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Russia Today
2 days ago
- Climate
- Russia Today
Heavy snowfall grips South Africa (VIDEOS)
Heavy snowfall, strong winds, and freezing rain have gripped South Africa, after a severe cold front moved across the country. The extreme weather has caused blackouts, blocked highways, and damaged infrastructure, local media reported on Tuesday. The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has announced the activation of its disaster management teams in response to the extreme weather system, which has affected the province since Monday. Clean-up operations are already underway in the neighboring province of KwaZulu-Natal, following intense snowfall that led to the closure of key transport routes and inflicted structural damage. The N2 highway around Kokstad and Port Shepstone was shut down. Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma commended the swift work of road crews and traffic authorities, who he said prevented the accumulation of snow above 30 cm. KZN - N2 Route (Latest): #CITHeist ROAD CLOSED In the Eastern Cape, emergency services also responded to a high-risk situation outside Mthatha, where three children were reportedly stranded in a tree due to rising water levels. SAnews confirmed that rescue teams successfully recovered all three. In a video published on X eyewitness walked in crisp snow. Eastern Cape 🤯😱🥶 Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has issued a public warning urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially through mountainous regions and flood-prone zones. He called on citizens to immediately report downed power lines, blocked roads, or other hazards to local authorities. Power supply has also been severely disrupted. According to IOL, citing power utility Eskom, roughly 300,000 customers across parts of the Eastern Cape have experienced electricity outages. The South African Weather Service had issued advance warnings late last week, forecasting a significant drop in temperatures along with disruptive rainfall, strong winds, and snow, particularly in the eastern regions. Meteorologists expect the cold front to persist through at least midweek. South Africa's main winter season spans May to August, with snow typically falling from June to August as temperatures drop below 0°C (32°F). Summer begins around November. The country also experiences regular flooding, which scientists attribute to increasingly heavy rainfall linked to climate change.
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Videos: Minister highlights strategic importance of Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump
International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola has emphasised the significance of President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the United States (US), saying it is crucial for resetting bilateral trade relations between the two countries. 'It is very important, because America is South Africa's second largest trading partner, and also we are number one trading partner for the US on the [African] continent. So, there is a need to reset bilateral relations that are mutually beneficial between the two countries, so that will be the core of the engagement,' the minister told SAnews in an interview at the South African embassy in Washington D.C. Ramaphosa is due to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House today. Part of broader foreign policy strategy This engagement marks an important moment in South Africa's broader foreign policy strategy. As a leading voice in the Global South, the country continues to balance relationships with both emerging economies and traditional Western partners. Lamola described the president's visit as highly important. Mutually beneficial partnerships The minister explained that this engagement forms part of the country's broader efforts to establish mutually beneficial partnerships, particularly in areas such as industrialisation, value addition, and the utilisation of South Africa's strategic mineral resources. 'It remains a very important visit. As you are aware, we engage with the Global North as well. This is part of an extension of that engagement, to engage on mutual beneficial relationship, particularly on issues of industrialisation, of value addition, strategic minerals in South Africa, and also on how we can work together in terms of manufacturing to benefit from the Africa Free Trade Area, as South Africa remains an important player and a gateway to the continent. This is a very strategic engagement,' the minister explained. Agoa and trade reset At the top of the agenda is the resetting of the trade relationship – particularly in light of the technical nullification of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) benefits due to tariffs introduced by Trump's administration. Agoa is a US trade preference programme that benefits eligible sub-Saharan African countries, providing duty-free access to the US market for many products, including vehicles, citrus, wine, and some apparel. The minister said these tariffs have nullified the preferential access previously afforded to South African goods. 'I think the tariffs, as we have already said, have technically nullified Agoa because they impact on what was the preferential treatment of South African products. That's why it is very important that this engagement does take place, to reset those bilateral relations, to redefine the trade parameters between the two countries in a manner that still respects and values the Africa Free Trade Area,' he said. Beyond trade Beyond trade, the meetings are also expected to touch on other pertinent issues, including the country's transformation agenda. 'The most important is the reset of the bilateral trade relations between the two countries in a mutually beneficial way. Obviously, other issues may pop out during the engagements … like the one of the South Africans who were given refugee status in the US,' the minister said. Transformation Addressing concerns around South Africa's constitutional transformation imperatives, the minister emphasised that the transformation agenda is a constitutional mandate and a national imperative designed to benefit all South Africans, ensuring inclusive participation without exclusion. 'We continue to state that this is a very important programme for the people of South Africa to continue on the transformatory path that is beneficial to the whole of society, so that there is no exclusion of anyone and everyone can participate. And it is well known that there is no direct persecution, or any form of persecution of white Afrikaners as a race. 'We cannot avoid issues that can pop out for clarification, and we remain ready as and when they do pop up to respond and to deal with them,' said the minister. As the world watches this high-level engagement unfold, government says it remains focused on leveraging diplomatic platforms to drive inclusive growth and deepen international partnerships. Watch as the president explains his visit: The trade relations between South Africa and the United States will be the focus of my working visit here. We aim to strengthen and consolidate relations between our two countries. — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 20, 2025 We will also use the working visit to clarify South Africa's policy positions on a range of pressing geopolitical matters. — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 20, 2025 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
George building disaster: 1-year commemoration
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that struck in Victoria Street in George, when a five-storey apartment complex collapsed while 62 construction workers were on site. George Herald reports that at 14:09, the entire building came down in less than five seconds, burying the workers on site. Thirty-four workers lost their lives that day. Only 28 survived, some with permanent injuries. A memorial service will be held today to mark the first anniversary of the Victoria Street building collapse – South Africa's deadliest construction disaster. The event will honour the memory of the 34 lives lost and offer a space for healing for the families, survivors and the wider George community. The service will take place from 13:30 to 15:30 at the main municipal hall in York Street. Doors open at 13:00, and seating will be limited to the first 500 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. Minister to mark one-year anniversary According to SAnews, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will participate in the commemoration of the one-year anniversary. 'The Minister will hold a private engagement with family members ahead of the event to brief them on progress being made towards the conclusion of reports under the domain of the department,' the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said. Last month, an independent forensic investigation into the building collapse in the Western Cape revealed systemic failures at multiple levels. The report cites widespread non-compliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council and project personnel as key causes of the incident. The findings, presented by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane revealed a series of procedural and structural failures, including irregular project enrolment, inspection lapses, poor material quality, and violations of occupational health and safety protocols. Macpherson is scheduled to speak at the George Town Hall at 13:45. President Cyril Ramaphosa was among those who visited the site of the tragedy last year. At the time of his visit, the president assured the bereaved families that government will leave no stone unturned and will ensure accountability. 'It will take some time for all aspects of this disaster to be properly tied together… I can assure you that the seriousness in which this matter is being [dealt with] will lead to the truth coming out,' the president said. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
