Cape Town —
News Update as at 16h15 SAST
Consumer Price Index Down But Food Prices Still Rocket
StatsSA has said that annual consumer price inflation (CPI) eased for a third consecutive month to 6.9% for January 2023. The figure comes down from 7.2% in December 2022 and 7.4% in November 2022. The consumer price index, which measures the monthly changes in prices for a range of consumer products, declined by 0.1% between December 2022 and January 2023. While food inflation remains high, the main contributors to the lower inflation includes a drop in fuel prices.
Measles Vaccine Drive Launched In Western Cape
The Western Cape government's health and wellness department, is calling on all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children's vaccinations are up to date to protect them against harmful diseases such as measles. Too many children right now are being left without protection against measles and other vaccine preventable diseases. As a result, the risk of large outbreaks has increased, the department said.
Ramaphosa Might Reshuffle Cabinet After Budget Speech
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told the African National Congress's national working committee (NWC) that he intends to announce a reconfigured cabinet after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers the budget speech on Wednesday February 22, 2023, reports Mail & Guardian. Pressure has been mounting on the president to make changes to his executive. M&G added that there has been widespread speculation that Ramaphosa will axe non-performing ministers. But some of in his inner circle say there will be no major shifts in his cabinet. The recent swearing-in as MPs of four ANC members - ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile; former KwaZulu-Natal premier Sihle Zikalala; former Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau; and international relations advisor to Ramaphosa, Maropeni Ramokgopa - has added to speculation that the president will add them to his cabinet.
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Bheki Cele Withdraws Remarks Labelling DA leader An Abuser
Police Minister Bheki Cele has been forced to withdraw his remark (made during a parliamentary debate on President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation speech) that opposition Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen had allegedly abused a young woman before he married her and dumped his wife for her, reports IOL. Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema called on National Council of Provinces chairperson Amos Masondo to ask Cele to withdraw the remarks because they were unparliamentary. Masondo said that before he decided to rule on the issue, Cele had already sent a message that he wished to apologise. He then ordered Cele to stand up and withdraw the remarks. "I withdraw," said Cele.
SANDF Plans to Establish Disaster Unit
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) says that it will establish a unit dedicated to disaster management to help provide an adequate response to disasters countrywide, according to SABC News. This comes in the wake of the declaration of a national state of disaster to respond to widespread flooding in many provinces over the past few days. SANDF Chief Geeral Rudzani Maphwanya said during the official launch of the Armed Forces Day commemoration in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal that the defence force had "already started utilising some of our assets in areas where people are affected to assist the people that were in distress both in Mpumalanga and here in KZN".
