Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has emphasised the critical role of partnerships in addressing South Africa’s water and sanitation challenges.

Mahlobo was speaking at the 2026 Future of Sustainability Conference, held in Johannesburg, on Wednesday.

Held under the theme: “Africa’s Green Horizon: Leading the Global Transition,” the two-day conference brought together sustainability leaders, policymakers, business executives, academics, and industry specialists to address pressing environmental challenges and explore innovative, sustainable business strategies.

Established in 2011 through a partnership between Topco Media and the United Nations for the COP17 climate conference, the conference has evolved into a key platform for exploring pioneering solutions for a sustainable future.

Mahlobo said collaboration between government and the private sector is essential to resolving water supply challenges.

“There is no single institution, municipality, department, company or country that can solve the water challenge alone,” he said.

He warned that ageing infrastructure and outdated technology, combined with population growth, have led to the current water supply challenges experienced in most parts of the country.

“The water challenges confronting South Africa are well known, but their seriousness demands that we name them plainly and confront them honestly.”

He warned that ageing infrastructure and outdated technology, combined with population growth, have exacerbated water shortages across the country.

He cited key issues, including infrastructure deficits, climate variability, rapid urbanisation, the pollution of rivers, and operational weaknesses in some wastewater systems, as well as persistent inequality in access to water, particularly in rural and historically marginalised communities. 

Addressing these challenges he said, demands a coalition of capability at local, national, and global levels.

“Water security requires alignment across government departments, water boards, municipalities, regulators, state entities, research institutions, financiers and the private sector. We must end the old culture of silo governance.

“The era of fragmented mandates, parallel planning without integrated execution, and infrastructure built without adequate maintenance discipline must come to an end,” Mahlobo said.

He also highlighted the importance of data-driven decision-making and technology.

“What gets measured gets managed, and what gets managed well gets sustained,” he said, adding that technology is essential for improving accountability and efficiency.

The Deputy Minister further advocated for the diversifying approach to water supply through groundwater development, wastewater reuse and integrated urban water systems to reduce pressure on traditional sources.

Referring to the United Nation’s declaration of 2026 as the Water Year, Mahlobo reaffirmed government’s commitment to ensuring access to water as a constitutional right.

He urged South Africans to change water habits and adopt a water saving approach to ensure a more sustainable use of water for everyone.

“Communities are not passive beneficiaries… they are co-creators of resilience. When communities are organised, informed and included, they become a force multiplier for sustainability.

“They help protect infrastructure, strengthen accountability, support behavioural change, defend local ecosystems, detect failures earlier and give legitimacy to interventions that might otherwise remain abstract,” Mahlobo said.

In concluding his address, Mahlobo called for urgent action to build a better world for future generations.

“We have less than four years to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, and we are not on track. In your hands lies the duty to create a better world. We will not be doing it for our sake; we are holding it for our children.”. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Electoral Commission will today publish a Government Gazette notice inviting political parties, independent candidates and all interested stakeholders to comment on the proposed deposit amount for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections.

By law, registered political parties and independent candidates intending to contest elections must pay deposits. 

The purpose of the deposit is to confirm a contestant’s intention to participate in the election and to create certainty on who the contestants in an election are, the Commission said in a statement.

“Deposits are refundable to contestants who obtain a seat in the applicable Proportional Representation election, or who obtain at least 10% of the valid votes cast in the applicable ward election. If a contestant loses, the deposit is not refundable and is paid into the National Revenue Fund,” the Commission said.

The amount of the deposit to be paid in terms of Section 14(1)(b) of the Act is, in respect of each separate list submitted by a party is:

• R4 700 in an election in a metropolitan municipality.

• R2 800 in an election in a local municipality with wards.

• R1 800 in an election in a local municipality without wards and in an election in a district municipality.

The Electoral Commission intends increasing the deposit as prescribed in Item 11(1) of the Municipal Electoral Regulations as follows:

“(1) The amount of the deposit referred to in section 17(2)(d) of the Act, is R1 800.00 in respect of an independent ward candidate and for a ward candidate nominated by a party who is not contesting the election of the relevant municipal council by way of a party list.

Representations or comment on the proposed election deposits may be emailed to Mr Kgosietsile Tshoke at deposits@elections.org.za or delivered to Election House, Riverside Office Park, 1303 Heuwel Avenue, Centurion, 0157.

The closing date for the submission of comments is Friday, 8 May 2026.

The Commission emphasised that it had not yet decided on the election deposit amounts for the 2026/27 Local Government Elections. 

It will review feedback and comments before making a final decision. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested two suspects for possession and distribution of drug-facilitated sexual abuse and child sexual abuse material, following a multi-disciplinary operation in Gauteng. 

The national Serial and Electronic Crime Investigations (SECI) team received an intelligence report from the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the British High Commission regarding a South African target who was believed to be involved in drug-facilitated sexual assault and somnophilia or “sleep fetish”.

“The 34-year-old husband drugged, raped his wife and distributed pornographic material of him performing sexual acts on her without consent on an exclusive social media channel over a period of five years,” the police said in a statement. 

“The victim appeared sedated and in a state of unconsciousness when these serious sexual offences were committed. Innovative investigative techniques and analysis led a multi-disciplinary team to the location of the suspect who was arrested in Boksburg on Thursday, 26 March 2026,” said the police.

The team comprised investigators from the national and provincial SECI team in Gauteng, supported by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Embassy. 

“Forensic experts at the scene uncovered multiple images and videos relating to drug-facilitated sexual assault as well as child sexual abuse material which were found on the suspect’s electronic devices,” the police said. 

On the same day, further investigation led the team to another suspect in Germiston with a similar modus operandi. 

The two suspects are known to each other. 

Police also seized the 48-year-old suspect’s electronic devices and two unlicensed firearms found in his possession. 

“Both suspects are expected appear before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court today on charges that include sexual assault, possession of unlicensed firearm, possession, distribution and manufacturing of child sexual abuse material as well as contravention of Section 16 of the Cyber Crimes Act, namely sharing of intimate images without consent of the victim,” the police said. 

Investigations and forensic analysis of the suspects’ devices remain ongoing. – SAnews.gov.za

Legal professionals will on Tuesday convene at the Johannesburg Society of Advocates offices in Sandton for a seminar hosted by the Companies Tribunal aimed at informing stakeholders about its extended jurisdiction, as well as the recent appointment of retired judges.

The seminar will also outline the implications of these developments for corporate governance and dispute resolution in South Africa. 

In terms of the amendments to the Companies Act 71 of 2008, the Tribunal has been granted exclusive jurisdiction to arbitrate certain company disputes. 

This expanded mandate represents a significant development in South Africa’s corporate dispute resolution landscape. 

“The seminar will provide a platform for direct engagement, enabling stakeholders to better understand the Tribunal’s evolving role and mandate,” the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement.

Furthermore, the appointment of retired judges – Judge Mohammed Navsa, Judge Kathleen Satchwell, Judge Robert Nugent, Judge Boissie Henry Mbha, and Judge Visvanathan Ponnan – to the Tribunal strengthens its institutional credibility. 

“The retired judges bring impartiality and independence, and their extensive experience in legal reasoning and statutory interpretation is expected to enhance the quality of dispute resolution. Their involvement will contribute to increased confidence and trust in the Tribunal’s processes among stakeholders,” the department said.

The Tribunal reaffirms its commitment to transparency, stakeholder engagement, and the effective administration of justice in company law matters. – SAnews.gov.za

Social Development Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks is today leading an Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) at the Mohlakeng Old Age Home, in Gauteng’s West Rand.

ICROP is one of the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) flagship initiatives, designed to bring essential government services closer to communities, particularly those in underserved areas. 

By reducing travel distances, cutting costs, and simplifying administrative processes, ICROP ensures that services are delivered efficiently and directly to the people who need them most.

The Deputy Minister’s outreach also forms part of Human Rights Month activities, highlighting government’s commitment to upholding the rights of all citizens, strengthening social protection, expanding access to critical social services, and supporting vulnerable groups, including older persons, children, and people with disabilities.

Through ICROP, the Department of Social Development (DSD), SASSA, and key government partners will provide a wide range of on-site services, including:
•    Social grant applications and enquiries. 
•    Assistance with birth certificates and identity documents.
•    Support for victims of gender-based violence and substance abuse. 
•    Social work services and referrals. 
•    Services from the National Development Agency.
•    Many more offerings from government departments and stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), and the Public Protector.

“The ICROP will begin with a community engagement session, providing an opportunity for Deputy Minister Hendricks and stakeholders to interact directly with residents. This will be followed by on-site service delivery facilitated by government departments and partners,” the department said ahead of Friday’s  engagement.

The Deputy Minister will be joined by senior management from the DSD and SASSA, as well as representatives from all three spheres of government, reaffirming a collective commitment to responsive, integrated, and people-centred service delivery.

Residents are encouraged to bring their ID documents and other supporting documentation to facilitate access to services. – SAnews.gov.za

Living with a disability in the Phelindaba section of Sannieshof, in the Tswaing Local Municipality, Annah Lekgetho spent her entire life relying on a family toilet that was not designed to meet her needs, a situation that made even the most basic tasks difficult and, at times, undignified.

That reality changed for the 20-year-old this week when Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo handed over a disability-friendly onsite toilet to her family, restoring not only access, but a sense of dignity.

For Lekgetho and the family that cared for her, the new facility represents more than infrastructure, it brings relief, independence, and hope.

Lekgetho’s situation came to the attention of the Deputy Minister during an oversight visit to Tswaing that is located in the North West province in December last year. The Deputy Minister’s visit at the time formed part of National Sanitation Month.

The visit was initially aimed at assessing the state of the Sannieshof Wastewater Treatment Works and the impact of ongoing sewer spillages on surrounding communities.

But it was in the homes of residents, including Lekgetho’s where the human cost of inadequate sanitation became most apparent.

Sharing a standard toilet facility that could not accommodate her disability had placed strain not only on Lekgetho, but also on family members.

Speaking at the handover, Seitlholo said Lekgetho’s story reflects the broader challenges faced by vulnerable members of society when access to proper sanitation is limited.

“A lack of a decent, disability-friendly toilet highlights the daily struggles faced by many in our communities. This requires urgent intervention to protect the dignity and well-being of our people, especially those living with disabilities.”

He stressed that access to safe and appropriate sanitation is not a luxury, but a constitutional right.

“Access to proper sanitation is not a privilege, it is a constitutional right. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa affirms every person’s right to dignity, equality, and a safe and healthy environment. As government, we could not leave this family behind,” Seitlholo said.

Partnership brings change

To address the need, the Department of Water and Sanitation partnered with private sanitation company, AmaLooLoo to provide and install the specialised facility.

The facility is designed to accommodate Lekgetho’s mobility needs and includes a supportive toilet seat and an indoor shower for ease of use. It is also designed to utilise rainwater for most of its operation, promoting sustainability while improving the household’s quality of life.

Seitlholo was accompanied by the Acting Mayor of Tswaing Local Municipality, Nkagisang Molehabangwe, who echoed the Deputy Minister’s sentiments and highlighted the importance of partnerships to improve service delivery and responding to community needs.

The Deputy Minister expressed hope that the initiative would inspire stronger collaboration between national, provincial, and local government, together with private sector partners, to accelerate access to basic services and improve the lives of vulnerable citizens.

For Lekgetho, the intervention marks a significant shift in her daily life, one that restores independence and eases the burden on her family.

As the country moves towards the end of the commemoration of Human Rights Month, her story is a reminder that service delivery is not only about infrastructure, but about people, and the dignity that comes with being seen, heard, and supported. – SAnews.gov.za