Civil society organisations staged a protest outside Durban’s International Convention Centre on Wednesday against a controversial set of rules proposed by the eThekwini municipality which‚ critics say‚ seeks to ban the public and the media from attending meetings and accessing information. The organisations have described the proposed Rules of Order Amendment By-law as unconstitutional and..
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Protesters gather outside Durban ICC over city’s proposed ‘secrecy’ law
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Sisulu shapes up as Cyril’s Number 2
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Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has emerged as the favourite for the position of ANC deputy president despite Cyril Ramaphosa publicly endorsing Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor for the number two position. Although Sisulu’s presidential campaign may be flagging, she has harshly criticised the prevalent bribing of delegates, which she says has undermined the..
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Fate of DA mayors Mashaba and Trollip rests in EFF’s hands
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The leadership of two DA mayors – Nelson Mandela Bay’s Athol Trollip and Johannesburg’s Herman Mashaba – will be put to the test on Thursday when they face votes of no confidence along with their speakers. And while it seems that the EFF is in a powerful position to decide the fate of Trollip and..
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ConCourt wants Sassa to explain alternative grants payment scheme
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The Constitutional Court has asked the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) to provide reasons why an alternative payment scheme, recently suggested by its expert panel, is feasible. The alternative payments scheme was suggested two weeks ago by the expert panel set up by Sassa and Black Sash under the supervision of the court. In..
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ANC Stalwarts: The party is in an untenable political crisis, Zuma must step down
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ANC stalwarts and veterans have once again called for President Jacob Zuma to step down with immediate effect. This call forms one of many resolutions adopted at their national consultative conference which was held over the past three days in Braamfontein. Former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe attended the event, along with several National..
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State capture report a political tool – Zuma
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President Jacob Zuma believes that the public protector’s report on state capture was a political tool meant to be used to deal with certain individuals. In an exclusive interview with ANN7 on Monday evening, Zuma spoke out about the state of capture report by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, in which she recommended that Zuma..
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Treasury senior official calls it quits as Zuma takeover looms
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Michael Sachs, the head of the budgeting office at the national treasury, has reportedly resigned because of interference in its budgeting process by the presidency. The Business Day newspaper reported on Monday morning that “a joint team from the treasury and the Office of the president” are searching for R40-billion in expenditure cuts from the..
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SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS THREATEN TO HALT FOOD PRODUCTION IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T STEP IN TO HELP
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The KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union (Kwanalu) on Thursday admitted that crime was a huge concern for everyone, including farmers, and that safety and security was not just a single-day initiative, but required a proactive response. Kwanalu was responding to threats by some farmers to halt food production to force the government to protect them after the..
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How you will pay for Zuma’s free education plan
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The government is considering drastic budget cuts to fund free higher education, including cutting social grants, freezing the roll-out of RDP houses and increasing taxes. With the country facing an unpre-cedented R50.8‑billion revenue hole, a treasury document has been put before President Jacob Zuma by the presidential fiscal committee, outlining possible areas where budgets could..
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Saudi tensions could increase SA fuel prices
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The recent political upheaval in Saudi Arabia will lead to South African motorists paying an additional 70 to 80 cents more for fuel in December. And there could be a further increase of about 60 cents in January if current tensions persists, says Econometrix chief economist Azar Jammine. Oil, which has traded at about $50..
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The State Security Agency makes second attempt to gag Jacques Pauw’s book
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The State Security Agency has sent yet another cease and desist letter to get The Presidents Keepers withdrawn from bookshelves, but this time the letter was sent to its title editor Russel Martin. Authur and veteran journalist Jacques Pauw announced during the official launch of his book that the SSA’s cease and desist letter gave..
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Treasury letter – Sassa should not have disqualified Post Office
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A letter by National Treasury to acting South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Pearl Bhengu says the agency should not have disqualified the South African Post Office (SAPO) from three possible services in the social grants scheme. Treasury was given a week last Wednesday to review all the deal points of the then-collapsing deal..
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Ben Martins denies Gupta ‘tea party’ with Eskom legal head
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Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Ben Martins has denied meeting suspended Eskom head of legal Suzanne Daniels with Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma in a flat near Melrose Arch in 2017. “I am perplexed by Ms Suzanne Daniels’ testimony to the parliamentary inquiry into Eskom,” he said in a statement on Thursday. “She falsely claimed that..
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Sassa and Sapo agreement date pushed back yet again
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The striking of the elusive deal between the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the South African Post Office (Sapo) has been pushed back yet again. MP’s at a joint meeting in Parliament on Tuesday heard that an offer to the Post Office to build an integrated IT payment system for a new “hybrid”..
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South Africa is held hostage to the toxic politics of the ANC
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If it showed anything, the recent medium-term budget policy statement has proven that South Africa does not have a government capable of dealing honestly and head on with the developmental crisis that the country finds itself in. It will not have such a government for some time, at least not until the 2019 general election..
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