Catch up on the biggest stories of Friday, 22 May 2026 that you may have missed, in our simple daily news update.
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In the news today, two strains of polio have been detected in wastewater samples from a treatment plant in Cape Town, Western Cape.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s new ambassador to the US Roelf Meyer has presented his credentials to President Donald Trump.
Furthermore, the MK party has demanded protection for SABC’s head of content Lala Tuku as the Pimville production crisis continues.
Weather tomorrow: 23 May 2026
Heavy downpours, hail and damaging winds are expected in parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday, while most provinces are set to experience rain or thundershowers. Full weather forecast here.
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Two polio virus strains detected in Cape Town wastewater – NICD
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has detected two polio virus strains (VDPV3 and nOPV2-L) in wastewater samples from a treatment plant in Cape Town, Western Cape.
The NICD said it had informed the Department of Health of its findings.
According to the Department of Health, the detection was part of the NICD’s routine environmental and wastewater testing aimed at proactive, population-wide disease tracking.
“This entails analysing municipal sewage and water resources to detect emerging outbreaks and viral variants before clinical cases appear,” said health department spokesperson Foster Mohale.
CONTINUE READING: Two polio virus strains detected in Cape Town wastewater – NICD
WATCH: From golf quip to trade – Roelf Meyer receives warm welcome from Trump
Veteran political negotiator and South Africa’s newly appointed ambassador to Washington, Roelf Meyer, has vowed to reset strained ties with the United States, stressing that trade relations must be improved while acknowledging the political sensitivities around issues such as farm violence, Black Economic Empowerment, and Afrikaner refugee admissions.
The 78-year-old Meyer presented his credentials to US President Donald Trump late on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Meyer as Pretoria’s ambassador to the US in April 2026. He replaced former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool after more than a year of tensions between the US and South Africa.
CONTINUE READING: WATCH: From golf quip to trade – Roelf Meyer receives warm welcome from Trump
MK party demands protection for Tuku in SABC ‘Pimville’ production scandal
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK) party has issued a public statement declaring its intention to intervene in the ongoing Pimville production crisis.
The party demanded immediate transparency from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) over the abrupt suspension of its Head of Content, Lala Tuku.
The MK party alleged that Tuku’s suspension may be a retaliatory measure directly linked to her whistleblowing activities.
CONTINUE READING: MK party demands protection for Tuku in SABC ‘Pimville’ production scandal
R3.8 billion loan to save ‘broke’ Johannesburg fails … for now
The governing coalition in the City of Johannesburg has failed to secure sufficient council support to approve a R3.8 billion loan agreement with a German development bank.
On Thursday, the ANC and its partners failed to secure 136 votes from council, which could have enabled council to approve the loan.
On Wednesday, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero told residents in his State of the City Address that the loan was meant to enable City Power to carry out its functions. He insisted that the city was financially stable despite Eskom and the National Treasury indicating it was struggling.
CONTINUE READING: R3.8 billion loan to save ‘broke’ Johannesburg fails … for now
Public Protector finds maladministration cost taxpayers billions in Charlotte Maxeke hospital fire repairs
Matipandile Sotheni’s legal representative, Nthabiseng Mohumane, has cited several cases, including Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe’s, to argue for her client’s release on bail.
On Friday, Sotheni returned to the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court to continue with his bail application in connection with the murder of Marius van der Merwe, also known as “Witness D”.
The former member of the Special Task Force (STF) within the South African Police Service (Saps) is facing 16 charges, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, three counts of attempted murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, ammunition-related offences, and theft.
On Friday, Sotheni continued to cite his family responsibilities to argue for his release on bail, saying they would continue to suffer in his absence.
CONTINUE READING: Public Protector finds maladministration cost taxpayers billions in Charlotte Maxeke hospital fire repairs
Yesterday’s News recap
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