insert_link Environment Meticulous Eastern Cape effort to keep vultures from extinction A committee of Cape vultures explore their new surroundings soon after their arrival at Shamwari game reserve in the Eastern Cape. Photo: John Yeld By John Yeld via GroundUp It is hoped a new captive breeding facility at Shamwari game reserve in the Eastern Cape will help stem plummeting vulture numbers across southern Africa and prevent their imminent extinction. Earlier this week, 163 majestic white-backed vultures and Cape vultures took an […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 26
insert_link South Africa South African Federation of Trade Unions is not surprised by the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged The South African Federation of Trade Unions is not surprised by the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 8.25-percent. This is the fourth hold since May last year. Saftu’s spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, says it was clear that the committee was going to leave the repo rate unchanged, precisely because they operate by incentivising those who trade in money to hold onto Rands, to […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa SA’s Youth Capital advocates for public employment programmes and internships SA's Youth Capital advocates for public employment programmes and internships as solutions to bridge the gap between inexperienced job seekers and employers. This aligns with president Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for employers to consider hiring individuals lacking work experience. Youth Capital project lead, Kristal Duncan, emphasised to Newzroom Afrika that internship programmes offering pathways to employment could effectively address unemployment issues. todayJanuary 26, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa Over 18-thousand South Africans living abroad have registered to vote so far The SA Independent Electoral Commission says 18-thousand-469 South African citizens living in 101 countries have started registering to vote using the online registration portal system launched last month. The commission briefed the media on the readiness for the registration process this weekend. In 2019, about 21-thousand South Africans voted abroad. Chief Electoral Official Sy Mamabolo encourages eligible voters to check their registration status at the nearest diplomatic mission with their […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 5
insert_link Africa 26 January 2024 Business Highlights – The World’s Latest Economic Developments By Leonard Witbeen Namibia Airports Company Engages Local Leaders for Airport ExpansionThe Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is in talks with traditional authorities and local leadership in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions to secure additional land for the development of modern airports. Bisey Uirab, NAC's CEO, highlighted that the current airports in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions are situated on land owned by the Ministry of Defence and Veterans […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa SA’s National Police commissioner presided over the destruction of drugs worth 90-million-rand in Cape Town SA's National Police commissioner Fannie Masemola presided over the destruction of drugs worth 90-million-rand in Cape Town today. The drugs, including tik, cocaine and mandrax, were seized during operations in the Western and Eastern Cape. This marks the fourth drug destruction this financial year, totalling close to a billion-rand. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says notable cases include the seizure of ten-million-rand’s worth of mandrax in Vredenburg, resulting in four arrests, […] todayJanuary 26, 2024 43
insert_link South Africa SA’s Private healthcare faces uncertainty as president Cyril Ramaphosa signals the imminent enactment of the National Health Insurance Bill SA's Private healthcare faces uncertainty as president Cyril Ramaphosa signals the imminent enactment of the National Health Insurance Bill without changes. The Health Funders Association has warned the current version of the bill would significantly alter healthcare dynamics, limiting choices and tying citizens to a state-monitored system. Chairperson Craig Comrie believes under the NHI, individuals lose the right to privately pay for covered services, leading to lengthy waiting lists and […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 4
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s African Transformation Movement is calling on universities to scrap application fees South Africa's African Transformation Movement is calling on universities to scrap application fees, saying access to education is an ideal that must be realised in this lifetime. The party has commended the University of the Free State for scrapping application fees entirely but has criticised the University of the Witwatersrand for its high application fees. ATM’s spokesperson, Zama Ntshona, says while they acknowledge the administrative costs associated with processing applications, […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 24
insert_link South Africa The DA says it has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to PetroSA South Africa's DA has submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to PetroSA. This is for records of the decision that informed the awarding of a tender for the exploration of its offshore gas reserves and the rebuilding of critical gas infrastructure to Equator Holdings. The company is run by notorious political operator Lawrence Mulaudzi, who was implicated in the Mpati Commission’s report into corruption and misconduct at […] todayJanuary 25, 2024 5
