No need to change the Reserve Bank’s mandate: finance minister
South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the central bank’s constitutional mandate to maintain price stability is sufficient to foster job creation, suggesting there’s no need for that directive to be expanded. The head of the governing African National Congress’s economic transformation committee last week…
Expect more roadblocks as SAPS tackles crime wave hitting South Africa
The South African Police Service is ramping up its crime prevention strategies amid a crime wave in the country. In a media briefing held on Monday (1 August), police commissioner General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola said that the police is tightening its enforcement of legislation that…
South Africa’s army is a complete mess: report
South Africa’s army is not only underfunded and lacking critical skills and infrastructure, but a leaked audit report has found that its administration is also a complete mess – outlining wasteful spending and illegal activity that is not being dealt with or properly investigated. The…
Government uncovers 3,000 ‘ghost workers’ drawing salaries at Prasa
Minister of transport Fikile Mbalula is investigating how 3,000 unverified employees got onto the state-owned Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa) payroll. The minister said that Prasa has started the process of physically verifying all its employees under Project Ziveze, adding that since the…
Cape Town gazettes new traffic laws to crack down on reckless taxis and Uber drivers
The City of Cape Town has gazetted its amended traffic by-law, which it says will help to regulate public transport vehicles and traffic within the city. The amended Traffic By-law was circulated for public participation in October 2019 and solicited more than 1,800 comments, it…
The ANC wants to scrap TV licences – but there’s a catch
The ANC has proposed that the government move to scrap TV licences in the country – and replace it with a tax. Speaking at a post-conference briefing this week, communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that the party has decided to push forward with the proposal,…
These jobs have been added to South Africa’s critical skills list
The Department of Home Affairs has published an updated critical skills list for South Africa, showing what skills are in short supply across the country. The new list has added 39 new skills, building on top of the previous publication in February of this year….
Home Affairs expands new online booking system in South Africa – and the bank branches where you can get your Smart ID and passport
The Department of Home Affairs has extended its online Branch Appointment Booking System (BABS) to 56 offices, following its launch in June to process Smart ID cards and passport applications. Home Affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi said that since its commencement in June 2022, 115,329 South…
Massive skills shortage in South Africa affecting hospitals
Nursing has finally been added to South Africa’s critical skills list, which should go some way in addressing the massive shortage of nurses in public and private hospitals across the country. However, private hospital groups and other healthcare provider bodies say that the country has…
ANC pushing ahead with new state bank in South Africa
The ANC is continuing its push to create a state bank in South Africa. Speaking at the latest ANC national policy conference, party president Cyril Ramaphosa said that delegates agreed to the formation of a state bank and urged that the process to establish it…
Big changes proposed for public service in South Africa – what you need to know
Cabinet is considering the implementation of a framework geared toward the professionalisation of the entire public service, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The minister made the comment while responding to a question about the professionalisation of local government when…
Big changes on the cards for e-tolls in South Africa
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has issued a tender for the failed e-toll system and is set to meet on Thursday (4 August) to discuss it further. The new tender is aimed at acquiring procurement proposals for the operations and maintenance of…