Category: Africa

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has increased the Ward Councillor Discretionary Allowance from R100 000 to R150 000 per ward councillor, raising the total annual allocation from R6 million to R9 million per financial year.

The allowance increase was approved during a recent full council meeting.

The Ward Councillor Discretionary Allowance, also referred to as the Ward Councillor Discretionary Fund, is a limited municipal allocation intended to assist councillors in responding to urgent community needs and small-scale social support initiatives within their wards.

The fund enables councillors to assist vulnerable residents, support community-based activities, and address minor but pressing issues, that fall outside normal municipal service delivery programmes.

Council Speaker Eugene Johnson emphasised that the funds are not intended for personal benefit and must be utilised strictly for community purposes in line with approved municipal policies and procedures.

The administration and use of the allowance are primarily governed by the Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003), which regulates municipal expenditure and financial accountability, and the Municipal Systems Act (Act 32 of 2000), which promotes community participation and responsive local governance.

In addition, municipalities usually adopt council-approved policies and oversight mechanisms to ensure the fund is used transparently, responsibly, and strictly for legitimate community development purposes.

Council Speaker Eugene Johnson said the decision to increase the allocation was based on the realities faced by ward councillors working directly with communities.

Ward councillors are at the forefront of the challenges faced by our communities. They need to be in a position to respond through different interventions, one of those being the ability to positively contribute to the socio-economic conditions experienced by our residents.

“The funds might not be enough, but if properly utilised, they can contribute to poverty alleviation, grassroots sport development and addressing other community-based social challenges,” Johnson said.

The Ward Councillor Discretionary Allowance is not the only funding mechanism that supports development within municipal wards. Municipalities also implement ward level development through various funding streams provided through national transfers, municipal budgets, and intergovernmental programmes.

These include conditional grants such as the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), which funds essential infrastructure projects such as roads, sanitation, water supply, and community facilities in underserved areas, as well as the Local Government Equitable Share, which assists municipalities in providing basic services to indigent households.

In addition, municipal capital budgets informed by the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) allocate funding for ward-based infrastructure and service delivery projects identified through community participation processes.

Collectively, these funding streams enable municipalities to address community needs, improve service delivery, and support sustainable development across municipal wards.

Other programmes such as the Community Works Programme (CWP), the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant (NDPG), and other provincial or national initiatives further contribute to socio economic development at ward level. – SAnews.gov.za

The Limpopo Provincial Government has assured residents that it is fully prepared to assist communities affected by flooding, which has caused widespread damage to roads and infrastructure in parts of the Waterberg, Vhembe and Mopani districts.

The Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure has dispatched engineers to assess the extent of the damage in the affected areas.

The damaged road infrastructure includes the D972 outside Vaalwater and the D192 in Mokgalakwena in the Waterberg District; the D3681 between Tshikunda and Vhufuli in Thulamela Municipality; and the D3830 at Mbhokota village, outside Louis Trichardt in the Vhembe District, as well as several routes in parts of Mopani District.

“Our teams, working together with the disaster management teams of municipalities and sister departments, will be on the ground to assess the extent of the damage caused, as well as ensuring that we come up with both temporary and long-term solutions to the challenges we are faced with as a province.

“We further advise all communities, road users in particular, to avoid flooded roads and bridges during this period and that they must also prioritise their safety,” MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Rachoene, said on Sunday in a media statement.

Premier Phophi Ramathuba said the current floods are a stark reminder of warnings issued by the South African Weather Service, indicating that Limpopo remains at risk until the end of March 2026. 

The weather service issued a warning for disruptive rainfall in the province from 14 to 15 March, with conditions likely to result in localised flooding in susceptible areas, potentially affecting roads, bridges, properties and municipal services.

With some areas experiencing over 100mm of rain in the last two days, the provincial government has asserted that it stands vigilant and proactive in its response to the ongoing crisis.

“We have received numerous distress calls, particularly from residents in affected districts where essential roads have been destroyed. Incidents, such as mudslides along the R523 between Khalavha and Sibasa and major challenges on the R33 in Waterberg, have been reported. Many low-lying bridges are submerged, rendering roads impassable to schools and health facilities,” the Premier said.

Considering these pressing circumstances, Ramathuba reassured residents that the Provincial Disaster Management Team is actively addressing these urgent needs. 

However, she cautioned that the saturated conditions may lead to delays in reaching some isolated areas. 

“We urge our residents to remain calm and prioritise their safety by avoiding flooded rivers and minimising movement as much as possible,” she said.

Meanwhile, the province has observed the Nwamanungu (Middle Letaba) Dam overflowing for the first time in years, posing a dire threat to communities previously spared from the floods.

The Limpopo Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) is fully prepared to assist all affected communities. Residents are encouraged to report any incidents using the toll-free number 0800 222 111 or by contacting their local municipal offices.

Moreover, the Premier said an appeal to the national government will be made for the immediate reconsideration of funding to address the urgent needs arising from the ongoing disaster. 

“The challenges the province faces are overwhelming, and the residents deserve to have the resources necessary to navigate them,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the right to human dignity as one of the “most fundamental” values enshrined in the Constitution. 

The President addressed the nation through his weekly newsletter ahead of the national commemoration of Human Rights Day this coming weekend.

“This year, we mark three decades since South Africa adopted its democratic Constitution. The Constitution is more than the supreme law of the land; it is a solemn promise that never again should any person be stripped of their humanity and dignity.

“As we observe [Human Rights] day, we must reflect on whether we are fulfilling the promise contained in our Constitution.

“Of all the values enshrined in our Constitution, one of the most fundamental is the advancement of human dignity. It is the foundation on which the rights to equality, to freedom from discrimination, to education, to health, to a safe environment and others are built. It is the idea that every person possesses an inherent worth that must be respected and protected,” he said.

The Bill of Rights within the Constitution formally enshrines the right to human dignity, stating: “Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected”.

This right, the President said, must be “preserved in all circumstances”.

“In our Constitution, human dignity is not an abstract ideal, but a concrete right that has meaning in people’s daily lives. The right to dignity is operationalised through law, institutions and policies. Our courts continue to assert this right and, where necessary, order government and those in power to take measures to enhance people’s dignity.

“Protecting a person’s right to dignity is not limited to the way people treat each other. It is also about improving the circumstances in which people live. It lies at the heart of the policies and programmes of this government and of the work of many organisations and individuals across society,” he noted.

A government at work

Over the past three decades, government has worked to restore the dignity of South Africans, providing services such as water, electricity, healthcare, education and social support where these were “denied to them under apartheid”.

“This work, which we have undertaken together as a society, has enhanced the human dignity of children, who are supported by a child support grant, who have access to early childhood development, who attend fee-free schools, who receive school meals and who will be able to access funding to study at a university or college.

“The provision of housing, water and electricity has changed the lives of families across the country, reducing poverty and improving their quality of life,” President Ramaphosa said.

He acknowledged that, despite the strides made since the dawn of democracy, challenges remain.

Poverty, inequality and unemployment remain “stubborn obstacles to the full realisation of human dignity for every South African”. 

“Closing those gaps is a constitutional imperative that belongs to all of us. That is why we are working even harder to accelerate the momentum of economic recovery, so that our economy can grow faster, create employment and reduce poverty.

“When we mobilise investment to build factories or open mines to create jobs and opportunities for emerging businesses, or when we build new roads and revitalise hospitals, we are working towards a society in which everyone has dignity.

“When we lay new pipes to bring water to outlying villages or repair ageing water infrastructure in cities and towns, or when we restore the supply of electricity to communities, we are advancing the right to dignity,” the President explained.

He stated that as uncertainty begins to affect the global economy, “we must hold fast to the path we are on” and be dedicated to treating every person with dignity.

“We must sustain our massive investment in infrastructure, continue with far-reaching reforms in energy, water and logistics, overhaul our skills development system and expand support to small businesses.

“On Human Rights Day this year, let us rededicate ourselves to the Constitution and to its most cherished principles. Let us resolve in our homes, schools, workplaces and communities to treat every person with the dignity that is their right – and let us never stop working until we have ensured that every person can live in dignity, comfort and peace,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring justice for victims of apartheid-era crimes, saying their calls for accountability cannot be ignored. 

In a statement on Sunday, the Presidency said government remains determined to pursue justice for families who have long sought closure over unresolved crimes committed during apartheid.

However, proceedings related to the Commission of Inquiry established to examine the matter must first be concluded in court. An application has been filed in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg seeking the recusal of retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe from the judicial commission.

President Ramaphosa appointed the Commission of Inquiry in May last year, with Khampepe serving as its chairperson. She is assisted by retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and advocate Andrea Gabriel.

The Commission was established following a settlement agreement in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes. Its mandate is to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.

The Presidency said President Ramaphosa will act swiftly once the court has ruled on the recusal application to ensure the commission proceeds with its work.

“The President has been deeply concerned by the current review applications that could be detrimental to the interests of the victims who want closure and accountability from the government regarding their family members and that these applications have the potential to defeat the main objective for the establishment of the Commission,” the Presidency said.

The Presidency emphasised that the President’s foremost concern is safeguarding the integrity of the process, which has been long overdue. 

“Thus, the President believes the court is best placed to make a determination on the matter. This does not constitute a desire to collapse the Commission and its work. President Ramaphosa affirms that the Commission will continue its work once the court delivers a decision and guides the way forward,” the statement said. 

In December last year, the Presidency announced the extension of the deadline for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of attempts to halt the investigation or prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases.

READ | Khampepe Commission’s deadline extended to July 2026

In a statement at the time, the Presidency said the President has determined 31 July 2026, as the new date for the submission of its final report. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this morning address the inaugural National Transport Conference at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. 

The conference, held under the theme: ‘Transport: The Driver for Growth, Job Creation, Inclusivity and Sustainability’, will bring together decision-makers, investors and innovators to deliberate on building a sustainable transport system that supports economic growth and job creation.

The Presidency said the gathering will provide a platform for stakeholders across government, business and civil society to engage on the future of the transport sector and its role in driving development.

“Given the role of transport as a facilitator of economic growth and an enabler of social development, the conference will tackle the sector’s most pressing issues. These include modernising failing passenger rail systems and resolving port and freight bottlenecks,” The Presidency said.  

Other key issues on the agenda include improving road safety, addressing infrastructure backlogs and meeting climate and sustainability targets. 

The conference also aims to set a shared vision for the future of transport in South Africa and mobilise collaboration across different sectors and spheres of government.

It will further contribute to the implementation of the priorities of the Department of Transport while enabling knowledge sharing between government, the private sector, the transport industry and academia.

Expected outcomes include strengthened partnerships across the transport sector, commitments to advance key transport priorities and the adoption of evidence-based solutions to improve transport systems.

Participants include officials from national, provincial and local government, State-owned companies, transport operators and industry bodies, as well as financial institutions, academics, commuter organisations and civil society groups.

Representatives from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries and international transport stakeholders are also expected to attend. – SAnews.gov.za