South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the violence being perpetrated by men against women and children has become a national emergency.

Additional police members have been deployed to Pietermaritzburg following incidents of criminality.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Thembi Siweya and Free State MEC of Police, Roads and Transport, Sam Mashinini, today visited the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court to assess the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery, with a special focus on the dedicated Sexual Offences Court.

Road crash investigators from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) are investigating the cause of a horror accident that claimed seven lives on Thursday morning.

Vaal Dam levels have declined further this week, says the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Six men have been arrested for the alleged theft of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) assets, worth R5.5 million.

Basic Education Minister Angie Mothsekga has received COVID-19 supplies on behalf of specials schools. The supplies were donated by short-term insurance company, Santam.

Cabinet has approved two training programmes that will boost their commitment to building State capacity, said Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu.

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Human Settlements has launched an investigation over the illegal allocation and sale of government houses in Ekurhuleni.

The Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called on government departments to incorporate a plan aimed at tackling gender-based violence (GBV) into their annual performance plans.

Cabinet has thrown its weight behind Ministers Angie Motshekga and Dr Blade Nzimande as they work tirelessly to ensure that schools and higher learning institutions do not lose the 2020 academic year.

Cabinet has reiterated its commitment to ensure that allegations of corruption relating to COVID-19 procurement are swiftly investigated by law enforcement agencies.

While Cabinet has welcomed the country’s move to alert level 2 of the lockdown, the executive has warned that the fight against the virus could be hindered by the reckless behaviour of some in society.

While there is a delay in the procurement of devices for students, proper administrative processes were followed, says Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande.

Government’s partnership with civil society in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, and combating corruption in the public and private sectors are among the issues President Cyril Ramaphosa will brief the National Assembly on this afternoon.