Category: Africa

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, has officially unveiled a facility to provide students with a safe space to seek help and access support for gender-based violence (GBV), mental health challenges and other psychosocial needs.

The first of its kind in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector in KwaZulu-Natal, the Comfort Room was launched at Majuba Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College’s Dundee Campus, on Wednesday, marking a new national vision for safe, supportive and stigma-free student spaces.

The initiative, implemented in partnership with Higher Health, Majuba TVET College and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health, aims to address gaps in reporting and support systems that often leave survivors navigating multiple institutions without adequate assistance.

Dube-Ncube described the facility as an important link between young people and the services available to protect and support them.

“This is a safe, private space on campus where a young person can pause, open up, learn, and be connected to the right help, without having to work out the whole system alone,” Dube-Ncube said.

The launch comes amid high levels of GBV in KwaZulu-Natal. According to figures cited by the Deputy Minister, 1 820 rapes were reported in the province between April and June this year, the highest number recorded nationally during the period. Police also recorded 124 women murdered in the province during the same quarter.

Dube-Ncube said the figures represent only reported cases, with many survivors remaining silent because of fear, stigma and the difficulties associated with seeking assistance.

She said survivors are often required to recount traumatic experiences repeatedly when moving between health facilities, police stations, social workers and the courts, a situation that could result in secondary victimisation and discourage them from pursuing cases.

The Comfort Room aims to help bridge these gaps by connecting students to appropriate services, including professional counselling, healthcare, police assistance and psychosocial support.

Higher Health Chief Executive Officer, Professor Ramneek Ahluwalia and his team are working with the college and other partners to ensure that students can access assistance in a supportive environment.

The facility will host survivor clubs, where affected students can find solidarity and be connected to professional assistance, as well as transforming mentalities clubs aimed particularly at encouraging young men to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviour.

It will also provide peer support forums for young people living with HIV and spaces for discussions on mental health.

Dube-Ncube said Higher Health’s programmes have shown that young people are willing to seek assistance when provided with safe avenues to speak about their challenges.

Over the past four years, more than 394 000 students completed GBV self-risk assessments, with more than 20 000 subsequently coming forward to request help. In addition, more than 188 000 young people had been identified as needing or actively seeking psychosocial support through mental health programmes.

The Deputy Minister said the launch formed part of broader government efforts to strengthen the response to GBV, which was formally classified as a national disaster in November last year.

“What begins in this room today must become part of how the whole country protects its young people,” she said.

Dube-Ncube also called on college management and student leaders to ensure that students know about the facility and trust it enough to use it. She also urged the college to ensure that the room is properly staffed, linked to local healthcare services, police and social workers, and that referrals are followed up.

Addressing young men, she said the responsibility to end GBV cannot rest with women alone, given that men commit the overwhelming majority of such violence.

“The solution must also come from men,” she said, urging young men to challenge abusive behaviour among their peers and promote respect and consent.

Students and members of the public can access support through the GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428 or by dialling 1207867# from any cellphone. Higher Health’s 24-hour student helpline is available on 0800 36 36 36, or by SMS on 43336.

Childline can be contacted free of charge on 116, while SAPS Crime Stop is available on 08600 10111. In an emergency, the police can be contacted on 10111. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s participation and leadership in research and innovation, with the launch of the WRIGHT initiative at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT).

Speaking at the launch, the Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina welcomed the establishment of WRIGHT at a university of technology, highlighting the role these institutions play in connecting research to industry, professional practice and communities.

“I am pleased that WRIGHT is being launched at a university of technology. Universities of technology connect research to industry, to professional practice and to communities. They move knowledge from the laboratory, the workshop and the field into processes, products and services. Women must be able to take part at every point of that journey,” Gina said.

The initiative comes as MUT strengthens its research capacity through a R2 million investment in research initiatives focusing on first-time researchers, alongside plans to develop a multidisciplinary research journal, a research conference and the “MUT in Research” programme.

The Deputy Minister said WRIGHT could help ensure that women are supported to build sustainable research careers and assume leadership positions within the university and the broader research system.

The Deputy Minister highlighted progress in women’s participation in South Africa’s research workforce, while cautioning that representation alone does not guarantee equal opportunities for advancement and leadership.

According to the 2023/24 National Survey of Research and Experimental Development, women account for 47.7% of South Africa’s research workforce, 52% of the academic workforce and 62.6% of university enrolments. Women also account for approximately 45% of scientific publication authorship.

Globally, women constitute between 31% and 33% of researchers, a proportion that has changed little over the past decade.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted the need to strengthen the journey from research to commercialisation, noting that South Africa’s performance in patenting and commercialisation remains below desired levels.

The 1996 White Paper on Science and Technology committed South Africa to equity through redress, including the eradication of gender disparities, while the 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation reaffirmed the importance of inclusivity and transformation.

Gina said women’s perspectives and leadership contribute to research that is more relevant, inclusive and responsive to society’s needs, particularly as emerging technologies continue to shape economies and communities.

The Deputy Minister also highlighted the work of Professor Naidoo, who has trained more than 100 students, 89% of them women, and whose research on tuberculosis and HIV has helped shape policies and treatment strategies internationally.

“These women show what the system can produce when capable people are given support and opportunity,” she said.

The Deputy Minister also urged the WRIGHT Steering Committee to build partnerships, listen to women at different stages of their careers and share lessons with the wider research system.

“When a girl in a rural classroom looks at a woman in science, she should be able to say: this life is possible for me too,” she said.

The Deputy Minister congratulated Mangosuthu University of Technology on the initiative, expressing confidence that WRIGHT could contribute to building a more inclusive and representative research environment. – SAnews.gov.za

Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Deputy Minister, John Steenhuisen, has called for greater localisation, investment and job creation in South Africa’s automotive aftermarket industry.

Addressing industry leaders at the Automechanika Johannesburg 2026 CEO Breakfast in Midrand, Steenhuisen highlighted the economic importance of an industry that traded approximately R933 billion in 2025, contributing R202.6 billion to GDP.

Steenhuisen also called for greater investment, localisation, skills development and export expansion in South Africa’s automotive aftermarket industry, describing the sector as a significant driver of economic growth, industrial development and employment.

Addressing industry leaders at the Automechanika Johannesburg 2026 CEO Breakfast at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Steenhuisen highlighted the economic importance of an industry that traded approximately R933 billion in 2025, contributing R202.6 billion to GDP.

The sector supports more than 310,000 jobs, representing approximately 70% of automotive employment, across more than 23,000 businesses, predominantly small and medium-sized enterprises.

“These are not peripheral activities. They are central to South Africa’s economic resilience, industrial capability, and mobility,” said Steenhuisen.

With approximately 13 million vehicles on South African roads, averaging almost 11 years in age, and 76% outside their warranty periods, Steenhuisen emphasised the enormous potential to expand domestic manufacturing of replacement parts.

South Africa imported approximately R107.5 billion in replacement parts in 2025, presenting a substantial opportunity to strengthen local production, retain economic value and create employment.

“Every additional percentage point of localisation in replacement parts represents jobs created, industrial capability strengthened, foreign exchange retained, and value added within South Africa,” he said.

Steenhuisen stressed that the ongoing review of the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP2) should consider the broader automotive value chain, extending beyond vehicle manufacturing to the businesses supporting vehicles throughout their operational lives.

He also identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as an opportunity to expand South African exports of replacement parts, remanufactured components and specialised automotive services.

South Africa, he said, has the engineering expertise, established distribution networks and industrial capabilities to become a leading automotive aftermarket hub for Africa.

Addressing skills development, Steenhuisen expressed concern that South Africa has approximately 31% fewer qualified automotive artisans than in 2009, despite increasing apprenticeship numbers.

He called for stronger collaboration between government, industry and training institutions to prepare young South Africans for emerging technologies, including electric vehicles, advanced diagnostics and artificial intelligence-enabled systems.

Steenhuisen further highlighted road safety and the economic benefits of vehicle maintenance, noting that road crashes cost South Africa almost R200 billion in 2025, equivalent to approximately 2.8% of GDP.

He concluded by emphasising the need to translate economic opportunities into measurable results.

“South Africa must move from investment announcements to practical implementation,” he said.

He reaffirmed his commitment to working with industry to remove barriers to growth, strengthen competitiveness, support small businesses and unlock employment opportunities.

“Localisation must extend beyond the factory gate. It must include the businesses that keep South Africans moving every day,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has officially reopened 10 refurbished train stations across the Eastern Cape, marking a major milestone in government’s efforts to rebuild passenger rail infrastructure vandalised during the COVID-19 hard lockdown.

Seven of the stations are situated along the KuGompo corridor, while three are located in Gqeberha.

The Minister conducted an oversight visit to the East London Rail Corridor in KuGompo City on Tuesday where she revealed that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has invested R115 million over the past two financial years to upgrade the facilities. 

“Passenger rail connects communities to opportunity. It narrows the distance between where people live and where they earn a living. Here in KuGompo, the service runs from Berlin to East London station.

“Trains collect commuters from villages and townships and pass through eight stations along the way to East London, where most passengers work. Every station on this line sits within the communities it serves,” Creecy stated.

The upgrades were delivered through PRASA’s National Station Improvement Programme.

“The work has been thorough. Buildings, structures and waiting shelters have been renovated. Water, sanitation, drainage and backup water supply have been restored, together with lighting and backup solar power. Platforms have been refurbished, with tactile surfaces and markings for blind and partially sighted passengers.

“Stations now have access control, CCTV, alarms and security monitoring, along with new signage, fire-fighting equipment, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning,” the Minister highlighted.

Home comforts

Creecy noted that PRASAS’s investment has yielded direct economic benefits for local residents.

The construction phase created some 171 direct jobs, engaged 27 local small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and appointed ten Community Liaison Officers to ensure that residents are informed of the project’s progress.

“This programme was designed so that its benefits would stay close to home.

“For many households in these townships and villages, that work brought a wage, new skills and a record of experience to carry into the next opportunity,” she noted.

Additionally, PRASA entered into three-year agreements with five local cooperatives to manage station cleaning and ongoing maintenance.

“These agreements offer more than short-term work. They provide steady income, a basis on which small enterprises can grow, and a lasting place for local people within the station environment.

“A station kept by its own neighbours is cared for in a different way. The cooperatives are, in a real sense, custodians of these facilities on behalf of the people who use them,” Creecy said.

Tangible improvement

Commuter confidence in the region has rebounded significantly with passenger numbers doubling from just over 630 000 in 2024/25 to more than 1.2 million in 2025/26.

In the current financial year, PRASA recorded an on-time performance of 94.2% in the province, running 603 successful trips and keeping trip cancellations down to 4.13%.

Safety improvements have also allowed the Railway Safety Regulator to approve a speed limit increase on the Berlin to East London line, raising maximum train operating speeds from 30 km/h to 60 km/h.

“Safety remains central to this work. The Eastern Cape region has closed all Railway Safety Regulator improvement directives to date.

“In recognition of this performance, the Regulator has approved an increase in train speed on the KuGompo corridor, between Berlin and East London, from 30 to 60 kilometres an hour. As services improve and stations are upgraded, standards must hold,” the Minister stated. 

Creecy appealed to residents to safeguard the newly restored railway assets.

“I appeal to every community along this corridor to treat these stations as their own, to protect this public infrastructure, and to report theft and vandalism promptly. PRASA, for its part, must act decisively and in close cooperation with law enforcement and community structures.

“Our work is not yet finished. Eighteen stations in the Eastern Cape still await upgrades, and PRASA has a responsibility to complete them over the coming years. The longer-term goal is to restore the level of service this region enjoyed before COVID-19. The current trend suggests that this goal is within reach.

“Let us ensure that the convenience, safety and comfort we recognise today are felt every day by every passenger who travels by train in the Eastern Cape,” Creecy concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The OR Tambo District Municipality has assured communities across the district that disaster management teams have been deployed to assess the impact of the recent heavy rains.

Heavy rains have battered the Eastern Cape-based municipality, severely affecting several communities and disrupting access to certain areas.

“The district’s disaster management teams are on the ground assessing the extent of the damage, identifying affected households and determining the immediate needs of communities where the heavy rains have disrupted daily activities and access to essential services.

“The assessment process is ongoing and the municipality will provide a comprehensive update on the extent of the damage as well as the necessary interventions once the information has been consolidated.

“We remain committed to coordinating disaster response efforts, working with relevant stakeholders and ensuring that the needs of affected communities are identified and addressed,” the municipality said in a statement.

According to the municipality, the adverse weather has severely affected areas including Mganduli town where significant disruption led to closure of access to the town on Tuesday.

“Other affected areas include Buntingville and Nggleni. Green Farms in the Port St Johns Local Municipality, as well as several communities around Qumbu and Tolo in the Kumkani Mhiontlo Local Municipality are also affected. 

“We urge all communities to remain vigilant, avoid crossing flooded rivers and low-lying bridges,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za