On Tuesday, 19 November, Brazil hosted the closing session of the G20 summit on sustainable development and energy transition, as well as a ceremony to hand over the group’s presidency to South Africa.At the meeting, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivered a speech in which he emphasised the achievements of the Brazilian G20 presidency, as reported by Brasil 247, a partner of TV BRICS. He highlighted the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, the approval of…

The MEC for Economic Development and Finance in Gauteng, Lebogang Maile has set out the strict procedures to be followed by foreign nationals who want to register their spaza shops in the province. Maile said the Home Affairs guidelines are clear on the matter. He was announcing the guidelines to be followed after some Soweto residents blocked foreign nationals from registering their spaza shops, claiming that they are not eligible. Among the requirements Maile listed is that the foreign national…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a raft of measures to combat the deadly food poisoning that has killed 22 schoolchildren and left scores of others hospitalised nationwide.  He ordered the closure of all implicated spaza shops and gave shop owners 21 days to register their businesses with local municipalities or face shutdown. Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday following the food poisoning crisis. He said this was to curb the increase in food-borne illnesses and deaths. He confirmed…

As Limpopo school children are admitted to hospital for food poisoning, lobby group the Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa has called on South Africa’s intelligence community to get to the bottom of the crisis that has left scores of learners either killed or hospitalised.  The foundation’s Deputy Chairperson, Hendrick Makaneta, has taken a jab at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government, accusing it of being reactive to national crises.  This included matters of national importance, such as the food poisoning…

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had a telephone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to discuss the G20 summit. This is reported by Brasil 247, a partner of TV BRICS. The Brazilian leader expressed his intention to organise a meeting with President Ramaphosa at the group’s next summit in Rio de Janeiro. The presidency of the G20 will pass to South Africa next year. President Lula also confirmed the South African leader’s invitation to the IBSA (a…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticized members of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet for allegedly lacking executive accountability, claiming they have failed to adequately respond to parliamentary questions. Julius Malema’s party said Cabinet ministers had failed to respond to half of the questions within the stipulated time. In some instances, they did not even bother entertaining written questions from Members of Parliament.  In a statement released on Tuesday, November 05th, the EFF accused GNU Ministers…

South Africa’s railway infrastructure is taking a significant leap forward as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) announced the restoration of 31 out of 40 priority rail corridors. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement during Transport Month, underscoring the pivotal role railways play in the country’s transport network and economic development. This project is a major focus for the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), which is addressing vital issues, including enhancing the transport of goods through…

The South African branch of Bank of China, in partnership with the School of Economics and Finance of the University of the Witwatersrand, launched the Chinese Investors’ Confidence Index for South Africa in 2023. A first of its kind, the index reports on South Africa’s economic and investment environment based on the views and experiences of Chinese investors in South Africa. It is ambitious in that it analyses “changes in objective economic indicators” and tries to “uncover underlying causes and…

Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhuisen’s claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa represented himself when he described Russian Leader Vladimir Putin as South Africa’s “valuable ally” are “silly” and show that the party is still pursuing the apartheid government’s foreign policy. According to Andre Thomashausen, a Professor Emeritus of International and Comparative Law at the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the former Head of the university’s Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law, Steenhuisen’s assertions also proved that South Africa’s…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a “valuable ally and a friend” who supported him when South Africa entered uncharted waters after the May general elections. He told Putin he had formed the Government of National Unity (GNU) with several opposition parties to stabilise South Africa politically after the governing African National Congress received 40% of the national vote. Putin was widely expected to use the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, to show the world…