KASI BC AFRICA

EMPOWER YOUTH THROUGH AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Department of Economic Development, in collaboration with the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), hosted a successful Youth Stakeholder Engagement on Friday, 30 May 2025, at the AIDC facility in Tshwane.  The event brought together youth, industry leaders, civil society, labour, and government stakeholders to deliberate on the critical role of young people in shaping the future of South Africa’s automotive industry. MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, delivered the keynote address, emphasising the centrality of the automotive industry in driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation in Gauteng and South Africa.  He applauded the sector’s resilience in the face of global and local economic challenges, citing the recent Automotive Business Council report, which revealed a significant 11.9% year-on-year growth in vehicle sales for April 2025. “The automoti...

MOTION TO ADDRESS FEMICIDE CRISIS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF GBV DESKS IN CLINICS   @KASIBC_NEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcomes the unanimous adoption by the National Assembly, on 29 May 2025, of our Motion Without Notice addressing the femicide crisis and police responsiveness in South Africa.  This motion, tabled by the EFF, was born out of deep anguish over the brutal murder of Olorato Mongale, whose lifeless body was discovered in Lombardy West, Johannesburg, following a date with a known acquaintance. Her tragic death is yet another painful reminder of the growing epidemic of femicide and gender-based violence (GBV) that continues to devastate families and communities across the country.  The EFF notes, with grave concern, that the South African Medical Research Council reports 60.1% of female homicides in South Africa are committed by intimate partners, and that three women are killed every day by their partners. Despite numerous legislative refor...

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of Wednesday, 28 May 2025 @KASIBC_NEWS  A. ISSUES IN THE ENVIRONMENT  1. International 1.1 SA-US Relations  1.1.1 Cabinet welcomed the reset of strategic relationships between South Africa (SA) and the United States (US) during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s working visit to the United States of America.  1.1.2 The SA and US teams will finalise the details of the trade deal between the SA and US. Safe to emphasise that the objectives that SA had set for the trip have been met.  1.1.3 Cabinet looks forward to the continued participation of the US administration in the G20, including the possible attendance of President Trump to the G20 Leaders Summit.  1.2 South Africa – France Relations  1.2.1 Cabinet welcomed the working visit by Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, which served to strengthened relations between South Africa and France.  The Deputy President and the SA delegation also attended the SA-France I...

THE PERSECUTION AND ILLEGAL SUSPENSION OF RAF CEO MR COLLINS LETSOALO @KASIBC_NEWS  The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns, in the strongest terms, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Board placing their Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Collins Letsoalo, on special leave.  According to the Board, this is a “precautionary” measure pending the investigation of allegations of corruption, and yet the circumstances show that this is merely a witch hunt designed to tarnish Letsoalo’s reputation for his stellar work in uncovering the rot within the RAF. According to the RAF Board, in their submission to Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA),  Letsoalo has been placed on "special leave", a leave he has not applied for nor consented to.  This action taken without procedural fairness, reveals the orchestrated attempt to create a public perception of wrongdoing where none has been proven. Even more disturbing is the revelation that the preliminary report on these allegations...

THE UPSURGE OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE @KASIBC_NEWS  The ANC Women's League is deeply concerned with the highest rate in which violence is meted out against women, where men both in spousal and non-spousal relationships prey on women like vultures with no regard for human life. South Africa has steadily become a murder site which has been defined by the Gender and Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), in its twenty (20) year study, as an extreme form of Gender Based Violence.    The four (4) surveys of the SAMRC have used the same methodology and definition of femicide over a period of twenty (20) years since 1999, in which they concluded that four women were killed by intimate partners every day, and the trend only decreased to three (3) women in the third survey of 2009.   However, the fourth study which coincided with the first year of COVID19, saw a small but significant increase in the murder of women by inti...

ICT POLICY REFORMS AND COMMITS TO DEFENDING TRANSFORMATION AND ECONOMIC INCLUSION @KASIBC_NEWS  The African National Congress (ANC) notes the recent publication of draft policy directives in the ICT sector, particularly those relating to the licensing of Individual Electronic Communications Network Licences (IECNLs) and the proposed Equity Equivalent Programme (EEP). These developments mark an important phase in shaping a digital future that must be inclusive, transformative, and people-centred.  The ANC will actively participate in the forthcoming consultative processes to ensure that the transformation agenda is upheld and that the economic inclusion of historically disadvantaged communities is comprehensive, meaningful, and irreversible.  These engagements will be guided by the principles set out in the Freedom Charter, the ANC Election Manifesto, and the 55th National Conference Resolutions. We further note that these are not new ideas, they are part of a consistent A...

COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPERS @KASIBC_NEWS  Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga, joins the international community in commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This event is observed annually on the 29th of May to honour the extraordinary contributions of UN Peacekeepers (commonly known as “Blue Helmets’) in promoting global peace and security.  The United Nations marks the 77th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping under the theme: “Reviewing and Adapting UN Peacekeeping to Meet the Needs of the 21st Century.” It resonates deeply with us as South Africans, as it reflects not only the evolving global peace and security landscape, but also our own national journey of transition from conflict to democracy, which is built on principles of peace, reconciliation, and inclusive development.  The Minister stated that “South Africa remains deeply committed to the ideals and objectives of United ...