Thousands of South Africans whose identity numbers were blocked before November 2022 have been given until 10 July 2026 to explain why their IDs should be restored. The Department of Home Affairs launched a nationwide campaign this week, inviting affected individuals to submit representations and supporting documents before a final decision is made on their records. Failure to respond could result in the cancellation of affected identity numbers, potentially impacting access to government services, banking, employment and social grants.
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South African motorists will face another fuel price adjustment from Wednesday, 3 June 2026, with fuel prices increasing by R1.43 per litre while diesel prices decrease by as much as R3.25 per litre. The changes, announced by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, will affect millions of commuters, businesses and households across Gauteng.
Gauteng residents have officially experienced a full year without national load shedding for the first time in years, marking a major shift after prolonged blackouts disrupted homes, businesses, schools and daily life across the province.
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).
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.