South Africa

The Presidency has provided an update on some positions of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s advisers following reports and enquiries from media.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, has invited comments on proposed amendments to the regulations that outline the procedure to be followed for the adoption of environmental management instruments.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says Stage 6 load shedding will continue indefinitely as the system continues to be under significant strain.

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Friday hosted the Bulgarian News Agency Director-General, Kiril Valchev, at its headquarters in Tshwane.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has promised his Colombian counterpart, Francia Elena Márquez, that South Africa will participate in that country’s peace process to end the ongoing armed conflict.

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has called on community members in KwaHlabisa, in Umkhanyakude District Municipality, to work together with local government and water entities when water infrastructure projects are rolled out.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) is today hosting the South Africa - Bulgaria Business Forum as part of activities during the official Bulgarian working visit to SA.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has suspended two officials at the head office in Pretoria following a leaked audio recording of Minister Blade Nzimande addressing his communication staff in a meeting.

Spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa, Vincent Magwenya, says there is no evidence to suggest that a Russian vessel, which docked in the Western Cape last year, took weapons back to that country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says all hands are on deck to ensure that the severity and frequency of load shedding is reduced in the immediate term and brought to an eventual end.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government’s appeal of the High Court judgment on load shedding is a means of saving the grid from collapsing.

Cabinet says it welcomes the adoption of measures needed to “recalibrate” the health system and accelerate National Health Insurance (NHI) reforms.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of David Niddrie, who was a ministerial envoy responsible for advising the Minister on the National Skills Development policies and strategy.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (NPA AFU) has been granted an order of restraint on some R102 million worth of assets to be frozen from 45 accused persons.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it has recorded an unexpected, sudden increase in mumps, which constitutes an outbreak.