South Africa

Newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers were sworn-in on Friday, at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday, 5 August 2021, announced changes to his Cabinet, as part of improving the capacity of government.

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) has commended the appointment of new Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla and Deputy Minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday evening.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has welcomed a preservation order granted by the Grahamstown High Court to freeze the bank accounts of an Eastern Cape taxi cooperation, which allegedly defrauded the Fund of millions of rands.

Newly appointed Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has expressed concern at the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the Western Cape, which has become the country’s epicentre.

The results of the Sisonke programme study have revealed that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has provided effective protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19 infection.

The Joint Standing Committee on Defence has underlined the importance of regional stability in its support employment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to Mozambique to combat acts of terrorism in Cabo Delgado Province.

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that former President Jacob Zuma has been admitted to an outside hospital for medical observation.

The Department of Home Affairs has invited qualifying Angolan nationals to apply for the Angolan Exemption Permit.

Government has expressed sadness at the untimely passing of one of its communication foot soldiers, Sidwell Medupe.

Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Director-General, Yoliswa Makhasi, has urged public servants to refrain from fraudulent attempts to benefit from the R350 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced sweeping changes to his Cabinet on Thursday evening, as well as to the configuration of some government departments and Ministries - key among those, the doing away of the Ministry of State Security, with the political responsibility for the latter, now being placed firmly in the Presidency.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening announced a few major changes to his Cabinet as part of improving the capacity of government.

Cabinet has approved the Norms and Standards for the safe operations of the tourism sector in the context of COVID-19 and other related pandemics.

Cabinet has described as unjust and unilateral the decision the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) to grant Israel observer status in the African Union (AU).