South Africa

Government has welcomed the decline in consumer price inflation (CPI) from some 3.8% in September to 2.8% in October.

The Department of Basic Education is working to prevent the infiltration of industrial and agricultural pesticides into schools as part of a broader multidisciplinary effort to address the recent deaths of school-going children due to foodborne illnesses.

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has warned that the police will, through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), monitor adherence to the law.

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has acknowledged the challenges in addressing ongoing deaths and infections linked to foodborne illnesses.

The Department of Agriculture will, in the next few days, conduct inspections at all five registered manufacturers of Terbufos to ascertain controls, and to determine if markers are put into locally produced products to distinguish between illegally imported and locally produced chemicals.

Government has appealed to South Africans not to block those people who want to register their spaza shops.

Government will draw on lessons learnt during the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent vaccination programme - in its rollout of a public education and awareness campaign on foodborne illnesses.

Work to establish a R500 million joint fund to support township and rural businesses - including local convenience shops - is underway.

The importance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives’ development in advancing South Africa’s broader economic goals will come in to focus at the National Presidential MSME and Cooperatives Awards on Friday.

South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre has, in terms Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, classified the recent uptick in foodborne illnesses across the country as a national disaster.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has requested the National Assembly to consider afresh the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Amendment (RICA) Bill.

Rand Water has appointed the Centre for Biological Control to assist with biocontrol on the Vaal River Barrage reservoir.

The tragic cases of foodborne illnesses have brought to the fore pressing concerns over the health, safety and hygiene standards in community retail outlets. While these outlets provide a valuable service to communities, their inadequate hygiene practices often leave communities vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed interim board members for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) with effect from 1 December 2024 until a new board is appointed.

Government is “moving with the necessary speed” to finalise South Africa's draft Gas Master Plan.