SASSA GOLD CARDS @KASIBCNEWS

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies assures the public that the social grants payment cycle of 04 – 06 March 2025 will continue normally as the SASSA gold cards will still be valid. The gold cards will only be disabled at 17:00 (5pm) on 20 March 2025. 

The Department thanks beneficiaries who have heeded the call to exchange their cards and encourages SASSA beneficiaries who have not yet swopped their cards to do so urgently ahead of the extended deadline of 20 March 2025 using the outlets availed by the Postbank. 

Beneficiaries may follow the below process to look up card replacement sites: 

▪ Dial *120*335# ▪ Reply with (1) to continue ▪ Reply with the province number (of the province in which they want to look up card replacement sites) 

▪ Reply with the number of the municipality. 

Then all the card replacement sites under that municipality will appear. 

A total of 854 248 cards had been issued as of Friday, 28 February 2025. This signifies an increase of more than 100 thousand cards that were issued in the last week alone. 

In Gauteng, which is one of the three provinces with large beneficiary numbers, Postbank has already achieved a 58 percent card replacement conversion level of the total number of beneficiaries that it must issue with the new black cards. 

This is an encouraging number in the face of all challenges in the cards replacement process that Postbank is addressing. 

The Department wishes to reassure the public that no social grant beneficiary will be left out of the payments even those who may miss the deadline. 

SASSA and Postbank are committed to ensuring that there are no interruptions to the payments of grants. There is therefore no need to panic.  

GAUTENG LAW ENFORCEMENT ARREST 283 SUSPECTS @KASIBCNEWS 

The Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), in collaboration with the Gauteng Traffic Wardens (GTWs) and the South African Police Service (SAPS), executed a series of high-density crime-fighting operations this past weekend, leading to the arrest of over 283 suspects across Gauteng. 

The arrests, made between Friday, 28 February and Sunday, 2 March 2025, are part of the provincial government’s Integrated Crime Prevention Plan, aimed at dismantling criminal networks and reclaiming communities from lawlessness. From drunk driving and drug possession to illegal mining and business robbery, law enforcement agencies tackled crime head-on, ensuring that offenders were brought to book. 

These arrests come after the operations which took place across the five regions of Gauteng. The City of Johannesburg with twenty arrests (20) for driving under the influence of alcohol, public drinking, undocumented persons and possession of drugs amongst other cases. 

Seven hundred and fifty (750) people and two hundred and fifty-five (255) vehicles were searched in the city. The City of Ekurhuleni yielded eighty-three (83) arrests for undocumented persons, selling liquor without license, possession of drugs, drinking and driving, public drinking, common assault, assault GBH, police interference, dealing in dagga, smoking dagga in public, possession of substance suspected to be drugs and rape. Moreover, eight hundred and ninety-three (893) people and three hundred and nine (309) vehicles were searched. 

While the City of Tshwane yielded seventy-nine (79) arrests for undocumented persons and public drinking, dealing with dagga, assault GBH, selling liquor without a license, possession of drugs and reckless and negligent driving. 

The West Rand District Municipality saw the arrest fifty-three (53) suspects arrested for public unrest, possession of drugs, possession of suspected drugs, illegal mining, drunk driving, business robbery, and undocumented persons amongst other things. 

Sedibeng District Municipality yielded forty-eight (48) arrests for drinking and driving, possession of drugs, illegal cigarettes and undocumented persons amongst other things. One thousand and eighty-seven (1087) and three hundred and sixty-three (363) people were searched in the Southern region. 

“The Gauteng Traffic Police commends the arrests made by the law enforcement officials during the weekend long operations. 

Crime patterns such as drunk driving, public drinking, domestic violence and drug dealing tend to increase during this time, hence it is crucial for law enforcement officials to collaborate, and end prevent these incidents. Law enforcement Agencies will not tolerate any lawlessness; hence these operations will continue throughout the province,” said the Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, Mr Sello Maremane.  

Happy Birthday, CIC Julius Malema @KASIBCNEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) extends revolutionary birthday wishes to our President and Commander-in-Chief (CIC), Julius Malema, a fearless leader whose life has been dedicated to the total emancipation of the African people. 

Julius Sello Malema was born on 3 March 1981 in Seshego, Limpopo, and entered politics at the young age of nine when he joined the African National Congress (ANC) through its youth wing, the Masupatsela pioneer movement. 

He eventually joined the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) of which he became the chairperson if his branch in 1995. His political activism gained momentum in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the chairperson of its Limpopo branch in 1997 and later the national president in 2001. 

His leadership in COSAS was marked by militant student activism, and challenging the exclusionary and unequal nature of the South African education system. Malema was subsequently elected chairperson of the ANCYL in Limpopo, and by 2008, he had ascended to the position of ANCYL President. As leader of the Youth League, he reignited the radical traditions of the ANC, placing economic freedom, land expropriation, and nationalisation at the centre of political discourse. His call for the expropriation of land without compensation and his critique of white monopoly capital made him a target of the reactionary forces within the ANC. 

Despite his commitment to the cause of the oppressed, Malema was expelled from the ANC in 2012 for his radical positions. 

However, this did not deter his revolutionary spirit. Recognising the urgent need for a truly militant and uncompromising vehicle for economic freedom, he and other revolutionaries founded the Economic Freedom 

Fighters (EFF) in 2013. Under his leadership, the EFF became the third-largest political party in South Africa within its first year of existence, fundamentally shifting the country’s political landscape. 

Malema’s political contributions have been instrumental in ensuring the land question remains a key issue in South African politics. Through the EFF, he has also championed free decolonised education, the insourcing of workers, the protection of African migrants, and the nationalisation of key economic sectors. 

Beyond the borders of South Africa, Malema has become a leading voice in the global fight against imperialism, neoliberal exploitation, and the continued plundering of Africa’s resources by Western powers. He has fearlessly confronted oppressive forces on the continent and the world stage, advocating for African unity, economic selfdetermination, and an end to neocolonial domination. 

In Parliament, Malema has served as a Member of the National Assembly since 2014, using this platform to hold those in power accountable with his sharp intellect, fearless rhetoric, and commitment to the working class and the poor. His presence in the legislative space has disrupted complacency and exposed the failures of those who seek to maintain the status quo. Despite his demanding role in politics, 

Malema remains a dedicated family man and a leader who is deeply connected to his community. His generosity, love for his people, and commitment to uplifting the poor are a testament to his belief in collective progress. On this day, we celebrate not just the life of an individual but the resilience of a revolutionary who refuses to be silenced. 

We wish our CIC continued strength, good health, and the resolve to carry forward the mission of economic freedom in our lifetime. 

Malema Tshipi ya bokgalaka, Tshipi ya hata ngwe e ya penama. Bopapa kgopo serobega melala ka mohla Mokudu Mma-tiane. Ke la bo Semadi semela makgwata mme ya mela dinaka baehlabanela.  

La bo morwa Mpshatha se ngadisa moratho, se bolaya phuti le mmutla ka nokeng ya kgwale. La bo Sediela Manone, la bo Maata-Mmaledimo.  La bo Matome yo motso thata ya seepe marema ga tee ka letsha, La bo Kakga yo mokwibidu  La bo Moyahabo ha a felesetswe o felesetswa Molatelo. La bo Makata ke a kata-kata madulo o nyaka a majwang. La bo Mokhutlhwane mokhutla dingwe. La bo Ntšatšapa le foka batho, le fokile ba makgwareng.  La bo Seila mpheng ditlhahala, nkane tše dibotse le sa mphe.  Aheeee. ke la bo Mohanwa a bashabi ge e le Letšjeka le Pholo ba a lwa se bakwa ga re se tsebe.  La bo Mahlodi la bo ntelele ngwana o llela baledi. Nna ngwana a lla ga se morate ke rata ge a re mpepule, ka tšea thari ka pepa.  Ngwana Molepa ge a tsoga o raga dikobo, ga a tshwane le mosetse matsoga a letše Ngwana Molepa o rile a tshela noka ya lepelle digwagwa tsa mokakatlela ka mesifa tšare o ya kae, Dikgobe tša re ngwana molepa le moisha kae, moleseng a fete.  Ke wa bo matswela ntle o shale ba boya, o shale ba Mmakati le Pulane.  Aheeee, nna ngwana molepa bannyana ha ke ferehe/ a pise ke boka dintshi. 

Happy Birthday, CIC Julius Malema! 

ROYAL AM Judgment reserved R27Million Sponsorship @KASIBCNEWS

The Pietermaritzburg High Court has today announced that judgment on the Democratic Alliance (DA) case against the Msunduzi Local Municipality for their R27 million sponsorship to embattled Royal AM is, reserved.

The court will notify all parties of the outcome/judgment in due time.

This sponsorship is illegal and irrational, we are hoping that the judgment will put the interests of residents first and stop the ANC from continuously exploiting the city for the benefit of those who are politically connected.

Their argument that the sponsorship has economic benefit is purely based on opinion not on fact or any research findings.

The Msunduzi Municipality's priorities are misplaced, with sponsorship of a soccer team owned by a wealthy businesswoman taking precedence over essential services.

There is no political will from the ANC to stop this disgraceful sponsorship with the Acting Municipal Manager having done little to nothing to ensure that it is discussed and ultimately terminated.

The Municipal Finance Management Act (56/2003) clearly outlines the duties and responsibilities of the Municipal Manager, including strategic management of service delivery, financial management, and accountability.

The Act also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that services are delivered in a sustainable and equitable manner.

Given the current state of the city and Msunduzi history of being placed under administration, it is concerning that the ANC leadership and the Municipal Manager are prioritizing unnecessary expenditures over essential services.

Residents of Msunduzi deserve better from the Acting Municipal Manager, and it is crucial to hold him and the ANC leadership accountable for their actions.

It is unacceptable that the municipality has failed to deliver basic services, such as maintaining clean and safe environments, repairing damaged roads, and supporting local businesses.

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal will not stop the fight until this sponsorship is terminated and monies are spent on services for residents of Msunduzi.

The 2026 Local Government Elections are an opportunity for Msunduzi residents to send a clear message to the ANC and vote for a government with a proven track record of good governance.

SPAZA SHOPS R500MILLION FUNDING @KASIBCNEWS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The Director General of the Department of Small Business Development, Ms Thulisile Manzini. MECs serving in the Economic Cluster from our provinces (Names of MECs attending). Senior Government officials and  Members of the Media present today and those joining us on digital platforms Fellow South Africans,  

Background  Today marks exactly 107 days since President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa announced the registration of all Spaza Shops and Food handling outlets.  

The announcement came after several incidents of food poisoning and deaths related to foodborne illnesses were reported in different parts of the country. The initial 21 days registration period, which would have ended in December last year, was subsequently extended by the President to 28 February as part of accommodating all eligible businesses to comply with the directive. 

The final deadline for registration of the businesses was on Friday. the 28th of February, and today we have convened this Press Briefing to update the nation on the progress of business registration and interventions adopted by the Department as part of assisting small businesses and curbing further foodborne illnesses. 

It is important to clarify that reaching the deadline for the registration period, does not necessarily mean that the problems and challenges of compliance by Spaza Shops and food handling outlests are over nor does it mean that the sector is now fully regulated to adhere to the laws and regulations of the country.   

The aim of the registration drive was twofold: to ensure compliance with all food safety standards and to rebuild a more competitive and compliant business in our country.  The registration of Spaza Shops is but one of the interventions in a multi-disciplinary approach to curbing foodborne illnesses.  

After the announcement by the President, through the NATJOINTS, 7 workstreams were established with the DSBD leading the economic workstream which will focus more on interventions to build capacity in our township and rural spaza shops and food convenience stores.  

We have supported the registration process which the Minister of COGTA will speak to in the NATJOINT briefing in 2- weeks- time.  Key from our side was to form a Nerve Centre with MECS from all provinces, so that we could closely monitor the registration process across the country. 

We also visited 135 Registration Centres during the process to get first-hand experience of the challenges. Provincial Teams were led by the DSBD and SEDFA and support was received from the Provincial Departments of Economic Development and Cogta, Districts and Local Municipalities across all provinces. 

We were especially impressed by the work that MECs did within their provinces in encouraging people to register and marshal their staff to treat this programme with the urgency and intensity it deserved.  

We know the process had challenges, with many municipalities not having electronic business registration systems. All those that have applied are within their constitutional rights to do business but still await the registration outcomes we not be penalized. 

We understand the difficulties and costs associated with becoming compliant and this is why over the next 6 months we will be supporting these spaza shops who applied but are not yet compliant with non-financial support to enable their successful registration and compliance. This is the developmental approach to compliance we have adopted, offering assistance to those seeking to comply through training programs provided by our agency, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA). We already have a spaza shop support programme that we are running including with the W&R SETA and others partners where we train Spaza Shops on inventory management and assist with essential equipment such as point-of-sale systems as well as financial support for stock. This is our proof of concept which we will improve and scale going forward. 

We also have a range of other interventions and offerings to support township and rural enterprises, including TREP, asset assist, business infrastructure support, as well as wholesale and direct lending, as well as credit guarantees we offer to banks to get them to lend to township and rural enterprises. 

We will now take this initiative to scale with the R500 million Spaza Shop support Fund (R150 million from DSBD and R350 million from DTIC) that will soon be launched to support township convenience shops, including spaza stores. The fund will be launched in the next two weeks and a date will be communicated. 

Other businesses will still benefit from existing departmental funds and programmes including financial assistance by our entity SEDFA and other DFIs. The fund aims to: Achieve Economies of Scale by linking spaza shops & food handling outlets to buying groups for bulk purchasing; Build Business Capacity through training and support to improve shop operations; Enhance Market Competitiveness to help spaza shops & food handling outlets compete with larger retailers; Rollout Nationally to impact spaza shops & food handling outlets across major townships. 

We are planning a to roll out a multi-disciplinary outreach programme. The purpose of the outreach program is to bring government services closer to the people through disseminating information on Community Convenience Shops and support offerings. We will continue to do these things with provincial and local government, and will facilitate awareness campaigns in all 52 districts and metros across the country. The awareness campaigns are scheduled to take place from 03 March 2025 to 30 March 2025. 

 The awareness campaigns will continue beyond the month of March through SEDFA, DSBD Business Regulation Officers, dtic and NEF. The awareness workshops will be facilitated by District Champions, Sedfa and Business Regulation Officers working with LED Offices in Local Municipalities. 

DSBD has recruited 61 Business Regulation Officers on 6-month contracts, each assigned to a District or Metro across the country. These officers will be responsible for conducting awareness campaigns, research, and Geo-mapping of Spaza Shops and Food Handling facilities among other functions. 

The regulatory environment needs to be streamlined, and the Department has embarked on a Red Tape Reduction Program to include practical solutions. As a key strategic intervention to support the red tape reduction efforts, the Department will ensure that municipalities are assisted with E-registration systems.  

We remain committed as government to streamline business licensing in South Africa, reduce regulatory burdens, and foster an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation. Our amended National Business  Licensing Bill, once approved and implemented, will provide clarity, consistency, and transparency in business licensing, enabling businesses to thrive and contribute to the country's economic growth and development.  

We have since developed a system that we call the DSBD Connect Platform will serve to streamline processes. It will serve as a cutting-edge platform designed to support township and rural businesses among others by offering a comprehensive database, verification of services, and strategic networking opportunities. 

Our Objective is to empower businesses by facilitating access to funding, credit lines, business support, and procurement opportunities. Municipalities and other system users will be onboarded and trained on DSBD Connect before its official launch. We extend our gratitude to all business owners who responded to the call to register and adhere to the laws of the land. 

As Departments responsible for economic development, we remain dedicated to supporting small businesses in their growth and ensuring that they play a significant role in the nation's economy.  

I Thank you. Minister of Small Business