SANDF medical team touches town in Eastern Cape to help in hospitals

A South African National Defence Force medical team has landed in the Eastern Cape in response to a plea from the province’s premier Oscar Mabuyane for assistance in grappling with the Covid-19... 

Mchunu to launch 'rapid response' GBV programme in Eastern Cape

South Africa's national minister of public service and administration, Senzo Mchunu, will on Friday establish a rapid response programme to gender based violence and femicide in the Eastern Cape... 

Police Committee approves Cele's nomination for IPID head

The Portfolio Committee on Police approved the appointment of Dikaledi Jennifer Ntlaseng as the new executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on Wednesday on the basis... 

Suggestion that SA can spend its way out of low growth is misguided – Mboweni

The suggestion that increased government spending is a solution to South Africa's persistently low economic growth is inconsistent with existing empirical evidence, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni... 

Eastern Cape Covid-19 cases surpass 50 000 mark

The Eastern Cape has recorded more than 50 000 Covid-19 cases, making it the South African province with the third highest number of infections after Gauteng and the Western Cape.  South Africa has... 

Sadtu to hold 'special meeting' on surge in Covid-19 cases

The national executive committee of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union will on Tuesday hold a virtual meeting to devise a response to the surge in Covid-19 cases across the country, it... 

ANC salutes 'revered and outspoken activist' Zindzi Mandela

The African National Congress said on Monday that deceased South African ambassador and daughter of struggle icons Nelson and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Zindziswa 'Zindzi' Mandela, was an icon in... 

Ramaphosa announces ban on sale of alcohol, nationwide curfew returns

As South Africa heads towards a peak in coronavirus (Covid-19) infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the sale of alcohol across the country will be suspended and a nationwide... 

Talks over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam remain deadlocked

Negotiations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the filling and operation of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have produced no results after seven straight days of... 

SA mid-year population increases to estimated 59.62m

South Africa's mid-year population is estimated to have increased to 59.62-million in 2020, according to a report released on Thursday by Statistics South Africa. "Gauteng continues to record the... 

Western Cape premier Winde tests positive for Covid-19

Western Cape premier Alan Winde on Wednesday confirmed that he had contracted Covid-19 and entered into self-isolation. "I received a positive test result for Covid-19 this morning, and I am in... 

Eskom issues power alert due to 'constrained system'

South African power utility, Eskom on Wednesday issued an alert level one urging users to reduce electricity supply due to a constrained system. "Eskom requests the public to reduce electricity... 

Ramaphosa a spectator as Dlamini-Zuma faction claims more power – Steenhuisen

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reduced to the role of seemingly helpless spectator as a faction in his government moves to consolidate power in an unconstitutional manner, opposition leader... 

South Africa's consumer confidence crashes to lowest level since 1985

Consumer confidence in South Africa plunged to its lowest in about 35 years during the second quarter of 2020, dragged down by the outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent severe restrictions to almost... 

South African banks approve more than R30.6bn in Covid-19 relief

Local banks have so far approved more than R30.6-billion in relief to individuals and businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown imposed in response, the Banking... 

Former VBS chief financial officer plans to plead guilty – NPA

Phillip Truter, the former chief financial officer of the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank, has indicated that he is pleading guilty on all charges against him relating to the defrauding of the bank,... 

Numsa, Sacca to take legal action to prevent SAA liquidation; call for Mboweni to be fired

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) intend to take legal action to prevent the liquidation of South African Airways... 

Nxesi welcomes arrest of five people who allegedly defrauded UIF of R5.7m in Covid-19 relief funds

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has welcomed the arrest this weekend of five suspects accused of being part of "the enterprise that scammed R5.7 million" from the Unemployment Insurance... 

National Treasury warns of debt spiral, refutes criticism of reneging on spending commitments

National Treasury on Friday warned in a briefing to MPs that failure to arrest South Africa's debt trajectory would see borrowing costs consume almost a third of the national budget by 2024 and... 

SA extends employment of soldiers to help enforce Covid-19 rules to September

President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Parliament of his decision to extend the employment of 20 000 members of the South African National Defence Force for service to enforce regulations aimed at... 

SA petrol price to rise by up to 172 cents from July 1, government says

The retail price of petrol in South Africa will increase by up to R1.72 (10 US cents) a litre from Wednesday while the wholesale price of diesel will rise by as much as R1.73, the department of... 

Transnet boosts capacity at Port of Cape Town to ease Covid-19 backlogs

South Africa's state-owned rail, port and pipeline company Transnet said on Tuesday it had introduced a number of solutions for the operational backlogs at the Port of Cape Town due to Covid-19,... 

Unions slam public enterprises department over exit from SAA consultative forum

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the South African Cabin Crew Association have slammed the decision by the department of public enterprises to abandon the leadership... 

Taxi associations' decision to operate at 100% capacity despite coronavirus restrictions is 'attempted mass murder' – EFF

South African political party the Economic Freedom Fighters has issued a statement on Monday condemning taxi associations' plans to overlook the Covid-19 regulation of physical distancing and... 

Eskom has plan to avoid unexpected power supply disruptions – Mabuza

South Africa's state power utility Eskom has put a clear maintenance plan in place to avoid unexpected electricity supply disruptions, the country's Deputy President has said. In a written response... 

Treasury warns public finances dangerously overstretched

South Africa's finances are overstretched and unable to weather another severe shock, a senior National Treasury official warned on Thursday. "We are now in a position where we are dangerously... 

Dam levels continue to drop in South Africa

The Department of Water and Sanitation has revealed that South Africa's dam levels continue to decline as the country’s dry winter takes its toll on scarce water resources.  In a statement released... 

Don't panic over Covid-19 cases at schools – Motshekga

South Africa's basic education minister, Angie Motshekga, on Thursday appealed to communities across the country to remain calm when coronavirus cases were confirmed at schools.   “We appeal to all... 

Hawks arrest municipal manager in VBS case

A treasury manager at the Merafong municipality appeared in a Pretoria court on Thursday on charges relating to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, the Hawks said. Mattheys Gerhardus Wienekus, 64, was... 

Public enterprises dept offers final severance packages to SAA workers

South Africa's public enterprises department said on Thursday it had offered final and fair voluntary severance packages to employees at struggling national carrier South African Airways which... 

Land Bank to get additional R3bn in extra budget, nothing for other SOEs

South Africa's National Treasury on Wednesday said it would allocate an additional R3-billion to the recapitalise the Land Bank, but said no other in-year spending adjustments were proposed for... 

Gordhan says private sector showing interest in restructured SAA

The South African government has received proposals from funders and potential airline partners in the private sector eager to play a role in South African Airways if it is restructured into a new... 

KZN MEC for Economic Development divulges plans to redevelop economy

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube divulged on Tuesday the department's plans to redevelop the province's economy.  Prior to her... 

R19m in funding approved through Operation Vula for small businesses

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, said in a statement on Friday that she will be presenting a report to the Parliament portfolio... 

SA banks approve about R7bn in Covid-19 loans for small businesses

Local banks have approved just over R7-billion in loans for 4 800 qualifying small businesses since the launch of a Covid-19 loan guarantee scheme in mid-May to mitigate the economic impact of the... 

SA unions threaten legal action against business rescue plan for SAA

The National Union of Metalworkers of South African and the South African Cabin Crew Association said they had lost faith in the department of public enterprises, accusing it of sanctioning a... 

Public service minister acts against officials doing business with State

The department of public service and administration (DPSA) said in a statement on Thursday that it has written to relevant departments, instructing them to take action against officials who have... 

R350 Sassa grant 'not necessarily for everyone', says CEO

The chief executive of the South African Social Security Agency, said on Thursday that the country's R350 Covid-19 grant was not necessarily for all citizens, which applicants needed to understand.... 

'Sit-down' meals at restaurants and personal care services permitted in South Africa as lockdown eased

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday announced a further easing of coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown regulations in the country, allowing the opening of restaurants for sit-down... 

SAA business rescue plan might not be adequate, govt says

South Africa's government said it was concerned that a business rescue plan for troubled national carrier South African Airways published late on Tuesday might not be adequate. The government...