Dear South Africa

🟢 NAME CHANGE COMING FOR HISTORIC 168 YEAR OLD TOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA The Eastern Cape Provincial Geographical Names Committee has confirmed that it will proceed with renaming several towns in the province. According to the Freedom Front Plus, which is opposing the proposed name changes, this will impact, among others: Lady Grey, which will be renamed to Inkosi Makhobeni, Sterkspruit, which will be renamed to Inkosi Mpangazi, and Herschel, which will be renamed to Inkosi Lihlongo. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/869893/name-change-coming-for-historic-168-year-old-town-in-south-africa/

🟢 NEW LAWS SENT TO RAMAPHOSA TO SIGN New laws will replace the country’s existing municipal demarcation framework, changing how municipal boundaries and wards are determined. The National Assembly has passed the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, which will now be sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for assent. Parliament said the Bill provides for the establishment of an Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority, which will replace the current Municipal Demarcation Board under a new legislative framework. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/869949/new-laws-sent-to-ramaphosa-to-sign/

🟢 GOOD NEWS FOR SOUTH AFRICANS WITH SOLAR PANELS ON THEIR ROOFS South Africans who do not register their rooftop solar power systems with Eskom will not be issued fines or have their electricity supply disrupted. The deadline for South Africans to register their small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) systems with Eskom and have their fees waived is 30 September 2026. Media reports previously suggested that South Africans who failed to register before this date could face fines ranging from R6,000 to R30,000, depending on the municipality. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/148331/good-news-for-south-africans-with-solar-panels-on-their-roofs/

🟢 ONE IN THREE SOUTH AFRICANS CANNOT FIND WORK Approximately one in every three working-age South Africans seeking work now finds themselves unable to secure long-term employment. This is according to Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, which details changes in employment in the second quarter of 2026. The latest report showed that the number of unemployed South Africans increased by 345,000 over the last quarter, bringing the total to around 8.5 million. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/147946/one-in-three-south-africans-cannot-find-work/

❗️PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- BELA BILL❗️ Following the controversial passage of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) framework, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has gazetted four major draft regulations under the South African Schools Act (SASA) for public commentary. These regulations shift the BELA Act from high-level debate into everyday reality across South Africa’s 22,000+ public schools. They directly impact School Governing Bodies (SGBs), teachers, parents, and extra-curricular school activities. The public comment window is short, and the 30-day clock is running down fast. What is being proposed? Section 38A Extra Teacher Pay (Notice 7796): SGBs will no longer be allowed to pay state-employed teachers or staff extra stipends or benefits for additional duties—like afternoon sports coaching, weekend extra classes, or cultural trips—without advance written permission from the provincial Head of Department (HoD). Furthermore, the department is granted up to three (3) months to decide on each application.Standardised SGB Elections & E-Voting (Notice 7797): Establishes single national rules for SGB elections, introduces formal e-voting options for equipped schools, standardises mandatory SGB handovers, and defines HoD intervention powers for underperforming parent bodies.Teacher Training Facility Norms (Notices 7795 & 7798): Sets binding spatial, ICT, 24-hour security, and backup power standards for District Teacher Development Centres, along with an absolute ban on pit latrines and bucket toilets.Where do you stand? Do you support these rules as necessary to bring financial oversight, curb salary disparities between schools, and modernise parent participation?Do you object to a 3-month state approval window that could paralyse extra-curricular programs, or worry that e-voting could exclude parents without smartphones or data? Do you propose amendments to preserve local SGB autonomy while reducing bureaucratic delays? click here to have a say Why participate via Dear South Africa? Traditional online petitions are legally counted as a single collective signature—meaning thousands of names are easily archived as one line item. This is NOT a petition. DearSouthAfrica operates on an individual legal mandate model. When you participate on our platform: Your input is formatted into an independent legal submission and dispatched directly to the official consideration desks at the Department of Basic Education.Under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), decision-makers are legally required to evaluate every individual submission before these regulations become law.It takes less than 60 seconds to make your voice count. Closing date for public comments is 5 September 2026 Click the green button, the image or the link to have your say right away. Thank you for being an active, responsible citizen. Rob Hutchinson Founder, Dear South Africa ‌

🟢 AGE VERIFICATION SYSTEMS FOR YOUTUBE AND TIKTOK IN SOUTH AFRICA PLANNED South Africa's Department of Communications plans to mandate age-verification systems for online video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Following a July 2025 draft white paper led by Minister Solly Malatsi, the initiative aims to protect children from harmful content and establish an ombudsman to regulate digital safety. Modeled after UK and Australian laws, the proposal invites public comments until September 2025 and outlines new obligations for Very Large Online Platforms to balance media freedom with public interest. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/661686-age-verification-systems-for-youtube-and-tiktok-in-south-africa-planned.html

🟢 THE END OF ESKOM AS YOU KNOW IT The unbundling of Eskom and the transition towards a free and open electricity market will require extending South Africa’s transmission grid, which is estimated to cost R440 billion. Eskom and the state do not have the means to fund this grid expansion themselves and are turning to the private sector for investment. This is being done through the Independent Transmission Programme (ITP), which was approved by the South African government in December 2023. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/energy/147056/the-end-of-eskom-as-you-know-it/

🟢 BIG CHANGE TO ELECTRICITY BILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA PLANNED South Africa's cabinet has approved the Revised Electricity Pricing Policy for public consultation to enhance transparency in billing and address funding leakage in municipal subsidies. The new framework aims to unbundle electricity costs and increase the Free Basic Electricity grant from 50kWh to approximately 150kWh for qualifying indigent households to reduce illegal connections. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://broadmedia.9.evlink.net/servlet/link/105658/914458/177465363/4409659

🟢 NEW PROBLEM FOR HOUSEHOLDS NOW EMPLOYING SOUTH AFRICAN DOMESTIC WORKERS Households have reported that some South African domestic workers have asked their employers not to register them with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). This is because earning the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or more disqualifies them from receiving SASSA grants. The issue has emerged as many households search for local domestic workers following the departure of foreign workers amid heightened immigration enforcement and anti-immigrant protests. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/869199/new-problem-for-households-now-employing-south-african-domestic-workers/

🟢 SOUTH AFRICAN BANKS COULD GET NEW POWERS TO FREEZE SARS TAX REFUNDS A new Draft Bill proposes allowing South African banks to identify, report and temporarily freeze suspicious SARS tax refunds for up to two business days while the tax authority investigates potential fraud. The 2026 Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill proposes giving South African banks a greater role in combating tax fraud. It does so by requiring them to report suspicious tax refunds and temporarily hold them while the South African Revenue Service (SARS) investigates. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/banking/147096/south-african-banks-could-get-new-powers-to-freeze-sars-tax-refunds/

🟢 GAUTRUN LAND EXPROPRIATION PLANS SLAMMED The expropriation of land, with compensation, to make way for planned new Gautrain stations and rail routes will only negatively impact residents of Gauteng, with little to show for it. This is according to Bobby Ramagwede, CEO of the Automobile Association of South Africa, who said his organisation is vehemently opposed to the rail provider’s planned expansion. The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) said in January that it would expropriate land from private residents and businesses in Gauteng to build new stations and rail routes in the planned expansion. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/661602-gautrain-land-expropriation-plans-slammed.html

🟢 WHY SOUTH AFRICA'S UPCOMING FATF EVALUATION MATTERS FOR THE ECONOMY South Africa has less than two months before the first submissions are due for its next Financial Action Task Force Mutual Evaluation – about a year after celebrating its removal from the global watchdog's grey list. While South Africa successfully exited the FATF grey list in October 2025, it remains subject to ongoing checks and visits to ensure compliance with the agency's requirements. It was originally placed on the list in February 2023 due to shortcomings in preventing money laundering, terrorist financing and corruption, largely stemming from the state capture era. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://iol.co.za/business/economy/2026-08-06-why-south-africas-upcoming-fatf-evaluation-matters-for-the-economy/

🟢 DRAFT TAX LAW CHANGES COULD AFFECT DONATIONS, VAT, MEDICAL TAXCREDITS AND SARS REFUNDS South Africans could see changes to donations tax, VAT rules, medical scheme tax credits and tax refund processes after the National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) published the 2026 Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB) and Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB) for public comment. The draft bills, published on July 30, 2026, contain a range of tax and administrative proposals announced in the 2026 Budget. They are not yet law and are open for public comment until August 28, 2026. Following the consultation period, National Treasury and SARS will consider submissions before finalising the legislation and introducing it in Parliament. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://iol.co.za/business/advice/2026-08-08-draft-tax-law-changes-could-affect-donations-vat-medical-tax-credits-and-sars-refunds/

🟢 DRIVING LICENCE WARNING IN SOUTH AFRICA EVEN IF YOURS IS STILL VALID A motorist in Johannesburg faced arrest for leaving his valid driving licence at home after traffic officers misinterpreted the new AARTO laws. However, while this incident was not lawful, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) warned that leaving your driving licence at home is a R1,000 offence under the correct interpretation of the law. In an interview with HOT Business, the motorist explained that he was stopped shortly after making a turn at a traffic light when officers on motorcycles pulled him over, accusing him of driving through a red light. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/motoring/869142/r1000-driving-licence-warning-in-south-africa-even-if-yours-is-still-valid/

🟢 NEW LAWS COMING AFTER HOUSEHOLDS EMPLOYING DOMESTIC WORKERS WITH THREATS OF R100,000 FINES New restrictions and harsh penalties for hiring illegal foreign nationals, including households that employ them as domestic workers, are now being processed by parliament. The Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour has formally received the proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill, initiating the process to put the proposals into law. The proposed laws were gazetted at the end of May after receiving Cabinet approval for introduction to Parliament. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/869155/new-laws-coming-after-households-employing-domestic-workers-in-south-africa-with-threats-of-r100000-fines/

🟢 NEW LAWS GIVE SARS MORE POWER OVER MONEY IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS IN SOUTH AFRICA New tax legislation could require banks to help the South African Revenue Service (SARS) identify and temporarily freeze funds and payments to taxpayers in South Africa. The proposed changes form part of the 2026 Draft Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB), which was published for public comment alongside the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill. According to Tax Consulting South Africa, the amendments would give banks a formal role in SARS’ efforts to combat tax fraud by allowing them to screen tax refund payments before or after they are deposited into taxpayers’ accounts. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/868980/new-laws-give-sars-more-power-over-money-in-your-bank-accounts-in-south-africa/

🟢 LUXURY TRIP ON TAXPAYER MONEY: R3.3 MILLION FOR FLIGHTS, R931,870 FOR HOTELS AND R1.5 MILLION FOR SPENDING MONEY.... The Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Morakane Mosupyoe, spent R6 million on a luxury trip for herself and a small group of other officials. This was revealed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which submitted a motion of censure against Mosupyoe for wasting money on the trip to Venezuela. This trip in November 2025 consisted of 13 people, including the Speaker, four members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, and seven staff members. ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/147050/luxury-trip-on-taxpayer-money-r3-3-million-for-flights-r931870-for-hotels-and-r1-5-million-spending-money/

🟢 EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION IS DAMAGING SOUTH AFRICA While the Expropriation Act is intended to redress injustices of South Africa’s past, it can carry unintended negative implications for the country’s economy. The Act, which was quietly signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 23 January 2025, has been touted as something which would best serve the public interest. However, Aluma Capital chief economist Frederick Mitchell recently outlined how the Act’s broad scope could impede ⭕️ Let us know your views in the comments on Telegram https://t.me/dearsafrica ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa campaigns on our website dearsouthafrica.co.za ⭕️ Follow the Dear South Africa broadcast channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6oku5G3R3pbabs9A0P More on this here... https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/147092/expropriation-without-compensation-is-damaging-south-africa/