Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, has advocated for alternative approaches to address overcrowding in the country’s correctional services.

Speaking during a Parliamentary Questions for Oral Reply session for the Peace and Security cluster on Wednesday, the Minister said the Department of Correctional Services currently has some 107 000 beds available for inmates, with sentenced inmates already occupying at least 106 280 beds.

He said the main pressure stems from remand detainees — people held in custody while awaiting trial — who currently number 62 002. This has pushed overcrowding levels at correctional facilities to 58%.

“We have to accommodate all the people who are arrested and sent to correctional services. There are also other ways…the Criminal Procedures Act, where we can ask for a bail review, we do that. In the previous financial year, we referred 8 849 of these cases, but we were only successful for 1 278. 

“We [also] have about 3 300 remand detainees who couldn’t afford bail of less than R1 000, but it is costing the state taxpayer R463 per day to keep them there,” he said.

Groenewald also referred to the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) Bail Fund initiative, which was led by former Inspecting Judge Edwin Cameron.

“The previous inspecting judge…started a bail fund and it became operational, where, for instance, a private fund has been established to pay this bail to get the people out. There are ways to do this, but I’m strongly in support of community service that should be part of sentencing in our courts,” he said.

Groenewald added that his department is in contact with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to explore alternatives to imprisonment where appropriate.

“Probation is one option and we are also in the process of using electronic bracelets to ensure that probationers can move along safely while protecting the community,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Electoral Commission has officially launched the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), marking the commencement of the mass awareness campaign towards Election Day in November. 

This is after President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced 4 November 2026 as the date for South Africa’s upcoming Local Government Elections.

Wednesday’s launch set the stage for political parties and voters to begin preparations for the polls with the Commission to rollout a national campaign across multiple platforms, including television, radio, digital, and social media, to ensure broad reach and accessibility.

Speaking at the launch held in Midrand, near Johannesburg, the Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the Electoral Commission has successfully delivered five LGEs, each marking a significant milestone in the evolution of local democracy and the consolidation of municipalities as theatres of civic engagement. 

“As the 6th instalment, the 2026 Local Government Elections take place amid notable changes in domestic and global political landscapes. The announcement of the 4 November 2026 election date by His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, has provided the Electoral Commission and all stakeholders with clarity and certainty for planning,” Mamabolo said. 

Mamabolo said the launch is a practical manifestation of that certainty and an assurance that plans are firmly in the execution phase for delivering an election that meets the standard envisioned in the Constitution. 

On 1 April 2026, the Commission unveiled the elections logo and media campaign under the tagline, “Get Up, Show Up, Vote.” 

This powerful call to action is aimed at motivating all eligible voters, particularly young people to actively participate in the electoral process. 

According to Mamabolo, Wednesday’s launch marks the beginning of intensified public awareness ahead of the national voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026. 
Just under 24 000 registration stations across 4 488 municipal wards will open over the two days to enable citizens to register, verify their personal details and ensure correct registration. 

“Preparations are well advanced, with the Department of Home Affairs ensuring that offices will be open nationwide to facilitate citizens’ applications for identity documents, which are a prerequisite for voter registration. 

“The Commission has deployed over 800 Municipal Outreach Coordinators, including persons with disabilities, across the country to drive voter education and awareness, reinforcing inclusive participation ahead of the elections.” 

Mamabolo said since the beginning of 2026, more than 62,336 community events have been conducted nationwide, strengthening sustained voter education and public engagement adding that a targeted door-to-door voter communication and registration campaign has been completed across 99% of municipalities (212 out of 214) between 11 and 24 May 2026. 

“This campaign informed citizens of recent Municipal Demarcation Board changes to certain ward boundaries and the consequential revision of some voting districts. The Commission thanks the Board for its cooperation in completing the ward delimitation process and handing over final ward boundaries. 

“The Commission’s voter education and registration programmes continue to yield strong results. The Tertiary Institutions Campaign has reached 97 894 students across 1086 activations in all nine provinces, with 45 757 students successfully registered – demonstrating its impact in promoting youth participation. 

“The Schools Democracy Programme, implemented in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, continues to build awareness by educating learners on democratic principles and electoral processes, while encouraging eligible learners aged 16 and older to pre-register,” he said. 

Draft code of conduct

With regard to combating disinformation, Mamabolo said the Electoral Commission recognises that the pervasive use of social media is a double-edged sword. 

“The Commission has previously mitigated disinformation through, among others, collaboration with civil society and the use of the Real411 platform for flagging and reporting misleading content. This work has been strengthened through policy development. 

Guided by the Constitution and other relevant prescripts, the Commission will issue a draft Code of Conduct on Misinformation for public comment. The draft seeks to embed safeguards against fraudulent and manipulated content to preserve information integrity during the elections,” he said. 

Online registrations

The Commission said the online registration portal has improved the accuracy and stability of the voters’ roll by enabling real-time updates and offsetting losses due to mortality. Between January and May 2026, 376,140 new registrations were recorded, reflecting strong uptake – particularly among young voters.

The total number of registered voters currently stands at 27,912,415, exceeding the figures recorded at the time of the 2024 general elections. 

Mamabolo said the achievement comes despite an average monthly loss of 34 000 voters due to mortality. 

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Inkosi Velenkosini Hlabisa said he is confident that the number of registered young people will increase.

“I am confident that this time we are going to have more young people registering to vote and taking part in the elections,” he said.

In a bid to encourage young people to participate the elections, the Commission has introduced a youth-focused series, “Beats for My Peeps,” in partnership with the SABC.

The programme uses music, culture, and digital creators to address voter apathy, dispel misinformation, and promote participation.

It will air on SABC1 at 6pm from 3 June 2026. Meanwhile, the IEC Podcast launched in April 2026 and provides accessible, real-time information via mobile and digital platforms. 

How can citizens register

Get your identity document ready and register or check your address details online at: registertovote.elections.org.za 

Find your correct voting station to visit on the registration weekend at maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder 

Visit your local Electoral Commission offices on weekdays between 8am and 5pm.  – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Human Settlements and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at addressing growing disputes between student tenants and landlords in the rental housing sector.

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane announced the planned agreement when she was delivering the department’s 2026 Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday.

The agreement seeks to formalise a collaborative partnership between the National Department of Human Settlements, NSFAS and Rental Housing Tribunals across the country.

According to Simelane, the partnership will focus on educating student tenants and landlords about their respective rights and responsibilities amid growing concerns over exploitation and contractual disputes in student accommodation.

“We are concerned about reports of student tenants being exploited by landlords, as well as instances where some students fail to honour their contractual obligations with landlords, despite receiving NSFAS funding,” Simelane said.

The Minister said the department has already engaged student formations and other stakeholders, and awareness programmes will soon be rolled out across all provinces.

Addressing growing unlawful occupation of land and buildings

The Minister noted that Rental Housing Tribunals are now operational in all nine provinces and provide free dispute resolution services to both tenants and landlords in the public and private rental markets.

This comes as government intensifies efforts to address the increasing unlawful occupation of land and buildings across the country.

Simelane said illegal occupation continues to place severe pressure on municipalities and property owners, while also creating dangerous living conditions.

“We all witnessed the tragic consequences of illegally occupied buildings in the City of Johannesburg, where lives were lost,” she said.

In response, government has drafted and published the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Amendment Bill for public comment.

The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the management of unlawful occupation while balancing the rights of vulnerable groups, including women-headed households, children, older persons and people with disabilities, alongside the rights of property owners and municipalities.

“Parallel to this, we are also conducting nationwide public information sessions to solicit inputs from various stakeholders. To date, we have covered KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Western Cape. By the closing date, 16 June 2026 we would have covered all the provinces,” Simelane said.

The department intends to table the Bill before Parliament in August 2026.

Simelane reiterated that no tenant or landlord should be forced into expensive legal proceedings when accessible mechanisms already exist to ensure fair and legally binding resolutions.

She said the amendments form part of broader efforts to restore order in the housing sector, while ensuring that constitutional protections remain in place for vulnerable communities.

The Minister also reiterated the department’s commitment to accelerating housing delivery and improving access to affordable and secure accommodation across the country. – SAnews.gov.za

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has tabled a R26.972 billion budget allocation for the 2026/27 financial year, which outlines ambitious housing delivery targets, despite mounting fiscal pressures and a growing housing backlog.

Presenting the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, Simelane said the allocation forms part of a broader R81.364 billion Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget aimed at advancing sustainable human settlements and restoring dignity to vulnerable communities.

Conditional grant funding for the current financial year amounts to R23.679 billion, with provincial departments receiving R15.183 billion and metropolitan municipalities allocated R8.486 billion.

However, Simelane warned that ongoing budget reductions will place significant pressure on the department’s ability to meet its Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) targets.

“Our baseline has been reduced by R20.6 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. This has resulted in the reduction of Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) by R19.7 billion over the MTEF with R5.7 billion in 2026/27, R6.4 billion in 2027/28 and R7.1 billion in 2028/29) to fund the metro trading services,” the Minister said.

Despite the constraints, the department has set a number of delivery targets for the current financial year, and these include:

•    Delivery of 39 058 housing units;
•    Completion of 25 186 serviced sites across programmes;
•    Registration of 21 918 title deeds;
•    Delivery of 2 878 social housing units, with 2000 units fully tenanted;
•    Eradication of 6 950 mud houses;
•    Delivery of 744 housing units for military veterans, and
•    Installation of 11 215 solar systems to advance energy resilience and sustainability.

The department also plans to unblock 195 stalled housing projects and ensure that 11 358 First Home Finance subsidy applications are approved, and 9 231 subsidies disbursed to qualifying beneficiaries.

Simelane acknowledged that housing delivery remains below target, revealing that only 23 027 housing units were delivered against a target of 37 779 during the previous financial year.

“This situation cannot continue,” she said, adding that the department will take decisive action against underperforming contractors, and officials responsible for procurement delays.

Significant strides made in housing delivery

Despite challenges linked to land availability, natural disasters and funding constraints, the department reported notable progress in several key programmes during the previous financial year.

Among the achievements highlighted include:

•    Eradication of 8176 unhabitable mud houses;
•    Unblocking of 85 stalled housing projects;
•    Acquisition of 2 447 hectares of land for human settlements development through the Housing Development Agency;
•    Delivery of 24 251 serviced sites by provinces, exceeding annual targets of 13 995, and
•    Delivery of 3 031 social housing units by the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA).

The social housing programme also generated more than 12 000 job opportunities nationally, highlighting the programme’s role in supporting economic activity and employment.

In line with the Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2029, the department continued to make significant progress in advancing transformation, skills development, and participation of the previously disadvantaged within the property sector.

“Through the One Learner, One Property Practitioner Programme, we successfully placed 619 candidate property practitioners with property industry employer/host employers, thus strengthening workplace-based learning opportunities and promoting sustainable entry into the sector. We also exceeded our target for women empowerment through the Principalisation Programme, supporting 1 153 women against a target of 484,” Simelane highlighted.

The Minister said government remains committed to leveraging innovative building technologies to accelerate housing delivery and improve climate resilience.

Simelane said government has resolved that at least 2% of the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) may be allocated to Innovative Building Technologies (IBTs)-related housing projects.

The department has also prioritised local manufactures, emerging contractors, youth, women and township-based enterprises, in ensuring IBTs drive inclusive economic participation and job creation.

The Minister noted that South Africa continues to face a persistent, complex and multi-layered human settlements challenge.

The housing backlog currently stands at an estimated 2.6 million units, while rapid urbanisation, historical spatial inequality, and significant unmet housing demand, continue to place pressure on municipalities and housing infrastructure.

Simelane said the department remained committed to ensuring that investments in housing translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of South Africans.

“Housing is more than shelter. It is about restoring dignity, hope and security,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Government is developing a policy that will help introduce laws to create a clear national planning system and improve accountability across government.

According to Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, this will enable the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) to strengthen its mandate.

The department is responsible for coordinating planning across government, monitoring progress on national priorities, and evaluating the effectiveness of key programmes in line with the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029.

Tabling the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister said the development of a White Paper on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is underway and expected to be finalised during the 2026/27 financial year. 

During the session, the Minister outlined the department’s priorities for the 2026/27 financial year and welcomed Parliament’s endorsement of the allocated budget of R532.9 million. 

“Although the legislative process is underway, the department continues to work with stakeholders to strengthen and integrate planning, monitoring and evaluation.

“In the 2025/26 financial year, the DPME made significant progress in institutionalising the MTDP across government, ensuring stronger alignment between national priorities, departmental plans and budgets,” the Minister said.

The MTDP is the five-year plan guiding the work of the seventh administration in pursuit of three strategic national priorities: driving inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

The Minister reported that, in the previous financial year, the department worked closely with the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) to assess 55 national and provincial draft Annual Performance Plans (APPs).

She added that this marks a shift from compliance-driven to results-based planning. 

“In the process, the department continues to enhance its monitoring systems to track implementation of the MTDP and identify gaps in service delivery.

“Through this work, the department produces in-depth biannual MTDP performance monitoring reports. The latest report, covering October 2025 to March 2026, has just been finalised and shows that the government is making steady progress towards achieving the MTDP priorities,” the Minister said.

The department will also produce a mid-term monitoring report assessing the performance of the government against the MTDP over the past two-and-a-half years. 

This will assist the government in identifying bottlenecks and intervening speedily to drive the implementation of MTDP priorities. 

“We aim to make these reports accessible to all South Africans through deliberate efforts to share them widely with stakeholders, including members of Parliament,” Ramokgopa said.

These reports are supported by evidence drawn from frontline monitoring.

Over time, the department has institutionalised the practices and discipline of assessing policy and implementation outcomes through frontline monitoring. 

“Our view is that plans and policies find real meaning at the frontline of service delivery, where citizens interact daily with the state. The Frontline Monitoring and Support Programme is therefore a cornerstone of the department’s work to close the gap between policy intent and lived experience,” Deputy Minister Seiso Moha said in support of the Minister’s budget vote speech.

The department has also maintained the Presidential Hotline as a vital mechanism for direct citizen engagement and accountability.

During the reporting period, more than 2 300 complaints were received, affecting national and provincial departments, with a 72% resolution rate. –SAnews.gov.za

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) will officially launch its national youth outreach initiative, bringing services, opportunities and support closer to communities in Mpumalanga.

The initiative — Phanda Thursday — will be launched on Thursday, 28 May, at the Sasol Club in eMbalenhle, Secunda. It will be led by NYDA Board Executive Chairperson, Dr Sunshine Myende.

The initiative is a weekly national outreach programme aimed at bringing youth development services, economic opportunities and government support directly to communities across South Africa.

The programme seeks to address persistent challenges related to youth unemployment and fragmented service delivery by creating accessible, community-based support platforms for young people.

Through weekly activations at NYDA branches nationwide, young people will have access to a range of services, including career guidance and CV support, entrepreneurship and business development assistance, funding and skills development opportunities, as well as on-site government services and application support.

The programme brings together government departments, municipalities, State entities, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), development finance institutions, private sector partners and community stakeholders on a single integrated platform.

The launch will also feature exhibitions by several government departments and entities, providing attendees with direct access to information, services and resources across a range of critical sectors affecting young people and communities.

Participating institutions include the Office of the Premier, the National Youth Development Agency, the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, the Department of Health, the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency, Statistics South Africa and the South African Police Service.

The NYDA said the initiative is intended to improve access to opportunities and strengthen collaboration between stakeholders working to support youth development and economic inclusion. – SAnews.gov.za
 

In the 2025/26 financial year, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment transferred the management of eight plantations to local communities to foster land ownership and create economic opportunities in the forestry sector.

According to Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts, who delivered her department’s Budget Vote in Parliament, the transformation of the forestry sector remains one of the department’s key strategic priorities.

“We are confident that these community-owned plantations will create jobs, stimulate small businesses and strengthen rural livelihoods, especially for women and youth, as we remain resolute to ensure an inclusive program and broaden participation,” Swarts said on Tuesday.

By transferring the management of these plantations, the department aims to foster a sense of ownership among community members while providing opportunities to participate meaningfully in the forestry value chain.

The eight Community Forestry Agreements were concluded in the Eastern Cape and cover Hamburg, Manina Block H&J, Manina Block K, Mthintloni, Ngcobo, Nkobongo, Xhorana and Zikhova.

“In the 2026/27 financial year, a further 8 plantations will be transferred to communities. The department is also mobilising private sector partners to provide financial support for this important programme.”

“Through our outreach programmes, we will continue to raise awareness of these opportunities among women and promote forestry careers in our schools,” she added.

Protecting the environment

The Deputy Minister called on South Africans to work with the government to protect and conserve the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

Swarts said the department is addressing pollution caused by the mismanagement of waste by strengthening the Local Government Support Programme in partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA).

“We continue to implement municipal greening campaigns as one of the interventions aimed at reducing pollution, removing waste from public spaces, promoting environmental awareness and supporting separation, and recycling initiatives,” the Deputy Minister said.

The department noted improvements in the collection of electrical and electronic waste, commonly referred to as e-waste, through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees.

“The increasing use of electrical and electronic equipment has resulted in large volumes of discarded devices, many of which contain hazardous substances that pose serious risks to human health and the environment if not managed well.”

“There is growing accountability among producers of prioritised products, with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) playing a central role in implementing EPR systems across South Africa.”

“These organisations are responsible for developing and managing systems to collect, recycle and responsibly manage waste generated by products placed on the market,” she explained.

Over the past two financial years, the department launched and implemented the e-waste programme in partnership with PROs, which purchased e-waste items from communities.

Through this initiative, the Producer Responsibility Organisations collected more than 86 000 kilograms (86 tons) of e-waste, with more than R267 700 paid to communities as incentives. –SAnews.gov.za