Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of section 91(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, has removed Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, from her position. 

Section 91(2) of the Constitution empowers the President to appoint and dismiss members of the Cabinet at his/ her discretion.

In a brief statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency confirmed the immediate dismissal and announced an interim appointment to ensure continuity in the department’s operations.

President Ramaphosa appointed Sindisiwe Chikunga to serve as acting Minister of Social Development with immediate effect, while a permanent appointment is expected to be made in due course. 

“In the interim, President Ramaphosa has appointed Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga as the acting minister in the portfolio pending a full-time appointment in due course,” the Presidency said. 

The change takes place with immediate effect . – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) says the struggle facing South Africa’s youth today is no longer confined to the classroom, but defined by unemployment, poverty, inequality and exclusion from economic participation.

Speaking at the Media launch of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprising, in Soweto, NYDA Chairperson, Dr Sunshine Myende drew a direct line between the historic fight against apartheid education and the modern-day battle for economic freedom.

“For many of us as young people today, the struggle is against unemployment. The struggle today is against poverty. The struggle today is against inequality. The struggle today is against exclusion from economic participation,” Myende said on Thursday.

She added that young people, particularly women, also face the persistent threat of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), describing it as a critical part of the broader struggle for dignity and equality.

The address formed part of the national programme marking the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, under the theme: “The Year of Youth Power – The Future is in Our Hands.”

Confronting the unfinished business of past generations

Myende said the commemoration was not only about remembrance, but about confronting the unfinished business of past generations.

Quoting anti-apartheid leader Oliver Tambo, she reminded the attendees that nations are often left with a stark choice “to submit or to fight”, a choice that defined the courage of the youth of 1976.

“We gather not only to remember them, but to honour the unfinished responsibility they handed to us,” she said.

While the context of struggle has changed, the chairperson stressed that the determination of young people to shape the country’s future remains constant. She called for tangible progress.

“We are tired of speeches. We are tired of being called together. We now want action,” Myende said.

Central to Myende’s call was the urgent need to address youth unemployment, which she described as a national crisis requiring extraordinary intervention.

Referring to the latest labour statistics, she said unemployment figures represent real lives and daily hardship for millions of young South Africans.

“These are young people who wake up every day without knowing what they are going to eat or how they will find opportunities,” she said.

She called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare youth unemployment a national disaster, arguing that such a move would unlock urgent and coordinated responses across government and the private sector.

The NYDA, she said, is already working with departments, such as the Department of Public Service and Administration, to utilise a national database of unemployed graduates, a group she described as a “ticking time bomb” for the country.

“It is painful to see graduates celebrating today, while tomorrow they face uncertainty about their future,” she said.

The chairperson emphasised that solving youth unemployment cannot rest on government alone, calling on the private sector to play a more active role in creating opportunities and integrating young people into the economy.

“Young people must not be spectators in the economy, but active participants in shaping it,” she said.

She warned that if young people are excluded from decision-making spaces, they will challenge and redefine those spaces.

“If we are not given a seat at the table, we will disrupt the table and redefine it,” she said.

Highlighting the NYDA’s interventions, Myende pointed to grant programmes and enterprise development initiatives aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship. 

These initiatives, she said, are already enabling young people to start businesses, create jobs and contribute to local economies.

“These grants are an investment in inclusion, economic participation and social stability,” she said.

The chairperson also raised concern over the cycle of short-term internships that fail to translate into long-term employment.

“Young people are tired of 12 or 24-month internships with no future beyond that,” she said.

Despite the challenges, she reaffirmed the commitment of young people to building the nation and fulfilling the legacy of those who fought before them.

“We are not just future leaders, we are the current and future leaders of this country,” Myende said.

She concluded with a call for collective action, urging government, business, and society to invest meaningfully in young people.

“The future is not something that is waiting for us. It is already calling us. Our responsibility is to ensure we are equipped to answer that call.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, has called on out-of-school youth and adults, especially those in rural and marginalised communities, to enrol at Community Education and Training (CET) colleges to improve literacy and education skills.

Gondwe made the call during the launch of the National Adult Literacy for Empowerment Campaign 2026–2030 at Lovedale TVET College in King William’s Town in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday.

The campaign, themed “Empowering Communities through Literacy for Inclusive Development”, is led by the Department of Higher Education and Training in partnership with the Mining Qualifications Authority, W&R SETA, Services SETA, Old Mutual, the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, and other strategic partners.

The initiative aims to address the challenge of approximately 3.8 million functionally illiterate adults in South Africa by empowering one million adult learners by 2030. 

The programme will focus particularly on rural, mining and marginalised communities in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North West provinces.

The campaign will implement a literacy programme that includes basic literacy and numeracy in local languages, digital literacy, financial literacy, civic education and life skills, entrepreneurship literacy, and workplace literacy.

Gondwe said CET colleges are central to the success of the national campaign against illiteracy.

“CET colleges have long been overlooked, despite their potential as centres for lifelong learning and skills development. Many face challenges and continue to operate under difficult conditions. I believe a whole-of-society approach is needed to support these important community learning institutions,” said Gondwe.

The campaign is expected to reach nearly 8 000 learners across the four priority provinces during its 2026 pilot phase. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Getting education right is the cornerstone of building a stronger country and a thriving economy, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has said.

Lesufi was speaking at the media launch of the Golden Jubilee commemoration of the 1976 youth uprising, held in Soweto, under the theme: “RESET@50 – The Future Calls”, with the slogan: “Our national commitment to the future, for freedom lives in every generation.”

In his address on Thursday, the Premier stressed that South Africa’s future depends on the quality, inclusivity, and relevance of its schooling system.

He argued that meaningful reform in education is already underway, with government taking bold steps to transform both teaching and learning in real time.

“We took a conscious decision to train teachers while they are still teaching in the classroom, and to change the curriculum while learning continues. Today, we have a curriculum that is accessible to everyone.”

Lesufi described the introduction of a revised curriculum as one of the most significant milestones in recent history, highlighting its focus on inclusivity and historical truth. He said the curriculum must reflect the country’s collective past and honour figures such as Nelson Mandela, while also recognising the broader struggles that shaped the nation.

“The history of South Africa is not a history of one group of people. All South Africans must participate in shaping that history.”

The Premier also emphasised the importance of unity within the education system, calling for an end to inequalities between schools and communities. He also stressed that all children, regardless of background, should learn together under the same standards and conditions.

“There must be no society where some children are privileged to be taught differently because of their circumstances. All teachers are trained from the same foundation, and all must serve every child equally.”

READ | Government to launch 50th anniversary of 1976 youth uprisings

He further called for full implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act across all schools, alongside urgent improvements in infrastructure and access to resources. This includes ensuring connectivity, access to books, and integrating technology and innovation into classrooms.

“Our schools must evolve. Children must engage with books in ways that inspire them, but they must also be equipped with the technological tools that define the future,” he said.

Reflecting on the legacy of Youth Day (16 June), which commemorates the 1976 student uprisings, Lesufi said the anniversary should serve as a reminder of both progress made and challenges that remain.

While also acknowledging that the country still has a long road ahead, the Premier said citizens must be inspired by the vison of one South Africa that belongs to all, especially children.

He also raised concern about social challenges affecting young people, particularly the spread of drugs while also calling for a united effort from communities and law enforcement to combat the scourge, which threatens the future of the country’s youth.

“We cannot allow drugs to destroy our children. We must stand together and fight this scourge.”

Despite the challenges, the Premier expressed optimism about Gauteng’s role in driving youth development and economic growth. He said the province is committed to creating opportunities and ensuring that young people are equipped to succeed.

“This province is ready to prepare young people, to create opportunities, prosper, and our people will prosper with it.” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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The Free State Department of Health has won the Africa Tech: Public Sector Digital Innovator Award at the Africa Tech Week Awards 2026, held in Cape Town.

The award recognises public sector institutions that have successfully deployed and adopted digital solutions that improve service delivery and citizen experience.

According to the department, the accolade was awarded for the department’s deployment of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for Primary Health Care – a digital health solution providing that is “strengthening patient care, continuity of care, accountability, and operational efficiency across the province”.

“This award affirms the Free State Department of Health’s growing leadership in digital health innovation and its commitment to improving healthcare services for communities across the province.

“The Department will continue to scale and optimise the EMR to ensure continuity of care, better referral management, improved medication and records management, and strengthened accountability through timely, reliable data,” the department said.

Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi said the accolade is a clear signal that the province is “serious about taking health to a higher trajectory of performance outcomes”.

“By digitising primary healthcare, we are making care safer, faster and more accountable for every patient. We will intensify the rollout, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and ensure that digital innovation translates into real improvements at the point of care. Congratulations to our teams and partners for this continental recognition,” Mahlatsi said.

Head of Department Ernest Mohlahlo echoed those sentiments and ascribed the recognition to the team of health professionals working within the department.

“This recognition belongs to the clinicians, nurses, managers, ICT professionals, and support teams who turned vision into daily practice. The EMR is already reducing duplication, improving continuity across levels of care, and enhancing operational efficiency.

“Our next phase will deepen training, change management, connectivity, cybersecurity, and interoperability so that measurable improvements in access, quality, and patient experience are felt in every facility. We are committed to disciplined execution and transparent performance monitoring,” Mohlahlo said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) has been allocated a budget of almost R3.4 billion for the 2026/27 financial year to operationalise administration, Superior Court Services, as well as Judicial Education and Support.

The budget was tabled by Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJ&CD) Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, in Parliament, on Wednesday afternoon.

“This allocation also includes approximately R1.4 billion from the Direct Charges allocation for the remuneration of judges.

“The OCJ will further leverage a once-off allocation for the 2026/27 Financial Year from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account [CARA] to the amount of R127 million as an additional funding mechanism to strengthen safety, security and proper court administration.

“This funding will complement existing resources to enhance operational capacity and support the continued modernisation and efficient functioning of the courts,” Kubayi said.

Additionally, the OCJ has received further support to strengthen the capacity of the courts.

“In this regard, R883.8 million is being transferred from the [department] to the OCJ over the medium term to allow the Judiciary greater control over its own administrative and financial functions.

“In addition, R687 million has been allocated to increase judicial capacity, aimed at improving court operations, administrative support and the efficiency of the court system,” the Minister said.

The Minister emphasised that the budget allocation “is not merely an administrative provision, but a strategic investment in judicial governance, the effective functioning of the Superior Courts, and the advancement of an independent and capable system of court administration”.

Judicial independence

According to the Minister, a “significant milestone” was reached on 1 April 2026 when Phase 1 of the transition to institutional independence took effect with the transfer of retained and shared services relating to the Superior Courts from the department to the OCJ.

“The services transferred to the OCJ with effect from that date include Security Services, comprising guarding services in the Superior Courts, close protection services to Judges facing threats to their lives, repairs and maintenance of security infrastructure in courts, cash-in-transit services, and reimbursement of Judges for security measures installed at their private residences.

“The transfer also included Facilities Management Services, such as day-to-day maintenance, planned maintenance, minor capital works, lease management, municipal services, and user changes on state-owned facilities.

“In addition, Library Services, including access to Juta, LexisNexis and Sabinet online publications, were transferred, together with Information and Communication Technology services relating to Court Recording Technology [CRT] and the Sexual Offences System [SOS], as well as Transcription Services,” Kubayi told Parliament.

The Minister said the transition will “further inform and be incorporated into the broader organisational structure review process”.

“The transferred shared services have been provided to the OCJ within the framework of a Service Level Agreement [SLA] and a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] concluded between the two organisations.

“Phase 2 will focus on the promulgation of enabling legislation to establish the Judiciary as a co-equal branch of government alongside the Executive and the Legislature, and this process is expected to be completed during the 2026/27 Financial Year,” she added.

Modernising the courts

Kubayi announced that the Court Online system has been rolled out to 21 Superior Courts.

The remaining three courts namely: Thohoyandou High Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Court of Appeal – are to be completed in the new financial year.

“To further strengthen this initiative, the OCJ is advancing the development of the Criminal Module, while ensuring that court systems are securely rolled out and sustainably maintained across jurisdictions.

“The focus now is on deepening implementation, improving system utilisation, strengthening user support, and embedding Court Online as a core enabler of efficient, transparent and modern court processes,” she said.

Once-off funding allocated from the CARA will also “refresh court recording technology and support the further installation of the Scheduling and Operations Support (SOS) in identified courts”.

“This is aligned to the CARA mandate of supporting victims, strengthening law enforcement capability and combating crime.

“In the 2026/27 Financial Year, the OCJ will also prioritise the maintenance of reliable and secure courtroom operations through the assessment, maintenance and repair of existing CRT equipment across court facilities.

“These measures are intended to minimise downtime, support uninterrupted court proceedings, enhance the safety of Judicial Officers and court users, and improve overall service delivery,” Kubayi said.

Beefing up security

The Minister noted that security at courts has come under sharp scrutiny after a “combination of rising threats and intimidation directed at Presiding Officers, particularly in matters involving organised crime, gang-related activity, and high-profile litigation”.

There have been several incidents at judicial facilities, including incidents occurring at the Booysens, Athlone, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg Magistrate’s Courts in the Western Cape and another incident at Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal.

“These risks are exacerbated by inconsistent and often reactive protective measures, which may not adequately address the sustained nature of threats.

“In addition, infrastructural weaknesses across court facilities, including limitations in access control and perimeter security, together with growing cybersecurity vulnerabilities linked to digital case management systems, continue to heighten the overall risk environment,” Kubayi said.

In response the OCJ is developing its security strategy to protect judicial officers and infrastructure.

“This Strategy will introduce targeted initiatives to address both physical and digital security risks, with a particular focus on improving consistency in protection measures.

“The OCJ will also monitor and track the implementation of these initiatives to ensure accountability and the effective enhancement of security across the Superior Courts,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Foreign Affairs Ministers from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to gather in South Africa later this month for a high-level retreat aimed at crafting a unified regional response to rapidly evolving global geopolitical dynamics.

The retreat, scheduled to take place from 22 to 24 May 2026 at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, is expected to provide a strategic platform for regional leaders to reflect on growing global uncertainties while identifying opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation, resilience and economic growth.

According to SADC, the meeting comes at a time when the international system is undergoing profound transformation, driven by heightened competition among major powers, technological advancement and changing economic realities.

While these shifts have introduced new global challenges, the region believes they also present opportunities for SADC member states to deepen integration, accelerate industrialisation and strengthen their collective voice on the international stage.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, will officially open the retreat in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers.

“The Retreat will enable Ministers to reflect on the implications of these changes and to chart a unified course that safeguards stability while advancing regional development,” SADC said in a statement.

The regional bloc said the discussions will build on SADC’s long-term strategic frameworks, including Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020–2030).

The retreat is expected to focus on practical and forward-looking solutions aimed at ensuring the region can effectively respond to external pressures while unlocking new avenues for growth and prosperity.

Key discussions will centre on infrastructure development, transport and logistics, as well as the free movement of people, goods and services across the region.

Ministers are also expected to deliberate on industrialisation, regional value chains and trade, in addition to issues relating to energy, oil and gas, and mineral resources.

Food security, agricultural supply chains, financing regional integration, investment, debt management and domestic revenue mobilisation will also form part of the agenda.

“These themes reflect the multi-dimensional nature of contemporary geopolitical shifts and will allow Ministers to identify cross-cutting linkages and prioritise strategic interventions,” SADC said.

The regional bloc described the gathering as a critical moment for SADC, saying the outcomes of the retreat are expected to reinforce regional solidarity, strengthen collective action and position the region as a proactive and influential player in shaping the future global order.

“By embracing dialogue, unity, and foresight, Ministers of Foreign Affairs will chart a path that safeguards regional stability and unlocks new opportunities for growth and prosperity,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za

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National Assembly Speaker, Thoko Didiza, has outlined the next step in the National Assembly process on the composition of the Impeachment Committee, in accordance with section 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

The Section 89 impeachment process is linked to the 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.

In a statement on Wednesday, Parliament said Didiza engaged the National Assembly Chief Whips Forum earlier in the day on the process to be followed in establishing the committee.

The forum comprises Chief Whips and representatives of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

“Given that the impeachment committee process constitutes uncharted procedural terrain for Parliament, the Speaker this morning engaged the National Assembly Chief Whips Forum, comprising Chief Whips and representatives of political parties represented in the Assembly, regarding the determination for the composition of the committee,” Parliament said.

Political parties represented in the National Assembly have now been requested to submit the names of Members who will serve on the committee to the National Assembly Secretariat by the close of business on Friday, 22 May 2026.

READ | Parliament to reopen Section 89 process after court ruling

Parliament said the Speaker considered both proportional representation and inclusivity in determining the composition of the committee.

“In determining the composition of the Impeachment Committee, the Speaker considered not only the constitutional principle of proportional representation, but also the need for inclusivity and broad participation in this unprecedented parliamentary process,” the statement said. 

Parliament said the approach seeks to ensure smaller political parties are also represented in the committee.

“Accordingly, the determination seeks to balance traditional proportional representation with a measure of inclusivity, so as to ensure that smaller political parties — which may otherwise not be accommodated through a strict mathematical application of proportional representation — are also afforded representation and participation in the Committee’s work,” Parliament said.

The impeachment committee will comprise 31 members drawn from the 16 political parties represented in the National Assembly.

The African National Congress (ANC) will have nine members, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with five and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) with three.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will have two members, while the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), ActionSA, African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), United Democratic Movement (UDM), RISE Mzansi, Build One South Africa (BOSA), African Transformation Movement (ATM), Al Jama-ah, National Coloured Congress (NCC) and United Africans Transformation (UAT) will each have one representative.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has referred the Constitutional Court judgment relating to the matter to the National Assembly Subcommittee on the Review of Rules.

The subcommittee will consider and process amendments required to the Rules of the National Assembly. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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