Lephalale Express Online News

27/11/2025

South Africa rejects Trump G20 exclusion over farm attacks claim

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump claim that South Africa would be excluded from the 2026 G20 summit, calling the statement regrettable and based on misinformation. Trump cited South Africa handling of farm attacks targeting white farmers—which he termed killings and land seizures—and its alleged refusal to hand over G20 presidency symbols after a U.S. boycott of the Johannesburg summit in November....

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday rejected U.S. President Donald Trump claim that South Africa would be excluded from the 2026 G20 summit, calling the statement regrettable and based on misinfo…

24/11/2025

South Africa launches digital citizenship portal using biometric tech to streamline services

Department of Home Affairs introduced a fully digital citizenship verification platform on Monday, leveraging facial recognition and machine learning to resolve constitutional disputes over revoked citizenship while modernizing public service delivery. The portal, accessible globally at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, allows citizens to confirm or reinstate their status without paperwork or in-person visits, aligning with a 2025 Constitutional Court ruling. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the system positions South Africa among a small group of nations deploying advanced biometric infrastructure for government services....

https://lephalaleexpress.co.za/south-africa-launches-digital-citizenship-portal-using-biometric-tech-to-streamline-services/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Department of Home Affairs introduced a fully digital citizenship verification platform on Monday, leveraging facial recognition and machine learning to resolve constitutional disputes over revoked…

24/11/2025

U.S. claims breakthrough in Ukraine peace talks as Rubio cites “most productive day”

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced significant progress in Ukraine peace negotiations during a Geneva press briefing Sunday, calling it the "most productive day" in 10 months of talks. Diplomats narrowed 26 contested points in a draft agreement following three weeks of technical consultations and a 96-hour sprint of direct engagement with Ukrainian officials, including on-the-ground coordination by the U.S....

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced significant progress in Ukraine peace negotiations during a Geneva press briefing Sunday, calling it the “most productive day” in …

24/11/2025

G20 backs Africa-led climate finance push in landmark summit declaration

President Cyril Ramaphosa closed the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit on Sunday by declaring unanimous support for Africa-centered climate financing and debt relief frameworks, capping the bloc’s first meeting on African soil. The summit’s final declaration pledged enhanced aid to developing nations battling climate disasters and unsustainable borrowing costs while endorsing a cooperative critical minerals strategy to accelerate green transitions. Key outcomes included a G20 vow to “scale up quality and quantity” of climate finance to low- and middle-income countries, strengthen multilateral development banks, and back initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership....

17/11/2025

Ramaphosa critics to formalise leadership challenge

JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday defied factional opponents within the ruling African National Congress, declaring at a tense National Executive Committee meeting that he would resign immediately if formally requested – but demanded critics "name the date" publicly rather than plot privately. The challenge follows months of internal ANC discord after the party lost its parliamentary majority in May 2024 elections, forcing a coalition government....

JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday defied factional opponents within the ruling African National Congress, declaring at a tense National Executive Committee meeting that he would re…

11/11/2025

PRETORIA– South Africa’s unemployment rate fell to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter, as employment gains in construction and social services offset a shrinking labour force, official data showed on Tuesday. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) reported a net increase of 248,000 employed persons, lifting total employment to 17.1 million, while unemployment declined by 360,000 to 8.0 million....

PRETORIA– South Africa’s unemployment rate fell to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter, as employment gains in construction and social services …

11/11/2025

BELÉM, Brazil — Just 30 countries have incorporated food loss or waste reduction into their climate pledges ahead of COP30, NGOs warned on Tuesday, missing a critical opportunity to curb 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions linked to discarded food. ReFED, The Global FoodBanking Network, and WRAP will host a dedicated session at the UN climate summit on November 12 to push for broader adoption of food waste mitigation strategies....

04/11/2025

NEW YORK — The U.S. has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution proposing an International Security Force (ISF) to govern Gaza for at least two years, with authority to disarm Hamas and manage the territory security through 2027, according to an Axios report confirmed by the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) on Tuesday. The resolution, circulated Monday, designates the ISF as an “enforcement force” rather than a peacekeeping mission, granting participating nations — potentially including Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Turkey — direct governance and security oversight....

NEW YORK — The U.S. has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution proposing an International Security Force (ISF) to govern Gaza for at least two years, with authority to disarm Hamas an…

04/11/2025

JOHANNESBURG — Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) retained its market dominance in October, selling 13,559 vehicles and capturing 24.2% of South Africa total new vehicle sales of 55,956 units, according to Naamsa data released on Tuesday. The passenger car segment surged to 39,610 units — its strongest October since 2014 — marking a 14.8% annual increase. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) rose 23.9%, while medium commercial vehicles grew 9.3%....

04/11/2025

JOHANNESBURG — Mining input costs in South Africa rose 2.5% year-on-year in September, the steepest increase this year, driven by surging prices for copper, iron, steel, and transport services, the Minerals Council South Africa said on Tuesday. Intermediate mining and quarrying inputs led the uptick, while transport and storage costs climbed 4.6% annually amid higher road and rail freight charges. Electricity remained the largest cost burden, rising 15.5% year-on-year — exceeding the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) approved 12.74% tariff hike for 2025/26....

JOHANNESBURG — Mining input costs in South Africa rose 2.5% year-on-year in September, the steepest increase this year, driven by surging prices for copper, iron, steel, and transport services, the…

04/11/2025

POLOKWANE — Police arrested a 54-year-old man, brother of former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, on Tuesday in Molejie near Seshego as the fourth suspect linked to a R10 million murder-for-insurance scheme. He will face murder, fraud, and money laundering charges in Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. Kutumela, 43, her sister Anna Shokane, 47, and daughter Florah Shokane, 23 — arrested in October 2024 and denied bail before abandoning further applications — remain detained as their case moves to Polokwane High Court....

POLOKWANE — Police arrested a 54-year-old man, brother of former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, on Tuesday in Molejie near Seshego as the fourth suspect linked to a R10 million murder-for-insuran…

04/11/2025

Limpopo police are investigating a culpable homicide case after the body of Baaitsi Molimisi (31), the acclaimed Lekompo music producer and performer, known as Dr. Nel, was discovered along Phetogo Drive in Botshabelo Village, Ga-Seleka during early hours on Sunday. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene following a passerby report, authorities confirmed. Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, provincial police spokesperson, said Dr....

Limpopo police are investigating a culpable homicide case after the body of Baaitsi Molimisi (31), the acclaimed Lekompo music producer and performer, known as Dr. Nel, was discovered along Phetogo…