Following the tragic deaths of children and several hospitalisations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State, President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on the interventions government is undertaking to deal with food poisoning. The Department of Health has activated the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to trace and examine the source of the poisoning of foodstuffs and make recommendations. The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs supported by the Department of Small Business Development and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management have gazetted the Standard Draft By-laws for Township Economies aimed at mobilising municipalities around a common agenda and collective responses towards inclusive local economies and curbing illegal business operations in townships. LOCAL GOVT ELECTIONS Meanwhile, cabinet announced that it has approved the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that will oversee preparations for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections. The next municipal elections will be held between November 2, 2026 and February 1, 2027. "The IMC will be convened by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and consists of several government departments that are key to ensuring the delivery of successful elections," it said. It added that the IMC will work with the Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant bodies towards ensuring that the process leading to the local government is smooth and peaceful. Cabinet also considered and approved the formular for the determination of the number of councillors in terms of Section 20 (1) (a) of the Municipal Structures Act. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE Cabinet has welcomed the filing of the Memorial to the International Court of Justice, which it said showed how the government of Israel violated the Genocide Convention through deliberate violations and murder of Palestinians living in Gaza. "The memorial document of more 1 300 pages - supported by exhibits and annexures - contains evidence of Israel's genocidal acts, and its failure to prevent incitement to genocide and punish those inciting and committing acts of genocide," cabinet pointed out. So far, more than 43 000 lives have been lost in the onslaught on Palestine, following attacks on Israel by Hamas. Cabinet noted that the filing of the memorial took place at a time when Israel is intensifying the killing of civilians in Gaza and is intent on following a similar path of destruction in Lebanon. "The memorial is a reminder to the global community of the atrocities perpetuated against the people of Palestine and the need for solidarity to stop the catastrophe. The filing also comes in the footsteps of the United Nations resolution condemning the actions of the Israeli government against the people of Palestine," said Cabinet.