The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) said it has reinforced biosecurity protocols in response to an outbreak of Avian Influenza.
The virus spread to the Western Cape in July and has affected wild seabirds along South Africa’s coastline.
Several cases of bird flu were recently confirmed in African penguins.
According to SANCCOB, the critically endangered African penguin has seen a dramatic decline in population numbers, as the species faces multiple threats.
The clinical veterinarian for SANCOBB, David Roberts, said that currently, the number of infected penguinsis low, but the outbreak is still concerning
“SANCCOB is increasing our biosecurity measures to ensure that our rehabilitation centres are protected, and to reduce the chance that the birds in our care are affected. To do this, we are quarantining and testing all newly admitted cases before we introduce them to our hospitals.”
*This article was used by EWN
By: JN Reporter
Matjhabeng Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Thanduxolo Khalipha, has brought renewed hope to the Gugulethu community through targeted service delivery initiatives and strengthened community engagement.
Speaking during a Community Imbizo held at the Fast East Multi-Purpose Centre on Friday, Khalipha announced that more than 3,400 sites will be allocated for residential, business, educational, recreational, and service centre purposes — with priority given to senior citizens and long-term residents of Gugulethu.
This announcement follows growing concerns raised by residents about the status of the Gugulethu informal settlement, who demanded that the area be formalised and provided with basic municipal services.
“We have been residing here for decades, but we are still not receiving basic services from our municipality. All we want is services and proper sites for our children to grow in an appropriate home,” said one elderly resident.
Khalipha assured residents that the allocation of sites and the issuing of title deeds would be prioritised.
“However, let me warn that the illegal sale of sites to undocumented individuals or foreign nationals will not be tolerated. The municipality will ensure that sites are allocated only to deserving and eligible beneficiaries,” emphasised Khalipha.
He also cautioned against misinformation suggesting that Gugulethu residents would be excluded from the process, clarifying that while they remain a priority, other qualifying residents will also benefit from the formalisation project.
On the issue of title deeds, Khalipha announced that a dedicated municipal team would be stationed at the Fast East Multi-Purpose Centre from Friday to Saturday to assist residents with title deed queries and processing.
Addressing concerns over poor workmanship in a Ward 13 housing development — which involved substandard delivery and non-payment of subcontractors — Khalipha confirmed that a new contractor has been appointed to complete all previously abandoned housing projects and ensure that houses are handed over to their rightful beneficiaries.
The Mayor further highlighted the upcoming Solar Project in Welkom, which is expected to create over 2,000 jobs and unlock economic opportunities for local SMMEs. He stressed that the recruitment process for this project must be fair, transparent, and inclusive.
Khalipha also revealed that the municipality has procured and delivered two cherry pickers and ten traffic vehicles, while two jet sewer trucks will be delivered soon — a move he said will significantly enhance the municipality’s service delivery capacity.
By: Matshidiso Selebeleng
Mamiki Radimpane and her family in Thaba Nchu received a brand new house from the Department of Human Settlements as part of an initiative to replace mud houses with Innovative Building Technologies (IBT).
The handover ceremony which took place on Friday was attended by MEC for Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, his HOD, Adv Tumelo Phahlo, and the MMC for Human Settlements at the Mangaung Metro, Ntombi Nhlapo,
Radimpane,, expressed her gratitude to the government for including her in the project.
"I'm still shocked and find it hard to believe this is happening. I used to live in a house that would get flooded when it rained, and I had to put buckets everywhere.
“ Today, I'm so happy to have a bath and a toilet in the house. I don't have to go outside anymore," she said.
The department will hand over about 50 IBT houses by December this year.
The project involves building new houses using innovative building technologies, providing beneficiaries with safe and dignified shelter.
"Mokoena during his opening speech said the department is committed to eradicating mud houses and providing decent shelter to all citizens.
“The project is a testament to the government's efforts to improve the lives of citizens and provide them with better living conditions, said Mokoena.
The case against a suspect arrested in connection with the murder of two young women in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, has been postponed to January 19, 2026, at the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court.
The women who are aged 21 and 22, respectively and are said to be cousins, were fatally shot and their bodies found lying next to the road in Mamelodi East Extension 17 on Sunday.
A third victim is receiving treatment in the local healthcare facility.
Thirty-eight-year-old Tebogo Mnisi made his first appearance in the dock, looking visibly shaken.
Throughout the proceedings, he kept his head down whilst only looking up to acknowledge the Magistrate, his legal aid representative, as well as the court interpreter.
He is facing five charges, including two counts of premeditated murder, attempted murder, as well as possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
He will remain behind bars until his next appearance, as he has abandoned his bail application.
*This article was first published by SABC News
The South African government has been seeking to negotiate a better tariff deal with the United States, after US President Donald Trump's administration hit the country with a 30-percent import tax in August - the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that his country has advanced to "text-based" negotiations with Washington towards securing a better tariff deal - and hoped one would materialise "soon".
The South African government has been seeking to negotiate a better tariff deal with the United States, after US President Donald Trump's administration hit the country with a 30-percent import tax in August - the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at a press conference in the Swiss capital Bern, Ramaphosa said the negotiations with Washington were "ongoing".
"They are now fortunately, based on text. And once you get to that level, with any government you are said to have made tremendous progress," he told reporters.
"We are looking forward to concluding an agreement fairly soon."
He stressed though that "timeframes when you deal with governments are always things that shift, and so ... soon could be tomorrow; next week; next month".
Ramaphosa was speaking during a state visit to Switzerland, which is itself striving to negotiate a better tariff deal with Washington than the 39 percent it has been hit with.
'OPPORTUNITY OPENER'
Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter sounded less optimistic than her South African counterpart when asked how those talks were going.
The Swiss economic affairs ministry "is following up on talks with the US authorities", she said.
"But in the end, the president of the United States will decide upon the result, and this is why we might need some patience here."
Ramaphosa, whose delegation signed five memorandums of understanding with Switzerland on issues including economic cooperation, suggested that the tariff crunch had an upside.
"What this tariff imposition has done is to make us want to diversify our trade reach, and we as South Africa have been looking at spreading our trade wings more effectively to other markets," he said.
With bilateral trade in goods worth 3.6 billion Swiss francs ($4.5 billion) in 2024, South Africa is Switzerland's second-largest trading partner on the continent.
Switzerland meanwhile regularly ranks among the 10 largest foreign investors in South Africa.
Ramaphosa said he expected "we will be able to raise the trade dealings with Switzerland to a higher level".
"In many ways, whilst imposition of tariffs is quite negative... it also opens up opportunities," he said.
"We should look at it as an opportunity opener."
*This article was first published by IOL News
South Africans are seeing their pay packets grow, but the relief is uneven. Average net salaries climbed for the sixth straight month in September 2025.
Yet a third of the workforce remains unemployed, leaving many still struggling to make ends meet.
“The PayInc Net Salary Index reached R21 428, which was 0.3% up on August’s level and 2.3% higher than a year ago,” says Shergeran Naidoo, Head of Stakeholder Engagements at PayInc.
This is on a nominal level, which includes the effects of inflation.
Across the first nine months of 2025, average net salaries rose 4.3% compared to the same period in 2024, with just over 175 000 additional salaries disbursed.
The PayInc Net Salary Index tracks the average nominal net salaries of approximately 2.1 million earners in South Africa.
But high unemployment casts a shadow over these gains.
“While a welcome development, the official unemployment rate remains stuck at around 33%, as the economy, at current sluggish growth rates, is simply unable to create enough new opportunities to absorb all new entrants into the job market on an annual basis,” says Elize Kruger, independent economist.
The third quarter offered further signs of labour market resilience. Average net salaries rose 0.4% quarter-on-quarter, while roughly 48 000 more salaries were paid.
“The refreshed PayInc Net Salary Index confirms the narrative that 2025 will on average be a good salary year, despite uncertainties and challenges impacting the economic outlook,” says Kruger.
Even with average consumer inflation at 3.1% for the first nine months of 2025, real net salaries are up 1.2% compared to 2024.
However, September marked the third consecutive month that real wages – adjusted to remove inflationary effects – remain below year-ago levels.
Kruger is optimistic.
“With average consumer inflation forecast at 3.3% in 2025 – lower than the 4.4% in 2024 – and industry data suggesting an average salary increase above 5%, 2025 will likely be the second consecutive year of a real increase in earnings,” says Kruger.
Kruger adds that “this is a welcome tailwind for salary earners, supporting consumption expenditure and could assist in softening the impact of global headwinds on the local economy”.
However, Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop cautions that “the distorting effects of inflation give a false picture on the consumers purchasing power based on their disposable income”.
Kruger notes that an average salary increase of around 5% could boost spending, it will only be sustainable if productivity growth keeps pace.
Income patterns also show structural trends, according to the Bureau of Market Research (BMR).
Around 3% of adults rely on investments or pensions as their main income sources, yet together they captured nearly a third of the total rand increase in income over the decade, said BMR.
BMR said education remains important, with secondary and tertiary qualifications linked to higher earnings, but younger cohorts still face weak wage growth.
Age and asset exposure now outweigh education as predictors of income growth, BMR noted.
With unemployment at 33.2% in 2025, wage progression and labour absorption remain limited, leaving many workers dependent on incremental salary gains to stay afloat.
*This article was first published by IOL News
