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National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza announced the delay of the Budget speech on 19 February 2025, triggering memories of Nhlanhla Nene’s firing in 2015. The unexpected delay was compared to other surprising events, like Floyd Shivambu leaving the EFF for the uMkhonto Wesizwe party.
Tornado in City of Tshwane causes extensive damage in Montana, Pretoria. Dozens of homes affected, residents without power. Clean-up operations underway, 15 families evacuated. Heavy rains hamper recovery efforts. Warning issued to avoid structurally damaged homes. City workers clearing uprooted trees.
President Ramaphosa reassures public after 2025 Budget Speech postponement, citing Government of National Unity’s diligence. Business leaders and analysts express concerns over uncertainties and lack of collaboration within the cabinet. Ramaphosa aims to balance economic growth plans amidst financial constraints.
Top diplomats from major economies met in Johannesburg for talks, the first in Africa. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s absence overshadowed discussions. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of UN Charter principles, multilateralism, and international law. The G20 faces divisions on issues like Russia’s actions in Ukraine and climate change. Leaders urged diplomatic solutions to conflicts amid global challenges.
The Free State in South Africa faces economic challenges with high unemployment, financial mismanagement, and low growth rates. Agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are key sectors, but the province struggles with high school drop-out rates. Despite its strategic location, recent data shows minimal economic growth in 2023 and 2024.
Public sector workers in South Africa agree to a 5.5% wage increase for 2025, leading to a rise in teacher salaries. The agreement, reached on 19 February, will see government educators’ salaries increase from 1 April 2025. The Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council facilitated the negotiations between public sector unions and the government.
Majorana 1, powered by a topoconductor, is the world’s first Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) designed to scale to a million qubits on a single chip. This breakthrough in quantum computing includes a hardware-protected topological qubit and a device roadmap for reliable quantum computation. Microsoft aims to build a fault-tolerant prototype in years, not decades, signaling a significant leap in quantum technology.
A fire at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in Umlazi killed a 39-year-old patient. The patient ignited a lighter near an oxygen mask connected to the main line, causing the fire in his isolation cubicle during visiting hours. Nursing staff contained the blaze with fire extinguishers.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech delayed indefinitely after partners fail to agree on VAT hike. Cabinet did not sign off on proposed increase from 15% to 17%. New proposed date for speech is March 12.
A male nurse from Duduza, Gauteng, is facing charges of sexually assaulting two teenage boys. He allegedly groomed a 17-year-old patient in his care, promising to continue caring for him at home. The nurse is accused of luring the boy to a veld and sexually assaulting him. The incidents came to light when community members saw the nurse acting suspiciously in the veld.
