Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says she will subject herself to any Parliamentary inquiry to answer to allegations of interference swirling around Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on Wednesday directed the Police and Justice Committees to meet jointly to probe the surprising claims made by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Sunday.
On Thursday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) plans to lay a criminal complaint against Mchunu at the Cape Town police station.
While Didiza said she won’t allow a snap debate on untested allegations, the Police and Justice committees should come together to probe Mkhwanazi’s explosive claims.
The Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, which always meets in secret, will discuss the matter separately before the committees are expected to report their findings to the National Assembly.
In closing remarks during her budget vote debate on Wednesday, Kubayi praised Didiza for taking swift action.
“We will avail ourselves to face scrutiny. We are waiting to be guided by the head of state, who said he will be dealing with this matter.”
The African National Congress (ANC)'s Oscar Mathafa also supported the Speaker's decision.
“A thorough inquiry should be undertaken to get to the bottom of these allegations. As such, we will not be drawn to enter the debate, because these allegations must be tested.”
Chairperson of the Police Committee Ian Cameron said he was taking legal advice to determine the best way for the committee to handle the matter.
Teams from the eThekwini Municipality are working jointly to mitigate the impact of smoke currently emitted from an illegal dumpsite in Kenville, on Thursday.
This comes after a fire that broke out in mid-June 2025, which has resulted in ongoing smouldering at the site. The municipal Emergency Services, Environmental Health Practitioners, and Air Quality Specialists are working around the clock to alleviate the impact of pollution and restore air quality in the affected areas as swiftly as possible.
The smoke is allegedly affecting several suburbs surrounding Kenville, including Sea Cow Lake, Effingham Heights, Avoca, Greenwood Park and parts of Riverside in Durban North.
On Monday, Andrew Akkers, the ward 34 councillor, wrote to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) stating in his letter that this was a violation of environmental and health rights.
Akkers said that he was receiving complaints from residents, who lodged formal complaints via various avenues. Akkers believes that this constituted a violation of constitutional rights and further stated that illegal dumping has taken place on the site for over ten years.
“The site is adjacent to a D’Moss conservancy, and dumping has now partially covered protected and ecologically sensitive land. The underground fire began early June 2025 and continues to emit hazardous smoke and fumes, affecting residents' health, safety and quality of life,” he said.
Akkers said despite the efforts of multiple departments within the municipality he had received the following responses to his query:
The fire cannot be flooded due to the risk of landslides or mudslides
It cannot be excavated for fear of collapse or slides.
It cannot be smothered with other retardants due to inaccessible depths (the landfill is estimated to be 17 meters high)
The terrain poses a danger to firefighters.
“The consequence is that no authority is taking responsibility, and the community continues to suffer. Children, elderly people and those with existing respiratory conditions are suffering the worst effects of air pollution caused by the fire. Local general practitioners have voiced concerns about the increase in respiratory illnesses and other fume-related illnesses they are seeing daily,” Akkers stated in his letter to the SAHRC.
Akkers claimed that the residents were never consulted or warned about the extent of the environmental risk, despite years of municipal knowledge of the dumping activity.
He hoped that the commission would intervene in this matter to safeguard the rights and dignity of affected communities. On Wednesday, in a response from the SAHRC to Akkers, Maria Mnyakeni of the KZN Provincial Office, said they will assess the complaint to determine:
Whether it falls within the mandate of the SAHRC, or
Whether it should be dealt with by another organisation, institution, or statutory body, or an institution created by the constitution or any applicable legislation.
The municipality added that eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services are actively on-site, working to contain the situation.
In the interim, as a precautionary measure, the municipality requested residents to:
Keep windows and doors closed.
Cover air vents with damp cloths to limit indoor smoke exposure.
and limit outdoor activities until smoke levels subside.
"Please note that smoke levels may fluctuate during the day. Residents are encouraged to wait for improved air quality before engaging in outdoor activities. When conditions improve, homes should be aired out to help reduce indoor pollution," the municipality advised.
August is set to bring more fuel price pain for those who operate diesel vehicles, with a significant under-recovery currently developing on that fuel, but petrol could still see a small reduction.
The latest daily snapshot from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows a significant under-recovery on diesel that could result in price hikes in the region of 60 cents or more if current trends persist.
However, petrol is showing an over-recovery of 20 cents for 95 Unleaded and 24 cents for 93 Unleaded.
Over- and under-recoveries form when the underlying costs of fuel, such as international oil prices and exchange rates, fluctuate. These discrepancies, compared to the current prices, are then built into the following month’s fuel price adjustments.
July saw the price of petrol rise by between 52 cents and 55 cents, while diesel went up by between 82 cents and 84 cents. This followed four consecutive months of price decreases.
If the current August predictions materialise, 95 Unleaded will cost R20.88 at the coast and R21.67 in Gauteng, where 93 ULP will cost around R21.55. The wholesale price of 50ppm diesel will rise to around R19.25 at the coast and R20.01 inland.
The current fuel price outlook is driven primarily by international product prices, with diesel currently seeing a deficit of 68 cents. A stronger rand is helping to soften the blow, however, adding seven to eight cents of relief to the equation.
International Brent Crude oil prices were hovering around $70 on July 10, slightly above the $69.36 average of the previous review period that determined July’s fuel prices.
Oil rallied earlier in July after Iran suspended its cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog. This, analysts said, increased the possibility of further conflict between Iran and Israel.
The Deputy Minister was taking part in the debate on the Department of Defence’s budget, tabled by Minister Angie Motshekga on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Bantu Holomisa, has warned of escalating domestic threats and wants the military to enhance the country’s internal security.
Holomisa also said the ease of movement across Southern African Development Community (SADC) borders into South Africa requires urgent attention.
Holomisa was taking part in the debate on the Department of Defence’s budget, tabled by Minister Angie Motshekga on Wednesday.
Motshekga raised concerns about the shrinking budget, saying it badly affects the military’s operations and planning.
Holomisa said the defence force, like most departments, has not escaped the tentacles of state capture and corruption.
He said they were now targeting irregularities that have hampered effective governance in the defence force.
He added that another burning issue was the state of national security and growing domestic threats, including porous borders.
“Many have questioned why our soldiers are deployed on external missions while internal threats continue to escalate. In this financial year, we must in partnership with Parliament take a strategic decision on how our military can enhance internal security in line with the constitutional mandate of South Africa.”
He said part of this decision must involve a deep assessment of whether the South African National Defence Force has proper equipment and capabilities to respond to threats, including natural disasters.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
South Africa may see a dip in homebuying activity as consumers grapple with various economic challenges and rising household costs.
Although the tariff increases do not directly target South Africa’s residential property market, there will be some indirect implications as they will have an impact on economic slowdown, investor sentiment and inflation, says Bradd Bendall, the national head of sales at BetterBond.
“Tariff increases will affect major industries, such as the motor vehicle industry, which could hamper the country’s economic growth. Job losses in these industries as a result of the tariffs will reduce consumer spending power,” Bendall said.
He added that higher tariffs could also weaken the rand, making building materials more expensive. #
"This could lead to much-needed new residential developments being delayed or becoming more expensive, he said.
However, Bendall said every stock market decline in recent years has been followed by recovery and even a new growth phase. “We saw this in 2020 with the pandemic, where governments responded with fiscal support and low interest rates, which resulted in an unexpected market rebound in subsequent months.”
The industries that have already been flagged as being at significant risk if the United States(US) 30% import duties are implemented next month are notably automotive manufacturing, steel and aluminium, and agricultural products, says John Loos, the senior economist for Commercial Property Finance at FNB.
He said should any of these sectors experience financial strain, the direct property risk would lie primarily with the manufacturing segment of industrial property and, to some extent, the logistics and warehousing component, particularly where export-dependent tenants may come under financial pressure.
“However, there is also a broader, indirect risk to the property sector stemming from the wider economic consequences of any export-related shock. Manufacturing is deeply interconnected with other sectors of the economy, which would also be affected to varying degrees.
"For example, household financial stability is crucial for residential property demand, as well as for retail consumption, which underpins the health of shopping centres.
"Therefore, if the large manufacturing sector were to experience significant job losses, this could reduce residential and retail purchasing power, impacting both the residential and retail property markets,” Loos said.
In essence, the direct potential impact would be felt most in the manufacturing component of industrial property, and perhaps to a degree in warehousing, with broader indirect effects rippling through various segments of the property market due to the overall economic impact of such an export shock, he added.
Furthermore, the senior economist said that while many agricultural products are produced on farms and fall outside of the urban commercial property market, any economic damage from disrupted agricultural exports could still indirectly affect urban property markets, especially in smaller centres whose local economies rely heavily on agriculture.
Loos said export-focused tenants that are heavily dependent on the US demand may likely seek to diversify into other global markets to mitigate risk.
Bendall said that while the US tariffs will have an effect on some local markets, South Africa has several key macroeconomic indicators pointing in the right direction that will help pave the way for sustained economic growth and more employment opportunities in the longer term.
He said inflation is currently well within the 3-6% target range and there is no reason for the South African Reserve Bank(SARB) to hike the prime lending rate when it meets again at the end of this month.
“There is also talk of lowering the target band of the interest rate. Fortunately, the rand has remained firm, despite the announced intention to hike tariffs from the beginning of next month.
“The property market has repeatedly shown its resilience and remains an asset class that can offer reliable returns. BetterBond’s June Property Brief reported a 4% year-on-year increase in home loan applications for the 12 months to May 2025.
"This suggests that the property market is showing signs of growth amidst the geopolitical uncertainty that has marked the first half of 2025. As always, consumers are urged to budget wisely and avoid unnecessary debt during these uncertain times,” Bendall said.
The Department of Basic Education plans to review whether the progression and promotion programme in schools is still achieving their intended goals.
This review will focus on all the requirements, including the policies that dictate the conditions under which pupils can pass or be promoted from each grade.
During a meeting with members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said the progression matter will be one of the issues that she will be setting up. The department is set to table its budget today.
While briefing the NCOP members, Minister Gwarube highlighted the importance of improving the state and quality of education in the country.
“As a sector, we also need to take an honest look at how we can strengthen public trust in our public schooling system, taking into account the growth of independent schools and notable increases in home education registrations,” she stated.
She mentioned that part of this review will involve examining various aspects to reduce the administrative burdens on teachers.
“I will activate an advisory body, the National Education and Training Council, in the coming weeks to advise me on a range of matters that are relevant here. “This advisory body will review the resourcing model for public schools, explore ways to reduce administrative burdens on teachers, and consider whether the progression and promotion requirements remain fit for purpose,” she said.
The minister’s spokesperson, Lukhanyo Vangqa, stated that the council will look at a range of issues. “There are a number of promotion requirements in our system, including performance requirements in the home language and minimum marks for three subjects. All these will be subject to review by the new National Education and Training Council. “We are not targeting any particular provision but reviewing with the intention of strengthening the system.”
Education expert Professor Labby Ramrathan asserted that the progression policies are still valid.
“These policies are set up for two reasons: first, if a child fails more than once, they are progressed through the other classes; and second.
“The policy was established to address key issues, such as a high population of pupils but low school infrastructure. We have few teachers and few schools. If a child fails, that creates specific issues. For instance, having a 22-year-old still in high school can lead to problems like bullying.
“Therefore, these policies are in place to ensure age-appropriate progression. Furthermore, these are not unique to South Africa; they are global policies,” he said. He noted that the negative perception surrounding these policies stems from a lack of communication.
“The public outcry suggests that if a student receives 30%, they pass. That is not the case; they are being progressed provided they have passed other subjects. Remember there are key subjects that each pupil must pass to progress.”
Speaking on the issue of teacher workload, the professor expressed concern about the strict accountability regime in schools that detracts from teachers’ time for marking and lesson preparation. He suggested that this could be addressed to streamline education for greater efficiency.
Sibusiso Malinga of the National Teachers’ Union (Natu) welcomed any initiative aimed at improving the quality of education. "If they want to review the progression and promotion requirements for pupils, we welcome that. We believe it is a good idea, and we will engage with them once they have tabled a working document."
However, he expressed scepticism about the proposed plan to reduce the administrative workload on teachers. “To us, this is merely lip service at present. Every minister that has come before her has known that teachers in schools are overloaded with work.
“Reducing that means they have to come up with funding. Even if they have a budget increase this year, it is not enough to undo the damage caused by budget cuts over the past few years. “The provinces do not have the resources to hire more teachers or create more classrooms — things that would be required to ease the workload on teachers,” he said
