Security Situation Review of South Africa in January

Researcher No. 006

Based on the monitoring reports of Hanwei International’s security officers stationed in South Africa and relevant media coverage, Hanwei International holds the view that South Africa’s social security situation remained under pressure this month.

In the political and economic sphere, the power struggle for the leadership of the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has intensified internal factional conflicts; meanwhile, supporters of the radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) held gatherings and demonstrations following the firearms case involving its leader, and political polarization risks exacerbating social division.

Rising water and electricity prices and unstable supply have directly infringed on the basic livelihood rights of the public. Moreover, the "dark cloud" of corruption has spread to key functional departments of South Africa, with deep collusion between corruption and criminal organizations.

In terms of social security, violent crimes such as shootings, robberies and kidnappings occur frequently, mainly driven by gang violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

On other fronts, South Africa has classified the frequent floods in Limpopo, Mpumalanga and other provinces as a national disaster.

I. Political and Economic Aspects

(1) Intensifying Partisan Political Struggles and Rising Local Security Risks

On 13 January 2026, internal conflicts within the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s largest opposition party, escalated sharply. Its leader, John Steenhuisen, was accused of abusing his power and improperly promoting personnel adjustments to pursue his own political goals, which runs counter to the party’s long-standing core principles of "opposing ruling-party corruption and upholding procedural justice".

This internal power struggle comes at a critical juncture ahead of the party’s leadership election in April and Steenhuisen’s bid for a third consecutive term. The allegations are likely to be used by his rivals to attack him, further fueling internal conflicts. The accusations also involve environmental policies and interests of special industries, indicating major divergences within the party over its policy direction.

On 23 January, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), traveled to East London in the Eastern Cape Province to attend a sentencing hearing over a 2018 incident in which he fired a gun publicly at the EFF’s 5th anniversary celebration. The city was immediately placed under full high alert.

EFF supporters from across the country gathered around the East London Court, and tense confrontations broke out on the day of the trial, though the conflict did not escalate further.

(2) Dual Water and Electricity Crises Escalate Public Dissatisfaction

On 7 January, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) released a public consultation document, revealing that the electricity tariff settlement with the state-owned power utility Eskom would rise to 76 billion rand from 54 billion rand agreed privately in June 2025.

On 10 January, energy firm IMPOWER Solar estimated that, if approved, South Africa’s electricity prices could rise by 10.5% in 2026.

This cost-shifting crisis, caused by apparent "human error and regulatory failure", will severely impact the daily lives and survival of ordinary residents and small and medium-sized enterprises, while large industrial enterprises will see their burdens "unexpectedly reduced" due to preferential electricity policies.

Such an unbalanced cost-allocation structure will further widen the gap between the rich and the poor and intensify public discontent.

Meanwhile, on 20 January, South Africa faced an extreme water-resource situation of "coexisting floods and water shortages":

Flooding in Limpopo Province continued to worsen;
Johannesburg suffered long-term water supply shortages;
Water levels in the Nelson Mandela Bay reservoirs kept dropping;
Potential water source pollution emerged in Knysna.

On the same day, the Department of Water and Sanitation issued an urgent water-saving alert to residents of Gauteng Province, warning that stricter water restrictions might be imposed in 2026 if daily water consumption was not reduced immediately.

The compound water crisis across multiple parts of South Africa further indicates that its overall water system is approaching the limit of its capacity.

The dual water and electricity crises directly affect the basic living needs of ordinary people, risking further inflaming already tense social contradictions, triggering large-scale protests, and pushing public dissatisfaction to a new peak.

(3) Corruption Spreads Across Sectors, Undermining Core State Institutions

This month, corruption in South Africa has become widespread, high-level and systemic, spreading to key functional departments including the judiciary, law enforcement and municipal administrations.

On 14 January, an acting judge of the Gauteng High Court was accused of accepting a 5,000-rand bribe in an eviction appeal case and helping the applicant secure a favorable ruling.

Such cases are not uncommon in South Africa’s judicial system: several judges, including Portia Phalane and Tinyziwalo Nana Makubele of the Gauteng High Court, have been embroiled in corruption scandals.

On 29 January, Themba Matibe, Chief Executive Officer of the Johannesburg Development Agency and acting CEO of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company, was arrested by South African police on suspicion of money laundering.

Large amounts of cash were seized at his residence, and a comprehensive review will be conducted into all procurement contracts and financial decisions made during his tenure. More suspects may be held accountable in due course.

Recently, at a hearing held by a special committee of the South African Parliament, Lieutenant General Dumisani Kumalo, head of the National Crime Intelligence Unit, revealed that several police stations in Gauteng had been infiltrated by criminal groups, with some officers acting as "protective umbrellas" for organized crime by sheltering illegal activities in exchange for benefits.

The hearing aimed to investigate a criminal network codenamed "Big Five", which is alleged to have fully infiltrated South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, judiciary and political circles, forming a cross-sectoral criminal interest system.

II. Social Security Risks

(1) Shooting Incidents

In January 2026, violent shootings in South Africa showed a clear trend of regional concentration, with the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces as the core high-risk areas.

The Western Cape was plagued mainly by gang violence and the proliferation of illegal firearms, with some communities descending into "anarchic" chaos.
In Gauteng, violent crimes became rampant partly due to police infiltration by criminal organizations and collusion with law enforcement personnel.

Western Cape:

As of 24 January, a total of 195 homicides had been recorded in the Western Cape between 1 and 17 January, averaging about 11 deaths per day. Multiple shootings occurred within 24 hours in Cape Town alone, leaving at least six people dead.

Gauteng:

On 21 January, a defendant on bail was shot by three armed men in the parking area outside the Booysens Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, leaving two dead and three injured.
On the same day, five men were shot dead outside a tuck shop in an informal settlement in Jeffreyston near Pretoria.
On 23 January, residents of the Sporong informal settlement in Randcie were violently attacked by illegal miners, with frequent night shootings.

(2) Robberies

Robberies in South Africa this month showed diversified patterns, targeting residential areas, streets and roads.

On 7 January, a female victim was harassed and robbed by street children while walking on the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town. Such incidents have become frequent in Sea Point and along Cape Town’s Atlantic coast, renewing public concern over local public security.
On 9 January, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) issued an urgent security alert, warning that individuals claiming to conduct "SABC TV licence inspections" at residences are usually criminals seeking to burgle homes. The public was advised to report such incidents to the police immediately.
On 17 January, a serious attempted armed robbery took place on Silverglen Drive in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A driver noticed roadblocks of rubble and debris with several armed suspects hiding nearby, apparently targeting passing vehicles. He escaped successfully and alerted the police, leading to the arrest of at least six suspects.

(3) Kidnappings

Typical violent kidnappings occurred in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces this month, with increasingly brutal methods. Crimes have spread from remote areas to main roads and outside shops in relatively populated areas, with some armed gangs detaining victims for extended periods, greatly increasing social harm.

On 6 January, an off-duty female police officer was attacked by two unknown men outside a shop in Hansdorp, Eastern Cape, who attempted to bundle her into a car boot for kidnapping. She fought back fiercely until security personnel and police patrols arrived to rescue her.
On 30 January, police carried out a targeted law enforcement operation based on intelligence in Adams Mission, south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, aiming to arrest a violent criminal gang long active in the area involved in kidnappings and robberies. The gang opened fire on police first; four suspects were shot dead and one escaped. Follow-up investigations are ongoing.

III. Other Aspects

(1) Heavy Rainfall Triggers Severe Floods; South Africa Declares National Disaster

On 19 January, the South African National Disaster Management Centre announced that the northeastern parts of the country had been hit by persistent heavy rainfall due to a low-pressure weather system originating from Mozambique.

Severe flooding struck many parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, with the Kruger National Park among the worst-hit areas.

Floods destroyed numerous houses, roads, bridges and other infrastructure, severely disrupting basic community living order.

At least 20 people died in Mpumalanga and 17 in Limpopo, mainly from drowning.

Following an assessment by the National Disaster Management Centre, South Africa officially classified the extreme weather event as a national disaster.

Hanwei International Recommendations for Chinese Enterprises and Individuals in South Africa

For Enterprises

Continuously monitor developments in South Africa’s political situation, especially the DA leadership election in April and the verdict in Malema’s case. Timely identify potential risks in operations, closely monitor policy changes that may result from DA internal conflicts, and formulate risk-prevention plans in advance. Strictly comply with local South African laws and regulations, especially in key areas such as municipal project cooperation and engineering development. Refrain from any irregular practices to avoid involvement in corruption cases.
Improve the safety and security system of factory premises, employ trained security teams, install video surveillance and alarm systems, and establish regular communication and coordination mechanisms with local security service providers and law enforcement agencies to effectively prevent theft, robbery and other public security incidents.
Develop water-reserve plans and install emergency water-supply equipment in advance to cope with possible periodic water-supply disruptions and ensure production continuity. Regularly inspect and maintain the factory’s water supply and drainage systems to prevent production safety hazards caused by water quality issues.

For Individuals

Pay close attention to security alerts issued by the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in South Africa and safety notices from local official media. Avoid areas prone to political protests and high-crime zones, such as the vicinity of courts in East London, Eastern Cape, and city centers. If travel is necessary, plan routes in advance, avoid crowded areas, and keep contact information for embassies/consulates, local police and security agencies.
Minimize nighttime outings during holidays. Travel in groups when going out; do not carry large amounts of cash or valuables, and avoid displaying wealth. Lock car doors and windows while driving; if followed by a suspicious vehicle, proceed to a safe area such as a police station and do not argue with strangers. Install surveillance systems and anti-theft locks at residences to guard against violent crimes caused by poor community security.
Follow notices of water cuts or restrictions issued by local water authorities and prepare sufficient drinking and domestic water in advance. Prioritize reliable water sources such as bottled water that meets production safety standards; avoid drinking unboiled tap water directly to reduce health risks.

South Africa Security Situation Overview for December 2026 (Issue No. 285 in Total)