What would you do with R350? Well, most social media users were shocked to find out that certain Individuals have managed to start businesses with their R350 social relief distress grants. During his State of the Nation Address, SONA last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that Lindokuhle Msomi, an unemployed TV producer from KwaMashu Hostel, saved the R350 grant he received for nine months to start a fast food stall. And Thando Makhubu from Soweto saved his R350 grant for 7 months last year and opened an ice-cream store that now employs four people. But many people feel R350 is far too little to start a business. So how did they do it? For more on this, here is one of the business owners; Thando Makhubu, to shed light on how he started Soweto Creamery in Jabulani

The Gauteng government has suspended at least nine senior officials implicated in irregularities related to the awarding of contracts for the refurbishment of the Anglo Gold Ashanti Hospital in the West Rand. The suspension of the officials from both the health department and the Department of Infrastructure development follows a recommendation by the Special Investigating Unit. The unit had been investigating allegations of irregularities and maladministration in the procurement of goods and services related to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For further details, here is Gauteng Government spokesperson, Vuyo Mhaga

Travelers to Botswana will from today (14 February 2022) need to produce proof of being fully vaccinated to gain entry to the country. For more on this here is Sethomo Lelati-sitswe, Assistant Minister of Health in Botswana

Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema says President Cyril Ramaphosa has passed a motion of no confidence in himself  by shifting government's responsibility of job creation to the private sector. However his sentiments were not shared by the Democratic Alliance which welcomed the Ramaphosa's pronouncement on the role of the private sector in growing the economy. His sixth SONA has been met with been mixed reaction from other parties. Elvis Presslin spoke to Senior Research Fellow and Political Economist at Trade Collective, Lebohang Pheko.

This week on Africa Brief we begin in Kenya where the Equity Group Ranked the Fifth Strongest Banking Brand in the World, in Morocco, the EU Unveils €1.6 Billion Investment in Morocco and Kiswahili Becomes AU's Working Language. Elvis Presslin spoke to  Executive Director for Marketing and Communication at the University of Limpopo and author of  "Africa Is Open For Business" and "Africa Bounces Back", Victor Kgomoesoana.

Some government departments, embassies, businesses, homeowners are without electricity and water after owing City of Tshwane seventeen-billion Rands in utilities. The City of Tshwane has embarked on what it says "an aggressive revenue collection campaign" by disconnecting services to defaulting customers. Elvis Presslin spoke to the acting chief of staff in the City of Tshwane Mayor's office, Jordan Griffiths.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate says it is investigating a case of death as a result of police action, after an on-duty police officer gunned down his on-duty nurse girlfriend at the Tembisa Hospital in Johannesburg. The officer shot the 30-year-old woman several times before turning the gun on himself. He is now in a crital but stable condition at the Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. Elvis Presslin spoke to IPID spokesperson Ms Grace Langa.

Social Justice Organisation, Black Sash says it will continue its call for President Ramaphosa to extend the Social Relief of Distress Grant and recommends that it be increased to at least the Food Poverty line of just over R600. Ramaphosa is set to focus on the progress made in the four key priority areas he identified last year when he delivers his State of the Nation Address on on Wednesday evening. His address comes at a time when the economy is faced with a combination of high unemployment, stagnant GDP growth as well as a widening gap between rich and poor. Elvis Presslin spoke to Black Sash's paralegal field-worker, Vincent Skhosana. 

 In the build up to this year's State Of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, there are growing expectations that he will address calls for jobs in some sectors of the economy to be reserved exclusively for South Africans. The possible exclusion of foreign nationals from some sectors was reportedly discussed by the African National Congress, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party at a recent Lekgotla. This comes amid growing tensions in the country as some demand better regulations for foreign nationals. ELvis Presslin spoke to leader of the South African First Party, Mario Khumalo....

Former DA Federal Chairperson, Athol Trollip has been touted as the latest new member that is about to join Herman Mashaba's ActionSA. This follows meetings by Mashaba in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape where the party tweeted it would be announcing its new members to lead the province. Trollip, a former mayor of the hotly contested Nelson Mandela Bay metro resigned from the DA following the departure of former DA leader, Mmusi Maimane. Elvis Presslin spoke to SABC politics reporter, Samkele Maseko and political analyst at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Dr Kuhle Zwakala.