Top Stories

BBC News

Thirty-two migrants rescued by NGO ship after being stranded on oil platform off Tunisia coast. One person dead, others without food or water. Rescued by Sea Watch, but unclear final destination as no nearby country assigned port of safety. No European intervention despite emergency. Alarm Phone contacted after spotting empty dinghy near platform.

Read More from source

TimesLIVE

Johannesburg residents have mixed reactions to President Ramaphosa’s surprise night visit to the inner city. While he praised the metro police and law enforcement efforts, some criticized the timing, urging him to visit during the day for a true picture of the city. Thandiwe Mihlayonke emphasized the need to see the “real Joburg” during daylight hours.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

Deputy Minister Gungubele stated that the social grant card migration process will extend beyond March 20, 2025. The transition from old gold cards to new black cards includes enhanced security features for faster and safer grant payments. Postbank’s history of bad audit outcomes influenced the decision. Efforts are being made to ensure beneficiaries receive their new cards after the deadline.

Read More from source

Daily Maverick

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube welcomed a donation of branded desks to two Cape Town schools by McDonald’s South Africa and MiDesk. The desks aim to address South Africa’s severe shortage of classroom furniture, sparking praise and controversy. Critics argue the desks are a corporate branding strategy, while defenders see them as essential for alleviating the furniture shortage in schools.

Read More from source

Moneyweb

ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) plans to fully idle its long-steel plants, leading to the loss of 3,500 jobs. The government is in talks to prevent the closure of crucial steel mills. AMSA postponed the closure to fulfill orders but expects to shut down blast furnaces in March. The mills indirectly support over 100,000 jobs and supply unique steel products in South Africa.

Read More from source

Fin24

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana faces a budget impasse, with various options to resolve the issue after Cabinet rejected a reworked budget. The ministry in the presidency stated that Godongwana must choose an option that considers fiscal constraints, supports economic growth, and lessens the impact on the poor. The budget is set to be presented to parliament on March 12, 2025, after Cabinet’s input process.

Read More from source

Time Out

The annual Cape Town Cycle Tour on March 9, 2025, will see 30,000 cyclists in the city, causing road closures. Major closures include CBD streets, Green Point’s Helen Suzman Boulevard, and Chapmans Peak Drive on Saturday. On Sunday, CBD streets and M3 lanes will be closed. For full details, refer to the Cycle Tour’s PDF.

Read More from source

BusinessTech

Shoprite Group in South Africa reports a significant increase in store openings, with 264 new stores added in the first half of the financial year. The group plans to open 122 more stores, focusing on its USave brand and adjacent businesses like clothing and pet brands. CEO Peter Engelbrecht highlights the success of expanding these formats.

Read More from source

EWN

The Democratic Alliance (DA) and government of national unity (GNU) have not reached an agreement on the national budget, particularly regarding a proposed VAT increase. The budget speech was postponed for the first time ever, with less than a week until its presentation. The finance minister is considering various options, but the DA leader stated that no agreements have been reached yet.

Read More from source

SABC News

Limpopo Deputy Police Commissioner Jan Scheepers declares the province as one of the safest in the country. Crime statistics show drops in 17 major crime categories, but Thohoyandou area remains a concern with high rates of crime. Major-General Eddie Van der Walt attributes the rise in crime to the proliferation of liquor outlets, leading to daily raids and closures of 335 sheebens and 627 taverns.

Read More from source