national artificial intelligence policy in the 2026-2027 financial year, with publication in the Government Gazette expected in March for a 60-day public comment period. The AI Policy Newsletter
• South Africa outlined plans to finalize its national AI policy by 2027 with frameworks addressing oversight, data localization, and sector coordination, while Australia canceled a planned AI advisory body and redirected funding to launch a new AI Safety Institute in 2026. The AI Policy Newsletter
• By 2050, an extra 2.3 billion people are projected to be living in river basins under severe water stress, especially in North and South Africa, and South and Central Asia. InternationalDayForests
• Wildfire risk often rises as drought develops across countries including Australia, Indonesia and South Africa. Insurance Journal
• South African taxpayers involved in crypto transactions or holding digital assets should anticipate increased scrutiny and enhanced information sharing among tax authorities, emphasising the necessity for precise tax reporting and compliance in their income tax returns. IOL

Last updated: 31 March 2026