South Africa

The Department of Health has welcomed Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as their new Minister and his Deputy, Dr Joe Phaahla, as part of the newly established seventh democratic administration to move South Africa forward.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Motsoaledi as the Minister of Health when he was announcing the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet.

Motsoaledi replaces Phaahla, who has served in the portfolio since August 2021.

However, Motsoaledi is no stranger to the department, having previously served as the Minister from 2009 to 2019. 

The City of Cape Town has urged its residents to be aware of a scam doing the rounds, where money is solicited from the city’s customers to avoid supposed water restrictions/disconnections due to non-payment. 

South Africa’s newly announced Deputy President Paul Mashatile and the new Ministers and Deputy Ministers are expected to be sworn into office the coming days.

A report by National Treasury shows that in the 2023/24 financial year, national and provincial government departments have overall regressed in paying invoices to suppliers within the required 30 days.

Following their swearing in ceremony last month, new Members of Parliament in the seventh administration are set to undergo an induction programme that will get underway tomorrow.

Eskom’s Kusile Unit 5 has achieved commercial operation, adding some 800MW to the grid.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says the refurbishment of the Giyani Water Treatment Works (WTW) has reached "practical completion", and the treatment plant is functioning optimally, producing 28.5 megalitres of water per day. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his weekly newsletter as a rallying call for all South Africans to work even closer together to build a country for all.

A 55-year-old suspect is expected to appear before the Zeerust Magistrates’ Court in the North West today after being nabbed for illicit cigarettes over the weekend.

The highest decision-making body of the World Customs Organisation, the WCO Council, has re-elected the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter as its Chairperson for a second term.