December 01, 2023.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sabrina Jardim.

Making headlines:

Motsoaledi extends exemption permits to Lesotho and Zimbabwe nationals

Joburg taxpayers will have to pay for CBD blast repairs after govt rejects disaster declaration

And, Argentina won’t join Brics bloc

Motsoaledi extends exemption permits to Lesotho and Zimbabwe nationals

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has announced the extension of exemption permits to Lesotho and Zimbabwe nationals living and working in South Africa for another two-years, ending November 29, 2025.

The Minister has said that over 54 000 Lesotho nationals and over 170 000 Zimbabwe nationals have been granted the extension in line with the Immigration Act.

He added that exemption permit holders would be entitled to move freely, work or seek employment during this period but noted that these holders would not be entitled to apply for permanent residence, irrespective of their period of stay in the country.

Th extension comes after protracted court proceedings between the Home Affairs Department and the Helen Suzman Foundation and Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa.

Motsoaledi has alluded to easing the burden of the asylum system and the prevalence of economic migrants from both countries as the key catalysts towards this decision.

Joburg taxpayers will have to pay for CBD blast repairs after govt rejects disaster declaration

The City of Johannesburg will have to foot the bill for the Lilian Ngoyi Street repairs after its request to declare a local state of disaster, which would unlock much-needed funding from the National Treasury, was denied by the national government.

The City estimated that it would cost around R178-million to fix Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly Bree Street) which suffered a massive gas explosion on 19 July.

The blast was caused by methane gas that bubbled to the highest point of the cavity under the road.

During yesterday’s caucus break at the sitting of the Johannesburg council, Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda said the national government had rejected the City's request to declare a disaster.

He said the City would now have to repurpose its budget to pay for repairs to the road.

Argentina won’t join Brics bloc

Argentina won’t join the China-led Brics bloc during Javier Milei’s presidency, his incoming top diplomat said, underscoring the significant foreign policy shift his administration plans once in office.

Speaking to journalists at an event earlier in Buenos Aires, Diana Mondino, Milei’s pick for foreign affairs minister, cast doubt on the value of the group, which includes Brazil, China, India China and South Africa.

She pointed out that Brics countries are already Argentina's primary trading partners. 

Milei has signalled he plans to align Argentina’s interests with the US when he takes office on December 10.

Argentina’s current government led by President Alberto Fernandez lobbied hard to join the bloc. Brics has also been seeking to add multiple members next year, including Argentina.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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