THE Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education have introduced a new indicator, the schools Wednesday Integrated Programme (WIP) for Sports, Arts and Culture, affectionately referred to as the “Wednesday League”.

The Central Corridor instalment of the Schools Wednesday Integrated Programme Launch took place on Tuesday last week at the Moletsane Sports Complex in Soweto.

The programme consisted of several exciting activities and entertainment such as a live band and a special performance by Yanga Chief as well as a special guest appearance from Lebo “Shugasmakx” Mothibe, best known as the co-founder and star of iconic hip-hop brand Skwatta Kamp.

The event was also graced by some of South Africa’s renowned legends such as Kaizer Chiefs attacking mid-fielder Lebogang Manyama, Ramehlwe Mphahlela, Kaizer Chiefs Defender, Manti Moholo, former Orlando Pirates player as well as Siboniso Pa Gaxa, former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs Defender, the presence of these amazing soccer stars served as great inspiration for the students who look up to them.

The programme kicks off with an inclusion of arts and culture activities simultaneously implemented in schools and is aimed at establishing a vibrant hype of activities in form of school leagues and festivals championed from all the no-fee-paying schools across the Gauteng province.

The programme will be implemented in 1270 no-fee paying schools in the Gauteng province during the Mid-term period.

381 schools have already benefitted in the initial stages of the programme and 410 schools will be supported in the 2022/23 financial year.

The Arts and Culture unit also has schools that are supported under this programme.

The department said it intends to host an integrated launch at a Provincial scale with subsequent Wednesday League Launch Corridor Roadshows which will kick-start the awareness for the Netball World Cup that will be hosted in South Africa in 2023.

This will also assist the department in rolling out the integrated Sport and Arts and Culture programmes in schools during the 2022/2023 FY and beyond.

At a United Nations Security Council emergency session in New York on 6 January 2026, South Africa took a strong diplomatic stance on international security, condemning the recent unilateral military action by the United States against Venezuela and urging the global body to uphold the principles of peace, sovereignty and the UN Charter. Speaking on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, Acting Deputy Permanent Representative Jonathan Passmoor articulated Pretoria's deep concern that such military intervention undermines the bedrock of international law and threatens global stability. In his address to the 15-member council, Passmoor stressed that sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence are core tenets of the United Nations framework, which prohibits the use of force except in narrowly defined circumstances. He emphasised that allegations of criminality or internal governance issues do not justify cross-border military action without lawful backing and warned that permitting such actions to go unchecked could erode confidence in the rules-based international order that protects smaller and developing states. South Africa's statement reflected a broader call for restraint, respect for international norms and peaceful conflict resolution, urging the Security Council to lead in addressing the crisis through constructive diplomacy. The government reiterated its belief that sustainable peace is grounded in dialogue and cooperation and reaffirmed its commitment to the UN's mission of international peace and security.

Cape Town – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament, Sihle Lonzi, has demanded an urgent and comprehensive probe into the R145 million paid by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to four private intermediary companies allegedly contracted to manage payments between NSFAS and student accommodation providers.

In a scathing letter addressed to NSFAS Acting CEO Waseem Carrim, Lonzi described the payments as “wasteful, irregular, and potentially fraudulent”, warning that every rand lost to unaccountable intermediaries is “a rand taken away from a struggling student.”

The letter, which has surfaced amid growing national outrage over student funding delays, requests full disclosure from NSFAS regarding the legal status, contractual scope, and financial services compliance of the companies involved.

“Given that NSFAS spends over R14 billion annually on student accommodation, a figure that will undoubtedly grow, it is outrageous that hundreds of millions—if not billions—of rands could be diverted to a handful of companies without ethical and transparent processes or regulatory oversight,” wrote Lonzi.

R145 Million Paid for “Processing Payments”
The controversy stems from NSFASs 2024 disbursement of R2.9 billion to private student accommodation providers. According to Carrims own admission before Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on 7 May 2025, four intermediary companies were allowed to charge a 5% commission on all processed transactions. This amounted to R145 million in fees paid simply for facilitating payments.

Lonzi said this figure was unconscionable, particularly given NSFASs ongoing challenges, including:
• Unresolved student appeals,
• Massive disbursement delays,
• And a growing number of defunded and excluded students.

The Hydrocarbons and Energy Planning Branch of the Department of Energy in South Africa oversees the management and regulation of coal, gas, liquid fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy planning, including maintaining the national energy database. This branch plays a pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape and ensuring the country’s energy needs are met in a sustainable and efficient manner.


The liquid fuels industry was formally licensed for the first time in 2005 under the Petroleum Products Amendment Act (2003), Act 58 of 2003. The primary goals of the licensing framework outlined in the Act are to promote an efficient and competitive petroleum industry, foster a favorable investment climate for commercial growth, encourage the advancement of historically disadvantaged individuals, and create employment opportunities and support small businesses within the petroleum sector.


In 2005, South Africa produced approximately 23,571 million liters of liquid fuels, according to the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA). Of this, around 36% of the demand was met by synthetic fuels (synfuels), produced domestically primarily from coal and natural gas. The remaining 64% was satisfied through locally refined products made from imported crude oil.


The price of petrol in South Africa is closely tied to the global market price of crude oil, quoted in US dollars (US$) per barrel. Global supply and demand dynamics for petroleum products directly influence international petrol prices. However, two major factors play a significant role in determining petrol prices locally: international crude oil prices and the exchange rate between the South African Rand (ZAR) and the US Dollar (USD).


As crude oil prices rise, the cost of producing petrol increases, and refineries must adjust their prices accordingly to cover their operational costs. Since crude oil constitutes the largest input cost for refineries, an increase in crude oil prices—especially when accompanied by a weaker Rand—results in higher petrol prices for consumers. This dynamic underline the importance of monitoring global oil price trends and currency exchange rates in managing South Africa’s petrol pricing structure.