insert_link South Africa South Africa’s Limpopo Shuts Down Government Offices Over Safety Hazards The Department of Employment and Labour in Limpopo in South Africa has closed several government offices in Bela-Bela, Makhado, and Thohoyandou due to safety concerns, including structural risks and unsafe electrical installations. Teboho Thejane, the department’s spokesperson, announced that Makhado labour centre services will temporarily be available at the Makhado show grounds until next Friday. todayAugust 29, 2024 19
insert_link World US Supreme Court shoots down Biden’s latest attempt at student debt relief A Biden Administration plan to tackle federal student loan debt has hit another brick wall. The US Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to revive the Biden Administration's latest plan to reduce or cancel monthly payments for millions of borrowers. Here's Toni Waterman with more. todayAugust 29, 2024 13
insert_link South Africa DA Urges Voters to Hold Underperforming Municipalities Accountable After Strong Audit Results in Western Cape The DA has urged voters to hold underperforming South African municipalities accountable in the next local government elections. This comes after the Auditor-General's report revealed that nearly 70-percent of Western Cape municipalities achieved clean audits for the 2022/2023 period. The DA’s, Dave Bryant commends the province for its strong governance, contrasting it with financial challenges in municipalities outside the province: todayAugust 28, 2024 20
insert_link World Indian officials meet to discuss immediate security measures for doctors Short term measures to boost safety of Indian medical professionals will be the main agenda at a government meeting on Wednesday. This comes after the Supreme Court ordered making fundamental changes to safety provisions at hospitals after the rape and murder of a young doctor earlier this month. Ishan Garg tells us more from New Delhi. todayAugust 28, 2024 19
insert_link Namibia UN Allocates N$53.3 Million to Support Namibians Affected by Severe Drought The United Nations has allocated N$53.3 million (roughly US$3 million) from the Central Emergency Response Fund to assist over 163,000 Namibians hit by the worst drought in a century. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that the drought has depleted 84% of Namibia’s food reserves, with nearly half of the population facing severe food insecurity from July to September. Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya emphasized that this funding will support […] todayAugust 28, 2024 22
insert_link World Typhoon Shanshan to hit west Japan Japan is bracing for powerful Typhoon Shanshan to hit the country’s west. The storm is bringing storm surges, torrential rain, and high winds. Here's Chris Gilbert reporting from Tokyo. todayAugust 28, 2024 13
insert_link Namibia GIPF Identifies 155 Members with Unclaimed Benefits, Enhances Outreach Efforts The Government Institutions Pension Fund has found 155 members with unclaimed benefits, often due to resignation or incomplete documentation. The exact value of these benefits is unclear because of the fund's pooling system. GIPF is addressing the issue through regional outreach and media campaigns, and is transferring unclaimed benefits to the Guardian’s Fund. Challenges include outdated contact details and incomplete documentation. Members are advised to contact GIPF directly, as no […] todayAugust 28, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa South African Municipal Workers Union Demands Urgent Action on Municipal Financial Mismanagement The South African Municipal Workers Union is calling for urgent and decisive action to address the financial, governance, and service delivery challenges facing the country’s municipalities. This follows the release of the 2022-2023 Municipal Finance Management Act audit outcomes. Findings by Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke indicate that 110 municipalities collectively incurred 27.3-billion-rand in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Samwu’s spokesperson, Papikie Mohale, says stronger measures must be put in place to […] todayAugust 28, 2024 18
insert_link Namibia Sharp Price Increases in Malt Liquor and Energy Sectors The Namibia Statistics Agency reports a significant 17.5 basis point rise in the producer price index for malt liquor and malt, driving inflation to 12.8% in Q2 2024, up from 2.4% last year. The energy sector also experienced a 9.2% price increase, reversing the previous year's decline. In contrast, overall manufacturing inflation fell by 2.7%, and mining and quarrying saw a deflation rate of 4.2%. Other sectors, including mineral waters […] todayAugust 28, 2024 11