Tensions in the mini-bus taxi industry reared its head today, after a video of a traffic officer placing a taxi driver in a chokehold spread like wildfire on social media. The MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith says traffic officers had pulled over the driver for driving on the shoulder of the N2 incoming near Langa this morning just before 07:00, but he resisted arrest. Smith claims the chokehold was needed
South Africa’s economy saw modest growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, with gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 0.6%. This follows a slight contraction of 0.1% in the third quarter, according to the latest data released by Statistics South Africa. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry was the standout performer, recording a significant 17.2% increase and contributing 0.4 percentage points to the overall GDP growth. This was largely driven by heightened economic
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has called on the national government to ensure the Port of Cape Town is included in its plans to assess private sector involvement in South Africa’s rail and port industries. This follows reports that Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is set to issue a Request for Information (RFI) this month to gauge interest in public-private partnerships. The mayor welcomed the government’s move, emphasising that private sector involvement
The Department of Health says it will embark on a consultative process this week with various organisations affected by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding cuts. This follows the US government’s decision to freeze and cut donor funding for HIV/AIDS and TB response programmes. Last week, Pepfar-funded HIV organisations, which receive their funds through USAID, received letters stating that their grants had been permanently ended. USAID funds 44 health projects
As social media continues to evolve, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has raised concerns over the alarming rise of animal cruelty content being shared online, particularly on TikTok in South Africa. This unprecedented trend has led to a shift in the NSPCA’s focus, allocating more resources to investigating “social media crimes” at the expense of traditional fieldwork, including on-the-ground inspections and investigations. One of the primary challenges posed by these videos
