Author: Agency

The Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has assured South Africans that the country will overcome the current bout of load shedding crisis by the end of the week. The Minister along with Eskom executives were briefing the media on Sunday to provide an update on the status of South Africa’s electricity generation performance. The briefing follows an announcement by Eskom that it had implemented Stage 6 load shedding as of 1:30 am on Sunday. “I’m confident that by the end of the week, we should be out of this difficult situation. We are confident we’re going to…

The South African Police Service (SAPS) seized more than 70 000 counterfeit items valued at over R90 million in January 2025. The police also arrested 37 suspects of various nationalities during multiple takedown operations conducted in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal throughout the month of January 2025. The seized counterfeit and illicit goods included cellphones and accessories, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, toys, clothing and consumables. These operations were led by the National Counterfeit Goods Unit, with the support of the provincial Counterfeit Goods Units, the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs division and brand protectors. A Mission Action Joint…

The use of drone technology has boosted South Africa’s border security efforts, with operations at ports of entry this festive season having been improved as a result. Speaking at a briefing on Friday on the Border Management Authority (BMA) festive season operations, Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the use of drones at five ports of entry on a pilot basis made an immediate and visible impact. Schreiber said the piloting of new technology, including drones and body cameras, has demonstrated the power of digital transformation to secure and enhance border management. “It is now time for the BMA…

As the world convened in Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting recently, South Africa presented its vision for the G20 Presidency this year – outlining a path towards a more equitable and sustainable future. This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who addressed the country through his weekly Presidential newsletter on Monday. South Africa’s theme for the Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency is Solidary, Equality, Sustainable Development. “We made the point that it is in the interests of all countries, large and small, wealthy and poor, to reduce global inequality. That is why one of our priorities…

President Cyril Ramaphosa, says South Africa is undergoing a “fundamental transformation” – as it seeks to accelerate inclusive economic growth. President Ramaphosa was speaking at the South Africa Night World Economic Forum (WEF), held at the Garden Hall in Davos Klosters, Switzerland, on Tuesday evening. The event, hosted by Brand South Africa, celebrated the country’s G20 Presidency, an extraordinary opportunity to shape the global agenda for inclusive growth and sustainable development. The event was held on the sidelines of the annual WEF meeting, which is taking place from 20-24 January 2025, under the theme: “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”. The…

Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, says eyes at the power utility are now firmly fixed on reaching a year without implementing load shedding – a target that is just slightly more than two months away. This as Eskom reached 300 days without implementing the scheduled rolling black outs today. “Credit goes to all our 40 000 dedicated and skilled Eskom employees, who are committed to serving South Africa. Our sights are now firmly focused on delivering one year without load shedding at midnight on 26 March 2025. “These 300 days without load shedding have been characterised by a…

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau is still applying his mind on the granting of the fourth National Lotteries License. “Unfortunately, I am not in a position to make a final decision at this stage. Any such decision at this time would in all good conscience mean that I have not applied my mind with due consideration of all the relevant factors,” the Minister said in a statement on Saturday. In providing an update, the Minister said he had identified matters that require further evaluation adding that it would be “inappropriate to disclose these issues now and…

South Africa is currently experiencing the longest period without load shedding in the last five years. This, according to Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who briefed media on Monday. Eskom has marked more than 270 days without implementing the rolling power outages, with load shedding last implemented in March this year. “We are recording another milestone in that we are experiencing the longest stretch of uninterrupted power supply in five years. It is an important milestone. We are not celebrating the fact that we have not had load shedding for 272 days… We are simply marking the point…

Government has extended the registration deadline for spaza shops and other food handling outlets to 28 February 2025, as announced by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, on Wednesday. This follows the end of the initial 21-day registration period, which concluded on Tuesday, 17 December 2024. A total of 42 915 applications were received, and 19 385 of them have been approved. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the registration last month as one of the measures to address growing concerns regarding spaza shops and tuck shops, which are linked to an increase in foodborne illnesses and deaths. The President’s…

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau, has noted the order issued by the Competition Tribunal prohibiting the proposed merger between Vodacom (Pty) Ltd and Maziv (Business Venture Investments No. 2213 (Pty) Ltd). “This order follows the Competition Commission’s initial recommendation to prohibit the merger, citing significant concerns that it could substantially reduce competition in critical markets, particularly within the 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and fibre infrastructure sectors. “The Ministry participated in the merger proceedings on public interest grounds in line with merger provisions of the Competition Act, which led the merger parties committing substantial public interest conditions to…