Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Three Gauteng municipalities appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Tuesday to respond to concerns over water supply disruptions, deteriorating infrastructure, and service delivery challenges affecting residents across the province.

Representatives from Merafong City Local Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality and Midvaal Local Municipality presented updates on measures being implemented to address ongoing water-related problems during hearings into the Gauteng water crisis.

The hearings form part of the SAHRC’s broader inquiry into the impact of water supply challenges on communities across Gauteng.

Merafong City Local Municipality’s Acting Executive Manager for Energy, Ntokozo Gubevu, told the commission that the municipality continues to battle aging infrastructure, staff shortages, non-payment for services, outdated technology systems, and recurring sinkholes linked to the area’s dolomitic ground conditions.

Gubevu said the municipality is set to receive R30 million from the Department of Water and Sanitation to assist with infrastructure upgrades and interventions.

He added that all areas currently have water supply and noted that service delivery had improved considerably in recent months, with support from Rand Water.

The municipality also highlighted the growing threat posed by sinkholes, which emerge during rainy seasons due to the geological composition of the area.

According to Gubevu, a task team chaired by the Director-General of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has been established to coordinate interventions related to sinkhole management.

One of Merafong’s largest reservoirs has already been affected by sinkhole activity, prompting the municipality to prioritise funding discussions with Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure.

Lesedi Local Municipality Manager Sibusiso Dlamini responded to concerns regarding inconsistent water supply and households not connected to pipeline systems.

Dlamini explained that while water supply is generally not entirely interrupted, low water pressure remains a persistent problem that affects the flow of water to some communities.

He said the municipality currently maintains a 99.1% piped water supply rate.

To improve reliability, Lesedi has been replacing aging pipes and installing pumps to improve water flow in affected areas.

The municipality is also working closely with Rand Water to address water-related challenges.

Dlamini told the commission that Lesedi owns three in-house water tankers and spends approximately R400 000 annually on tanker services during major water disruptions.

Midvaal Local Municipality Municipal Manager Phumudzo Magodi said the municipality is largely situated on dolomitic land, contributing to the formation of sinkholes in some areas.

Magodi said the municipality plans to conduct a groundwater protocol study aimed at strengthening long-term water management and infrastructure planning.

The municipality currently supplies water to 47 informal settlements through water tankers while grappling with major infrastructure and maintenance challenges.

According to Magodi, Midvaal faces an estimated R1 billion backlog related to reservoir infrastructure, aging systems, and maintenance requirements.

Additional concerns raised during the hearings included non-revenue water losses and billing inefficiencies.

Despite the challenges, the municipality reaffirmed its commitment to improving infrastructure and addressing service delivery concerns affecting residents.

The SAHRC hearings will continue as part of ongoing efforts to assess the effectiveness of interventions aimed at stabilising Gauteng’s water supply systems and ensuring communities have reliable access to basic services.

The commission undertook the investigative inquiry as part of its constitutional and statutory mandate to promote, protect and monitor the observance of human rights in the country. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government is intensifying efforts to accelerate land reform, strengthen tenure security and modernise land administration systems as part of efforts to address historical inequalities and rural underdevelopment.

This is according to Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, who presented the department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Nyhontso said the department’s work remains focused on equitable access to land, restitution of land rights, sustainable rural livelihoods and improved spatial governance.

“These responsibilities remain central to addressing the historical legacies of dispossession, poverty, inequality, exclusion, underdevelopment and uneven spatial development,” he said.

Over the medium term, the department has been allocated approximately R32.1 billion, with R10.336 billion set aside for the 2026/27 financial year.

About 20 000 hectares of land allocated to women

Nyhontso said the department had acquired approximately 53 000 hectares of land during the reporting period and allocated more than 35 000 hectares to qualifying individuals and communities.

“In line with the Cabinet-approved Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation Policy, approximately 20 000 hectares of land were allocated to women and 13 000 hectares to youth beneficiaries,” the Minister said.

The Minister said government will continue prioritising equitable access to land for women, youth, persons with disabilities and other qualifying beneficiaries.

In efforts to strengthen tenure security, the Minister reported that approximately 7 000 hectares were acquired and transferred to more than 700 farm dwellers and labour tenants.

He added that 61 labour tenant matters had been finalised with the support of the Special Master on Labour Tenants, while 313 matters were referred to court where negotiations could not be concluded successfully.

“Additionally, approximately 206 000 hectares of land were transferred from the State to affected communities through the implementation of the Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act, 94 of 1998.”

Land audit 

Nyhontso announced that government is preparing to undertake a Comprehensive Land Audit, to amend the Beneficiary Selection and Allocation Policy for beneficiaries of the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy (PLAS).

One of the key objectives of the Comprehensive Land Audit is to develop the necessary policies and legislation to give effect to the Constitutional mandates on equitable access to land, communal land tenure and administration, rural development, and land administration.

“We have also identified the rationalisation of apartheid laws as a long-standing factor that continues to complicate the work of the department in discharging its land reform mandate, as many such laws that still exist on the Statute Book are in direct conflict with the Constitution. This work is to be conducted under the auspices of a retired judge whose appointment process is underway,” Nyhontso said. 

The Comprehensive Land Audit will also bring certainty about who owns what land in South Africa, in terms of race, gender, business entity, land held in trusts, regional distribution, as well as nationality.

New land reform legislation

The Minister said the Equitable Access to Land Bill, intended to give effect to Section 25(5) of the Constitution, will become the centrepiece of the Redistribution Programme.

Section 25 (5) of the Constitution speaks to the State taking reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on an equitable basis.
The proposed legislation includes the establishment of a Land Reform Agency focused on land and beneficiary identification, allocation and post-settlement support.

Nyhontso said the bill is expected to be presented to Cabinet before public consultations by June this year.
The Minister also confirmed that the Communal Land Tenure and Administration Bill is on track to be submitted to Cabinet and opened for public consultation by the end of June this year.

“This Bill seeks to address not only the Constitutionally mandated function of ensuring legally secure tenure for the millions of residents of the former homelands and other communal areas.

“It also seeks to introduce a sustainable, democratic, gender and youth empowering system of communal land administration in which communities and traditional leaders will work together in a mutually supportive manner,” he explained.

Concerns over communal property associations

Nyhontso acknowledged ongoing governance and functionality challenges affecting Communal Property Associations (CPAs).

He said tensions between communities and traditional leaders remain a concern, adding that government is working to strengthen governance systems and institutional arrangements.

During the reporting period, the department exceeded its target for CPA training by equipping 821 executives with governance, financial management and land administration skills.

Ministerial roadshows were also conducted across all provinces, engaging 507 CPAs and approximately 2 465 members.

“These engagements consistently raised concerns relating to governance instability, internal disputes, business unsustainability, inadequate or no post-settlement support, lack of proper accountability systems, and poor relationships between CPAs and traditional institutions,” the Minister said.

He added that an Indaba on the National CPA will be held during the course of the year. – SAnews.gov.za

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Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has outlined the government’s plans to combat misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, including proposals for a public fact-checking platform, restrictions on fake news broadcasts, and mandatory disclosure of AI-generated content on digital platforms.

Tabling the Government Communication and Information System’s (GCIS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister warned that digital media and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly being used as tools to spread false information.

“South Africa’s situation is exacerbated by the fact that South Africans are rated as the topmost people propagandised people in the world in the Ipsos Perils of Perception Index 2026,” the Minister said.

According to several Ipsos surveys, South Africans rank among the most misinformed populations globally regarding the state of their country.

Ntshavheni said the government’s response to misinformation and disinformation must be “deliberate and systematic”.

“Having observed how other countries are addressing this phenomenon, at a Policy level, the National AI Policy must compel digital media platforms to disclose the AI-generated content carried on their platforms (AI content branding) and prohibit the broadcasting of Fake and Misleading News about South Africa,” she said.

She added that while the National AI Policy is being drafted and the Cybersecurity Strategy finalised, GCIS will engage digital platform owners on the proposed measures. 

“Furthermore, the GCIS is provisioning for the government’s fact-check capability to proactively debunk deepfakes and tactical misinformation. 

“This measure seeks to progress the current stamping of fake news, but collating the stamped fake news images, videos and stories to enable individuals to personally check through the creation of a dedicated website supported by a digital platform,” Ntshavheni said.

GCIS will provide the function to correct facts against fake news. 

“The goal is to position GCIS as the anchor of the truth. Individuals will also be able to alert GCIS on suspected fake news which they would have come across,” the Minister said.

In addition, GCIS is developing a “Quick Guide” to assist government communicators in countering misinformation, disinformation and malinformation more effectively.

Seminal year

Ntshavheni said 2026 marks a significant year in South Africa’s democratic journey, with the country set to commemorate several major historical milestones through the Milestones of Freedom Campaign.

These include the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution; the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprisings; the 70th anniversary of the anti-pass campaign; and the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

“The year 2026 is a seminal year. This year, South Africa will mark 30 years since the adoption of the democratic Constitution on the 8th of May 1996 by the first democratic and representative Parliament.

“The Constitution remains a living expression of our nation’s collective commitment to constitutional democracy, human rights, freedoms, and the rule of law,” the Minister said.

She stressed that the rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights are accompanied by responsibilities

“We must play our part,” the Minister said.

The country will also commemorate the 50th anniversary or the Golden Jubilee of the 1976 Soweto youth uprisings that spread across the country and continued into 1977. 

Ntshavheni said the opposition to Bantu education and the introduction of Afrikaans as a “forced medium of instruction” galvanised the masses of young people to render the country ungovernable and Apartheid unworkable in the fight for freedom and democracy. 

In August 2026, the country will also commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the 9th August 1956, 20.000 women’s March to the Union Buildings protesting the extension of “Pass Laws” to women. 

“In light of these milestones, the GCIS is coordinating not only commemorations of these milestones in South Africa’s history, mobilising South Africans around the Milestones of Freedom Campaign under the theme: Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future as a whole-of-society approach. 

“This Campaign involves packaged-service weeks that mobilise public service interventions to and with communities in support of the District Development Model. The Campaign focuses on citizens as active participants in their own environments rather than passive recipients of services,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

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Parliament, in partnership with the University of South Africa (UNISA), will host a joint colloquium on Friday to commemorate 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution.

The event, themed “Celebrating 30 Years of South Africa’s Constitution in a rapidly changing world”, will take place at the temporary National Assembly Chamber, the Dome, in Cape Town.

The colloquium forms part of the national commemorative programme marking three decades since the adoption of the Constitution of the democratic Republic of South Africa.

More than 250 participants from various sectors of society are expected to attend the engagement. 

These include former President Thabo Mbeki, who is also the patron of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Presiding Officers of Parliament, Members of Parliament, academics, representatives of Chapter 9 institutions, members of the legal fraternity, constitutional and governance experts, civil society organisations, public policy institutions, diplomatic representatives, students and broader community leaders.

According to a statement issued by Parliament, the gathering will focus on constitutional advancement, democratic governance and public discourse in the context of a rapidly changing global environment.

The colloquium is scheduled to begin at 11:30am on Friday at the temporary National Assembly Chamber located at the corner of Commercial Road and Plein Street in Cape Town.

Members of the public can follow proceedings through Parliament’s official social media platforms and YouTube channel. – SAnews.gov.za

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Nearly 15 000 people have applied for the Gautrain’s discounted KlevaMova affordability product within its first year, with the initiative now accounting for approximately 11% of all Gautrain passenger trips.

Launched in May 2025, KlevaMova offers qualifying passengers a 50% discount on Gautrain fares. 

The product is aimed at households earning R350 000 or less annually, as well as scholars, pensioners and South African Social Security Agency disability grant recipients.

According to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and the Gautrain Management Agency, around 6 000 approved users are actively using the system after completing the required verification process.

Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the growing uptake demonstrates increasing demand for affordable and reliable public transport in Gauteng.

“KlevaMova is making Gautrain more accessible to lower-income commuters, particularly young working adults under 40 within the R350 000 income bracket. Across all user categories, 94% of KlevaMova users are workers, highlighting the important role affordable transport plays in connecting people to economic opportunities,” said Diale-Tlabela.

Passenger usage has been highest from the Tshwane region, with Hatfield, Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand and Rhodesfield identified as the busiest originating stations. 

Sandton Station remains the leading destination station among users.

The discounted product is available as weekly, monthly and return-trip packages. Applicants are required to submit supporting documentation and complete a verification process before accessing the benefit.

The Gauteng Household Travel Survey (2019/20), compiled by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, found that nearly 60% of households spend more than the recommended 10% of their monthly income on transport.

According to the Department and the Gautrain Management Agency, KlevaMova forms part of wider efforts to improve access to safe, reliable and efficient public transport while reducing affordability barriers across Gauteng.

The initiative also supports Gautrain’s broader goal of positioning itself as an aspirational mobility brand that combines world-class service with improved affordability and accessibility for a wider range of commuters.

Members of the public interested in applying for the KlevaMova product can visit the Gautrain website or contact the Gautrain toll-free call centre on 0800 428 87246. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, has launched an e-waste collection and recycling pilot project in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape.

Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, Swarts described the initiative as a “practical and timely intervention” aimed at strengthening waste management, protecting the environment, and creating local economic opportunities.

Electronic waste, commonly known as e-waste, is considered the fastest-growing waste stream globally due to the increasing use of electrical and electronic equipment. 

Swarts warned that discarded devices often contain hazardous substances that can pose serious risks to human health and the environment if not properly managed.

According to the Deputy Minister, South Africa generates more than 360 000 tonnes of e-waste annually, while only a small proportion is formally recycled. 

She said government’s prohibition on disposing e-waste at landfill sites, together with the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility regulations, demonstrates a commitment to increasing reuse, recycling, and recovery of electronic waste.

Swarts said municipalities such as King Sabata Dalindyebo face ongoing waste management challenges due to limited infrastructure, insufficient waste minimisation initiatives, and low public awareness around e-waste recycling. 

She said the pilot project seeks to address these issues by creating accessible collection systems and encouraging stronger community participation.

The Deputy Minister outlined the department’s broader e-waste collection programme, which began during the 2024/25 financial year as part of Extended Producer Responsibility implementation. 

The programme was first introduced in Mpumalanga in the Bushbuckridge and Nkomazi local municipalities before expanding to Rustenburg and Madibeng in the North West Province, followed by the Cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni in Gauteng.

Swarts also referred to recent community engagements in the Northern Cape’s Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality, noting that e-waste initiatives in rural and peri-urban areas had resulted in more than 86 000kg of e-waste being collected nationwide. 

Communities participating in the programme received more than R267 700 in incentives.

She said the outcomes demonstrated the environmental and public health benefits of partnerships between government and Producer Responsibility Organisations.

The Eastern Cape project is being implemented through a partnership involving the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Eastern Cape Department of Environment, King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, and Producer Responsibility Organisations.

Swarts said the collaboration would improve coordination between different spheres of government while ensuring implementation aligns with national policy and regulatory frameworks.

Community involvement, she added, would be central to the project’s success through the establishment of drop-off and collection points, collaboration with local small businesses, and targeted awareness campaigns to promote responsible recycling practices at household level.

Beyond environmental protection, Swarts said the initiative could contribute to job creation, skills development, and increased participation of small enterprises in the recycling economy.

She added that the project supports the objectives of the National Waste Management Strategy by reducing waste sent to landfill sites, increasing recycling rates, and promoting inclusive economic growth. 

The initiative is also expected to serve as a model for similar programmes in other municipalities across the Eastern Cape.

The department will monitor the project’s progress using indicators such as volumes of e-waste collected, levels of community participation, SMME involvement, and employment opportunities created.

Swarts called on residents, industry partners, and community structures across King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality and the wider OR Tambo District to support the initiative.

“Through collective effort, we can reduce environmental risks, recover valuable resources, and create sustainable livelihoods,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The State Visit to Botswana is not merely a diplomatic formality, but a “coming together of brethren from the same family”.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who delivered remarks at a State Banquet hosted by Botswana President Duma Boko on the first day of the two-day visit to the country.

“Allow me to express my sincere appreciation for the distinct privilege and honour of being invited for this historic State Visit.

“This is no ordinary State Visit. It is a coming together of brethren from the same family. We are one people, born of the same soil and bound together by a shared history,” President Ramaphosa stated on Wednesday.

He underscored the historical debt owed to Botswana, which served as a crucial frontline state and sanctuary during South Africa’s painful liberation struggle against apartheid.

“Together, we are part of SADC [Southern African Development Community], a community of nations that played a pivotal role in the liberation of South Africa from the crime of apartheid. 

“Botswana was an ally and friend of the South African people in our quest for justice, democracy and human rights for all.

“Botswana provided solidarity, support and refuge to our people during our days of need, sometimes at a great cost to yourself,” the President noted.

Years later, President Ramaphosa added, the two countries “continue to experience the dynamism of the ties between our peoples forged through a common history, heritage and geography”.

Looking ahead to the Bi-National Commission which will be held on Thursday, the President emphasised the need to seize the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area and to strengthen cooperation within the Southern African Customs Union.

“Our fortunes are intertwined and the possibilities of our cooperation are endless.

“The levels of trade and investment between our two countries are substantial. There is much scope to expand commerce between our countries and to achieve greater balance in the volume and value of trade.

“The sixth session of the Bi-National Commission [BNC], which we will co-chair…will deliberate on the many and diverse areas of bilateral cooperation that underpin our collaboration,” he said.

Concluding with a toast, President Ramaphosa raised his glass to President Boko’s health, Botswana’s prosperity and the “enduring bonds of friendship and partnership between the peoples of South Africa and Botswana”, insisting that the two neighbouring nations would remain “forever together”.

Earlier on Wednesday, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola called for deeper and more practical cooperation between South Africa and Botswana, as the two countries convened the Ministerial Session of the Sixth BNC in Gaborone.

READ | South Africa and Botswana deepen cooperation

Delivering opening remarks, Lamola emphasised that the identification of new and impactful areas of cooperation remains critical.  – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, says government has intensified preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.

Delivering the 2026/27 Budget Vote for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in Parliament on Wednesday, Hlabisa said several key milestones had already been achieved to ensure the polls are conducted smoothly.

These include the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Municipal Elections, the finalisation of councillor numbers, delimitation of 4 488 wards nationally, and ongoing voter registration work by the Electoral Commission of South Africa.

Hlabisa said government remained committed to ensuring that the elections uphold democratic principles and public confidence.

“The key principle guiding us is simple: the elections must be free, fair, credible, and beyond reproach,” he said.
The Minister said preparations are progressing steadily through collaboration between government departments and electoral authorities ahead of the nationwide municipal polls.

The Minister stressed that capable municipalities are essential for a capable state, warning that local government institutions cannot not function effectively where appointments are irregular, leadership is unstable, and accountability is weak.

Government is therefore strengthening competency-based recruitment, the professionalisation of municipal administration, performance management systems, and ethical leadership.

Hlabisa tabled a combined R423.4 billion budget for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for the 2026/27 financial year. Of the total allocation, R422.5 billion has been earmarked for Cooperative Governance, while R900 million will go towards Traditional Affairs.

Traditional Affairs reforms
On Traditional Affairs, Hlabisa said government continued to address the Constitutional Court ruling through the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill of 2025, which has now been introduced in Parliament.

In June last year the Minister welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling to extend the validity of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) for an additional two years, allowing more time to finalise replacement legislation.

READ | Minister welcomes Constitutional Court’s decision on Leadership Act

“Progress is also being made on recognition of Khoi-San communities; strengthening customary governance; and integrating traditional leadership into development planning,” the Minister said on Wednesday.

On customary initiation, the Minister said government remained committed to achieving zero fatalities linked to customary initiation practices, emphasising that no cultural practice must result in loss of life.

“We are strengthening regulations, enforcement, and accountability. We are also exploring stronger legal consequences for negligence,” Hlabisa said.

Hlabisa said government is also strengthening the role of traditional leadership in governance through participation in development planning, structured collaboration with municipalities and alignment with the revised White Paper.

“Development in rural areas will not succeed without this partnership,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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