Global Scans · South Africa · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Local elections in South Africa this year could see the ruling African National Congress lose control of key cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria for the first time. South Africa's economy is at risk of falling into recession and public confidence in the ANC is falling.

• [New] South Africa's government plans to finalize its national artificial intelligence policy in the 2026-2027 financial year, with publication in the Government Gazette expected in March for a 60-day public comment period. The AI Policy Newsletter
• [New] South Africa outlined plans to finalize its national AI policy by 2027 with frameworks addressing oversight, data localization, and sector coordination, while Australia canceled a planned AI advisory body and redirected funding to launch a new AI Safety Institute in 2026. The AI Policy Newsletter
• [New] By 2050, an extra 2.3 billion people are projected to be living in river basins under severe water stress, especially in North and South Africa, and South and Central Asia. InternationalDayForests
• [New] Wildfire risk often rises as drought develops across countries including Australia, Indonesia and South Africa. Insurance Journal
• [New] South African taxpayers involved in crypto transactions or holding digital assets should anticipate increased scrutiny and enhanced information sharing among tax authorities, emphasising the necessity for precise tax reporting and compliance in their income tax returns. IOL
• [New] South Africa announced that it will withdraw its troops from the UN contingent in the DRC. Critical Threats
• [New] MBC Group's earnings grew by 138.4% over the past year, and are forecast to continue growing significantly at 20.1% annually, outpacing the South African market's average growth rate of 7.7%. Yahoo Finance
• [New] South African drivers, particularly younger consumers, already expect seamless digital integration. Dealerfloor
• [New] Examples Malaysia is implementing age verification via eKYC in 2026, and South Africa is aiming to have a digital ID system in place by 2029. OVD Kinegram AG
• In South Africa, flooding in low-lying river basin areas such as the Limpopo region occurs frequently due to intense rainfall and climate variability, disrupting livelihoods and increasing malaria transmission risk. The Conversation
• Africa holds vast renewable potential for green hydrogen, with large-scale projects in development in Namibia, Mauritania, and South Africa, though timelines are longer-term. IndexBox Inc.
• In 2026, the banking industry expects the South African Reserve Bank to deliver a further 50 basis points of relief in 2026, provided inflation remains on target. Time Out Cape Town
• The experiences of markets as diverse as New Zealand, Panama, Ireland, Italy, and South Africa demonstrate that while regulatory structures differ, the underlying challenge is universal: how to enable growth in mortgage lending while mitigating evolving fraud risk. FinExtra
• Financial institutions in South Africa face increased pressure to act preemptively by authenticating identities earlier in the payment lifecycle and screening transactions for fraud risks. IT-Online
• Countries such as India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil, and Ethiopia are expected to add the most total beverage alcohol volumes between 2024 and 2029. Vinetur
• Almost every public TVET college in South Africa that offers Engineering Studies will have a T2 intake. APS Score
• The South African Reserve Bank will likely cut interest rates three more times before ending its current easing cycle. Polity.org.za
• South Africa will continue to support conflict prevention and peace keeping efforts of the United Nations, African Union and SADC. DIRCO
• By Saturday, provinces including the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape in South Africa could record fairly widespread rainfall totals of 80-100 mm as a result of heavy showers or thunderstorms, with daily rainfall totals perhaps reaching 50 mm where storms are particularly intense. The Guardian

Last updated: 17 March 2026