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Residents in Merafong on Gauteng’s West Rand continue to live in homes fitted with asbestos roofing, despite the material being banned more than a decade ago. Communities in Khutsong and Kokosi are among those affected, with civil society groups warning that prolonged asbestos exposure places families at risk of serious health conditions.

A 26-year-old Brazilian national has been arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after police intercepted cocaine with an estimated street value of R8.7 million. The arrest took place on Saturday following an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected drug trafficking activity at South Africa’s busiest airport.

A detailed load reduction schedule affecting large parts of Gauteng from 27 April to 30 April 2026 has been released, outlining specific blocks, time slots, and impacted areas. The schedule affects both morning and evening peak periods, with outages expected between 05:00 and 09:00, and again from 17:00 to 22:00.

Malaria infections are rising sharply in Gauteng, with health authorities confirming a significant increase in both cases and deaths in early 2026. The Gauteng Department of Health has recorded 414 cases and 11 deaths between January and March, already surpassing fatalities reported for the entire 2025 year. The spike affects residents across the province, particularly those who travelled to malaria-endemic regions during the festive period. Officials warn that delayed diagnosis continues to drive fatalities, making early detection critical.

Gauteng residents will face scheduled power outages this week as Eskom implements load reduction across multiple areas from 20 to 26 April 2026. The outages will affect specific suburbs during morning and evening peak periods, with communities rotated through block-based schedules. Unlike national load shedding, load reduction targets high-demand areas to prevent network overload. For households and businesses, this means continued disruption during critical hours of the day.

The schedule outlines outages between 05h00 and 09h00, and again from 17h00 to 22h00, depending on the assigned block and day.

South Africans are unlikely to see diesel prices hit R40 per litre in May, but another sharp increase remains likely based on current data. Early figures from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) show significant under-recoveries for diesel, although more recent trends suggest a lower increase than initially expected. The outlook is critical for Gauteng motorists and businesses already dealing with rising transport costs following April’s record fuel price hikes.

Thousands of residents across Johannesburg are experiencing planned water outages and reduced pressure this week as infrastructure maintenance, reservoir cleaning…

Two suspected hijackers were shot and killed during a police shootout in Sebokeng, Gauteng, after allegedly opening fire on officers…

Eskom has implemented a load reduction schedule affecting multiple Gauteng communities from Monday, 13 April to Monday, 20 April 2026, with outages planned in both morning and evening periods. The schedule targets specific high-density areas, including Soweto, Soshanguve, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, and parts of the Vaal. Unlike national load shedding, this localised approach is used to manage electricity demand and protect infrastructure from overloading. For Gauteng residents, this means planned power interruptions will continue throughout the week, even outside of formal load shedding stages.

Johannesburg’s ongoing water outages are forcing residents to find alternative ways to access basic services, with some communities building their own supply networks to cope with prolonged disruptions. In the city’s southern suburbs, volunteer-led initiatives are stepping in where municipal systems have struggled, providing water to vulnerable households. The situation highlights the growing impact of infrastructure challenges on daily life in Gauteng, particularly for residents without reliable access to transport or private water sources.