Author: Tshegofatso Letsie
The rollout of the antiviral medicine used to reduce the risk of HIV, Lenacapavir, has brought hope to the South African government. Deputy President, Paul Mashatile who is also the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), expressed optimism during the first Extended Plenary engagement of the year. The official rollout of Lenacapavir is expected to occur in six provinces between April and June this year, as announced by Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, following its registration with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) in October 2025. The Deputy President acknowledged progress made in the fight…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the commitment to guarantee the full implementation of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry recommendations. He warned that those implicated will not be spared in any shape or form. During a Q&A Session at the National Assembly on Wednesday, the President ordered the formation of a Special Task Team to probe the Commission’s findings and suspend those incriminated at the hearings. He continued to appeal for patience during this period, citing rising pressure of prosecutions from civic organisations, the public as well as political parties. “We keep on reporting and at the Presidency level, we report…
The North West province has recorded a 4.1% decrease in reported crimes during the October–December period of 2025. The Provincial Police released the statistics on Tuesday in Mahikeng alongside the MEC for Public Safety, Wessels Morweng. According to Morweng, a total of 1,110 cases were reported across 17 communities during the period, marking the lowest figure recorded since 2022. He attributed the decline to collaborative efforts through multi-disciplinary crime-fighting operations. “In general, the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year ended on a positive note. This was achieved through intensified crime-prevention initiatives such as Operation Safer Festive Season and Operation…
The responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and social media was at the core of South Africa’s message at the TikTok Safer Internet Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya. Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong attended the Summit where he reiterated the significance of strong ties between South Africa and Kenya especially in advancing digital safety and the integrity of AI systems. Morolong highlighted how the growing reliance on digital networks has shaped government institutions. “For centuries, societies were organised through visible bureaucracies: governments, institutions and administrations. These were slow, human and limited by geography. However, today humanity has…
The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, is adamant that the 7th administration is on course to turn the tide and bring development to the province. He was responding to the State of the Province Address (SOPA) debate at the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday in Mahikeng. Mokgosi began his address by acknowledging some of the government’s shortcomings and the service delivery challenges faced by residents across the province. These include, but are not limited to, water provision, electricity supply, infrastructure challenges, as well as the high unemployment rate. However, he remains confident in the ongoing interventions by various government departments, entities,…
The Department of Home Affairs is hoping to reduce its long queues through a digital partnership model with banks across the country. The live operational phase of this system, which will allow smart ID applications to be made at selected bank branches, was launched over the weekend. According to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, this forms part of the department’s digital transformation strategy aimed at improving services. “Instead of forcing people to go to Home Affairs to endure long queues and manual processes, we are using technology, security and efficiency to bring Home Affairs to the people, delivering access, inclusion…
The National Department of Health has reassured the public that sanitary pads sold in the country are safe for use, following concerns sparked by a recent study on the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in some products. The concerns emerged after research conducted by the University of the Free State detected EDCs in several sanitary pad brands, raising alarm among consumers about potential health risks. Speaking during a joint social cluster media briefing in Pretoria, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said the findings were not unexpected. He explained that endocrine-disrupting chemicals are commonly found in various manufactured products and only pose…
The Department of Employment and Labour has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening compliance with the adjustment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in order to safeguard the rights and livelihoods of workers. The revised NMW came into effect on 1 March 2026, increasing from R28.79 to R30.23 per hour. The department has called for cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure the full and effective implementation of the new wage. In a media statement, the department noted that non-compliance remains a significant challenge. “Approximately 40% of employers are still not complying with the minimum wage. This 40–60 split has remained consistent…
South African rapper and television personality Nadia Nakai has responded to the romanticrelationship rumours with musician TOSS, after a Valentine’s Day post sparked widespreadconversation among fans and followers.This emerged from her appearance on the L-Tido Podcast, where Nakai openly addressedthe speculation surrounding her personal life.During the conversation, she admitted care and closeness to TOSS without confirming theirrelationship status, adding that the images were from a music video shoot.Many online users questioned whether it was “too soon” for Nakai to move on following thedeath of her late partner, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes. The rapper was tragically shot and killed in2023 in Durban…
The Department of Water and Sanitation, in partnership with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has expressed strong confidence in the newly launched Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, aimed at combating corruption and strengthening accountability within South Africa’s water sector. The initiative comes at a critical time as the country continues to face persistent water supply challenges, many of which are linked to vandalism and corruption affecting water infrastructure and resources. The Forum is designed to support anti-corruption initiatives, improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, and enhance investigative capacity to effectively address wrongdoing within the sector. Speaking at the launch event in…