insert_link Africa MTN and Yango forge transformative partnership to empower partner drivers in Côte d’Ivoire Yango partner drivers to benefit from unlimited data packages Yango has joined forces with MTN to improve the working conditions of its partner drivers. The international ride-hailing company has teamed up with MTN, a leading telecommunications company, to offer drivers free data packages for the Yango Pro app. This collaboration represents a monumental stride in the shared vision of both organizations to innovate and elevate service offerings; underscoring MTN’s belief […] todayDecember 1, 2023 23
insert_link World Blinken says Israel must protect civilians when fighting resumes US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned efforts must be made to prevent violence in Gaza from enveloping the region. The US' top diplomat met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday. This comes after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was extended for a seventh day. Sally Patterson has more. todayDecember 1, 2023 7
insert_link Namibia A total 357 lives lost in crashes from January-November 2023 Statistics from the Namibian Police Force revealed that a total 357 people lost their lives in road accidents between the period of January and November this year, recording a reduction by 14.4 per cent from the same period last year. This is according to the NamPol Inspector General, Joseph Shikongo, at the launch of the Khomas Region’s festive season road safety campaign. NamPol commenced with operations at the major road […] todayDecember 1, 2023 4
insert_link South Africa Eskom is pinning its hope on the Municipal Debt Relief programme to address arrear debt Eskom says it continues to make efforts to address the arrear debt, particularly municipal debt, however, these have not yielded the desired outcome. As of the end of March this year, arrear municipal debt was at 58.5-billion-rand, a substantial 30-percent year-on-year increase from 44.7-billion-rand in March last year. The top 20 defaulting municipalities account for about 78-percent of total arrear municipal debt. Eskom’s spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena, says they are pinning […] todayDecember 1, 2023 5
insert_link Namibia Swakopmund Municipality office-bearer elections postponed Swakopmund District Magistrate Lucia Elishi postponed the elections of the 2024 Swakopmund Municipality office-bearers on Thursday after the election process between two nominated candidates ended in a tie twice. The two candidates were current Mayor Dina Namubes of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and Matthias Henrichsen of the Swakopmund Residents’ Association. Namubes was nominated by fellow party member Petrus Shimhanda and seconded by United Democratic Front’s (UDF) David Am-!Abeb, […] todayDecember 1, 2023 4
insert_link South Africa DA in South Africa criticises the parliamentary portfolio committee on dismissal of the Children’s Amendment Bill The DA in South Africa criticises the parliamentary portfolio committee on Social Development’s dismissal of the Children’s Amendment Bill, despite acknowledgment of existing law gaps. ANC members cited a lack of public comment review, with the DA proposing a deferred vote to the new term. The party’s Bridget Masango says the ANC’s refusal perpetuates risks in unregulated micro-partial care homes. She says the DA cares for child protection and vows […] todayDecember 1, 2023 4
insert_link South Africa South Africans are living longer, mostly thanks to HIV treatment By Daniel Steyn and Nathan Geffen via GroundUp President Nelson Mandela in 2002 wore the Treatment Action Campaign’s iconic HIV-positive T-shirt to try to convince President Thabo Mbeki’s administration to provide antiretroviral treatment in the public sector. Photo: Brenton Geach (copyright reserved) South Africa has some state-run systems that are working well. One of these is the HIV treatment programme. We quite possibly have the largest public sector chronic medicine programme for a […] todayDecember 1, 2023 12
insert_link South Africa DA in South Africa criticises the parliamentary portfolio committee on dismissal of the Children’s Amendment Bill The DA in South Africa criticises the parliamentary portfolio committee on Social Development’s dismissal of the Children’s Amendment Bill, despite acknowledgment of existing law gaps. ANC members cited a lack of public comment review, with the DA proposing a deferred vote to the new term. The party’s Bridget Masango says the ANC’s refusal perpetuates risks in unregulated micro-partial care homes. She says the DA cares for child protection and vows […] todayDecember 1, 2023 7
insert_link World Blinken holds meetings with officials in Middle East US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with top officials in Israel and the West Bank, in his third visit to the region since October 7. This comes after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was extended for a seventh day on Thursday. The United States says it supports Israel's right to defend itself, while also stressing civilians in Gaza should be protected. Sally Patterson has more. todayDecember 1, 2023 20