Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in South Africa  @KASIBCNEWS  The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture is proud to announce the release of the Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) by the Bid Steering Committee (BSC) for parties interested in participating in South Africa’s bid to host a Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in 2026/27 and beyond.   The Bid Steering Committee, appointed by Minister Gayton McKenzie in December 2024, was tasked with managing and guiding South Africa’s F1 bid process. This committee is composed of a diverse group of experts from key sectors working on a volunteer basis, united in their goal to position South Africa as a premier candidate to host this iconic global motorsport event.   The RFEOI document provides detailed terms of reference, including the minimum requirements and expectations for interested parties. This ensures a transparent, competitive, and compliant process aligned with F1’s global standards.   The RFEOI document is public...

GOVERNMENT BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS  @KASIBCNEWS President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 16 January 2025, convened with ministers and senior business leaders to reaffirm the Government Business Partnership’s commitment to achieving their shared ambition of significantly growing the economy.  The focus for 2025 is on accelerating the crucial reforms, operational improvements, and key interventions in the areas of energy, transport and logistics, crime and corruption, and youth employment. In addition to the achievements of Phase 1 of the partnership, the most significant being the successful reduction of load shedding, the partners cited the promulgation of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act (ERA) and the release of the Transnet Network Statement in December as notable examples of policy steps taken by government. The full implementation of these interventions, in addition to the reforms already underway through Operation Vulindlela, have the potential to lift GDP growth to abo...

HANDS OFF ITHALA BANK @KASIBCNEWS  The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has noted with concern the provocative and ill-advised decision by the Prudential Authority to file for the liquidation of Ithala Bank SOC. The IFP strongly objects to this reckless and counter-developmental course of action. We expect the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government to prioritize this matter urgently and explore and pursue all legally available avenues to prevent this attack on the people’s bank. The IFP is deeply concerned by the alleged rogue behavior of the Repayment Administrator, some Johannes Kruger. We demand his immediate removal, especially in light of the court ruling from the last quarter of 2024, which restrains the Repayment Administrator from interfering in Ithala Bank’s daily operations. Ithala Bank was established to support and safeguard the financial interests of the previously disadvantaged and those excluded by major corporate banks. Any move to liquidate Ithala Bank is a direct assault ...

LIQUIDATION OF ITHALA BANK @KASIBCNEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) strongly condemns the decision of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Prudential Authority (PA) to apply for the liquidation of Ithala SOC Limited.  The EFF further condemns the failure of the National Treasury to step in and support Ithala SOC Limited in obtaining a banking license, thereby allowing its liquidation. South Africa’s banking sector remains dominated by white people, who control more than 90% of banking assets.  This concentration of control has been one of the greatest stumbling blocks to the transformation of South Africa’s economy. While the banks exercise unfettered control over the lives of black people, they play an active role in preventing any form of economic transformation and black ownership. Ithala SOC Limited is one of the few financial institutions owned by black people and has been under consistent attack by the SARB.  The SARB has demonstrated no interest in fo...

STILFONTEIN MINES DISASTER @KASIBCNEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is deeply saddened and outraged by the devastating tragedy unfolding in Stilfontein, North West, where 216 illegal miners have been rescued, and 78 bodies have been retrieved following months of government negligence and a disregard for human life.  This disaster is a grim reflection of the incompetence of law enforcement, the failure of intelligence services, and the dehumanisation of black and undocumented individuals in South Africa. Operation Vala Umgodi, launched by the government in December 2023, claimed to target illegal mining, but its execution in this instance was marked by brutality, a lack of foresight, and an inhumane disregard for human dignity.  By cutting off food and water supplies to miners underground, the state effectively created conditions for a humanitarian catastrophe. Despite early warnings, including from the EFF, that this approach would lead to a massacre, the governme...

LIMPOPO CLINIC REOPEN @KASIBCNEWS  The Limpopo Department of Health announces today that the decision to reopen the Chuene Clinic, which was previously set to resume operations following a four-day closure, has been rescinded. The clinic will remain closed indefinitely until further notice. This decision follows a thorough reassessment of the impact that the devastating incidents, including break-ins, robbery, abduction, and sexual assault of the nursing staff, have had on the affected personnel. After careful consideration of the emotional and psychological toll these traumatic events have had on the staff, as well as taking heed of their legitimate safety concerns, the department believes it is in the best interest of both healthcare workers and the community to temporarily halt the clinic’s operations. We acknowledge and deeply regret the trauma that the healthcare workers at Chuene Clinic have experienced. The safety, well-being, and mental health of our healthcare professional...

CEDERBERG GOVERNMENT OF LOCAL UNITY @KASIBCNEWS The Democratic Alliance (DA) expresses deep disappointment in the recent decision by the Cederberg Eerste Residents Association (CE) to form a so-called “Government of Local Unity” with the ANC in the Cederberg Municipality. This is nothing more than a coalition between Cederberg Eerste and the ANC. It is obvious that the CE chose teaming up with the ANC over facing accountability. Again, it shows that by voting for smaller parties, voters are not sure where or to who their votes are going to. While the DA acknowledges the challenges faced in the municipality, we firmly believe this new coalition with the ANC is a major threat to open, honest and transparent service delivery to Cederberg residents. This political ploy is a guise to place greedy, power-hungry politicians’ needs above the interests and well-being of the local residents. The DA will continue to deliver for its voters whether in opposition or in government. We will also hold ...

MATLOSANA WATER CRISES @KASIBCNEWS The DA in Matlosana calls for urgent action as water services break down, leaving residents without reliable water supply. For four consecutive days, water repair interruptions have affected the community while repair teams remain crippled by a severe lack of vehicles. In Ward 39 alone, more than 100 unresolved water-related issues have been reported. These include leaking pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) and faulty water meters, which continue to inflate residents' accounts unfairly and add to the destruction of the infrastructure around the leaks. The lack of operational resources has left the community questioning the municipality’s commitment to basic service delivery. The depth of the crisis was exposed during a routine Council meeting in 2024, where it was revealed by a fellow DA councillor to the MMC of Infrastructure that Klerksdorp's five water teams share only one functioning vehicle, this appeared to be news to the MMC. The lack of t...

CEASEFIRE HAMAS AND ISREAL #KASIBCNEWS  South Africa welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of Israel’s genocidal onslaught on Gaza after Hamas and other armed groups launched an attack on Israel. South Africa calls for the implementation of a just and lasting peace that ensures the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis are protected and promoted. The ceasefire agreement is a crucial first step toward ending the severe humanitarian crisis faced by the 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has deemed to be plausibly genocidal. The ceasefire must lay the basis for a just peace which should include the establishment of a contiguous, independent, and viable Palestinian state. Palestinian sovereignty and territorial integrity must be upheld. It is imperative that no land is annexed in either Gaza or the West Bank following the ceasefire, and that illegal settlement expansion is halte...

MINISTER OF FINANCE,PRE-WEF BREAKFAST BRIEFING SESSION @KASIBCNEWS Introduction Good morning, distinguished guests, colleagues in Cabinet, and partners in business. It is a privilege to welcome you to the Pre-WEF Breakfast Briefing Session. This gathering underscores the importance of collaboration between business and government as we prepare to present South Africa’s story on the global stage. The WEF Annual Meeting brings together a wide array of key global stakeholders. These audiences are keen to understand the opportunities and challenges facing South Africa. It is essential that we align our key messages to showcase our country’s strengths, address misconceptions, and advance our collective priorities. By presenting a unified message, we can enhance South Africa’s standing and influence in the global community. WEF Theme This year’s WEF theme, Collaboration in the Intelligent Age, speaks directly to the era we are entering, one defined by transformative technologies and intercon...

SEXUAL HARASSMENT JUDGE SELBY MBENENGE @KASIBCNEWS The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) expresses its deep concern regarding the recent allegations of sexual harassment levelled against a sitting Judge President of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court of South Africa.  It is alleged that the high-profile Judge President has made sexual advances over a protracted period towards a staff member in his office, and the alleged victim made it clear that she was not interested in any relations with the judge, beyond their professional rapport.  It is our firm view that when someone says no, it should be respected as a definitive refusal, especially in the context of sexual consent, and this applies to married couples and in an intimate relationship. However, the highly respected jurist proceeded with his sexual advances making it highly impossible for the alleged victim to perform her duties. These allegations are profoundly concerning in a society deeply entre...

EFF PARLIAMENT RESHUFFLE @KASIBCNEWS The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has opened its offices on the 15th of January 2025 and wishes all South Africans a prosperous New Year as we continue the noble fight for Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime.  Following the 3rd National People’s Assembly which was held at the NASREC Expo Center between the 13th and the 15th  of December 2024, there have been changes in the leadership component of the EFF, which has led to the realignment of the Whippery of the EFF Caucus in Parliament. Additionally, vacancies have occurred in the parliamentary caucus of the EFF as a result  of voluntary resignations, which have prompted the filling of vacancies.  As a result, the EFF has re-aligned its Parliamentary Caucus to reflect the recent changes in leadership and fill vacancies which came about due to voluntary resignations, to ensure that we remain a strong and efficient opposition in Parliament which will pursue progressive legislation and...

REOPENING OF SCHOOLS @KASIBCNEWS The 2025 school year begins in earnest, inspired by the outstanding performance of the class of 2024. This feat is the work and investment of the ANC which elevated education on the apex of its agenda as a priority of government during the last five years based on the ANC election manifesto. This is the massive feat of 30 years of democracy championed by all role players in the educational space.   The state of education is on the right quality growth path, necessitating a collaborative effort by the school governing bodies, communities and parents to ensure the safety of learners, nutritional school programme, school environment cleanliness, scholar transport safety and stationery for quality state of readiness.  The equality and quality gap between urban and rural schools, affording and improvised schools, learners on social grants, learners from poor and child-headed households is gradually closing by implementing pro-poor policies to e...