15/02/2026
🔴 READ NOW!! FROM AARETSI RADIO: Breaking News and Updates IN SA📍
It's been a wild ride in South Africa, folks! From proposals to tackle alcohol abuse to warnings for unlicensed scholar transport operators, and updates on the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak - we're diving into the latest news.
⁉️🚨Thumbs up for alcohol tax increase proposal - advocacy group.
_ The Rural Health Advocacy Project backs the proposal to increase alcohol tax. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the increase as a measure to fight alcohol abuse. ''SA’s ranks amongst the 5th largest consumers of alcohol, we clearly have a problem..so the benefits are direct. Increasing alcohol prices especially beer which makes up 72% of alcohol consumption, cannot only reduce demand, but avoid unintended consequences of alcohol abuse which include…so overall while direct taxes does help to reduce consumption , social benefit is trying to help build a healthy society and doing that ..with increased funding’’
⁉️🚨MEC warns unlicensed scholar transport operators.
_ Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela is urging unlicensed scholar transport operators to do the right thing. Diale-Tlabela met with both taxi and scholar transport operators in Soweto Saturday to discuss compliance and other industry concerns. The meeting comes as authorities carry out impounding and fining blitzes on non-compliant vehicles. Scholar transport services will fully resume across Gauteng on Monday, following the Gauteng Learner Transport Organisation's suspension of its services. The Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council has confirmed operators have now received outstanding payments from the Education Department.
⁉️🚨Government accelerates Foot and Mouth Disease vaccine distribution.
_John Steenhuisen announced that the rollout of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines is underway, with over one million doses expected next week. The Western Cape Government has launched a mass vaccination campaign in Fisantekraal to protect its R13.5 billion livestock industry, vaccinating 450 cattle as part of a 21-point outbreak response plan. Meanwhile, Zambia has suspended all livestock and related imports from South Africa and revoked transport permits. During the State of the Nation Address, Cyril Ramaphosa declared the outbreak a national disaster.
Stay informed, stay safe, and let's keep the conversation going! 😊
