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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.

Prof. Godfrey has actively engaged in waste and circular economy initiatives at various levels, collaborating with esteemed organisations such as the United Nations, European Union, and South African Government Departments. Currently leading the Waste RDI Roadmap Implementation Unit for the Department of Science and Technology, her research focuses on the waste sector’s role in South Africa’s green economy transition, waste innovation, economics, governance, and social and behavioural aspects of integrated waste management.

There won’t be any relief for personal income-taxpayers In the upcoming 2024/25 tax year. The Personal Income Tax (PIT) table and tax rebates remain unchanged, ignoring inflation. This lack of adjustment means that salary increases will be a push up into a higher tax bracket with increased tax rates. Medical tax credits will also remain unchanged, with no mention of phasing them out or introducing new taxes for National Health Insurance (NHI).

March is important in South Africa as it honours Human Rights. For Reshni Singh, a fervent supporter of women’s opportunities in the Global Business Services Incentive (GBS) sector, it is also her one-year anniversary as BPESA’s CEO. With 21 years of experience in roles supporting South Africa’s economic growth, especially at the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (dtic), she managed the highly praised GBS incentives programme. In an interview, Reshni reflected on the industry’s significant progress.

During her tenure at The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA), Ncedisa Mpande has ensured that the organisation formed strong partnerships with various provincial offices across the country, one of which has resulted in the training of 6000 young people as solar technicians. It is also through her leadership that the merSETA forged partnerships with various higher education institutions in the country, resulting in the clearing of historical debt for 30 000 students, allowing them to graduate and gain access to the job market. She also ensured that the merSETA partnered with NSFAS, resulting in the funding of 300 students from the “missing middle” to study at various public universities across South Africa.

In his Letter to the Nation from the Presidency, penned on March 18, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa focused on Human Rights – recalling that on 21 March, South Africa celebrates Human Rights Day. The purpose of this public holiday is to remind all South Africans of the Sharpeville Massacre that took place in 1960, when police shot dead 69 unarmed protesters who were taking a stand against unjust and inhumane pass laws; this led to the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopting its first resolution condemning violence perpetrated by the apartheid regime. In 1966 the UN General Assembly declared apartheid a crime against humanity and 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

South Africa’s greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in 2022 sparked a wave of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing policies and mechanisms. One of these is an amendment of the Companies Act 71 of 2008, which came into effect in April last year with far-reaching implications. In effort to bring more transparency and accountability, organisations whether they be profit-making, NPOs or even non-exempt SOEs – are now obliged to file beneficial ownership information with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) as part of their annual returns to avoid de-registration.

South Africa’s agricultural sector has proven to be a robust industry, contributing significantly to the country’s economic performance and employment for a large number of South Africans. But the sector’s value is more than just employment and GDP figures, as it supports a number of other sectors, such as manufacturing. This means that the success of the agricultural sector is far-reaching: it can increase productivity and employment in several neighbouring industries.

What the OQSF Policy Transition Means for Businesses By Koketso Mamabolo In education circles it’s often said that “qualifications are not jobs” but, as the CEO of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO), Vijayen Naidoo explained in the Mail &...

At the start of each year, a new cohort embarks on a journey to obtain the skills necessary to secure their place in the workforce. Yet despite these young minds entering higher learning opportunities, many South African companies still face a shortage of skills in the workplace.

Dr Luthando Dziba, Regional Director for East Africa, Madagascar and the West Indian Ocean, Wildlife Conservation Society. By Jessie Taylor A leading voice in South African conservation has taken on a role on the global stage, working to preserve the world’s wild...