Category: Africa

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has congratulated Team South Africa on an outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the team started Saturday with 25 medals. 

“This team went to Glasgow and did us proud. They have given it their all, and every single one of them comes home having helped to add another proud chapter to South Africa’s sporting history,” the Minister said in a statement on Saturday.

With one day left before the curtain falls on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, South Africa could still add to its medal tally at the multi-sport event in Scotland, which began on 23 July 2026 and ends on 2 August 2026.

By Saturday morning, Team South Africa had won 25 medals in Glasgow — seven gold, nine silver and nine bronze — placing the country seventh on the medal table, with competition continuing.

A large part of Team South Africa’s delegation arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday morning as the competition nears its close.

Although the Minister was unable to welcome the team, he conveyed a message of congratulations to the athletes and officials through the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC).

Several South African athletes remain in Scotland and are expected to compete until the closing ceremony on Sunday.

“To every young South African who watched these Games: these athletes were once just like you, and you can write your own names into the record books if seeing these achievements lit a fire in your belly.

“And to every South African living with a disability who saw Nathan Hendricks, Christian Sadie, Danika Vyncke and Masala Makatu on that podium – that was a reminder that the focus of life should never be only on what you cannot do, or what may be denied to you, but rather should be on the many things you can do. By overcoming adversity, you inspire someone else facing their own struggles.

“We salute you all as the heroes you are, and I look forward to being with the whole team again soon,” McKenzie said.

The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture would be arranging a formal reception for the full delegation once all athletes had returned from Glasgow.

“My office is arranging a proper occasion for the whole team, once they are all reunited, and SASCOC will hear from us this week.

“I also want to thank the coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, technical staff and team management for work that no camera records. And I want to thank the families who sat up through the night watching a child they raised compete under our colours and flag. This belongs to you as much as to them,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has congratulated Team South Africa on an outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the team started Saturday with 25 medals. 

“This team went to Glasgow and did us proud. They have given it their all, and every single one of them comes home having helped to add another proud chapter to South Africa’s sporting history,” the Minister said in a statement on Saturday.

With one day left before the curtain falls on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, South Africa could still add to its medal tally at the multi-sport event in Scotland, which began on 23 July 2026 and ends on 2 August 2026.

Team South Africa has won 25 medals in Glasgow — seven gold, nine silver and nine bronze — placing the country seventh on the medal table while competition continues.

A large part of Team South Africa’s delegation arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday morning as the competition nears its close.

Although the Minister was unable to welcome the team, he conveyed a message of congratulations to the athletes and officials through the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC).

Several South African athletes remain in Scotland and are expected to compete until the closing ceremony on Sunday.

The Minister noted that, due to the truncated format of this year’s Commonwealth Games, codes such as rugby sevens were not included, denying the Blitzboks the opportunity to defend the gold medal they won at the previous Games. He added that he was confident they would win it again at the 2030 Games, scheduled to take place in India.

“To every young South African who watched these Games: these athletes were once just like you, and you can write your own names into the record books if seeing these achievements lit a fire in your belly.

“And to every South African living with a disability who saw Nathan Hendricks, Christian Sadie, Danika Vyncke and Masala Makatu on that podium – that was a reminder that the focus of life should never be only on what you cannot do, or what may be denied to you, but rather should be on the many things you can do. By overcoming adversity, you inspire someone else facing their own struggles.

“We salute you all as the heroes you are, and I look forward to being with the whole team again soon,” McKenzie said.

The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture would be arranging a formal reception for the full delegation once all athletes had returned from Glasgow.

“My office is arranging a proper occasion for the whole team, once they are all reunited, and SASCOC will hear from us this week.

“I also want to thank the coaches, doctors, physiotherapists, technical staff and team management for work that no camera records. And I want to thank the families who sat up through the night watching a child they raised compete under our colours and flag. This belongs to you as much as to them,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

Government and the private sector have launched the EmpowerHer Market Trade Fair to advance women’s economic empowerment by creating opportunities for women-owned businesses to showcase their products and services, access new markets, establish business partnerships, and engage with potential investors and customers.

Government collaborated with ABSA on the initiative, which was launched by the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, on Saturday in Durban to mark the start of 2026 Women’s Month.

Chikunga emphasised the importance of government and the private sector working together to empower women entrepreneurs, who continue to face structural barriers that limit their ability to start, sustain, grow, and compete in business.

These barriers include limited access to markets and procurement, finance and investment, business development support, technology, information, networks, and supply-chain opportunities.

“Many women entrepreneurs operate in informal or small-scale markets, and struggle to transition into sustainable, commercially viable enterprises.

“There is a persistent gap between women-owned businesses and large corporations, between women-owned businesses and government procurement systems, and between women-owned businesses and mainstream markets — which results in limited market access and insufficient participation in high-value sectors and supply chains,” the Minister said.

Chikunga explained that the Women in Trade Fair seeks to address the disconnect between women entrepreneurs and viable markets by creating a platform that connects women-owned businesses with buyers, investors, government, corporates, financial institutions, and ecosystem partners.

“We aim to move beyond showcasing products, towards actual commercial transactions, investment, procurement opportunities, business partnerships, and long-term market linkages.

“This Trade Fair is not merely an exhibition — it is an economic empowerment and market access intervention. It seeks to achieve visibility, market access, business deals, procurement, investment, enterprise growth, job creation, and economic empowerment,” the Minister said.

Entrepreneurs on the exhibition floor had access to business pitch sessions, finance and development finance desks, procurement and buyer discussions, and support clinics.

“Too often, women-owned enterprises are visible in policy language, but invisible in actual value chains. They are invited to events but not linked to buyers. They are encouraged to formalise but not supported through the compliance burden. They are told to access finance but not assisted to meet financing criteria.

“We are here to insist that this must change. Today’s programme must therefore shift from once-off visibility to structured economic participation,” Chikunga said.

The Minister pointed out that when women-owned businesses are supported to grow, households, communities, local economies, and the country all benefit.

“This is particularly important in the context of youth and persons with disabilities. Today’s programme deliberately includes women-owned enterprises, youth-owned enterprises, and enterprises owned by or inclusive of persons with disabilities.

“A truly transformed economy must recognise the different barriers faced by different groups, while building pathways that allow all to participate meaningfully,” the Minister said.

She said that, for persons with disabilities, inclusion means accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and real economic opportunity.

“For young women, it means support to enter markets early, to build enterprise capability, and to participate in emerging sectors. For women in rural and township economies, it means bringing support closer to where economic activity happens — not expecting entrepreneurs to carry every institutional cost alone.

“This is why coordination matters. Fragmented support will only produce fragmented outcomes. Today, we are saying that the State, working with partners, must become better at joining the dots,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has once again urged eligible voters to use the rest of Saturday and Sunday to register, verify, and update their details to ensure they are accurately captured.

“The Electoral Commission reminds eligible voters that they will not have another opportunity for voting station-based registration,” said the Electoral Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Sy Mamabolo.

Voting stations across the country are open this weekend from 8am to 5pm on both days. The Department of Home Affairs has also extended operating hours at all offices for the final Voter Registration Weekend on 01 and 02 August 2026.

Home Affairs offices will open on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm to ensure that eligible citizens can access the services they need to register to vote.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on Saturday, Mamabolo said the start of the final voter registration weekend brings the country closer to the conclusion of voting station-based registration ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

“The Electoral Commission reports that the final voter registration weekend has commenced on a strong footing, with more than 99% of the 23 699 voting stations across the country opening promptly at 8am.

“At 12pm today, the Commission reported that it had already interacted with over 238 000 citizens at voting stations and on the online portal. 

“The recorded transactions were predominantly voters updating their registration details to ensure that they are correctly registered ahead of the Local Government Elections. New registrations accounted for 13.4% or approximately 30 000 of the transactions,” he said.

Mamabolo said the majority of transactions (198 232) were recorded at voting stations across the country, while the Commission’s online data-free voter registration portal recorded 20 078 transactions, providing eligible voters with an additional convenient channel to register or update their details.

“Preliminary figures indicate that the highest volumes of voter transactions are currently being recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (55 759), Eastern Cape (46 889) and Gauteng (41 774); this is consistent with historical patterns and reflects the population densities of the provinces.

“Other provinces, including Limpopo (29 680), Western Cape (19 693), Mpumalanga (17 218), North West (15 610), Free State (13 110), and Northern Cape (6 213), are also recording voter activity as citizens respond positively to the Commission’s call to register and update their details before the conclusion of the voting station-based registration. 

“The Electoral Commission welcomes the encouraging turnout of South Africans who have visited voting stations since the opening this morning. We are equally encouraged by the continued uptake of the online voter registration portal,” Mamabolo said.

Online voter registration

Mamabolo said the online voter registration portal remains active, allowing voters to register and update their details to avoid missing out on this important occasion.

“The portal, registertovote.elections.org.za, will remain open until the election is proclaimed. Nonetheless, the Commission urges citizens to register or update their details now rather than wait until the last minute. This will help to avoid unnecessary congestion on the platform in the days and hours leading up to proclamation,” he said.

Mamabolo explained that registered voters are also encouraged to verify their registration details online, through the IEC App or by contacting the Electoral Commission’s Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000.

“Voters may also check their registration status by sending their identity number via SMS to 32810 at the cost of R1 per SMS,” he said.

Mamabolo said the Commission is profoundly thankful to its electoral staff, Home Affairs officials, political parties, community leaders, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, observer groups, security agencies and all stakeholders whose cooperation and support continue to contribute to the successful delivery of the voter registration process.

The IEC had previously said it would deploy 48 212 trained electoral officials to assist voters with registration, updating their details and verifying their registration information.

The Commission has also adjusted its voting district arrangements following an assessment of voter activity during the first registration weekend, reducing the number of districts from 23 706 to 23 699.

During the first registration weekend on 20 and 21 June, more than three million registration transactions were recorded. – SAnews.gov.za

As the final Electoral Commission’s voter registration weekend gets underway, Home Affairs offices across the country are open for citizens to apply for and collect their IDs this weekend.

“Home Affairs offices nationwide will be open from 8am to 5pm to support voter registration weekend for ID applications and collections only,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a post on social media platform, X.

This is as the Electoral Commission (IEC) has completed its preparations for the final voting station-based registration opportunity, with 23 699 voting stations set to operate across the country from 8am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

At a media briefing earlier in the week, the commission said it will deploy 48 212 trained electoral officials to assist voters with registration, updating their details, and verifying their registration information.

The Department of Home Affairs said more than 370000 Smart IDs are waiting to be collected.

Following the final registration weekend, the IEC anticipates that the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will proclaim the date of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The voters’ roll would close at midnight on the day the election is proclaimed.

Thereafter, no new registrations or changes to existing voter details will be permitted until after the elections, and the IEC will cease registration drives and deactivate its online registration portal.

South Africa will go to the polls in the Local Government Elections on 4 November. –SAnews.gov.za