Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu has published draft regulations around the special R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant, including relaxed rules around who can qualify. Zulu said the changes are necessary as fewer South Africans than expected were approved for the grant. “Under the…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated government’s assurances that it is taking steps to address all of the challenges the country is facing, including the challenges facing Eskom and rising crime. He was speaking on Monday on the river bank at the Emlotheni Township at Veeplaas…

South Africa’s airlines could face shortages of necessary jet fuel supplies after the country’s oil refinery closures, says Tseliso Maqubela, deputy director for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. Earlier this week, Sasol declared force majeure on the supply of petroleum products due to…

The government is adopting a zero-tolerance stance on the hiring of illegal foreign workers in South Africa, says Ben Makhalemele, deputy director of corporate accounts at the Department of Home Affairs. Makhalemele, who was speaking at Xpatweb’s recent global mobility conference in Johannesburg, said that…

The minister of justice and correctional services has gazetted a constitutional amendment for public comment, which will make South African Sign Language (SASL) an official language. The gazetted amendment – titled the ‘Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill 2022’ – is set to change section 6 of…

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has announced new interventions to address severe learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This will include time allocation for mathematics and reading each week in the foundation phase (grades 1 to 3), it said. “These are the grades…

The South African government is quietly setting up a new state-owned company that will focus on gas lines between South Africa and Mozambique, a new report by amaBhungane reveals. Energy minister Gwede Mantashe has been pushing for gas to be used to plug South Africa’s…

South Africans could see more game meat options on the shelves of popular retailers as new legislation aims to take full advantage of the economic potential of the industry. On 18 July, the minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment Barbara Creecy, opened the draft…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says more needs to be done to expand and support black-owned businesses in South Africa. Speaking at the inaugural Black Industrialists and Exporters Conference in Sandton on Wednesday (20 July), the president said the country’s black industrialists need greater representation across the…

The South African Post Office says it has shut down 144 branches across the country – mainly due to unprofitability, congestion and crime. Responding in a written parliamentary Q&A, the SAPO said that most of the post offices shut down in urban areas were closed…

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi says that a ministerial committee reviewing permits and visas in South Africa has uncovered deep-rooted corruption within his department when it comes to handling certain types of visas. He said that insiders in the department had aided applicants in gaming…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the government and private businesses must cooperate to take on the triple threat of unemployment, inequality and poverty in South Africa. Writing in his weekly letter to the public, the president outlined a programme for the government to work alongside…