South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Saturday undertake the District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo to Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, Mahikeng.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) through the Chief Directorate; Water Institutions Management has commenced consultations on the establishment of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA).

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated his call for the Russia-Ukraine conflict to be resolved through mediation, negotiation and peaceful means.

Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi, has launched training programmes worth R551 million aimed at creating jobs, developing skills and supporting entrepreneurship.

Some 1 147 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in South Africa over the past 24 hours, at a positivity rate of at least 6.1%.

The National Skills Fund (NSF), in partnership with the Presidency, has allocated R100 million towards the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, which will benefit 4 500 learners in the digital learning space.

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called on all employers to open their workplaces for the placement of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college students.

The Polokwane High Court has dismissed an application by engineering company, Mphaphuli Consulting, to review and set aside a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report, which found that the company had allegedly overcharged the Greater Tubatse Local Municipality.

Several establishments in Limpopo have been found to be non-compliant with labour legislation following mega blitz inspections by the Department of Employment and Labour in the province.

South Africa has experienced a 20% reduction in new COVID-19 cases in the last week, from 16 000 a week to 12 800 a week.

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says a team of senior government officials is ready to make recommendations to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

National Treasury and the Department of Justice and Correctional Services are working with authorities in the United States of America to track down individuals allegedly involved with terrorist organisation ISIS in South Africa.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister, Makhotso Sotyu have expressed their deepest condolences at the passing of South African Waste Pickers Association (SAWPA) National Coordinator Simon Mbata.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Sihle Zikalala, has warned that the provincial government will not hesitate to revoke developer status from municipalities that are failing to deliver houses to the people within the said time frames.

While unemployment continues to present a thorn in South Africa’s flesh, government efforts to address this scourge is helping to lessen its sting.