insert_link South Africa SA’s Health Minister to Oversee Recovery Efforts in Limpopo Bus Crash Tragedy Today, SA's Health Minister Joe Phaahla will supervise the progress made by health authorities in Limpopo as they endeavor to identify and repatriate the victims and remains of a bus crash. Last week Thursday, forty-five individuals lost their lives in the accident that transpired at the Mmamatlakala bridge on the R518 in Limpopo, as a bus carrying passengers from Botswana to Moria crashed. According to Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the […] todayApril 2, 2024 6
insert_link South Africa DA Raises Concerns Over Alleged Hiring of Individual with Sexual Harassment Allegations The DA in Gauteng has voiced its dismay over the alleged hiring of Vernon Naidoo by the provincial Department of Social Development, who reportedly has a history of facing sexual harassment allegations. Naidoo has been employed as a member of the forensic audit team. MEC for Social Development, Mbali Hlophe, has stated that hiring forensic auditors is not under her jurisdiction. Refiloe Nt'sekhe from the DA expressed serious concerns over […] todayMarch 28, 2024 46
insert_link South Africa SA’s Homeowners Await Financial Relief as Reserve Bank Keeps Rates Unchanged South Africa's BetterBond has announced that homeowners will need to wait longer for financial relief as the South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has unanimously decided to maintain the repo rate at 8.25%. Similarly, the prime lending rate will remain at 11.75%. Interim CEO of BetterBond, Bradd Bendall, expressed hope for a rate cut this month due to a drop in inflation expectations for the next two years. However, […] todayMarch 28, 2024 65
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s electricity crisis: what political parties say in their election manifestos about solving it By Hartmut Winkler, University of Johannesburg South Africa is in the middle of a deep electricity crisis. In 2023 the public, many of whom are voters, experienced the worst loadshedding to date, losing power for an average of five hours a day. The power shortages were largely due to excessive breakdowns in the country’s coal power plant fleet, which generates over 80% of South Africa’s electricity, combined […] todayMarch 28, 2024 17
insert_link South Africa General Industries Workers Union of South Africa Condemns Job Losses The General Industries Workers Union of South Africa has decried the loss of 194,000 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2023, pointing out a 1.8% decline in the labor force. Mametlwe Sebei, the union's president, has attributed this to neocolonial capitalism and the ANC's neoliberal policies. Sebei advocates for the nationalization of key sectors and prioritization of job creation, particularly in industries like construction. Urgent action, he emphasizes, is necessary […] todayMarch 28, 2024 38
insert_link South Africa Freedom Front Plus in SA Condemns Expropriation Without Compensation The Freedom Front Plus in South Africa has vehemently opposed expropriation without compensation, stating that it would further deteriorate the country after 30 years under ANC rule. The party has once again rejected the Expropriation Bill in the National Assembly, even after it was referred back with amendments by the National Council of Provinces. While the bill aims to expropriate land and property in the public interest, the FF Plus […] todayMarch 28, 2024 27
insert_link South Africa SA’s Rand Water Prevails in Court Against AfriForum’s Attempt to Halt Water Supply Reduction AfriForum's court action to prevent Rand Water from reducing water supply to seven municipalities owing over three billion rand has been unsuccessful. AfriForum had applied to the High Court in Pretoria to order Rand Water to restore full water supply to the affected municipalities, citing far-reaching implications for the communities. The municipalities, located in Gauteng, Free State, and Mpumalanga, face reduced supply due to outstanding debts. Rand Water welcomes the […] todayMarch 28, 2024 12
insert_link South Africa GOOD Party in SA Calls for Accountability on E-Toll Promises Ahead of Deadline The GOOD Party in SA is urging voters to hold Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi accountable for his promises regarding the e-toll system as the deadline approaches. Lesufi had pledged in his state of the province address that the e-toll system would be shut down by 31 March. According to the party, this isn't the first time such promises have been made, as similar commitments in 2022 fell through. Matthew Cook, […] todayMarch 28, 2024 19
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s Reserve Bank keeps repo rate unchanged The South African Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 8.25 percent. This keeps the prime lending rate in SA at 11.75 percent. SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago. todayMarch 27, 2024 38