Latest news with #Gauteng
Bloomberg
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
South African President Names Mantashe Acting Police Minister
South Africa's president appointed Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as acting police minister with immediate effect. Mantashe will temporarily assume the role until Firoz Cachalia, a university professor and former provincial minister of community safety in Gauteng, takes over at the start of August, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement Tuesday. Cachalia is set to retire from his post at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of the month.
News24
15 hours ago
- Climate
- News24
Wednesday's weather: Foggy morning in 4 provinces; rain in parts of Western Cape
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has forecast cloudy conditions with evening rain in the Western Cape, while it is expected to be fine and cool in most regions. Gauteng: Fine and cool, becoming partly cloudy by late afternoon. Mpumalanga: Fine and cool, but warm in the Lowveld. Mbombela: 13°C — 26°C Ermelo: 3°C — 19°C Emalahleni: 7°C — 20°C Standerton: -1°C — 25°C Skukuza: 4°C — 29°C Limpopo: Fine and cool to warm. Polokwane: 6°C — 23°C Phalaborwa: 11°C — 29°C Tzaneen: 10°C — 26°C Musina: 11°C — 28°C Lephalale: 10°C — 26°C Mokopane: 6°C — 26°C North West: Fine and cool, turning partly cloudy in the afternoon, with windy conditions in the west. Klerksdorp: 8°C — 23°C Potchefstroom: 8°C — 23°C Mahikeng: 8°C — 23°C Rustenburg: 6°C — 23°C Vryburg: 5°C — 24°C Free State: Morning fog in the west, otherwise fine, windy, and cool, later partly cloudy. Bloemfontein: 2°C — 22°C Welkom: 6°C — 22°C Bethlehem: 1°C — 20°C Extended weather forecast for Wednesday and Thursday, 16-17 July 2025: Fine and cold to cool but warm in places, becoming partly cloudy with isolated to scattered showers and rain on Thursdays, except in the east. #saws #saweather — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 14, 2025 Northern Cape: Central and southern areas may experience morning fog. Fine, windy, and cool to cold conditions elsewhere. Coastal winds: Light-to-moderate south-easterly, shifting to south-westerly in the afternoon. Upington: 7°C — 26°C Kimberley: 04°C — 24°C De Aar: 2°C — 18°C Alexander Bay: 6°C — 17°C Springbok: 4°C — 17°C Calvinia: -4°C — 16°C Sutherland: -3°C — 13°C Western Cape: Cloudy to partly cloudy in the southwest with evening rain in the extreme southwest; otherwise fine and cool to cold. Coastal winds: Light-to-moderate westerly to north-westerly, fresh along the southwest coast from afternoon. Cape Town: 11°C — 17°C Vredendal: 5°C — 18°C Riversdale: 4°C — 19°C George: 8°C — 19°C Worcester: 4°C — 18°C Beaufort West: 4°C — 21°C Oudtshoorn: 0°C — 19°C Western half of Eastern Cape: Morning fog in the southern interior, otherwise fine and cool. Coastal winds: Light northerly, becoming light south-easterly by evening. Eastern half of Eastern Cape: Cloudy with morning and evening fog and some drizzle along the Wild Coast. Fine and cool from late morning. Coastal winds: Light north-easterly, switching to light easterly in the afternoon. Gqeberha: 12°C — 20°C Makhanda: 8°C — 21°C Cradock: 2°C — 20°C Graaff-Reinet: 2°C — 20°C East London: 15°C — 20°C Port St Johns: 13°C — 22°C Mthatha: 8°C — 21°C Komani: 4°C — 20°C Qonce: 11°C — 21°C KwaZulu-Natal: Partly cloudy with morning/evening fog patches in the east; fine and cool but warm in the northeast. Coastal winds: Variable in the morning/evening; light southerly to south-westerly or moderate northerly/north-westerly along the north coast. Durban: 14°C — 23°C Richard's Bay: 15°C — 26°C Pietermaritzburg: 7°C — 24°C Ladysmith: 5°C — 24°C
News24
16 hours ago
- News24
Sibiya asked to take leave; Standard Bank manager's bail bid: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya asked to take leave of absence amid Mkhwanazi claims - Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has been asked to take a leave of absence. - This follows allegations of links to criminal syndicates and interference in murder investigations. - The allegations were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Tammy Petersen/News24 Standard Bank manager in R18m cocaine bust shares rags-to-riches story in bail bid - Raed Cupido, a bank manager and businessman, is charged with drug dealing and illegal gun possession after a bust at a storage unit containing cocaine, an AK-47, and other weapons. - Cupido portrayed himself as a successful citizen with multi-million rand properties, detailing his journey from a financially struggling student to a high-earning professional with a property portfolio and international travel. - Christopher Carelse, arrested as a co-accused, also intends to plead not guilty, stating he is a business manager with a family and property in Gauteng. Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp Judge orders WhatsApp, Instagram to stop user posting sexual content of SA school kids - The Gauteng High Court ordered Meta to shut down WhatsApp channels and Instagram profiles sharing explicit content of South African schoolchildren and to identify the perpetrator. - The distribution of the material posed immediate harm, prompting 'extremely urgent legal action' to prevent massive release threats and protect children from irreparable damage. - The illegal accounts solicited explicit content from minors and distributed it widely, violating child rights and spreading defamatory claims tied to social media handles. Thulani Mbele/Gallo Images DA claims Trump administration denied Mcebisi Jonas' visa, rejected credentials - The DA claims the US denied President Ramaphosa's special envoy, Mcebisi Jonas, a diplomatic visa in May. - The DA says Ramaphosa was aware Jonas was not welcome in Washington and was urged to appoint an alternative envoy. - Ramaphosa appointed Jonas as a special envoy to the US in April to foster partnerships and advance South Africa's interests. WesBank, GWM in 'game-changer' deal that promises to cut car repayments - WesBank and GWM have agreed to a new vehicle finance partnership that will lower car prices and boost affordability for South African buyers. - GWM will take on more financial risk, allowing WesBank to offer better pricing and more flexible repayment terms to dealers. - WesBank expects more Chinese automakers to enter the South African market in 2025, increasing competition and further disrupting the market. Richard Huggard/Gallo Images Bok No 8 Jasper Wiese cops 4-game ban for headbutt - Jasper Wiese has been banned for four Tests after receiving a red card for headbutting an opponent in the Springboks' win over Italy. - He will miss the upcoming Test against Georgia and the first three Rugby Championship matches. - Wiese will be eligible to play in the Boks' last three Rugby Championship games.
Zawya
19 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Sustainable hospitality expo launches to boost eco-tourism in Africa
The inaugural Sustainable Hospitality Expo will take place from 18–20 September 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, as part of the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa. The new event aims to connect Africa's growing hospitality sector with suppliers of sustainable products, services, and solutions in response to rising demand for environmentally responsible tourism. The expo is designed to unite Africa's burgeoning hospitality sector with the principles of sustainability, creating a vital platform for businesses to adapt to the global shift towards eco-conscious tourism. The initiative has already garnered significant support, with the Gauteng Tourism Authority backing the event and facilitating the participation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to exhibit, underscoring the regional commitment to fostering a greener, more resilient tourism industry. "We are thrilled to support this groundbreaking initiative that aligns perfectly with our vision of positioning Gauteng as a leading sustainable tourism destination," says Nonnie Kubeka, executive director of the Gauteng Convention & Event Bureau from the Gauteng Tourism Authority. "By integrating SMEs into the value chain, we're not only fostering innovation in our hospitality sector, but also demonstrating our commitment to creating economic opportunities that benefit both our environment and our communities." Timely addition The launch of the Sustainable Hospitality Expo is timely, as the continent's tourism sector demonstrates a powerful post-pandemic recovery. This resurgence is increasingly driven by a new wave of "conscious travellers" who prioritise environmental and social responsibility in their accommodation and travel choices. This trend is supported by compelling market data, with Grand View Research valuing the South African ecotourism market at R78bn in 2023. This is projected to surge to R204bn by 2030, growing at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%. Wide scope The Sustainable Hospitality Expo will cater to a wide array of businesses, including hotel groups, boutique hotels, Airbnb hosts, property developers, restaurants, spas, and gyms. It will showcase a comprehensive range of products and services essential for green operations, such as renewable energy solutions, water filtration and conservation systems, sustainable building materials, waste management technologies, eco-friendly amenities, and commercial kitchen equipment. What's more, the partnership with Hotelstuff/Greenstuff, will drive further event awareness and business reach. 'As trusted platforms for eco-friendly products and suppliers, we're excited to promote this Expo where innovative, planet-friendly solutions that support conscious businesses and consumers will be showcased,' says Lorraine Jenks, CEO of Hotelstuff/Greenstuff. "Our partnership with the Organic & Natural Products Expo has been exceptionally rewarding. We've witnessed firsthand their remarkable growth and success in the industry, and we're proud to have been part of their journey through multiple successful collaborations and events," she adds. Powerful synergy Warren Hickinbotham, head of sponsorships for the Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa, highlights the powerful synergy created by the new addition. "There is a significant and natural crossover between our established exhibitors in the organic and natural products space and the rapidly growing sustainable hospitality sector. "By introducing the Sustainable Hospitality Expo, we are not just adding a new feature; we are creating a dynamic ecosystem. Exhibitors of organic foods, natural cleaning products, and ethical textiles now have direct access to a new, highly relevant market of buyers from hotels, restaurants, and wellness centres. This adds a whole new dimension of value and opportunity for everyone involved." Green hospitality The concept of "green hospitality" extends beyond environmental stewardship; it is a powerful engine for economic growth and job creation. By championing local sourcing—from farm-to-fork dining to locally produced guest amenities—the sector creates significant upstream opportunities for local farmers, artisans, and suppliers. Downstream, the focus on sustainable practices creates new roles in areas like renewable energy management, water conservation, and eco-tourism guiding. This fosters a resilient local economy and enriches the authentic African experience offered to tourists. The event is supported by strategic media partnerships with Holistica Magazine, Stokvel Talk, Re-Invent Health Podcast and Farmers Review Africa. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
News24
a day ago
- Business
- News24
Baby Soft tackles 'toilet loss' crisis in Gauteng schools this Mandela Day
A new audit of 300 Gauteng schools has revealed widespread 'toilet loss' - a term used to describe bathrooms that are unsafe or unusable due to poor sanitation, inadequate infrastructure and the absence of essentials like soap and toilet paper. The audit marks the launch of the UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER campaign in Gauteng, an impactful public-private partnership between Baby Soft®, Domestos and the Department of Basic Education. Following a successful 2024 rollout in the Eastern Cape, the next leg of the campaign aims to broaden long-term improvements in school sanitation by resourcing, training and supporting schools in need. 'Our campaign extends beyond just providing cleaning supplies; it's about helping schools take better care of their facilities through training and day-to-day systems that support hygiene and accountability,' says Siyolise Shinga, Baby Soft® Brand Manager. 'That Mandela Day, we're reaffirming our commitment to improving bathroom conditions for learners, one province and school at a time.' Gauteng's sanitation wake-up call Conducted in May 2025, the baseline audit assessed 1,717 toilet blocks and more than 4000 cubicles across primary schools in Gauteng. The findings are stark: Only 6.5% of cubicles met all basic sanitation criteria and could be considered fully functional. 27% of toilets showed visible faeces and urine, while 22% had an unacceptable odour. Only 15% of toilet blocks had toilet paper available, and 50% had no soap. 69% had no dustbins, a simple yet vital item for hygiene and dignity. While almost all schools have at least one cleaner, only 32% use any form of cleaning checklist, and fewer still track supplies or maintain a regular cleaning roster. 'These results are a wake-up call,' says Shinga. 'Perhaps most concerning, is that only 50 out of the 300 schools audited had even a single cubicle that passed all sanitation criteria, pointing to widespread challenges rather than isolated failures.' From awareness to action The Gauteng rollout of UNSTOPPABLE TOGETHER will deliver targeted support to all 300 participating schools through a range of interventions. These include training for both cleaners and school management on sanitation best practices, as well as the distribution of essential supplies such as cleaning kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), toilet paper and bleach. To support day-to-day maintenance, schools will also receive administrative tools including cleaning rosters, daily checklists and inventory tracking forms. In addition, the campaign will introduce behaviour-change initiatives designed to boost cleaner motivation and establish stronger systems of accountability. These interventions are based on a tested model. In the Eastern Cape, where the campaign benefited over 100 000 lives in 2024, measurable improvements were recorded. These included a rise in PPE access from 31% to 93%, daily cleaning checklist use from 0.3% to 42%, and toilet paper availability from 61% to 99%. Cleaner motivation also increased, with 79% feeling highly committed to their role by the end of the campaign. 'Already, cleaners in Gauteng are showing a strong foundation for change, with 85% saying they feel motivated, and 64% describing themselves as extremely motivated to take care of school toilets,' says Queen Mgobhozi at Domestos. 'Harnessing this enthusiasm, we will provide the necessary cleaning supplies, training and tools to help schools embed better toilet care into their daily routines.' A call for lasting change While the immediate goal is to improve the hygiene and functionality of school toilets, the long-term vision is to elevate the value placed on sanitation in school planning, staffing and budgeting. 'For too long, school sanitation has been treated as an afterthought, yet its impact on education is significant,' says Shinga. 'We want to see cleaners valued and supported. We want school priorities to reflect the importance of hygiene. And we want learners to walk into bathrooms that make them feel safe, respected and cared for.' While Mandela Day can act as a powerful catalyst here, Shinga stresses that real change takes time. 'Our commitment is more than symbolic; it's a sustained investment in human dignity, health and the right to learn without fear. That's what Mandela stood for, and that's what we're working towards, together,' he concludes.
