Government

Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says she is appalled at the misinformation peddled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) about the expenditure of the small business COVID-19 relief funds. The DA recently issued a statement claiming the Department of Small Business Development has only allocated 8% of the funds meant as COVID-19 relief for small businesses. In a statement released on Thursday, the department said it had only managed to reprioritize only R500 million … [Read more...] about Minister refutes DA claims

The DA led Kouga Municipality is one of the only municipalities in the Eastern Cape that has made a surplus - here Andrew Whitfield details how much that surplus was as at October 2020. https://youtu.be/0sD_OvkBfrI … [Read more...] about Some Municipalities DO Make a Surplus – Curious as to which?

EDITOR: The best way to do so would be to install renewable energy - ENQUIRE HERE The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality wants to alert electricity users to the fact that when their electricity supply is restored after loadshedding, high-consumption appliances normally draw a lot of current, causing a high demand on the electricity network. This causes the electricity circuit breakers in the substations to trip - which is the reason why electricity users often experience that their restored … [Read more...] about Residents Requested to Assist in Managing the Impact of Loadshedding

The Department of Transport has clarified that the announcement of the extension of licenses did not include vehicle licenses and license disc. In a 30 November Government Gazette, expiry was mentioned of all learner licenses, driver license cards, temporary driving license cards and professional driving permits that expired between 26 March and 31 December. In the gazette, government extended a grace period that would see these documents would remain valid until 31 August this … [Read more...] about Vehicle licenses, licence disc not covered by expiry grace period

COVID-19 is showing no signs of slowing down in South Africa, with the death toll now exceeding 35 000. The Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, reported a new record for most COVID-19 deaths in a single day since the outbreak. This after 806 people lost their lives to the respiratory disease on Wednesday. According to the latest data, 235 fatalities occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, 211 in Gauteng, 151 in the Western Cape and 150 in the Eastern Cape. Twenty-four people died in Free State, … [Read more...] about SA COVID-19 death toll surpasses the 35 000 mark – EC Drops to Number 4

South Africa’s Information Regulator has announced that it met Facebook South Africa on Wednesday to discuss its revised WhatsApp privacy policy. WhatsApp’s revised private policy sparked a global outcry after the popular Facebook-owned messaging app alerted its 2 billion users to accept the new terms if they wanted to continue using it. According to reports, WhatsApp will now share data with Facebook. “As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and … [Read more...] about Information Regulator engages Facebook SA over privacy policy

The African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) has confirmed the acquisition of provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million being available for the crucial period of April to June 2021. The 10-member AVATT, which was established by African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa in August, on Thursday confirmed this during a special meeting of the AU Bureau of the Assembly. The AVATT was established to ensure that the continent would be able to … [Read more...] about 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses secured for Africa

NMB Executive Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga says: Today I joined health-care workers from the Right to Care at the Cleary Park Mobile Testing clinic stop - to thank them for the incredible work they have been doing in our Metro. We appreciate the hard working individuals in our Metro, from all spheres of government, for their tireless work in fighting this pandemic. Your efforts and energy is truly remarkable - you demonstrate the value of service above self. In Nelson Mandela Bay, we are … [Read more...] about Caring City

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Nqaba Bhanga has called on all residents to be cautiously optimistic as the COVID-19 positive cases continue to fluctuate indicating a decline in the reported positive cases. Mayor Bhanga said although the decline in numbers was welcomed news, reports were indicating that it was too early to be excited as many residents were on holiday and students were only now coming back into the City. "We have noted the decline in numbers but we … [Read more...] about Mayor calls for caution as Covid-19 show a decline

Editor: "My Fellow Inmates...." Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on South Africans to heed government’s call to adhere to the adjusted COVID-19 lockdown regulations. This comes as 20 000 people have been arrested and/or fined for contravention of the Disaster Management Act since the start of the Adjusted Level 3 Lockdown on 29 December 2020. In a statement, Cele noted with great concern the arrest of 7 455 citizens who were caught not wearing masks in public. “These arrests … [Read more...] about 20 000 arrested for contravening lockdown regulations

COVID-19 continues to rise in South Africa, with 13 105 new cases, representing a 26% positivity rate. Meanwhile, 755 more people died due to COVID-19 related complications on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 34 334 to date. Gauteng recorded the highest number of deaths in the last 24 hours after 225 succumbed to the respiratory disease, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 218, Eastern Cape with 134, while 128 occurred in the Western Cape. Meanwhile, 26 fatalities were reported in Free … [Read more...] about SA records 755 more COVID-19 deaths, with 13 105 new cases

COVID-19 infections are not showing signs of slowing down as South Africa grapples with the second wave. On Monday, South Africa’s COVID-19 cases jumped by 15 046, which brings the tally to 1 246 643 since the outbreak. Also, active cases are growing rapidly, with 239 799 patients currently infected. KwaZulu-Natal remains home to the most active cases, standing at 93 376, followed by Gauteng with 50 501, while 48 416 cases can be found in the Western Cape. The North West has 10 573 … [Read more...] about SA COVID-19 cases rise by 15 046, with 416 deaths

As South Africa battles the second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the country will remain on Adjusted Alert Level 3 Lockdown. The country has been on Adjusted Lockdown Alert Level 3 since December 29, when the resurgence in infections started. Addressing the nation on Monday, President Ramaphosa said it was necessary for the country to remain on Level 3 until the peak of new infections has passed and the country was certain that the rate of … [Read more...] about Land borders close as SA remains on Adjusted Level 3 lockdown

Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on progress in the national effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, 11 January 2021 Fellow South Africans, We are now 11 days into a new year. Once again, I wish you all the very best for 2021. We enter this year with a great deal of hope – hope that we will restore our nation to health, that the new year will bring our people relief and comfort, and that lives and livelihoods will be rebuilt. But, if we are to realise our aspirations for the … [Read more...] about Lockdown Level 3 Continues – President’s Full Statement