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The Department of Health has urged the public to remain vigilant regarding symptoms of mpox, as three additional laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease have been identified in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

The newly confirmed cases include a 38-year-old man, who sought treatment at a healthcare facility due to symptoms of mpox.

The other two cases involve a 14-year-old boy and a 33-year-old woman, both of whom have been in contact with the first patient.

“None of the patients have recent travel history to countries or regions currently experiencing an outbreak, which suggests there is ongoing local transmission of the virus in the country,” the department explained.

In addition, the department announced that all three new mpox patients also tested positive for a relatively unknown, but common virus known as herpes simplex virus (HSV).

“This is a viral infection that causes painful blisters or ulcers which mainly spreads through skin-to-skin contact including kissing and unprotected sex, hence consistent and correct use of condoms remains the best way to prevent genital herpes and other STIs [sexually transmitted infections].”

According to the department, the virus is generally asymptomatic, and treatable, but not curable.

The department believes that the recent cases highlight the necessity of rapid and well-coordinated contact tracing for early detection and effective management of positive cases.

The latest cases have increased the total number of positive cases from 28 to 31, since the outbreak began in May 2024. This total includes six cases recorded since the beginning of this year.

The department said the patients are currently self-isolating and receiving appropriate clinical management from the healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, the department has activated outbreak response teams in the province for contact tracing and case investigation in the affected areas.

Mpox is typically a mild and self-limiting disease with a low case fatality rate.

“The risk of wider transmission remains low in South Africa, but anyone can contract mpox regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation and race.”

The symptoms include a rash which may last for two to four weeks, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands.

A serial hijacker linked to a number of vehicle theft and hijacking cases has been tracked, traced and arrested in Emanguzi, KwaZulu-Natal.

The serial offender was previously arrested and convicted in five separate cases in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

On Monday, the Emanguzi Task Team arrested the 41-year-old suspect, a Mozambican, and seized a stolen truck and two trailers.

A preliminary report suggests the suspect was travelling along Thandizwe on the R22 when the team stopped the driver to inspect the truck. Upon inspection, the team detected that the truck had false number plates from a neighbouring country.

Further investigations revealed the truck is positively linked to a truck hijacking case reported to SAPS Nigel in March 2025.

At the time of his arrest, the suspect was out on bail on two other cases for similar crimes committed in Alberton and Bedfordview, which include possession of a presumed stolen vehicle and truck hijacking.

In a concerted effort to deal with cross-border crimes along the northern border of KZN, a national intervention was established involving SAPS members from various disciplines that include crime intelligence, proactive and reactive policing units and detectives.

The identified cross-border crimes include, among others, theft of motor vehicles, house robberies, business robberies, hijacking of vehicles, murder and attempted murder.

The eThekwini Municipality has allocated about R10 billion to rebuild its water, electricity, and solid waste management infrastructure.

This comes as Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana announced a R3.33 billion grant allocation to eThekwini for trading services reforms over the next three years.

The municipality said the performance grant will be used to upgrade water and sanitation, electricity, and solid waste management so as to ensure that trading services are self-sufficient.

The city said the reforms for trading services will initially affect water and electricity for the first year, starting in the 2025/26 financial year.

“With respect to eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) Unit, the city has adopted a Water and Sanitation Turnaround Strategy (TAS) and further developed the Business and Investment plan, and an Institutional and Governance Reform Road map.

“The latter has the six strategic pillars that underpin the reform of EWS into a ring-fenced commercial business unit, as echoed by Minister Godongwana in the recent budget speech,” the city located in KwaZulu-Natal said.

The strategic pillars included institutionalisation of single point of accountability; acquisition of management, technical and change leadership capabilities; improvement of the governance model and the financial ring-fencing of the Water and Sanitation Business Unit, among others.

Pursuant to the implementation of this strategy, the city said it intends to increase investment into priority capital and operational programmes that will help realise the envisaged financial turnaround, as well as stabilise the water and sanitation services to meet customer needs.

“The turnaround strategy, as adopted by Council, is in progress with 22% of the goals achieved to date. As the city aligns its budget priorities, the additional funds will be directed to the EWS TAS programmes that seek to reduce water losses, improve customer call centre systems, water metering, as well as intermittent water supply while reducing inefficiencies in all operations,” the municipality said.

The city through the Mayor’s Office will continue to engage all stakeholders on the EWS TAS, to ensure that the performance and outcome required are achieved.

“The R3.33bn incentive grant will therefore help the city gear up its existing resources to accelerate the reforms required and reposition the trading services to attract the required investments to improve the business, as per the business and investment plans that have been developed for the next five years,” the municipality said.

Additionally, the municipality has commended the indicative allocations, as provided in the budget, and commited to align them to its budget for approval in May 2025.

Consumer price inflation has remained at 3.2% in February – unchanged from January.

According to Statistics South Africa, the main contributors to the annual inflation rate were:

• Housing and utilities (4.4% and contributing 1.0 percentage point);
• Food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.8% and contributing 0.5 of a percentage point), and
• Restaurants and accommodation service.

“Recreation, sport and culture, food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco and communication recorded higher annual inflation rates in February.

“Inflation cooled for several product categories, most notably, personal care and miscellaneous services, health, restaurants and accommodation, furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance and transport,” Stats SA Director: CPI Operations, Lekau Ranoto, said.

The annual rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages accelerated to some 2.8% in February from 2.3% in January.

“Fruit and nuts, vegetables, hot beverages, seafood, meat and cereals recorded higher rates. On the down side, cold beverages milk, dairy and eggs, oils and fats and sugar confectionary and desserts witnessed slower price increases,” she said.

Ranoto said inflation in maize meal – a staple in South African households – reached a 17-month high, with samp inflation also reaching a 19-month high in February.

“The rise in prices is driven by inflationary pressure from the farming and manufacturing of maize according to the latest producer price index data. On average, consumer prices for meat stayed the same in February, compared with January, resulting in a monthly change of 0%. The annual rate was also 0%.

“While meat remained subdued, inflation for hot beverages continues to accelerate. The annual change in the price index for hot beverages was 14.6% in February, up from 13.7% in January,” Ranoto said.

Meanwhile, Stats SA has also recorded a 10.5% increase in medical aid premiums this year and health services rose by 6.1%, compared with a 5% rise last year.

The bail hearing for seven South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) officials and three accomplices accused of fraud has been postponed to 1 April 2025.

The accused appeared before the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, facing more than 1 000 fraud-related charges.

Four of the accused were arrested last month, while another four were taken into custody on Friday. Two more suspects handed themselves over on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

SASSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Themba Matlou, welcomed the arrests, emphasising the agency’s commitment to eradicating all forms of fraud and corruption elements within its ranks.

“What we have seen in the last few weeks is a culmination of the hard work of our officials, working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) in clamping down on fraud and corruption at SASSA,” Matlou said.

He further urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to social grants.

“We cannot win this fight alone. We appeal to members of the community to assist us to root out the scourge.”

SASSA has urged members of the public to work together with the agency and report grant fraud or corruption to 0800 60 10 11 or the National Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 701.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has reiterated that it maintains a zero-tolerance approach to any misconduct that would “affect the working and relationship conditions” at South Africa’s current research base at Antarctica, the SANAE IV.

This after allegations of assault and threats at the base emerged in the media over the weekend.

The reports alleged that one of the nine team members assaulted another and threatened to kill them.

The department, in a statement on Monday, said there were no incidents that required the team’s return from the base.

“The department confirms that there were no incidents that required any of the nine overwintering team members to be brought back to Cape Town.

“If such incidents occurred, the management team of the department would have replaced such an overwintering team member with immediate effect, as the DFFE’s position on the matter is clear: zero tolerance for any misconduct that would affect the working and relationship conditions at the SANAE IV. At the time the vessel departed for Antarctica on 1 February 2025, all was in order,” the DFFE said in a statement.

The alleged assault was reported to the department last month and a response plan to deal with the matter was activated to “engage the individuals involved through trained professionals in order to mediate and restore relationships at the base”.

“This process has been ongoing on an almost daily basis in order to ensure that those on the base know that the department is supportive and willing to do whatever is needed to restore the interpersonal relationships, but also firm in dealing with issues of discipline.

“The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, together with the Director-General of the Department, Nomfundo Tshabalala, have personally taken charge of the management processes.

“This is particularly important given the fact that a majority of usual operations at all other scientific bases in Antarctica have stopped due to the onset of winter and unpredictable weather conditions,” the statement read.

The alleged perpetrator has “willingly participated in further psychological evaluation”.

“[He] shown remorse and is willingly cooperative to follow any interventions that are recommended. He has written a formal apology to the victim and is willing to verbally apologise to all members at the base.

“The department has also implemented a longer term sustained intervention process through trained professional counselling services in order to restore the relationships and build a healthy working environment.

“The DFFE have also, in parallel, activated a Labour Relations process to deal with the matter as it relates to the alleged physical assault. An alleged sexual harassment is also being investigated. Reports of sexual assault are not correct,” the statement said.

Furthermore, Minister George will be “engaging the team to reassure them of his support and commitment to their wellbeing”.

“He emphasises that careful management is required to give comfort to those at the base, and also to their families. The willingness of the team to engage in Wellness Programme interventions, as well as the professional and independent counselling will assist in crafting a solution.

“The ultimate goal would be that all at the SANAE IV are safe and healthy, working together as a team to advance the very important work they are performing in Antarctica,” the statement said.

Eskom fraud and corruption accused Michael Lomas, has been granted R2 million bail by the Johannesburg High Court.

Lomas appeared in court on Monday and is facing charges in relation to a R745 million payment made by Eskom to Tubular Construction Project.

The company was involved in the construction of Kusile Power Station, in Mpumalanga, where millions of rands were allegedly paid to Eskom officials in illegal gratuities for the awarding of lucrative contracts.

The British businessman, a former contractor for power utility Eskom, was extradited from the United Kingdom in September 2024 to face 65 counts of corruption

Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Henry Mamothame, said Lomas’ bail was granted under “stringent conditions”.

The court ordered that his United Kingdom passport and his South African Identity Document be surrendered to the investigating officer.

“[Lomas is] barred from applying for travel documents, reside at a care home where he will be provided with the necessary assistance, details of the home to be provided to the investing officer, source a smartphone with location monitoring facility to be monitored by the investigating officer and should not leave the Gauteng jurisdiction without informing the investigating officer,” Mathomane said.

Lomas has been indicted with 11 co-accused in the case, including Eskom’s former senior manager for capital contracts, France Hlakudi, former Eskom group executive for group capital Abram Masango, Tubular Construction Projects’ former chief executive, Antonio Trindade, and businessman Maphoko Kgomoeswana.

The trial is expected to commence in July 2026.

Police have launched a manhunt for a gang of about 30 men who allegedly bombed five ATMs at a shopping mall in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, over the weekend.

According to a statement issued by the police, the incident took place in the early hours of Sunday.

A security guard was conducting patrols outside the mall when he was allegedly accosted by the suspects, who were driving a bakkie.

“The suspects robbed him of his firearm and proceeded inside the shopping mall, where they robbed the second security officer of his cellphone. It is further alleged that the suspects then bombed the five ATMs and broke into one of the shops where they also bombed the drop safe,” the police said.

As suspects were leaving the shopping mall, they saw the police officers and started firing shots.

“A shootout ensued between the police, private security officers and the suspects. One of the security officers was shot and wounded. He was taken to the nearest medical care centre for treatment,” the police said.

The police said no arrests have been made and authorities are still on the lookout for the suspects.

“It cannot be confirmed at this stage how much money was taken from the ATMs and the shop.”

Proudly South African’s annual Buy Local Summit and Expo is underway at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng.

Monday and Tuesday’ summit will see over 200 exhibitors show off their wares while panel discussions will also be held.

The summit will promote locally made products and services with 2025 marking the 13th edition of the summit.

The summit will also see Proudly South African engaging various private sector organisations to adopt localisation commitments.

“Through these Localisation Commitments, Proudly SA aims to foster an industry culture that prioritises locally manufactured goods and services, thereby uplifting communities and creating essential jobs,” Proudly South Africa said ahead of the start of the summit.

Speakers at the summit include Gauteng Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile while the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition is also expected to address the gathering.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in private sector businesses leading the charge to enhance their local procurement initiatives.

The efforts of companies committed to supporting local production not only enhance their own financial performance but also transforms lives through job creation.

Proudly South African is a membership-based organisation, and only companies that have been audited and approved are entitled to carry the logo, which is a sign that a product or service meets local content thresholds and above all, quality standards.

Proudly South African works with the public and private sectors to promote increased levels of local procurement through supply chain structures and with consumers to change habits of every day store and online purchases.

At least six people are expected to appear in court this week in connection with a fraud scheme at the Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga.

According to Eskom, the six were arrested last week following a “coordinated intelligence-driven operation” and investigation.

“[Six] individuals were arrested for their involvement in a fraudulent procurement scheme at Kusile Power Station. Among those apprehended are a former Kusile Procurement Officer and a Procurement Manager.

“Investigations revealed that in 2018, a pump was unlawfully procured for R857 977, despite an identical pump with the same serial number having been purchased in 2015 for only R18 835. This fraudulent transaction led to a direct financial loss for Eskom,” the power utility said.

A further two suspects are still at large with law enforcement in pursuit.

“These arrests form part of the ongoing efforts by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) Energy Safety and Security Priority Committee to address fraud, corruption, and criminal activities within Eskom, its supply chain, and South Africa’s broader energy infrastructure.

“Eskom continues to collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate fraud and corruption cases. While these investigations are thorough and time-intensive, the latest arrests highlight significant progress in ensuring accountability and justice,” Eskom said.

Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane said: “Our commitment to eliminating corruption within Eskom remains unwavering. By far the vast majority of our employees demonstrate integrity and dedication, and those who engage in wrongdoing will increasingly face investigation and action.”

Report any fraud, theft, and illegal electricity sales via the Eskom Crime Line at 0800 11 27 22 or WhatsApp at 081 333 3323.