New bank branches for smart ID and passports in South Africa hit a roadblock
In 2021, the Department of Home Affairs said it wanted to expand its satellite branch strategy to at least 70 bank branches across the country, with the rollout expected to start on 1 July 2022. However, over a month after the planned start date, there…
Stop trying to make the NHI happen – fix what we’ve got: expert
South African think tank, the Centre for Risk Analysis (CRA) hosted a discussion this week about the viability of the government’s National Health Insurance scheme, which it says is moving full steam ahead, despite concerns raised by stakeholders in the private and public healthcare space….
Good news for SARS branches in South Africa
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the suspension of the industrial action that forced the closure of multiple branches across the country. The Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) have been engaged in wage negotiations…
SARS wants new laws to help it go after these taxpayers
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Edward Kieswetter says that the government should consider introducing new laws to help the tax collector go after people with ‘unexplained wealth’ in the country. Speaking to BusinessLive, Kieswetter said that while SARS has some tools at its…
South Africa’s army can’t afford parts or petrol for vehicles: report
Leaked service availability figures for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) show that the country’s army is in no position to deploy troops to tackle civil unrest. Data and information uncovered by Rapport point to several SANDF bases being in dire straits, unable to…
New laws to deal with trespassers on private property in South Africa
The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has published the draft Unlawful Entering on Premises Bill for public comment. The bill, if enacted, will fully repeal the Trespass Act, No. 6 of 1959 and establish new laws prohibiting unlawful entry on premises in South Africa….
South Africa getting thousands of new police officers this year: Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says that South Africa needs a more capable police force to curb rising crime rates in the country – adding that thousands of officers are currently being trained. Writing in his weekly letter to the public, Ramaphosa said that the government had…
Massive 87-hour water outage hitting Joburg, Ekurhuleni and Pretoria this week – here’s who is affected
Rand Water and the City of Tshwane have warned residents in Johannesburg and Pretoria to expect an 87-hour water outage this week as maintenance work continues on key pipelines in Gauteng. The maintenance has been planned over five days, commencing at 09h30 on Friday, 19…
New border laws for South Africa take effect this week
The Department of Home Affairs has announced the commencement of South Africa’s new border management laws, which take effect this week. The Border Management Authority (BMA) Act has taken effect from Monday, 15 August, with most sections commencing, according to Home Affairs minister, Aaron Motsoaledi….
Worries over fuel levy hike in South Africa
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) says it is worried that the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana may use the sizeable petrol price cuts expected in September as an excuse to raise the fuel levy to pay for e-tolls. Outa chief executive Wayne Duvenage said…
Plans to build 2 new universities and more colleges in South Africa
A feasibility study is underway to make way for the new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni as well as a new crime Detection University in Hammanskraal. The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande said his department’s plans to build the…
Big change for R350 relief grant in South Africa means more people will qualify
The Department of Social Development has gazetted changes to the regulations governing the payout of the R350 social relief distress (SRD) grant in South Africa, allowing more people to qualify. The change increases the income threshold for the means test from R350 to the food…