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).
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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.
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.
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.
Rising cases of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, are prompting renewed global health alerts, with outbreaks reported across the United States and Europe. South African authorities are closely monitoring the spread due to its potential impact on food supply, public health, and the poultry industry. While human infections remain rare, experts warn that changes in how the virus behaves could increase future risks. For Gauteng residents, the issue matters as it could affect food prices, availability, and long-term health preparedness.
South Africa has received its first batch of the long-acting HIV prevention injection Lenacapavir, with 37 920 doses now in the country. The Department of Health confirmed the development this week, signalling a shift in how HIV prevention could be delivered, particularly in high-burden provinces like Gauteng. The rollout matters now as health officials look to improve adherence and reduce new infections using alternatives to daily medication.
Paraffin users across South Africa are facing a significant fuel price increase from April 2026, with illuminating paraffin rising by R11.67 per litre at the wholesale level. The increase affects low-income households who rely on paraffin for cooking, heating, and lighting, particularly in Gauteng, where alternative energy access remains uneven.
South Africa is experiencing fuel supply disruptions as nearly 200 service stations report diesel shortages ahead of a sharp fuel price increase expected on 1 April 2026. The shortages are being driven largely by panic buying, with motorists and businesses rushing to fill up before the hike takes effect.
South Africans living abroad are about to receive a long-awaited upgrade in convenience. The Department of Home Affairs prepares to roll out doorstep passport delivery starting 1 November 2025. The move forms part of the department’s broader push towards digital modernization.