Global Scans · South Africa · Weekly Summary

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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] As a BRICS founder, South Africa stands to win big - less dollar dependence could steady the rand and cut import costs for food or fuel. Central News South Africa
• [New] New data from Brazil, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, and South Africa show that nuclear - including next-generation SMRs - could deliver up to 30% of electricity generation and lower system costs by up to 31% by 2050 compared to renewables-only pathways. Finger Lakes Times
• [New] Countries like Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, and South Africa will play increasingly strategic roles because they are not tied to rigid political blocs like during the Cold War era. The Southeast Asia Desk
• [New] Before any processing of materials in Saudi Arabia could occur, South African Government authorization for the export of concentrate or matte would be required. Newsfile
• [New] South Africa's power and connectivity constraints introduce risk to any solution that depends on constant uptime. Investec
• [New] The potential of integrated and embedded banking is particularly significant in business banking in South Africa, where companies must contend with slow growth, rising costs and operational uncertainty. Investec
• [New] Ecological sanitation systems are recovering nutrients and energy from human waste, transforming disposal problems into resource recovery opportunities in several countries, among them Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Think Global Health
• [New] The future of China-South Africa cooperation will continue to go beyond the energy sector to include culture, youth empowerment, and innovation. The Star
• [New] Roughly 70% of global supply comes from South Africa - an ecosystem defined by load shedding, labour instability, deep-level mining risks, declining grades, rising costs, and chronic underinvestment. investing.com
• [New] In the Middle East & Africa, countries like South Africa and the United Arab Emirates are expected to witness growth, supported by the increasing demand for cost-effective tire solutions and the focus on environmental conservation. Strategic Revenue Insights Inc.
• [New] The early-December setup still favors a soft-landing base case, but Europe's factory wobble and South Africa's slump warn against extrapolating a clean goods rebound. The Rio Times
• [New] Geopolitical factors influence competition, as regions like California, Turkey, and South Africa dominate production, creating both opportunities and vulnerabilities based on climate, trade policies, and regulatory alignment. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Continued investment, better digital visibility, and more agile planning will all play an important role in keeping port performance steady as we move into 2026. / South Africa SCT
• [New] The South African Reserve Bank is expected to resume its easing cycle on Thursday with a 25-basis-point reduction to 6.75%, after the National Treasury formally backed its new 3% inflation target. / Angola SWI Swissinfo.ch
• The current account deficit is expected to narrow slightly in 2025 and more significantly in 2026 due to the recovery in mining exports and lower prices for imported energy and food. / South Africa Coface
• The South African Reserve Bank has said it will not be pursuing a retail central bank digital currency, and will instead focus its efforts on fast payments and a wholesale CBDC. Central Banking
• Twenty-six countries looked at in the UNAIDS report have said they will increase national spending on HIV care, and some like Nigeria and South Africa have already done so. AOL
• South Africa will move forward with plans to build a new nuclear plant and revive its modular nuclear reactor program. Last Week in ConTech
• The Government of Japan, including through the activities of JETRO, will continue working with the South African government to enhance the business environment. Prime Minister's Office of Japan
• South Africa reported some progress, with unemployment down to 31.9% and mining and gold output back in positive territory, though the budget deficit near 4.8% of GDP and a large nominal shortfall kept fiscal risks in focus. The Rio Times
• Vodacom will resell Starlink kits in markets outside South Africa, including Egypt, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania and the DRC, and offer industry-tailored packages for mining, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, retail and finance. Bez Kabli
• With South Africa's Public Investment Corporation - a custodian of millions of workers' pensions - among Anglo's largest shareholders, there is a clear warning that proposed deals risk reinforcing economic dependency and the potential risk for state capture. 24-7 Press Release Newswire
• From 2024 to 2050, each dollar invested by health systems to expand TB screening and preventive treatment could generate a societal return of $51 in Brazil, $8 in Georgia, $27 in Kenya and $54 in South Africa. EATG

Last updated: 16 December 2025