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 will investigate how 17 South African citizens were lured into joining a mercenary force in the Russia-Ukraine war under the pretext of lucrative employment and contracts. Just Security
• [New] South Africa plans to implement export subsidies for certain agricultural products (such as wine) starting November to cope with international competition. Global Trade Policy New Rules Roundup November 2025| Co
• [New] Documented in South Africa, adult sharks will flee areas where orcas are seen, not returning for months. Discover Magazine
• [New] Most importantly, dinosaur eggshells could be valuable for fossil dating in basins that lack datable volcanic evidence - including the Gobi Basin in Mongolia, Auca Mahuevo in Patagonia, and the Elliot Formation in South Africa. Discover Magazine
• [New] For South Africa, the Rio summit presents an opportunity to strengthen economic ties with Latin American countries, as Brazil is its largest trading partner. Valdai Club
• [New] South Africa will investigate the mysterious arrival of scores of Palestinians who were kept on a charter plane at Johannesburg for 12 hours by border police because they did not have travel papers. The Guardian
• [New] South Africa is now open for new opportunities inbound on SAECS following a strong citrus season. DredgeWire
• [New] South Africa's launch was followed by two years of little progress because the institutional structure needed to be built and difficult policy reforms pushed through before the Just Energy Transition Partnership could obviously progress toward its goals. ODI: Think change
• [New] Scaling up both TB screening and preventive treatment among priority groups could prevent 14% of all TB episodes in Georgia, 15% in Brazil, 21% in Kenya, and 26% in South Africa, between 2024 and 2050. EATG
• [New] A new technical report has outlined the scale of investment required for South Africa to achieve energy security and net-zero emissions by 2050, highlighting a green industrialization pathway as the most cost-effective route. Green Building Africa
• [New] South Africa's green fuels roadmap envisions producing synthetic jet fuels for export and domestic use. Africa Sustainability Matters
• [New] Accelerated adoption of drought-resistant seeds and smarter irrigation could double agricultural exports by 2040, positioning South Africa as a continental leader in food system resilience. IOL
• [New] Without bold interventions, South Africa's agricultural growth will remain modest over the next two decades. IOL
• [New] Cyber threats in South Africa are growing more sophisticated every day. Cybercrime Magazine
• The climate agenda, a traditionally important item for South Africa, will certainly take priority on the overall Summit agenda, especially given that Brazil is holding COP 30 at the end of 2025. What Africa expects from BRICS Summit in Brazil
• South Africa is entering a new phase of regulatory reform that will significantly influence how infrastructure and energy projects are procured and delivered in the future, reflecting broader global trends toward transparency, sustainability, and streamlined governance. Pinsent Masons
• Countries that have submitted their 2035 NDC targets include G20 members Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Nepal and the UAE. Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Last updated: 18 November 2025