South Africa

The Social Protection, Community and Human Development cluster says it is dealing with social ills in schools, such as bullying, gender-based violence (GBV), child pregnancy, alcohol, and drug peddling.

Speaking on behalf of the cluster, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga reiterated President Cyril Ramaphosa's call on the sector to institutionalise Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL) as a tool to improve learner outcomes. 

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the department is piloting and evaluating innovative ways to support teachers in the teaching of reading.

The pilot is currently taking place in 400 schools in the North West and Mpumalanga.

“The President has already signalled government’s plan to expand the provision of an early grade reading programme, which includes a minimum package of reading support materials, and professional support to teachers,” Motshekga said at a briefing on Sunday.

The Social Protection, Community and Human Development cluster announced on Sunday that the Gauteng Health Department is monitoring immediate contacts, including the workplace of a 24-year-old from Wattville, Benoni, who succumbed to the cholera.

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s Hydrological Monitoring and Forecasting System has shown a substantial drop in water capacity at the Vaal Dam, resulting in two more sluice gates being closed on Saturday.  

This comes after water levels in the Vaal Dam system have subsided after days of overflowing and flooding due to heavy rains.

According to the latest statement, four gates have been closed so far, following two gates that were closed on Friday afternoon on account of decreasing water levels at the dam, resulting in eight gates remaining open.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has congratulated the Momentum Proteas for reaching the finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time on Friday, 24 February.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Saturday that he has appointed a new Chairperson and Commissioners for the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).

Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, has congratulated the Proteas women's team for reaching the nation's first-ever World Cup final after beating England on Friday.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has called on communities to heed the warning from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and disaster management teams across the country regarding tropical cyclone Freddy.

Eskom on Saturday announced that it is positioning itself to play an important role in supporting the development of the electric mobility (e-mobility) sector in South Africa.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says South Africa continues to express its deep regret that the war in Ukraine, which marks its first anniversary, continues to destroy innocent lives and critical infrastructure, as well as displacement of millions of people.