In 2026, South Africa will see significant legal proceedings and local government elections.
In 2026, South Africa will see significant legal proceedings and local government elections.
Some of the major South African court cases expected in 2026 involve former president Jacob Zuma, a significant R60 billion class action lawsuit against the country’s biggest banks, ongoing state capture corruption trials, and a key case regarding airline ownership regulations.
Banks
The R60 billion Class Action Lawsuit will also put the spotlight on banks.
This lawsuit against South Africa’s largest banks, Absa, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and FirstRand, claims that their properties were unlawfully repossessed and sold below market value. The case is expected to be heard on 4 February 2026.
These cases are expected to have a substantial impact on South Africa’s legal landscape and may lead to significant changes in the treatment of property and homeowners’ rights.
ALSO READ: These are some of the big court cases to watch out for in 2025
Jacob Zuma
Zuma also had a busy 2025 with several court cases, including the repayment of his R28.9 million legal bill.
He also challenged a court decision that rejected his corruption charges and sought to have the case dismissed, and filed a recusal application related to the ongoing Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) commission of inquiry.
Zuma had sought leave to appeal after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled on 22 October that he was responsible for paying his own private legal costs.
He was ordered to pay R28 960 774.34 plus interest to the State Attorney within 60 days. Should he fail to settle the amount, his presidential pension benefits could be attached.
In another legal matter, Zuma appeared in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) High Court in Pietermaritzburg, where he and French arms company Thales sought to have their 1999 arms deal case withdrawn.
Previously, Zuma and Thales lost their bid to have corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money-laundering charges dropped in June, but they have since filed an appeal.
The judgment in this matter has been reserved and is expected on 23 January 2026.
ALSO READ: JZ Foundation warns of legal action if Zuma’s tax records released
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla
Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, will also be in the dock in 2026.
The trial of Sambudla was postponed to April 13-24, 2026.
She is charged with incitement to commit terrorism and incitement to public violence under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.
The state argues her social media posts (primarily on X, formerly Twitter) and messages in WhatsApp groups played a significant role in mobilising people and encouraging widespread looting and arson that resulted in over 300 deaths and billions of rands in damage.
In late November 2025, new allegations emerged, leading to additional charges being laid against her by the DA and, notably, by her own sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube.
Zuma-Sambudla is accused of luring 17 young South African men to Russia under false pretences, promising them lucrative security or bodyguard jobs for the MK party, but instead handing them over to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine war zone.
ICJ case
South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is will also take centre stage.
South Africa handed in a 500-page detailed submission in October 2024, with Israel’s counter-arguments due by January 12, 2026.
Oral hearings are anticipated in 2027, with a final judgement expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
The ICJ has issued three provisional measures, ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, though Israel has largely failed to comply.
Thabo Bester
The Thabo Bester trial is also scheduled to begin on July 20, 2026 and is centred on complaints about his detention conditions, unlawful deportation, prison classification, access to classified documents, and frozen bank accounts.
The convicted murderer and “Facebook rapist” filed several interlocutory applications in various courts, which his lawyer says are necessary to prepare for his defence in the main trial.
In the first application, to be heard on 22 January 2026, Bester seeks to address current arrangements that he says limit his consultation times.
In the second application in the Pretoria High Court, he is challenging his deportation from Tanzania.
Pule Mabe
There are also several high-profile criminal cases stemming from the State Capture Commission of Inquiry scheduled for trial through 2026.
These include matters related to the Free State asbestos removal case, Bosasa-related corruption and the Transnet contracts.
The fraud and corruption trial of former ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe and six co-accused, related to an allegedly unlawful R27 million tender, is also expected to be in the spotlight when it returns to court on 18 February 2026.
Mabe, his wife, and business associate Tinyiko Mahuntsi are facing charges of corruption, fraud, and theft in connection with a R27 million tender awarded to Mabe’s company, Enviro-Mobi, by the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in 2017.
The tender was aimed at supplying 200 three-wheeler vehicles intended for use by waste pickers employed by the Ekurhuleni Municipality.
Muslim marriages
The Constitutional Court is also expected to address several key constitutional matters, including the finalisation of amendments to the Marriage and Divorce Acts to recognise Sharia law (Muslim) marriages.
The current suspension of the declaration of invalidity of the existing acts was extended to 27 June 2026, to allow Parliament time to correct the defect.
Murder cases
Several major murder cases also have trial dates or pre-trial conferences scheduled for 2026, including the high-profile cases involving the murders of rapper AKA and DJ Sumbody.
The trial for the three men charged in connection with the murder of former ANC Youth League Secretary General Sindiso Magaqa is set for 18 May to 12 June 2026, while Tebogo Mnisi, the man accused of the premeditated murders of two female cousins and the attempted murder of a third victim in October 2025, is scheduled to return to court on 19 January 2026.
There are several other court cases that will also be on the court roll for 2026. The Citizen will make every effort to provide you with all the details from the courtroom.
ALSO READ: Inquest into Griffiths Mxenge assassination matter sees new developments
