Cape Town Water Worries: The City of Cape Town’s proposed R5 billion Paarden Eiland desalination project has sparked fresh debate over future water tariffs, with officials saying it’s still in preparation and could add 300 million litres a day by the mid-2030s. Presidency Budget Focus: President Cyril Ramaphosa used the Presidency budget vote to stress economic growth and job creation, saying load reduction is ending and highlighting investment pledges of more than R890 billion. Inflation and Fuel Pressure: Ramaphosa urged South Africans to “tighten the belt” as the Iran-US conflict drives an oil shock, while the Reserve Bank’s rate hike is defended as necessary to stop inflation expectations taking hold. Jobs Under Strain: Stats SA data shows unemployment rising to 32.7% in Q1 2026, with 345,000 jobs lost—fueling renewed calls for faster, structural fixes. Migration Tensions: Ramaphosa argued that well-managed migration can support growth, but recent inflammatory remarks by Johannesburg MMC Kenny Kunene have drawn backlash amid rising anti-migrant violence. Energy Compliance Gap: A major compliance failure over Energy Performance Certificates is leaving thousands of buildings outside the system, with sanctions up to R5 million and jail time. Finance and Accountability: The Financial Services Tribunal upheld sanctions against a former EOH director over forged PhD claims, while Scopa heard Joburg’s audit problems are worsening, including huge electricity and water losses. Crypto Rules Clarified: A court ruled cryptocurrency counts as both “money” and “capital” under exchange control laws, following SARB forfeiture actions.