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Trusts are a popular way for South Africans to protect their assets for their loved ones. Many people opt for a trust as a form of estate planning to ensure their beneficiaries get the most value from their estate.

Several projects have been rolled out to support the Western Cape Government’s efforts to become the first province without load shedding. In support of that goal, the provincial government has implemented numerous initiatives to increase the energy resilience of government facilities and small businesses. Hundreds of healthcare facilities, schools, and businesses have been supported by interventions such as solar power, with around a third of the country’s Small-Scale Embedded Generation projects based in the Western Cape.

The National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) is a government initiative aimed at engaging South African youth in community service activities to strengthen service delivery, promote nation-building, foster social cohesion and to assist the youth to acquire occupational skills necessary to access sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The National Youth Policy 2020-2030 (NYP 2030) is cross-sectoral and aimed at effecting positive youth development outcomes for young people at local, provincial, and national levels in South Africa. It has been developed by the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities in collaboration with multiple stakeholders; the Policy’s intention is to redress the injustices of the past and deal decisively with the new challenges the youth are facing.

Youth Day is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the sacrifices of a brave collective of over 20 000 students, who stood up for freedom during the 1976 Soweto uprising. There are various ways to commemorate this historic event – from street festivals, to visiting a local museum, music events and art exhibitions. Here are some suggestions:

The agricultural sector has an ambitious and unifying vision through the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) launched in May 2022. Indeed, the AAMP is imperfect, and some aspects were contested during its drafting stages. This is expected given the breadth of social partners involved in crafting it. Still, most social partners, such as the business community, government, and labour, agreed that the AAMP offers a framework to grow the agriculture and agro-processing sector, build competitiveness, attract more investment, improve inclusion, and create jobs.

In a progressive workplace, parental leave is a crucial factor which supports the welfare of families and employees. Shared parental leave is gradually gaining recognition across Africa, however many countries still lack paid paternity leave. The global average according to the World Economic Forum stands at 21 days compared to 191 days for maternity leave. According to the Top Employers Institute, parental leave refers to time allocated to parents to take care of their new infant or newly adopted child, for the purpose of parents balancing personal and professional responsibilities.

South Africa launched its trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) with the first shipment dispatched at the start of the year. This follows the publication in the Government Gazette of the terms under which South Africa will participate in the new free trade agreement.

Free State is the latest province to benefit from a government programme that will look to create thousands of employment opportunities. Through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the Labour Activation Programme (LAP) is set up to provide training that will upskill youth for employment and entrepreneurship.

Dealing With Wills Within The South African Legal System By Naledi Mokoena When it comes to wills, the South African legal system is comprehensive and adheres to applicable laws - therefore seeking appropriate legal advice to make and execute wills is a prerequisite,...

As South Africans head to the polls later this month, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said that it is prepared for the country’s seventh democratic election. The elections will take place on Wednesday 29 May and more than 27.79 million voters – the highest since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, are eligible to cast their votes in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Could cryptocurrency fulfil its decentralised potential in African countries and other developing nations? The experts and the numbers suggest so. While the US and other Western nations account for the majority of global cryptocurrency trading volumes, Africa is increasingly emerging as a leader in cryptocurrency adoption.

Our immediate task at hand is to up the ante and herald a new sense of urgency in how we have been working,” said Honourable Thembi Nkadimeng, who was announced as the new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in March 2023 as part of President Ramaphosa’s cabinet reshuffle. She was speaking at the CoGTA’s first staff meeting, in early May, following her appointment along with Deputy Ministers Hon. Parks Tau (Department of Cooperative Governance) and Hon. Prince Burns-Ncamashe (Department of Traditional Affairs).

His Excellency President Ramaphosa penned a letter to the nation on 16 May which focused on the stabilisation in the availability of electricity and reduction in load shedding across the country. “As of today, the country will have had no load shedding for over a month and a half. This welcome development shows that the Energy Action Plan we announced in 2022 is working. It is too early to say that load shedding has been brought to an end. However, the sustained improvement in the performance of Eskom’s power stations – as well as the new generation capacity we have added to our energy system –gives us hope that the end of load shedding is in sight,” – H.E Ramaphosa.

South Africa is approaching its seventh general election, with the preparations under way by the Electoral Commission. At the helm of this organisation is the Sy Mamabolo, the Chief Electoral Officer. The Electoral Commission is an independent constitutional body that manages free and fair elections of legislative bodies and institutions through the participation of citizens, political parties, and civil society in deepening electoral democracy.

CEO Ayanda Mafuleka’s journey to leading FASSET embodies the organisation’s ethos of empowerment through education and mentorship. Ayanda’s personal narrative is deeply intertwined with FASSET’s mission, as she recounts the crucial role the organisation played in her academic journey, providing vital support and resources that led to her qualification as a Chartered Accountant (CA).

Ms Thazibana is Championing Gender Equality in Economics By Koketso Mamabolo Holding one of the highest positions at the South African Reserve Bank, Fundi Tshazibana has dedicated herself to advancing South Africa’s economic position and championing gender diversity...

South Africans will go to the polls for the country’s seventh democratic election on Wednesday 29 May. However, the voting process will be slightly different this year due to recent changes to the legislation governing our elections. In April last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electoral Amendment Bill into law. This piece of legislation expands electoral participation and widens the pool of leadership choices for national and provincial elections.

A question commonly asked about constructive dismissal is – when is it applicable and will it be recognised in the eyes of the South African Labour Law. There are numerous well-documented complaints and grievances relating to employers regarding constructive dismissal and the challenges which transpire due to disagreements with management relating to performance or conduct.

His Excellency President Ramaphosa penned a letter to the nation on 15 April which focused on the upcoming seventh general election to be held on 29 May 2024 and the freedoms that this upholds – such as freedom of the media and an independent Electoral Court that oversees the work of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the conduct of elections.

Freedom Day is celebrated annually on 27 April and marks the first democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994. These elections were the first time that all South Africans, regardless of race, could cast a vote. Of South Africa’s 22.7 million eligible voters, 19.7 million voted in the 1994 national election. The first democratic election marked the end of apartheid, as well as more than 300 years of colonialism and segregation. Following the elections, a new democratic government was established, led by the ANC.

5 Ways to Celebrate Freedom Day By Naledi Mokoena On this day as a nation we unite to annually celebrate and acknowledge the history which gave birth to the democracy we now embrace in South Africa. This year's theme is “30 years of Democracy, Partnership and Growth,”...

The 2024 North West budget speech presented a transformative plan for the province’s communities with a budget boasting over R53.4-billion for the 2024/2025 financial year. The MEC for finance in the North West, Motlapula Rosho delivered the annual budget on 7 March 2024 at the provincial legislature in Mahikeng. The overall budget summarised the provincial government’s role including its outcomes over the last 30 years.

The damaging effects of persistent dryness and heatwave in South Africa’s summer crop growing regions have raised concerns about a possible rise in consumer food inflation in the coming months. With South Africa’s food price inflation averaging 11% in 2023 (from 9.5% in 2022, 6.5% in 2021, and 4.8% in 2020), which was relatively high compared with recent periods, talk of further upside pressure in inflation comes as an unwelcome development.

The Irish Tech Challenge, now in its second year, is a premier startup competition focusing on innovative solutions aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched in 2022, it has swiftly become a catalyst for innovation in the South African tech community, showcasing effective collaborations between governments and the private sector. The initiative, led by the Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and the Technology Innovation Agency, collaborates with the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct (South Africa) and Dogpatch Labs (Ireland) as implementing partners.