South Africa

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Nomusa Dube-Ncube has sent condolences to the families of those affected by the floods in Ladysmith.

The deployment of 40 tourism monitors at the Table Mountain National Park has been welcomed by the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged members of the public to report illegal mining activities after five undocumented foreign nationals were arrested in Limpopo.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has advised motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving in rainy conditions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished all South Africans well this holiday season. 

With traffic volumes expected to increase as holidaymakers travel to and from their destinations, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga says law enforcement officials will be out in full force to ensure the roads are safe.

The eThekwini Municipality says refuse removal in the city will continue as normal during the festive season.

A total of 985 applications for the Tourism Equity Fund (TEF) have been initiated by prospective applicants with 131 completed applications submitted that meet all application requirements.

The Cape Peninsula Baboon Management Joint Task Team (CPBMJTT) has encouraged communities to read the Cape Peninsula Baboon Strategic Management Plan, as well as the baboon-proof fencing summary report.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of severe thunderstorms with strong damaging winds, hail and heavy downpours leading to localised flooding of roads, settlements and bridges.

International tourist arrivals from January to November 2023 totalled 7.6 million, representing a remarkable 51.8% increase when compared with the same period in 2022. 

Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, has appealed to local authorities to prioritise the maintenance of water infrastructure in their area of operation to improve uninterrupted water supply to communities.

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has emphasised that although Eskom's recent performance is commendable, more work needs to be done to ensure that this continues consistently.

The Mossel Bay, Overstrand and Swartland K-9 Units, in partnership with the areas Rural Safety Units (RSUs), continue to make inroads in the fight against crime, particularly in their communities. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has written to the National Assembly (NA) Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chairperson, Amos Masondo, requesting them to convene a Joint Sitting of the two Houses for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) to take place on 8 February 2024.