Why Ramaphosa is meeting with Biden this week
President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Washington this week following an invitation by United States President Joe Biden. President Ramaphosa accepted the invitation delivered by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his recent visit to South Africa. President Ramaphosa will hold talks at the…
Court ruling won’t stop NHI plans for South Africa: minister
Minister of Health Joe Phaahla says that a recent High Court ruling declaring parts of the National Health Act unconstitutional won’t stop the government’s plans to roll out the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. In June 2022, the High Court found that sections 36 to…
Compulsory school change for South Africa
At the start of April 2022, the Department of Social Development handed over the responsibility of early childhood development to the Department of Basic Education, paving the way for earlier schooling in South Africa. Two years of early childhood development (ECD) is set to become…
Skills crisis in South Africa can no longer be ignored
The Department of Social Development says that the critical shortage of social workers in the country has hit crisis levels and can no longer be ignored. “I need to indicate that the shortage of social workers is now becoming a crisis that cannot be ignored…
Government launches investigation into South Africa’s biggest university
The Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology has launched an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct and maladministration at the University of South Africa (Unisa). Unisa is the largest university in South Africa by enrollments, with around 400,000 students from across South Africa, Africa…
Solidarity has sent a letter slamming government over a state-run health scheme that doesn’t exist yet – here’s what it says
Trade union Solidarity has sent a legal letter to the deputy director general of the National Health Insurance (NHI), Nicholas Crisp, demanding that he cease hiring activity for the state-run health scheme – because it doesn’t yet exist. The Department of Health has started advertising…
New laws to bring ‘wild meat’ to Woolworths, Checkers and other stores in South Africa
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has extended the deadline for comments on its draft Game Meat Strategy for South Africa, which aims to formalise the game meat industry in the country and expand what can be sold on store shelves. The draft…
Three arrested for R60 million licencing swindle in South Africa
A further three suspects have been arrested in relation to a R60 million fraudulent traffic licensing swindle at the Mbombela and White River Traffic Departments. The arrests were confirmed by the Hawks on Wednesday. Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, said the trio, aged between…
South Africa’s $8.5 billion move away from coal comes with a big catch
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pledge to lessen the country’s dependency on coal energy has been green-lit, but the money promised by foreign jurisdictions is coming with more terms and conditions than expected. Speaking to Bloomberg, minister of environment, forestry and fisheries, Barbara Creecy said that the…
Government ramps up lifestyle audits on public servants
The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) says nearly 400 Ethics Officers and interested parties have been trained to conduct lifestyle reviews in a bid to root out corruption in the public service. The training took place after the establishment of the Public Administration…
New ‘provisional’ driving licence and drunk driving laws for South Africa rejected
The portfolio committee on transport has rejected proposals from the government to introduce a new type of licence in South Africa, referred to as a ‘provisional licence’, and to reduce the allowable alcohol limit for drivers to zero. In deliberations on the National Road Traffic…
Big changes proposed for carbon tax in South Africa
The Energy Council of South Africa, alongside other big business figureheads, have put forward recommendations for the country’s carbon tax under the proposed Taxation Laws Amendment Bill. As a multi-representative body, including Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), the South African…