Latest figures show that over one million deaths a year worldwide are directly caused by AMR.
A group of infectious disease and public health experts are calling on the Department of Health and Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to reintroduce a national action plan addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
An open letter from over 70 doctors, scientists and public health advisors states that antibiotic resistance is becoming a “growing threat” in the country and poses a threat to universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance.
Latest figures show that over one million deaths a year worldwide are directly caused by AMR. This number is projected to increase. Nearly five million people die with an antibiotic-resistant infection. Over the next 25 years, nearly 40 million people are projected to die from AMR.
The second edition of the South African Antimicrobial Resistance National Strategy Framework, from 2018-2024, has expired. The plan acknowledged that antimicrobial resistance is “a serious and growing global health security risk”.
The open letter also called on the department to reinstate a ministerial advisory committee on AMR or to establish a similar scientific body.
“The lack of a robust scientific advisory body limits the government’s capacity to develop evidence-based policies,” the letter reads. The establishment of a scientific body would “empower the government to make strategic, data-driven decisions to combat this pressing health threat effectively”.
The former Ministerial Advisory Committee was disbanded in November 2023.
Marc Mendelson, an infectious disease specialist at Groote Schuur Hospital who has been outspoken about the threat of AMR for many years, said: “AMR is a current pandemic which is wreaking havoc, is not being attended to properly and not being taken seriously enough in South Africa.”
Mendelson said that there are “more and more people having to be treated for highly resistant bacterial infections in our healthcare system”. AMR leads to an increase in morbidity, mortality, hospital costs, and also has socio-economic consequences, he said. Common medical interventions such as surgery “becomes much riskier” with AMR.
Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said that the department would only comment once the letter was formally presented, which is expected to happen at 5pm on Thursday.
*This article was first published by GroundUp.
Treasury may withhold funds if SASSA does not meet its conditions.
The National Treasury could withhold funds to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) if it finds that conditions attached to its budget allocation are not being met.
SASSA CEO Themba Matlou on Wednesday told Parliament’s portfolio committee on social development that they have already started implementing a review process on social grants to comply with Treasury’s requirements.
The agency must submit quarterly progress reports before the end of July and October. Reports must include the number of grants reviewed, suspended or cancelled; savings; and any implementation challenges. SASSA must also strengthen its income verification, biometric systems, and other database cross-verifications.
According to the Treasury’s budget allocation letter, SASSA must: introduce bank income checks on several grants; conduct large-scale database checks at least twice a year; finalise agreements with SARS and NSFAS to verify beneficiaries’ income; and intensify biometric checks on suspicious applications immediately.
These reviews have already been implemented for different grants. Beneficiaries affected so far include those receiving child support, old age, disability or care dependency grants who are flagged for undisclosed income or using alternative forms of identification. These individuals will have their grants withheld until they complete an in-person verification and review at a SASSA office. This has already caused challenges for some beneficiaries.
The agency will also run mandatory cross-checks with departments like Home Affairs and Correctional Services, as well as the Unemployment Insurance Fund. These checks are expected to increase.
About 45% of the population depends on social grants. On Wednesday, MPs voiced concerns about how SASSA’s new conditions and reviews are impacting poor households.
The Department of Social Development, which oversees SASSA, has been allocated R285-billion for social grants in the 2025/26 year. This includes money for grant increases announced in April. However, the allocation drops to R260-billion in 2026/27 due to the planned discontinuation of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
MPS VOICE CONCERNS
Committee chairperson Bridget Masango (DA) said she has received “floods and floods of communication” from people struggling to access their grants due to SASSA’s reviews.
“I can already give you preliminary experiences of beneficiaries and would-be beneficiaries of these life-saving grants, as it’s delaying the payment of the grants and keeping them in an uncertain space,” she said.
Paulnita Marais (EFF) criticised the verification process for disproportionately affecting rural households. She spoke about elderly caregivers who cannot visit SASSA offices for in-person verification because they either can’t afford the travel costs or have no SASSA office nearby.
“More and more people are sending us emails, WhatsApps and SMSs” about difficulties with SRD verification and in-person reviews. “The verification is good for what you’re doing… but what about the people struggling with it?” she asked.
Alexandra Abrahams (DA) said SASSA should meet beneficiaries halfway. “You’re asking them to present themselves, but it costs them at least R150 in urban areas to get to an office, if not more in rural areas. So, what happens if someone says, ‘I actually don’t have money to present myself’? Are you just going to cut their grants?” she asked.
Responding to the concerns, Matlou said SASSA is aware of the public’s frustration.
“Throughout customer and beneficiary education, we do emphasise that citizens have a responsibility to assist the government to save money,” he said, adding that beneficiaries need to notify SASSA when their financial circumstances have changed.
Matlou committed to submitting regular reports to the committee on the implementation of the review process.
SASSA’s acting chief information officer Jabulani Makondo said the agency was rolling out self-service kiosks at some offices and is developing systems to allow for remote identity verification for beneficiaries whose grants have been withheld.
“The bigger plan is to make biometrics compulsory for all applicants, whether you are trying to access the social assistance programme with or without identification,” Makondo said.
*This article was first published by GroundUp.
JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Johannesburg said it was approached by "anonymous" political parties who have pledged their support in its bid to remove Mayor Dada Morero and his executive.
On Thursday, the DA Johannesburg council's programming committee accepted the DA's motions of no confidence in Morero and council chief whip, Sithembiso Zungu.
Extraordinary council meetings have been set down for next week, Monday and Tuesday, when the motions will be voted on.
The African National Congress (ANC)-led governing coalition currently has more numbers in council, however, the DA's caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, said many parties were unhappy with the deteriorating state of the city.
"It's very interesting that people assume that everybody is comfortable with the status quo in terms of status delivery. When we raised the concern that we are putting the motion of no confidence, we were approached by parties who told us they would like to remain anonymous and that would support the motion."
A third motion of no confidence in the council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu, filed by Al Jama-ah, will also be put to a vote between Monday and Tuesday.
Al Jama-ah caucus leader, Thapelo Amad, said that the ActionSA councillor and her party had consistently undermined the governing coalition.
"They have never voted for one adjustment budget, they voted against the adjustment budget. Two, they have never voted for the actual budget, they voted against it. Three, they never voted for the loan to empower the executive so they can fulfil their mandate in terms of operationalisation of that budget."
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
The Pietermaritzburg High Court has set a date for the trial of two men accused of the killing former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) secretary-general and Umzimkhulu councillor, Sindiso Magaqa.
Magaqa was killed in an ambush in 2017.
The trial is set for the 6th to the 30th of October.
The two accused, Sbonela Myeza and Mbulelo Mpofana, have been served with new indictments after their co-accused, Sibusiso Ncengwa – pleaded guilty earlier this month.
Ncengwa’s case has been separated from the other accused, and he will be sentenced on the 30th of this month.
In his plea explanation he mentioned the role of various people in the murder plot.
The Magaqa family says the are happy with the progress made in the matter.
Magaqa’s brother, Lwazi, comments on the latest developments: “As the fourth accused has pleaded guilty, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Because all along since 2017, we have been in the dark, but now as names have been mentioned we are hoping that justice is going to take its course. We are hoping that everything is going to go well.”
*This article was first published by SABC News
By Abigail Visagie
Three suspects were arrested during a police raid in the quarters of Welkom Gold Mine on Thursday.
Commander of Operation Vala Umgodi, Colonel Nonthando Ndzotyana said a team consisting of the Tactical Response Unit, Department of Home Affairs, and SSG Security Company raided the Kopanang Gold Plant employees quarters in Virginia, Free State, following a tip-off.
They were searching for trespassers with the aim of rooting out illegal activities taking place in the male quarters, including alleged trafficking of foreign national women.
“We were tipped off by our sources that females were seen at the males’ quarters. Bear in mind that no females should be found within the quarters, nor should anyone be found inside without a valid permit,” said Ndzotyana.
According to Ndzotyana, two females (foreign nationals) were found trespassing in the mine’s male quarters, as well as a male suspect found in possession of an unlicensed firearm, dagga, and a presumed stolen SANDF uniform.
The suspects are expected to appear before the local magistrate court soon.
By Selloane Khalane
“I have not resigned from uMkhonto weSizwe and I will never resign from uMkhonto
weSizwe,” declared former Secretary-General of the MK Party, Floyd Shivambu, during a
media briefing at Mhulu Hotel in Midrand on Thursday.
Drawing from the political playbook of MK leader Jacob Zuma, Shivambu asserted that
despite announcing a nationwide consultation process, he remains a committed member
of the MK party. The consultations, he said, will engage citizens, businesses, academics,
and religious organisations on whether South Africa needs a new political formation.
Quoting the MK party constitution, Shivambu explained: “The constitution of uMkhonto weSizwe
says that members are not allowed to participate in the activities and programs of political
parties whose aims and objectives are opposed to the objectives of uMkhonto weSizwe.”
He added pointedly, “If uMkhonto weSizwe believes that going to listen to the people violates
the constitution, it will tell me that.”
Shivambu’s remarks come amid growing tensions within the MK Party. In July 2024, the African
National Congress (ANC) expelled Jacob Zuma after he publicly endorsed the MK Party ahead
of the May 29 national elections. Despite leading MK, Zuma later wrote to the ANC requesting
reinstatement of his membership.
On 3 June, Shivambu was removed from his role as Secretary-General and told he would be
redeployed to Parliament. He claims the demotion was based on a fabricated intelligence report
accusing him of plotting to oust Zuma. Initially instructed not to disclose the reasons for his
removal, Shivambu said recent statements from other MK leaders had compelled him to speak
out.
Although party officials blamed his demotion on his controversial trip to Malawi to meet
self-proclaimed prophet and fugitive Shepherd Bushiri, Shivambu dismissed this as a
smokescreen. According to him, internal party battles and financial mismanagement were the
real issues.
“One of the reasons cited was that I wanted to use Parliament to take over the party,” Shivambu
said. “The president of uMkhonto weSizwe, whom I dearly respect, is surrounded by political
scoundrels who opportunistically exploit his kindness—and sometimes his gullibility, which
comes with age—using fake intelligence reports to mislead him. Their goal is to steal from the
MK Party, and they are doing so right now.”
He accused unnamed individuals of looting party funds, stating that at least R7 million is being
withdrawn monthly from MK coffers without accountability. “Anyone who raises concerns about
this theft is removed,” he said. “There’s no treasury general who resigned—they were removed.”
Shivambu announced the formation of a committee to guide consultations and assess whether
a new political party should be established. “We are not rushing. We are going to listen to the
people.”
His political trajectory has been anything but quiet. In August 2024, he resigned from the
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)—a party he co-founded in 2013 alongside Julius
Malema—to join MK as national organiser and Secretary-General.
While his split from Malema was highly publicised, Shivambu insists he has no regrets about
leaving the EFF. “I have tremendous respect for President Jacob Zuma. I’ve learned more about
politics in the past six months than I did in 10 years as the deputy president of the EFF,” he told
journalists.
Shivambu’s fall from grace within MK became evident when Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma,
publicly criticised his leadership on X (formerly Twitter). Responding to the criticism, Shivambu
quipped, “We will speak against people who take drugs and tweet at night.”
He rejected the notion of a political party being run as a personal or family enterprise. “A political
party is not a family project or a tool for self-enrichment,” he said. He also addressed claims that
he was difficult to work with, saying his refusal to attend private meetings was often
misinterpreted. “Comrades want private meetings so they can be protected when they do
wrong,” he said.
Responding to allegations that he had secured funding from Malawi to finance a new political
venture, Shivambu was unequivocal: “There is no funding from Malawi.”
Despite all the internal strife, Shivambu maintained his admiration for Zuma and criticised Judge
Raymond Zondo for the former president’s incarceration following the Zondo Commission’s
state capture inquiry.
As Floyd Shivambu embarks on what may be the early stages of a new political project, his path
reflects the turbulent and deeply personal nature of South African politics, one where loyalty,
ambition, and ideology often clash in the public arena.
