Author: Motlhaping Modise

The Department of Health has called for calm following an outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in KwaZulu-Natal despite an alarming increase in the number of cases reported thus far. There are over 180 confirmed cases of the disease in KwaZulu-Natal, mostly in the northern parts of Durban. The Department has however sought to allay fears, adding that it is working closely with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases to contain the spread of this common viral infection, which mainly affects infants and children under the age of five. Speaking on YouFM News Hour, the Department spokesperson Foster…

Teaching and learning have been affected in several schools across the North West province following heavy torrential rains that have been pouring continuously since last weekend.The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued orange level 5 warning for disruptive rainfall over the North West, Gauteng and the northeastern parts of Free State until Thursday this week.The rains have caused flooding of roads, bridges and low-lying areas, and schools are not spared either. The situation has prompted a call on authorities to consider closing affected schools as it poses a threat not only to learners but also to educators.Speaking on You…

The former acting Municipal Manager at the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality in Rustenburg in the North West, Dr Johannes Mothupi, said he’s pleased that he managed to turnaround the situation at the Rustenburg-based municipality. The municipality is regarded as the best performing municipality in the province, due to systems put in place by Mothupi run in the province, whose secondment to the municipality expired on 14th February 2025. He was seconded to the municipality by the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs Oageng Molapisi to turn things around at the municipality that was “on the…

The controversial Political Party Funding Act will come under the spotlight again this week. This as the civil society and advocacy group My Vote Counts has taken parts of the Act to the constitutional court to be declared unconstitutional.In the statement the group’s Project Lead on money in Politics Joel Bregman, said that they’ve been patient with the court processes to have the matter enrolled in court. “Almost two years since we filed papers, our application challenging the constitutionality of the Political Funding Act (PFA) will be heard in the Western Cape High Court, from Monday to Wednesday,” said Bergman.…

The ANC held its Parliamentary Caucus Lekgotla in Cape Town, to discuss amongst others political party funding and its impact on political parties to perform their mandate effectively. This is the party’s first Parliamentary Lekgotla since the establishment of the 7th Parliament, which also consolidated the annual programme of action in line with the ANC’s sixth priorities of this year’s January statement.ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said the threshold that has been determined to fund political parties, is also at the top of the agenda.“We have raised that concern right from the onset that it (political party funding Act) needs…

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said he’s not bothered by threats by US tech billionaire Elon Musk, for him to be declared an international criminal. “I have not committed any crime against anyone, except to say let’s restore the dignity of a black person,” remarked Malema, who was speaking at the St. Paul African Apostolic Church Thanksgiving Ceremony in Soweto, on Sunday afternoon. Musk recently posted Malema’s video on X, and calling for sanctions against him, while US President Donald Trump signed an executive order cutting funding from South Africa. The unfazed and robust Malema said he’s not…

One of South Africa’s former longest serving cabinet Minister and the first female woman to serve as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has been honoured by the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) at the AU Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dlamini-Zuma retired from parliament last year, following the May 29 general elections. She served ministerial positions, including that of Health, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs amongst others. She was honoured alongside former Ethiopian president Zahle-Work Zewde, former Mauritian President Dr Ameenah Fakim-Gurib, former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, former Liberian President…

The Department of Water and Sanitation says much progress has been made, to rehabilitate the hyacinth and algae prone Hartbeespoort Dam in Brits, North West. The Department appointed Magalies Water Board as its implementing agency to remove the floating plants that has negatively impacted on the dam’s water quality.The floating plants have caused damage to the dam and caused the death of thousands of fish.The Department’s Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo visited the Dam today to assess the progress made in addressing the challenge. “Just about two years ago, Magalies Water was appointed as a contractor to particularly undertake the remediation…

The African National Congress (ANC) in the North West has dismissed South African National Civic Organization (SANCO) service delivery march to the seat of the provincial government in Mahikeng, as opportunistic and politically insignificant. The relationship between the ANC and its alliance partners in the province continues to be “wobbly” as SANCO has since voted to split from the leader of the alliance over a misunderstanding or refusal to accept some of its decisions. SANCO led a service delivery protest what it calls “a lacklustre provision of services trajectory” over the last months to the people of the North West.…

North West farmers are set for a major trade revival as South Africa’s immediate neighbour Botswana lifted a ban on the country’s vegetable exports.This after Botswana’s newly elected government led by President Boko Duma, announced a phased lifting of restrictions on 16 vegetables imports from South Africa expected to be completed by April 2025. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has described Gaborone’s decision as a win for the local farmers particularly from the province that has borders with Botswana. Speaking on You FM Newshour, MEC Madoda Sambatha, said the ban had a negative impact on local farmers who…