Author: Larson Thebe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally singed the Pension Funds Amendment Bill into law. Popularly known as the two-pot system, it is aimed at cushioningthe financially burdened workers by allowing them to withdraw a portion of their retirement funds. “President Cyril Ramaphosa has assented to the Pension Funds Amendment Bill which amends pension-related legislation to enable the implementation of the recently legislated two-pot retirement system, geared towards bolstering retirement savings. The law provides for the introduction of the savings withdrawal benefit, the appropriate account of a member’s interest in thesavings, retirement and vested components, and the deductions that may be made.…
The Department of Health has announced that the grade one learner from Hammanskraal, who has a suspected case of Mpox, has tested negative for the disease. The Department’s announcement comes after the Gauteng Education Department last week “prematurely” issued a statement that a learner had tested positive for the disease. The Department has however since retracted the statement. This prompted the Department of Health to collect samples for laboratory testing at the National Institute for Communicable Disease, and the results came back negative. “The public is urged to report to a healthcare facility when they experience any suspicious symptoms related to…
Police in Groblersdal in Limpopo have discovered a clandestine drug lab worth R2 billion in a joint team effort with the Limpopo Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks. According to a statement from the police, four suspects including the farm owner and two Mexican nationals were arrested in an intelligence driven operation by members of Limpopo Serious Organised Crime Investigation team assisted by the Limpopo Tactical Response Team at a farm in Groblersdal where a multi-million clandestine laboratory was discovered. ‘It is reported that the Hawks in Limpopo received information about suspicious activities taking place at the farm, which…
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has heaped praise at the squad that walloped Portugal 64-21 in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The squad featured seven debutants, and four of them, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Phepsi Buthelezi, Horn and Andre-Hugo Venter, scored tries. Kurt-Lee Arendse, Ben-Jason Dixon, Lukhanyo Am also scored a try each, and Makazole Mapimpi scored three of them. “I was happy with everything other than discipline, a red card and two yellows is not going to win you World Cups.We had to make plans on the field to play with 14, that’s a nice experience.It wasn’t a beautiful match at times, and it…
The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate at 8.25%, with the prime lending rate currently at 11.75%. The decision was announced by Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago following the July MPC meeting in Pretoria. Kganyago said four members preferred an unchanged stance, and two preferred a reduction of 25 basis points. “In discussing the stance, MPC members agreed that restrictive policy remains appropriate to stabilise inflation at 4.5%. The committee assessed that an unchanged stance remained appropriate, given the inflation risks. Some members, however, were of the view that the inflation outlook…
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) have agreed to put their differences aside and prioritise the needs of South Africans. He said this emerged during the recently held two-day Cabinet Lekgotla in Pretoria. Ramaphosa was delivering the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) to a joint sitting in Cape Town. “In an act that is unprecedented in our democratic history, ten political parties represented here in our Parliament have agreed to craft a common programme to build a better, more equal and morejust South Africa. They have come together, despite their differences, because they…
The driver of the van that collided with a private mini-bus taxis transporting learners near Carletonville last Wednesday, Gert Laurence van Emmens, has been granted bail of R20 000 by the Fochville Magistrates’ Court. Eleven learners, including the driver of the taxi, died when the vehicle overturned and caught fire. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Van Emmens was driving a Ford Ranger motor vehicle, on JB Marx Road in Fochville, when the accident happened. “The court granted Gert Laurence van Emmens bail of R20 000 on schedule one offence with conditions, that he should hand over his passport to…
The African National Congress (ANC) has postponed the disciplinary hearing against its former President Jacob Zuma to next week Tuesday. The National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) held the hearing virtually on Wednesday as planned, albeit without Zuma. This after Zuma was a no show, and instead sent ANC veteran Tony Yengeni to represent him. Zuma is accused of violating the party’s constitution after he declared that he will not support nor campaign for the ANC during the May 29th elections, and instead campaign for the uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) that he is currently leading. “The committee received representations from the chosen representative…
Parliament said it’s all systems go for the Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) which will be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday at 19:00. This would be the first OPA since the formation of the Government of National Unity. The OPA takes place once every five years, after the Provincial and National Elections, to outline the new administration’s plans while also marking the official opening of the new five-year term of Parliament. “The OPA is a significant event in our nation’s democratic process, convened by the President in accordance with Section 84 of the Constitution. This grants the President…
Salmaan Moerat will take over the Springbok captaincy for the first time when he leads a squad featuring seven uncapped players in a first Test with emerging nation Portugal in the final match of the Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has defended the squad he announced to face Portugal in the final match of the Castle Lager Incoming Series in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The squad features seven uncapped players in his training squad and will be captained by Salmaan Moerat The 26-year-old Moerat becomes the 66th Springbok captain, and the third in four tests this year, as he makes the step up having…