Category: Africa

On a night celebrating enterprise, creativity and ambition, the eThekwini Municipality honoured entrepreneurs and creatives whose businesses contribute to the city’s economy and job creation at the Durban Business Fair (DBF) Excellence Awards. 

Held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Saturday, the awards brought together the Durban Business Fair, Lions’ Den Business Plan Competition and Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards.

Winners received recognition and enterprise development support, including funding towards equipment and other business needs, with prizes ranging from R10 000 to R60 000 across various categories.

The Lions’ Den attracted 121 applications, with winners recognised across three stages of business development. 

Sparkle n’ Glow won the Emerging Business category, with Creative Tech named runner-up. Super Clean Tekkie Wash won the Established Business category, with Thandimpumelelo Hardware as runner-up. 

Msuthukazi Group received the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award, while Waterloo Blocks was named runner-up.

The Durban Business Fair Excellence Awards recognised Plastimed Packaging as the DBF Excellence Award winner, MM Clothing as the Rural and Township Based Business Award winner, and Amazizi Leatherworks as the Women Owned Business Award winner.

The Youth Owned Business Award ended in a tie, with Magaga Media and Communications and Grace Academy High School named joint winners.

The Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards celebrated excellence across the fashion value chain.

Zwandy won Best Ladieswear Collection, House of Vyagor Louvre won Best Menswear Collection, while Kireshen Chetty was named Collection of the Week.

Sibu Msimang was crowned Durban Designer of the Year, with Martin Bespoke receiving the Fashion Innovator Award. Nellie D Designs won the Next Generation and Emerging Durban Designer Award, while Karen Monk Klijnstra and Mita-N Dezynz both received the DFF Special Recognition Award.

The Rising Star awards went to Hendeika Booi, Sindiswa Khomo and Lerato Mabesa in first, second and third place respectively.

The New Face awards recognised Noxolo Ndabambi as the Plus Size winner, Awande Khuzwayo as the Standard Size Female winner, and Lindokuhle Mnqayi as the Male winner.

Addressing approximately 1 000 guests, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the awards reflect the municipality’s commitment to broadening economic participation, creating opportunities for businesses to grow and building a stronger, more inclusive local economy.

“Tonight, we recognise excellence, but we also reaffirm our commitment to micro, small, and medium enterprises development, economic inclusion, and broader participation in the eThekwini economy,” said Mayor Xaba.

The combined initiative is providing more than R800 000 in enterprise development support, alongside opportunities for market access.  

The monetary awards will be used towards enterprise development support, including the purchase of equipment to strengthen business operations and support growth.

Businesses and entrepreneurs welcomed eThekwini Municipality’s investment in local enterprises and its practical support to help them strengthen operations, access markets and pursue sustainable growth. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) is urging South African motorists to exercise caution and vigilance following a surge in fraudulent Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) platform websites.  

The authority said scammers are now using cloned payment portals, SMS, WhatsApp, and email to steal money and personal data from unsuspecting motorists. 

“The RTIA emphasises that it is the only entity which is legally authorised to administer and process fines under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act. Motorists are strongly advised to make payments only through verified and approved payment platforms.

“Motorists must always make use of the 16-digit Infringement Notice number as a reference, which does not need the RTIA bank account to make payments on the official payment platforms. These fake messages claim to be AARTO fines, often with threats of licence blocks, vehicle disc blocks, or additional penalties,” the RTIA said.

The authority explained that scammers are “sending various messages containing links urging recipients to pay R250 to qualify for a supposed discount on a traffic fine.”

“Always make payments only through verified and approved payment platforms. Don’t click on links to make payments. If you receive a message like this, delete it immediately, remain calm, and contact the RTIA directly for verification,” the RTIA said.

Watch out for:

• Urgency and Threats: Subject lines like “Final Notice: Action Required to Avoid Additional Penalties” or “Final Demand: Enforcement Notice” claiming your driving licence card or vehicle licence disc will be blocked.
• Fake Discounts: Messages falsely state you owe money and offer a 50% discount or “penalty fee waiver” if you pay within 24 hours. 
• After-hours Delivery: Many are sent after working hours and on weekends to create panic.
• They also target times of the month when clients are likely to have money in their bank accounts, such as the 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, or 31st.
• Cloned Websites: “Please be cautious of fraudulent websites pretending to be the official AARTO website. These fake sites may be used to scam the public and steal personal or payment information.”
• Be on the lookout for Typos and Wrong Names on fake websites: E.g., signed by “NATS Online Vehicle License Disc Renewal” – a misspelling of eNATIS.

Do not:

• Click any link in an SMS/WhatsApp/email about AARTO fines.
• Make payments on any site other than AARTO official payment platforms.
• Share ID numbers, licence details, or banking details.

Do:

• Ignore and delete the message.
• Make payments on official payment platforms. 
• Verify your AARTO status ONLY via official channels.
• Report the scam number/link to your network provider and to RTIA. 

“The only official AARTO website is https://online.aarto.gov.za. Do not make payments or provide personal details on any other website claiming to be AARTO. All other links, .com, .co.za, and .online domains claiming to be AARTO are fraudulent.

“The RTIA remains committed to providing a secure environment for motorists to manage their traffic infringements and urges everyone to remain vigilant against these digital scams.

“To ensure your information remains secure, the public is reminded that there is only one legitimate website for AARTO services. Motorists can verify the status of their fines or infringement notices by visiting the official RTIA platform at https://online.aarto.gov.za,” the RTIA said.

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New York, USA – South African Ambassador to the United States Roelf Meyer has called for dialogue between South Africa and the United States (US) to restore the bilateral relationship, saying the two countries must engage with each other as partners. 

Speaking to SAnews ahead of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York on Sunday, Meyer said the multilateral gathering could provide an opportunity to reinforce the importance of dialogue, not only in the relationship between South Africa and the US, but also in addressing conflicts elsewhere in the world. 

“Well, we all know that problems can be solved if people talk to each other. It often starts with talks about talks, and then there’s a phase of dialog and then negotiations.

“And I would hope that the messages that will combine our intention, our aspiration in that regard, will also come out from UNGA, not only to the question of the relationship between South Africa and the United States, but also others where there are conflicts,” Meyer told SANews.

Meyer said the bilateral relationship between South Africa and the US, which he described as being “at the foundation of this challenge” needed to be restored through dialogue.

“But very specifically, in the case of the United States and South Africa, the bilateral relationship, which is at the foundation of this challenge that we have must be restored, and it can only be done through dialogue,” he said.

He emphasised that meaningful dialogue required both sides to recognise each other as partners rather than seeking to impose their positions on one another.

“And in the case of dialogue, it has to be in such a way that parties accept each other as equal partners to that dialogue and sit down and talk it through and look each other in the eye and say we can do it. One can’t prescribe over the other, because then it will definitely not lead to a resolution of the problem,” he said. 

Strengthening communication

Meyer also highlighted the changing nature of communication and the challenges this presents for governments seeking to communicate their positions to international audiences.

“If I look back at my own experience years ago, there was a very easy line of communication through formal channels. Now there is no regulated channel. Everyone speaks for him or herself, and that of course brings a lot of challenges,” he said.

He said this made it more difficult for national leadership to ensure messages were communicated reliably, requiring governments to continually assess and strengthen their communication capabilities.

“I’m asking myself when I look at my task here in Washington, on behalf of South Africa, do we communicate correctly and in the necessary way to get our message across?”

Meyer said South Africa also needed to address what he described as “misunderstanding and misrepresentation” about the country’s constitutional framework and democracy.

“We know there’s a lot of misunderstanding and misrepresentation about the South African case, when it comes to our constitutional framework and how we apply it, and that South Africa is a constitutional democracy. There’s a lot of misrepresentation about that, as if there is government-initiated violence taking place, so-called genocide and things like that.

“We all know it’s not true, but that is the narrative that is being broadcast by some, and we have to address that and find ways to bring the real story across,” he told SANews. 

He said the challenge extended beyond South Africa’s international reputation, pointing to narratives around migration on the African continent. 

“And that applies to other countries as well. But it also applies on our continent again, because there is also misrepresentation about the whole subject of migration on the African continent, and sometimes we are being blamed for things that we haven’t done,” he said.

Meyer’s comments come as world leaders and senior officials gather in New York for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81), with South Africa expected to use the high-level week to advance its diplomatic priorities and engage international partners. – SAnews.gov.za

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In a challenging economic environment, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) is creating opportunities for young people to gain valuable work experience while helping to preserve South Africa’s rich cultural heritage for generations to come.

The PESP is part of the broader Presidential Employment Stimulus, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 to help create and protect jobs and provide employment opportunities during a period of significant economic hardship.

While the broader stimulus supports employment across a range of sectors, the PESP focuses specifically on South Africa’s creative, cultural and heritage sectors. Through the programme, the National Heritage Council (NHC) of South Africa supports impactful, community-based heritage initiatives that create work opportunities, particularly for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

The NHC is a statutory body responsible for the preservation, protection and promotion of the country’s heritage.  

Positive Change Youth Foundation 
Among the beneficiaries of an earlier PESP funding window was the Positive Change Youth Foundation, a non-profit organisation working to strengthen heritage knowledge among young people.

Through its PESP-supported project, the organisation managed to create 68 work opportunities for local people in Mmakau, in North West, demonstrating how investment in heritage can also create pathways to employment and skills development for communities.

“These were fixed-term contracts for the duration of at least five months for technical work and one-month contracts for lesser-skilled roles. While the jobs were temporary, the training and experience improved participants’ prospects for future work in heritage and education,” said the foundation’s Project Manager, Khutso Raphepele.

He added that the organisation operates in a largely semi rural environment where poverty, limited infrastructure and high youth unemployment are common.

“Youth unemployment is a serious and visible problem in Mmakau. Many young people lack access to stable work, relevant training or local opportunities, which fuels frustration and migration to towns. While exact local unemployment figures fluctuate, the situation is clearly one of the community’s and the country’s most urgent development challenges,” he told SAnews.

The NHC has been implementing the PESP since 2022, with four application windows having opened to date.

Funding manager for the NHC, Bongiwe Magasela, said funding allocations have varied across the different cycles of the PESP. For example, PESP 3 received a R65 million allocation, while the PESP 4 received R55 million and PESP 5 received R25 million.

While the council was not allocated funding for PESP 6 in the 2025/2026 financial year, it was allocated funding for PESP 7 in the 2026/2027 financial year. The application window under PESP 7 closed on 5 June 2026.

“Funding allocations have varied across the different cycles, depending on government allocations. To date, the NHC has disbursed R145 million,” she said.

In addition to the R145 million, the NHC, which is also an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, has been allocated R27 million for implementation of the PESP 7.

“This continued investment demonstrates government’s recognition of the important role that heritage programmes play in creating jobs while preserving South Africa’s heritage resources,” Magasela said.
In May 2026, the NHC announced the opening of applications for the 2026/2027 PESP 7, inviting heritage practitioners, community organisations, researchers, and institutions to submit projects that aim to promote and preserve South Africa’s heritage while creating sustainable employment opportunities.

Interest in the programme remains exceptionally high and has been consistently strong across the various funding cycles. The NHC received 326 applications for PESP 3. Under the PESP 4 window, 438 applications were received, while 356 applications were received for PESP 5. Under PESP 7, a total of 637 applications were received.

“The significant increase in applications received for PESP 7 demonstrates the growing demand for funding within the heritage sector and the value that stakeholders attach to the programme.

“The consistently high number of applications reflects both the need for support among non-profit organisations and the important role that the programme plays in advancing heritage preservation, job creation and community development initiatives across the country,” she explained.

Magasela’s comments come as data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) revealed that the official unemployment rate rose from 32.7% in the first quarter to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, as shown in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) released in August 2026.

Funding processes and purpose
Raphepele told SAnews that the foundation, which received funding for its initiative to document the historical and cultural connections between the Batswana and Basotho communities, prepared a concept and detailed project proposal that outlined objectives, methodology, a PESP compliant employment plan and a line item budget.

Supporting documentation, including the non-profit company (NPC) registration, organisational constitution, tax compliance letter, bank statements and accountant’s letter, among others, was also submitted.
“The formal review and approval process took about three to four months from submission to award, including feedback and a final grant agreement,” he said.

Travel, project management and the production of a book were among the items covered by the funding the foundation received. This, to explore the longstanding relationship between the Batswana and Basotho communities, including shared oral traditions, leadership structures, clan systems, migration patterns, and customary practices.

The funding allowed the foundation to document findings that highlighted in the deep historical connections between communities whose shared heritage is not always fully reflected in written records.

“The grant covered project management, fieldwork research, travel, capacity building, refreshments and book production. The funder required that funds be used for the approved heritage activities and that employment and remuneration comply with PESP and grant conditions. Procurement and reporting had to follow the NHC’s financial and accountability rules,” the Project Manager explained.

Heritage preservation and jobs
Debate among peers about why the Batswana and Basotho people speak a mostly similar language was among the questions that sparked the idea for the foundation’s investigation.

“We then realised that local elders and cultural practitioners who recognised overlapping histories and shared traditions that are poorly recorded are getting older and will leave this world without fully sharing this knowledge for future prospects.

“During the project implementation, we uncovered that Basotho people actually came from Batswana, meaning [the] Batswana [people] existed before Basotho, with stories of seasonal migration and cattle exchange linking families across borders and shared ceremonial songs and pipe music whose meanings vary by locality,” he said of the foundation’s initiative. 

Magasela said the NHC has observed a growing interest among young people in heritage preservation and promotion.
“In fact, youth constitute one of the largest groups represented among applicants to the programme, demonstrating a strong commitment to preserving and promoting South Africa’s heritage,” she said.

With the country commemorating Heritage Month in September, she added that young South Africans recognise the value of heritage as a source of identity, social cohesion and economic opportunity.
“Their involvement helps ensure that the country’s rich and diverse heritage is preserved, documented and passed on to future generations.”

Magasela said the PESP has been a useful tool in carrying out the NHC’s mandate.

“PESP has been a valuable tool in advancing the NHC’s mandate while contributing to job creation within the heritage sector. Through the programme, the NHC has facilitated the creation of 11 231 employment opportunities across PESP 3, PESP 4 and PESP 5.

“In addition, the programme has enabled the NHC to provide workplace experience and skills development opportunities. Through PESP, 10 interns were recruited, with four securing better employment opportunities elsewhere, while six remain within the programme,” she explained.

Strengthening capacity within the heritage sector to ensure that funded organisations can successfully implement projects and meet reporting requirements, as well as robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track project outcomes and measure impact, are among the lessons learned from administering the PESP.

Magasela added that the significant demand for funding within the heritage sector highlights the need for continued investment in heritage preservation, research, documentation and skills development.
Raphepele said that while government has programmes and stimulus initiatives that help, more coordinated investment is needed.

“There is limited access to quality education and practical skills training, a gap between training and labour-market needs and a lack of affordable work opportunities in rural areas. The government has programmes and stimulus initiatives that help, but more coordinated investment is needed, especially in [the] TVET [Technical and Vocational Education and Training] space, entrepreneurship support, local economic development, and reliable pathways from training to real jobs,” he said.

Magasela said the PESP has supported a wide range of projects across the country, particularly those focused on safeguarding living heritage and documenting South Africa’s diverse history.

Noteworthy initiatives include projects that preserve traditions and cultural practices in communities, such as the research and documentation of indigenous healing practices and sacred cultural rituals. 

Other projects have focused on recording historical memories and oral testimonies, including liberation history, anti-apartheid activism, the stories of unsung heroes, and experiences of forced removals.

“In addition, the programme has supported heritage skills transfer initiatives, including workshops aimed at equipping young people with practical skills in areas such as oral history collection, archival work, preparing traditional food, basket weaving and beading.”

Call for youth to be engaged
Despite the increase in the unemployment rate, Raphepele has urged young people to be engaged in their communities by volunteering, seeking mentorships, and building practical skills.

“Stay politically and socially engaged and cast your vote in these coming local elections. Your voice matters in shaping education and economic policies that affect your future,” he said in his message to young people.

South Africa will head to the polls in the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.

“Vote and hold leaders accountable; local government decisions directly affect service delivery, schools, youth work programmes and local economic opportunities. Young people must ask candidates [contesting the elections] for clear plans on youth employment, education and community infrastructure and follow up after the election to ensure promises are implemented,” said Raphepele.

Mantswe a bohlale a re: Hore motho a tsebe moo a yang teng, o tlameha ho tseba moo a tswang teng. 
In English, the Sesotho adage means: To know where one is going, one needs to know where one comes from –SAnews.gov.za  

 

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The Special Investigating Unit will probe allegations of serious maladministration and corruption in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the unit to investigate the municipality.  

The Buffalo City investigation will probe six contracts focusing on the procurement of, or contracting for, goods, works or services relating to: 

• Mdantsane NU2 Swimming Pool Project; 
• Mdantsane NU2 Swimming Pool Project; 
• Appointment of First New Generation Trading (Pty) Ltd for the demolition of existing walls; 
• Appointment of Lefito Trading, trading as Kuyasa Electrical Contractors, for the removal of the Donkin wall and palisade installation; 
• Consulting engineer services for the Water World Project; and 
• Main contractor for the Water World Project. 

“The SIU will investigate allegations of serious maladministration, improper or unlawful conduct by employees of the municipality and Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency, and the unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property.

“The investigation will also examine any unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive act, transaction, measure or practice involving State property, as well as any intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property. 

“The SIU will further investigate payments made in connection with the above matters where such payments were not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective, or were contrary to applicable legislation,” the unit stated.

Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has also signed an amendment to a proclamation authorising the corruption-busting unit to probe two tenders of the Gauteng Provincial Department of Human Settlements.

The Gauteng investigation relates to two tenders for ablution and sanitation infrastructure as well as walk units at the Sicelo Shiceka informal settlement.

“The amendment expands the scope of the investigation to include 100 ablution and sanitation infrastructure and facilities at Bekkersdal. 

“It also extends the period covered by the investigation to include allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 April 2017 and 18 September 2026,” the SIU said. 

Any criminal conduct uncovered by the investigations will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for consideration.

“The SIU is also authorised under the SIU Act to institute civil proceedings in the High Court or the Special Tribunal in its own name to recover losses or address wrongdoing arising from acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration,” the unit noted. – SAnews.gov.za

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After years of waiting, Monica Pityana can finally say that the house she has called home is legally hers, bringing relief to the elderly resident and securing the property for her grandchildren.

Pityana was among 254 beneficiaries in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, who received title deeds to their government-subsidised homes in Komani, marking the end of a long wait for formal ownership.

“I am very happy that I finally received my title deed. My patience finally paid off,” an elated Pityana said.

For Pityana, the document means more than proof of ownership. Having lost both her children, she said securing the house was particularly important because her grandchildren will inherit a legally protected family home.

“I had two children, but sadly, they both passed away. I am now left with my grandchildren, and this is their home. Knowing that the house is now legally ours means a lot to me because it will remain in the family,” she said.

The title deeds were handed over by Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi as part of the department’s drive to accelerate the registration and issuing of title deeds to qualifying beneficiaries across the province.

The 254 beneficiaries are recipients of the Queenstown Nomzamo 599 (501) Human Settlements Project, which provided subsidised homes to families in need in Komani.

The beneficiaries were identified through a verification process conducted by the department in partnership with Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.

Lusithi emphasised that government’s responsibility does not end with providing a house but extends to ensuring that beneficiaries also receive secure legal ownership of their homes.

“This is part of the department’s commitment to restoring people’s dignity through security of tenure, one title deed at a time,” the MEC said.

She added that a title deed is an important family asset that provides security and can benefit generations to come.

For beneficiaries such as Pityana, the handover represents the final step in turning a government-subsidised house into a legally secured family home.

As part of the programme, Lusithi also visited selected elderly beneficiaries at their homes to personally hand over their title deeds. The home visits were followed by a community engagement session and a formal handover ceremony at the community hall.

According to the department, a total of 1 666 title deeds were registered during the 2025/26 financial year, meeting its annual target.

“For the 2026/2027 financial year, the department has set a target of 2 237 title deeds as it continues to intensify registration and handover efforts across the Eastern Cape,” the department said.

For Pityana, the long-awaited document offers certainty about the future of the home she has built her life around. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Cape Town residents and visitors will have free access to selected city nature reserves over the Heritage Day weekend, providing an opportunity to explore the city’s natural heritage and enjoy its spring landscape. 

The City of Cape Town said the free-entry offer will run from Thursday, 24 September to Sunday, 27 September 2026, covering Blaauwberg, Helderberg, Table Bay and Tygerberg nature reserves, which usually charge entrance fees. 

Visitors can use the reserves for walking and hiking, birdwatching and picnicking, while taking in the spring blooms and natural landscapes.

The city said the initiative forms part of its Heritage Month programme, aimed at encouraging residents to spend time outdoors and discover nature reserves they may not have visited before.

“This Heritage Month we want to celebrate Cape Town’s natural heritage. These reserves protect extraordinary landscapes and biodiversity, and they are also places that residents can experience and enjoy.

“We encourage Capetonians to use the Heritage Day weekend to visit their local nature reserve or discover one they have not explored before. Take a walk in nature, enjoy a family picnic, go birdwatching or simply spend some time outdoors,” Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment Alderman Eddie Andrews said.

Andrews added that the city manages a network of nature reserves and conservation areas across Cape Town, many of which are ordinarily free to visit.

These areas protect the city’s biodiversity while providing spaces for walking, hiking, birdwatching, picnicking and other nature-based activities.

Among the options available to visitors are exploring the coastline at Blaauwberg Nature Reserve, hiking at Tygerberg Nature Reserve, visiting the wetlands at Zandvlei, False Bay or Table Bay nature reserves, or discovering Schapenberg Nature Reserve in Somerset West, one of the newer additions to the city’s conservation network.

Other city-managed reserves include Bothasig Fynbos, Botterblom, Bracken, Durbanville, Edith Stephens, Harmony Flats, Paardevlei, Steenbras, Uitkamp Wetland, Witzands Aquifer and Wolfgat nature reserves.

The city said normal charges will continue to apply to other permitted recreational activities at the reserves, including water sports. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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