Gauteng is recording an average of 27 kidnappings every day as new crime statistics reveal a sharp rise in abductions, ransom-related crimes and online luring incidents across the province. According to the latest South African Police Service crime data, Gauteng recorded 2,452 kidnapping cases between January and March 2026, making it the country’s kidnapping hotspot.
Browsing: Community updates
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.
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.
The City of Johannesburg is moving ahead with plans to rename four streets in the central business district (CBD) as part of a broader urban regeneration project. The changes affect residents, businesses, and commuters navigating the inner city, particularly around the Cathedral of St Mary the Virgin.
South Africans across the country are turning purple this week to stand against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. Women for Change is leading the campaign and is asking people to wear purple, tie ribbons in visible places, and switch their profile pictures to purple to show unity.
Gauteng households and businesses will once again need to adjust their routines this week as load reduction continues across several communities in the province. While many residents have become used to scheduled electricity cuts, the impact remains deeply felt. Outages influence school morning routines, disrupt remote and shift work, reduce operating hours for small businesses, and can heighten safety risks in the evenings.
South Africa’s electricity crisis has entered a new phase. Eskom revealed that most of the country’s load reduction cases are concentrated in only four provinces, and Gauteng tops the list.
The power utility’s latest briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy exposed how infrastructure failures, theft, and overloading are placing the national grid under serious strain. These problems have turned localised blackouts into an everyday occurrence for many South Africans.
The Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) has begun a province-wide campaign that brings transformation, digital access, and direct engagement to liquor traders across Gauteng. The rollout marks a new phase in the province’s effort to build an inclusive, transparent, and digitally connected liquor industry.
Gauteng residents should prepare for another week of load reduction as Eskom continues its targeted power-management plan to protect transformers from overloading. The schedule runs from Monday, 3 November to Monday, 10 November 2025, and affects several communities across Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and the West Rand.
The City of Tshwane is once again facing a public health emergency after officials confirmed a rise in typhoid fever cases in Hammanskraal and Bronkhorstspruit. Several hospitalisations, including children as young as eight months old, have reignited public concern over water safety and the state of basic services in Gauteng’s capital.