Category: Africa

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has directed that a joint task team be established between Rustenburg Local Municipality and Magalies Water to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure sustainable water provision for residents of Rustenburg.

Seitlholo issued the directive during a stakeholder meeting held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre Council Chamber on Monday. The meeting brought together key stakeholders responsible for water services in the area to assess the progress of ongoing interventions and discuss challenges affecting water supply.

During the meeting, Moses Kotane Local Municipality raised concerns about ageing infrastructure and vandalism of boreholes, which have contributed to water supply disruptions in several areas.

In response, Seitlholo indicated that the municipality would be considered for inclusion in the Department of Water and Sanitation’s National Borehole Refurbishment Programme for restoring non-functional boreholes.

The Deputy Minister also urged stakeholders to present accurate assessments of their infrastructure and operational challenges, warning that problems cannot be resolved if they are not openly acknowledged.

“This meeting is not about presenting perfect reports. It is about presenting the true situation so that we can work together to find solutions,” he said.

Seitlholo further emphasised that sanitation challenges must be addressed with the same urgency as water supply issues.

“Communities are not only affected by water shortages [but] also by flooded sewer systems and failing wastewater treatment plants that result in sewage spillages. Sanitation is just as important as water supply,” he said.

He encouraged the Rustenburg Local Municipality and Magalies Water to engage further on water allocation issues to improve alignment and coordination.

The Deputy Minister also urged stronger collaboration between municipalities and Magalies Water to ensure infrastructure projects are implemented efficiently and within agreed timeframes.

“Sustainable solutions require cooperation, accountability and a shared commitment to improving water and sanitation services for communities.”

The task team has been requested to provide feedback to the Deputy Minister by Friday, 20 March 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has described the Constitution as a vital framework for the sustenance of democracy.

The Minister delivered a statement in the National Assembly on Tuesday on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

Citing the words of former President Tata Nelson Mandela on the day the Constitution was adopted with a call for the improvement of lives, Kubayi called for lawmakers and public office bearers to reflect on the work needed to build a better life for all.

“It is time for all of us to reflect on this 30 years of our Constitution and recommit to ‘improve the quality of life of the people’ and recognise that “there is nothing else that can justify the existence of government but to redress the centuries of unspeakable privations, by striving to eliminate poverty, illiteracy, homelessness and disease.

“We celebrate the 30 years of the Constitution not because it is perfect but it is a vital framework for the sustenance of our democracy, progressive realisation of human rights, and accountability,” Kubayi said.

The Constitution was adopted 30 years ago, following collective negotiations with a number of politicians, legal scholars, intellectual architects and negotiators, and mass public participation.

“On 8 May 1996, elected representatives of the people of South Africa gathered in Parliament to celebrate the victory of the many years of struggle for freedom and democracy. Two years after our democratic elections, it was on this occasion that the Constitution, that is now part of who we are as South Africans, was adopted as the supreme law of the land, binding the executive, the legislature and the judiciary alike.

“The adoption of the constitution marked a significant and irreversible moment in our people’s march towards a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.

“Our constitution did not only codify the norms and procedures of our democracy, but it also gave an expression to the aspirations of the majority of South Africans, thus becoming an integral part of who we are as South Africans,” Kubayi said.

She noted that the diversity of parties currently represented in Parliament is a testament of the “enduring legacy of what the Constitution has made possible in the ever-evolving political landscape of our country”.

Some 18 parties occupy the 400 seats that are available in the National Assembly.

“The parties represented here today were freely elected in open, free and fair elections representing the will of the people, giving life to the expression, ‘The people shall govern’, which is one of the cardinal pillars of our Constitution and democracy,” she told the assembly.

Depths of despair

Kubayi highlighted that the period before the adoption of the democratic Constitution was one where South Africa was at the depth of apartheid and preceding that, colonialisation.

She described pre-democracy South Africa as a place of “race-based dehumanisation and systematic dispossession and exclusion of the majority from political and economic participation”.

“Broadly speaking, our Constitution was drafted to achieve peace, unity and stability after many years of painful and violent struggle and secondly, to lay a foundation for a transformation of the South African society, so as to ‘Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights’.

“The drafters of the Constitution sought to negate the many years of racial segregation and institutionalised racial hierarchy.

“An honest assessment can only be done by looking at the provisions or elements of the Constitution and the concrete realities of the South African society. Except for sporadic and infrequent ill-informed discontent with our constitutional democracy, the Constitution has, in large measure, achieved the goal of creating a stable, peaceful and united country,” the minister stated.

Reflecting on the preamble of the Constitution, Kubayi highlighted that South Africans – despite the depravity of apartheid and colonisation – chose to say: “South Africa belongs to all who live in it – black and white”.

“South Africans refused to let the painful past get in the way of the creation of a future in which all South Africans, black and white, could live together, and build an equitable and prosperous country.

“Our judiciary has been consolidated into a unitary hierarchical structure that has asserted its independence with decisiveness and stood the test of time as a protector and defender of people’s rights.

“It is the transformation of [South Africa in all its dimensions], all of which can only be realised progressively… It is also precisely on the transformation project that our Constitution reveals its brilliance and foresight,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has urged the Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities, the Bojanala District Municipality and Magalies Water to work together to address infrastructure failures and service delivery constraints affecting reliable water supply to communities.

Seitlholo made the call during a stakeholder meeting held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre Council Chamber on Monday. The meeting brought together key stakeholders responsible for water services in the area to assess the status of ongoing interventions that are currently underway.

Among the issues discussed included disruptions to bulk water supply and wastewater management challenges contributing to water pollution in Rustenburg and Moses Kotane Local Municipalities.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the need for stronger coordination, accountability and practical, time-bound solutions to restore operational stability across affected systems.

Seitlholo expressed serious concern about contamination in the Vaalkop Dam, where alien invasive Salvinia plants have spread extensively, covering almost the entire surface of the dam.

He said the presence of Salvinia plants significantly affects the ecological balance of the water resource by blocking sunlight, reducing oxygen levels, damaging aquatic ecosystems, and complicating water abstraction processes.

Seitlholo highlighted the impact of dysfunctional wastewater treatment works in both Rustenburg and Moses Kotane, which have contributed to deterioration of water quality in the area.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has since taken regulatory action by issuing notices and directives under the National Water Act to address the discharge of untreated sewage into water resources.

Seitlholo stressed that the department has a clear mandate in wastewater management, sanitation and pollution control, but must intervene when broader water service challenges threaten the sustainability of water resources.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that our water resources are protected and managed properly. When wastewater treatment systems fail and untreated, sewage enters our water bodies, it undermines the very resources that communities depend on,” the Deputy Minister said,” he said.

On operational challenges, Seitlholo noted that the Kortbegrip Reservoir System is currently operating with only one functional pump instead of three, significantly limiting its water supply capacity.

He raised concerns about persistent electricity supply challenges at the Phatsima Pump Station, which have been ongoing since 2023, and remain a major constraint to water distribution.

The Deputy Minister also raised concern about the Tlhabane Reservoir under the Pilanesberg Phase 2 Project, which remains non-operational because the Mafenya Pump Station has not yet been energised. This is despite the project having already been officially unveiled.

He further pointed out that the decommissioning of the Bospoort Reservoir has placed additional pressure on the remaining 35-megalitre reservoir, which is unable to meet growing water demand.

In addition, Bospoort Plant 3 is operating with only three of the required five pumps, resulting in frequent operational failures and reduced supply capacity.

Frequent pipe bursts along the Monakato pump line were also identified as a major challenge, often causing water supply disruptions lasting between two and three days.

“These cumulative challenges have resulted in recurring water interruptions, growing frustration among communities, and negative consequences for economic activity and basic service delivery,” the Deputy Minister said.

Seitlholo noted that the National Water Act and the Water Services Act clearly define responsibilities of the various institutions involved in water management.

While the department is responsible for managing water resources and overseeing bulk water supply, local municipalities serve as Water Services Authorities responsible for distributing water to communities.

“Once water is supplied to municipalities, the responsibility for its distribution and management lies with the local authority. Magalies Water provides bulk water in accordance with its licence conditions, but municipalities must ensure that the water reaches households and communities through properly functioning infrastructure,” he explained. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that the Western Cape and Northern Cape will experience very hot to extremely hot temperatures due to heat wave conditions this week.

“This follows a brief period of cooler weather. Heat wave conditions are characterised by prolonged periods (at least three consecutive days or more) of temperatures exceeding the average of the hottest month by 5°C or more,” the weather service said.

These weather conditions started on Monday and will persist until Friday. 

The heat wave conditions are due to a strong, slow-moving high-pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere. 

The air in upper-air high-pressure systems sinks and warms as it descends, leading to higher temperatures at the surface. The system will be accompanied by offshore wind flow along the western coastline of South Africa.

“Very hot to extremely hot temperatures (36°C to 42°C) are expected across the coastal areas and adjacent interior of the Northern Cape and the western parts of the Western Cape, from Monday. 

“The highest temperatures will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday over the western parts of both the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The heat wave will spread to parts of the Central and Little Karoo on Tuesday.

“Residents are advised to be aware of the prolonged period of hot weather, which may lead to health riskssuch as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” SAWS said.

The weather service has  recommended the following precautionary measures to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses:

Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

• Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest hours (12h00-15h00).
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing.
• Stay in the shade or in well-ventilated areas as much as possible.
• Keep an eye on vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and babies.
• Never leave children or animals in parked cars, even for a short time.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity during the hottest part of the day.

The SAWS will continue to monitor this system closely and will issue updates as new information becomes available. 

The public and relevant authorities are urged to follow official weather warnings and advisories from reliable sources. –SAnews.gov.za

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has advised motorists of temporary road and lane closures associated with the replacement of bridge parapets at the uMngeni Interchange in Durban. 

“As part of the bridge repair works, several temporary lane closures will be implemented at the interchange and on its immediate feeder roads within the defined construction area,” KwaZulu-Natal SANRAL Project Manager Serisha Sukraj said on Tuesday.

The planned construction period is from 12 March 2026 to 15 April 2026. 

The first phase of the construction programme includes ongoing parapet replacement works along the length of the uMngeni Bridge on the northbound on-ramp from the N2, as well as parapet replacement along the southbound on-ramp from Inanda Road. 

The works will also involve the demolition and replacement of the median barriers separating the northbound and southbound lanes on the N2.

Temporary lane closures will occur sequentially, beginning with the northbound N2 off-ramp, followed by the southbound N2 on-ramp from Inanda Road, the southbound fast lane on the N2, and lastly the northbound fast lane on the N2.

During this period, traffic will be accommodated within narrow lanes through the designated construction area. 

Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and anticipate possible delays. 

Allowing additional travel time is recommended to ensure a smoother journey through the affected area.

“We urge all motorists to adhere to posted road signage and observe the reduced speed limits when approaching and travelling through the construction zone. Compliance with these measures is critical to ensuring the safety of both road users and construction personnel during the ongoing repair works,” Sukraj said.

Lane closures are as follows:

• Northbound N2 off-ramp: Temporary lane closures will occur on the flyover from Springfield Park, as well as on the N2 glide-on onto the off-ramp, along the bridge over the uMngeni River and beyond the bridge.
• Southbound N2 on-ramp from Inanda Road: Temporary lane closures will occur on the approach to the bridge over the uMngeni River, along the bridge, and beyond the bridge.
• Southbound fast lane on the N2: Temporary lane closures will take place along the southbound fast lanes of the N2.
• Northbound fast lane on the N2: Temporary lane closures will take place along the northbound fast lanes of the N2.

–SAnews.gov.za

The Electoral Commission has called on all South Africans eligible to vote to register for the Local Government Elections where they live.

“In a Local Government Election, there is no legal facility to vote outside of the voting station of registration. This is a necessary requirement as it ensures that voters vote in a ward election that has a relationship with their place of ordinary residence,” said the Commission at a media briefing on Tuesday.

The Commission announced that a national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026.

It said there has been a steady increase in the number of South Africans utilising the online self-registration platform, RegisterToVote.org.za.

More citizens are also taking advantage of outreach initiatives to register and update their details, reflecting a growing confidence in both the digital and in-person registration channels.

Between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260 205 new registrations were recorded, according to the Commission.

Of these, 128 113 voters registered through the Voter Management Devices (VMDs), while 132 092 registered via the online self-service portal.

“The steady increase in registrations can also be attributed to the Online Registration Campaign, which encouraged citizens to register, update and verify their details remotely.

“This campaign ran throughout the month of February 2026 and demonstrated that South Africans are heeding the call to register early and proactively participate in the democratic process.”

The Commission has also scaled up its contact centre to better assist persons requiring information on electoral processes, voter registration and related enquiries.

Government moves to remove barriers to acquiring an ID 

Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs’ partnership with banks on Smart ID cards, aims to make it easier for citizens to ensure they have the necessary Identity Documents.

The partnership on Sunday officially entered its live operational phase, allowing people to apply for Smart ID cards directly at participating bank branches.

Through the programme, South Africans can complete a secure Smart ID application at selected bank branches within minutes using integrated digital systems.

The system allows banks to connect directly to the department’s systems through a secure digital gateway, enabling applications to be processed within five to ten minutes without completing paper forms or making prior bookings.

Instead of travelling long distances to one of the country’s 349 Home Affairs offices, applicants will be able to access services at bank branches in their communities. – SAnews.gov.za