Stories from South Africa

May Day celebrations are currently taking place at the old Peter Mukaba Stadium in Polokwane. Other related events are also being held across South Africa to mark Workers' Day. Unions are reportedly moving away from previous stances during these celebrations.

Residents of Foslora in the East Rand are protesting the disappearance of Mazwi Kubega. Kubega has been missing for approximately one month after reportedly refusing to sell his spaza shop.

The trade union Amcu is holding May Day commemorations in Marikana, located outside Rustenburg in the Northwest province. The union, which gained prominence during the 2012 Marikana unrest involving Loneman Platinum workers, is calling for the holiday to be renamed Workers Day.

Authorities in South Africa have been threatening to take action against the country's small and less established newspapers, referred to as the alternative press.

The election date for South Africa has been set for November 4, 2026. The period leading up to the vote is expected to be politically charged due to issues including municipal performance, service delivery failures, and public trust. Early signs indicate both political mobilization and voter apathy in the country. The source noted that 10,000 people die from diabetes. The broadcaster compared the scale of the issue to the HIV epidemic. Only 5% of employed people in South Africa are self-employed, according to a report from SAfm. Additionally, only 40% of the working-age population reports being employed, compared to a global average of approximately 60%. The low rate is attributed to deeply entrenched structural issues originating from the apartheid era. Experts suggest that overcoming this gap requires creative state-led collective action and union involvement.

Two officials from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies have been placed on precautionary suspension with immediate effect.

Galaxy interim coach Bernard Parker stated he is not focused on securing his role permanently. Parker, a former Bafana international, took over the position one week after the departure of Adnan Beganovic.

The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa is repositioning its operations to address a weak economy. CEO Mahoshi and the board chair defended the corporation's direction during a press briefing held yesterday.

NAVCOC reports that black industrialists are being pushed into liquidation, according to the organization. The group presented five case studies involving more than 1,300 affected jobs. The total value cited in the report is 679 million.

The South African sugar industry directly and indirectly supports approximately 340,000 jobs. More than 1 million people rely on the industry for their livelihoods. Kulani Siview stated that every additional ton of sugar exported to China creates new jobs within the related supply chain. The impact of Chinese tariff measures is expected to extend beyond the sugar industry to other specialty products. The South African Wine Association and the South African Wine Industry Association issued a joint communiqué on April 30. They welcomed China's decision to implement zero-tariff policies on all African countries with diplomatic relations starting May 1, 2026.