South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Friday, 28 June

28/06/2024

We’ve got the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Friday, 28 June.

Over half of South Africans still use the old green ID books, which has been a hot topic the past week. But why?

Authorities have revealed strict monkeypox screening processes for travellers entering South Africa.

A total of 16 confirmed cases of Monkeypox, also known as Mpox, have been reported in SA. Here are the symptoms and everything you should know.

Will Monday 1 July 2024 be a red-letter day for nationwide AARTO rollout, or another mess to clean up for the Department of Transport?

Johannesburg Water teams will conduct unplanned maintenance that will last for 57 hours next week. Here are the affected areas.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday, 28 June

Why are South Africans talking about their ID books?

Why are South Africans talking about their ID books? More than half are still using the old green ID books and are concerned about their validity.

According to a report by MoneyWeb, the Department of Home Affairs is years behind in its plan to replace green ID books with smart ID cards.

Monkeypox: Travellers to be screened when entering South Africa

To address the 16 confirmed cases of monkeypox in South Africa, the National Department of Health, the Border Management Authority (BMA) is implementing strict screening processes for travellers entering the country.

As per Travel News, Commissioner of South Africa’s BMA, Dr Michael Masiapato, revealed that the first level of screening will occur when the transfer operator, meaning the captain of the aircraft and crew members, provides a general declaration of health, divulging that no travellers have reported or were found to be ill on board, in terms of International Health Regulations.

Monkeypox/ Mpox- What symptoms should you look out for

The Minister of Health, Joe Phaahla, with a total of 16 confirmed positive cases to date, health authorities are working tirelessly to control the outbreak and prevent further spread.

According to Phaala, a 40-year-old man from Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, who had tested positive for Mpox but was never admitted to the hospital died. This death marks the third fatality linked to the disease, with two in KwaZulu-Natal and one in Gauteng.

Nationwide AARTO rollout days away, claims department

Following years of delays and repeated court action, the AARTO rollout is set to take place across the country on Monday, 1 July 2024, reports Business Tech. Of course, this is according to the Department of Transport’s timeline.

The same entity whose minister said we’d see ‘smart’ driver’s licence cards printed before a suitable service provider was even appointed for the job.

Johannesburg Water to implement 57-hour emergency shutdown

Johannesburg Water teams will conduct unplanned maintenance, which will result in a 57-hour outage.

The maintenance will start at 8:00 on Monday, 1 July, until 17:00 on Wednesday, 3 July.

LATEST NEWS: WEATHER FORECAST, Friday, 28 June

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.