Pensioners Refunded After We Queried Funeral Policy Deductions
Insurance companies insist they have proof that pensioners agreed, but questions remain about how this was done
Insurance
Judge Dismisses Postbank’s Attempt to Keep Social Grants Contract
Postbank “created its own urgency” by waiting until September to bring the application, the Gauteng High Court ruled. It has known since 2024 that the contract would be terminated this month.
We Demand Answers Over Neglected Idas Valley Rugby Clubhouse
GOOD Stellenbosch has formally submitted a request to Stellenbosch Municipality for an urgent investigation into the deteriorated condition of the Idas Valley Rugby Clubhouse, a facility that once stood as a proud symbol of sporting excellence, community development, and cultural heritage for the people of Idas Valley.
The post STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY: GOOD DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER NEGLECTED IDAS VALLEY RUGBY CLUBHOUSE appeared first on For Good.
NMBM Adopts Motion to Hold Individuals Personally Liable for Damaging Traffic Lights
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) successfully passed a motion in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Council (NMBM) to hold individuals damaging traffic lights personally liable for the damage. This motion aims to shift the financial burden of repairing and replacing traffic lights from taxpayers to the guilty parties and their insurance companies. The NMBM […]
The post NMBM adopts motion to hold individuals personally liable for damaging traffic lights appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Punitive Cost Order Against Dodgy Lottery Official Nompumelelo Nene
Judge says she abused court processes, and her application had no merit
A Political Stunt to Undermine Transformation
The Western Cape Government is using procedural concerns as a smokescreen to obstruct long-overdue reforms to South Africa’s deeply unequal healthcare system.
The post WESTERN CAPE’S NHI LAWSUIT: A POLITICAL STUNT TO UNDERMINE TRANSFORMATION appeared first on For Good.
Give Us Each a Hectare of Land, Say Women Farm Workers
Farm workers who produce the country’s food often go hungry, says Women on Farms Project
Grant Beneficiaries Are Being Signed up for Funeral Policies Without Their Permission
SASSA’s system allows for 1Life and Emerald Life to make deductions from social grants
Wheelchair Basketball: What We Can Learn From a South African Athlete’s Journey to France
Born in rural KwaZulu-Natal, double amputee Sphelele Dlamini faces fresh challenges playing basketball in France.
Joburg Clinic Staff Make Me Ashamed to Be an Immigrant
Each time I take my daughter to the clinic, immigrants are told to wait while South Africans are served first
Armed Banditry Is Becoming a Crisis in Nigeria: Why Fixing the Police Is Key
The fragile state of Nigeria’s police contributes to the persistence of insecurity, particularly banditry, in the northern region.
Minister’s Reply Regarding Maternity Leave Payments Should Be Taken With a Heaping Helping of Salt
The reply by Minister Nomakhosazana Meth, Minister of Employment and Labour, to a question by the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) that all maternity leave claims in South Africa are fully up to date – except for the current year – cannot be taken seriously. The party regularly receives complaints from women across the country […]
The post Minister’s reply regarding maternity leave payments should be taken with a heaping helping of salt appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Lessons for Modern Times From Africans That Survived 10,000 Years of Climate Changes by Adapting Food Systems
Blending livelihood strategies based on what works at different times in specific environments has been key to human survival for thousands of years.
Loan Company Exploited Social Grant Beneficiaries, Court Rules
JDG Trading sold disability or retrenchment insurance to people who were already disabled or unemployed
MPs Not Impressed With New SASSA Verification Process
Treasury may withhold funds if SASSA does not meet its conditions
South Africa Needs to Do More to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance, Warn Experts
This is a “pandemic which is wreaking havoc, is not being attended to properly and not being taken seriously enough”
Youth Day: We Are Not a ‘Lost’ Generation but a …
GOOD Statement by Kaden Arguile,GOOD National Youth Chairperson 16 June 2025 From the moment a child is born in South Africa, they face barriers in every direction. If they’re lucky, they’ll survive a chronically underfunded healthcare system. If their home is unstable, the chance of receiving help from an overwhelmed and under-resourced social worker is […]
The post YOUTH DAY: WE ARE NOT A ‘LOST’ GENERATION BUT A DISCARDED ONE appeared first on For Good.
South African Law Failing Gig Workers
These workers don’t get paid leave and they can be dismissed arbitrarily
Ramaphosa Should Do the Honourable Thing Regarding NHI
President Cyril Ramaphosa should do the honourable thing and explain to South Africans why he signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law shortly before last year’s elections. On 6 May this year, the North Gauteng High Court ruled, in the case involving the Board of Healthcare Funders and the SA Private Practitioners Forum, […]
The post Ramaphosa should do the honourable thing regarding National Health Insurance (NHI) appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
210,000 Social Grant Beneficiaries Flagged for Not Disclosing Income
They will not receive payments until they verify their income with SASSA
Quick Explainer: Government Debt and Why It Matters
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says South Africa is spending 22c of every rand raised in taxes to pay interest on government debt. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana reminded everyone during his budget speech in March: South Africa is spending more than 22c of every rand raised in taxes just to pay …
BFSI Security Summit 2025 to Address Rising Cybersecurity Threats in Africa’s Financial Sector
The BFSI Security Summit 2025 is set to take place on May 7, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Gautrain, Sandton, Johannesburg, bringing together leading cybersecurity experts, IT decision-makers, and industry pioneers to tackle the growing cyber risks facing Africa's banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector.
Cybersecurity remains a top concern for financial institutions in Africa. In 2024, the Bank of Uganda fell victim (apo-opa.co/3QWE6h6) to an offshore hacking group known as “Waste,” resulting in the theft of approximately $16.8 million. Additionally, ZB Financial Holdings in Zimbabwe experienced a ransomware attack (apo-opa.co/4jaBBUi) in July 2024, leading to significant data leaks affecting customer and operational information. More recently, in South Africa, Standard Bank confirmed that it experienced a data breach (apo-opa.co/3YaVJ0q) that involved limited personal and financial information. These incidents underscore the urgent need for robust cybersecurity strategies within the BFSI sector.
Why Attend?
The BFSI Security Summit is the premier platform for CISOs, CIOs, IT directors, and cybersecurity leaders to explore the latest strategies and technologies to secure Africa's financial landscape. Key topics on the agenda include:
- Ransomware and Data Breaches: Strengthening cybersecurity resilience in banking and insurance.
- Securing Emerging Tech: Mitigating risks in AI, blockchain, and cloud adoption.
- Data Privacy and Compliance: Navigating Africa's evolving regulatory landscape.
- Incident Response in BFSI: Best practices in breach management and risk mitigation.
“Cybercrime is evolving at an alarming rate, and financial institutions in Africa are prime targets. The BFSI Security Summit will provide a crucial platform for industry leaders to collaborate, share insights, and implement strategies to safeguard their organizations,” says Abe Wakama, CEO of IT News Africa.
Who Should Sponsor & Exhibit?
The summit offers a unique opportunity for cybersecurity solution providers, fintech innovators, and IT security firms to showcase their expertise and connect with key decision-makers. Sponsors will benefit from high-impact brand visibility, lead generation, and networking with top BFSI executives.
How to Get Involved
- To attend: Register here: BFSI Security Summit Registration (apo-opa.co/3FIK7M6)
- To sponsor or exhibit: Download the sponsorship brochure: Sponsorship Opportunities (apo-opa.co/4cc9jqr)
To speak at the event: Apply here: Become a Speaker (apo-opa.co/4j8Q6b8)
For media inquiries, sponsorship, or speaking opportunities, contact events@itnewsafrica.com.
Join us in shaping the future of BFSI cybersecurity in Africa!
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of IT News Africa.
Media Contacts:
Abe Wakama
0120125801
events@itnewsafrica.com
Call to scale up cervical cancer interventions
Call to scale up cervical cancer interventions
The international community has been called upon to scale up cervical cancer interventions and progress against the only noncommunicable disease that can be eliminated.
This call was made by the Government of South Africa, Unitaid and the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Group of Twenty (G20) Health Working Group meeting, which took place on Thursday in Zimbali, outside Durban.
According to the Department of Health, cervical cancer is preventable and potentially curable, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. It is the second most common form of cancer among women in South Africa.
Statistics by the WHO show that the disease claimed the lives of almost 350 000 women globally in 2022.
“New vaccines, tests, and treatment technologies have transformed cervical cancer prevention in recent years, yet the disease continues to disproportionately impact women mostly in low- and middle-income countries where access to primary health care and preventive services are limited. Cervical cancer elimination would address a major gap in Women’s health,” the department said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G20 health meeting, Unitaid’s Deputy Executive Director Tenu Avafia said Unitaid has invested US $81 million or R1.4 billion to bring down prices, increase volumes and address operational questions involved in cervical cancer screening and treatment to enable countries to scale up proven interventions with minimal risk.
“However, funding shortfalls still pose enormous challenges to building national cervical cancer elimination programs in low- and middle-income countries,” Avafia said.
Unitaid makes health products accessible, available and affordable for people who need them most.
Department of Health’s Director-General Dr Sandile Buthelezi said improving women’s health was not just a health issue but “an economic imperative”.
“It drives social stability, boosts productivity, and breaks the cycle of poverty. Global efforts to combat cervical cancer serve as a concrete illustration of how cooperation can advance women’s health and realize a shared goal to bring about the first-ever elimination of a cancer,” he said.
In 2020, the WHO launched the global strategy for cervical cancer elimination, the first-ever roadmap for the elimination of a cancer. Since then, countries have made enormous strides in rolling out new tools and services.
Vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) provides protection against infection that causes nearly all cases of cervical cancer.
And a package of screening and treatment tools – including HPV tests with the option for self-sampling and devices for quickly and easily removing pre-cancerous cells – make it possible to make lifesaving services available to women at lower levels of the health care system.
The health working group session called for a coordinated approach drawing on domestic resource mobilization, blended financing, and partnerships with multilateral development banks to scale these solutions, ensure long-term sustainability and reduce dependency on external aid.
Government asserted South Africa’s commitment to scaling up cervical cancer prevention programs nationwide with support from Unitaid, the WHO and other partners.
“The South African G20 health agenda promotes solidarity, equality and sustainability. It complements the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the development agenda of Africa as the world’s fastest-growing continent, and the Lusaka Agenda. It also focuses on rebuilding momentum to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the department said.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi reiterated the importance of nations reallocating resources towards health, strengthening global health partnerships, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps.
READ | Motsoaledi urges global action to address health funding gaps
The Minister used the platform to highlight South Africa’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which aims to provide financial protection and efficient resource utilisation.
The three-day meeting which began on Wednesday, will conclude on Friday, 28 March 2025. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Fri, 03/28/2025 - 10:13
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Motsoaledi urges global action to address health funding gaps
Motsoaledi urges global action to address health funding gaps
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has reiterated the importance of nations reallocating resources towards health, strengthening global health partnerships, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms to address funding gaps.
The Minister was delivering the keynote address at the second meeting of the G20 Health Working Group today in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal.
The Minister used the platform to highlight South Africa’s commitment to universal health coverage (UHC) through the National Health Insurance (NHI) system, which aims to provide financial protection and efficient resource utilisation.
“In South Africa, we are actively pursuing transformation to achieve universal health coverage through our NHI system.
“The NHI is designed to provide financial protection for all, ensuring that access to quality healthcare is not dependent on one’s ability to pay [for] it, and it will also assist in the efficient utilisation of our resources by pulling funds and strategically purchasing services.”
Motsoaledi cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which indicate that the number of people shielded from catastrophic health spending had been steadily increasing before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since then, about 100 million people have fallen back into financial hardship due to health-related expenses.
Motsoaledi believes that the NHI is a concrete demonstration of government’s commitment to leaving no one behind, and fostering and strengthening the resilience of the health system.
The Minister quoted the late Harvard Department of Anthropology’s Professor Paul Farmer on the value of all lives and urged G20 members to increase public financing of health systems as a fundamental investment.
“I want to quote the idea that 'some lives matter less' is the root of all that is wrong with the world.
“We implore all G20 members to champion increased public financing of health systems.
“This is not merely a budgetary issue; it’s a fundamental investment in our collective future.”
Motsoaledi urged attendees to prioritise public health over competing interests, ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to meet the health needs of the nation’s populations.
“Furthermore, we must all align our efforts beyond financing. We must address the persistent health inequities that plague our world.”
Non-communicable diseases
Motsoaledi highlighted the importance of addressing health inequities, particularly in low and middle-income countries, and the need for multilateral approaches to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He said the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs is seen as a crucial opportunity to galvanise global action against chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
“We must alleviate the financial burden, restrict unhealthy food marketing, finance emergency health services, and accelerate cervical cancer elimination, the only cancer which is preventable.”
The theme of the three-day meeting is: “Accelerating Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage”.
Along with this meeting, a co-sponsored event focused on eliminating cervical cancer, is also taking place.
“We must move beyond dialogue and commit to concrete steps. South Africa is committed to collaborating with all the G20 members to achieve our shared goals.
“Let us work together to ensure that health remains a priority, not a commodity, especially during these unstable economic times,” Motsoaledi added.
South Africa, which assumed the G20 Presidency in December, is currently hosting various working groups and ministerial meetings throughout the country.
These meetings are focused on key topics such as health, employment, trade, tourism, and the digital economy -- all in preparation for the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled for November this year.
The G20 comprises 19 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States. It also includes two regional bodies – the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 03/26/2025 - 11:43
166 views