WEST AFRICAN BLOC ECOWAS SLAMS ‘BARBARIC’ BENIN ATTACK

Fri 25 April 2025: West African regional bloc ECOWAS condemned an attack by suspected militants which killed 54 troops in northern Benin as a “barbaric and cowardly act”. After authorities previously gave a death toll of eight soldiers, the Benin government on Wednesday said suspected militants killed 54 troops last week in an attack on […]

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VAT TO STAY AT 15%

Thu 24 April 2025: The VAT increase will be scrapped, with the National Treasury confirming that the rate will remain at 15% from 1 May 2025. This follows weeks of consultations with political parties and a review of recommendations from parliamentary committees. The Treasury has acknowledged that keeping the VAT rate unchanged will leave a […]

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SEXUAL PREDATORS AT SCHOOL: WHY SOUTH AFRICAN LAW IS FAILING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM TEACHERS

Thu 24 April 2025: Schools should be a safe environment, a place of learning where children can develop their potential. In South Africa, many public schools aren’t like this. Instead they are hothouses for teachers’ poor performance, financial mismanagement, assault and sexual misconduct. When cases of misconduct in schools emerge, they tend to follow the same pattern: public outcry, media […]

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ZELENSKYY ARRIVES IN SOUTH AFRICA FOR TALKS ON WAR WITH RUSSIA

Thu 24 April 2025: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Pretoria, South Africa early Thursday for talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa on bilateral cooperation, trade and the war with Russia. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola welcomed Zelenskyy upon arrival. According to a government statement, the visit provides the two countries an “opportunity to discuss bilateral relations […]

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SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT

Wed 23 April 2025:   President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday, marking the first official visit by a Ukrainian Head of State to South Africa.  This engagement follows President Ramaphosa’s visit to Ukraine in June 2023, as part of the African Peace Initiative, which also […]

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EASTER WEEKEND ROAD DEATHS DROP IN MOST PROVINCES, SAYS TRANSPORT MINISTER

Tue 22 April 2025: Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed a notable decrease in road fatalities and crashes across South Africa during the Easter weekend, except Mpumalanga. At a media briefing held at the Kranskop Toll Gate along the N1, Creecy reported encouraging progress in road safety enforcement and compliance. “The fatalities and the crashes […]

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US SCALES BACK DEVELOPMENT, DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN AFRICA

Tue 22 April 2025: The US is significantly reducing its development and diplomatic operations in Africa, causing growing concern over the region’s future of health, education, and economic progress. Under the Trump administration, a leaked executive order revealed plans to restructure the State Department’s Africa operations and dramatically scale back US Agency for International Development […]

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