South Africa’s on-demand grocery delivery sector continues to expand rapidly, with Shoprite reporting significant growth through its Checkers Sixty60 service, which has become a key player in the country’s digital retail landscape. Over the past six years, the platform has generated more than 18,000 jobs, including a network of approximately 10,000 delivery drivers. These drivers…
South Africa’s ongoing water supply challenges have created fertile ground for organised criminal networks, with government officials acknowledging that systemic failures at municipal level have enabled the growth of so-called water tanker mafias. These groups have become increasingly active in several provinces, exploiting weaknesses in public infrastructure to establish profitable operations based on water scarcity….
A sharp rise in malaria infections has placed Gauteng’s health system on heightened alert, with officials warning that recent figures point to a growing public health concern linked to seasonal travel patterns. Provincial health authorities have reported a notable increase in both infections and fatalities during the first quarter of 2026, prompting renewed calls for…
South Africa is moving toward introducing a new tax on gambling revenue, a proposal that has sparked widespread debate across the country as online betting continues to expand at a rapid pace. The National Treasury is considering a 20% levy on gross gambling revenue (GGR), particularly targeting online and sports betting platforms. The measure is…
South Africa is positioning itself to become a major global pistachio producer, with plans to build a multibillion-rand industry centred in the Northern Cape. The long-term target is ambitious: annual production of up to 60,000 tonnes and a 5% to 8% share of the global market within the next decade. If achieved, the country could…
South Africa has taken a major step toward regulating artificial intelligence after the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) released a draft national AI policy designed to guide future laws, industry standards and government oversight. The proposed framework introduces a phased regulatory roadmap built around six strategic pillars aimed at supporting innovation while addressing…
South Africa’s worsening water infrastructure crisis now requires an estimated R400 billion to repair and modernise, despite major gains in access to water services since the end of apartheid. While official figures show that access to basic water services has improved from 55% in1994 to around90% in2026, millions of households continue to experience unreliable supply,…
South Africa is facing a sharp rise in financial crimes as digital banking fraud and robbery-linked kidnappings become increasingly common. Recent figures from the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) show that digital fraud incidents have more than doubled in recent years, with scammers increasingly targeting mobile banking users through phishing, SIM swaps, fake…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded directly to recent criticism from Elon Musk, saying Starlink still has a viable pathway to operate in the country through alternative compliance mechanisms under South Africa’s empowerment laws. The comments come after Musk claimed on X that South Africa would not license Starlink “simply because I am not…
South Africa’s electric vehicle market has entered a new phase of price competition after Chinese automaker Geely Auto launched its latest all-electric hatchback, the E2, with a starting price of R339,900. The launch positions the vehicle as one of the most affordable mainstream EVs currently available in the country and places direct pressure on competitors…
