The African National Congress in Limpopo has officially announced the top five executive committee on Sunday. This follows the electoral conference that is underway in the province. Premier Stan Mathabatha, who still remains in his position, was unopposed as provincial chairperson. Florence Radzilani has been elected as his deputy, while Soviet Lekganyane is the provincial […]

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa escaped unhurt after an explosion rocked a stadium where he was addressing a political rally on Saturday, a month before the country is due to hold its presidential elections. Watch below. However, vice presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi and a minister sustained minor injuries following the blast […]

The South African government says it regrets the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. “This development is indeed worrisome and goes against the letter and spirit of multilateralism and the Charter of the United Nations, of which the US was one of the founding countries,” the Department of International […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa‘s government is considering layoffs and early retirement packages for staff in the public sector to avoid breaking its pledge to cut spending after unions clinched above-inflation wage increases, the Treasury said on Friday. Under a deal reached in May, the government will raise salaries of public sector employees, including teachers, police, and […]

Why does South Africa not fall off the precipice? Economists are clear that if this economy does not grow soon, the prospects of new jobs are dismal and rising unemployment will be our fate… writes Prof Jonathan Jansen. Educationists are clear that if the decline in education quality and the high drop-out rates continue, schools […]

The South African National Congress secretary-general Ace Magashule officially announced on Thursday the new appointment of North West Premiere, Job Makgoro. Magashule said Makgoro will be sworn in on Friday. This follows the early retirement of former premiere Supra Mahumapelo last month. Mahumapelo resigned last month, following protests over his managing of the province and […]

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi claimed today that the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Amendment Bill will introduce measures that will lift a financial burden from beneficiaries who are subjected to high healthcare costs. However the DA says no amount of spin will make NHI a success. After Dr Motsoaledi […]

When Free Speech is counter-attacked by intense scrutiny, intimidations and death threats because of unpopular views, we should all be concerned as that’s not how Constitutional democracy operates, write Neo Nino Mofokeng. Shashi Naidoo is yet another high profile South African who has been scrutinised, viciously attacked by the popular left and in the extreme, […]

Government will consider introducing computer coding in South Africa’s education system, Communications Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana said on Wednesday. “The time has come for us to introduce basic coding in our education system,” said the Deputy Minister. Addressing the IBM South Africa annual Think Johannesburg conference at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Kekana said government acknowledges […]

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Commissioner Khehla Sitole recently announced a new “high density stabilisation intervention” to tackle crime. The strategy focuses on cash-in-transit heists, car hijackings, murder, house robberies, and gang and taxi violence. It includes the deployment of desk-based police officials to the streets, particularly in “identified hotspots”, while dedicated […]

PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa‘s current account deficit widened more than expected in the first quarter to register its largest shortfall in two years as the trade balance swung to a deficit after a steep decline in exports, the central bank said on Thursday. Investor sentiment in South Africa picked up after President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to clean up poor […]

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced the sad passing of Happy Joyce Mashamba, who was deployed as Limpopo’s MEC for Agriculture. Mashamba previously served as a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC. On Wednesday night the ANC said it “extends its deepest condolences to her husband, ANC stalwart, Cde George and […]

South African Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi says he is expecting a “hurricane of protest” when he unveils the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill and the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill on Thursday. Motsoaledi said that he is not expecting a storm on Thursday, but a “hurricane”. “On Thursday this week I’ll be releasing two bills to […]

The Ahmed Kathrada foundation in South Africa has replied to comments made by Economic Freedom Fighter leader, Julius Malema about Indians. Addressing EFF youth at an event in Klerksdorp over the weekend, Malema said: “The majority of Indians hate Africans, majority of Indians are racist, and we must never be scared to say that. “They are […]

Now that Cyril Ramaphosa has served as South Africa’s president for more than three months, many pundits and ordinary citizens are assessing his performance. Some have argued that he’s doing a great job others are less impressed. Whatever one’s view, perhaps the most important element to take into consideration when assessing Ramaphosa’s work so far […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday that the South African government should clearly articulate its land reform plans in order to lift uncertainty weighing on investor sentiment. South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has said it plans to redistribute land without compensation to address racial inequalities that persist more than two […]

The South African Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane says Western Cape minister, Helen Zille was insensitive in her colonialism tweet last year. Zille had tweeted, whilst waiting to board a plane in Singapore back home to Cape Town: “For those claiming that the legacy of colonialism was only negative, they should look at various aspects of […]

According to South African civil rights organisation AfriForum, a petition against the proposed process of expropriation without compensation has been signed by nearly 250,000 members of the public. The organisation says it will be submitting the petition, as well as a memorandum, to Parliament in Cape Town tomorrow morning. “The memorandum contains a summary of […]

South African Airways’ (SAA) catering arm plans to lay off 118 workers, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said, as the struggling airline implements a turnaround strategy to restore profitability. NUMSA said it had received notice of the layoffs from the catering arm, called Air Chefs, and said it would oppose the […]

South Africa’s rand firmed in early trade on Monday, recovering some of the losses from last week, as the dollar softened ahead of central bank policy meetings and the U.S.-North Korea summit this week. * At 0637 GMT, the rand traded at 13.0125 per dollar, 0.5percent firmer than its close on Friday. * The rand […]

South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), have their eyes set on the Northern Cape and Gauteng province as one of their strategies prior to next year’s general elections. DA leader Mmusi Maimane said on Saturday, after the meeting of the party’s federal executive in Johannesburg, that the DA aims to gain support in […]

In a series of tweets Sunday morning, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has “categorically” denied newspaper reports today that he demanded a R4.5-million “kickback” for a deal made by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). Mkhize described the allegations – which were published by the Sunday Times – as “a ridiculous and malicious […]

Attracting investment to grow the economy, creating jobs and addressing poverty and inequality in South Africa is top of mind as President Cyril Ramaphosa participates in the G7 Leaders’ Summit Outreach in Toronto, Canada. The President arrived in the country on Friday ahead of the two-day session hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “The […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Elite South African police unit, the Hawks, raided offices of India’s Bank of Baroda on Friday and seized documents as part of an investigation into state corruption under former president Jacob Zuma, a police spokesman said. Bank of Baroda, which is winding down its operations in South Africa, was thrust into the […]

Former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was ousted by his own party in February, appeared at the Durban High Court on Friday for the second time on corruption charges relating to a $2.5 billion arms deal in the late 1990s. Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the deal […]