AGP Executive Report

Cybersecurity & Tax Fraud: Experts warn AI is making SARS tax scams harder to spot as the 23 October filing deadline nears, with deepfakes and more convincing messages boosting fraud risk. Finance & Banking: Capitec has changed its name to Capitec Limited as it expands beyond traditional banking, with Connect growth and rising earnings in its latest results. Urban Tech & Safety: Cape Town will demolish its unfinished highways to build a link bridge, tunnel and new Foreshore neighbourhood, with public consultation and phased construction. Health: Diabetes remains South Africa’s top underlying cause of death, with Stats SA recording 28,767 deaths in 2024. Mining & Research: Mintek-Sci hears calls for more research and innovation to unlock higher value from Africa’s critical minerals, using manganese as a key example. Agritech & Food Security: Omnia opens a Stellenbosch analytical services facility to speed soil and plant testing for faster, better farm decisions. Space Science: Astronomers report the first radio emission detected from an exoplanet, pointing to a strong magnetic field. STEM Education: The National Teaching Awards spotlight standout educators shaping SA’s future.

Public Transport Reform: The Department of Transport is reshaping the public transport grant into a unified support model for bus and taxi operators, aiming for integration, sustainability, fairness, safety and commuter affordability. Digital Identity: Home Affairs says the paper-based green ID book will stop being valid from 31 March 2028, with production ending in March 2027 as it pushes “Quantum Leap” digital services. HIV Prevention Manufacturing: South Africa is moving to produce the six-monthly HIV prevention jab lenacapavir (LEN) locally, but the big question is whether local makers can match price, volume and timing before cheaper generics arrive. Climate & Health: Wits researchers urge the WHO to declare the climate crisis a public health emergency of international concern, citing heat-related death risks tied to El Niño. Wildlife Tech: King Shaka International Airport and the University of KwaZulu-Natal are using a new 3D bird radar to reduce bird strikes as migratory swallows return. AI & Work: Commentary warns AI adoption is accelerating while job demand may fall, with South Africa facing a growing “AI paradox” as spending rises. Local Tech Economy: Uber Eats marks 10 years in SA, touting value for restaurants and saved consumer time, while the debate continues on platform inclusion.

Housing & Regulation: Cape Town’s draft short-term letting bylaw is criticised for not tackling the housing crisis hard enough, as many Airbnb listings are whole homes and the city risks hollowing out neighbourhoods. Energy Costs: Ratepayers urge NERSA to reject Eskom’s proposed 8.83% electricity increase, warning it will deepen cost-of-living pressure; public submissions close Oct 2. Digital Identity: Home Affairs unveils South Africa’s first working digital ID prototype via the MyMzansi app, with broader rollout planned after 2030. Cyber & Scams: AI is making SARS-related phishing and deepfake fraud harder to spot as the Oct 23 filing deadline nears. Health Tech: Netcare adds Geely electric vehicles to its pathology transport fleet, aiming to cut emissions on shorter routes. AI in Education: Emeris says it’s developing an AI qualification (still in ideation) focused on workplace implementation skills. Research Collaboration: UCT, Unisa and Bristol launch an implementation framework for the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations. Climate Cooling: “Cool roofs” are highlighted as a practical heat-reduction tool that can lower energy demand and protect health.

GBV Accountability Push: Experts and activists say President Ramaphosa’s GBV address must now translate into funded, time-bound action with measurable outcomes, not speeches—amid calls for better reporting systems and up-to-date crime data. Municipal Finance Court Fight: Sapoa is preparing another legal challenge against a metro’s plan to link municipal rates and taxes to property values, arguing it’s unconstitutional and similar to Cape Town’s previously struck-down approach. HIV Focus on Farms: Health workers in Hoedspruit warn that young seasonal jobseekers are driving new HIV diagnoses during recruitment season, highlighting ongoing prevention and testing gaps. Mobile Network Upgrade: Vodacom and Nokia report a world-first integrated passive-active Massive MIMO pilot in the Western Cape, paving the way to boost 4G/5G capacity on constrained sites. Digital Security Threat: Huntress flags a ClickFix campaign that abuses malicious Custom GPTs to lure victims into downloading malware, with dozens of users reportedly affected. Education & Research Spotlight: South Africa’s universities dominate the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, led by UCT at joint 147th globally. Policy Uncertainty Watch: North-West University’s policy uncertainty index eased to 61.3 in Q3 2026, though risks remain tied to Middle East instability and energy shocks. Data Centre Transparency: Cape Town’s data-centre boom is drawing scrutiny as civil society presses for clearer, balanced regulation and more transparency in approvals. AI Governance Debate: UN discussions centre on who shapes AI rules, balancing innovation with safeguards and inclusion to avoid leaving countries behind.

Agritech Heritage in Focus: FAO is running a three-day GIAHS capacity-building workshop in Johannesburg, bringing 16 African countries together to strengthen recognition of agricultural heritage systems and draft five-year dynamic conservation plans. Engineering for Health: Two Kenyan innovators—Renal Roads (mobile dialysis) and MoyoECG (AI heart monitoring)—were shortlisted for the 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, worth £50,000 (about Sh8.6m) to the winner. Power Market Oversight: NTCSA says it will set up a ring-fenced market surveillance unit ahead of SAWEM’s April 2027 launch to guard against abuse of dominance. Telecom Competition Watch: South Africa’s Competition Commission backed MTN’s IHS tower deal, but only with conditions to protect rivals and workers. AI Safety Self-Policing Under Fire: Six frontier AI firms pledged internal controls and external audits, but critics say the voluntary pact may deliver far less risk reduction than binding rules. Higher Education Rankings: UCT returned to the global top 150 in THE 2027 rankings, while sub-Saharan Africa’s university presence grew. Space Tech Spotlight: AUDA-NEPAD launched an Africa Semiconductor Technical Advisory Group to coordinate chip-industry efforts, and the African Space Agency hosted its first all-women SpatiELLES hackathon.

GBV Response: President Ramaphosa ordered a national recovery operation targeting unresolved murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children, admitting government “has not been enough” after 11 women’s bodies were found in Ekurhuleni since July and vowing urgent interventions. GBV System Check: An opinion piece argues the GBV Command Centre’s rising call volumes must trigger faster, better action—questioning whether the system is truly listening and responding. City Power Crisis: A CDE report puts Johannesburg’s City Power at the centre of a R44.25bn infrastructure backlog, a 2025 deficit, and millions of forced interruptions—warning the network is managing decline, not assets. Illegal Mining Crackdown: South African police arrested 121 suspects in Gauteng after a deadly tavern shooting, seizing firearms and mining gear in “Operation Prosper.” Youth Health Agenda: UCT hosted Ubuntu Rising 2026, where young health leaders issued nine recommendations to strengthen youth roles in Africa’s health systems amid stark jobs and workforce gaps. Hydrogen Rail Milestone: CMB.TECH Namibia says the first engine start for Africa’s first hydrogen dual-fuel locomotive is complete, moving into further commissioning and trials. Higher Education Rankings: Times Higher Education launched the 2027 World University Rankings in Cape Town, highlighting UCT’s rise back into the top 150 and South Africa’s growing global presence. AI in Banking: GoTyme rolled out an AI-powered root cause analysis tool on AWS, cutting incident diagnosis from 34.5 minutes to 10. Conservation Warning: ASICS says new research finds people spend 86% of waking hours not moving, urging more daily movement ahead of World Mental Health Day.

Science & Innovation Funding: South Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande will release a report on how US withdrawal of R&D funding is affecting local biomedical and clinical trial programmes, with recommendations aimed at boosting domestic research investment and sovereignty. Energy & Transport Tech: Sanral says it will miss its 30 Nov deadline for R9.5bn road maintenance tenders after court rulings forced procurement changes, while Johannesburg’s under-spending and weak maintenance are adding pressure to service delivery. Digital Policy & Content Governance: Communications minister Solly Malatsi appoints a new Film and Publications Board council to steer oversight amid rapid tech-driven content change. AI, Media Monetisation: At Bloomberg’s Africa Business Media Innovators in Cape Town, publishers and creators push for stronger IP ownership and better payment/distribution systems so AI-era reach turns into real revenue. Space/Research Signals: Astronomers report a first radio signal from Beta Pictoris b, adding momentum to Africa’s growing space ambitions. Health & Skills: OECD warns teacher shortages are hitting maths and science, and South Africa faces a major early-learning reading gap that starts before Grade 1. Starlink Push: South Africa renews its appeal to Elon Musk to resolve Starlink licensing, tied to the 30% equity requirement for telecom operators. Local Industry Transition: The automotive aftermarket is urged to prepare now for electromobility as EVs move beyond dealer warranties into independent workshops.

US–SA Tensions: The Mbeki Foundation’s new paper puts South Africa’s unresolved “national question” back on the table, arguing US support for Afrikaner autonomy could inflame social rifts and distract from unfinished post-1994 economic and political transformation. Cybersecurity & AI: Palo Alto Networks says cyber defence in 2026 is “fighting AI with AI”, launching an AI-driven service to spot and fix vulnerabilities across web apps, APIs and cloud systems. Health Tech & Access: South Africans can now use buy-now-pay-later to pay for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs via a doctor-led programme, raising fresh concerns after past raids on illegally compounded GLP-1s. Local Government Delivery: A critique of Joburg-style governance argues failing municipalities aren’t just political problems; they’re organisations without clear accountability to run services. Food Security: New analysis points to a gradual decline in households doing subsistence farming since 2008, warning it may erode a low-cost food buffer. Space Ambitions: Africa’s space push is shifting from policy to practice, with the Africa Space Expo highlighting applications for food security, climate resilience and monitoring. Digital Skills: Government and TVET partners host a digital skills outreach programme at Tshwane South TVET College on 29 Sept to connect students to training and jobs.

AI & Education: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar announced a partnership with OpenAI to explore new ways to use ChatGPT, pushing people to experiment with AI beyond hype. Energy Access: New research says about half of sub-Saharan Africa relies more on diesel generators than grid power, leaving households and businesses exposed to fuel shocks. Health Workforce: Ubuntu Rising 2026 in Cape Town highlighted a shortage of 5.5m health workers and nearly 1m trained professionals without meaningful jobs, calling for youth-led health policy and better pathways into paid work. UN Reform: India, Brazil and South Africa urged immediate, text-based UN Security Council reform talks within a fixed timeframe, backing critical minerals and condemning the Pahalgam attack. EV Skills: RMI, merSETA and QCTO launched formal skills programmes for new energy vehicles to prepare independent workshops for high-voltage and software-heavy repairs. Biodiversity & Food Heritage: South Africa’s biodiversity plan faces scrutiny over whether it protects nature or business as usual, while a FAO-China workshop in Johannesburg supports agricultural heritage systems proposals. Safety Tech in Crime: After the Wedela tavern massacre, authorities and parties point to CCTV and tech to help identify suspects. Climate Risk: El Niño forecasts warn of major heat-death risk for Southern Africa, with heat preparedness now urgent.

Defence & AI in industry: India and South Africa renewed defence and military cooperation at BRICS, including Army-to-Army staff talks and visits to Indian Army workshops focused on AI and indigenous manufacturing. Workplace health tech: A Heart Awareness Month piece argues employers should use wearables and HR context to understand sleep and health drivers behind sick leave patterns. Tourism execution gap: Mpumalanga’s tourism boom isn’t converting into visitor spend, blamed on weak implementation, poor coordination and leadership. Gaming growth: South Africa’s gaming sector is urged to chase fast-growing mobile-led African opportunities via tournaments and commercial partnerships. Energy transition pipeline: Plans for a 810MW offshore wind farm near Richards Bay progress, with a government framework quantifying a huge offshore wind opportunity and work needed on approvals and resubmissions. Digital sovereignty & cyber risk: GovTech 2026 coverage highlights SITA’s struggles to unify government systems, while a separate report says a third party may have accessed Eswatini’s national data centre during a cyber incident. Public health governance: WHO pushes early adoption of the pathogen access and benefit sharing system under the Pandemic Agreement. Health affordability vs industry: A pharma policy debate warns that chasing the lowest medicine prices can weaken the local industrial base that keeps supply stable. Eskom leadership: Mteto Nyati is reappointed Eskom chair for three more years as load shedding ended and the utility faces a new challenge of excess power. Science & space: Multiple reports say scientists detected direct radio signals from a planet outside the solar system for the first time. Media freedom: An editorial argues social media and “astroturfed” sites spread claims without the same accountability as regulated media—calling for proof when challenging narratives.

Space Science: Astronomers using South Africa’s MeerKAT have detected repeating radio bursts traced to the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b, marking the first time radio emission has been unambiguously linked to a distant world. Infrastructure & Water: Polihali Dam Phase II construction is at 53% (overall Phase II 56.7%), with impoundment still targeted for July 2027 as Lesotho Highlands Water Project delivery aims for 2028/29. Health Tech in Action: A Table Mountain hiker safely made it down with help from a Hypershell exoskeleton, showing how powered assistive tech can support real-world rescue situations. Research Funding Equity: Science minister Blade Nzimande says 80% of research scholarships at eligible facilities must go to Black South Africans, with 55% for women and 1% for people with disabilities. Security & Crime: Police are hunting suspects after back-to-back mass shootings in South Africa killed 27 people, including a tavern attack near Johannesburg. Governance & Elections: The Electoral Commission’s new disinformation code targets election integrity ahead of local elections on 4 November.

Space Science Breakthrough: Astronomers using South Africa’s MeerKAT detected radio “bursts” linked to auroras from exoplanet Beta Pictoris b, a first-of-its-kind result that could reshape how we study distant planets. Health & Governance: South Africa’s Minister of Health set up a commission of inquiry into The Luke Commission (TLC) after allegations of malpractice, with a 15-member multidisciplinary team appointed to investigate. AI in Education: Principals at a South African principals’ conference say learners are using AI to complete homework they can’t explain, pushing schools to rethink assessment and understanding. Local Culture & Language: Dr Nakanjani Sibiya argues isiZulu authors deserve equal respect and better platforms, warning that audiences must be engaged in new, faster storytelling formats. Food & Climate Research: Researchers report spekboom can be cooked and eaten like other leafy greens, highlighting its water-wise, nutritious potential. Politics & Representation: A debate over the 2027 election candidate list spotlights women’s underrepresentation, with women at just 9.65% of cleared candidates. International Diplomacy: UNGA talks saw India’s Jaishankar stress BRICS and the UN aren’t a “false choice,” while also meeting Russia and Iran on cooperation and regional issues.

Space & Astronomy: Harvard and the University of Oregon report the first radio signal detected directly from an exoplanet (Beta Pictoris b) using South Africa’s MeerKAT, with the emissions linked to natural auroras rather than alien contact. Cybercrime & Consumer Safety: GoTyme Bank warns South Africans about a “cheap flights” scam using Facebook/Instagram ads that push victims onto WhatsApp and malicious app downloads to steal banking details. Health & Environment: Gauteng’s Health Department urges residents to cut environmental health risks on World Environmental Health Day, focusing on safe water, food hygiene, waste control and pest prevention. Biodiversity & Conservation: A camera-trap cheetah census suggests South Africa’s free-roaming cheetah numbers are lower than previously estimated, even as AI helps sift millions of images. Local Tech & Governance: Moxii Africa and partners discuss how to tackle election disinformation ahead of South Africa’s 2026 local polls, including the impact of Slapp lawsuits on newsrooms. Critical Minerals Push: Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau pitches US investors to fund South Africa’s move up the critical minerals value chain, from refining to manufacturing and infrastructure. Water Security: Cape Town begins procurement for the Faure New Water Scheme, a PPP to turn treated wastewater into drinking water. Health Funding Warning: ALMA says a 30% malaria financing cut could drive 146 million extra cases across Africa by 2030.

Digital Piracy’s New Battleground: Africa’s entertainment industry is facing faster, more sophisticated piracy driven by streaming, cloned subscriptions and credential resale—shifting the fight from copyright enforcement to protecting the creative economy’s future. Water Infrastructure in Action: In Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, contractors have moved onto the Cowdray Park water treatment works tied to the Gwayi-Shangani project, aiming to deliver reliable treated water via new pipelines and treatment units. Red Sea Security Risks: The Houthis’ takeover of parts of the Red Sea adds a fresh challenge to global shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint, raising economic and security stakes for nearby African states. Cannabis Chemistry Breakthrough: Stellenbosch University researchers report rare flavoalkaloids in South African-grown cannabis leaves, suggesting low-value plant material could hold new medical potential. UN Settlement Tech Scrutiny: The UN Human Rights Office added 61 companies to its list tied to illegal Israeli settlement activities, including firms in technology, finance and transport. AI Governance Push: South Africa’s foreign minister warns that Africa must shape global AI rules, as countries seek UN-backed safety standards for frontier models. Household Tech & Cost Pressure: South Africans are cutting back on takeaways, dining out, entertainment subscriptions and even healthcare as living costs bite. Digital Identity Focus: ID4Africa’s 2027 AGM theme spotlights building connected digital ID ecosystems that actually deliver seamless public and private services.

AI & Courts: A Johannesburg High Court judge says South Africa’s judiciary must keep governance over AI tools used in decision-making, stressing human oversight and independent reasoning after AI-related citation errors were flagged in a family-law case. Critical Minerals Push: Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau urges US investors to fund South Africa’s refining, processing and manufacturing of platinum group metals, manganese and chromium, proposing an investment platform and a SA–US working group to turn mineral talks into projects. Infectious Disease Research: UCT leads a R95m pan-African programme to give scientists advanced microscopy and training to study TB, malaria and Buruli ulcer, using machine learning to speed discovery. Malaria Financing: African leaders call for stronger domestic funding and multisector action to accelerate malaria elimination as global support falls short. Cybersecurity: Sophos reports ransomware recovery costs South African organisations about R17m on average, with median ransom demands dropping but the financial hit still heavy. Climate Risk (El Niño): New modelling warns El Niño could drive about 1,200 extra heat deaths in South Africa by February 2027, prompting calls for early protective measures. Transport & Trade Tech: Transnet starts selecting a private partner to expand manganese export capacity via a new 25-year terminal at Ngqura, aiming to cut road-haul volumes. Eskom Governance: Minister Ramokgopa confirms Dr Mteto Nyati to continue as Eskom board chair as “Eskom 2.0” planning shifts to longer-term generation, grid expansion and investment.

Accessibility & EdTech: Deaf pupils at Johannesburg’s St Vincent School for the Deaf are coding a South African Sign Language dictionary to help classmates tackle unfamiliar terms, spotlighting ongoing gaps in SASL teaching, interpreting support and completion rates. Healthcare Research: A UCT-led study finds two-thirds of hospital patients across Africa report pain, with one in seven experiencing severe pain—urging better pain assessment and patient-centred care. Public Finance & Corruption Risks: MPs grilled NSFAS over R616m paid to external “solution partners” for the accommodation portal, with concerns about inflated bed numbers and irregular procurement processes. Energy & Climate (Wind): South Africa’s wind build-out is moving, but bird fatalities remain a major concern; BirdLife SA and EWT call for smarter site selection, full-life monitoring and tighter rules. Crypto & Payments: Stablecoins are overtaking bitcoin speculation in Africa, with Absa reporting stablecoin flows more than doubling over four years and exceeding $500bn across its markets. Space Science: Astronomers report the first radio signals from an exoplanet, tracing them to auroras on a distant world. Mining & Industry: FS Mining outlines a US$500m Zimbabwe plan—ferrochrome smelter plus thermal power—to boost beneficiation and jobs. Agriculture & Safety: A Washington DC memorial will display 3,000 white crosses for murdered South African farmers, while AfSA condemns the campaign as politically exploitative.