Category: In The News

President Cyril Ramaphosa will later today, Thursday, 25 November 2021 at 14h00, outline to the National Assembly government’s roadmap towards the revitalisation of Eskom as part of the broader transformation of South Africa’s energy industry.

The President’s update to Parliament will form part of his responses to questions Members of Parliament have submitted for oral reply by the President.

On energy, the President will respond to questions relating to the economic impact of load shedding and South Africa’s approach to the R131 billion commitment by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union to support South Africa’s just transition to a lower carbon economy.

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President @CyrilRamaphosa will later today, Thursday, 25 November 2021 at 14h00, outline to the National Assembly government’s roadmap towards the revitalisation of Eskom as part of the broader transformation of South Africa’s energy industry. https://t.co/d866CzwR6J

— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) November 25, 2021

Photo: Flickr / GCIS

Gauteng accounted for 605 of the 868 new COVID-19 infections that were recorded on Tuesday.

This comes as the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) flagged a peak in the seven-day moving average in new COVID-19 cases in the province. 

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Photo: Flickr / GCIS

The Department of Health has announced that rapid antigen tests will now be included in the COVID-19 statistics with effect from Tuesday.  

Initially, all COVID-19 positive cases were diagnosed through the “gold standard” of a laboratory-confirmed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

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The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has condemned social media reports suggesting that the death of children after they consumed noodles can be ascribed to “tampering” on the part of foreign nationals.

This after at least five children died after consuming the popular food item in two separate incidents in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.

“The commission reminds the public that official sources, being the Department of Health and South African Police Services, are still investigating the possible contamination. At this stage, there is no evidence to suggest any possible tampering or any link with foreign owned businesses. Should there be cause for concern, the authorities will communicate this,” the commission said in a statement.

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South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says it has received an application for the Pfizer booster shot on 17 November 2021.
According to the local drug watchdog, it will commence with the assessment of data for the safety and efficacy of the third dose.

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Indigenous and faith leaders are protesting the construction of Amazon headquarters on sacred land which is also a recharge area for the aquifer in water scarce Cape Town.

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A statement by the President reads: “A week before the launch of the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, the latest crime statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) show an increase in rapes, domestic violence, and, perhaps most worryingly, in child murders.

In just three months, between July and September 2021, 9,556 people, most of whom were women, were raped. This is 7% more than in the previous reporting period.

Of the nearly 73,000 assault cases reported during this period, more than 13,000 were domestic violence-related. The rate of child murders has climbed by nearly a third compared to the previous reporting period.

These statistics are shameful. We are in the grip of a relentless war being waged on the bodies of women and children that, despite our best efforts, shows no signs of abating.”

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Photo: GCIS

While the crime picture remains grim and not ideal, Police Minister Bheki Cele says it is certainly getting better.

Contributing to this, he said, is “time planning and deployment of resources, where they are needed most”.

The Minister said this on Friday while releasing the 2021/22 quarter two crime statistics.

He said the decreases in aggravated robberies, including cash-in-transit (CIT), and residential and non-residential robberies, “should give South Africans hope that the SAPS is making inroads in policing these crimes”.

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The Department of Health has initiated an urgent investigation into possible food poisoning in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and Gauteng Provinces, following the deaths of children who allegedly consumed noodles.

The Department held an exigent meeting on Thursday, (18 November) with the Environmental Health Practitioners from the three affected provinces and municipalities to receive preliminary investigation reports into the children`s deaths in order to obtain more information, including the food brand name, supplier or
manufacturer, stores where the food was purchased.

Read the full statement below:

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