When false information moves faster than the facts: Rethinking government communication <div class="top" style="--tw-backdrop-blur:;--tw-backdrop-brightness:;--tw-backdrop-contrast:;--tw-backdrop-grayscale:;--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate:;--tw-backdrop-invert:;--tw-backdrop-opacity:;--tw-backdrop-saturate:;--tw-backdrop-sepia:;--tw-blur:;--tw-border-spacing-x:0;--tw-border-spacing-y:0;--tw-brightness:;--tw-contain-layout:;--tw-contain-paint:;--tw-contain-size:;--tw-contain-style:;--tw-contrast:;--tw-drop-shadow:;--tw-gradient-from-position:;--tw-gradient-to-position:;--tw-gradient-via-position:;--tw-grayscale:;--tw-hue-rotate:;--tw-invert:;--tw-numeric-figure:;--tw-numeric-fraction:;--tw-numeric-spacing:;--tw-ordinal:;--tw-pan-x:;--tw-pan-y:;--tw-pinch-zoom:;--tw-ring-color:rgba(59,130,246,.5);-
President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to inaugurate the Gamsberg Phase II expansion in Aggeneys, Northern Cape. The project is expected to raise annual zinc-in-concentrate capacity to about 500,000 tonnes and sustain 800–1,000 operational jobs.
The source describes armed gangs controlling large parts of Port-au-Prince and expanding into rural areas, where they commit killings, sexual violence, kidnappings, and extortion.
Illustrative image: On December 17, 2024 as part of a working visit to the State of Libya, the Special Representative of Ukraine for the Middle East and Africa Maksym Subkh held a meeting and political consultations with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the State of Libya Eltaher Elbaour. Maksym Subkh appreciated the Libya's support of pro-Ukrainian initiatives within the framework of the UN aimed at protecting territorial integrity of Ukraine and expressed hope for the revita — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
The Security Council is set to hear the latest developments in Libya, where the country continues to grapple for stability after years of strife. A UN official highlighted “encouraging progress”; live coverage is provided by the UN Meetings Coverage Section.
The Department for Education update covers funding, assurance and resource management for academies, local authorities and further education providers.
The source describes information for employers about eligibility, registration and funding for the assessed and supported year in employment (ASYE) programme.
At FEDUSA’s congress in Johannesburg, Deputy President Paul Mashatile urged trade unions to help shape AI-related workplace policies and prepare workers for changes in employment. He warned that failing to address these issues could deepen inequality and exclusion.
At the 2025/26 clean audit awards in Rustenburg, North West Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi urged public institutions to strengthen accountability and governance. The excerpt reports consecutive clean audits for the Department of Finance and a first clean audit for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni kicked off a Love Your Street service delivery programme event in Thembisa, involving government officials, civil society organisations and community members. The campaign aims to improve neighbourhood cleanliness and community safety.
The source describes the authority as a non-ministerial department that promotes competition and protects consumers, with economic growth and household prosperity as its stated goals. No specific event details were included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
The item concerns data-submission specifications for a children looked after return covering 2026 to 2027. Additional technical details were not included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane called for stronger public-private partnerships and blended finance to address South Africa’s infrastructure financing shortfall, estimated at approximately R4 trillion. She made the call at a municipal infrastructure dialogue in Midrand.
The source describes an AI-generated summary of a barring referral that pulls key headlines with citations to help caseworkers navigate referral documents and evidence. Further details were not included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
The item provides guidance for local authorities and eligible public-sector early-years providers on the Early Years Teachers’ Pay Grant (EYTPG) for the 2026–27 financial year.
The source describes methodology, allocations and grant conditions for the 2026–2027 financial year. Further details were not included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
South Africa’s higher education minister called for universities to reconsider teaching and assessment as artificial intelligence becomes more widespread. He also highlighted the need to build national capacity to develop and govern technology.
The Competition and Markets Authority investigated suspected consumer-law infringements related to time-limited offers by Wayfair Stores Limited in the UK and issued a Final Infringement Notice reflecting a settlement.
The Competition and Markets Authority investigated suspected consumer-law infringements concerning how Gold’s Gym (UK) Limited presented mandatory fees in the UK. A Final Infringement Notice reflected settlement of the case.
The Competition and Markets Authority investigated suspected consumer-law infringements by Appliances Direct concerning time-limited offers and optional charges in the UK, and issued a final infringement notice reflecting a settlement.
The guidance says customers might be owed money back if the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ordered a business to refund or compensate them.
Minister McKenzie rejected claims that the gazetted renaming of Graaff-Reinet and other Eastern Cape places had been withdrawn or that the court challenge was resolved. He said the matter remains before the court.
Illustrative image: A silver platter, engraved with the signatures of the CEOs and Chairmen of German automobile manufacturers, was presented to Gaston de Wolff in the mid-1960s. The inscription states, in German, "For Mr. Gaston A. de Wolff, in recognition of the collaborative work on the Board of the Association of the Automobile Industry." — Munchkinnicho/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
At the opening session of South African Auto Week in Durban, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau outlined the government’s vision for localisation, transformation and a transition to new energy vehicles.
Illustrative image: 18 of march 2012. Moscow. The leaders of the police operation, near one of the paddy wagons, discuss the need to raise additional police force to disperse demonstrations. — Evgeniy Isaev from Moscow, Russia/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Regional police and security leaders are to meet in Pretoria, South Africa, to discuss cooperation against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. Discussions include a proposed regional centre for intelligence-sharing and coordinated law enforcement.
A shooting in Katlehong North left four people dead and others injured. The suspect surrendered to police, and the case was assigned to Gauteng’s Political Killings Task Team.
