2026 in South Africa
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Events in the year 2026 in South Africa.
Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 3 January – A car and a minibus taxi collide in Fouriesburg, killing six people.[1]
- 6 January – President Cyril Ramaphosa announces the appointment of Andy Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions, replacing the retiring Shamila Batohi.[2]
- 15 January – Authorities close the Kruger National Park to day visitors due to severe flooding caused by rivers overflowing after days of heavy rain.[3] The government declares a national disaster on 18 January after 30 deaths are reported.[4]
- 19 January – A truck and a school minibus collide in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, killing 14 people and injuring five others.[5]
- 22 January – South Africa announces its withdrawal from engagements of the G20 for the duration of the United States' rotating presidency over the group.[6]
- 27–31 January – West Indian cricket team in South Africa in 2025–26[7]
- 29 January – A truck and a school minibus collide near Durban, killing 11 people.[8]
- 30 January – South Africa expels the Israeli charge d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, following the posting of official social media posts insulting President Ramaphosa, and a deliberate failure to inform South Africa of visits by Israeli officials.[9]
February
[edit]- 2 February – A white separatist group, Boervolk of the Orange Free State, files a formal claim in the Government Gazette of South Africa seeking land in KwaZulu-Natal, citing historical transactions with Zulu rulers and invoking the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.[10]
- 4 February – John Steenhuisen announces that he would not stand for reelection as leader of the Democratic Alliance in a party conference scheduled in April.[11]
- 6–22 February – South Africa at the 2026 Winter Olympics
- 6 February – The government announces the resumption of domestic production of vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease for the first time since 2005.[12]
- 7 February – South Africa announces the withdrawal of its military contingent from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).[13]
- 8 February – Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg cancels a tennis match against King David High School Linksfield, leading to allegations of antisemitism. The South African Jewish Board of Deputies condemned the decision, citing a leaked recording of staff admitting to parental pressure. Roedean denied antisemitism, blaming administrative issues.[14][15]
- 9 February – A man is fatally shot in Randburg, Johannesburg, during the filming of a television production linked to an alleged anti-drug operation, leading the South African Police Service to open a murder investigation.[16]
- 10 February – 1 March – Pakistan women's cricket team in South Africa in 2025–26[17][18]
- 12 February – President Ramaphosa delivers the 2026 State of the Nation Address in Cape Town, announcing military support for police against crime, gang violence in the Western Cape, and illegal mining in Gauteng.[19][20] He also declares foot-and-mouth disease a national disaster,[21] pledging criminal charges for officials failing to provide water services.[22]
- 13 February – A woman is arrested for the murder of a 22-year-old e-hailing driver in Pretoria West[23] who was allegedly killed by a man and woman who requested a ride on 11 February.[24][25]
- 19 February –
- A bus crashes along the N1 in Limpopo, killing four people and injuring 31 others.[26]
- A mudslide occurs inside a gold mining shaft in Kimberley, leaving five miners missing and presumed dead.[27][28]
- A chemical factory fire breaks out in Germiston, killing one person.[29]
- Police arrest Bellarmine Mugabe, the youngest son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, in Johannesburg on charges of attempted murder after a gardener was shot at his residence.[30]
Upcoming
[edit]- 2 November 2026 – 1 February 2027 (TBD) – 2026 South African municipal elections[31]
Art and entertainment
[edit]Holidays
[edit]- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 21 March – Human Rights Day
- 3 April – Good Friday
- 6 April – Family Day
- 27 – 28 April – Freedom Day
- 1 May – International Workers' Day
- 16 June – Youth Day
- 9 – 10 August – National Women's Day
- 24 September – Heritage Day
- 16 December – Day of Reconciliation
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Day of Goodwill
Deaths
[edit]- 3 January – Errol Moorcroft, 85, member of the House of Assembly (1981–1987, 1989–1994) and National Assembly (1999–2004).[34]
See also
[edit]
Country overviews
[edit]Related timelines for current period
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Six lives lost in tragic R26 collision between sedan and minibus taxi near Fouriesburg". IOL. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
- ^ Patel, Faizel (6 January 2026). "Ramaphosa appoints Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as new NDPP". The Citizen. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ^ Hlophe, Thando (16 January 2026). "South Africa's Kruger National Park shuts after severe floods". Reuters. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "South Africa declares a national disaster over flooding and severe weather". AP News. 18 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Death toll in South Africa school bus crash rises to 14 as the driver is charged with murder". AP News. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "South Africa to step aside from G20 during United States presidency". Africanews. 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "CSA trims West Indies T20I series to three games". Cricbuzz. 30 September 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "11 dead in minibus and truck collision in South Africa days after a similar crash killed 14 children". AP News. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "South Africa declares Israel's deputy ambassador persona non grata, orders him to leave country". AP News. 30 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Cocks, Tim (2 February 2026). "South African white separatists claim land acquired from Zulu king then lost to British". Reuters. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Leader of South Africa's second biggest political party says he will step down". AP News. 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ "South Africa produces first local vaccine to combat foot-and-mouth disease". Africanews. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ "South Africa to withdraw troops from UN mission in DR Congo". Africanews. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ^ Stone, Jasmine (10 February 2026). "Roedean School Denies Audio Recording Alleging Antisemitism Behind Cancellation Of King David Sports Fixture". 2oceansvibe News. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Govender, Prega (9 February 2026). "Roedean vs King David: Head admits some parents objected to playing against Jewish school". News24. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ Mothoa, Seipati (9 February 2026). "Joburg man shot dead during 'anti-drug operation' by 'Sizok'thola' TV show". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "CSA Announces Home Schedule For The 2025/26 International Season". Cricket South Africa. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "South Africa Reveals International Fixtures for 2025/26 Home Season". Criczine. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "South Africa's Ramaphosa says troops will deploy to tackle crime gangs". Al Jazeera. 13 February 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Gumede, Michelle (12 February 2026). "South Africa will deploy troops to fight illegal mining and gang violence, president says". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Maliti, Soyiso (12 February 2026). "Foot-and-mouth disease declared national disaster". News24. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Ntanzi, Hope (13 February 2026). "Ramaphosa threatens criminal charges against municipal managers over water supply failures". IOL. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "E-hailing driver's family pleads for help to repatriate his body". eNCA. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ Sibiya, Noxolo (13 February 2026). "Female suspect arrested after e-hailing driver's gruesome murder in Pretoria West". News24. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ "Police make breakthrough in case of murdered e-hailing driver". EWN. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
- ^ "Bus crash in South Africa leaves 4 dead, 31 hurt as rescue efforts continue". AP News. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ^ "5 miners are trapped deep underground after a mudslide at a South African diamond mine". AP News. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ^ "Five diamond miners trapped by mudslide presumed dead, South African minister says". Africanews. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
- ^ Westerdale, Jarryd (19 February 2026). "Germiston factory fire extinguished, one fatality confirmed". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ^ "South Africa police arrest son of former Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe". Al Jazeera. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ "Cabinet approves establishment of IMC for 2026 Municipal Elections". SAnews. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "South Africa Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "Public holidays in South Africa". Government of South Africa. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
- ^ "Former DA Federal Chairperson Errol Moorcroft Has Passed Away". Central News. 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
External links
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