South Africa in January 2026: the most important developments in society
South Africa's January 2026 was marked by floods. On 18 January the government declared a national disaster as floods struck the region; the death toll had reached 19 in South Africa and Mozambique by 16 January and later rose to dozens. Kruger National Park was evacuated and closed to tourists, and South Africa sent a rescue team to Mozambique after a politician was swept away by floodwaters.
Wildfires damaged buildings and displaced thousands of people around 12 January. The Western Cape government asked on 22 January for two states of disaster to be declared over wildfires and water shortages, and firefighters battled blazes in Hout Bay and Llandudno on 28 January. Knysna faced the prospect of Day Zero in a drought. Lightning killed two people and injured 150 on 4 January, and a school bus crash on 19 January killed at least 13 children.
On 6 January the ANC denounced US actions against Venezuela, and the SACP planned a march against Washington. Gayton McKenzie withdrew South Africa's Venice Biennale submission because it alludes to Gaza genocide. On 14 January the DA compared the Iranian protests to the Sharpeville massacre and asked the government to pick a side. A court ruled that Nelson Mandela's personal items can be sold after his daughter won a legal battle.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.