Since 1994 it’s been pretty much the same procedure for the Parliamentary Press Gallery Association, some of South Africa’s senior journalists who produce the overwhelming majority of media coverage on Budget Day in February and for October’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).
The system held firm as media changed from the immediacy of radio, news wire services and afternoon newspapers to online media. The system held true because it allowed conducive working conditions for PGA journalists representing different media houses to discuss and organise the best possible, accurate and informative coverage for their respective readers/listeners – whether that’s Mr Taxi Driver or Ms Investment Banker.
Eerie silence casts an unusual shadow as Cyril Ramaphosa prepares for Sona 11 February 2021 - 18:40 President Cyril Ramaphosa walks through the parliament chambers ahead of the state of the nation address on Thursday. Image: GCIS
There was an eerie calm across the parliamentary precinct ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fifth state of the nation address on Thursday.
Unprecedented times have meant a Sona event with no red carpet, no pomp and ceremony and no high-level guests. Where there were usually politicians and their partners on the red carpet, there was none of the fanfare and pageantry this time about.
Only a few MPs were seen milling about, with the majority of the people in the precinct being journalists.
Poor accounting records have made it impossible for the auditor-general to make a determination on whether the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has indeed turned the corner, as its leaders have claimed.
What a day! First batch of vaccines arrives, then booze and beach bans get booted President Cyril Ramaphosa says SA has passed the peak of the second wave, but needs to remain on guard By Andisiwe Makinana and Nonkululeko Njilo - 01 February 2021
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Monday started with a bold undertaking to vaccinate most Africans by year-end, by midday he received SA’s first batch of a million Covid-19 vaccinations and by the end of the evening he had announced the easing of lockdown regulations.
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Booze ban set to be lifted this week, curfew eased and beaches reopened Lockdown level 2 loading 01 February 2021 - 09:00 By Andisiwe Makinana and Kgothatso Madisa
The ban on the sales and distribution of alcohol is expected to be lifted when the country moves to a lower Covid-19 lockdown level this week.
This as cabinet is expected to ease Covid-19 restrictions, which will see the country move to alert level 2.
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