For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Lamola says proposals to revise whistleblower legislation to be finalised by March, Hawks probing over 22 000 cases worth R1.5-trillion and, unemployment rate improves to 33.9% in the second quarter

Lamola says proposals to revise whistleblower legislation to be finalised by March

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says his department is conducting research, engaging in comparative studies of "foreign jurisdictions", and developing proposals to improve whistleblower protection.

He said there are plans to better protect whistleblowers – some of whom have been murdered for speaking out and lifting the lid on high-level corruption.

Lamola said the proposals should be finalised by the end of March next year.

Whistleblower protection has come under sharp scrutiny following the murder of Babita Deokaran.

Hawks probing over 22 000 cases worth R1.5-trillion

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya revealed today that the Hawks were investigating at least 22 477 cases, worth a combined total of R1.5-trillion.

Providing an update on the Hawks’s achievements since he took over in 2018, Lebeya said corruption was South Africa’s biggest threat.

He said 1 998 cases are currently being considered by the National Prosecuting Authority.

Lebeya said the Hawks’s anti-corruption task team and operation committee have been revitalised to fast-track criminal investigation, prosecution and asset recovery.

Other achievements for the Hawks includes arrests in the R280-million eThekwini Durban Solid Waste scandal where former Mayor Zandile Gumede is the one of the accused.

Unemployment rate improves to 33.9% in the second quarter

South Africa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.6 of a percentage point quarter-on-quarter to 33.9% in the second quarter.

Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke said South Africa’s economy is recovering, coming out of Covid-19, and is also making strides in terms of employment.

Overall, the number of people employed in South Africa reached 15.6-million in the second quarter, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

The sector showing the largest job gains of 276 000 was community and social services, followed by 169 000 new jobs recorded in trade, 128 000 new jobs in finance and 104 000 in construction – which Maluleke said was an indicator that the ailing construction sector was once again on the rise after years of depression.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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