Author: Silver Sibiya

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has told his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Thi Anh Xuan that the South African government seeks to expand its trade relations with Vietnam. Mashatile was hosting Xuan at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on his first official visit to South Africa and said South Africa has prioritised new investments as a source of economic growth stimulation with a view to create jobs, and reduce poverty and inequality. Total bilateral trade between South Africa and Vietnam in 2022 was valued at R23, 8 billion, with imports from Vietnam valued at R18.5 billion and exports to Vietnam valued at R5,…

board in which, among others, made findings against it that it had failed to fulfill its responsibility by permitting payments without following proper legal processes by failing to stop an ‘unlawful’ R140 million contract. However, the board said Gungubele’s allegations were unfounded and were damaging to their reputation and letters sent to him addressing these matters were not responded to and indication that the Minister was bent on firing them. “On 28 July 2023, the board responded to the Minister’s letter informing him that the board had also sought legal advice from Senior Counsel on the KPMG report as well…

ActionSA had a press conference in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday in preparation for the 2024 National General Elections, which would be a first for the party since it was established in 2020. ActionSA President Herman Mashaba delivering his remarks to the delegates said the party will be able to bring hope to many South Africans when the conference is done. “Over the past three years, and particularly over the past eight months, we have engaged with a broad range of South African experts. It is for this reason that we assemble here for the next three days, and I can assure…

The Gauteng Government has made a plea to the private sector to invest as much as possible in the province as it seeks to aggressively grow the province’s economy which is not thriving relative to its size and economic activity. Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo met with industry captains in Johannesburg on Monday where he announced a target of R2 trillion economic output and committed the government to creating an environment conducive for investment. Mamabolo launched what is called the Roundtable Partnership with Private Sector Chief Financial Officers to boost private sector investment and said this initiative is driven by some…

A crackdown by Joburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda together with members of the JMPD on hijacked and vandalised buildings have led to an arrest of 23 suspects including a Joburg Councillor. The property in question belongs to the City of Joburg and is valued at R40 million and was intended to be used as a pound for the Joburg Metro Police Department. But recently it was identified as a possible place of shelter for the survivors of the Usindiso House in Marshalltown where 77 people died and scores injured after the building caught fire. During an inspection of the site, the…

The EFF and ActionSA have rejected the City of Joburg Council motion to increase councilors’ salaries. The motion, which was passed during Tuesday’s council meeting, was supported by the DA, ANC, and some minority parties. Salary increases was one of the items which were deliberated by the council on Tuesday. EFF Joburg Region Chairperson Sepetlele Raseruthe, told Newsnote that they’re opposed to the salary increase because it would widen the gap between the rich and the poor.“You should always remember we are a socialist movement ourselves and we are always pushing the issue of the wage gap. We can’t be…

President Cyril Ramaphosa said  illegal hijacking of buildings remains a big challenge while speaking outside the five-storey Usindiso Shelter for Women and Children Building in Marshalltown in Joburg’s inner city where 77 people died on Wednesday night after the building caught fire. By Friday hundreds of people who survived the inferno were still on the streets guarding their belongings, some saying they had nowhere to go despite the City offer of alternative accommodation. Ramaphosa said during his visit on Thursday evening that the government needs to tackle the illegal invasion of buildings. “It’s not allowed to happen (illegal invasion). It’s…

Survivors of the fire that gutted down a building in Marshalltown Johannesburg where so far 73 people perished and scores hospitalised for smoke inhalation and other injuries, are still reeling in shock and trauma. The fire started in the early hours of Thursday morning and when emergency services arrived, scores of bodies were lying on the pavement believed to be people who jumped from the building when it caught fire. Firefighters and emergency services were still inside the building where they have since recovered 73 bodies and believe the numbers could still rise as the people were living in overcrowded…

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday morning the expansion of the BRICS block with six more countries, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Ethiopia getting approval to become members. Ramaphosa was speaking at the BRICS Summit on its last day at the Sandton Convention Centre in Joburg and he said the five BRICS countries reached an agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process which has been under discussion for quite some time. “We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process, and further phases will follow. We have…

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the advancement of the interests of the Global South countries particularly, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia as well as Oceania countries during his speech at the BRICS Summit underway at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The BRICS Summit is attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Indian Priminister Narandra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping who are the members of the bloc. And about 30 heads of states, some from the African continent, are also part of the event. Ramaphosa said advancing the interests of…