For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Human rights commission calls for water crisis to be declared a national disaster; IMF finds South African economy resilient, but warns of downside risks; And, South African farmers count mounting losses as foot-and-mouth disease rages

Human rights commission calls for water crisis to be declared a national disaster

The South African Human Rights Commission is calling for the water outages currently crippling South Africa to be declared a national disaster, as it believes that the water challenges have reached crisis proportions.

The commission said properly and effectively implemented, the national state of disaster will ensure that emergency funds are mobilised and government collaboration is better coordinated.

The commission will be issuing a letter to the head of the National Disaster Management Centre containing the recommendation of a national disaster on the water crisis.

The commission said it was concerned by the ongoing downward spiral regarding water management and distribution as communities and households in various parts of the country continued to battle with lack of access to water.

The water challenges are widespread and significantly disrupt the lives of communities. It is also significantly compromising the delivery and functioning of other essential services, such as schooling and healthcare.

The commission highlights how data from the South African Water Justice Tracker corroborates the fact that the water crisis is not a localised phenomenon but is widespread, affecting various parts of the country.

IMF finds South African economy resilient, but warns of downside risks

International financial institution the International Monetary Fund, as part of its yearly consultation with South Africa, has found that its economy has proven resilient thus far, owing to natural endowments, independent institutions and a strong monetary policy framework.

It warns, however, that the country also faces downside risks and entrenched structural impediments that constrain potential growth and employment.

The IMF's executive board completed its 2025 Article IV Consultation, which found that South Africa's economic activity is expected to improve gradually over the medium term, although risks remain tilted to the downside, related to continued trade and global policy uncertainty and domestic reform fatigue.

Economic activity picked up in 2025, with growth estimated at 1.3%, supported by robust private consumption. Inflation moderated to an average of 3.2%, which enabled a shift to a lower 3% inflation target.

The current account remained stable despite higher US tariffs and global policy uncertainty, and the banking sector remains sound.

And, South African farmers count mounting losses as foot-and-mouth disease rages

South Africa's beef exports fell 26% in 2025, despite growing global demand, partly due to China's ban on the African country's red meat products as it battles its worst foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in recent memory.

The country has faced resurgent foot-and-mouth infections since early 2025 when the disease spread to seven of its nine provinces.

Beef shipments to China fell 69% to 1,687 metric tons last year following the ban imposed in May, according to statistics from industry body Red Meat Industry Services.

China was South Africa's third biggest external market in 2024 after the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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