Category: Africa

By Dikeledi Molobela 

New York, USA – South Africa will continue to defend the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and multilateralism, despite the challenges associated with taking a stand on global conflicts. 

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said this on Monday while addressing a special event, “We Shall Not Be Moved: A Special Event in Honour of the UN Charter,” at The Riverside Church, in New York. 

Lamola said South Africa’s own liberation struggle has demonstrated the power of international solidarity. 

He said the country’s commitment to international law was reflected in its decision to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the  United Nations (UN) principal judicial organ, over Israel’s alleged violations of the Genocide Convention.

“When we approached the ICJ, the UN’s principal judicial organ, to challenge Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention, we did so as part of our commitment to upholding and defending international law and multilateral institutions,” Lamola said.

He said South Africa had taken the action because it understood the impact that global solidarity had played in ending apartheid.

“In so doing, we summoned the same global solidarity that broke apartheid in South Africa to help dismantle the apartheid under which Palestinians continue to live.”

Lamola used the historic significance of The Riverside Church to frame South Africa’s current position on international peace and justice.

He recalled that civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “Beyond Vietnam” speech at the church on 4 April 1967, while former President Nelson Mandela addressed a crowd at the same venue shortly after his release from prison in 1990.

Lamola said both leaders’ messages remained relevant to the current global environment.

“Sadly, as we gather here today, the words of Dr King and President Mandela speak to our times with renewed urgency,” he said.

Turning to the situation in Palestine, Lamola said Palestinians continued to face severe suffering, while Israel’s actions were threatening prospects for a two-State solution.

“For Palestinians, the age of freedom is yet to dawn. The hour of peace is yet to strike.

“And every day, Israel’s actions – the annexation of Palestinian land, the destruction of their means of life, and wanton violence in Gaza and the West Bank – threaten to crush all prospects for a two-state solution,” he said. 

He said South Africa could not ignore what was happening to Palestinians.

“This is why we cannot afford to bury international law.”

He also pointed to the destruction of hospitals, schools, sanitation and water infrastructure in Gaza, and cited the psychological impact of the conflict on children.

Defending multilateralism

The Minister said South Africa’s position forms part of a broader commitment to strengthening the multilateral system and the principles underpinning the UN Charter.

“More than 80 years since its adoption, the UN Charter’s principles of fundamental human rights, the dignity and worth of every person, and the equal rights of nations, large and small, are more important than ever,” he said.

Lamola said the Hague Group represented countries working together to uphold an international order based on the rule of law.
“The Hague Group embodies that solidarity, camaraderie and shared conviction that concrete action is needed to uphold an international order based on the rule of law.”

He also linked the defence of multilateralism to broader global challenges, including inequality, the international financial architecture, climate change and Africa’s representation in global institutions.

“African countries are under-represented in institutions where decisions affecting our future are made,” Lamola said.

He said the international community is also facing major conflict and humanitarian crises, including in Sudan, the Middle East and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.

‘Silence is not golden’

The Minister acknowledged that South Africa’s position has attracted questions about whether the country should instead focus on domestic socioeconomic challenges or avoid confrontation with powerful states.

He said South Africa had nevertheless chosen to act based on its historical experience of international solidarity.

“But we choose to act because silence is not golden. In the face of grave injustice, silence is complicity.” 

He said South Africa’s experience of the anti-apartheid struggle had created an obligation to support other people facing oppression.

“As one of the 20th century’s greatest beneficiaries of international solidarity, we have no choice but to act despite trial and challenges we face as a result of our choice to act in defence of humanity,” the Minister said. 

He said countries supporting the cause were growing in number and reaffirmed South Africa’s determination to continue advocating for international law, peace and justice.

“Today we declare that indeed we are many. Our numbers are growing. We will not move. We shall not be moved,” Lamola said. 

He concluded by invoking the historic resistance of the people of Sophiatown to apartheid-era forced removals.

“Let me conclude by borrowing another rallying cry from the people of Sophiatown, South Africa, who, a little over 70 years ago, took racial segregation head-on and declared in the face of apartheid’s bulldozers: We will not move. Ons Dak Nie. Ons Phola Hier. Amandla!” – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has hailed relations between South Africa and Vietnam, noting that the relationship will only strengthen in the future.

The Deputy Minister delivered an address on Monday in Pretoria, during the 81st anniversary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

“We are confident that in the coming years and decades, relations between South Africa and Vietnam will continue to grow from strength to strength, to the mutual benefit of the peoples of our two countries and the regions we find ourselves in.

“In these turbulent times, when the international arena is marked by uncertainty and rapid change, South Africa and Vietnam stand stronger when they stand together. By joining hands, our two nations can chart a course through shifting global currents with confidence and clarity,” Morolong said.

The Deputy Minister added that country-to-country cooperation allows “our voices to ensure that our perspectives are heard in multilateral forums, and to safeguard our shared interests”.

“It enables us to turn challenges into opportunities: expanding trade, deepening political dialogue, and building resilience against global shocks.

“Together, South Africa and Vietnam can transform uncertainty into a platform for innovation and solidarity, proving that partnership is the surest compass in navigating an unpredictable world,” he said.

Deepening relations

South Africa and Vietnam share long-held diplomatic relations dating back to the dawn of democracy in 1993.

Most recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa embarked on an Official State Visit to the country in 2025.

“We have together established an Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation aimed at facilitating cooperation in areas of mutual interest in 2004.

“In October 2025…we have both agreed to elevate our bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. This milestone introduced a qualitative transformation in government-to-government engagement.

“This renewed engagement is marked by deeper political dialogue, strengthened economic and sectoral cooperation, and the establishment of more structured mechanisms for coordination purposes,” Morolong said.

He described 2025 as a representation of “culmination of decades of effort between South Africa and Vietnam to deepen and broaden our ties”, which ensured that the two countries’ shifts towards a “genuine partnership that delivers tangible benefits for the peoples of both nations”.

The Deputy Minister noted that at the regional and multilateral level, South Africa’s “engagement with Vietnam is increasingly situated within the broader context of South Africa’s expanding interaction” with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

“The ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner status has created additional platforms for political dialogue and cooperation in Southeast Asia. Vietnam’s active role within ASEAN further enhances its significance as a gateway partner for South Africa’s regional objectives. 

“Concurrently, Vietnam has intensified its engagement with BRICS, including through participation in the Partner Country Model, reflecting converging interests in reforming global governance and strengthening South–South cooperation.

“These intersecting dynamics underscore Vietnam’s growing strategic relevance to South Africa across bilateral, regional and plurilateral dimensions, further reinforcing the need for sustained and appropriately resourced diplomatic engagement,” Morolong said. – SAnews.gov.za

By David Jacobs

South Africa is entering a new phase in its economic renewal. After years of grappling with structural constraints, the country is beginning to see the tangible results of reform. Energy reliability is improving, logistics performance is recovering, infrastructure investment is moving from plans to construction, and business confidence is strengthening.

For much of the past decade, growth was constrained by persistent bottlenecks in energy, transport and infrastructure. These challenges increased the cost of doing business, weakened competitiveness and dampened investor confidence. Government responded with a series of bold reforms aimed at addressing these constraints at their source.

The clearest evidence of progress is in the energy sector, where South Africa is now on the cusp of nearly 500 consecutive days without load shedding, following the five interventions announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2022. This has resulted in Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor reaching its highest level since 2020. More than 6,100 MW have been restored to the grid, unplanned outages have fallen sharply, and diesel expenditure has declined by over 80%. Reliable energy provides the certainty businesses need to invest, expand production and create jobs.

Infrastructure delivery is also gathering pace. A portfolio of 263 projects valued at almost R2 trillion is advancing through various stages of development, while 37 projects worth R69 billion have been completed over the past 18 months. More importantly, South Africa is increasingly demonstrating the ability to convert infrastructure plans into infrastructure delivery, strengthening connectivity, service provision and economic activity.

The next phase is to translate these structural gains into faster and more inclusive growth. This is the focus of Phase 3 of the Government Business Partnership, launched last month against the backdrop of key achievements such as South Africa’s exit from the FATF grey list and recent sovereign credit-rating upgrades.

The partnership moves beyond stabilisation towards growth. Its objective is to unlock investment, accelerate economic activity and support the creation of more than one million jobs by 2030. Targeted interventions across energy, logistics, mining, tourism, agriculture and infrastructure will be complemented by measures to combat crime and corruption, strengthen competitiveness and expand opportunities for young people.

Ambitious targets have been set. These include operationalising the South African Wholesale Electricity Market by early 2027, unlocking a 32 GW grid connection pipeline, increasing freight volumes to 180 million tonnes, mobilising an estimated R500 billion in transport and logistics investment, unlocking more than R50 billion in mining capital expenditure, and growing international tourist arrivals to 3.8 million by the end of 2027.

This partnership reflects a simple but powerful principle that sustainable growth requires collaboration. Government creates an enabling environment through policy certainty, infrastructure and public services, while business provides the capital, innovation and expertise needed to expand productive activity. Together, they can unlock the investment, industrial growth and employment opportunities required to drive long-term prosperity.

Recent economic data serves as a reminder that the journey is not yet complete. Following six consecutive quarters of growth, the economy contracted by 0.2 % in the second quarter of 2026. Weaknesses in mining, manufacturing and trade, together with subdued investment and rising imports, continue to weigh on performance.

This short-term fluctuation should not obscure the deeper structural progress underway. Reforms in energy, logistics and infrastructure are beginning to address some of the most significant constraints to growth. The task now is to ensure these improvements translate into higher investment, stronger productivity, more jobs and rising living standards.

South Africa has laid important foundations for a more competitive and resilient economy. The challenge ahead is not simply to sustain reform, but to convert reform into momentum. With continued collaboration, accountability and execution, the country has an opportunity to move from recovery to sustained, inclusive growth.

*David Jacobs is Chief Director: Cluster Communication at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)*

Farmers and Communal Property Associations (CPAs) in Tigane near Klerksdorp, North West, are set to benefit from improved access to agricultural machinery, following the provincial government’s intervention to boost production and strengthen food security. 

North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha handed over a tractor and other agricultural implements to farmers on Monday, as part of efforts to address limited access to mechanisation among small-scale and emerging farmers. 

The tractor will operate as a shared service for farmers from the Seven Seasons, Oblate, Thusanang and Ikageng CPAs in the Tigane community. 

The department also handed over a boom sprayer and disc plough to strengthen farmers’ operational capacity and support agricultural production.

The intervention forms part of the provincial government’s broader strategy to transform the agricultural sector, reduce poverty, and strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in rural communities.

Speaking during the handover, Sambatha said access to agricultural machinery is critical to increasing production and supporting livelihoods among under-resourced farming communities.

“This intervention speaks directly to our commitment to uplifting rural farming communities. The tractor and implements we are handing over today are not just machinery; they are essential tools for increasing production, strengthening livelihoods and improving food security,” the MEC said. 

Local farmer and beneficiary, Ramasimane Kalaote, welcomed the support, saying the machinery will assist emerging farmers in the area to improve their farming operations. 

“Farming without the necessary implements can be difficult, but we are grateful for this support and promise that the equipment will be put to good use,” Kalaote said.

The department said limited access to mechanisation remains a significant barrier to agricultural production, particularly among emerging farmers.

It said providing farmers with the necessary equipment would help improve productivity, increase yields, and strengthen household and community food security.

The department said it will continue prioritising investment in agricultural infrastructure, mechanisation and production resources, particularly in historically marginalised rural communities where limited access to farming equipment continues to constrain agricultural development.

“Through these interventions, the department is strengthening farmers’ access to the resources they need to increase production, improve livelihoods and contribute to food security across the province,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

By Terence Khala
The 2026 Foundation Phase Catalogue for Grades 1 – 3 has moved decisively from approval to implementation. 

Following concurrence through the Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM) and the Council of Education Ministers (CEM), procurement is underway, with November and December 2026 as the key delivery period ahead of the new academic year.

The significance of the new catalogue extends beyond procurement. It is an intervention aimed at strengthening the relationship between curriculum, pedagogy, learning materials and the efficient use of public resources.

The previous catalogue served the sector for many years. Its renewal is part of the normal evolution of an education system. Curricula change, new subjects emerge and evidence about effective teaching develops. Learning materials must evolve accordingly.

A stronger pedagogical proposition

The most important shift is in foundational literacy.

The new catalogue provides for 40 readers per class and a Core Reader for every learner. This provides a stronger resource base for the systematic development of decoding, fluency and comprehension.

The catalogue also includes updated, curriculum-aligned materials and provides for newer curriculum areas such as Coding and Robotics.

This matters because curriculum reform is only meaningful when teachers have the resources to implement it. The pedagogical value of the new catalogue lies in bringing curriculum intention closer to classroom practice.

Better value, broader opportunity

The financial case is equally significant.

Full implementation is projected to cost approximately R1.6 billion, compared with approximately R4.6 billion for equivalent requirements from the previous catalogue — a difference of around R3 billion.

This should not simply be understood as a saving. It is about value for money and allocative efficiency. Coordinated procurement allows larger print runs, creates economies of scale and strengthens oversight of ordering and distribution.

In practical terms, reducing the cost of learning materials creates greater scope to improve coverage. Efficiency therefore becomes an educational issue: public resources can reach further and support more learners.

The reduction from eight listed titles to three also creates greater coherence. Subject advisors can provide more focused support, and teacher development can be better aligned with the materials actually being used in classrooms.

Delivery is now the priority

The catalogue has undergone significant scrutiny. The department has reported that the audit, independent investigation and legal consideration found no fraud, no favouritism and no basis to cancel the process.

That process is now concluded. The focus must shift to execution.

November and December will be critical. Books must move from procurement to delivery and, ultimately, into the hands of teachers and learners.

The value of the 2026 Foundation Phase Catalogue will not be determined by its approval alone. It will be determined by whether it strengthens teaching, expands access to appropriate learning materials and contributes to improved learning outcomes.

The catalogue has been approved, the sector has concurred and procurement is underway. The task now is to turn that investment into better-resourced classrooms and stronger foundations for learning.

*Khala is Acting Director: Communication and Research, at the Department of Basic Education