Category: Africa

As South Africa navigates an increasingly complex global environment, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau has assured the public that the country remains firmly on course, with government focused on stimulating investment, industrialisation and combating illicit trade.

“The global environment has been deeply unsettled by the ongoing Middle East War and its associated disruptions to supply chains of energy, fertilizers and petrochemicals,” Tau said.

Presenting his department’s Budget Vote in Cape Town on Tuesday, the Minister said that as a net oil importer, South Africa faces real recessionary risks and threats to industrial competitiveness. 

“Amidst these headwinds and as this budget vote will indicate, we are turning the corner as a country, and as the dtic, our work remains central to this momentum,” Tau said.

Tau said South Africa’s policy environment is now consistent and forward-looking and that Cabinet recently adopted the Industrial Development Strategy (IDS), which directs the country’s industrial policy agenda.

“Our pathways of decarbonisation, diversification, and digitalisation anchor the Industrial Development Strategy, thereby reflecting the reality that South Africa cannot compete in the world of the future using the tools of the past. 

“We are reviewing our Automotive Production Development Plan (APDP2), with a view to stimulating new investments in South Africa and supporting the growth of our component manufacturers,” he said.

Tau said the work of the dtic in implementing localisation is evident in the R86.6 billion in locally manufactured goods and services procured in the 2025/26 financial year.

“For this current financial year, our target is R100 billion in localisation. This is possible through collaboration with our social partners,” he said.

In regard to the systemic challenge of dealing with the illicit economy, which costs the South African economy an estimated R700 billion, equating to roughly 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Tau said critical intervention is being made by the National Consumer Commission.

“As a measure to protect consumers from illicit trade in the economy, in this financial year, we will publish a Track-and-Trace mechanism on goods. The mechanism will mainly target illicit trade in tobacco, alcohol, food and consumer appliances,” he said.

Tau said the 2026 South African Investment Conference (SAIC) secured the highest-ever value of investment commitments since its establishment in 2018.

“Domestic firms led the charge, with two-thirds of investments coming from South African companies, which signalled a strong confidence in the local economy. The conference formally launched South Africa’s second investment mobilisation drive, targeting R3 trillion in new investment by 2030.       

“Despite the challenging global trading environment, the country’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Programme continues to make a meaningful contribution towards attracting fixed capital investments. To date, spatial transformation efforts have resulted in 224 operational Investments to the value of more than R31 billion, resulting in 28 821 active jobs created,” he said.

The dtic and its entities have been entrusted with consolidated resources amounting to approximately R130.6 billion over the medium term to advance South Africa’s industrialisation, economic transformation, and investment agenda. – SAnews.gov.za

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo has noted visible operational improvement at the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works in Mogale City, Gauteng, although more work is still required to ensure treated wastewater meets required national standards.

Seitlholo made the remarks during a working visit to Mogale City Local Municipality on Monday, where he met with municipal leaders and inspected wastewater infrastructure affecting the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, due to poor effluent discharged to the Blougatespruit, Bloubankspruit tributaries and the Crocodile River from their wastewater systems.

According to the latest Green Drop Report, Mogale City’s wastewater systems continue to perform poorly overall, with scores below 30%. 

Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works recorded a performance score of 68%, while the Flip Human Wastewater Treatment Works achieved 64% and the Magaliesburg Wastewater Treatment Works performed dismally at 49%.

The Deputy Minister held a stakeholder engagement with the executive mayors of Mogale City Local Municipality, Rand West City Local Municipality and Merafong City Local Municipality to discuss pollution concerns linked to wastewater discharged into the Blougatspruit, Bloubankspruit tributaries and ultimately the Crocodile River.

Seitlholo’s engagement formed part of the department’s ongoing programme to monitor municipal water and wastewater systems, strengthen regulatory compliance, and support municipalities in addressing the problem of water pollution caused by untreated waste released in the water courses in the Rand West region.

During the engagements, mayors expressed their commitment to improve the standard of effluent released into the water courses, as well as the operational improvement of the wastewater infrastructure in their municipalities.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Minister conducted an oversight inspection at the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works, which is currently undergoing refurbishment, to assess the operational status and performance of the infrastructure.

While acknowledging significant improvement in the operations at the plant, he said critical work still needed to be completed, including the refurbishment of non-operational pump stations.

Seitlholo warned that failure to resolve these issues will continue to affect downstream water users, including the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and the Crocodile River system, which feeds into the Hartbeespoort Dam.

The Hartbeespoort Dam serves as a water source for Madibeng Local Municipality and supports irrigation activities managed by the Hartbeespoort Irrigation Board.

“There are major improvements that have been made in most parts of the Wastewater Treatment Works, but there is more to be done to bring the treated effluent to the required standards. In the coming months, the municipality will conclude the dosing of the effluent to remove E. coli bacteria from the treated effluent.

“However, there are other municipalities such as Merafong Local Municipality, which is still in a critical stage as far as the Green Drop assessment is concerned. The Department of Water and Sanitation will continue to work with the municipality to bring a turnaround to the municipality’s wastewater treatment works,” Seitlholo said.

Over the past five years, the department has supported Mogale City through the Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) to help address water and sanitation challenges, including refurbishment work at the Percy Stewart plant.

The municipality has benefited from the WSIG funding for the refurbishment of the Percy Stewart plant, which discharges its effluent into the Blougatespruit and Bloubankspruit.

Executive Mayor of Mogale City, Lucky Sele, acknowledged that although improvements had been made at the wastewater treatment facility, the municipality had regressed in recent Green Drop assessments.

“We have worked tirelessly to bring the plant to functionality, and we hope that in the next Green Drop evaluations, we will be able to do better as the city,” Sele said. –  SAnews.gov.za
 

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has congratulated Mamelodi Sundowns for being crowned the 2026 CAF Champions League winners.

In a statement, the MEC said the crowning of Mamelodi Sundowns as the winners of the CAF Champions League confirms that the team is unparalleled when it comes to continental competitions.

“We are delighted that Masandawana have lifted the elusive trophy again after several attempts since 2016,” he said.

This as the Gauteng team lifted the trophy at the weekend.

MEC Maile further emphasised that the victory solidifies the Gauteng based team’s stature in elite competitions and added that the fact that they finished second on the Betway premiership as well, is an illustration that they are high performance personified.

“Sundowns has been consistent in form and performance throughout this journey and the people of Gauteng, and the country are inspired by this victory,” concluded MEC Maile.

He added that sport remains a powerful tool of promoting social cohesion and nation building and its ability to surpass geographical boundaries and language barriers further positions it as a lever for cultural diplomacy. –SAnews.gov.za

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, says a committee has been set up to ensure that repairs to the fire-damaged section of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital are expedited.

The Minister, together with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, spoke to the media after a visit to the facility which suffered extensive damage during a fire in 2021.

Recently, the hospital came into sharp view when the Public Protector released a report on the hospital which found that repairs had been unduly delayed owing to systemic failures, maladministration and budget underspending.

“As the national Department of Health, the National Treasury, the Premier’s Office in Gauteng, the Provincial Department of Health [and] the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) – who are the developers – we have put up a plan.

“There’s going to be a meeting every Tuesday to look at the plan and that meeting will be chaired by the Premier. They will be sitting, going through the Public Protector’s report and make sure that they fix things.

“But beyond the Public Protector’s report, there are things that we have already started in the national department … We did not just fold our arms. We had to change the manner in which things are procured and that will be part of the work that the committee will be doing,” Motsoaledi said.

The Minister said he had received assurances from the DBSA that the wards in the hospital will be open in August. – SAnews.gov.za

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says South Africa will continue pushing for reforms to global governance institutions while using foreign policy to drive economic growth and development at home. 

Presenting the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s 2026/27 Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Lamola said developing countries continued to face unfair treatment in the global system. 

“The world is changing, but many of its institutions still reflect old patterns of power. Developing countries continue to face unsustainable debt, unequal access to development finance and growing pressure to align with powerful geopolitical blocs.

“South Africa’s responsibility is to advance a fairer and more representative global order. This means continuing to call for reform of the United Nations, especially the Security Council, so that it can respond more effectively to contemporary global challenges,” he said.

Lamola said South Africa’s Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” reflected the country’s commitment to promoting a more inclusive international order.

He said among the outcomes of the Presidency were the G20 Africa Expert Panel Report on Growth, Debt and Development, and the Report of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.

The Minister said South Africa was also working with international partners to establish an International Panel on Inequality through the United Nations General Assembly.

On BRICS, Lamola said the bloc continued to strengthen the voice of the Global South.

“Through BRICS, South Africa will continue to advance reform of global governance institutions and support the development of the new BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy. The expansion of BRICS to 11 members marks a significant milestone in the growing voice of the Global South in international affairs,” he said. 

Lamola also defended South Africa’s position on international law and accountability, saying the country remained committed to protecting multilateral institutions.

“We’ve formed the Hague Group to defend the credibility of international law, hold states accountable for breaches and protect the integrity of the international legal order.

“It was established to rally against complicity, end impunity and support the collective enforcement of international law through concrete measures, including halting arms transfers, blocking weapons shipments, suspending procurement from Israeli firms, ceasing energy exports and pursuing accountability through national and international courts,” Lamola said. 

The Minister said South Africa would continue advocating for nuclear disarmament globally.

“As a country that voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons programme, we continue to advocate for the total elimination of nuclear weapons and will preside over the first Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons later this year,” he said. 

Lamola said South Africa’s foreign policy must ultimately benefit ordinary citizens through economic growth, job creation and trade opportunities.

“Foreign policy must ultimately speak to the lives of our people. Our foreign policy must support inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, sustainable development, peace and security,” he said. 

He said economic diplomacy was already yielding positive results, particularly in agriculture.

“Our economic diplomacy is yielding results, 45 % our processed goods are traded on the continent, including in agriculture. In 2025, South Africa’s agricultural exports reached a record 15.1 billion US dollars. In the first quarter of 2026, farm exports reached 3.7 billion US dollars, an increase of 11% year on year.

“These exports reach markets across Africa, the European Union and Asia. They show how foreign policy can support jobs, production and economic opportunity at home,” the Minister said. 

On migration, Lamola said immigration management must remain lawful and coordinated.

“On migration, this means managing migration lawfully, in a coordinated manner and based on evidence. That law enforcement authorities enforce the law with regard to irregular migration, not private citizens.

“It means the protection of the fundamental rights of every person, secure borders and an immigration system that is insulated from corruption,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za 

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says Africa must urgently accelerate regional integration and intra-African trade to shield the continent from external economic shocks and geopolitical instability.

Delivering the 2026/27 Budget Vote for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Parliament on Tuesday, Lamola said South Africa’s foreign policy remains firmly centred on advancing the interests of the African continent.

“We table this budget at a time when international cooperation is under sustained pressure from unilateralism, economic coercion, wars of aggression, deals of extraction and a winner-takes-all approach to global relations. South Africa cannot afford to shed the responsibilities that come with its history,” he said. 

Lamola said Africa remained heavily dependent on external markets, making the continent vulnerable to global disruptions. 

He said that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential for a common market of 3.4 trillion US dollars and a pathway to diversification, reduced dependence on external markets and greater resilience for economies.

“Yet, intra-African trade remains too low, at just 16% for the continent and 21% for SADC [Southern African Development Community]. This is far below Europe at 68% and Asia at 59%.

“Africa’s trade is also still heavily concentrated outside the continent. Over 50 percent of the continent’s imports and exports are tied to just five economies, all outside of Africa.

“This is the source of our vulnerability to external shocks. It is also why regional integration must move from aspiration to implementation,” he said.

The Minister said South Africa, as Chair of the African Union Ministerial Committee on the Follow-up and Implementation of Agenda 2063, was working to accelerate the continent’s development agenda.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), saying the region must prepare itself for future crises and economic disruptions.

“I have recently hosted the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, where Ministers reflected on the geopolitical developments affecting our region.

“The Ministers agreed that SADC must be better prepared to respond to external shocks, whether they arise from conflict, climate disasters, food and fuel price volatility, public health emergencies or the decisions of powerful actors far beyond our borders,” he said. 

Lamola said Southern Africa’s vast mineral wealth could help drive industrialisation and economic transformation if properly managed.

“Our region is home to 30 percent of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves. We are also home to approximately 50 percent of the world’s cobalt reserves, 20 percent of the world’s graphite reserves and 10 percent of the world’s copper reserves. These resources, if harnessed properly, can propel our region’s structural transformation,” the minister said. 

He said South Africa’s priorities when it assumes full chairship of SADC in August 2026 would include strengthening political cohesion and deepening regional trade integration.

“When South Africa assumes the full Chairship of SADC in August 2026, our priorities will include deepening political cohesion, consolidating the SADC Free Trade Area, reducing non-tariff barriers and building regional value chains in agro-processing, critical minerals beneficiation, pharmaceuticals and other strategic sectors,” he said. 

Lamola also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to peacebuilding efforts on the continent, including in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.

“In all these areas, South Africa discharges its responsibility through diplomacy, mediation, regional solidarity and a firm belief that Africa must shape its own future,” he said.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has been allocated R7.227 billion for the 2026/27 financial year. – SAnews.gov.za 

The Border Management Authority (BMA) says the interception of minibus taxis and buses transporting undocumented foreign nationals has become a major concern within inland operations. 

This, according to the BMA, has necessitated the convening of various stakeholders to strengthen interventions aimed at addressing illegal movements and ensuring compliance with South African laws.

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, will conduct an operational visit to the Beitbridge Port of Entry in Musina on Thursday to monitor activities relating to illegal movements and cross-border operations.

“As part of the visit, Commissioner Masiapato will convene a Port Management Committee meeting involving key law enforcement and border management stakeholders operating in the area, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Traffic Management authorities,” the Border Management Authority said in a statement.

“The Commissioner will also engage with external stakeholders, including bus and taxi operators operating in the Beitbridge area, to streamline operations and strengthen compliance measures aimed at ensuring the lawful movement of people and goods across the border. A site inspection of identified vulnerable areas around Beitbridge will be conducted,” it said.

On Monday, Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Mosa Chabane, called on the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority to urgently visit the Border Post to address the continued illegal entry of undocumented migrants into South Africa. 

Due to the urgency and scale of the matter, the committee will meet on 2 June 2026 with the BMA, Home Affairs and the Cross Border Road Transport Agency on the concerning persistent entry of unroadworthy transport carrying illegal immigrants.

Chabane also condemned the dangerous overloading of the taxis, warning that the consequences could have been catastrophic. 

“If the taxis were involved in an accident, the loss of life would have been unimaginable,” he said.

Chabane also called on the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to consider permanent roadblocks in all ports of entry in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za