South Africa

Following the recent severe floods, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) on Thursday released an updated assessment of the estimated financial cost of the damage.

A rapid assessment conducted during the period 26 to 30 June 2023 confirmed extensive damage to riverbanks, irrigation equipment, private roads and sediment over vineyards and fruit orchards.

According to WCDoA, the assessment considered damage to primary agriculture sites on the West Coast, Cape Winelands and the Overberg. 

In celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, the Department of Water and Sanitation will on Tuesday formally adopt the Inzuzwenhle Full-Service School in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, for a period of two years. 

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has expressed grave concern over the imprisonment of two South African nationals in Equatorial Guinea. 

The DIRCO Director-General (DG), Zane Dangor, on Thursday said he was “disturbed” to learn of the sentence handed down to two locals, Peter Shane Huxham and Frederic Johannes Potgieter. 

According to media reports, Huxham, originally from Langebaan outside Cape Town and Potgieter from George, were jailed for 12 years and fined more than R100 million.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has urged Deputy President Paul Mashatile to help facilitate long-term planning across government departments if the country is to meet its developmental goals and improve service delivery. 

“This was one of three issues tabled for discussion. The other two were social cohesion and the District Development Model (DDM),” the NPC said on Thursday. 

The NPC was engaging Deputy President Paul Mashatile at the Union Buildings, Pretoria, on the National Development Plan (NDP) and State Capacity. 

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala has outlined timelines and a project execution plan to ensure that projects are finished on time and within the scope and costs.

The Employment and Labour Department is looking into imposing significant fines against unlawful labour practices by employers as the number of violation of basic employee registrations increase.

As part of its Nelson Mandela International Day initiative for 2023, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said it continues to support communities to fight poverty and inequality.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will today lead the 8th District Development Model (DDM) Presidential Imbizo and interact with communities in Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo.

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says skills for the Changing World is crucial for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) to remain on the path for sustainable economic growth. 

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has urged people in possession of Mainstay and Terra Firma multi-hinge aluminium ladders, Model JC 403, 150 kg, to immediately stop using them and to return the products to the point of purchase for a refund.