South Africa

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni says as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s economy is projected to contract by 7.2% in 2020.

While the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to derail government expenditure on infrastructure projects, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has told Parliament that the State would have to resume these post-lockdown.

As the country has moved from a hard lockdown to advanced level three lockdown and most of the economy is opening up again, the COVID-19 loan guarantee scheme will be expanded to help businesses restart.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni says government will need to borrow US$7 billion from international finance institutions as one of the measures to cover the budget hole brought about by South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Treasury has set aside R21.5 billion for COVID‐19‐related healthcare spending for health and frontline services, as government continues to treat and contain the spread of the pandemic.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in Gauteng has increased the number of water tanks to water stressed communities to 2 244, as government eases the lockdown regulations under alert level 3.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has urged creditors, employees and other stakeholders of South African Airways (SAA) to vote in support of the business rescue plan of the airline to avoid liquation.

All eyes will be on Finance Minister Tito Mboweni this afternoon when he delivers the Supplementary Budget Speech to Parliament.

Public Service Commission Commissioner, Michael Seloane, says the PSC is concerned about the continued failure by some government departments to put effective systems in place to ensure suppliers are paid on time.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has once again put a spotlight on safety in schools as the other grades prepare to go back to class on 6 July.

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) mourns the loss of two seasoned government communicators, who were based in the Eastern Cape -- Mzobanzi Jikazana and Gcobani Maswana.

Community broadcasters have been reminded that applications for pre-registrations of Class Community Sound Broadcasting Service and related Radio Frequency Spectrum Licences will close at end of the month.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel says a scaled-up reconstruction plan is necessary to address the growth and jobs impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says her department has formalised over 2 000 spaza shops during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two female officers and one senior male officer from the Tshwane Metro Police Department have tested positive for COVID-19.