News 20 March 2026

1. [South Africa/Economy] News24 'On The Record' Summit: Goal to Create 5 Million Jobs in 10 Years

Summary: The News24 'On The Record' Summit was held at the CTICC in Cape Town from March 19–20. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared that the economy is at a "turning point" and unveiled an ambitious strategy to create 5 million new jobs over the next decade. He emphasized that the effective end of load shedding and ongoing improvements in port and rail efficiency are creating a fertile environment for business investment and growth.

• Source: South African Government (gov.za) / News24
• Date: 2026-03-19
• Key Stat: Unemployment rate stands at 32%, with youth employment being the top priority.)

 

2. [Southern Africa/Social] Concurrent Drought and Floods: Deepening Food Security Crisis

Summary: Southern Africa is struggling with the dual impact of severe drought and floods driven by El Niño conditions. While regions in Angola and Madagascar have experienced rainfall deficits of over 300mm, leading to massive crop failures, other areas in Mozambique and South Africa continue to battle infrastructure damage from flooding. SADC ministers recently reported that 58 million people in the region face food insecurity, calling for urgent agricultural modernization and disaster fund activation.

• Source: Global Climate Risks / SADC Secretariat
• Date: 2026-03-05 (Updated with SADC outcome March 13, 2026)
• Key Issue: Zambia faces up to 21 hours of daily power cuts due to low water levels at Kariba Dam.)