R27m relief fund launched for W Cape businesses

The Western Cape province has launched a R27-million Covid-19 Business Relief Fund in support of small businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Western Cape spokesperson for the Minister of... 

South Africa partners with Unido to raise awareness about protecting the ozone layer

South Africa has partnered with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to hold roadshows to raise the awareness about the need to protect the Earth's ozone layer.... 

Sansa awarded an additional R4.47bn to develop the Space Infrastructure Hub

The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) has been awarded R4.47-billion in additional funding for the next three years to develop the Space Infrastructure Hub (SIH). The SIH is part of... 

140 UK, KwaZulu-Natal companies to participate in online trade mission

About 140 companies from the UK and KwaZulu-Natal will be participating in a virtual online trade mission, which will be led by Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube. “Following... 

Tourism sector ready to deliver economic recovery plan to Cabinet

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane on Friday said the Department of Tourism was ready to deliver a three-pillar plan of economic recovery to Cabinet. She told the media during a briefing... 

Citizens can collect smart IDs, passports at participating banks

Citizens who had applied for their smart identification (ID) cards or passports at certain banks before the lockdown was implemented in March, will now be able to collect those documents from the... 

Nzimande condemns students who submit false information to obtain NSFAS funding

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has removed 5 000 students from its list of beneficiaries. Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande on August 26 said... 

More interns to join South Africa's healthcare workforce

Forty-one medical interns who studied abroad have passed their exams and are being sent to various provinces in South Africa. This adds to the 2 369 interns who have joined the Department of Health... 

Mpumalanga Premier to appoint independent investigators to uncover PPE corruption

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane will be appointing an independent team of investigators to urgently lay bare Covid-19-related personal protective equipment (PPE) corruption.  The... 

WHO experts expected in S Africa to assist with Covid-19 response

The World Health Organization has deployed 43 global senior experts to South Africa to assist the country with its Covid-19 response, Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Wednesday.... 

Nzimande opens 2021 NSFAS applications

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande officially opened applications for the 2021 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) cycle, on Monday. This year, the NSFAS... 

Non-pharmaceutical interventions to be intensified in fight against Covid-19

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that government would strengthen non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce new Covid-19 infections. Speaking during the national Covid-19 virtual... 

Curfew to move to 22:00 to accommodate restaurants

Tourism Minister Mamaloko Kubayi-Ngubane has announced that the national curfew will move to 22:00 to assist the restaurant industry. “In our recent discussions with the restaurant sector, two... 

Mkhize calls for occupational health and safety committees at every level

In a bid to ensure continuous engagement with all stakeholders critical to the fight against Covid-19, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has given a directive for occupational health and safety... 

Mpumalanga approves additional R1.6bn for Covid-19 containment measures, service delivery

The Mpumalanga executive council has approved an apportionment of R1.6-billion to the departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs; Health; and Education to augment... 

Tourism sector's recovery to take place in phases, says Minister

The tourism sector's recovery will take place in phases, Minister Mamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said in a budget vote speech on July 22. "With regards to interventions, we envisage that Phase 1 of... 

Ramaphosa says coronavirus forums will be rolled out countrywide

President Cyril Ramaphosa on July 3 said coronavirus forums would be rolled out nationwide and commended the Mpumalanga province for establishing the first such forums. “I commend the Mpumalanga... 

Mpumalanga develops ‘pillared strategy’ to curb Covid-19 spread

With Mpumalanga coronavirus infections projected to peak in the latter part of July, the province has developed a pillared strategy to alleviate the spread of the virus. The number of Covid-19... 

Mpumalanga province reprioritises funding for Covid-19 fight

The Mpumalanga province has approved the reprioritisation of R287-million in funding towards the fight against Covid-19 Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tshipane says R32-million has been allocated to the... 

Mpumalanga launches a clinic-based approach to curb Covid-19

The Mpumalanga Department of Health on June 23 launched a clinic-based approach to try to curb the spread of Covid-19. “We are launching this programme as we are moving the approach towards... 

Tourist guides to benefit from Covid-19-related relief fund

Registered freelance tourist guides who have been impacted on by the measures implemented to help slow the spread of Covid-19 will soon receive some financial assistance as the Department of... 

Self-drive excursions for day visitors resume in national parks

South Africa National Parks (SANParks) has announced that self-drive excursions for day visitors will be permitted from Monday June 8 in parks that cater for this service. SANParks CEO Fundisile... 

Creecy outlines activities allowed under the Covid-19 Lockdown Level 3

Hunting, self-drive visits to private or public game reserves and national parks, and recreational fishing are among the activities to be allowed under Level 3, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries... 

Minister, MECs commit to post-Covid-19 recovery plan for the tourism sector

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and tourism sector MECs on Friday committed to creating a post-Covid-19 recovery plan for the sector, which has been severely impacted by restrictions... 

Zithabiseni Resort a workable quarantine site – Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) on Thursday assured that the  Zithabiseni Resort and Conference Centre (ZRCC) is a feasible quarantine site for Covid-19 patients. MTPA spokesperson... 

Mpumalanga hospital closes after official tests positive for Covid-19

Mpumalanga MEC Sasekani Manzini has temporarily closed down the Mapulaneng Hospital in Bushbuckridge, in Mpumalanga after a hospital official tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).... 

Mkhize calls for more testing in Nelson Mandela Bay

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize says more tests need to be conducted in Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape, owing to a mismatch between the number of Covid-19 deaths and positive cases in the... 

Cecilia Makiwane Hospital to be revamped to accommodate Covid-19 patients

Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize met with Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and Health MEC Sindisiwe Gomba on Tuesday, to assess the conversion project at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, in the... 

Mkhize joins door-to-door screening in Mpumalanga

Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize on Thursday joined frontline health workers on a door-to-door screening of community members for the coronavirus, in Ermelo, in Mpumalanga and applauded them for... 

Mpumalanga govt launches Covid-19 command centre, app

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane has launched the province’s first Covid-19 Command Centre and a tracking App, in Mbombela, on Thursday. According to Mtsweni-Tsipane, the Command Centre... 

Mpumalanga households receive buckets of sanitisers to combat Covid-19

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane on Wednesday delivered two trucks full of sanitisers to the Siyabuswa community in Mpumalanga, as part of government’s efforts to curb the spread of the... 

SMMEs urged to apply for Covid-19 Tourism Relief Fund

As part of government efforts to ease the financial burden of the coronavirus on the local tourism sector, the Department of Tourism has launched the Covid-19 Tourism Relief Fund, aimed at small,... 

Mpumalanga communities receive boreholes, storage tanks to curb Covid-19 spread

Residents of Jerusalem and Mshadza, in the City of Mbombela, in Mpumalanga have been provided with six 10 000 l water storage tanks and six boreholes as part of government’s efforts to curb the... 

Registrar stresses guides' role in promoting South Africa's tourism sector

South African National Registrar of Tourist Guides Morongoe Ramphele says tourist guides have a key role to play in the tourism value chain. “As the front-line professionals, information-givers and... 

Effective forest management strengthens resilience against climate-related natural disasters

Effective forest management can strengthen resilience and bolster capacity for adaptation when it comes to climate-related natural disasters, says Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy... 

Mpumalanga agency expands tourism offering

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has launched the Ehlanzeni District Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route, in Mbombela. Speaking at the launch, on Friday, MTPA CEO Johannes... 

Mpumalanga province prioritises job creation, govt skills audit

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni on Tuesday said the province was committed to undertaking skills audit of the provincial government, as well as municipalities within the province. "This is an... 

Fund gives public healthcare sector's human resources a boost

About 100 doctors and 34 research graduates, the vast majority of them hailing from severely under-resourced areas, have been absorbed into the public healthcare system as a product of the Public... 

Kruger National Park urges stakeholders to protect the Sabie river

Representatives from the Kruger National Park, a South African National Parks (SANParks) reserve, this week met with the traditional leaders of Bushbuckridge, to strengthen water education and to... 

Tourism sector urged to do more to curb youth unemployment

Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela has called on the tourism sector to create more initiatives to curb youth unemployment in the country. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for learners who had...