South Africa

Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has called on the courts to mete out the harshest possible sentence to criminals who murder police officers.

Police in Northam, in Limpopo, on Monday arrested seven suspects for being in possession of allegedly stolen copper cables valued at R250 000.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will this week host his United States counterpart, Secretary Janet Yellen.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has reiterated South Africa’s position that the only path to peace is through diplomacy, dialogue and commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has called a clear message to be sent to perpetrators of gender-based violence and femicide, regardless of position they hold in society.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says correctional centres can become a hub for education and skills development for all inmates.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has encouraged learners to consider Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVET) as their alternative to university education.

The Department of Health will this week commence with the programme of screening, verification, medical examination and payment of benefits to eligible former mineworkers who contracted tuberculosis (TB) or silicosis between 1965 and 2019.

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says Post School Education and Training Sector (PSET) sector is well prepared to welcome new cohort of students in all the institutions.

Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, has congratulated the social grant beneficiaries who wrote their final Grade 12 examinations, during the most difficult period marked by many disruptions including COVID-19.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise, says she is confident that the multinational maritime exercise between South Africa, Russia and China that will take place over a 10-day period will benefit all three participating nations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has moved to assure South Africans that government is using every means and resource at its disposal to get more capacity onto Eskom’s grid “as a matter of extreme urgency” with the Energy Action Plan at the core.

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has welcomed a High Court Gauteng North judgment confirming that Atul Gupta is a fugitive from justice and therefore does not qualify for a South African passport, as the Department had contended.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday deliver the eulogy at the Official Memorial Service for the late founding Speaker of the democratic Parliament, Dr Frene Ginwala.

South Africa is not in any immediate danger of a total energy system-wide blackout.