# The minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has reduced the budget for the South African National Defence Force’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the funds for safely withdrawing troops have increased to three-billion-rand. In his budget speech, Godongwana said this shift reflects the planned phased withdrawal from the DRC, focusing more […]
# Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana says the VAT rate will remain unchanged at 15-percent, as the National Treasury prioritises public consultation over increasing revenue. Delivering his budget speech, Godongwana said that while raising VAT could boost fiscal resources, concerns about its impact on the poor influenced the decision to keep it unchanged. He emphasised […]
# Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has promised economic growth without austerity, despite South Africa’s deepening fiscal challenges. In his third budget speech, he said the government will increase spending by 5.4-percent over the next three years, while holding off on raising VAT or introducing major new taxes. Godongwana acknowledged rising debt-service costs, now projected at […]
# All eyes are on Washington, DC, today as president Cyril Ramaphosa meets his US counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House. The meeting is set to begin at 5.30 this afternoon and includes a working lunch and bilateral talks. Ramaphosa is accompanied by key ministers Ronald Lamola, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Parks Tau, and John Steenhuisen, […]
# Teachers’ union SADTU will today join civil rights groups outside the Constitutional Court to support the Copyright Amendment Bill. SADTU says the bill promotes inclusive, quality, and decolonised education by allowing fair use of learning materials. They are backing Blind SA, ReCreate SA, SECTION27 and the South African Guild of Actors. The union’s Nomusa […]
# Severe weather has triggered a province-wide disaster response in KwaZulu-Natal. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi has activated teams after early morning thunderstorms and damaging winds led to a level two weather warning. The department’s spokesperson, Senzelwe Mzila, says disaster teams also dealt with a veld fire near Vryheid:
# The Minerals Council South Africa welcomes the launch of the critical minerals’ strategy and the new Mineral Resources Development Bill by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. The council’s Allan Seccombe said these documents come at an important time to boost the mining industry’s role in economic growth and the energy transition. Seccombe […]
# President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Washington, DC, today for high-level talks with US president Donald Trump. According to TimesLive, Ramaphosa will be joined by a unique delegation that includes billionaire Johan Rupert and golf legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The talks aim to present a trade package featuring a gas deal and an […]
# Statistics South Africa says the annual consumer inflation rate increased to 2.8-percent in April, from 2.7-percent in March. The uptick was mainly due to a sharp rise in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices, which climbed four-percent year-on-year. Meat prices saw the biggest jump, rising 2.3-percent in a single month, with stewing beef, mince, and […]
