South Africa morning brief: Five stories to watch on 1 September 2026

South Africa starts Tuesday with a major parliamentary update due, a High Court application in a former speaker's corruption case and fresh business and policing developments.

Phala Phala committee briefing at 13:30

Parliament's Section 89 impeachment committee will brief the media in Cape Town at 13:30. Chairperson Makashule Gana is expected to update the public on the committee's work and take questions. The process concerns the 2020 theft of foreign currency from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm and Parliament's consideration of whether an impeachment process should proceed.

Mapisa-Nqakula back in court

Former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is expected in the Pretoria High Court, where her lawyers are due to argue for her discharge after the State closed its case. She faces corruption and money-laundering charges and has denied wrongdoing. The application asks the court to decide whether the prosecution led evidence on which a reasonable court could convict.

RCL Foods reports weaker earnings

RCL Foods reported lower underlying earnings for the year to June 2026. The company said cheaper deep-sea sugar imports and disruption linked to a pet-food recall weighed on the business. Underlying EBITDA from continuing operations fell 8.6% to R2.18 billion, while underlying headline earnings declined 27.1%.

Gauteng goods seizures top R6.6 million

Gauteng police said counterfeit, contraband and illicit goods valued at about R6.64 million were seized during operations in Boksburg, Brixton, Alrode and Randfontein. Regulators detained noodle products and packaging, while police recovered counterfeit consumables, toys and other goods. The values are police estimates.

Mkhwanazi committee continues draft work

Parliament's ad hoc committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi continued considering its draft report on Monday. No adopted final report was listed on Parliament's committee page early on Tuesday.

For the day's weather, the latest EBNewsDaily forecast covers temperatures and rain prospects across South Africa. This brief will be updated if any of the scheduled proceedings produce a confirmed new development.