Author: Malebogo Putu

Sibusiso Bengu, a pivotal figure in South Africa’s educational transformation and the country’s first Minister of Education in the post-apartheid era, has died at 90. His family announced that Prof. Bengu passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, December 30, at his home in KwaZulu-Natal.President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Prof. Bengu, lauding his “patriotic and visionary service” to the nation. “Prof. Bengu was a pioneering leader of our democratic dispensation who led the transformation of education in a Government of National Unity, where deep divisions existed about how far this transformation should go,” Mr. Ramaphosa said in a…

Gauteng public healthcare facilities delivered 203 New Year babies on Wednesday. The 105 baby boys and 98 baby girls were born between midnight and noon. This as the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visited the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, to welcome the newly born babies and deliver baby essential gift packages on 1 January 2025. “Academic hospitals delivered 31 babies mostly from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 20 babies, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital with four deliveries each.”Meanwhile, tertiary hospitals delivered a total of 12 babies. Tembisa…

As Mozambique prepares to restart the delayed $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a renewed focus on peace and stability has become paramount. Post-election violence and protests have unsettled the nation, raising concerns about its readiness to fully capitalize on its vast natural gas reserves.The African Energy Chamber (AEC), a leading advocate for Africa’s energy sector, has urged Mozambique’s government and opposition to prioritize unity and sustainable development during this pivotal moment in the country’s history.Since the discovery of significant natural gas deposits off its northern coast in 2010, Mozambique has been heralded as a rising star in the…

In the rural village of Mvenyane, two young entrepreneurs are turning an ecological threat into a thriving business while addressing critical environmental challenges. Sinikeziwe Tshobisa, 27, and Kwakhiwa Mshoboyi, 31, founded KFOX 2ND Couture Board Company in 2020, repurposing invasive black wattle trees into eco-friendly charcoal and firewood. Their venture combines sustainability, social responsibility, and community development, providing both environmental solutions and economic opportunities. Tackling an Invasive Threat Black wattle, one of South Africa’s most pervasive invasive species, has long plagued the region, causing water shortages, veld fires, and the displacement of indigenous plants. Recognizing the severity of the problem,…

The Employment Equity (EE) Amendment Act, aimed at alleviating regulatory constraints for small businesses, comes into force today, marking a significant milestone in South Africa’s efforts to boost job creation and economic growth.President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the proclamation notice in 2024, setting January 1, 2025, as the implementation date for the revised legislation. The amendment exempts small businesses employing fewer than 50 workers from complying with Chapter III of the original Employment Equity Act (EEA) of 1998.Under this change, small businesses are no longer required to submit EE reports or develop comprehensive equity plans. This exemption applies starting from the…

South African police have arrested two men in separate incidents involving the brutal murders of their partners in the OR Tambo District of the Eastern Cape. Both cases, which occurred within hours of each other, have highlighted the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the country.In the first incident, a 32-year-old man allegedly murdered his 24-year-old wife late on Monday, 30 December 2024, in Nkonkweni locality, Qumbu. According to police reports, the attack was fueled by suspicions of infidelity. The suspect was arrested and is scheduled to appear before the Qumbu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 2 January…

Police in Mogwase have launched a manhunt after a brazen cash-in-transit heist unfolded on Tuesday evening, 31 December 2024, in Moruleng Village. The dramatic incident, which took place around 6 p.m., left a cash van and a getaway car engulfed in flames.According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, the cash van, carrying two security officers, was traveling from Moruleng village towards Mogwase when it was ambushed at Letsheng section. A Mercedes Benz sedan blocked the van just before a speed hump, while armed assailants opened fire on the escort vehicle, forcing it to halt.”The escort crew managed to escape unharmed,…

In a chilling discovery on New Year’s Eve, Lindley police unearthed two decomposed bodies in a locked house in Ntha, a township near Lindley, Free State. The grisly scene was uncovered after neighbors alerted authorities to a foul odor emanating from the home, accompanied by swarms of flies seen through a window.Officers responded to the complaint around 10 p.m. on December 31, 2024. Upon arrival, they found the house locked, but located the owner’s car parked at the property. When the homeowner refused to grant entry, police peered through a window and discovered the bodies on the floor, covered with…

The South African government is battling ongoing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with strict containment measures in place to prevent the highly contagious disease from spreading further.Eastern Cape: Progress Amid PrecautionsThe Eastern Cape outbreak has shown signs of stability, with no new cases reported in the past three months. Despite this, the Disease Management Area (DMA), declared in July 2024, remains under strict lockdown.Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has said that movement restrictions will continue through the festive season and will only be lifted once thorough surveillance confirms the absence of infection.Seventy-three farms in…

Limpopo, South Africa – The South African Police Service in Northam, Waterberg District, has opened murder and inquest dockets following the discovery of two bodies in a house in Northam on 26 December 2024. The victims, a 33-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, were found in a state of advanced decomposition. The two individuals, who were in a romantic relationship and living together, were last seen on 25 December 2024 at approximately 23:45 at a local tavern. The investigation is still in its early stages, and while a domestic dispute is being considered as a possible motive, authorities have not…