The matric class of 2022 will sit for their final examinations towards the end of the month (25 October), faced with the prospect of load shedding, and following countless disruptions dating back to March 2020, when ​South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced the country’s first…

Strict new smoking laws for South Africa will soon be tabled before the National Assembly, where the Department of Health wants to tighten its control on where smokers can light up, and better regulate the emerging vaping sector. Broadly, the draft laws cast a wide…

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has committed to increasing the bulk water allocation to the Rand Water system. This is part of emergency measures to address water shortages in Gauteng metros, district and local municipalities. “We note the increase in water usage and restrictions…

The South African Post Office (SAPO) is warning the public to look out for a new ‘419 scam’, where fraudsters send emails to convince the receiver to pay customs fees for parcels posted abroad. In a statement posted on Monday (17 October), the SAPO said…

Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), wants to mobilise civil society groups to march on government ministers’ private residences if president Cyril Ramaphosa does not scrap the controversial ministerial handbook. The party has delivered an ultimatum to the president to do away with ministerial perks…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a U-turn on perks and luxuries for South Africa’s millionaire ministers, announcing that he is withdrawing the 2022 amendments to the ministerial handbook, and sending the guide for review. Through his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, the president said that the message…

The Department of Social Development says that over 1,100 people have “unduly benefited” from social grants in the country over the last decade through fraud and corruption, taking at least R540 million with them. Responding in a written parliamentary Q&A this past week, social development…

Parliament has been in the exhaustive process of passing both money and member bills that deal specifically with the taxation of South African businesses and people. Many of the critical bills put forward have undergone the public consultation processes and are entering the later stages…

Civil society organisations are calling for the R350 Covid-19 social relief distress (SRD) grant to be funded by higher taxes imposed on the ‘top 1% of South African earners.’ Funding the grant has become an issue in the country, with the National Treasury reporting that…

Over 30 civil society organisations have written to parliament calling for the immediate reconsideration of the Electoral Amendment Bill that is placed in front of Parliament this Thursday (20 October). The groups, including the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa), Build One South Africa and Solidarity,…

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) says that the long-delayed decision from the government on the future of e-tolls has remained a permanent pain point in its performance, noting that it has become dependent on government grants to fulfil its mandate. Presenting its 2021/22…