Global leaders to descend on Davos for WEF Annual Meeting.
Monday 19 January
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana leads South Africa’s delegation to the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”. Ministers in the delegation include Ronald Lamola (International Relations), Kgosientsho Ramokgopa (Electricity & Energy), Parks Tau (Trade, Industry and Competition), Patricia de Lille (Tourism), and Stella Ndabeni (Small Business).
Members of the National Assembly continue their constituency period until 26 January.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube visits Eldorado Park Secondary School in Gauteng for a back-to-school engagement focused on school safety, anti-bullying and GBV prevention.
DA leader John Steenhuisen campaigns in George ahead of by-elections this week, with community engagements in Pacaltsdorp and Rosemore.
ActionSA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Xolani Khumalo is expected to hand himself over at Katlehong police station in relation to what the party says is a false assault complaint.
Search and rescue operations continue in southern Mozambique for Ekurhuleni Member of the Mayoral Committee for Roads and Transport after his vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in Chokwé.
Kruger National Park lifts day-visitor restrictions after improved weather conditions in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. This follows floods that have left at least 19 people dead and caused destruction to homes, businesses and infrastructure.
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald announces the 2025 matric results for offenders at Goodwood Correctional Facility in the Western Cape.
Numsa marches to the US consulate in Sandton to protest what it calls the unlawful abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The International Monetary Fund publishes its latest World Economic Outlook at a press briefing in Brussels.
The UN Security Council considers the Secretary-General’s reports on Sudan and South Sudan.
Tuesday 20 January
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela briefs the media in Pretoria on the post-school education and training sector’s plans and readiness for the 2026 academic year.
The Department of Basic Education convenes the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Gauteng.
Today is the deadline for US credit card companies to comply with President Donald Trump’s demand for a 10% cap on interest rates.
It is also the deadline for the UK government’s decision on China’s proposed “mega-embassy” at Royal Mint Court in London. If approved, China will consolidate multiple diplomatic sites into a 20,000-square-metre complex.
On this day in 1981 Iran released 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days, bringing the Iran hostage crisis to an end. Forty-five years later, Iran is again in the global spotlight after the killing of thousands of protestors in a deadly government crackdown.
Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen deliver keynote addresses at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Wednesday 21 January
Ward by-elections take place in Tshwane in Gauteng and George in the Western Cape.
Stats SA releases the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025, providing an insight into inflation over the festive season.
US President Donald Trump addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos, as tensions rise with European leaders over tariffs and global consternation over his stance on Greenland, Iran and Venezuela.
The US Supreme Court hears arguments on whether President Donald Trump can remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a case seen as a test of the central bank’s independence.
Thursday 22 January
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza hands over a fully equipped computer laboratory to Umdlamfe Secondary School in Richards Bay as part of government’s back-to-school campaign.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz deliver keynote addresses at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Friday 23 Janaury
A board of inquiry established by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga is due to submit its findings into the apparent flouting of a presidential instruction that Iran withdraw from a naval drill in False Bay.
The Philosophical Society of Southern Africa holds its annual conference at the University of Cape Town.
Saturday 24 January
The UN marks the International Day of Education.
Sunday 25 January
On this day in 1971, General Idi Amin overthrew Ugandan President Milton Obote in a military coup. Fifty-five years later, President Yoweri Museveni is accused of entrenching power after being declared the winner of Uganda’s election amid fraud allegations levelled by opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Myanmar will hold the third and final round of their general election following a military coup d’état in 2021.
The final of the Betway SA20 Cricket Tournament will take place at Newlands in Cape Town.
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