South Africa

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola will host his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, for bilateral talks in Pretoria on Monday, 10 March 2025. 

This working visit will provide an opportunity for both Ministers to strengthen the strategic bilateral relations and cooperation programmes between South Africa and Cuba.

“The Ministers will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual concern,” a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.

The incidence of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and silicosis among gold miners remains high, but recent years have seen a slow decline in the rates of both diseases, according to a recent study.

South Africa continues to see a downward trend in rhino poaching, with the 2024 statistics showing that 499 rhinos were poached in 2023, compared to 420 last year -- a decrease of 79.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says it is actively monitoring inflow water levels at Vaal Dam amid torrential rains to ensure full storage capacity and safety of infrastructure.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has welcomed the vital role of the forestry and fishing sectors in driving South Africa’s economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has deployed a team from the Emergency Housing Unit -- in collaboration with the department's roving team -- to support families impacted by the ongoing floods in KwaZulu-Natal.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the success of the economy of the Gauteng Province is crucial to the overall success of the country.

Eden Sleep Innovation, a bed-making company, is celebrating after winning first place in the manufacturing category at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s annual Furniture Design Competition.

The upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit at the end of the year is anticipated to significantly enhance the tourism sector’s contribution to economic growth and job creation. 

This is according to the International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, who shared this perspective while responding to a parliamentary question about his department’s strategy to leverage South Africa’s G20 Presidency to create sustainable benefits for the economy, particularly for small businesses in townships and rural areas.

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has urged the G20 to find ways to use tourism to change the lives of communities around the world.