Browsing: News

South Africans could soon face another wave of food price increases as rising fuel and diesel costs begin filtering through the country’s supply chain, with economists and retailers warning that household affordability may come under growing pressure during the coming months. The warnings come as new affordability data shows the average household food basket increased again in April, while major retailers say suppliers have already started notifying them about upcoming price hikes.

South Africa’s unemployment rate increased to 32.7% during the first quarter of 2026, with Gauteng among the provinces hardest hit by job losses. New data released by Statistics South Africa shows that 345 000 jobs were lost nationally between January and March, while youth unemployment climbed sharply as 258 000 young people lost work.

South African health authorities are currently monitoring 97 people who may have come into contact with confirmed hantavirus cases linked to a British patient medically evacuated to Johannesburg. The patient, who was transported to South Africa after falling ill on St Helena Island, is reportedly recovering in hospital while health officials continue contact tracing efforts alongside the World Health Organization (WHO).

Eskom has released its latest load reduction timetable affecting multiple communities across Gauteng between Monday, 11 May and Monday, 18 May 2026. The planned outages are expected to affect areas in Soweto, Orange Farm, Sebokeng, Tsakane, Vosloorus, Mabopane and parts of the West Rand during both morning and evening peak periods.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officially open and address Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. The annual tourism trade gathering brings together African tourism leaders, investors, tour operators, buyers and government representatives from across the continent and abroad.

Health authorities and airline officials are working to trace passengers and crew linked to a flight that carried a tourist infected with the Andes strain of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) to Johannesburg. The tracing process began eight days after the passenger arrived in South Africa, raising concerns among medical experts about delayed outbreak response measures.

South Africans will get unexpected relief at the pumps in May after the government corrected an error that had overstated a fuel price increase. The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources confirmed that diesel users will now pay nearly R1.00 less per litre than initially announced.

South Africa’s Department of Health has urged the public not to panic after a rare case of hantavirus was confirmed in a critically ill British national receiving treatment in Sandton, Gauteng. The case is linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where several passengers developed severe respiratory illness during a voyage from Argentina through remote South Atlantic destinations. The World Health Organization has reported seven confirmed or suspected cases linked to the ship, including three deaths, but says the risk to the global population remains low.

Motorists across Gauteng are set to pay significantly more for petrol and diesel from Wednesday, 6 May 2026, following expected fuel price increases driven by global oil pressures. The hikes will affect daily commuters, transport operators and households already dealing with rising living costs.

Load reduction will continue across parts of Gauteng from Monday, 4 May to Sunday, 10 May 2026, with scheduled outages affecting multiple communities during peak demand periods. The programme impacts residents in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane, particularly in areas where electricity infrastructure is under strain.