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] Across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, the mobile industry is going through one of its biggest upgrades yet, the gradual shutdown of 3G networks to make space for faster, more powerful 4G LTE and 5G connectivity. 3G Mobile
• [New] There is an opportunity to redefine the rules that have thus far governed the world, including the rules of finance, development, and multilateralism-building off South Africa's Group of Twenty presidency. Atlantic Council
• [New] In South Africa, local elections are expected by November, while in neighboring Gambia, President Adama Barrow will seek a third term in December. Atlantic Council
• [New] In South Africa, industry experts consider discriminatory outcomes in the banking sector as a significant risk associated with AI technologies. OECD
• [New] Security risks and infrastructure constraints in South Africa continue adding cost and operational complexity. The Chain
• [New] Brazil, China, India, Kenya, Indonesia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE have shown their willingness to provide ideas that could support eventual negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. CEBRI Revista
• [New] The Budget 2026 could act as a risk-premium test for the rand, with Mining Indaba sharpening investor focus on whether South Africa can fund and deliver mining-linked growth in a higher-rate world. African Mining Market
• [New] South Africa poses no direct political or military threat to any party in the current conflict, and that matters. The Citizen
• [New] Risk balance: Investec has meaningful exposure to South Africa, which adds political and currency risk, but also gives it access to higher-growth markets and differentiated deal flow. Investec plc: The Quiet Finance Stock Gen Z Traders Are
• [New] Over time, the greater risk may lie in political and financial exposure if South Africa is viewed as an outlier in its ties to Tehran while the United States appears willing to apply punitive measures. IOL
• [New] The growth of mining activities in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and West African states introduces the need for EHS that deal with occupational health risks such as dust concentrations, equipment security, and the effects of mining on the local community. Custom Market Insights
• [New] By choosing innovation over tradition in 2026, South Africa is ensuring that its world-class genetics survive to see the 2027 season and beyond. Agri News
• [New] Deep-level gold and platinum group metal (PGM) mining in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Australia represents a high-value opportunity vertical for underground automation. Persistence Market Research
• [New] South Africa shows the growing disconnect between the push for AI infrastructure and the ecological realities of water stress and climate disruption. Greenpeace International
• [New] The targeted promotion of local generic drug production, for example in South Africa or Nigeria, could stabilise regions and advance the diversification of global supply chains. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP)
• [New] Major global trade changes for 2025-2026 include higher projected corn exports for India, Russia and South Africa with reductions for Pakistan and Uruguay. AgriNews

Last updated: 05 May 2026