2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS  @KASIBCNEWS  The DA’s Federal Council met yesterday, 27 January, to finalise our Candidate Nomination Regulations in preparation for the upcoming local government elections. This is the culmination of a six-month process during which DA provincial and regional structures submitted proposals to improve and streamline the party’s candidate nomination regulations, following the general election last May. The DA Federal Council also adopted new Candidate Nomination Regulations, ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections. With the revised regulations, the DA today announces that applications will officially open on 01 February 2025, for aspirant candidates who share the DA’s values and are committed to serving their community. We are looking for skilled South Africans who have an interest in rescuing the towns and cities in which they live, from mismanagement and decay, and who are committed to undertaking the responsibility of the critical wo...

KASIBCAFRICA  Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. It covers about 30.3 million square kilometers (11.7 million square miles), including adjacent islands, and accounts for about 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area. With a population of over 1.3 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 16% of the world's human population. ### Key Facts about Africa: 1. **Geography**: Africa is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Southern Ocean to the south. It is home to diverse landscapes, including deserts (e.g., the Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world), savannas, rainforests, mountains (e.g., Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa), and rivers (e.g., the Nile, the longest river in the world). 2. **Countries**: Africa comprises 54 recognized sovereign states, including Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa,...

PHUMELELA MUNICIPALITY @KASIBCNEWS The DA demands that the MEC of Health, Mr Monyatso Mahlatsi, provide an urgent indication of when the department will fill vacant positions and reintroduce the mobile clinic services in Phumelela.  This after the department’s decision to discontinue mobile clinics in Phumelela Municipality, which will be detrimental to rural and isolated communities in the district. The Department initially had two mobile clinics serving the community and surrounding towns of Warden and Vrede that helped to alleviate some of the strain on the local clinic. The DA recently conducted oversight in the area and discovered that the two mobile vehicles that were initially used to serve as mobile clinics have since been parked at the Vrede hospital and were no longer being used to service these communities. Residents informed the DA that out of the six nurses allocated to operate the mobiles, only one of them was left in service following the termination of the...

NDWEDWE MUNICIPALITY @KASIBCNEWS  The Democratic Alliance in Ndwedwe Municipality is deeply alarmed and outraged by the rising levels of crime plaguing our communities, particularly the recent spate of violent incidents in the Noodsberg Ekho area. On Saturday, 13 January 2025, two men, Mr. Sihle Dlamini and Mr. Nkosi Magwaza, were brutally gunned down by unknown assailants outside Ngcobo Shop at around midnight. This tragedy marks yet another senseless loss of life in our municipality. Shockingly, just weeks prior, on 1 January 2025, Mr. Pius Chiyi was shot while celebrating New Year’s Day at his home. Thankfully, he survived the attack but continues to endure medical treatment. These incidents are not isolated. Reports of firearm-related violence in Ndwedwe have become disturbingly frequent. Gunshots echo through our rural communities almost daily, creating an environment of fear and instability. As the DA, we propose the following measures to address the root causes of crime in r...

MANGAUNG METRO R2.5MILLION @KASIBCNEWS SALGBC Slapped Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality With Staggering R2.5 Million Retrospective Payment Award of 13 Unfairly Dismissed Etsose Batjha Project Employees.  Afrikan Alliance of Social Democrats Cllr Lucky Mongale warned the City's Council and Residents against the misinformed Etsose Batjha Project (EBP) report that was prepared by inept Corporate Services HOD: Mokete Duma and Pule Molalenyane's Pawn & City Manager Sello More for MK CREDENTIALIST Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi to table in Council.  Unfortunately, the dunderheads ANC, ATM & AIC Mangaung council caucus led by Ward 28 Cllr & Council Whip Vumile Nikelo voted for the report as tabled in December, 14 2023. That vote has now caused Mangaung Metro R 2 504 675.00 in retrospective payments of the 13 EBP for the period between February 2024 to January 2025. SALGBC Commissioner Jana Dell agreed with Cllr Lucky Mongale that the City has somehow created the reason...

JABULANI DUMANE CLINIC @KASIBCNEWS The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled at the state of the Jabulani Dumane Clinic CHC, in Ekurhuleni. What’s meant to be a 24/7 facility that serves about 9 000 to 10 000 patients per month find themselves at the mercy of alarming shortages and infrastructure challenges. The issues the clinic faces range from staffing- to medicine and equipment shortages. It is our view that this clinic alongside the people it is meant to serve has been left to rot. If this is the Gauteng Department of Health’s version of “quality health services and ensure a caring climate for service users” they should bow their heads in shame. The clinics issues are wide ranging, and after engagements with staff, and a prolonged oversight visit we can confirm the following: Staffing shortages are a problem Nurses are forced to work double shifts due to insufficient staffing; Critical shortages in professional nurses, enrolled nurses, and pharmacists; and Inadequate administrative...

DEFEND ITHALA SOC @KASIBCNEWS IFP YOUTH BRIGADE COMMENDS KZN PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT FOR ITS RESOLUTE STANCE TO DEFEND ITHALA SOC The IFP Youth Brigade unequivocally commends the Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thamsanqa Ntuli, for his unwavering commitment and bold leadership in defending the Ithala SOC. As the IFP Youth Brigade, we fully support the efforts of the Premier and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government in their fight to protect this historic financial institution from the unwarranted and ill-conceived actions of the Prudential Authority (PA) and Reserve Authority (RA). Ithala SOC has been a beacon of hope and empowerment for marginalized communities in KwaZulu-Natal. Its legacy, deeply rooted in the vision of the IFP's Founding President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, embodies the principles of economic justice and inclusion. For decades, Ithala has been the only financial institution providing essential banking services to rural and underserved areas, empowering s...

PWC INVESTIGATE IDT R800MILLION  TENDER @KASIBCNEWS Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macphersony has welcomed the Department’s appointment of PwC to investigate the circumstances surrounding an R800-million Oxygen Plant tender at the IDT. This follows IDT’s admission last year that the Oxygen Plant tender—where three companies were appointed despite two lacking South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) registration—should be investigated. The independent investigation, which needs to be completed within eight weeks, will,among other tasks, determine whether any irregularities occurred during the process to award the tender and whether any officials need to be held accountable. Following allegations made last year regarding possible irregularities in the awarding of the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen Plant bids, Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has welcomed the Department’s appointment of PwC to conduct a forensic in...

SASSA EXPIRED GOLD CARDS @KASIBCNEWS The DA has been inundated by worried South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries who fear that they will not receive their social grants, either because their SASSA Gold Cards are set to stop working at the end of February or because they are unable to verify their details for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant as SASSA’s verification system has been temporarily suspended. The DA will write to Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe to request that no Gold Cards expire before all of them have been replaced, and that interim verification measures be introduced as a matter of urgency to ensure that no deserving recipients are left in the cold due to SASSA failures. The DA further encourages SASSA Gold Card users to switch from Postbank to other reputable and reliable banks to receive their grants. The switch to the Black Cards has been chaotic, with SASSA beneficiaries often being sent from pillar to post just to return home e...

CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT @KASIBCNEWS Please see attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Dr Chris Hunsinger MP @KASIBCAUDIO  The DA will request an urgent Parliamentary Portfolio Committee hearing on the ongoing and growing breakdowns of service at South Africa’s major airports. Minister Creecy and the senior management of ACSA must be called to report to committee on the scope of the brewing crisis, and their plans to address it. It is unacceptable that flights are being grounded at South African airports due to failures by entities within the Department of Transport. It simply cannot continue. This week, flights were delayed and diverted at Cape Town International Airport due to a fuel pump failure under the management of Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Earlier this month, alarming reports revealed that ACSA has fuel supply at OR Tambo International Airport only until the end of January 2025, raising grave concerns about operational stability in February. Mini...

   SANDF SOLDIERS GUNNED DOWN DRC @KASIBCNEWS The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the nine South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers who tragically lost their lives during peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  These brave men and women, deployed as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMDRC) and the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission (MONUSCO), paid the ultimate price in service to our nation. We honour their courage and sacrifice.  The EFF is deeply disturbed by the lack of urgency and respect shown by the SANDF in informing the public and the families of the fallen soldiers. It is unacceptable that South Africans were forced to rely on foreign sources for news of this devastating loss, as SANDF delayed in releasing critical information.  This demonstrates a glaring failure in leadership and cris...

  ANC FIRST LEKGOTLA 2025 @KASIBCNEWS Today, the Three-Day National Lekgotla of the African National Congress got under way. It began with  President Cyril Ramaphosa’s presentation of a political overview outlining the strategic context and  priorities to guide the discussions and deliberations of this important gathering, along with messages of support from our Alliance Partners.   The Lekgotla, which brings together the ANC leadership, alliance partners, and other stakeholders, is an opportunity to evaluate progress, address challenges, and chart a way forward in advancing the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) and the aspirations of the Freedom Charter.  Setting the Context for the Lekgotla  President Ramaphosa’s political overview emphasized the broad national and global factors shaping this year’s Lekgotla, including the theme for 2025: “The Year of Renewal to Make the ANC a More Effective Instrument of the People to Achieve the Vision of the Fr...

RUSSIA DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS @KASIBCNEWS  The officials exchanged views on the current situation and prospects for developing international economic relations as well as on the growing role of SCO member-states therein Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk held a working meeting in Moscow with Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Nurlan Yermekbayev. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the current situation and prospects for developing international economic relations, in which the SCO member states play a growing role. Alexey Overchuk advised the SCO Secretary-General on the work during the Russian chairmanship of the SCO Heads of Government Council in 2024–2025, stressing the Russian side's focus on giving a new impetus to cooperation within the organisation on the economic track....