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....

EGYPT WIFI CALLING ROLLOUT @KASIBCNEWS Egypt has officially rolled out a new service that allows mobile phone calls to be made via fixed internet networks (WIFI-calling), with the goal of enhancing call quality and improving overall telecommunications services. In a conference held on Monday, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat explained that the service addresses network coverage challenges in areas with high population density, narrow streets, and tall buildings, where providing sufficient mobile network coverage is often difficult.   “WIFI-calling makes it easier for users to send and receive calls with good quality,” Talaat stated during the announcement.   The new service, called WIFI calling, addresses the long-standing issue of mobile network coverage, especially in areas where users struggle to get a stable signal, such as those living in lower floors of buildings or in densely populated urban areas.   The service was developed over th...

RUSSIA MANUFACTERING INVESTMENT IN ZIMBABWE @KASIBCNEWS Deputy Minister Garipov was in the company of representatives of several companies in the agricultural sector involved in dairy, genetics, breeding among others. After the meeting, VP Chiwenga and his delegation toured some of the companies. “For the meeting with the Vice President we invited a number of companies to demonstrate their capacities,” said Deputy Minister Garipov.  “The specific dimensions where we feel this cooperation could be fruitful is areas such as refining equipment production and selling equipment as well as organising localisation of equipment manufacturing as well as help in the knowledge transfer.” Speaking afterwards, VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe was open for business and is ready to open new avenues of cooperation with Russia. “There is huge potential for investment in agriculture and many other sectors,” said VP Chiwenga. “We are already cooperating with the Russians in many areas so what we want is to ...

GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT NIGERIA @KASIBCNEWS  The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, CON has reiterated the commitment of the Tinubu-led administration to develop the grassroots for sustainable development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda. SGF made the disclosure while receiving in audience a delegation from the National Association of Former Elected Local Government Council Chairmen of Nigeria (NALGON) Emeritus led by its Chairman, Rt. Hon. Shaba Ibrahim in Abuja. He underscored the premium the administration places on bringing development to the grassroots through the Local Government Autonomy and other initiatives for meaningful development across the country. In his words: “grassroots development is the cornerstone of this administration. President Tinubu is committed to ensuring that the quality of life at the local level receives the needed attention. This is why he emphasised on the actualization of the Local Government autonomy”. Senator Aku...

SUSPECTS ARRESTED AFTER SHOOTOUT WITH JMPD @KASIBCNEWS JMPD TACTICAL RESPONSE UNIT APPREHENDS SUSPECTS AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE AND SHOOTOUT IN TURFFONTEIN  The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit successfully apprehended three suspects following a high-speed chase and a shootout on Thursday, 23 January 2025, in Turffontein.  Whilst conducting crime prevention patrols, officers observed a blue Hyundai Accent driving at high speeds. Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, the driver disregarded the officers' signals and fled the scene, endangering other motorists. A pursuit ensued, during which the suspects fired shots at the pursuing officers.  The suspects continued their reckless driving, where they collided with a maroon Renault Kwid at the intersection of Kliprivier Drive and Turf Club Road. Despite this collision, the suspects persisted in their attempt to evade arrest.  The pursuit finally concluded at the corner of Garden Road ...

R1BILLION TENDER FRAUD RAID ON DA JP SMITH OFFICES @KASIBCNEWS   The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes with serious concern the raid conducted by the Police Commercial Crimes Unit on the offices of Democratic Alliance (DA) Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.  This is said to be part of an  investigation into housing tender fraud within the City of Cape Town, exposing yet another layer of corruption within the DA administration.  The raid comes as part of ongoing probes into fraudulent activities in the construction sector, with investigators targeting the offices of Mayoral Committee Members JP Smith and Xanthea Limberg. This follows charges of fraud already laid against Malusi Booi and others, the former DA Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, linked to tenders valued at over R1 billion.  The DA-led municipality has now been implicated in what can only be described as a deep and systemic web of corruption, e...

R100BILLION BBBEE FUND @KASIBCNEWS The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) wishes to contextualise the objectives of the Transformation Fund and the process underway to generate discussion and arrive at consensus for its eventual implementation. This Fund is a critical initiative that advances South Africa’s constitutional commitment to economic redress and inclusive growth, which the dtic is bound by. Rooted in Section 9(2) of the Constitution, it aims to promote shared equality through legislative and other measures to empower black-owned enterprises and small, medium, and microenterprises (SMMEs). The Fund also reflects the statement of intent of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which emphasizes fostering redress and inclusive economic growth. The GNU’s transformative agenda seeks to dismantle systemic barriers to economic participation, ensuring that historically-disadvantaged communities are afforded equal opportunities to thrive in all sectors of socie...

R100BILLION TRANSFORMATIVE FUND @KASIBCNEWS  The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the proposal for a R100 billion Transformation Fund as a bold and transformative initiative. This proposal gives concrete form and substance to our country’s constitutional principles of equality and redress. The proposed Fund seeks to address critical barriers faced by black entrepreneurs, particularly with limited access to finance, markets, and technical support.  This initiative aligns with the ANC’s broader commitment to inclusive growth, job creation, and addressing historical inequalities, as outlined in our National Conference resolutions by empowering previously marginalized communities.  This is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering Black entrepreneurs, addressing market failures, and fostering inclusive economic growth.  The proposed Fund focuses on entrepreneurship, procurement, and franchise finance, with a target of ensuring 40% ownership and management by...

  AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS LEKGOTLA 2025 @KASIBCEVENTS The African National Congress (ANC) will hold its annual National Lekgotla from Saturday, 25 January to Monday, 27 January 2025. The Lekgotla serves as a critical platform for the ANC to review the implementation of its 2024 priorities and develop the organization’s Programme of Action for 2025.  ADVERTISE HERE @R2500.00  The Lekgotla will focus on the implementation of the ANC Manifesto, the renewal and rebuilding of the organization, and strategic interventions to tackle pressing socio-economic challenges.  Discussions will emphasise inclusive economic growth, basic service delivery, and the fight against poverty, corruption, and inequality. 

Abomashonisa Overcharge Interest @KASIBCNEWS  This season is challenging for some consumers to the extent that they need to apply for credit to meet their financial obligations such as school fees, school uniforms, transport and rent, among others.  The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs urges consumers who will be borrowing this month to be wise and ensure that credit providers do not violate their rights. Unregistered credit providers such as Abomashonisa overcharge interest, and take consumers’ identity documents and SASSA cards to enforce payment. This is unfair business practice, says Ms Milly Viljoen, Director: Education, Awareness and Stakeholder Relations.  Sometimes, when consumers’ credit applications decline, consumers resort to borrowing from Abomashonisa.   However, this does not help the consumer because of the exorbitant interest rates that are charged by these unregistered credit providers.  If your application is declined by all registered ...

GAUTENG MARKETS ROTTEN FOOD @KASIBCNEWS Farmers are losing hundreds of rands of fresh produce at Gauteng's markets in Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Vereeniging. This is due to lack of proper and regular maintenance of equipment like cooling and cold rooms. Residents are at risk of food shortages as a result. These fresh produce markets are controlled by municipalities and sadly impractical for residents who face the obstacle of long distances to access these markets. Residents also have an added fear of being mugged for their cash and valuables, while the bathrooms are not in an appropriate state. Additionally, due to the lack of effective cooling and cold room structures, farmers face an even bigger hurdle of a lack of efficient delivery facilities, with the shortage of ethylene ripening rooms further negatively affecting food distribution. The Institute of Market Agency of South Africa (IMASA) has been fighting for years to have these facilities upgraded. Small-scale farmers struggl...

SADTU KWA-ZULU NATAL @KASIBCNEWS The DA notes with concern the disruption of both days of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature School Functionality oversight programme, by picketing members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU). The inspections, attended by Members from all political parties represented in the Legislature (view  here ), saw SADTU supporters surround vehicles at Dabeka Secondary School in Inanda yesterday - forcing them to come to a stop. The unpleasant experience led to the entire day’s oversight programme being delayed. ADVERTISE HERE @R2500.00 Meanwhile, yesterday on arrival at Umlazi Comprehensive Tech, the DA observed approximately 100 SADTU members gathered on the school premises. While picketing is legal, the Gatherings Act does not allow more than 15 people to assemble. This, unless they have followed due process to secure all permissions to be able to picket if there are more people. The DA has since established via the DoE District Command...

United States of America’s withdrawal from Paris Agreement @KASIBCNEWS  The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has expressed profound regret over the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement again. The adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, 15 years after the withdrawal of the United States from the Kyoto Protocol, was a victory for the multilateral effort to curb climate change, and reflects the scientific consensus on severity of the climate crisis and the urgency of action. The Paris Agreement is premised on a common and very strong understanding that we all have a common responsibility to act, whilst noting that nations over time have contributed to the problem differently, and have varied capabilities to respond. “The Paris Agreement represents the most flexible and dynamic approach to addressing climate change. The US played an important role in the negotiation of the Paris Agreement, and the withdrawal ...

MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATS 2024 @KASIBCNEWS Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Ms Phumzile Mgcina Director General, Mr Jacob Mbele  Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr David Msiza  Leadership of Organised Business – Minerals Council SA  Leadership of Organised Labour – AMCU, NUM, NUMSA, Solidarity and UASA Professional Associations – AMMSA, SACMA, and SAIMM Representatives of the MHSC  Members of the Media   Let us start by expressing our gratitude to you for joining us today as we officially release the 2024 Occupational Health and Safety Statistics of the South African mining industry. Just two days ago, on the 21st of January, we were commemorating the sixty fifth (65th) anniversary of the Coalbrook disaster which killed four hundred and thirty five (435) mineworkers. Twenty six years later, in 1986, one hundred seventy-seven (177) mineworkers lost their lives during the Kinross mine disaster, while a further one hundred and four (104) mineworkers...