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Parly committee assures hantavirus outbreak remains contained as 42 contacts traced

Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health chairperson Faith Muthambi has assured the nation that the current risk of a hantavirus outbreak in South Africa remains contained, following a high-level briefing on the country's response to the respiratory threat.

Reporting on the progress of containment measures, Muthambi revealed that contact tracing processes had identified 62 individuals as potential contacts.

Of these, 42 had already been successfully traced and were currently under medical monitoring.

"We note the assurances that there is limited exposure within the country at this stage. However, we must remain vigilant and ensure that our systems continue to function optimally to prevent any escalation," Muthambi stated.

Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Department of Health (DoH), and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) briefed the Parliamentary Committee amid fears of an outbreak after one person was admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg.

Muthambi stressed that continuous updates on tracing and monitoring efforts were vital to maintaining public confidence and preventing unnecessary panic.

Preliminary laboratory findings presented to the committee confirmed the presence of the Andes strain of hantavirus.

This zoonotic virus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected rodents and is known for causing severe respiratory illness.

Motsoaledi informed the committee that the World Health Organisation (WHO) was first notified on May 2 regarding cases of severe respiratory illness aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship, the MV Hondius.

The vessel, which was travelling from South America, carried 147 passengers and crew members of various nationalities.

The virus has already claimed two lives. Currently, one United Kingdom national remains hospitalised in Johannesburg. Health officials report the patient is in a stable condition.

Muthambi commended the DoH, the NICD, and frontline healthcare workers for their "swift, coordinated, and effective response" in tracking cases linked to the international vessel.

"Committee members raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of early detection systems, questioning how the initial cases managed to bypass screening protocols on board the ship and at South Africa's points of entry.

Muthambi explained that members cross-examined the country's border health systems and whether they were adequately equipped to detect and respond to emerging and unusual infectious diseases.

"… in addition, the committee raised question regarding the process through which the virus was identified, given that hantavirus is not routinely tested for and often difficult to detect. The committee inquired about the clinical and laboratory steps that led to its detection," Muthambi noted.

The committee also enquired about the country's diagnostic capacity and scientific sovereignty, particularly in relation to reports about laboratory samples being sent outside the country.

The department explained that local laboratories confirmed the diagnosis, she said.

"Members emphasised the importance of sustained investment in domestic testing capabilities to ensure that South Africa remains self-reliant."

Muthambi highlighted that the committee also raised concerns regarding South Africa's readiness to respond to a potential increase in cases, including the preparedness of health facilities, the protection of healthcare workers and the adequacy of contingency planning.

"Questions were posed about the potential risk in densely populated areas where rodent infestations are prevalent. The committee urged the department to provide clear guidance to address public fears. Members further emphasised the need to strengthen communication to both healthcare workers and the public to ensure consistent accurate information," she said.

Muthambi said this incident demonstrated the importance of strong coordination w...

ANC confident ConCourt will uphold NHI Act as it calls out opposition

The African National Congress (ANC) believes the Constitutional Court will uphold the constitutionality of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and affirm the State's move to roll out universal healthcare.

The Constitutional Court is hearing two major challenges to the NHI Act between Tuesday and Thursday, focusing on an allegedly flawed parliamentary public participation processes.

In February, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that he would not promulgate any provisions of the NHI Act prior to the Constitutional Court handing down judgment on these public participation challenges, and that he would not enforce any part of the Act until he was requested to do so by the Minister of Health.

The ANC reaffirmed its "unwavering commitment" to the NHI, with party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu stating that the NHI was an historic instrument to dismantle the entrenched inequalities that continue to define South Africa's health system.

"More than three decades into democracy, access to quality healthcare remains structurally determined by socioeconomic status. This dual system, one for the affluent and another for the majority, stands in direct contradiction to the values of equality and dignity that the Constitution seeks to entrench," she explained.

She pointed out that the NHI sought to correct this by pooling the nation's resources to ensure universal and equitable access to quality healthcare services.

The ANC claimed that following extensive consultations with communities and organisations, South Africans had expressed support for the NHI.

Bhengu accused those opposing the NHI of seeking to preserve a system that reproduced inequality and delayed the full realisation of constitutional rights.

Such opposition had profound social consequences, she added.

"… it risks entrenching a reality in which dignity is conditional and access to healthcare is determined by wealth rather than need."

Bhengu argued that the NHI challenges entrenched privilege, pointing to private hospitals and medical aids serving a minority while the under-resourced public health system served the majority of citizens.

"Resistance to the NHI is, therefore, not only about constitutional interpretation, but also about the defence of privilege, structural advantage and historic inequality," she stated.

Parly committee demands end to NSFAS instability

Parliament's Higher Education Portfolio Committee expressed concerns with the repeated placement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration, pleading with Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to end the instability at the financial aid scheme.

Following severe governance, financial and IT failures, Manamela placed the NSFAS under administration, with Professor Hlengani Mathebula appointed as the third administrator since 2018.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie described the situation as "deeply concerning", citing a "gross" breakdown in governance.

"The repeated placement of NSFAS under administration is deeply concerning. It means that, since 2018, the entity has had three administrators appointed to address persistent governance failures, non-compliance with legal recommendations, [and] poor management of student allowances," he said.

The latest intervention followed a turbulent period, including a series of resignations from the NSFAS board, most notably that of the interim chairperson Dr Mugwena Maluleka.

"Instabilities at senior management and a board level often means the students, who are the main clients, are led by a 'rudderless' entity with no sense of direction," Letsie stated.

The committee highlighted that despite previous hopes of a turnaround, particularly under former leadership such as Dr Karen Stander, the entity continued to falter, raising questions about why "quality leaders" did not last at the institution.

"We ought to understand and get to the root causes as to why good leaders do not last at NSFAS," Letsie added.

The committee called for a student-centred entity capable of disbursing allowances timeously. However, it said persistent challenges with data verification, IT system failures, and poor management of student accommodation continued to undermine these efforts.

Letsie stated that the committee wanted a full briefing from Manamela on the decision to place NSFAS under administration, and it also wanted the new administrator to present a tangible turnaround plan.

"Unless NSFAS decisively resolves its governance shortcomings, we risk grappling with these problems for many years to come, with students enduring the worst of the repeated administrative failures," Letsie warned.

Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on Higher Education and Training Delmaine Christians said her party did not believe a third administration would be successful.

"It is now time to completely overhaul the payment distribution system to students and universities. The DA reiterates our call to scrap NSFAS entirely and replace it with a decentralised model that gives direct control of funding to institutions, eliminating failing intermediaries and ensuring students receive support efficiently and reliably," she stated.

The South African Union of Students (SAUS) has also rejected the decision to place the entity under administration, saying while challenges persisted, the scheme was significantly more functional than in previous years.

The union said it did not accept that the current state of NSFAS justified such an "extreme" intervention, also claiming that the process may not meet the legal and governance standards.

"… appeals have been processed within reasonable timeframes, allowances have been disbursed with greater consistency to institutions and students, and there has been visible progress in the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of student accommodation across the country where we saw no NSFAS-funded student sleeping outside in corridors or lecture venues," it said.

The SAUS maintained that sustainable stability at NSFAS would not be achieved through administrative takeovers, but through consistent leadership, clear policy direction free from interference, transparent governance, and meaningful engagement with student stakeholders.

The union called on Manamela to provide a full, transparent, and lawful account of ...

South Africa moves to quell fallout from anti-immigrant attacks

South Africa's foreign ministry is stepping up diplomatic efforts to quell growing concern on the continent about rising anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said on Tuesday he's held talks with his counterparts in Nigeria and Ghana, after the authorities in both countries said they summoned the South African envoys over attacks on their citizens. President Cyril Ramaphosa met his Mozambican counterpart, Daniel Chapo, on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Anti-immigrant protests in South Africa in recent weeks have revived concerns about xenophobic violence in the country, where migrants are targeted in a climate of high unemployment and overstretched basic services. In 2008, about 60 people died and 50 000 were displaced in a wave of anti-immigrant attacks.

Last week, a movement known as March and March held protests against illegal immigration in the capital, Pretoria, and the commercial hub of Johannesburg.

"We condemn any violence that comes with these marches," Lamola told reporters in Pretoria on Tuesday. "It is un-South African to commit violence in the name of enforcing the law. In fact, it's mob justice, it's vigilantism."

The protests come at a sensitive time for South Africa, which currently holds the interim chair of the Southern African Development Community — a 15-nation economic bloc — placing added pressure on the government to demonstrate stability and leadership within the region.

The United Nations last week condemned xenophobic attacks as well as the harassment and intimidation of foreign nationals in South Africa. Secretary-General António Guterres calling for calm and urged the authorities to protect all residents regardless of their nationality, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson.

The issue also risks economic consequences. South Africa's Cross-Border Road Transport Agency warned on Monday of possible counter-protest action in neighbouring Mozambique that may affect traffic between the two countries and operations at the Lebombo and Kosi Bay border posts.

"Reports indicate that these imminent protest actions may restrict the free movement of South Africans and South African registered vehicles into Mozambique as a retaliatory measure following protest actions which have recently taken place in various parts of South Africa," it said in a statement posted on X.

Mineral Exports

Maputo is a key export hub for South Africa's chrome producers and is also used for some coal exports, as well as magnetite — a form of iron ore.

The Lebombo corridor handles almost 1 500 heavy-goods vehicles a day, Business Unity South Africa data shows. An average of 1 000 trucks arrive at the port of Maputo from across the border daily, according to the company that operates the harbour.

South Africa is the continent's biggest economy, and while it's unemployment rate of 31.4% is one of the world's highest, it still offers better economic prospects, broader social services and more developed infrastructure than many of its neighbours.

The country is seeking a more coordinated approach to migration management across the continent, Lamola said.

"It becomes very important for South Africa to find a long-lasting solution on the issue of irregular migration, but also for our counterparts across the continent to also share this responsibility with us," he said.

South Africa's census showed the country of 62-million people has about 2.4-million immigrants. There are about 2-million undocumented migrants in the country, according to the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies.

EFF demands urgent Parly sitting over fuel price hikes

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has "vehemently rejected" the government's temporary, reactive measures to rising fuel costs, demanding an urgent Parliamentary sitting to address the escalating cost of living.

Following Minister Gwede Mantashe's announcement of drastic fuel hikes, with petrol rising by R3.27/l and diesel by R6.19/l effective Wednesday, the party slammed the current fiscal framework as lacking credibility.

The EFF argued that the surge, driven by global volatility and a weak, "incoherent national strategy", highlights a failure to secure South Africa's strategic fuel reserves.

Citing the absence of concrete structural interventions from the National Treasury, the party termed the government's approach as "disconnected from the lived realities of its people".

The EFF announced it will write to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, demanding that President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana account to Parliament.

The EFF believes that failure to act is a political choice that prioritises "fiscal arithmetic over human survival".

"... this increase represents a direct attack on the most vulnerable, who are forced to absorb these shocks without any form of protection or organised recourse," it said.

The party highlighted that the impact of these increases will be immediate and severe across all sections of society.

"Transport costs will rise sharply, increasing the cost of food and all basic goods. Households already struggling with debt, high fuel costs and rising living expenses will be pushed further into distress," it warned.

Ramaphosa advocates for collaborative, continental approach to seeking colonial reparations

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday expressed South Africa's support for a unified, collaborative approach to the issue of reparations for Africa through forward-looking measures to redress the lingering effects of the slave trade and colonialism.

Every May, the continent observes Africa Month to commemorate the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity.

In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa said that celebrating and affirming African identity is as integral to the national character as the ideals that anchor democracy.

He said just as truth and reconciliation have been integral to South Africa's journey, former colonial powers must confront historical injustices with honesty and integrity.

Ramaphosa highlighted that redress is not only about looking backward, but that it is about making a clear commitment to tangible measures that support Africa's future growth and development. "We are one people. Despite Africa's many languages and cultures, we take pride in a common identity, in our shared values and in a belonging that transcends geographical boundaries.

"Even as we celebrate our continent's vibrancy and dynamism, we are mindful of the legacy of Africa's colonial past and how it continues to shape our continent's fortunes. While most African countries achieved independence many decades ago, the effects of the colonial era are still evident in much of the inequality, economic exclusion, political instability and conflicts that persist in parts of Africa," he said. He stated that the most extreme form of dehumanisation was the transcontinental slave trade perpetrated by European empires and slave-trading networks across the Sahara and North Africa.

For more than 100 years, he said millions of African men, women and children were hunted down, captured and traded as possessions. "The reality is that much of the wealth of former colonial powers today is the result of the deprivation of Africa's people. Not only were millions of Africans enslaved, but colonial powers grew wealthy from the vast tracts of African land they forcibly occupied and the valuable resources they extracted," he said. Ramaphosa's view is that colonial powers have largely avoided a deeper reckoning with the consequences of these acts.

"... some have apologised for specific atrocities, but in the main they have fallen short of full unqualified apologies for colonialism," he said.

He explained that the issue of reparations has been contested for decades, with opponents arguing that modern States differ from those of the colonial period, or that too much time has passed.

However, he said to ignore these claims is to wilfully ignore the intergenerational trauma and social violence that continues to hold back development.

"Whatever form reparations ultimately take, they should be aligned with our continent's developmental objectives and assist African countries to tackle debt challenges, poverty alleviation, inequality and unemployment," he said.

Ramaphosa noted that just as the exploitation of Africa and the enslavement of millions of Africans made the former colonial powers wealthy, redress must take the form of sustained, direct, material investment in Africa's development.

"This should include increased foreign direct investment and market access for the African countries affected by slavery. It should include skills and technology transfer. And it should include the return of historical artefacts to their countries of origin," he said.

Hefty petrol, diesel price increases announced for May, despite fuel levy cuts

Despite the National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources' (DMPR's) decision to extend the cut in the fuel levies for petrol and diesel for May, hefty increases of R3.27 a litre for petrol and R6.19 a litre for diesel will be implemented from May 6 as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact on global oil prices and domestic fuel prices.

In a May 4 media release, the DMPR points out that the increases are the result of local and international factors, such as an increase in the average Brent crude oil price.

Owing to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, Treasury and the DMPR last week announced a further temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of R3 a litre to be implemented in the price structures of petrol and R3.93 a litre for diesel from May 6 to June 2.

For the month of June, the level of relief is expected to be halved to R1.50 a litre for petrol and R1.96 a litre for diesel, effective from June 3 to June 30.

As previously reported, this will increase the general fuel levy for petrol from R1.10 a litre to R2.60 a litre and increase the general fuel levy for diesel from R0 a litre to R1.97 a litre for June.

From July 1, the general fuel levy for petrol will return to R4.10 a litre and the general fuel levy for diesel to R3.93 a litre.

MOTORISTS REDUCE TRAVEL, FUEL PURCHASES As motorists brace for the expected fuel price increases, new data from Discovery Insure indicates that South Africans bought 35% less fuel in April than in March.

The analysis, based on telematics and fuel reward card swipes from over 200 000 clients, shows how motorists responded to the fuel price increase on April 1, which saw petrol climb by R3.06 a litre and diesel by as much as R7.51 a litre.

The analysis also showed that fuel transactions dropped by 28% over the same period.

At the same time, driving behaviour also shifted. Trips taken were down 10% and the total distance travelled dropped by 9%.

Even when removing the Easter weekend of April 3 to 6 from the data, trips and distance travelled were still down by 8%.

"The data shows a clear and immediate response to higher petrol prices, Discovery Insure points out.

"Even with the government's effort to soften the impact by temporarily cutting the fuel levy by R3, consumers are tightening their belts by driving less, combining trips and being more deliberate about when they use their cars," says Discovery Insure CEO Robert Attwell.

He explains that the change in behaviour followed a sharp spike in activity just before the price increase.

On March 30 and 31, he notes that daily fuel transactions doubled compared to the rest of the month, while total spend on fuel rose by 81%, as drivers filled up ahead of the increase.

"This highlights how quickly people react," says Attwell.

He adds that there was a strong push to fill up before the increase, driven by uncertainty, followed by a pullback as behaviour adjusted towards the end of the month.

"Fuel spend started to pick up slightly in the third week of April, showing that while people responded quickly to manage costs, they started to find a balance."

Despite the drop in use, Discovery Insure notes that fuel spend remains largely essential and non-discretionary.

That is according to the 'SpendTrend26' report, which combines data from Visa and Discovery Bank, and found that most fuel purchases are driven by daily routines such as commuting to work, school runs and errands – meaning they are driven more by necessity and timing than choice.

The report also showed that while fuel still accounts for the majority of transport costs, alternative options are steadily growing.

This suggests that higher fuel prices are leading to less driving and encouraging a shift towards more flexible ways to get around.

"What we are seeing is not just a reduction in driving as petrol prices increase, but an overall change in behaviour. People are beco...

Ramaphosa says local govt facing 'defining' moment as he urges action on water crisis

"The country is looking to us to secure an uninterrupted supply of water to all citizens, businesses and institutions, now and into the future," President Cyril Ramaphosa declared, urging firm commitments, responsibilities, and timelines to reverse the current crisis.

With significant portions of South Africa experiencing severe, weeks-long water shortages and infrastructure collapse, the Presidency has moved water security to the top of the national agenda, labelling the situation a national emergency.

Ramaphosa emphasised that reversing the crisis requires moving beyond promises into immediate action.

Government has acknowledged that systemic mismanagement and a lack of maintenance at the municipal level have brought the country to a critical juncture.

Speaking at the extended President's Coordinating Council Meeting in Boksburg, on Thursday, Ramaphosa outlined a comprehensive strategy to fix water services by enforcing strict accountability, ensuring financial ring-fencing for maintenance, hiring qualified technical staff, punishing corruption, and fostering collaboration across all government levels.

He acknowledged that while South Africa has made significant strides in extending water access over three decades of democracy, the nation now faces a severe, multifaceted water crisis that requires immediate, coordinated action.

Although Census 2022 data showed that over 82% of households have access to piped water inside their house or yard, a major increase from 61% in 1996, the reliability and quality of these services have deteriorated significantly.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that the country's local government sphere is facing a defining moment.

"... for too long, many municipalities have struggled to provide the basic services citizens deserve due to weak revenue bases, deep skills shortages, and a complex, fragmented system that overwhelms even the best-intentioned leaders. This has resulted in a widespread crisis, with crumbling infrastructure, chronic water and electricity disruptions, and under-maintained roads," he said.

According to the 2024 general household survey, households experiencing water interruptions lasting more than two days increased from 24% in 2012 to 34% in 2024.

Ramaphosa noted that this was driven by ageing infrastructure, maintenance deficits, and institutional failures.

He pointed out that collectively, the eight metropolitan municipalities are losing an average of 34% of all water purchased before it can be billed, with some metros approaching 50% losses.

He added that municipal debt to water boards has tripled between 2018 and 2025, signalling a financial crisis in the sector, he said.

Government needs a range of actions addressing critical areas of failure, he added, noting that major reforms in the water sector are underway, under Operation Vulindlela since 2020.

"Among the water sector reforms completed are the passing of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency Act and the establishment of the remaining Catchment Management Agencies.

"The programme aims to reverse long-term service decline, improve financial sustainability, and unlock R108-billion in investment by enforcing clear performance targets," he explained.

Ramaphosa said government has cleared the backlog of water-use license applications, with the turnaround time for processing new water-use license applications markedly improved.

"The Blue, Green and No Drop Reports have been reinstated to provide accurate information on the state of municipal water and sanitation services.

"In addition, National Treasury is implementing the Metro Trading Services Reform programme to overhaul electricity, water and waste services in the eight metropolitan municipalities," he added.

Democracy decline: Only 17% of S Africans satisfied with democratic system – HSRC

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) senior researcher Dr Ngqapheli Mchunu revealed a sharp decline in South Africans' demand for democracy, dropping from 67% in the mid-2000s to 36% in 2025/2026.

Speaking during a Defend Our Democracy webinar, he said the HSRC election satisfaction survey highlighted a rising fatalism and an increased willingness to embrace non-democratic, "strong man" alternatives, with one in four citizens now open to such options.

He said regional disparities exist, with democratic preference lowest in Limpopo at 28%, compared with higher levels in the Western Cape at 46%.

Mchunu pointed out that public satisfaction with South African democracy has experienced a significant decline, with citizens who believes it works dropping from 63% in 2004 to 17% by 2025.

This growing cynicism, he said, is marked by a 68% dissatisfaction rate and is largely attributed to a perceived lack of accountability and poor communication from political leadership, with Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal recording the sharpest declines.

Mchunu warned of a systemic "trust deficit" across South Africa's political and state institutions, highlighting a significant decline in public confidence.

He noted that this trend is not isolated to one body but is reflected across national and local governments.

Mchunu tracked a long-term downward trajectory in institutional trust, pointing out that in 2024 trust in national government stood at about 69%.

He explained that by 2024, general positive sentiment toward government institutions had declined to as low as 13%, while trust in local government was measured at 55% in 2004.

By 2025, he said this had dropped sharply, with only about 18% of citizens indicating they still trust local authorities.

He explained that a particularly sharp decline has been observed in the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), noting that between 2007 and 2009, trust in the IEC was high, nearly reaching three-quarters of the population at 74%.

He noted recent research, which he said indicated that trust has fallen to about 32%.

"While trust has declined nationally, provinces like KwaZulu-Natal have seen significant drops, though they still show relatively higher trust levels compared to provinces such as Mpumalanga and the North West," he explained.

Mchunu attributed this erosion of trust to systemic corruption, inefficiency and service delivery, and accountability gaps.

Mchunu warned that this deficit risks creating an "illegitimate state" where citizens no longer endorse or comply with state initiatives, ultimately threatening the stability pf the country's democracy.

He pointed to a sharp decline in public satisfaction with the IEC, with approval ratings falling from 43% in 2010 to 20% by 2025.

He said the findings show a direct correlation between trust levels and voter behaviour, where regular voters are far more likely to be satisfied (69%) compared with those who do not vote (20%).

Mchunu said the survey revealed high voter approval for the 2024 national and provincial elections, with over 80% of participants satisfied with the voting process and roughly 90% finding IEC staff helpful.

"While trust in the IEC remained high, the survey noted that some participants, including non-voters, expressed lower confidence regarding the accuracy of vote counting and identified a need for improved ballot paper designs," he explained.

Local elections set for November 4 – Ramaphosa

South Africa will hold its next municipal elections on November 4, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a post on X.

The country holds municipal elections roughly every five years, and South Africans had been waiting to know the date of the next local government vote.

The biggest political party, Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC), has tended to do worse in municipal elections than national ones, as voters vent frustrations over deteriorating public infrastructure like roads and water pipes.

In the 2021 municipal elections, the ANC won less than half of the vote for the first time since the 1994 end of white minority rule.

That result turned out to be a forerunner for the 2024 national election, when the ANC lost its parliamentary majority, after which it formed a broad coalition government that saw Ramaphosa remain head of state.