Winners of the Seventh “TRT World Citizen Awards” Announced

Source: APO

Initiated in 2017 with TRT’s (https://www.TRT.net.tr) vision of “inspiring positive change” and regarded as one of its most significant social responsibility projects, the TRT World Citizen Awards (https://WorldCitizen.TRT.net.tr) were presented for the seventh time this year. The awards, given to individuals from different countries around the world who expand social benefit on a global scale within their respective fields, contribute to sharing their stories with the world and promoting the spread of positive change.

To date, 31 individuals from 17 different countries have been honored with the TRT World Citizen Awards. The seventh edition of the ceremony was held in Istanbul on February 13 with the participation of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that the TRT World Citizen Awards is a highly valuable Project

Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the guest of honor at the TRT World Citizen Awards and delivered the opening remarks, stated that since 2017, the TRT World Citizen Awards have been a highly valuable project drawing attention to global issues and raising awareness. She expressed that the initiative brings together hearts that stand against injustice wherever it occurs in the world, defend human dignity, and strive to make life more beautiful, and emphasized that this initiative is also a strong reflection of TRT’s broadcasting policy, which never ceases to focus on the truth and stands by the truth under all circumstances.

Following the speeches, Sobacı presented Emine Erdoğan with a design inscribed with a verse as a commemorative gift.

Head of Communications Duran emphasized the importance of a fair narrative framework

Speaking at the TRT World Citizen Awards ceremony, Presidential Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran stated that severe humanitarian problems coexist simultaneously with high levels of prosperity in the world.

Thanking TRT for its role in public broadcasting, Duran noted that, as the Directorate of Communications, they are engaged in efforts to articulate Türkiye’s honorable and virtuous stance, challenge injustices, and produce alternative discourses and narratives. Emphasizing the need for a fair narrative framework to emerge, Duran stated that they are striving to achieve this goal.

Director General of TRT Sobacı Stated That TRT Will Strive to Make People’s Stories Visible

Delivering the opening speech of the ceremony, Director General of TRT Mehmet Zahid Sobacı stated that the TRT World Citizen Awards serve as a platform where positive ideas, actions, and courageous hearts are honored. He noted that this platform enables many individuals who take action for humanity to be recognized more closely and to inspire others.

Saying that Türkiye continues its efforts under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sobacı emphasized that, as Türkiye’s public broadcaster, TRT works with all its strength toward this cause. Sobacı underlined that, as the TRT family, they will strive to make the stories of those who uphold this claim visible and their voices heard.

Awards Presented to the Winners

The “World Citizen of the Year” award was presented to Yahya Barzaq, who had been working as a newborn photographer in Gaza and began practicing war photography during the Israel war in order to convey to the world everything that was taking place, and who lost his life in Israeli attacks on September 30, 2025. Barzaq’s award was received by his mother, Yousra Barzaq, from Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The “Lifetime Achievement Award” was presented to Italian architect Raul Pantaleo, who approaches architecture not merely as a field of aesthetic production but as a tool of solidarity and recovery developed in response to social inequalities.

In the “Communicator” category, Ibtihal Aboussaad and Vaniya Agrawal were honored for taking a clear stance regarding the ethical responsibilities of artificial intelligence applications in the technology sector. The “Youth” award was presented to Nigerian environmental activist Amara Nwuneli.

The “Educator” award was presented by TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobacı to Rudayna Abdo, who has made digital education accessible for refugee and disadvantaged children.

The “Accessibility” award was presented to Joohi Tahir, who has created lasting transformation in the field of inclusivity and accessibility within Muslim communities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TRT.

Contact:
Sezin Soylu
sezin.soylu@trt.net.tr

Media files

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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana: 2026 Budget Speech

Source: Government of South Africa

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana: 2026 Budget Speech

Honourable Speaker, Thoko Didiza

Deputy Speaker, Annelie Lotriet

His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa

Honourable Deputy President Paul Mashatile

Cabinet Colleagues

The Budget Council

The Budget Forum

Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago

Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, Edward Kieswetter

Chairperson of the Financial and Fiscal Commission, Patience Mbava

Honourable Members

Fellow South Africans

I have the honour to table the following documents before this House:

The 2026 Division of Revenue Bill

The 2026 Appropriation Bill

The 2025/26 Special Appropriation Bill

The 2026 Estimates of National Expenditure

The 2026 Budget Review

The 2026 Budget Speech

Introduction

Honourable Members, we have reached an important turning point in the management of our public finances.

Five years ago, the outlook was stark.

State Capture had hollowed out critical institutions and weakened state owned entities.

South Africa had been downgraded to junk status by the last of the three major credit rating agencies in 2020.

The devastation of the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the Russia-Ukraine conflict had dealt a blow to global growth.

And in 2023, the Financial Action Task Force had placed South Africa on its grey list.

The warning lights were flashing.

Public finances were under severe strain and growth had stalled.

Faced with this crisis, we chose not to be defined by it. Instead, we turned it into a catalyst for change.

We committed to a clear reform agenda and a disciplined fiscal strategy built on three principles: stabilise debt, invest in infrastructure and spend better.

Today, that commitment has delivered tangible results.

For the first time in 17 years, debt will stabilise and it will continue to fall in the coming years.

The budget deficit has narrowed significantly, and debt-service costs are also falling.

The world has taken notice:

  • South Africa has been removed from the FATF grey list;
  • We secured our first credit rating upgrade in 16 years;
  • And borrowing costs have eased, creating space for growth and development.

These are signals of restored credibility. Of renewed resilience. And of a nation regaining its footing.

The lesson is a simple but powerful one: steady structural reform and responsible public finances are the bedrock of a prosperous and more inclusive South Africa. 

Economic Outlook

Honourable Members, allow me to turn to the global and domestic economic outlook.

Global outlook

The global economy is projected to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2026, broadly in line with last year’s outcome.

Advanced economies are expected to grow moderately, while emerging markets will continue to anchor global momentum. India and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, are forecast to grow more strongly, supported by resilient domestic demand.

These developments are unfolding within an unprecedented global trade environment characterised by persistent geopolitical tensions and shifting trade policies which are reshaping supply chains.

In response we need to diversify our trading portfolios, secure new markets, reduce vulnerability to external shocks and position ourselves to benefit from emerging global growth centers.

Domestic outlook

On the domestic front, our growth outlook is steadily improving.

We project real economic growth of 1.6 per cent in 2026, an improvement from the 1.4 per cent estimated in 2025.

This improvement reflects the continued strengthening of economic performance from the second half of 2025.

Over the medium term, growth is expected to average 1.8 per cent, reaching 2 per cent by 2028.

Persistent logistics bottlenecks, weak public infrastructure and the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease continue to weigh on economic activity and pose risks to the outlook.

In light of this, rapid inclusive growth remains our only durable path forward.

Our efforts to promote faster economic growth continue to revolve around the four pillars:

  • Maintain macroeconomic stability,
  • Implement structural reforms,
  • Invest in growth-enhancing infrastructure, and
  • Build state capacity

These pillars are the foundation upon which inclusivity is built, and how we ensure that growth is faster.

 Fiscal Strategy 

Madam Speaker, a key facet of macroeconomic stability is prudent fiscal management that advances socioeconomic obligations.

Our fiscal strategy involves four key features:

  • Support economic growth by accelerating public investment.
  • Improve the efficiency of public spending.
  • Improve the composition of spending by containing the public-service wage bill while increasing capital investment.
  • Entrench sustainable public finances with a principles-led fiscal anchor.

We are already reaping the fruits of this strategy.

The consolidated budget deficit has narrowed to 4.5 per cent of GDP for 2025/26, an improvement from 4.8 per cent that we estimated in the 2025 Budget. The deficit falls to 4 per cent in 2026/27 and 3.1 per cent the year after.

Gross debt stabilises as a share of GDP in 2025/26, at 78.9 per cent. In 2026/27 it falls further, to 77.3 per cent of GDP and declines to 76.5 per cent by 2028/29.

The slightly higher debt peak this year reflects weaker nominal GDP growth and our decision to take advantage of strong investor demand in domestic and global markets by increasing issuance in 2025/26.

The main budget primary surplus for 2025/26 reaches 0.9 per cent of GDP.

In the next financial year it expands to 1.6 per cent, and then to 1.9 per cent in 2027/28. By 2028/29, we see it reaching 2.3 per cent.

Honourable Speaker, to sustain fiscal discipline, we intend to continue the engagements on fiscal anchors.

We aim to introduce a proposal for a principle-based fiscal anchor in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement after thorough consultation in Cabinet, Parliament and with the public.

Just as inflation targeting provided clarity and credibility to monetary policy, the fiscal anchor aims to entrench fiscal credibility.

Implementing Structural Reforms

Madam Speaker, the structural reforms to lift growth we are implementing alongside this fiscal strategy reflect an understanding that the state should adjust to the needs of the national economy in a flexible way. Operation Vulindela must be understood in this context.

In terms of energy reforms, we are stabilising electricity supply and building a competitive, reliable energy market.

Regulatory reforms in this sector have unlocked significant private investment, accelerating generation capacity and driving the transition towards cleaner, renewable power.

In logistics, we are dismantling bottlenecks in rail and ports that have throttled exports and raised the cost of doing business.

Our intention is to bolster public-private investment in rail operations while retaining state ownership of rail infrastructure.

The objective is to move goods faster, cheaper and more reliably.

Reforms in local government include shifting to a performance-linked utility model for water and electricity services.

This is aimed at strengthening financial sustainability, accountability and transparency.

Spatial and housing reforms focus on restructuring our cities to ensure that people have access to affordable housing located close to centers of economic activity.

This is a systematic effort to remove the structural blockages that have held back growth for many years.

Revenue trends and outlook

Madam Speaker, over the past three years, our tax system has demonstrated resilience despite slow economic growth.

For 2025/26, the gross tax revenue is revised up by R21.3 billion compared to the estimate in the 2025 Budget.

Higher-than-expected net VAT, corporate income tax and dividends tax collections, improved the in-year outlook.

As a result, government has decided to withdraw the R20 billion in tax increases provisionally included in the May 2025 Budget.

The improving fiscal position allows us enough room to withdraw the proposed tax increases, without putting fiscal sustainability or economic activity at risk. 

We are also proposing additional tax measures to ease the financial burden on households and businesses, by adjusting personal income tax brackets and rebates fully in line with inflation.

Madam Speaker, our national savings and investment rate is far below the levels needed to truly create generational wealth and support local investment in the economy.

To encourage South Africans to save more, we propose that:

  • The tax-free annual investment limit be increased from R36 000 to R46 000 per year.
  • The limit to retirement fund deductions be raised from R350 000 to R430 000, allowing individuals to invest more each year on a tax-free basis.

Madam Speaker each year we ask South Africans to send in their “Tips for the Budget”. This year more than 1,200 citizens sent us their opinions and suggestions.

Renette Oosthuizen, a small business owner from Gauteng, had this tip:

“Minister Godongwana, please increase the VAT registration threshold for small businesses to R2 million. The R1 million threshold has not kept pace with the cost of doing business.”

Renette, you will be happy to know that in this budget the compulsory VAT registration threshold increases from R1 million to R2.3 million.

We are taking other measures to support small businesses:

  • We are raising the capital gains tax exemption for the sale of a small business for older persons from R1.8 million to R2.7 million. This applies to small businesses worth R15 million instead of the R10 million previously. It will enable small business owners to receive more tax relief when they sell their businesses.

Madam Speaker, increases to certain taxes are unavoidable.

For 2026/27, excise duties on tobacco will be increased in line with inflation.

This includes excise duty on electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems.

As a result:

  • The tax on a 20-pack of cigarettes rises from R22.81 to R23.58.
  • Pipe tobacco rises by 28 cents per 25 grams, and cigarette tobacco by 87 cents per 50 grams.
  • Cigars rise by R4.56 per 23 grams.

The excise on alcoholic beverages also rises by inflation.

As such:

  • A 340 millilitre can of beer or cider increases by 8 cents.
  • A 750 millilitre bottle of wine goes up by 15 cents.
  • A 750 millilitre bottle of spirits will increase by R3.20.

In terms of fuel levies, the total increase will also be in line with inflation.

  • The general fuel levy will go up by 9 cents per litre for petrol and 8 cents per litre for diesel.
  • The carbon fuel levy will go up by 5 cents per litre for petrol and 6 cents for diesel.
  • The Road Accident Fund levy will increase by 7 cents per litre.

Honourable Members, the strong revenue collection this year, and the overall resilience of tax administration, reflects an efficient and agile tax administration, continually improving through targeted compliance initiatives.

However, the scourge of illicit trade represents a major threat to these hard-won gains. It threatens our economy, endangers consumers, and robs the fiscus of billions in revenue.

The recent announcement by a major tobacco producer, that will close its local operations, is a stark reminder of the impact of illicit trade on jobs and the overall economy.

The sophisticated and organised nature of illicit operations demands an intensified effort to curb this trade, secure prosecutions and dismantle its supply chains.

SARS has already intensified its efforts. It will also continue its joint operations with the Border Management Agency, the SAPS and the defence force to stop the illicit trade in tobacco.

Financial Sector Reforms

Madam Speaker, National Treasury continues to work on ensuring that financial services customers are treated fairly and the sector operates optimally.

One key issue is the more than R88 billion of unclaimed financial assets and benefits.

Following recommendations from the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, National Treasury will introduce reforms to manage these unclaimed benefits through the creation of a central administrator responsible for record keeping and tracing.

Crypto Assets

We will also shortly publish draft regulations under the Currency and Exchanges Act, to include crypto assets in our capital flow management regime.

Crypto assets will now be governed in the cross-border movement of capital framework, which will be complementary to regulations already in place to prevent the use of crypto assets to launder money and commit fraud.

Data infrastructure

The use of data and artificial intelligence has become critical for the future development of economies worldwide. As such data infrastructure should be considered as critical as electricity, ports and transport networks.

This year we will be exploring options to help data centres and related infrastructure to expand these investments in South Africa and solidify our role as a regional hub for these technologies.

Trade

One of the main policy objectives is to ensure that the financial sector supports regional integration and the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.

National Treasury is easing restrictions on the cross-border flows of capital by enabling domestic asset managers to manage portfolios of foreign assets.

This will improve competitiveness and allow South Africa to function as a hub for investment into the continent.

Payments

National Treasury, working with the South African Reserve Bank, has prioritised modernising the national payments system and innovation in digital finance.

The Payments Ecosystem Modernisation (PEM) has achieved its first key milestone with the establishment of a Payments Utility, which was completed in November last year with the establishment of PayInc.

PayInc will provide open, shared digital payments infrastructure to support operability across various payment providers, serving as the main platform for high-value and retail transactions.

Targeted and responsible savings

Madam Speaker, in the Budget last May we promised that spending priorities would not be funded through tax increases if this could be avoided.

We have kept that promise, through our commitment to finding savings from unproductive expenditure, closing leakages, and rooting out inefficiencies.

I am happy to announce that R12 billion in savings have been identified over the medium term.

Targeted and responsible savings are not a once-off initiative.

They will be an ongoing and entrenched part of the budget process going forward to weed out inefficiencies and low-performing programmes.

Every programme and every allocation must demonstrate value, efficiency and accountability.

As part of this process, the Public Transport Network Grant has been scaled down, by about R8.4 billion, over the next three years.

The grant has not improved access to public transport relative to the investments made.

The grant will, however, continue to help cover indirect costs in cities that run bus services.

Enhanced targeting of social grants authentication of beneficiaries to reduce fraud in the grant system will yield R3 billion of savings.

The South African Social Security Agency has upgraded its biometric and income verification processes, resulting in nearly 35 000 grants being identified as incorrect or fraudulent, and therefore terminated.

Honourable Members, we are committed to improving access for the many South Africans deserving and eligible for social support.

Abuse of the system will not be tolerated.

The remaining savings from TARS are reallocated to strengthen capacity in the judiciary, border management, defence and Stats SA.

Madam Speaker, to secure the skills essential to a modern economy, government is reforming the national skills ecosystem.

The skills development levy paid by employers to fund Sector Education and Training Authorities, or SETAs, and the National Skills Fund, have not yielded the outcomes we expected.

We must improve how we equip individuals ready to enter the labour market.

Beyond providing them a theoretical understanding, the government will explore ways to reorganise training by introducing a dual-training skills acquisition system.

We are also looking at how institutions with the capacity to train job-seekers and graduates can tool them with artisanal skills.

Spending Priorities 

Madam Speaker, in 2026/27, we will spend R2.67 trillion.

This spending includes a proposed R5 billion in the contingency reserve to cater to disasters declared since the MTBPS.

Government spending remains highly redistributive. The social wage accounts for more than 60 per cent of non-interest spending over the medium term.

Basic education, health and social protection constitute 70.3 per cent of the social wage in 2026/27, providing support to 13.6 million school children, healthcare services to 84 per cent of the population and social grants to 26.5 million beneficiaries.

Social grants

For 2026/27, social grants are allocated R292.8 billion, enabling the following increases:

  1. The old age grant, disability grant and care dependency grant rise by R80 in April 2026, to R2 400.
  2. The war veterans grant also increases by R80 to R2 420.
  3. The foster care grant goes up to R1 290 in April, a R40 increase and to R1 300 in October, a R10 increase.
  4. The child support grant and grant-in-aid grant increase by R20 to R580.

The social relief of distress continues in its current form over the year ahead.

Peace and security

Madam Speaker, the President in his State of the Nation Address announced the deployment of the defence force alongside police to fight illegal mining and gangsterism.

To support this and other efforts to intensify law and order, spending on peace and security increases from R268.2 billion in 2025/26 to R291.2 billion in 2028/29.

The Border Management Authority has been allocated an additional R990 million over the medium term to build capacity by filling 738 positions.

R2.7 billion is added to defence over the medium term to improve operations, including to maintain the South African Air Force’s fighter capability.

In addition we have allocated R1 billion to the police service, and another R1 billion to the SANDF, through the CARA fund for the fight against organised crime.

Over the medium term, R883.8 million is shifted from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to the Office of the Chief Justice.

This will enable the Office of the Chief Justice to manage its own budgets, enhancing its independence from the Executive from the first of April.

Similar arrangements for the funding of Parliament are being undertaken, in the spirit of separation of powers.

An additional R687 million has been allocated to increase capacity in the judiciary.

The President also announced the establishment of specialised courts. Once the costing is finalised, allocation for this will be considered later in the year.

For the various commissions of inquiry underway that are unlikely to finish within their initial deadlines, funding will also be made available when the costs become clearer.

Special appropriation

Madam Speaker, the fiscal framework tabled in the 2025 MTBPS included R8.5 billion that we added to the contingency reserve.

The special appropriation bill tabled today allocates these funds.

The special appropriation bill also includes, amongst others:

  • R5.8 billion for PRASA’s rolling stock fleet renewal programme;
  • R1 billion for South Africa’s share subscription to the international finance corporation; and
  • R700 million for the Department of Communications and Digital Technology.

Division of revenue

Madam Speaker, in 2026/27, 48.9 per cent of nationally raised revenue is allocated to national government, 41.7 per cent to provinces and 9.4 per cent to local government.

The split translates to R951,7 billion for national government, R810.5 billion for provinces and R182,3 billion for municipalities.

Additional allocations to the provincial equitable share include R342 million to progressively equalise Grade R teacher pay, R340 million for the early retirement and voluntary exit programme, and R319 million for the presidential employment initiative.

R1.5 billion is added to the provincial roads maintenance grant in 2026/27 to fund the carry-through costs of the disasters that occurred between April 2024 and June 2025.

Basic Education

In terms of consolidated expenditure, spending on education remains the largest component at 23.7 per cent over the medium term.

Basic education receives R22.7 billion for carry-through costs announced in May 2025. Early childhood development receives the majority of these funds.

R9.9 billion supports employee compensation and other pressures in education.

Early childhood development grant receives an additional R12.8 billion over the next three years, expanding service to an additional 300 000 children.

This will also maintain the increased per child, per-day subsidy of R24 introduced in 2025/26.

The increased allocations align the National School Nutrition Programme to food inflation to continue providing meals to over 9.9 million learners in almost 20 000 schools.

Health

Madam Speaker, R26 billion is allocated to provinces to bolster our HIV/AIDS programme such as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and the provision of anti-retro virals.

As part of the targeted and responsible savings initiative, provinces will repurpose some of their funding to meet obligations towards PEPFAR. This follows the funding withdrawal by the United States.

R21.3 billion is allocated to the health sector over the medium term for the compensation and employment of doctors, and to make up for shortfalls in goods and services expenditure.

Local Government

Madam Speaker, of the allocated funding to local government, R86.9 billion is to support the provision of free basic services to 11.2 million households.

Local government is the sphere where communities experience the state most directly. Yet many municipalities are in financial and operational distress and therefore unable to deliver services as they should.

Audit outcomes highlight this unacceptable reality: 63 per cent of municipalities are in financial distress, and the proportion of clean audits remains unacceptably low.

A central challenge with municipalities is that they not only differ in capacity, but also in their revenue-raising potential.

This demands a more targeted approach to respond to the diverse pressures facing municipalities.

The National Treasury is revitalising support for development of long-term financial plans.

These plans will improve project identification, sustainably plan cash flows and inform financial decisions. This will negate the challenge of unfunded mandates and limited capacity to maintain infrastructure and sustain services.

Further structural reforms are underway including a comprehensive review of the local government fiscal framework.

Together, these reforms will modernise the intergovernmental system and build a more capable, resilient and appropriately differentiated local government sphere.

Metro Trading Services

Honourable Members, municipalities must return to the foundational principle of fiscal integrity.

Revenue collected for a specified function must first sustain that function before any cross-subsidisation can occur.

In reality, this principle is consistently flouted.

For instance, Johannesburg’s water revenue is R11.9 billion but only R1.3 billion is allocated to Joburg Water for capital expenditure.

This has contributed to the massive backlog of R64 billion that is needed to fix water supply problems in the city.

If this practice of collecting revenue from basic services while diverting the funds to unrelated functions continues, maintenance backlogs will grow, services deteriorate and critical infrastructure systems eventually collapse.

To correct the trajectory, R27.7 billion has been allocated over the medium term to a performance-linked reform for metro trading services in electricity, water, sanitation and solid waste. 

This is the first step towards matching revenue collection to reinvestment in the same service.

The reform however goes beyond the performance-based grant structure.

It entrenches operational and financial management reform.

Under the new system, failure to meet reform and operational targets will result in budgets being reduced.

This will strengthen accountability and governance, enabling long-term infrastructure investment.

And supporting the sustainable turnaround of these essential services.

Qualifying municipalities, including eThekwini and City of Johannesburg, have begun implementing Council-approved improvement plans to ring-fence revenue and reinvest in water and electricity.

Municipal Infrastructure Grant Reform

Government is also reforming the municipal infrastructure grant to address persistent underspending, misuse of funds and capacity constraints that hinder effective service delivery in non-metropolitan municipalities.

A split delivery model has been introduced. Municipalities with proven capacity will continue to receive funding directly.

However, where there are serious capacity or governance failures, the delivery will shift to an indirect model.

Capable district municipalities and other accredited implementing agencies will form part of their infrastructure delivery suite.

The intention is to protect citizens from persistent municipal dysfunctions that have long undermined effective service delivery.

Infrastructure

Madam Speaker, infrastructure investment remains the foundation upon which long-term economic growth, improved service delivery and job creation are built.

Government is shifting the composition of spending towards growth-enhancing public infrastructure.

Over the medium-term, public-sector spending on infrastructure will exceed R1 trillion.

Of this: 

  • R577.4 billion will be spent by state owned companies and other public entities;
  • R217.8 billion by provinces; and
  • R205.7 billion by municipalities.

By sector, transport and logistics make up the largest share.

Transport, Water and Energy

SANRAL will focus on strengthening long-term network resilience. This includes the annual maintenance of approximately 27,000 kilometers and the resurfacing of 2,000 kilometers of road.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will continue implementing its corridors recovery programme and modernising core infrastructure to rebuild a reliable, affordable rail service for commuters.

This will enable the increase in annual passenger trips from 77 million in 2024/25 to between 250 and 450 million over the medium term.

In energy, investment will focus on improving security of supply and mobilise private investment.

Since the MTBPS, I am pleased to announce that National Treasury together with the World Bank are making significant progress with the Credit Guarantee Vehicle.

The CGV, which will support massive investments in transmission infrastructure, will be incorporated as a company in the coming months. Next, we expect development partners to confirm their capital participation.

Thereafter, the CGV will apply for a license from the Prudential Authority. We are targeting the CGV to be operational later this year.

In water, investments are directed towards high-impact bulk water augmentation schemes, refurbishment of ageing infrastructure and the completion of strategic projects that support economic nodes, agriculture and household supply.

Honourable Members, we continue to implement reforms to unlock greater private sector participation, enhance spending efficiency and shorten delivery timelines.

Public-Private Partnerships

The amendment of the PPP regulations has enabled greater private sector participation by streamlining procedural requirements, closing regulatory gaps and clarifying institutional roles. 

The pipeline is projects is growing. Currently, 63 projects are at different stages of development.

Among the most advanced are the six border posts project which will ease congestion, lift regional trade flows and upgrade key inland border posts.

We expect them to reach financial closure later this year.

Similarly, the process of procuring a new vendor for the Gautrain rapid rail link system is advanced.

Conclusion of these projects will mark the first closure of major PPP transactions in more than five years.

Public institutions should increasingly see PPPs as a viable alternative method for delivery, particularly in cases where funding limitations or capacity constraints hinder effective implementation.

To further unlock PPP opportunities across government, work is underway to finalise the new PPP regulations for municipalities.

The final regulations will be published by 30 June 2026.

Budget Facility for Infrastructure

The budget facility for infrastructure continues to play a pivotal role in enabling funding of strategic infrastructure projects.

Since shifting from annual to quarterly windows last year, the BFI has approved R21.9 billion for five major projects.

These include Transnet’s coal and iron ore corridor projects, which will restore rail capacity to 77 million tonnes for the coal line and 60 million tonnes for the ore line, and the Polokwane regional wastewater programme.

As part of the efforts to position infrastructure as an investable asset class, government issued an infrastructure bond in 2025 raising R11.8 billion to support its contribution in BFI approved projects.

The BFI call for proposals for the 2026/27 cycle opens today. The detailed circular has been published on the National Treasury website.

We call on public institutions in key sectors of the economy to submit proposals with funding gaps and strategic value, for consideration.

This includes critical social infrastructure such as courts, correctional facilities, police stations and even the development of new tertiary institutions like the proposed Ekurhuleni University and student accommodation, as well as health care facilities such as the Dr George Mukhari Academic and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.

Conclusion

Madam Speaker, the progressive realisation of the fundamental socioeconomic rights enshrined in our constitution is essential to our mission to deal with inequality, poverty and unemployment.

It is a mission that demands that we make prudent fiscal choices.

With the health of our public finances comes a greater degree of economic freedom and sovereignty.

It is this sovereignty that gradually frees us from over-reliance on external debt.

It shields us from the inherent uncertainties of global finance and global politics.

As we have witnessed over the last few years, the established norms of the global order can shift and be undermined.

To achieve our ultimate goal of bettering the lives of our people we must continue pursuing this sovereignty.

A budget and a fiscal strategy that advances inclusive growth and the sustainability of public finances is a crucial part of achieving this greater freedom.

It moves us closer to fulfilling our constitutional promise to do all that it takes for our people to live with dignity and prosperity.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to the President and Deputy President for their support and leadership.

Thank you to the Deputy Ministers of Finance, and the excellent National Treasury team, led by the Director-General.

My sincere thanks to the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank.

Let me also thank my colleagues in the Ministers’ Committee on the Budget and in the Budget Council who have shared the task of difficult trade-offs that have to be made.

Similarly, to the Parliamentary Committees of Finance and Appropriations, I express my sincere appreciation.

To my wife and family, it is your encouragement and sacrifice that makes this work possible. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, as Commissioner Kieswetter prepares to take his leave at the end of April, I ask this House to join me in thanking him for seven years of patriotic, dedicated service. 

Commissioner, your unwavering integrity and commitment to operational excellence is an example to all of us.

Lastly, I thank every South African. This Budget reflects our shared journey and the belief that together we can build a more equal, more prosperous economy.

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Disability and access to justice in four African countries: strong laws, weak in practice

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Azwihangwisi Judith Mphidi, Adjunct Academic, University of South Africa

South Africa has a reputation as one of the most progressive countries on the African continent when it comes to disability rights.

It has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and adopted laws aimed at protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

But is it truly a disability-friendly country, especially within its criminal justice system?

This question forms the core of recent research. In it I examined South Africa’s disability-friendliness in the justice system, drawing comparative insights from Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana.

I am a researcher with a focus on policing, criminal justice and social justice.

A pattern emerged across all four countries: solid legislative frameworks exist, but implementation lags badly. There are structural barriers, such as inaccessible infrastructure and lack of transport options. And there are institutional factors, like weak enforcement and inadequate sensitivity training.

Societal stigma also plays a part. This is particularly true for people with invisible disabilities, who are largely overlooked in policy and practice.

I argue that in this technological era, it is not impossible to allocate resources to improve services.

I found that South Africa’s legal framework is more comprehensive and advanced than the other three countries. But all four face similar challenges in practice.


Read more: South Africa needs to rethink how it measures intellectual and developmental disabilities – what’s lacking


South Africa’s legal framework: progressive yet incomplete

South Africa’s constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination based on disability. It guarantees access to healthcare, education and employment.

Laws such as the Employment Equity Act and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act insist on reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2015) outlines a strategy to eliminate barriers.

Despite these progressive laws, the criminal justice system faces practical challenges.

Firstly, many courtrooms, police stations and legal procedures remain physically inaccessible to those with mobility impairments.

Secondly, communication support services such as sign language interpreters and materials in Braille or simplified legal language are not always available. It’s often left to individual officials to arrange help.

Thirdly, there’s still societal stigma and discrimination in the justice system. Some law enforcement, prosecution and judiciary personnel have negative attitudes to disability – especially invisible disabilities such as intellectual, psycho-social, or communication impairments.

People with these disabilities are often misunderstood, denied the help they need, or even excluded from legal proceedings.

Fourth, there is inadequate training for criminal justice personnel on disability rights and needs. As a result many do harm without realising it, undermining trust in the justice system.


Read more: Disabled people in Africa get a raw deal. What’s been done to fix this


Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana

Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana also have legal frameworks that affirm the rights of people with disabilities.

All have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and have disability laws aimed at fostering inclusion.

Nigeria ratified the convention in 2007 (and the optional protocol in 2010) and passed the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 2018. The act prohibits discrimination, mandates accessibility, and establishes a national commission for enforcement.

Kenya ratified the UN convention in 2008, integrating it via Article 2(6) of its 2010 constitution. It has the Persons with Disabilities Act (2003, amended) focusing on inclusion in education, employment and public services.

Ghana ratified the convention and optional protocol in 2012, after signing in 2007. The Persons with Disability Act (Act 715 of 2006) promotes rights to education, health, employment and accessibility.

However, like South Africa, there are gaps in enforcement, accessibility and practical steps to accommodate people with disabilities.

In Nigeria, courthouses and police facilities are often inaccessible. And people with intellectual or mental health disabilities often struggle to understand and communicate within the legal process.

Reports of mistreatment and wrongful detention, especially those with psychosocial disabilities, are not uncommon. A notable case highlighted the denial of proper accommodations for a visually impaired person accused of theft.

Kenya’s Persons with Disabilities Act mandates accessible public buildings, including police stations and courts. Yet many facilities remain inaccessible.

There aren’t enough trained personnel who understand the needs of people with disabilities. And public transport – critical for accessing justice – is not always equipped to carry people with mobility impairments.

Ghana’s Disability Act (2006) provides a strong legal foundation, complemented by ratification of the UN convention.

But many public facilities remain inaccessible after the legislated compliance period.

Police misconduct towards people with disabilities, especially those with mental health conditions, has been documented.

Detention conditions are sometimes inhumane. Many people, particularly with psychosocial disabilities, face wrongful imprisonment without fair legal representation.

In all four countries the justice systems do more to accommodate visible disabilities, including mobility or sensory impairments. They neglect intellectual, psychosocial and communication disabilities. This neglect results in misunderstanding, exclusion and discriminatory outcomes.

Cases such as the tragic deaths in South Africa’s Life Esidimeni mental health crisis and incidents of sexual violence against women with disabilities in Kenya and Nigeria highlight the grave consequences of systemic neglect.

They also underscore the urgent need for reforms not only in legal provisions but also in attitudes, resources and operational practices.


Read more: Nigeria’s 2027 election can set a model for disability inclusion. Here’s how


Moving forward: key recommendations for South Africa

South Africa’s strengths in disability rights legislation provide a foundation to build a more inclusive criminal justice system. However, closing the gap between law and lived experience requires focused action:

Enforcement and oversight: Regular audits of courts, police stations and correctional facilities for accessibility compliance must be mandated and resourced. Disability-specific expertise within oversight bodies can improve accountability.

Disability training: Ongoing, mandatory training on disability rights is essential. Collaborating with organisations for disabled people ensures training reflects lived realities.

Standard accommodations: Provision of sign language interpreters, accessible legal documents, and trauma-informed procedures must be codified and resourced. This must include invisible disabilities.

Inclusive policy development: Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations must be part of making and monitoring policy.

Public awareness and anti-stigma campaigns: Changing societal attitudes is key to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.

Regional collaboration: Sharing best practices and harmonising standards can accelerate progress across the continent.


Read more: Traditional beliefs inform attitudes to disability in Africa. Why it matters


Next steps

Comparing South Africa to Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana reveals common challenges and highlights the need for systemic, coordinated change.

Disability justice is not solely a matter of legal texts. It’s a complex interplay of attitudes, institutional practices and social inclusion. The approach must address physical, psychological, and social barriers to deliver justice for all citizens.

– Disability and access to justice in four African countries: strong laws, weak in practice
– https://theconversation.com/disability-and-access-to-justice-in-four-african-countries-strong-laws-weak-in-practice-263987

Annonce des lauréats de la septième édition des « TRT World Citizen Awards »

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Lancés en 2017 avec la vision de TRT (https://www.TRT.net.tr) d’«inspirer le changement positif» et considérés comme l’un de ses projets de responsabilité sociale les plus importants, les TRT World Citizen Awards (https://WorldCitizen.TRT.net.tr) ont été décernés pour la septième fois cette année. Ces prix, attribués à des individus de différents pays du monde qui étendent le bénéfice social à l’échelle mondiale dans leurs domaines respectifs, contribuent à partager leurs histoires avec le monde et à promouvoir la diffusion du changement positif.

À ce jour, 31 personnes originaires de 17 pays différents ont été honorées par les TRT World Citizen Awards. La septième édition de la cérémonie s’est tenue à Istanbul le 13 février en présence d’Emine Erdoğan, l’épouse du président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Emine Erdoğan, l’épouse du président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a déclaré que les TRT World Citizen Awards constituent un projet de grande valeur

Emine Erdoğan, l’épouse du président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, invitée d’honneur des TRT World Citizen Awards et auteure du discours d’ouverture, a déclaré que depuis 2017, les TRT World Citizen Awards constituent un projet de grande valeur attirant l’attention sur les enjeux mondiaux et sensibilisant l’opinion publique. Elle a exprimé que l’initiative rassemble les cœurs qui s’opposent à l’injustice où qu’elle se produise dans le monde, défendent la dignité humaine et s’efforcent de rendre la vie plus belle, et a souligné que cette initiative est également un reflet puissant de la politique de diffusion de TRT, qui ne cesse jamais de se concentrer sur la vérité et se tient du côté de la vérité en toutes circonstances.

À l’issue des discours, Sobacı a offert à Emine Erdoğan un objet gravé d’un verset en guise de cadeau commémoratif.

Le directeur de la Communication Duran a souligné l’importance d’un cadre narratif équitable

S’exprimant lors de la cérémonie des TRT World Citizen Awards, le directeur présidentiel de la Communication Burhanettin Duran a déclaré que de graves problèmes humanitaires coexistent simultanément avec des niveaux élevés de prospérité dans le monde.

Remerciant TRT pour son rôle dans la diffusion publique, Duran a noté qu’en tant que Direction de la Communication, ils sont engagés dans des efforts pour articuler la position honorable et vertueuse de la Türkiye, contester les injustices et produire des discours et récits alternatifs. Soulignant la nécessité de l’émergence d’un cadre narratif équitable, Duran a déclaré qu’ils s’efforcent d’atteindre cet objectif.

Le directeur général de TRT Sobacı a déclaré que TRT s’efforcera de rendre visibles les histoires des personnes

Prononçant le discours d’ouverture de la cérémonie, le directeur général de TRT Mehmet Zahid Sobacı a déclaré que les TRT World Citizen Awards servent de plateforme où les idées positives, les actions et les cœurs courageux sont honorés. Il a noté que cette plateforme permet à de nombreuses personnes qui agissent pour l’humanité d’être reconnues de plus près et d’inspirer les autres.

Affirmant que la Türkiye poursuit ses efforts sous la direction du président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sobacı a souligné qu’en tant que radiodiffuseur public de la Türkiye, TRT travaille de toutes ses forces pour cette cause. Sobacı a souligné qu’en tant que famille TRT, ils s’efforceront de rendre visibles les histoires de ceux qui défendent cette revendication et de faire entendre leurs voix.

Remise des prix aux lauréats

Le prix « Citoyen du monde de l’année » a été décerné à Yahya Barzaq, qui travaillait comme photographe de nouveau-nés à Gaza et a commencé à pratiquer la photographie de guerre pendant la guerre israélienne afin de transmettre au monde tout ce qui se passait, et qui a perdu la vie dans des attaques israéliennes le 30 septembre 2025. Le prix de Barzaq a été reçu par sa mère, Yousra Barzaq, des mains d’Emine Erdoğan, l’épouse du président Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Le « Prix pour l’ensemble de la carrière » a été décerné à l’architecte italien Raul Pantaleo, qui aborde l’architecture non pas simplement comme un domaine de production esthétique, mais comme un outil de solidarité et de rétablissement développé en réponse aux inégalités sociales.

Dans la catégorie « Communicateur », Ibtihal Aboussaad et Vaniya Agrawal ont été honorées pour avoir pris une position claire concernant les responsabilités éthiques des applications d’intelligence artificielle dans le secteur technologique. Le prix « Jeunesse » a été décerné à l’activiste environnementale nigériane Amara Nwuneli.

Le prix « Éducateur » a été remis par le directeur général de TRT Mehmet Zahid Sobacı à Rudayna Abdo, qui a rendu l’éducation numérique accessible aux enfants réfugiés et défavorisés.

Le prix « Accessibilité » a été décerné à Joohi Tahir, qui a créé une transformation durable dans le domaine de l’inclusivité et de l’accessibilité au sein des communautés musulmanes.

Distribué par APO Group pour TRT.

Contact :
Sezin Soylu
sezin.soylu@trt.net.tr

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Lançado o Mecanismo de Financiamento de Infra-estruturas em África para reforçar a soberania financeira continental

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

Os Chefes de Estado e de Governo africanos lançaram formalmente, a 14 de Fevereiro de 2026, o Mecanismo de Financiamento de Infra-estruturas em África (AIFF), uma plataforma coordenada e liderada por África, concebida para acelerar a preparação e facilitação do financiamento de projectos prioritários de infra-estruturas transfronteiriças, em conformidade com a Agenda 2063.

O lançamento ocorreu durante o Terceiro Diá. Presidencial de Alto Nível da Aliança das Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas (AAMFI), realizado à margem da 39.ª Cimeira da União Africana, subordinado ao tema: “Reforçar a Arquitectura Financeira Africana para Financiar a Agenda 2063.”

Realizado sob o patrocínio de Sua Excelência John Dramani Mahama, Presidente da República do Gana e Campeão da União Africana para as Instituições Financeiras da UA, o Diá. reforçou o compromisso de África em traduzir a soberania financeira em mecanismos operacionais capazes de mobilizar capital de longo prazo em grande escala.

A Agenda 2063 continua a enfrentar constrangimentos financeiros impulsionados por mercados de capitais fragmentados, prémios elevados de custo de capital, financiamento de longo prazo limitado e dependência persistente de sistemas financeiros externos que não reflectem totalmente as realidades de desenvolvimento de África. Nesse contexto, os líderes africanos enfatizaram a necessidade de reforçar as Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas (AMFIs) existentes, acelerando simultaneamente a operacionalização das Instituições Financeiras da União Africana.

“África tem reservas de capital interno superiores a 2,5 biliões de dólares”, afirmou o Presidente Mahama. “O desafio não é a disponibilidade de capital, mas sim a forma como o investimos intencionalmente em infra-estruturas, industrialização e criação de emprego para concretizar a Agenda 2063 e a Zona de Comércio Livre Continental Africana.”

Sublinhou a importância de reduzir a dependência de sistemas de financiamento fragmentados que avaliam de forma errada o risco de África e apelou a uma arquitectura financeira continental coerente, capaz de financiar o desenvolvimento de África de forma sustentável.

Em representação da Comissão da União Africana, S. Ex.ª a Sr.ª Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Comissária para o Desenvolvimento Económico, Comércio, Turismo, Indústria e Minerais, reafirmou o compromisso da UA em reforçar a coordenação financeira continental:

“O lançamento da AIFF é uma demonstração poderosa do que pode ser alcançado quando a vontade política e a coordenação institucional convergem. Estamos confiantes de que este Mecanismo contribuirá de forma significativa para colmatar o défice de financiamento de infra-estruturas em África, estimado em aproximadamente 221 mil milhões de dólares por ano durante o período de 2023 a 2030.”

Ao proferir o discurso de abertura, Samaila Zubairu, Presidenta e Director Executivo da Sociedade Financeira Africana e Presidente cessante da AAMFI, sublinhou a importância da coordenação da mobilização de capitais africanos:

“A Aliança das Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas representa mais de 70 mil milhões de dólares em balanços e trabalha em conjunto no sentido de colmatar as lacunas em matéria de comércio, investimento e financiamento do desenvolvimento em África. A nossa acção colectiva é fundamental para mobilizar os recursos necessários para concretizar infra-estruturas de transformação e integração regional.”

Enfatizou que as ambições de desenvolvimento de África exigem escala, alinhamento institucional e mobilização disciplinada de capital para colmatar as lacunas de financiamento de infra-estruturas e industriais.

Destacando a importância do Mecanismo, o Dr. George Elombi, Presdente do Conselho de Administração do Afreximbank, afirmou:

“O Mecanismo de Financiamento de Infra-estruturas em África foi concebido para superar a dificuldade mais persistente na concretização de infra-estruturas em África: a lacuna entre a aprovação política e a execução financeira. Muitos projectos ficam paralisados não por falta de relevância, mas porque estão mal preparados, mal estruturados ou desalinhados com os requisitos de capital a longo prazo. As Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas compreendem os riscos africanos, os mercados africanos e as realidades de desenvolvimento africanas. Ao reunir conhecimentos especializados, balanços financeiros e quadros de risco, o Mecanismo faz com que África passe de intervenções fragmentadas para um sistema coerente capaz de mobilizar capital em grande escala.

O Dr. Corneille Karekezi, Director Executivo da Sociedade Africana de Resseguros [Africa Reinsurance Corporation] e novo Presidente da AAMFI, enfatizou a colaboração institucional:

“O financiamento do desenvolvimento em África deve ter como base a colaboração e a inovação. Ao partilhar estrategicamente os riscos, reforçar as nossas instituições e mobilizar capital nacional e privado, podemos construir um ecossistema financeiro resiliente, capaz de proporcionar infra-estruturas transformadoras e crescimento industrial em todo o continente.”

O Diá. sublinhou que, embora o compromisso político com as infra-estruturas continue forte, os projectos enfrentam muitas vezes constrangimentos nas fases iniciais de preparação. O financiamento limitado para a preparação de projectos, as políticas regionais fragmentadas e a coordenação insuficiente foram citados como os principais desafios.

Um dos pontos altos do Diá. foi o lançamento formal do Mecanismo de Financiamento de Infra-estruturas em África (AIFF).

Criado ao abrigo de um Acordo-Quadro de Cooperação entre a AUDA-NEPAD e a AAMFI, o AIFF constitui um mecanismo de coordenação estruturado e liderado por África para acelerar a preparação de projectos e facilitar um compromisso indicativo e não vinculativo em matéria de financiamento de infra-estruturas prioritárias, em conformidade com a Agenda 2063.

Numa demonstração adicional do ímpeto para o reforço da arquitectura financeira africana, o Diá. concluiu com o depósito cerimonial do Instrumento de Ratificação do Protocolo e dos Estatutos do Fundo Monetário Africano (AMF) pela República dos Camarões.

Este marco consolida os esforços contínuos de África para operacionalizar as principais instituições financeiras da União Africana, com o objectivo de promover a estabilidade macroeconómica, prestar apoio à balança de pagamentos e reforçar a cooperação monetária e financeira entre os Estados-Membros da União Africana.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Sobre a Aliança das Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas (AAMFI): 
A Aliança das Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais Africanas (AAMFI), conhecida igualmente como o Clube Africano, é uma coligação de instituições financeiras multilaterais detidas e controladas por africanos, lançada em Fevereiro de 2024 em colaboração com a Comissão da União Africana.

A Aliança reúne doze instituições que representam um balanço combinado de mais de 70 mil milhões de dólares.

A AAMFI promove a coordenação, a acção colectiva e a defesa unificada para mobilizar o capital africano, reforçar a arquitectura financeira do continente e apoiar o desenvolvimento sustentável e a integração regional, em conformidade com a Agenda 2063.

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Reforms introduced to improve local government

Source: Government of South Africa

Reforms introduced to improve local government

Government has announced strengthened measures to improve the operations and financial management of local and provincial government, marking a shift to structural intervention from oversight.

“At the municipal level, this shift involves changes to legislation, governance arrangements, and technological intervention. In provinces, the government is enforcing strict headcount controls and compensation discipline,” according to the 2026 Budget Review by National Treasury.

Local government is the sphere where communities experience the state most directly, but many municipalities are in financial and operational distress and therefore unable to deliver services as they should.

“Audit outcomes highlight this unacceptable reality: 63% of municipalities are in financial distress, and the proportion of clean audits remains unacceptably low. A central challenge with municipalities is that they not only differ in capacity but also in their revenue-raising potential. 

“This demands a more targeted approach to respond to the diverse pressures facing municipalities. The National Treasury is revitalising support for development of long-term financial plans,” Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said on Wednesday, in Parliament.

These plans will improve project identification, sustainably plan cash flows, and inform financial decisions. 

“This will negate the challenge of unfunded mandates and limited capacity to maintain infrastructure and sustain services. Further structural reforms are underway, including a comprehensive review of the local government fiscal framework. 

“Together, these reforms will modernise the intergovernmental system and build a more capable, resilient and appropriately differentiated local government sphere,” the Minister said.

Godongwana made these remarks when he tabled the 2026 Budget, which outlined all the financial, economic, and social commitments that the government will prioritise in its planned expenditure.

The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) Amendment Bill, scheduled for public comment in early 2026, forms the legal backbone of the reform package. 

It will support the local government fiscal framework by enforcing funded budgets, strengthening expenditure controls and consequence management, and clarifying the treatment of irregular expenditure to focus on financial losses. 

The bill will strengthen monitoring and intervention tools for the national and provincial treasuries, including more effective financial recovery measures and clearer safeguards during interventions.

In terms of governance, the state is strengthening its intervention framework for municipalities in severe financial distress. 

Municipal Infrastructure Grant reform

Government is also reforming the municipal infrastructure grant to address persistent underspending, misuse of funds, and capacity constraints that hinder effective service delivery in non-metropolitan municipalities.

“A split delivery model has been introduced. Municipalities with proven capacity will continue to receive funding directly. However, where there are serious capacity or governance failures, the delivery will shift to an indirect model.

“Capable district municipalities and other accredited implementing agencies will form part of their infrastructure delivery suite. The intention is to protect citizens from persistent municipal dysfunctions that have long undermined effective service delivery,” Godongwana said.

Provincial government

Provinces have begun to eliminate duplication and focus resources on activities with the greatest impact for citizens. 

In 2026, three provinces plan to conduct comprehensive spending reviews.

“To reduce compensation pressures, provinces are tightening staffing and compensation controls (including headcount verification), closely monitoring overtime and improving efficiency in support services such as security, catering and fleet. Several provinces have merged agencies in recent years to reduce overheads,” National Treasury said.

Government will implement efforts to reduce medico-legal claims.

“Provinces spend an average of R1.5 billion each year on settling these claims – funds that could otherwise support frontline health services. 

“Efforts to reduce such claims include strengthening patient recordkeeping and safety systems, upgrading infrastructure, promoting mediation, conducting investigations and ensuring health staff work in their areas of expertise,” National Treasury said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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2026 Budget Speech a ‘turning point’ – Godongwana

Source: Government of South Africa

2026 Budget Speech a ‘turning point’ – Godongwana

The country’s financial future was on the agenda on Wednesday when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament.

Godongwana noted that this year’s Budget Speech comes at a critical juncture for the public purse.

“We have reached an important turning point in the management of our public finances. Five years ago, the outlook was stark. State Capture had hollowed out critical institutions and weakened state owned entities. South Africa had been downgraded to junk status by the last of the three major credit rating agencies in 2020.

“The devastation of the Coronavirus pandemic coupled with the Russia-Ukraine conflict had dealt a blow to global growth. And in 2023, the Financial Action Task Force had placed South Africa on its grey list.

“The warning lights were flashing. Public finances were under severe strain and growth had stalled. Faced with this crisis, we chose not to be defined by it. Instead, we turned it into a catalyst for change,” he said.

Reforms

As a result of a long-standing commitment to change through a clear reform agenda and a disciplined fiscal strategy, South Africa’s public debt is expected to stabilise this financial year – growth is on the cards with a decline forecasted in the medium term.

“Today, that commitment has delivered tangible results. For the first time in 17 years, debt will stabilise and it will continue to fall in the coming years. The budget deficit has narrowed significantly, and debt-service costs are also falling.

“The world has taken notice: South Africa has been removed from the FATF [Financial Action Task Force] grey list; we secured our first credit rating upgrade in 16 years; and borrowing costs have eased, creating space for growth and development. 

“These are signals of restored credibility. Of renewed resilience. And of a nation regaining its footing. The lesson is a simple but powerful one: steady structural reform and responsible public finances are the bedrock of a prosperous and more inclusive South Africa,” the Minister noted.

Strong outcomes

The numbers crunched by National Treasury in the 2026 Budget Review concur with Godongwana’s optimism.

The review reports that the main budget deficit comes in R12.4 billion lower than forecasted in last year’s budget because of “strong fiscal outcomes for the first 10 months of 2025/26”.

Since the 2021/22 financial year, the main budget deficit has narrowed from 5.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to a projected 4.5% in 2025/26.

It is further projected to decline to 2.9%  in 2028/29.

“In 2023/24, the primary balance swung from deficit to surplus for the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis. It will grow to 2.3 % of GDP in 2028/29.

“As a result, debt as a share of GDP will decline over the next three years and the cost of servicing that debt will reduce from 21.3% of revenue in 2025/26 to 20.2% in 2028/29.

“These developments reflect a determined approach to repair the public finances while creating a foundation for stronger and sustainable economic growth,” said Treasury.

The consolidated budget deficit also continues to decline over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period
It is expected to narrow from 4.5% of GDP in 2025/26 to 3.1% in 2028/29.

“Gross loan debt stabilises this year at 78.9%  of GDP. Debt-service costs continue to rise in nominal terms, from R420.6 billion in 2025/26 to R469.3 billion in 2028/29, but as a percentage of revenue they also peak in the current financial year and then decline,” Treasury noted.

Reflecting on the progress made, National Treasury stated that government is “delivering on its pledge to rebuild the health of the public finances”.

“After a long stretch of rising debt that began in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, government debt peaks as a share of economic output in the current fiscal year.

“Government is working to ensure a steady decline in debt as a share of GDP for the rest of the decade, reducing the cost of servicing debt and creating a more supportive environment for private investment.

“For the first time this decade, government is tabling a fiscal framework in which debt service costs grow more slowly than overall expenditure. Over the next three years, principal and interest payments are expected to be R21 billion lower than estimated in the 2025 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS),” the Budget Review said.

Strategy

The shift towards improvement has been anchored on three principles: stabilise debt, invest in infrastructure and spend better.

“The benefits of this strategy have started to become evident. Enhancing monetary policy certainty and consistent delivery on the fiscal strategy have prompted a virtuous cycle, especially in the period following the tabling of the 2025 MTBPS.

“South Africa received its first sovereign credit rating upgrade by one of the major agencies since 2009. Lower inflation and stronger public finances have boosted confidence and reduced risk, leading to lower borrowing costs and stronger investment conditions.

“Much work is needed to improve the delivery of public goods, but the recent removal of South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force grey list illustrates the depth of capacity that can be assembled. Government will build on this success in other areas,” National Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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HIV/Aids research funding bolstered

Source: Government of South Africa

HIV/Aids research funding bolstered

Government will allocate some R410 million over the medium term to offset the funding gap in research left after the withdrawal of funding by the United States.

This according to the National Treasury’s 2026 Budget Review released alongside the Budget Speech on Wednesday.

“Over the medium term, R410 million will be reprioritised from the Department of Health to the South African Medical Research Council to offset research grant funding withdrawn by the United States.

“This allocation forms part of a co-funding arrangement with global donors to sustain key HIV/AIDS research programmes,” the department said.

Overall spending on health will grow by some 4.2% to R334.3 billion in 2028/29.

“Primary healthcare, delivered through district health services, provides the most accessible and cost-effective care and 44.4% of the health budget is allocated to this.

“Compensation of employees continues to constitute the largest share of the health budget at 64.6%. Government seeks to enhance efficiency in this area through better management of commuted overtime and rural allowances,” the review read.

An advisory committee has been appointed by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi to recommend “amendments to key human resources policies and practices”.

“These and other savings measures will enable the sector to reprioritise funds to deal with existing pressures and respond to emerging service delivery needs and priorities.

“[Some] R24 million is reprioritised over the MTEF period towards the Office of Health Standards Compliance to enable it to fill critical posts and increase the number of health facility inspections conducted each year,” the review said. 

Education and training

Meanwhile, National Treasury announced that a review of the national skills ecosystem will be undertaken in the coming year.

“The skills development levy paid by employers funds the sector education and training authorities and the National Skills Fund to provide skills development and training. Levy income is projected to be R88.2 billion over the 2026 MTEF period.

“These institutions are struggling to deliver the skills required to drive economic growth. The National Treasury has commissioned the Government Technical Advisory Centre to conduct a comprehensive review of the national skills ecosystem in the year ahead,” Treasury said.

Post-school education and training will receive an allocation of R155.8 billion for the 2026/27 financial year.

“The National Student Financial Aid Scheme will spend R54.3 billion in 2026/27 to provide bursaries to enable 744 203 poor and academically deserving students to access universities and technical and vocational education and training colleges,” the budget review said.

Basic education has been allocated some R358.6 billion during the same period.

“The National School Nutrition Programme provides meals to over 9.9 million learners in 19 800 schools. Allocations to the programme grow by 4.5 per cent to R33.9 billion over the medium term and have not been adjusted for the lower inflation outlook given that food price inflation is higher than the overall inflation rate.

“Expenditure on early childhood development increases from R12.2 billion in 2025/26 to R18 billion over the medium term. This will enable early childhood development services to be expanded to an additional 300 000 children,” Treasury noted. – SAnews.gov.za

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Social grants to increase

Source: Government of South Africa

Social grants to increase

All social grants, barring the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, will increase in the next financial year.

This is according to the 2026 Budget Review released by National Treasury on Wednesday.

The grant increases are as follows:

  • Old age grant will increase from R2 315 to R2 400.
  • War veterans grant will increase from R2 335 to R2 420.
  • Disability grant will go up from R2 315 to R2 400.
  • Foster care grant rises from R1 250 to R1 295.
  • Care dependency grant will increase from R2 315 to R2 400.
  • Child support grant will go up from R560 to R580.
  • The grant-in-aid will increase from R560 to R580.

The SRD grant will remain at R370, with payments to continue until next year.

“Social grants constitute the largest share of spending on social development. Excluding the [SRD] grant, spending increases from R246.6 billion in 2025/26 to R276.5 billion in 2028/29. The social relief of distress grant is allocated an additional R36.4 billion to extend payments until 31 March 2027 at the current R370 per month per beneficiary.

“The social grant allocation has been adjusted down over the medium-term in line with a lower inflation outlook and improved grant targeting and verification, which is expected to yield savings of R2 billion in 2026/27 and R1 billion in 2027/28,” the department said.

The Social Development function’s overall budget will increase by some 4.2%, rising from R412.2 billion in 2025/26 to R466.4 billion in 2028/29.

“This supports poverty reduction by providing social grants, risk benefits through social insurance and welfare services. It also funds development initiatives, empowerment programmes, gender equality efforts, and advocacy for children, women, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities,” the budget review read.

Tightening controls

National Treasury reported that the 2025/26 allocation for the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) was made conditional on the agency “improving biometric and income verification processes, undertaking more frequent eligibility reviews for social grants, and implementing other measures to tighten compliance”.

“By December 2025, the agency had checked the bank accounts of about six million clients and eight million credit bureau clients. These checks flagged 291 581 grant beneficiaries for review.

“As a result of the review process and strict implementation of the sliding scale, which bases grant values on recipients’ incomes, grant amounts were adjusted for 8 599 disability and old‑age grant recipients in accordance with the eligibility criteria.

“This results in projected savings of R36.4 million in 2025/26. A further 34 661 grants were cancelled, generating expected savings of R170.7 million by the end of 2025/26,” the department said.

The agency has rolled out biometric verification for new applicants to “strengthen beneficiary authentication”.

“It will intensify efforts to combat fraud and corruption, while ensuring that legitimate beneficiaries remain protected,” Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

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R12 billion in savings identified through TARS programme

Source: Government of South Africa

R12 billion in savings identified through TARS programme

National Treasury’s Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme has identified some R12 billion in wasteful and ineffective programs within government.

This according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana who delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday.

“[In] the Budget last May, we promised that spending priorities would not be funded through tax increases if this could be avoided. We have kept that promise, through our commitment to finding savings from unproductive expenditure, closing leakages, and rooting out inefficiencies.

“I am happy to announce that R12 billion in savings have been identified over the medium term,” Godongwana said.

He emphasised that the TARS are not once off initiative and will be entrenched going forward.
“They will be an ongoing and entrenched part of the budget process going forward to weed out inefficiencies and low-performing programmes.

“Every programme and every allocation must demonstrate value, efficiency and accountability,” he said.
Savings were realised in the Public Transport Network Grant which has been scaled down by some R8.4 billion, over the next three years.

“The grant has not improved access to public transport relative to the investments made. The grant will, however, continue to help cover indirect costs in cities that run bus services,” the Minister said.

Social grants were also earmarked as a potential savings target.

“Enhanced targeting of social grants authentication of beneficiaries to reduce fraud in the grant system will yield R3 billion of savings. The South African Social Security Agency has upgraded its biometric and income verification processes, resulting in nearly 35 000 grants being identified as incorrect or fraudulent, and therefore terminated.

“Honourable Members, we are committed to improving access for the many South Africans deserving and eligible for social support. Abuse of the system will not be tolerated,” Godongwana said.

The judiciary, border management, defence and Statistics South Africa will be allocated the remaining savings.

In the 2026 Budget Review, National Treasury highlighted that TARS is part of efforts to “rationalise the operations of the state, improve the effectiveness of service delivery, eliminate waste, address underperformance and reduce duplication.”

“Consultations across government ministries and departments are under way to conclude each change and identify further savings.

“In most cases government is reallocating or shifting savings to priority areas or spending pressures, for example within the transport sector, thus removing the need for additional allocations,” Treasury explained.

Anchoring sustainable public finances

The National Treasury announced that in consultation with Cabinet, it will “undertake detailed analytical work to prepare legislation to anchor sound fiscal principles in law”.

The move is aimed at entrenching commitment to healthy public finances.

“To build confidence and maintain the gains of fiscal consolidation without resorting to painful spending cuts or tax increases, the National Treasury will propose a principles-based obligation to anchor fiscal sustainability in law.

“It will require each new government to table a plan to ensure that the fiscal position is sustainable throughout its term of office and that an appropriate fiscal metric is selected to measure compliance.

“[The plan is] an essential element in the provision of health, education, water, shelter and other socioeconomic rights in line with the Constitution. Without sustainable public finances debt-service costs will consume ever more of the economy’s available resources, eroding investment, productive capacity and living standards,” Treasury said.

The approach, Treasury explained, is also aimed at avoiding unsustainable practises that are “damaging” to national development.

“In particular, the proposal is informed by recent experience. Since 2008/09, government’s debt ratio has more than tripled. Debt-service costs have risen from 8.8 per cent of revenue to 21.3 per cent in 2025/26, crowding out other spending. It has taken a large-scale consolidation effort to rein in debt for the benefit of all South Africans,” said Treasury.

A consultation paper will be published outlining proposals with an announcement expected to be made later this year in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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