Category: Africa

Proceeds from this year’s Presidential Golf Challenge will support 622 adopted schools and contribute to improving education infrastructure, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday, as he teed off at the annual fundraising event.

Held a day after he delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA), the golf challenge was held at the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate and raises funds for the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation through its Adopt-a-School programme, which supports school development initiatives alongside government.

Explaining the purpose of the initiative, the President said it is a long-standing tradition that after the (SONA), every President over the decades has been afforded the opportunity to host a golf day.

“Proceeds thereof go to the charity that the President supports. And in this case, I started a charity called Adopt-a-School with my Chief of Staff about 30 years ago or so, and that charity continues and now that I am a President it is a beneficiary of the work we do.

“It [has] adopted 622 schools and it’s participating in the improvement of education alongside our government. So, the proceeds today as every golfer hits a ball or misses a ball, it is going to contribute to that charity,” he explained.

He said that they were lucky to have sponsors like Sasol and MTN, which are the anchor sponsors for the golf day. 

“We’ve always enjoyed their support in everything we do. So, they are not captured, they have not captured us. If anything, they are making a contribution to the success of our education system.”

He added that funds raised from the golf day will go towards improving school infrastructure, including sanitation facilities. 

SANDF deployment 

Turning to security matters, President Ramaphosa championed his decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support police in gang-affected areas as announced in Thursday’s SONA.

“Well, if you listen to me very carefully, which I hope you did last night, I did say that I have decided to deploy the soldiers, and I have directed the Minister of Police to work with the Minister of Defence to work out the full plan and the timing as well must be worked out in the next few days. 

“I also did say I will be approaching Parliament. I’ll be informing Parliament and informing them that this is the step I am taking in terms of our Constitution, and I will also be informing them what it will cost. So, the costings are still to be worked out. They’ll be worked out between now and the next few days,” the President said. 
However, operational details would not be disclosed publicly.

“And the interventions, we are not going to tell you, because if we tell you about the type of tactical intervention, those people who are doing wrong things, the gangs will now know in advance what we are going to do. We are going to keep the interventions to ourselves, and the soldiers and the police will make those interventions as effectively as possible.”

He emphasised that soldiers would support, and not replace, the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“Our soldiers will act in support of the South African Police Service in troubled areas, particularly here in the Western Cape to deal with gang violence, and also in Gauteng, they have done extremely well whenever they have been deployed alongside the police, and they give confidence to our people, and they are a deterrent force.

“You must know that the soldiers are not police people. Soldiers are trained to kill and to defend the people of South Africa, and in this case, they’ll be defending the peace. They’ll be defending anti criminality, and that is what they will be doing,” the President said. 

The President added that the SAPS had been performing well and that the deployment was meant to strengthen ongoing operations. 

“The SAPS has been doing extremely well. They’ve been doing very well in various of the projects or missions like [Operation] Shanela. They have done extremely well, our jails are now filled to overcapacity because of the success that they have been recording now with the Western Cape, it’s been persistent.”

He explained that government has set up an anti-gang team, and they’ve been working very well.
“They need support. It should never be looked at from a negative point of view, if anything, we should be very pleased that we are bringing all the might of the state to bear to deal with a persistent problem, gang violence has been going on in the Western Cape for a long time.

“We want to eliminate gang violence once and for all, and the South African National Defence Force will help us in playing that role,” he said. 

Water and municipal intervention

On water challenges, President Ramaphosa said national government would step in where municipalities fail to deliver services.

“We have a constitutional situation that devolve the reticulation of water to our local government. Now we allocate money to our local government, and they are supposed to maintain, they’re supposed to ensure that there’s reticulation,” he said. 

Referring to previous intervention efforts, the President recalled his visit to Hammanskraal where the waterworks was not well looked after. 

“I called on the Tshwane municipality to do their work and when they didn’t, we intervened. We intervened and made sure that water is delivered to the people in Hammanskraal. That process continues now,” he said. 

He indicated that legislative mechanisms would now be used more decisively.

“What I said yesterday is that we have now realised that rather than have our people without water and be punished by the lack of activity or delivery by municipalities, we are now going to intervene, and we will use a section in the Water Act to intervene,” the President said. 

Foreign policy position

On foreign policy, the President reaffirmed South Africa’s stance on Palestine and peacekeeping.

“Everybody knows what South Africa stance is with regard to supporting the people of Palestine, with regard to their self-determination, and supporting also a two state solution, where Israel will continue to exist as a state and the establishment of Palestine as a state, and the two states living side by side in peace and with Jerusalem being the capital. So, we support that firmly and completely,” the President said. 

He confirmed that South Africa had informed the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General of its intention to withdraw troops from the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) to consolidate and rebuild the country’s defence force for future peacekeeping missions. – SAnews.gov.za

Government joins the global community in commemorating World Radio Day, a day that recognises the enduring power of radio as a trusted and accessible source of information, education and entertainment. 

Proclaimed in 2011 by UNESCO member states and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, World Radio Day (WRD) is celebrated every February 13th. 

This day highlights the important role radio continues to play in strengthening communication, promoting cultural diversity, and advancing democratic participation.

“Radio remains one of the most widely used and affordable forms of communication, especially in communities where access to digital platforms may be limited. 

“Across South Africa, community, public, and commercial radio stations serve as vital platforms that connect citizens, amplify local voices, and ensure that information reaches people in all corners of the country. 

“Through radio, millions of listeners stay informed about government programmes, public services, and matters affecting their daily lives,” said a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) on Friday.

On this World Radio Day, government said it recognises the contribution of broadcasters, journalists, producers, and technical teams who work tirelessly to keep the nation informed. 

“Their commitment to ethical reporting and reliable communication plays a critical role in building an informed society and supporting transparency, accountability, and public dialogue.”

The theme for this year is: “AI is a tool, not a voice” which highlights the continued relevance of radio in an evolving media landscape. 

“Even as technology advances and new digital platforms emerge, radio remains a resilient medium that adapts to change while maintaining its unique ability to reach diverse audiences in real time. 

“It fosters social cohesion, supports local languages, and preserves cultural heritage through storytelling and community engagement. Technology alone does not build trust. Radio broadcasters do,” said the GCIS.

The GCIS encouraged all radio stations to continue partnering with government and civil society to share information that empowers citizens, promotes development, and supports national priorities.

Radio serves as a bridge between government and communities, ensuring that important messages on health, education, safety, and economic opportunities are widely understood and accessible.

“As we celebrate World Radio Day, GCIS reaffirms its commitment to strengthening communication across the country and supporting the vital role of radio in promoting unity, inclusivity, and participation. 

“We call on all South Africans to recognise and support their local radio stations, which remain an essential part of our democratic and developmental journey,” government said. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau says South Africa’s industrial future will be defined by bold and collaborative decision-making, 

Speaking at the Sasol Engagement Dinner on the sidelines of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Thursday, Tau outlined a vision of reindustrialisation built on a low-carbon economy.

The Minister said the path to a thriving, competitive and sustainable economy lies in adopting a low-carbon industrial policy that draws global investment, broadens market access and safeguards South Africa’s industrial base.

“If we build the energy system of the future, mobilise capital at scale, and secure our position in the global critical minerals economy, we will not only decarbonise, but we will also reindustrialise,” Tau said.

He emphasised that Sasol and its clients have a pivotal role to play and affirmed that government stands ready to partner with them. 

“Together, they can turn this period of transition into a transformative opportunity that drives growth, strengthens competitiveness and expands opportunities for all South Africans.

“The transition before us requires reliable electricity, which must be both green and affordable. There are hard-to-abate sectors that cannot be fully electrified, and for these industries we must unlock sustainable fuels that are competitive at scale,” Tau said.

Furthermore, he stressed the need for coordinated planning, greater transparency and a shared commitment to long-term policy certainty.

Against this backdrop, he stressed that collaboration must also extend across government-to-government channels. 

This, he said, can be advanced through deepening commercial dialogue with the United States, strengthened cooperation with China, and engagement with the European Union through the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership.

“Sasol’s role is profound in building a new industrial economy. The operations sit at the intersection of energy, chemicals, fuels, and advanced manufacturing, which gives both responsibilities and opportunities. 

“The opportunities include unlocking giga-scale investment in renewable energy, mega-storage, High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission, and gas-to-power—especially as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) becomes central to our industrial feedstock strategy post-2028,” emphasised Tau. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that Tropical Cyclone Gezani, currently located in the Mozambique Channel, poses no direct threat to South Africa.

“Latest satellite imagery shows Tropical Cyclone Gezani situated over the Mozambique Channel. The system remains well-defined, with organised convective cloud bands concentrated around its centre. In South Africa, cloudy and cool conditions are observed in the east, with active isolated to scattered thundershowers,” SAWS said on Friday.

Gezani developed over the south-west Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar and made landfall over Madagascar as a tropical cyclone on Tuesday afternoon.

On Thursday, SAWS reported that Gezani was moving west-southwest and strengthening.

“Under favourable conditions, Gezani is expected to intensify steadily over the next 36 hours and could reach intense tropical cyclone stage late on Friday (13 February 2026) evening near the Mozambique coast. The intensity forecast is then uncertain from Saturday onwards.

“The scenario of a Mozambique landfall remains uncertain and varies among forecast models, but cannot be ruled out,” SAWS said.

Current guidance suggests a very close approach to the Mozambican coast, with the possibility of a partial and temporary landfall. 

“This could result in accumulated rainfall amounts of 80 – 100 mm in less than 24 hours near the coast and locally 200 mm at the point of closest approach to the system. 

“Wave heights are expected to increase significantly from Friday noon, exceeding 4,0 m and temporarily reaching 7,0 – 10,0 m between Friday night and Saturday morning,” the weather service said.

SAWS has advised vessels operating in or transiting through the south-west Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, as well as offshore marine operations to exercise caution, as rough seas, strong winds, and hazardous marine conditions are expected in the vicinity of the storm. – SAnews.gov.za

Thirty years ago, South Africa adopted its Constitution, a historic milestone that entrenched democracy, equality and human rights, including landmark rulings on the abolition of the death penalty.

As the country prepares to commemorate three decades of constitutional democracy, government says the anniversary will serve not only as a celebration, but also as an opportunity for reflection.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said a year-long programme will be rolled out to mark the milestone, culminating in national commemorations that will bring together a broad range of stakeholders.

The programme will also focus on public education, particularly among young people, to deepen understanding of the Constitution, its guarantees and the responsibilities it places on citizens.

“We believe this milestone is worth celebrating. Our democracy and our country are founded on this Constitution. It guarantees many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today, and it shapes the way we live as a society,” Kubayi said.

She added that government will use the anniversary to take stock of how the Constitution has shaped the country over the past three decades, assess areas of weakness and identify improvements going forward.

Stepping up the fight against organised crime

Responding to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Kubayi also welcomed government’s renewed focus on combating organised crime and dismantling criminal syndicates.  

Thursday night’s address took place in the year South Africa marks 30 years since the adoption of its Constitution in 1996.

In his address, the President described organised crime as the most immediate threat to South Africa’s democracy, social stability and economic development.

He announced that the primary focus this year will be on intensifying the fight against criminal networks through the use of technology, improved intelligence coordination and integrated law enforcement operations.

Government plans to consolidate intelligence at national level, identify priority syndicates and deploy specialised, multidisciplinary teams to dismantle organised criminal networks.

Kubayi said law enforcement agencies, including the police, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), will work in close coordination to ensure that arrests lead to successful prosecutions.

“The department believes in prosecution-led investigations to ensure that cases are properly prepared and successfully concluded,” she said.

A key component of the strategy will be strengthening asset forfeiture measures to deprive criminals of the proceeds of crime.

“These criminals steal from the State and utilise the money they had gotten wrongly to come and fight the State. We are saying, let us freeze and forfeit their assets so that they do not have the means to fight the justice system,” Kubayi said.

She noted that the courts must be adequately capacitated to handle the anticipated increase in complex cases. The department has already appointed more than 200 magistrates across the country to strengthen judicial capacity and will continue engagements with the judiciary to address shortages, including the backlog in the appointment of judges. – SAnews.gov.za