Category: Africa

The City of Johannesburg has urged communities to work together to prevent weather-related incidents this Spring.

Spring is considered the rainy season in the province.

“As the Spring rains return, I ask every resident to look after the places we call home.

“Every effort made by you to sweep and remove debris away from drains, report blockages, leaks and fallen trees or participate in neighbourhood cleanups, including helping people in distress, are little actions with a huge impact on keeping our city clean and safe.

“Let’s keep Johannesburg flowing in the right direction this rainy season to protect lives and property,” Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said.

Residents are encouraged to:
•    Clear litter, leaves, and debris from their properties and surrounding areas after rainfall.
•    Dispose of waste responsibly and avoid dumping rubbish into stormwater drains, streams, or open spaces.
•    Refrain from disposing of and/or flushing foreign objects into sewage systems (toilets and domestic drains): items such as sanitary products, wipes, toys, or other solid materials can get lodged in sewer pipes, leading to blockages. In kitchen drains, the build-up of grease and fat over time can restrict the flow of sewage, leading to blockages.
•    Report blocked drains, sewer spillages, flooded roads, and damaged infrastructure to the relevant City entities.
•    Keep children away from stagnant water, flooded areas, rivers, dams, and open stormwater channels where the risk of drowning and waterborne diseases increases significantly.
•    Join community clean-up initiatives that help prevent flooding and environmental pollution.

In a statement, the City assured that entities and departments are on the ground and “ready to respond” to any incidents this season.

“Joburg Water is responsible for maintaining water and sewer infrastructure, attending to bursts and leaks, ensuring the continued provision of safe and reliable drinking water and sanitation services to residents.

“Johannesburg Roads Agency monitors and maintains the City’s road infrastructure, stormwater systems, bridges, culverts, and drainage networks to reduce flooding risks and keep roads safe and accessible,” said the City.

It further added that in the event of severe weather, regional standby teams are in place to monitor and respond to flooded areas, prioritising hazards based on their severity and the availability of resources.

The following preparedness measures have been put in place:
•    Regional Standby Teams: Each region has been allocated a dedicated standby team, equipped with jetvac machines and excavators, ready to assist with rapid road clearing and debris removal.
•    Kerb Inlet Cleaning: Across all regions, teams are actively cleaning blocked kerb inlets with jetvacs to ensure maximum water runoff.
•    Bridge Maintenance: Regional teams will undertake desilting (the removal of suspended silt) and clear rubble from bridges, in strict adherence to environmental law requirements.
City Power, together with other departments, is also on alert.

“Rainy and colder weather may increase electricity demand and affect restoration work due to unsafe or difficult site conditions. Customers are encouraged to reduce unnecessary electricity use, while City Power teams continue attending to outages as safely and quickly as conditions allow. 

“The City’s Disaster Management Centre has finalised its disaster risk reduction and preparedness plans for the 2026 summer campaign. Environment and Infrastructure Services focuses on protecting the City’s natural environment by monitoring pollution, maintaining river systems and wetlands, promoting environmental awareness, and supporting clean and healthy communities. 

“Pikitup plays a critical role in collecting waste, removing illegal dumping, and keeping public spaces clean to prevent litter from entering stormwater systems and causing blockages,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

The Western Cape Government has opened applications for its R7 million Tourism Growth Fund, calling on municipalities, tourism organisations and tourism businesses to submit projects aimed at expanding the province’s attractions, strengthening tourism products, and creating jobs.

The Tourism Growth Fund (TGF) is administered by the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) and provides co-funded grants for high-impact tourism infrastructure, product and business development projects across the province during the 2026/27 financial year.

“Applications are open and there is no fixed closing date. The call will remain open until the available R7 million has been allocated, with applications assessed on a rolling basis,” the department said.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals as early as possible to ensure that their projects can be considered before the available funding is fully committed.

Supporting growth

The fund aims to unlock private and third-party investment, improve the competitiveness of tourism destinations and products and support tourism enterprises to grow and create jobs.

The TGF forms part of the province’s broader objective of growing the tourism economy and contributing to the target of doubling international tourist arrivals to the Western Cape by 2030.

Furthermore, the fund supports collaborative and high-impact initiatives that upgrade or expand visitor infrastructure, develop new or improved tourism products and experiences and strengthen business development and market access for tourism small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

“Projects should address key constraints such as ageing infrastructure, limited market-responsive experiences and uneven geographic spread of tourism activity and should ideally align with high-growth thematic areas such as farm and food, village heritage, wellness escapes, jewel towns and Western Cape trails,” the department said.

Preference may be given to initiatives aligned with high-growth tourism themes, including farm and food tourism, village heritage, wellness escapes, jewel towns and Western Cape trails.

Eligible applicants include Western Cape municipalities and municipal entities responsible for tourism or local economic development, tourism and destination organisations such as local tourism offices, destination management organisations, associations and relevant non-profit organisations, as well as registered tourism businesses and SMMEs operating in the province.

Applicants must be in good standing with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and, where applicable, demonstrate their ability to meet the fund’s co-funding requirements.

Applications and criteria

The fund is structured around three categories: Category A provides support for tourism infrastructure, while Category B focuses on tourism product development. Category C provides support for business development and market readiness.

Applications are subject to a competitive assessment process based on the published criteria, the quality of the proposal, strategic alignment with the fund’s objectives and thematic areas, implementation readiness, projected impact and the availability of funding.

Applicants must apply through the prescribed online Tourism Growth Fund portal and upload all required supporting documentation. Applications submitted by email or delivered by hand will not be considered.

“Applicants must ensure that all sections of the online application are completed in full and that all compulsory supporting documents are submitted, legible and valid. Applications with missing, damaged or illegible documentation cannot be considered.

“The qualifying criteria will be applied strictly. Applicants must, among other requirements, demonstrate that the applying entity has been operating for at least two years, is tax compliant, and is able to submit the required registration and financial documentation,” the department said.

Depending on the nature of the project, the department explained that applicants may also be required to provide proof of co-funding, landowner approval and confirmation that relevant statutory, planning, environmental or heritage approvals are in place or sufficiently advanced.

Applicants are urged to study the full Call for Proposals before starting their submissions and to prepare project proposals in accordance with the prescribed structure.

Proposals should provide details of the applicant’s business or organisational profile, the project, anticipated impact, monitoring and evaluation measures, implementation plan, cash flow and detailed budget.

The fund is expected to support projects that contribute to inclusive tourism growth, particularly in non-metropolitan and underserved areas, while leveraging additional investment and expanding the geographic spread of tourism activity across the province.

“The Fund remains open until the available budget has been fully allocated. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

By William Baloyi

September marks the end of winter in South Africa, and as temperatures rise, our thoughts inevitably drift to a weekend getaway or year-end holiday plans. It is also Tourism Month, a period that invites us to celebrate the beauty, diversity and experiences that make our country a destination worth exploring.

Our country boasts some of the most iconic experiences and adventures, many of which are often only a stone’s throw away.

From the golden hues of a safari across the vast landscapes of the Kruger National Park to the gentle ocean breeze along the shores of Durban and Cape Town, South Africa offers a remarkable tapestry of experiences. Majestic mountains, winding coastlines, vibrant cities, tranquil retreats, and hidden gems tucked away across our provinces offer something to discover in every corner of the country.

As the season changes, there is perhaps no better time to rediscover the beauty on our doorstep and experience, first-hand, the extraordinary destinations that make South Africa a world-class tourism destination.

Yet South Africa’s appeal extends beyond its landscapes and leisure experiences. Our heritage is woven into the places we visit, the stories we tell and the people who have shaped our country. From Robben Island and the Apartheid Museum to the Cradle of Humankind, the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal and the historic streets of Cape Town, our heritage sites offer more than places to visit; they provide windows into where we come from and how our shared history has shaped who we are today.

They invite us not only to explore South Africa, but to understand it, to walk through its history, engage with its diverse cultures and appreciate the stories that have helped shape our national identity.

This appreciation of our natural beauty, cultural heritage and diverse attractions also carries a deeper significance. Tourism is more than simply visiting new places or experiencing the richness of our country; it is an important contributor to livelihoods, local economies and national development. 

Every journey creates opportunities for accommodation providers, tour operators, restaurants, local artisans, guides and small businesses, allowing the benefits of tourism to reach communities across the country. In this way, choosing to explore South Africa is not only an investment in our own experiences, but also in the people, businesses and communities that make our tourism offering possible.

This year’s Tourism Month is observed under the theme “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era”. The theme calls on citizens, young innovators, tourism businesses and partners across the sector to harness digital platforms to expand access to tourism markets, improve the visibility of local destinations and create new opportunities for inclusive growth and job creation.

It also speaks to the modernisation and transformation of the tourism sector, encouraging innovation, digital adoption and new ways of doing business that can enhance competitiveness, unlock new markets and contribute to stronger economic growth. By embracing technology and transforming how we market, experience and deliver tourism, we can build a more inclusive, dynamic and sustainable sector that creates opportunities for more South Africans.

Technology has changed how people discover, plan and experience travel. Increasingly, the tourism journey begins online, through social media, search engines, digital booking platforms and travel content. A video of a waterfall, township experience, hidden beach, hiking trail, cultural festival, or local restaurant or cuisine can influence a traveller’s decision and bring new attention to destinations that may previously have been less visible.

This digital shift presents a significant opportunity for South African tourism. It enables tourism businesses, including small and emerging enterprises, to reach audiences beyond their immediate geographic areas, market their products more effectively and participate more meaningfully in the broader tourism value chain.

Growing tourism is a collective endeavour, and this Tourism Month presents an opportunity for all of us to play our part in making travel within our own country more accessible and meaningful. We commend South African National Parks (SANParks) initiative to open the gates of participating national parks to South Africans for free during SA National Parks Week, from 7 to 13 September 2026. 

The initiative created an opportunity for more families and communities to experience the extraordinary natural heritage on their doorstep. The private sector, too, can help build a stronger culture of domestic travel by offering affordable packages, promoting lesser-known destinations and creating experiences that encourage South Africans to explore beyond their immediate surroundings.

For citizens, the call is equally simple: go out and discover your South Africa. Take a day trip, walk a heritage route, visit a neighbouring province, explore a community tourism experience or spend a weekend discovering a destination you have never seen before. Every journey can tell a story, but it can also create an opportunity for the local guide, the small restaurant, the craftsperson, the accommodation provider and the community whose livelihoods are connected to tourism. When we travel locally, we do more than see our country; we help its communities grow.

Recent tourism statistics indicate that the sector continues to make a meaningful contribution to the economy and job creation. The World Travel and Tourism Council reports that tourism contributes almost 9% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supports about 1.8 million jobs, both directly and indirectly. The tourism industry also creates about one job for every 13 international visitors who come to South Africa.

International tourist arrivals have also continued to improve, with 5 584 473 international tourists having visited South Africa between January and June 2026, which is a 12.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In July this year, South Africa welcomed 991 696 international tourists, which is also a 12.5% growth from July in 2025.

To strengthen tourism’s contribution to the economy, government, communities and the private sector must continue to work together to improve safety, transport connectivity, digital visibility, service quality and affordability. Tourism destinations must not only be attractive, but also accessible, safe, well marketed and welcoming to all visitors.

Tourism Month is therefore both a celebration and a call to action. Every local trip, visitor experience and tourism enterprise contributes to building a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient South African economy. 

Baloyi is the Deputy Government Spokesperson