IN CONVERSATION WITH PIETER DUVENAGE POLITICAL ANALYST

South Africa is facing a serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) — a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hooved animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. In response, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has declared what he calls a “war” on the disease, calling for urgent action…

ActionSA has begun preparing legal action to challenge the decision by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to classify the Phala Phala investigation report as “Top Secret.” The report involves conduct by members of the Presidential Protection Unit linked to the Phala Phala farm scandal — a politically charged matter…

The South African Parliament has approved a Special Appropriation Bill intended to mitigate the funding gap created by the withdrawal of support from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The bill reallocates additional funding to the health sector after PEPFAR — once one of the largest…

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) convened a subpoena hearing against the Executive Mayor of the City of Matlosana, Councillor Fikile Mahlophe, this week after months of non response to an investigation into allegations that the municipality withheld free paraffin from qualifying indigent households in several rural and unelectrified…

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a safety warning about products containing zinc picolinate and selenium that are being marketed and sold for use by children under 18.