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There is broad agreement, across society, that as government works to grow South Africa’s economy, create employment and fight hunger and poverty, no one should be left behind.

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed this in his 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) Debate Reply held recently.

Government is committed to putting people first, and has given itself 100 days to finalise a plan to involve all sectors of society in growing South Africa’s economy, creating jobs and combating hunger.

This was emphasised by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2022 State of the Nation Address.

“This work will build on the foundation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which remains our common programme to rebuild the economy,” he said.

Thando Makhubu (30), who owns Soweto Creamery, says he started the business in August 2020 with money saved from a government Social Relief of Distress Grant.

He and millions of others received the R350 monthly grant paid from April 2020 to unemployed people and people who had lost their income sources as a result of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The grant was recently extended by President Cyril Ramaphosa to March next year.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) do not discriminate. They can affect anyone regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation and economic status.

South Africa commemorates STI/Condom Week annually between 10 and 16 February. This is to raise public awareness around the importance of using a condom to prevent STIs and unplanned pregnancies, curb the spread of HIV and AIDS and root out STI stigma and discrimination.

An internet and printing shop has tripled its customers in only six months, thanks to the coaching it received from the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

South Africa’s Seeds for the Future team placed in the top 10 of the Tech4Good global competition, which encourages the use of technology to solve both local and global issues.

If you are HIV-negative but at risk of contracting HIV, you can prevent being infected by taking the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis medication (PreP). 

HIV-negative people who take PreP daily can lower their risk of HIV infection by up to 90%. Those who are already HIV-positive, however, need to be on anti-retroviral treatment for the rest of their lives to stay healthy.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is urging everyone presenting with a fever or a 'flu-like' illness residing in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga or people who have travelled to Mozambique recently to be tested for malaria. According to the NICD, patients who test positive for malaria need to start on treatment immediately.

Bullying is frighteningly common in many schools and parents need to be able to spot the signs that children are being bullied.

Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional and is usually repeated over a period of time.

It can occur in or around the school building and often occurs during breaks.

Perpetrators of bullying could be one person or a group of children who gang up against one child.