South Africa

South Africa’s ambassador to Algeria, Billy Masetlha, has passed away, the Department of International Relations and Co-operations said.

Eskom has welcomed the arrest of a former short-term contract employee stationed at Tutuka Power Station on allegations for fraud and corruption. This is in relation to colluding with employees and a supplier.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent inquiry, which will be chaired by a retired judge to look into allegations that South Africa sold weapons to Russia.

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has welcomed the decision by the Competition Commission to grant conditional approval of the transaction through which Takatso Aviation Proprietary Limited (“Takatso”) will buy a 51% shareholding in South African Airways SOC Limited (SAA).

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this week host Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of the Republic of Singapore for an Official Visit in Cape Town.

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.