Author: Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of section 91(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, has removed Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, from her position.  Section 91(2) of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint and dismiss members of the Cabinet at his/ her discretion. In a brief statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency confirmed the immediate dismissal and announced an interim appointment to ensure continuity in the department’s operations. President Ramaphosa appointed Sindisiwe Chikunga to serve as acting Minister of Social Development with immediate effect, while a permanent appointment is expected to be made…

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is expected to receive almost R31 billion this year to maintain, rehabilitate, upgrade and expand the road network. “These funds will be used for capital expenditure on the non-toll network, the Gauteng Freeway Improvement project operations; the N2 Wild Coast route for ongoing construction on major bridges, and new road sections on our national highways as well as the development of the Moloto Road corridor,” Minister of Transport  Barbara Creecy said on Tuesday in Parliament. The Minister was tabling the Department of Transport’s R102 billion Budget Vote, aimed at building a transformed, inclusive and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will not resign following last week’s Constitutional Court judgment on the Section 89 impeachment process linked to the 2020 theft at his Phala Phala farm. Addressing the nation at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Monday evening, the President said nothing in the Constitutional Court ruling compels him to step down from office, adding that resigning would undermine constitutional processes and efforts to renew the country’s institutions. “I, therefore, respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign. To do so would be to preempt a process defined by the Constitution. To do…

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is inviting interested parties to submit bids in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the appointment of a terminal operator to finance, operate, maintain, refurbish and/or construct a Liquid Bulk Terminal at the Port of Cape Town for a 25-year concession period. The project site is an existing brownfield development comprising a tank farm with eight storage tanks offering a combined storage capacity of approximately 44,430 m³, including an adjacent storage warehouse and admin building. The site allows for the interface with common-user berths at Tanker Basin 1 and Tanker Basin 2, supporting…

Cabinet has condemned the viral circulation of fake videos and images claiming to be of attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. “The fake videos and images… are intended to undermine the good reputation of South Africa internationally and undermine South Africa’s pursuit of a better Africa agenda. “South Africans are within their right to protest against the spiralling illegal immigration challenge, but violence linked to those protests in the past is not acceptable and law enforcement must deal with the instigators of such violence,” said Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday at a post Cabinet briefing in…

Cabinet says South Africa continues to demonstrate world-class medical and scientific expertise in its handling of the recent cases of Hantavirus. This comes after South African officials worked with speed to detect, contain and respond to the cases of Hantavirus in the country. Briefing media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 6 May, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet commended the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for diagnosing two Hantavirus cases within 24 hours of the patients’ admission at a Gauteng hospital. Members were also briefed on the circumstances surrounding the transfer of…

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says there has been a significant decline in fraudulent learner licence passes, following the introduction of computerised testing systems at licensing centres across South Africa. The computerised learner licence testing system, introduced in 2021, was implemented to combat widespread fraud and corruption in the issuing of learner driver licences, improve efficiency and enhance road safety. Before the rollout of the technology, officials at testing centres were reportedly able to identify question papers in advance and illegally provide learners with answers before the test, allowing unqualified applicants to pass. According to the RTMC, the new…

The Department of Health (DoH) has called for public calm following confirmation of a rare Hantavirus case in a critically ill British national in South Africa. The patient was a passenger aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The ship was carrying some 150 passengers and went past several islands, including mainland Antarctica, Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St Helena and Ascension. “Despite medical treatment provided to him at Ascension, his condition did not improve and necessitated his medical evacuation to a South African private health facility in…

The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (DMPR) has announced that petrol and diesel prices will increase by between R3.27 and R6.19 from Wednesday. The increase comes alongside government efforts to cushion the blow for consumers through the extension of the R3 decrease in the general fuel levy for petrol with a R3.93 reduction for diesel. The adjusted prices for this month are as follows: Petrol 93 and 95 (ULP & LRP): R3.27 per litre (p/l) increase. Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R6.19 p/l increase. Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R6.19 p/l increase. Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R4.22 p/l increase Single Maximum National Retail Price…

South Africa will need nearly R2 trillion in public and private investment over the next 30 years to implement a plan positioning rail as the backbone of the country’s logistics and transport system.  This investment is expected to benefit the economy due to big infrastructure spending, with economic studies showing that for every R1 million invested, the economy could grow by about R4.3 million.  “This kind of investment would also support key industries like steel, cement, logistics, and engineering. It would create jobs and help increase people’s incomes,” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said on Thursday in Kempton Park, Gauteng. …