insert_link Business / Economics Jobs in South Africa: the labour market is recovering from COVID – but unskilled and less educated people are still being left behind By Derek Yu, University of the Western Cape For more than three decades the South African economy has had very high rates of joblessness. The country’s economy has been unable to create enough jobs for its growing army of workers. This has partly been because of the stagnant economic growth rate of only 1.7% during the 2010s (it was even lower at 0.9% in 2015-2019). Another factor […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 7
insert_link South Africa Green Point “Tent City”: Homeless camp’s days are numbered People have been occupying this site in Green Point for more than five years. It sprung up during the Covid pandemic when many people lost their jobs. Text by Matthew Hirsch and photos by Ashraf Hendricks via GroundUp For weeks the homeless community in the tent camp near the tennis courts in Green Point have been holding their breath, awaiting eviction. At one time there were about a hundred people living […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 6
insert_link South Africa SA President Empowers Special Investigating Unit to Tackle Alleged Maladministration in Home Affairs South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has granted authorization for the Special Investigating Unit to initiate probes into suspected maladministration and unlawful conduct within the Home Affairs and the Rail Agency PRASA. The investigations have a targeted scope, aiming to recover state financial losses spanning at least ten years for Home Affairs and 14 years for PRASA. The SIU's focus will extend to scrutinizing improper conduct related to the installation of […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 3
insert_link South Africa Democratic Alliance Celebrates Milestone in Fight Against Cadre Deployment Corruption in South Africa The Democratic Alliance has officially acknowledged the receipt of cadre deployment records from the African National Congress , spanning from January 1, 2013. In a recent development, the Constitutional Court rejected the ANC's attempt to appeal a lower court's order mandating the release of records from the cadre deployment committee meetings during President Cyril Ramaphosa's tenure as chairperson. Leon Schreiber of the DA hails this as a significant milestone in […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 3
insert_link South Africa EFF in Gauteng Criticizes Premier Lesufi for Unfulfilled Promises The Economic Freedom Fighters in Gauteng has accused Premier Panyaza Lesufi of failing to deliver on promises made to the province's residents. The party claims that commitments, such as accelerating economic recovery, combating crime, improving living conditions, and reducing unemployment, remain unfulfilled. The EFF is demanding a comprehensive update on last year's promises, especially regarding the high unemployment rate and increasing crime levels. Nkululeko Dunga of the EFF invites residents […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa Disaster Relief Efforts in Nongoma After Severe Thunderstorm The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs reports that disaster teams are actively providing relief in Nongoma after a weekend thunderstorm left widespread devastation. The severe storms, accompanied by heavy rain, caused damage to homes and public infrastructure, including schools, community halls, churches, and Eskom power lines. According to the department's spokesperson, Siboniso Mngadi, 78 homes were damaged, and over 600 people have been affected. Emergency efforts are […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 25
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s Land Restitution Program Evaluation Unveiled South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, is set to present the findings of the land restitution evaluation study on financial compensation paid to beneficiaries today. This evaluation is a crucial component of the government's Land Restitution Programme. Reggie Ngcobo, the department's spokesperson, highlights that the insights derived from this evaluation will play a key role in shaping policy formulation and programmatic interventions moving forward. todayFebruary 19, 2024 9
insert_link South Africa Corruption and clean energy in South Africa: economic model shows trust in government is linked to takeup of renewables By Roula Inglesi-Lotz, University of Pretoria South Africa relies heavily on energy from coal-fired power stations, which emit large quantities of carbon. But making the transition to greater use of renewable energies, such as solar, is being hampered by a number of factors. Chief among them is corruption, which is affecting the quality of institutions. In a recent paper I set out how perceptions of corruption in […] todayFebruary 19, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa Azanian People’s Organisation Emphasizes Importance of Elections in South Africa The Azanian People’s Organisation in South Africa highlights the significance of the upcoming national general elections for the country's future. The party urges the over 14 million voting-age citizens, particularly the youth, to register to vote. AZAPO’s spokesperson, Jabu Rakwena, emphasizes that voter apathy is not a solution to remove corrupt politicians from government and stresses the importance of active participation in the electoral process. todayFebruary 19, 2024 29