IN THE NEWS | 26 February 2026 | 18:00 PM SAST

SOUTH AFRICA | KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Deadly Shooting in Mitchells Plain Deepens Taxi War Crisis

A 14-year-old pupil and a taxi operator were fatally shot outside a secondary school in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, in what police suspect is linked to ongoing rivalries between local taxi associations. The gunman reportedly opened fire on a stationary taxi near the school perimeter, with stray bullets striking the learner. The area has experienced repeated route-based violence tied to extortion networks and territorial control disputes, with more than 200 taxi-related killings recorded in the Western Cape in 2025. Authorities are investigating organised crime links and potential breaches of the National Land Transport Act, while the provincial education department has temporarily closed the school and deployed trauma counselling. The incident underscores the entrenched governance gap within South Africa’s informal transport economy: unresolved regulatory enforcement, political patronage allegations, and weak inter-association arbitration mechanisms continue to externalise risk onto civilians, eroding commuter safety and investor confidence in urban stability.

Broken by:
BBC News Africa – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62gz17999eo

Budget 2026: Social Relief Expanded Amid Debt Discipline

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2026 Budget Speech continues to draw reaction following confirmation that the child support grant will increase by R20 to R580 from April, alongside R40–R80 adjustments to other social grants. Treasury reaffirmed debt stabilisation as a core objective, with debt-servicing costs projected at roughly 20% of revenue. No broad-based tax hikes were introduced, though targeted incentives for small enterprises were extended. GDP growth reached an estimated 1.8% in Q4 2025, supported by mining exports and tourism recovery, while unemployment remains elevated at approximately 31%. Inflation is tracking near 5.2%. The calibrated fiscal stance signals incremental consolidation rather than stimulus expansion; while grant increases provide marginal household relief, their limited real-value impact highlights the structural constraint imposed by debt servicing obligations, reinforcing the reality that South Africa’s recovery remains narrow, urban-skewed, and vulnerable to external commodity cycles.

Broken by:
Kaya959 – https://www.kaya959.co.za/news/r20-increase-for-child-support-grant-to-kick-in-from-april-2026
Channel Africa – https://www.channelafrica.co.za/channelafrica/news/debt-servicing-costs-will-be-in-focus-during-sa-budget-speech/

AFRICA | KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Sudan Aid Convoy Attack Sparks Ramadan Ceasefire Calls

African members of the UN Security Council condemned an attack on a humanitarian convoy in Sudan, urging a temporary Ramadan ceasefire amid escalating clashes between rival armed factions. Aid agencies, including MSF, warned of deteriorating civilian conditions as displacement intensifies. The renewed diplomatic push reflects mounting concern that aid corridors are collapsing under persistent hostilities, risking further regional spillover into Chad and South Sudan and complicating already strained multilateral funding channels.

Broken by:
Horn Observer – https://hornobserver.com/articles/3599/African-Members-at-the-UN-Security-Council-Denounce-Attack-on-Aid-Convoy-in-Sudan-Seek-Ramadan-Pause-in-Hostilities

Zimbabwe Bans Raw Mineral Exports to Drive Value Addition

Zimbabwe announced a ban on the export of raw minerals, including lithium concentrates, as part of a strategy to expand domestic beneficiation capacity. Authorities argue the move will accelerate local processing and capture higher-value segments of the battery supply chain. While the policy could strengthen long-term industrial positioning, short-term export revenue volatility and capital investment gaps present execution risk, particularly amid regional competition for critical mineral dominance.

Broken by:
Channel Africa – https://www.channelafrica.co.za/channelafrica/news/zimbabwe-bans-exports-of-all-raw-minerals-lithium-concentrates/

WORLD | KEY DEVELOPMENTS

U.S. Supreme Court Curtails Presidential Tariff Authority

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down elements of former President Donald Trump’s global tariff framework in a 6–3 ruling, finding executive overreach under emergency trade powers. The decision follows recent tariff escalation announcements and introduces legal constraints on unilateral trade actions. Markets reacted cautiously as the ruling reshapes expectations around future protectionist policy tools, potentially tempering volatility while intensifying congressional–executive trade tensions ahead of the 2026 cycle.

Broken by:
Democracy Now – https://www.democracynow.org/2026/2/23/headlines

Nvidia Shares Slide Despite Strong Forecasts

Nvidia shares fell approximately 4.7% despite upbeat forward guidance, as investors recalibrated expectations around AI-driven capital expenditure cycles. U.S. jobless claims edged to 212,000, reinforcing signals of labour market stabilisation without eliminating inflation concerns. The divergence between earnings strength and equity pullback reflects valuation sensitivity in high-growth tech sectors, suggesting that capital markets are entering a more selective risk phase rather than broad-based exuberance.

Broken by:
Investing.com (Reuters) – https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/nvidia-shares-fall-as-upbeat-forecasts-fail-to-excite-investors-4528526

Hillary Clinton to Testify in Epstein-Linked Inquiry

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to testify regarding alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein, publicly denying prior knowledge and calling for broader questioning of political figures. The proceedings add to an already polarised U.S. political climate, reinforcing institutional trust pressures as legal scrutiny intersects with election-cycle positioning.

Broken by:
BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c626qqrl76nt

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