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] Widespread availability of lenacapavir could prevent 41% of new HIV infections in South Africa, Zimbabwe and western Kenya. The Guardian
• [New] Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco are strengthening smart agriculture initiatives, creating long-term growth opportunities for intelligent irrigation system providers. Straits Research
• [New] South Africa plans to add 5,200 megawatts of nuclear power generation by around 2040. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] The Middle East and Africa are expected to witness gradual growth in the asteroid mining sector, with potential for partnerships and collaborations, especially in space exploration initiatives led by governments in the UAE and South Africa. ReAnIn
• [New] The demonstration model for South Africa's lunar radio astronomy experiment will soon be shipped to CNSA for testing and approval ahead of the 2029 Chang'e-8 mission. Space Calendar - The First Space Calendar on the Moon
• [New] Africa offers long-term opportunity linked to safari tourism, overlanding, conservation travel, and adventure mobility, especially in South Africa and selected East African and North African corridors. Yahoo! Finance Canada
• [New] Key African central banks from Nigeria to South Africa will deliver monetary decisions. financialpost
• [New] For the first time, Starship will carry 20 V3 Starlink satellites to space, which will extend solar arrays and antennas and will attempt to connect with ground stations in South Africa and the larger Starlink constellation via high-capacity lasers. RocketLaunch.org
• [New] South Africa has both an active threat signal and a measurement gap. Memeburn
• [New] The Middle East and Africa region is expected to maintain its strategic importance for high-end yacht logistics over the next few years due to the ongoing development of luxury marine destinations, with the United Arab Emirates and South Africa serving as primary hubs. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Governments particularly in countries like South Africa and the UAE are focusing on enhancing healthcare systems, which is expected to boost the adoption of nanomedicine technologies in the upcoming years. Precedence Research
• [New] Phelan Green Hydrogen has licensed technologies from Johnson Matthey for its planned eSAF facility in South Africa's Western Cape, where construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026. GreenAir News
• [New] As South Africa's entrepreneurial sector continues to demonstrate resilience, increased digital adoption among consumers is creating opportunities for SMEs that can sell, collect payments and serve customers online. The Citizen
• [New] The South African Reserve Bank has trimmed its growth expectations from 1.4% to 1.2% for 2026 and from 1.9% to 1.7% for 2027, while higher fuel and input costs continue to squeeze households and businesses. The Citizen
• [New] Several other African cities are expected to approach the 10-million-resident threshold, including Alexandria (Egypt), Johannesburg (South Africa), Khartoum (Sudan) and Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire). United Nations Western Europe
• South Africa's corporate travel sector is gaining momentum, expected to reach approximately $3 billion by 2026. Tourism News Africa
• Migrants say they have received direct threats and are leaving South Africa out of fear for their safety. DW.COM
• Phelan Green Hydrogen has licensed Johnson Matthey's technologies for its R47bn South African eSAF facility, which is expected to produce 35,000 tonnes annually and supply up to 6% of EU/UK mandated volumes. SimpliFlying
• For South Africa, the key concern is no longer just elevated prices, but rapid and unpredictable swings, which make it difficult to forecast fuel costs and plan accordingly. The South African
• South Africa's vulnerability is compounded by a weaker rand, which increases the cost of importing fuel. The South African

Last updated: 04 August 2026