STARTUP20 FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S G20 PRESIDENCY @KASIBCNEWS 

The Minister of Small Business Development, Ms. Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vuyani Jarana as Chairperson and 22 On Sloane as Secretariat of the Startup20 Engagement Group for South Africa’s G20 Presidency in 2025.

A meeting was convened on the 07th of March 2025 consisting of more than 75 of South Africa’s leading start-up eco-system role-players where the Chairperson and secretariat were introduced.

Mr. Jarana brings a wealth of experience to this crucial role, with more than 25 years of leadership in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. A seasoned business transformation leader, Mr. Jarana previously served as Group Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Vodacom Business within the Vodacom Group. He also held the role of Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, where he spearheaded critical restructuring efforts.

Currently, Mr. Jarana is the Founder and CEO of Ilitha Telecommunications, a company dedicated to delivering superfast, affordable broadband to underserved peri-urban and rural communities. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a key institution driving South Africa’s scientific, industrial, and technological innovation agenda.

Mr. Jarana’s appointment is a timely step as South Africa assumes the G20 Presidency and seeks to elevate Africa’s voice in global economic governance.

South Africa took over the G20 Presidency following the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (18–19 November 2024). As the only African permanent member of the G20, South Africa views the Presidency as a powerful platform to advance the continent’s development priorities. The G20, comprising 19 nations, the European Union, and the African Union, plays a central role in driving multilateral cooperation to boost the global economy, promote sustainable growth, and address shared international challenges.

In this context, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) has been entrusted with leading South Africa’s Startup20 Engagement Group, one of the officially recognized G20 Engagement Groups, during its Presidency. Startup20 advocates for startups and MSMEs at the G20 level, developing policy recommendations to advance the global startup ecosystem and foster inclusive innovation.

To support this effort, 22 On Sloane has been appointed as the Country Secretariat for Startup20 during South Africa’s G20 Presidency. 22 On Sloane is Africa’s largest startup campus, playing a pivotal role in advancing the startup and MSME ecosystem across the continent. 22 On Sloane serves as headquarters for the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Africa, which is represented in 43 African countries, and as the country headquarters of GEN Global which has a presence in 180 countries globally aimed at supporting entrepreneurs to start and scale.

As Secretariat, 22 On Sloane will support Mr Jarana to coordinate and manage all Startup20 activities in South Africa, including stakeholder engagements, task force operations, international collaboration efforts, policy drafting, and logistical delivery of the Startup20 agenda. The organisation will also facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues and policy consultations to ensure that Africa’s entrepreneurial voice is firmly embedded in the ensuing global conversations.

As Chairperson, Mr. Jarana will lead Startup20’s strategic direction, appoint task force chairs, coordinate high-level meetings and events, and guide the development of the Startup20 Policy Communiqué, which will contribute to the official G20 Leaders’ Declaration.

Minister Ndabeni expressed her full confidence in Mr. Jarana’s leadership, stating: “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Jarana as the Chairperson of the Startup20 Engagement Group. His extensive experience and expertise will be invaluable in driving our efforts to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa. 

He is a respected and seasoned business leader whom I am confident will lead the Startup20 Engagement Group with dedication and focus, ensuring that this serves as a legacy for our country and the ecosystem.”

Mcebisi Jonas Special Envoy to USA @KASIBCNEWS 

The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa of the appointment of Mr Mcebisi Jonas as his Special Envoy to the United States of America. 

This appointment is a reaffirmation of South Africa’s strategic intent to deepen bilateral and multilateral relations anchored in mutual respect, shared interests, and inclusive development. 

Mr Jonas credentials reflect an unwavering commitment to South Africa’s constitutional democracy, economic renewal, and global cooperation. His prior service as Deputy Minister of Finance and as one of President Ramaphosa’s Investment Envoys has demonstrated his capacity to advance South Africa’s developmental agenda and inspire investor confidence. 

The ANC is confident that Mr Jonas will, in his new role, promote South Africa’s priorities including trade, investment, technology exchange, and youth development, while ensuring that our voice remains prominent in global dialogue on peace, equity and sustainability. 

The ANC reiterates its belief in progressive multilateralism, international solidarity, and respectful diplomacy. As relations between South Africa and the United States evolve, we are encouraged by this move to strengthen engagement through principled dialogue and the pursuit of common goals that serve both our nations and the broader African continent. 

This appointment comes at a time when the world requires cooperation over confrontation, dialogue over division. 

We therefore support President Ramaphosa’s firm commitment to ensuring that South Africa’s foreign policy remains a tool for transformation, development, and peaceful global engagement. 

SUSPECTS FOUND WITH STOLEN FOOD @KASIBCNEWS

Gauteng Education MEC, Mr Matome Chiloane, wishes to commend police for arresting two suspects who were found with stolen school nutrition food from Minerva Secondary School in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Saturday, 12 April 2025.

According to information at our disposal, the two suspects – a 60-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman – were found next to the school with boxes of food supplies which belonged to the school. The stolen food included bulk packs of tinned fish, fresh cream milk and other perishable goods.

The suspects were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property. They are expected to appear before the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 14 April 2025.

The food that was stolen forms part of supplies that are provided to the school through the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). This programme provides nutritious meals to learners in primary and secondary schools, aiming to improve learning by addressing malnutrition and hunger.

It must be noted that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) recently appointed new service providers under the NSNP for the next three years commencing in April 2025. We must acknowledge that, since their appointment, some service providers had delayed with their deliveries to a few schools. However, this was rectified by Friday, 11 April 2025, and we can confirm that all schools received their stock. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that might have been caused to the affected schools.

“We are concerned by this senseless crime which takes away from the good we are trying to achieve through the School Nutrition Programme and ensuring learners are fed at schools. We vehemently condemn such criminal acts and call upon communities to safeguard the food supplies which are meant to nourish their children. We also urge members of the public to report any crime happening at our schools to the police, and refrain from purchasing any goods stolen from our schools,” said MEC Chiloane.

SPECIAL ENVOY TO USA @KASIBCNEWS

I ( CYRIL RAMAPHOSA  ) hereby announce the appointment of Mr Mcebisi Jonas as my Special Envoy to the United States of America, serving as the official representative of the President and the government of the Republic of South Africa. 

In this capacity, Mr Jonas is entrusted with the responsibility to advance South Africa's diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities. He will lead negotiations, foster strategic partnerships and engage with U.S. government officials and private-sector leaders to promote our nation’s interests. 

An eminent South African leader, Mr Jonas served as one of four   Presidential Investment Envoys that I appointed in 2018 to facilitate investment into South Africa.  

As a former Deputy Finance Minister of South Africa, Mr Jonas brings extensive governmental experience to his new diplomatic role. Concurrently, he holds the position of Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the MTN Group, a role he will maintain alongside his responsibilities as my Special Envoy.  

This appointment underscores his distinguished career and continued commitment to advancing South Africa’s national and economic interests.

For decades, South Africa and the United States of America have maintained a historical and strategic relationship. In the interest of our country, our region and the rest of our continent, I remain committed to rebuilding and maintaining this relationship for more decades on the basis of mutual respect, recognition of each other’s sovereignty and benefit for our respective peoples. 

VAT EN SIT 1% @KASIBCNEWS

VAT EN SIT 1% @KASIBCNEWS 

This morning, a negotiating team appointed by the Federal Executive of the Democratic Alliance (DA) met a delegation from the African National Congress (ANC) in Johannesburg. The discussion follows in the wake of the recent dispute over the Fiscal Framework, which contains a 1% VAT increase over two years.

The engagement took place in a constructive atmosphere, with both sides speaking respectfully yet frankly about the need to resolve the impasse over the budget and to enhance cooperation between the two parties in the context of the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

The DA reiterated our position that a VAT increase is unaffordable in the absence of meaningful reform that will increase economic growth and create jobs.

The DA is committed to finding solutions in the best interests of the people of South Africa, both in relation to the budget and to strengthen the GNU.

GNU COLLAPSED @KASIBCNEWS

Today, the African National Congress (ANC) negotiating team led by Secretary General, Comrade Fikile Mbalula, held a constructive engagement with the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA) as part of ongoing efforts to break the current budget impasse and the reconfiguration of the Government of National Unity (GNU).  

The meeting forms part of the ANC’s unwavering commitment to the principles of dialogue, nation-building, and collective leadership in addressing the urgent socio-economic needs of our people. At the centre of these engagements is the future of our country – South Africa – and the responsibility we all carry to ensure it remains united, stable, and focused on development. 

The ANC reaffirms its position as the leader of society, guided by the historic mandate it has received to transform South Africa into a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous nation for all who live in it. In all negotiations, the ANC remains rooted in its values and resolutions, and will not compromise on the fundamental goals of social and economic justice, equity, and transformation. 

The ANC entered the GNU process with clear intentions: to build a broad-based consensus on rebuilding the country, accelerating service delivery, creating jobs, and tackling inequality. These goals are not negotiable.  South Africa must come first. As leaders, we owe it to the people of this country—black and white, young and old— to rise above narrow political interests and work together in the spirit of unity and shared progress.  

The ANC will continue to engage all GNU partners, civil society, and other stakeholders in pursuit of a stable, inclusive, and effective government that places the interests of South Africans at the heart of all its decisions. 

ISREAL TREASONOUS VISIT @KASIBCNEWS 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the disgraceful and treasonous visit by Members of Parliament from the Democratic Alliance (DA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) to the genocidal, apartheid state of Israel. 

This so-called “fact-finding mission” is nothing less than a betrayal of the South African people, the Palestinian people, and all oppressed peoples of the world. It is a shameful attempt to legitimise a regime that is currently engaged in one of the most brutal and well-documented genocides of the 21st century — the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. 

That these MPs chose to meet with the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, a key political figure presiding over this mass slaughter, is a disgusting stain on South Africa’s democracy. 

Let us make it clear that this visit was not innocent nor was it private. These individuals travelled to a state our democratic Parliament, through a motion brought by the EFF, has condemned and agreed to sever ties with. 

They travelled with diplomatic passports, as representatives of South Africa, to a country that our own government has taken to the International Court of Justice for genocide. 

This is not only morally reprehensible, but it is a potential compromise of our national security as we have  already become a target of Isreal’s white supremacist ally, the United States of America under Donald Trump. 

The visit was deliberately kept secret, hidden from the public and from Parliament. According to reports, DA MP’s Glynnis Breytenbach who is a member of the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Nicholas Myburgh who is a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Emma Louise Powell who is a member of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations were also part of this delegation. 

That individuals occupying such sensitive positions within our state machinery could engage in secret diplomacy with a genocidal regime, without government authorisation or public accountability, is not only unethical but it also borders on espionage. 

The DA, PA and ACDP have shown once again that they are agents of white imperialism and global Zionist aggression. They do not speak for the people of South Africa, nor do they represent the values of justice, peace, and solidarity that our antiapartheid struggle stood for. They stand with murderers, with occupiers, with colonisers, and they do so in our name. This visit must be investigated. Parliament must demand full transparency. 

Who funded this trip? What was discussed? What intelligence, if any, was shared? And what consequences will follow for these MPs who have undermined the sovereignty of our state and the moral standing of our democracy? 

The EFF demands that all Members of Parliament involved in this visit be summoned to appear before the Speaker and the Joint Standing Committee on Ethics; their diplomatic privileges be suspended pending investigation; the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issue a formal statement disassociating the Republic of South Africa from this rogue delegation; and Parliament reaffirm its commitment to the complete isolation of the apartheid Israeli regime by following through in removing the Israeli embassy from our country and cutting all ties. 

The EFF will never stand with genocide, will never stand with apartheid, and will never be silent when our country's name is dragged into complicity with war crimes. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.