South Africa

The tourism sector is a dynamic economic force that contributes significantly to worldwide gross domestic product (GDP)while creating jobs and fostering human development.

As township and rural entrepreneurs throughout the country are getting their papers in order to ensure they are compliant with government regulations to run a spaza shop, the great news is that once they have a valid trading permit, they can apply for funding from government institutions.

Government has introduced a new standard draft by-law for township economies, which offers a simplified permitting and registration process.

Eskom has reached a new milestone having recorded its longest stretch of not implementing load shedding in five years.

Government has reiterated its call for all citizens to play their part in saving water, as the country’s water resources are under severe pressure.

While South Africa supports the development of an internationally legally binding instrument to combat plastic pollution,  government has assured the plastic industry that the problem of plastic pollution and the measures necessary to tackle it will be taken in consultation with the industry and organised labour.

Government is preparing to present an intervention regarding Eskom’s proposed tariff hike.

Rio de Janiero - President Cyril Ramaphosa says that the two-day G20 Leaders’ Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has been a success.

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, David Mahlobo, has called for enhanced collaboration between government, private sector and civil society to employ technological innovations to help tackle sanitation-related challenges experienced in parts of the country.

Marx Maria Karien (58) and Khahliso Isabel Motseremeli (48) have appeared before the Bethlehem Serious Commercial Crime Court this week on separate charges of fraud and money laundering.

The signing of the Durban Declaration between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and stakeholders involved in the fight against “construction mafias”, has been welcomed by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson

While the process of the registration of spaza shops has steadily commenced in various parts of the country, government has called on business owners to make sure the latter is done within 21 days.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has called on the police to take stronger action to arrest those found guilty of disrupting infrastructure projects.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is placing litter bins in strategic areas in Gqeberha and Kariega to enhance the metro’s efforts to implement sustainable waste management solutions.

An interdepartmental working group has been established to develop a roadmap for South Africa’s digital public infrastructure focusing on digital payments, digital IDs and data exchange.