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Image: courtesy of FF Plus The current foot-and-mouth disease crisis, which has now spread to the Western Cape, requires a sober, coordinated and practical response that balances animal health, farming sustainability and national food security. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Western Cape notes with approval the R100 million allocated by the provincial government for procuring vaccines. While it is unclear whether these funds will be sufficient and available in time,

Image: courtesy of FF Plus If anything underscores the inadequacy of government's response to the foot-and-mouth disease crisis, it is last week’s proud announcement that the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) was able to provide 12 900 doses of vaccine. It was not always like this. Until 2010, there was no question about it: the country had the capacity to successfully curb any incidence of this notorious disease. The ARC’s Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) securely

Image: Supplied During a briefing on Thursday, Sassa said it had reviewed about 240,000 grants and suspended 70,000. From left Sassa and DSD officials: Fanie Sethokga, Maureen Mogotsi, Themba Matlou, Zodwa Mvulane and Brenton Van Vrede. Photo: Marecia Damons The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it has stepped up its social grant review programme as part of a broader push to tighten compliance under stricter National Treasury conditions. In a briefing at Parli

Image: Kopano Tla, courtesy of Times Live The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) regards the failure of the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to pay the Gauteng Small Bus Operators’ Council (GASBOC) – the organisation responsible for transporting thousands of learners to school – as scandalous and irresponsible. Thousands of learners, particularly from disadvantaged communities, are directly affected by this non-payment. According to an official memorandum issued by GASBOC on 3

Image: courtesy of IOL Government simply refuses to accept that the national minimum wage, in place since 2019, is counterproductive and does more harm than good. The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, today announced the new minimum wage, increasing it by R1,44 per hour from R28,79 to R30,23. Government's over-regulation, amid economic stagnation and record-high unemployment levels, will keep leading to job losses. In fact, one of the major reasons for th

Image: courtesy of SABC The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in KwaZulu-Natal calls for an independent investigation after a learner from a school in uMhlathuze was allegedly seriously assaulted at a school event after school hours. According to the information provided to the party, the learner sustained serious injuries and is currently being treated at a local hospital's ICU. There are allegations that the school's response was not in line with the urgency and seriousness of t

Image: courtesy of ECR President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI) meeting with a powerful call for collective action, emphasizing that strategic infrastructure is the cornerstone of Africa's economic transformation. A Vision for Connectivity and Integration President Ramaphosa underscored that the PICI is more than a construction mandate; it is a catalyst for continental unity. He noted that the initiative's primary goal is

Image: courtesy of SABC The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Gwede Mantashe, has announced the official adjustment of fuel prices for February 2026. These adjustments, informed by a comprehensive review of local and international economic factors, will take effect on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. 1. Key Drivers of the Price Adjustment South Africa’s fuel price remains sensitive to global market volatility. The adjustments for this period are primarily driven by

Image: GCIS On the 13th of July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System. This followed serious allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the existence and operation of a sophisticated criminal syndicate that has allegedly infiltrated the criminal justice system in South Africa.  The Commission, chaired by retired Constit

Image: KZN Legislature Following a historic year that saw KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) emerge as the top-performing province in South Africa, MEC for Education Sipho Hlomuka addressed the media at Addington Primary School this morning. His message was clear: while the province celebrates its 2025 achievements, the mission for 2026 is to move from being the best in the country to becoming the "education capital of the continent." A Legacy of Excellence The 2026 academic year has launch

Image: courtesy of Freedom Front Plus The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) views the decision of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to approve name changes in the Eastern Cape as proof that limited public funds are wasted on misguided priorities. The very same Department that approved 21 geographical name changes – including several costly ones, such as East London to KuGompo City and Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town – refused to provide the funds neede

Image: via Facebook / Gayton McKenzie The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has moved to clear the air following what it describes as "unjustified scapegoating" regarding the relocation of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour event. In response to public criticism and statements from major political parties blaming the Minister and the Department for the event’s move to New Zealand, the DSAC clarified that the decision was driven by private commercial shif

Image: Western Cape Government The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has reached a historic milestone in its digital transformation journey, officially issuing 4,002,964 Smart ID Cards during the 2025 calendar year. This achievement marks the highest delivery rate in the department’s history and signals a significant shift in the accessibility of secure identification for South Africans. The 2025 figure represents a 17% increase over the previous 2024 record of 3.4 million, an

Image: courtesy of Freedom Front Plus Just two weeks after unveiling South Africa’s first comprehensive roadmap to defeat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in three decades, Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen is facing a legal hurdle that he warns could compromise the nation’s biosecurity and export future. The Department of Agriculture has come under fire from lobby groups Saai, Sakeliga, and Free State Agriculture. The groups have issued a legal demand insisting that lives

Image: GCIS The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has returned R1.7 billion to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)’s purse, which will be allocated to students' needs at institutions of higher education. This amount is part of the R2 billion that the SIU has so far received from universities, TVET Colleges and unqualified former students. The funds in question were unallocated from 2016 to 2021. These unallocated funds represent financial resources that were desi

Image: GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 305 of 2026 authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration, improper or unlawful conduct, and to recover financial losses in the affairs of the uMzinyathi District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. Proclamation 305 of 2026 empowers the SIU to probe matters relating to procurement and contracting by the municipality, including the supply, installation and mainte

Image: Supplied Source: www.shopriteholdings.co.za The collaboration supports more than 1,500 learners, addressing a critical need in under-resourced educational environments. On 21 January 2026, a donation of essential supplies including crayons, pens, exercise books, highlighters, rulers and pencils was delivered to both schools. Representatives from Major League DJz were also on site to engage with learners, using music and storytelling to motivate and encourage young peop

Image: Sharath G. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has received notification regarding a privately owned dam, located near Barberton in Mpumalanga under the City of Mbombela Local Municipality, which has been reported to be at risk of failure. The dam named My Own Dam (publicly referred to as Senteeko Dam), is registered with the Department’s Dam Safety Office as a 26m high medium size dam, with a storage capacity of 1.8 million m³, owned by Shamile Communal Prope

President Cyril Ramaphosa during G20 Summit, Image: GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla with a somber reflection on a national tragedy—the recent loss of 14 learners in a horrific transport accident. After a moment of silence, the President pivoted to a message of urgent transformation, framing education as the ultimate "engine of development" and a primary weapon against the cycle of poverty. A Landmark Achievement: The Class of 202

Image: GCIS In a high-stakes gathering set against the backdrop of the Magaliesberg mountains, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, delivered a powerful charge to the nation’s top administrative leaders. Far from a routine meeting, the Extended EXCO Retreat was framed as a "moment of recalibration" for a department standing at a historic crossroads. A Turnaround in Accountability Minister Hlabisa opened by acknowledging a si