Cape Town plans to establish six new nature reserves and expand nine existing ones to balance urban expansion with environmental sustainability. The city employs land banking and biodiversity offsets to preserve its unique biodiversity and natural assets. Collaborative efforts with CapeNature and local communities ensure transparent guidelines and public involvement, making Cape Town a model for sustainable urban development.

Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Nomakhosazana Meth, is calling for increased food safety inspections and penalties for store owners who sell expired products in South Africa. This comes after a surge in foodborne illnesses across the nation, particularly among school children. Meth has urged municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to enhance food safety inspection procedures to protect children from expired items and ensure that store owners who violate the law are held responsible. The responsibility for food safety also falls on consumers to be cautious about where they buy their food.

The Gauteng Department of Health is taking steps to improve mental health services in the province by expanding access to experts, rehabilitation services, and acute mental health beds. They are also working towards eliminating stigma and discrimination, addressing workforce shortages, and providing preventative and interventional mental health care through various teams and initiatives. Their goal is to create a more inclusive and empathetic society that prioritizes mental health and wellbeing for all.

The Welisizwe Bridges Project, a collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the Provincial Departments of Transport, is an ambitious threeyear initiative with a R3.3 billion budget allocation to build 134 bridges across six provinces in rural South Africa. The project not only provides access to essential services but also creates numerous employment opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, offering valuable skills to the workforce. The initiative symbolizes the government’s dedication to addressing inequality and improving the wellbeing of its citizens, serving as a blueprint for similar programs in other countries.

South Africa’s National Senior Certificate Examinations are about to begin, with over 900,000 students participating across 6,898 centers. These exams are critical for students as they determine eligibility for higher education and other tertiary institutions. The South African government is dedicated to supporting these students and has invested significantly in the education sector, providing equal opportunities for all learners. The Class of 2023’s success in these exams will pave the way for a brighter and more prosperous South Africa.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has uncovered irregularities in a personal protective equipment (PPE) contract awarded by the National Department of Transport to Ecko Green Environmental Consulting (Pty) Ltd worth R8,072,000. The SIU found the procurement process was unlawful and Ecko Green was not registered on the government’s Central Supplier Database (CSD) when the contract was awarded. Additionally, Ecko Green had altered details of another company on the CSD in order to submit bid documents to the Department of Transport. The company has been instructed to repay R1,701,000 plus interest.

Acting Premier Nono Maloyi is confident in the success of Grade 12 learners in North West as they prepare for their final exams. The province has registered over 46,000 candidates who will take their exams in 448 centers, with technical readiness and safety measures in place. The collaboration between students, teachers, parents, and communities demonstrates the power of education and offers hope, determination, and cooperation towards academic success and personal fulfillment.