Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
South Africans who are currently subscribing to medical aid schemes through which they access private healthcare should not ditch their schemes just yet. This is according to Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla who was reacting to perceptions the signing into law of the NHI Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa anyone could just walk into any private healthcare facility and be attended to without paying. The minister said the NHI was still in its early stages and that people should maintain whatever cover they currently have. “Someone send me a message wherein a person said they are going to stop paying…
A legal showdown is looming between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) over the latter’s rejection of the National Health Insurance (NHI) which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Wednesday. The official opposition cites among others what it believes a lack of capacity on the government’s side, possible corruption and lack of public health infrastructure. The party briefed the media at the Union Buildings where President Cyril Ramaphosa had just performed a ceremonial signing of the bill and said the signing into law of the what was then the NHI bill.The DA denied it was…
The Independent Electoral Commission says it is just as frustrated with the signature requirement for contesting in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.The commission briefed the media at its offices in Centurion amid revelations that it has no means of verifying their veracity. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo recounted how the commission opposed the idea when it was presented in parliament’s portfolio on home affairs and opposed by the IEC. “The signature requirement is actually not an idea or invention of the commission. In fact our submission at the time was that the requirement was to cause frustration, that’s when…
The ANC has been endorsed by several prominent international Muslim bodies who have urged their members in South Africa to vote for the liberation movement in the May 29 National and Provincial Elections. The ruling party’s officials including President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted delegates from entities such as International Union of Muslim Scholars, European Muslim Council, United States of Council of Muslim Organisations and host of local Muslim bodies. The ANC officials briefed the media alongside their international guests at the party’s headquarters in Johannesburg. “I am very glad to tell you that the appreciation across the world because of the…
Social grants have become a major talking point ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections with parties either promising to increase or cut them if elected into power. For the first time there’s even a party whose identity is built around social grants. Basic Income Grant South Africa led by businessman Hendrick Kekana is advocating for the introduction of universal basic income grant which it believes is necessary to rescue millions of South Africans living below poverty line. Kekana said his party is not necessarily socialist in orientation but believes that a free market economy can thrive alongside a…
Former deputy president DD Mabuza believes the ANC remains the most popular political party in South Africa and should sail to victory seamlessly in the upcoming elections. Mabuza who has joined the list of veterans thrown into the party’s campaign ahead of the May 29 election on Wednesday campaigned in Alexandra, an ANC stronghold that has now seen the increased presence of the Economic Freedom Fighters. As Mabuza was interacting with voters in the streets coloured with mostly ANC and EFF posters, a group of fighters came out to tell him and his entourage that they were tired of empty…
Action SA Gauteng leader and Premier candidate Fundzi Ngobeni blames his hijacking and kidnapping on a lack of opportunities for South Africans under ANC rule. Ngobeni and the party’s youth forum chairperson Hluphi Gafane were allegedly abducted by three armed men in Olievenhoutbosch on Tuesday night and driven to an identified location where they were held for hours and robbed off their belongings. Ngobeni presented his offer to voters in Ivory Park hardly a day after being set free and said he is not going to allow the experience to derail his premiership campaign. He said the robbers moved them…
The Road Accident Fund has expressed frustration at being exploited by groupings such as lawyers, insurance companies and foreign nationals whom it says are taking advantage of loopholes in its founding act. CEO Collins Letsoalo briefed the media at the fund’s headquarters in Centurion where he announced the launch of a public campaign to find and assist hundreds of thousands people he said lodged claims before 2021 which are yet to be concluded owing to outstanding documents. Letsoalo said among other tricks employed by lawyers is deliberately keeping information supplied by claimants only to submit it at the eleventh hour…
As the sixth administration nears the end of its term of office, the government has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s performance saying he has delivered on most of the promises he made when he got into office in 2019. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya briefed the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and among others shot down suggestions that investors may be losing confidence in South Africa. Magwenya cited the proposed BHP Billiton proposed takeover of Anglo-American as an example of baseless negative reporting about South Africa’s investment prospects. “The presidency has noted with concern the emerging narrative around the BHP…
Political parties used this year’s Freedom Day to intensify campaigning for the upcoming general elections with senior leaders deployed to various parts of the country to galvanise support. In Gauteng which is the most contested province following the ANC’s loss of support in the 2021 local government elections. While president delivered his official address from the Union Buildings while his deputy Paul Mashatile was campaigning for the ruling party in the Westrand. The EFF on the other hand used the day to demonstrate its organising ability with its Gauteng chapter holding massive rallies in Alexandra and Soweto and both addressed…