Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

As South Africa joins the international community to celebrate World Environment Day, government has called on every South African to be part of the climate response. 

“Businesses must accelerate cleaner and more sustainable practices. Communities must protect local ecosystems and reduce environmental harm. Civil society, youth, women, traditional leaders and local institutions must continue to lead practical action where they live and work,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said on Friday.

The department said government will continue to strengthen partnerships that protect people, nature and the economy.

World Environment Day is being celebrated under the theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”.

“This year’s theme serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for governments, businesses, communities and individuals to work together in taking meaningful action to protect the environment and address the impacts of climate change.

“For decades, the world has heard the climate story through scientific warnings, global agreements, targets and distant deadlines. Too often, the response has been slowed by delay, distraction and denial,” the department said.

The effects of climate change are visible in the lives of people whose homes, livelihoods, infrastructure and local economies are increasingly affected by climate-related disasters. 

“Rising temperatures, destructive floods, prolonged droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, melting glaciers and rising seas are clear signals that the planet is under increasing pressure,” the department said.

In South Africa, recent flooding and severe weather events have affected several provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

This has caused a tragic loss of lives, damage to homes and public infrastructure, disruption to livelihoods, and increased pressure on municipalities that are often the first line of response during climate disasters. 

“As climate-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity, government’s response must move beyond recovery after disaster strikes. It must strengthen prevention, preparedness, adaptation and resilience at the local level, where the impacts of climate change are felt most directly,” the department said.

It said it continues to work with provinces, municipalities and other organs of state to support climate change adaptation planning, risk and vulnerability assessments, climate response strategies, disaster risk reduction and the integration of climate considerations into local development planning.

This includes supporting municipalities to better understand their climate risks, strengthen early warning and preparedness measures, identify adaptation priorities, and implement nature-based solutions such as wetland rehabilitation, catchment restoration, urban greening and ecosystem protection.

“These interventions are critical because local government is at the frontline of climate impacts. When floods wash away roads, when heatwaves affect vulnerable households, when drought places pressure on water systems, and when storms damage public infrastructure, municipalities are often the first responders. 

“Supporting local government is therefore not an administrative function. It is central to protecting lives, livelihoods and public infrastructure,” the department emphasised. –SAnews.gov.za

National Treasury has issued a framework to help departments use public funds more effectively and deliver better value for money.

With the economy still growing slowly, National Treasury said government must continue to restrain spending growth and focus on priority areas.

The 2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Technical Guidelines are intended to help government reduce South Africa’s high public debt to more sustainable levels and lower interest costs, which currently consume almost one-fifth of tax revenue.

According to National Treasury, the 2027 MTEF is anchored in government’s commitment to stabilise and gradually reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio.

“This means that government must continue to ensure growth in its primary budget surplus, where revenue exceeds non-interest spending by an ever-wider margin, so that it can reduce its borrowing requirement. 

“It also means that any urgent new priority spending pressures must be funded in a way that keeps government on track to meet this fiscal objective,” National Treasury said.

The MTEF Technical Guidelines are issued each year in terms of Section 27(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). They set out the format and approach departments and public institutions must follow when preparing their budget submissions to National Treasury for the next three years.

“The previous MTEF introduced the Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) initiative. This is designed to identify programmes that are not cost-effective, do not deliver on their objectives, or are low priority, and to reduce or close them. 

“This will yield savings that can instead be used for higher priority spending and better service delivery. The Programme Assessment Matrix (PAM) was introduced to provide departments with a systematic method to evaluate the performance of each programme,” National Treasury said.

The following principles will guide budget submissions:

• If revenues come in higher than expected in the Budget, such gains will be used only to reduce debt or address temporary spending needs, such as infrastructure investment or urgent spending pressures. They will not be used to fund permanent spending increases.
• Government granted fuel levy relief in response to high oil prices resulting from the current Middle East conflict. The estimated cost of R17.2 billion was funded by lower-than-expected spending and higher-than-expected revenues, so it was fiscally neutral. Any further relief measures would likewise have to be funded in a budget-neutral manner.
• Additions to the overall fiscal envelope will only be considered for priority interventions if savings have been identified through the TARS process. 
• Departments must look first to reprioritise money in their existing baselines to address new spending pressures. Programmes that have consistently underperformed must be considered for reprioritisation. 
• Departments must use PAM to assess programmes and public entities, and evaluate their effectiveness and performance.
• Compensation budgets must remain within the limits set in the 2026 Budget. This implies that departments will need to manage their overall staff complement to remain within budget.
• Salary adjustments in public institutions should be aligned with the Public Service Wage Bill management strategy. 
• National departments must ensure that policy proposals that provinces and municipalities must implement are fully costed and aligned with the fiscal framework to avoid unfunded mandates.
   

– SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will today chair the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Committee Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The high-level meeting brings together Justice Ministers and legal officials from across the SADC region to discuss the application and interpretation of regional legal frameworks, including the SADC Treaty, SADC Protocols and other legal instruments, as well as matters relating to international law.

The gathering provided an opportunity for Member States to review progress made in implementing SADC legal instruments and to consider initiatives aimed at strengthening the administration of justice throughout the region.

Addressing delegates ahead of the meeting, Kubayi emphasised the importance of maintaining consistency in the interpretation and application of regional legal frameworks.

“This meeting gives us an opportunity, as the SADC region, to further ensure legal consistency in all regional legal instruments. Through constructive dialogue, we can address socio-economic challenges and promote our shared objectives of upholding the rule of law in the region,” she said.

The discussions are expected to contribute to enhanced legal cooperation among SADC Member States and support efforts to advance regional integration, good governance and the rule of law.

The Committee Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General serves as a key platform for coordinating legal and justice-related matters within the 16-member regional bloc. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday confirmed the dismissal of Major General Richard Shibiri, the former Component Head for Organised Crime, following the conclusion of internal disciplinary processes.

“The disciplinary proceedings were conducted in accordance with applicable SAPS prescripts and principles of procedural fairness,” the police said in a statement.

Shibiri was found guilty of misconduct relating to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute, including associating himself with a known criminal. 

In January, it was announced that 14 high-ranking South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) officials were referred for investigation after being identified as possible wrongdoers by the Madlanga Commission. This was according to a statement released by the Presidency on the interim report of the Madlanga Commission.

The Commission submitted its interim report and recommendations to President Cyril Ramaphosa in December last year, which he studied and accepted. 

The Presidency explained at the time that the Commission made referrals for investigation where it found prima facie evidence of wrongdoing and that the investigations were to be carried out by the SAPS, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and EMM.

Shibiri was among the five SAPS officials referred for investigation.

READ | President Ramaphosa acts on SAPS and Ekurhuleni officials named in Madlanga interim report
– SAnews.gov.za

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has tabled the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Tax Bill, 2026, before the Provincial Legislature, proposing a modernised tax framework aimed at strengthening revenue collection, enhancing transparency and advancing transformation within the gaming and betting sector.

The proposed legislation seeks to align the province’s gaming and betting tax regime with national legislation, while introducing a structured system of taxes and levies for licensed operators.

Revenue generated through the framework will be channelled into the Provincial Revenue Fund and support targeted transformation initiatives through the Gaming and Betting Transformation Fund.

Presenting the Bill on Thursday, Rodgers said the proposed levies are expected to generate between R50 million and R100 million annually, which will be used to advance inclusive participation and sustainable sectoral development within the industry.

The Bill also makes provision for the reinvestment of horse racing tax revenue into the development of the equine sector, with a specific focus on traditional horse racing, commonly known as “Umtelebhelo”.

According to Rodgers, the initiative will be implemented alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Equine Industry Development Masterplan, which aims to stimulate growth, create opportunities and strengthen participation within rural communities.

“This Bill represents a critical step in strengthening our revenue framework, while promoting fairness, transformation and inclusive economic growth. It ensures that key sectors, including the equine industry, are supported in a manner that benefits all communities of KwaZulu-Natal,” Rodgers said.

The provincial government also called on national authorities to expedite the finalisation of legislation regulating online gambling, citing the sector’s growing revenue potential.

KwaZulu-Natal believes that revenue generated from online gambling could play a significant role in alleviating the pressure of prevailing socio-economic challenges facing both the province and the country. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says very cold conditions are still expected over the Central Karoo District in the Western Cape and the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape on Friday.

“As the cut-off low-pressure system exits the country, daytime temperatures are expected to remain below 10°C in some places,” SAWS said.

These conditions are likely to result in the loss of vulnerable livestock and crops, disrupt outdoor activities, and increase the risk of hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to very cold weather.

In addition, a Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for disruptive snowfall that could lead to icy roads and traffic disruptions over the north-eastern high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape.

The Weather Service has also warned of damaging waves in the Eastern Cape.

A Yellow Level 4 warning has also been issued for wind and waves, which could make navigation at sea difficult and cause small vessels to take on water between Plettenberg Bay and East London.

Meanwhile, the weekend weather outlook indicates partly cloudy and cold conditions, with isolated showers expected along the country’s east and south-west coasts. –SAnews.gov.za

With government officially rolling out the injection for both HIV treatment and prevention on Friday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile says this milestone represents one of the most significant scientific advances in HIV prevention in recent years.

“Lenacapavir provides us with a powerful new opportunity to strengthen prevention efforts, particularly among populations that continue to experience high rates of new infections,” Mashatile said on Thursday in Johannesburg during an engagement with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), Private Sector Forum and Captains of Industry.

Lenacapavir injection can be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of HIV infection in HIV-negative people, as well as for the treatment of HIV in adults for whom other HIV medicines have not worked.

“For decades, researchers, healthcare workers, governments and communities have worked tirelessly to develop more effective tools to prevent HIV transmission.

“Its introduction demonstrates the value of science, innovation and partnership in addressing some of the world’s most complex public health challenges.

“However, we must remember that scientific breakthroughs alone do not change lives. Their success depends on access, affordability, public trust and effective implementation,” the Deputy President said.

He said the rollout of Lenacapavir will require strong collaboration across all sectors of society. 

“It will require awareness campaigns, community mobilisation, healthcare worker training, effective supply chains and sustainable financing.

“Most importantly, it will require us to ensure that no vulnerable community is left behind. The private sector thus has an important role to play in supporting this effort through workplace education, logistics support, investment and public awareness initiatives,” the Deputy President said.

Call for private sector to invest in youth

Mashatile has called on the private sector to invest in the future of young people, as adolescent girls and young women continue to carry a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections in South Africa.

“This remains one of the most urgent challenges in our national response. We must also pay particular attention to the needs of young people. 

“Young people require more than healthcare services alone. They need education, economic opportunities, skills development, safety and hope for the future. They need access to accurate information, prevention services and supportive environments that empower them to make informed choices,” Mashatile said.

He said the private sector can make a meaningful contribution through bursaries, internships, skills development programmes, workplace-linked initiatives and partnerships with schools, universities and community organisations.

“Investing in young people is not only the right thing to do; it is one of the smartest investments we can make in our country’s future.

“Additionally, the close relationship between public health and gender-based violence and femicide should not be ignored. Violence against women and girls is not only a social justice issue. It is a public health issue,” the Deputy President said.

He added that gender-based violence contributes to HIV vulnerability, poor mental health outcomes, family instability and economic insecurity.

“Addressing this challenge requires action across all sectors of society. Business leaders can contribute by strengthening workplace policies, supporting survivor referral systems, promoting gender equality and creating environments free from harassment and discrimination.

“Together, we must send a clear message that gender-based violence has no place in our homes, in our communities or in our workplaces,” Mashatile said.

Response to tuberculosis 

While HIV remains a major public health challenge, Mashatile said South Africa must not lose focus on Tuberculosis (TB).

“TB continues to claim thousands of lives each year and remains one of the leading causes of death among people living with HIV.

“Although South Africa has made encouraging progress in reducing TB incidence and improving treatment outcomes, we cannot afford to become complacent,” he said.

The Deputy President underscored the importance of continuing to strengthen screening programmes, improve access to diagnostics, support treatment adherence, and find those individuals who remain undiagnosed and untreated.

“In this regard, we are encouraged by plans to introduce near-point-of-care TB diagnostic services, bringing testing closer to communities and reducing delays in diagnosis and treatment.

“We urge the private sector to support these efforts by integrating TB screening into workplace health programmes and supporting community-based initiatives that increase awareness and access to care. Early detection saves lives!” Mashatile said. –SAnews.gov.za