South Africans may soon experience fewer unsolicited marketing calls and messages following the introduction of new anti-spam regulations, although questions remain about how effectively the system will be implemented. The updated rules, introduced under the Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations, 2026, were officially gazetted on 15 April. They introduce a strengthened opt-out mechanism that allows…

South Africa’s Robben Island has become the centre of a growing national debate after plans to introduce overnight tourist accommodation sparked strong public reaction. The proposal, led by the Robben Island Museum, involves converting former warders’ houses into lodging facilities for visitors. Work on the project has already begun, marking a significant shift in how…

South Africa’s entertainment industry is mourning the loss of veteran actress and former beauty queen Cynthia Shange, who has died at the age of 76 following an illness. Her passing was confirmed by family members, who said she died in the early hours of the morning at a hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Funeral and memorial arrangements…

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 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,…