The politicians whose names we had forgotten are suddenly initiating new projects This content is restricted to subscribers only. Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscribe Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new onli ..read more

In the week that Eskom reached the “milestone” of 30 days without load-shedding, the power utility anticipates that power cuts will be maintained within stage two at most during winter. This was the optimistic assessment made by Eskom’s group chief executive, Dan Marokane, at the release of its state of the system and winter outlook on Friday. “In the extreme case where the unreliability increases, that component may occasionally go to stage five but we really think that on the basis of what we see, the performance of the fleet, load-shedding will stay within stage two,” Maroka told a media br ..read more

South Africa’s debt burden will be relieved, small businesses will be supported to register on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and be exempt from regulatory red tape, while the minimum wage will be frozen to create jobs and boost economic growth, under a new Democratic Alliance (DA) economic plan. The plan presented by DA leader John Steenhuisen on Friday also aims to scrap import duties on business tools, such as small bakkies, while the social relief of distress grant will be converted to a job-seeker’s grant, the child support grant will be raised from R530 to R760, and the the ban on impor ..read more

The forthcoming signing of the NHI Bill marks a critical step towards realising healthcare for all citizens The long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill in South Africa is set to be signed into law soon, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. During a campaign trail in KwaZulu-Natal, Ramaphosa expressed his commitment to signing the bill, which has been approved by Parliament but delayed due to substantial objections.  He emphasised that the NHI is crucial for ensuring access to free healthcare and ending the existing two-level health system, underscoring the government’s resolv ..read more

Amid directionless policy after 30 years of democracy, the country’s prospects continue to be driven by the whims of miners and their financiers This content is restricted to subscribers only. Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscribe Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invit ..read more

The textile industry is one of the important in South Africa. It employs around 80 000 people and provides important exports. Yet, textile pollution is a serious problem locally and more broadly on the continent. Textiles are fabrics or clothing, mostly made up of fibres. These fibres can be synthetic, man-made, plant and animal. Synthetic fibres, for example, include polyester, man-made ones include rayon, which is made from trees, and plant-based fibres can be made from cotton or hemp. Animal fibre can be derived from wool or silk, for example.  Clothing production is on the rise and is ..read more

South Africa’s citizens stand firm against provocation In recent days, Durban’s urban landscape has quietly shifted under the weight of political symbolism. Unmarked posters attributed to the MK party, historically linked with former President Jacob Zuma, have been sighted in numerous parts of the city. These materials hint at possible unrest surrounding the forthcoming elections, generating a whisper of anxiety among the populace. Simultaneously, anonymous leaflets calling for civic engagement and protests have surfaced, compounding the city’s air of suspense. While the origin and intent behi ..read more

Visit Mandela Bay Development press office The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality together with Mandela Bay Development Agency, in association with our proud football anchor tenant, Chippa United Football Club, are delighted to announce the details of the highly anticipated Nedbank Cup semi-final between Chippa United Football Club and Orlando Pirates, scheduled to take place on 4 May 2024 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Football fans are in for a treat as the titanic Nedbank Cup semi-final battle between in-form Eastern Cape and Gqeberha outfit, Chippa United, versus reigning defending champions of t ..read more

Former president Thabo Mbeki has denied that he appears to have changed his mind about campaigning for the ANC, having refused to do so since 2007 after the party elected his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, as its president.  Mbeki told journalists while on the campaign trail on Thursday at Jabulani Mall, Soweto, that he had been a member of the ANC for more than 60 years and had an obligation to campaign for the party.  “You must take into account that for all of these years that you are talking about, I have always been a member of the ANC and as a member of the ANC I must take responsibi ..read more

Transnet has defended its pick to run its Durban Pier 2 container terminal in the wake of a court challenge by snubbed bidder APM Terminals. During a media briefing on Transnet’s recovery plan on Friday, the parastatal’s board chair, Andile Sangqu, underlined that having a private sector partner manage the terminal “is a longstanding priority of national government”.  Last July, Transnet selected Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Incorporated (ICTSI) as the preferred bidder to partner in a 25-year joint venture to develop and upgrade the terminal, marking the fir ..read more