Category: Africa

Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) Minister Parks Tau has reiterated that transformation and economic inclusion are moral and economic imperatives central to South Africa’s democratic political order. 

Tau was delivering a keynote address at the Black Business Council’s Annual Summit in Johannesburg, on Wednesday.

His speech focused on the Transformation Fund and other mechanisms aimed at addressing access to funding for black owned, women-owned and youth owned business.

“From the outset, let me state that transformation and economic inclusion are moral and economic imperatives, central to South Africa’s democratic political order. The return on investments made by this government is clear. Transformation is not a promise on paper. Instead, it is a measurable, growing reality in our economy,” Tau said.

He told delegates at the summit that the South African economy cannot grow sustainably if the majority of its people remain excluded, adding that Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) seeks to unlock the full potential of the economy.

Tau noted commendable successes that the country has achieved through the implementation of the B-BBEE policy.

“B BBEE has placed Black South Africans in corporate boardrooms. It has expanded the Black middle class, fostered growth of many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), and injected sizeable economic inclusion through worker ownership schemes,” he said.

He said there was an overall positive trend towards achieving ownership targets, with Black ownership reaching 45.8% in 2023, well above the 25%+1 vote target, and Black female ownership surpassing 10% target, standing at 13.6% in 2023, illustrating the progress and positive impact of the B-BBEE policy implementation.

He noted a significant increasing trend in average scores for enterprise and supplier development, ownership, socio-economic development, skills development and management control elements of B-BBEE.

“As the dtic family, it gives me great pleasure to inform you that almost all of our Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are led by women, both as chairperson and/or CEOs. Allow me to zoom into the IDC, for example. 

“The IDC facilitated R26.6 billion in transformation funding. Within this broader transformation portfolio, funding for women entrepreneurs and women-empowered businesses amounted to approximately R5.6 billion,” Tau said.

He said South Africa is entering an era of boldness and getting things done, describing the South African transformation journey as a story of boldness and willingness to change the status quo.

“The public and private partnership is important, especially given our present dire socio-economic context. Funding mechanisms are crucial to the success of transformation. 

“It is for this reason we have introduced the Transformation Fund working with our social partners. It is only through partnerships we are going to win and ensure that economic transformation becomes a reality,” he said.

Tau underscored the importance of leveraging existing resources, and added that for the Transformation Fund, the dtic has partnered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (R500 million), Development Bank of Southern Africa (R250 million) Vodacom (R400 million) and IBM (R220 million).

“South Africa must defend its position in relation to our domestic policy sovereignty. We require society, and indeed black business to mobilise in defence of this policy against external pressures. The Transformation Fund is South Africa’s Transformation Jet Engine. This is a jet engine that draws its power from every component working together. Capital provides the fuel, but it must connect to capability. Capability must connect to markets. 

“And growing enterprises must translate into jobs, localisation, industrialisation and exports. This is how transformation policy becomes economic power,” Tau said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lt General Puleng Dimpane, has deployed additional specialised capacity to support and enhance ongoing rescue, recovery and investigative operations at the disused mine in Nkaneng, Rustenburg.

This follows the recovery of 14 bodies on Tuesday, who, according to police, died when the walls of an excavated area they were digging in, caved in. Scores others have been injured, while rescue operations continue.

READ | Mineral Resources Department assessing illegal miners’ deaths

“The deployment forms part of the SAPS National Office’s intervention to reinforce the capacity of the North West province and ensure that the complex operation is supported by specialised expertise, resources and personnel required to effectively manage the investigation and recovery efforts,” the police said in a statement.

Dimpane has commended the Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Adams and specialised teams for the progress made thus far, particularly following the recovery of the 14 bodies and the location of eight survivors at the scene. 

“I commend the teams on the ground for the progress achieved under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions. 

“The recovery of the 14 bodies is a significant development in this operation, but it also underscores the seriousness and complexity of the circumstances we are dealing with. 

“The deployment of additional specialised capacity is intended to strengthen the North West province and ensure that every aspect of this operation is approached with the necessary professionalism, expertise and sensitivity.

“Arrangements are underway for the formal identification of the deceased and the conducting of post-mortem examinations. 

“The SAPS Victim Identification Unit, detectives and relevant forensic specialists are coordinating these processes to establish the identities of the deceased and assist in determining the circumstances surrounding their deaths,” said Dimpane. 

Dimpane said the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is conducting an assessment of the mining operation and the compliance status of the site. SAPS is working closely with the department and other relevant stakeholders to assess the mine environment and gather information that may assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Dimpane has further urged all members of the investigation team to remain focused on evidence-led investigations in resolving and concluding this complex investigation.

“Our responsibility is not only to establish what happened, but to do so through a thorough, lawful and evidence-driven process. We owe this to the deceased, their families and the broader community. 

“At the same time, we must ensure that the integrity of the investigation is protected. We, therefore, appeal to the public and social media to refrain from speculation and allow the investigators to follow the evidence. Where criminality is established, those responsible will be brought to justice.”

SAPS extends its appreciation to all personnel and stakeholders involved in this difficult operation and recognises the challenging conditions under which they continue to work. – SAnews.gov.za

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, has described the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system as revolutionary for South Africa’s immigration management.

The Minister was speaking at the official launch of the ETA system led by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday.

The system combines advanced biometric verification with automated risk analysis, delivering both enhanced security and faster processing for legitimate travellers.

“Today’s launch of the ETA represents a quantum leap forward for our country’s immigration system, both by unlocking economic growth through tourism, investment and legitimate travel, and by landing a decisive blow against visa fraud and illegal immigration,” Schreiber declared.

The system uses automated risk analysis to identify indicators of fraud at a “speed and scale no human could achieve”

“If the application is approved, the traveller will receive their ETA within 24 hours, which they can then store directly in the digital wallet on their smart phone.

“Once an approved traveller arrives at the immigration counter, they are again required to look into a camera, where biometric verification enables us to confirm that the person standing at our border is the same person who received authorisation to travel to our country.

“In other words: the face of the traveller becomes the key that determines whether they may enter, rather than physical documents that can be manipulated,” the Minister explained.

Some 216 204 applications have already been processed since the pilot began during South Africa’s G20 Presidency for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. 

Crucially, the system identified 6126 fraudulent applications that were subsequently rejected, including cases involving fraudulent passports and manipulated documents.

“That is the future of immigration in South Africa: a system that is modern and uncompromising when it comes to security, but welcoming and efficient when it comes to the travellers and investors we must attract to generate growth and jobs.

“That is why the final component we built before today’s launch is the capability for legitimate travellers who enter South Africa for up to 90 days to apply through the ETA to extend their stay for up to a further 90 days, as stipulated by the Immigration Act.

“This feature alone is likely to significantly boost tourism revenues, as it enables lawful travellers to extend their stay without the hassle and bureaucracy of the past,” Schreiber stated.

Over the coming weeks, the department will inform the embassies of countries as they are systematically added to the ETA.

“The system will initially be available for travellers who arrive at OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, King Shaka International Airport, and Lanseria International Airport.

“With our airports fully equipped, we will turn our attention to land and seaports over the coming months to roll out facial recognition and EMCS 2.0 at all ports of entry,” Schreiber said.

Work also continues to “expand the platform also to process more complex visa categories, including study visas, spousal visas, and work visas”.

“By the time this work is complete, South Africa will have one of the most sophisticated, efficient and secure digital visa and entry/exit systems anywhere in the world.

“[The] ETA is the embodiment of our commitment to the vision of turning South Africa into a world leader in smart and secure migration management and digital government,” Schreiber concluded.

Speaking at Wednesday’s launch, President Cyril Ramaphosa described the reform as far more than the introduction of a new digital platform, saying it represents the aspirations of the South Africa of the future.

READ | South Africa ushers in ETA to make international travel easier, more secure

“This is far more than the introduction of a new digital platform. It is a statement about the kind of country we are building,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Employment and Labour has called for urgent and coordinated action to address South Africa’s worsening employment crisis, following the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026. 

The survey, released by Statistics South Africa on Tuesday, paints a challenging picture of the labour market, with the department warning that structural constraints, sluggish investment and low labour absorption capacity continue to limit employment opportunities.

In a statement on Wednesday, the department said the findings were a “sobering reality check”, highlighting the growing gap between the number of people entering the labour market and the availability of jobs. 

“The cruel arithmetic is unforgiving: far too many new entrants are flooding the labour market, yet far too few opportunities exist to absorb them, steadily deepening the nation’s employment deficit,” the department said.

Turbulent global economic conditions and heightened uncertainty were placing further pressure on the domestic economy and employment outlook, the department said.

Of particular concern is the continued exclusion of young people from the labour market, which the department described as a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated intervention.

Against this backdrop, the department said job creation remains government’s “apex priority”.

“Meaningful, sustainable outcomes demand a synchronised assault on unemployment, a whole-of-government and whole-of-society coalition that bridges economic, industrial, skills development and social policy institutions,” the department said.

The department emphasised that addressing unemployment requires stronger cooperation across all three spheres of government, as well as meaningful participation from the private sector.

Provincial and local governments, in particular, have been urged to play a greater role in driving local economic development, unlocking municipal-level investment and ensuring employment initiatives respond to regional needs.

The department said it would strengthen coordination between government and business, as well as among national, provincial and local government, to ensure employment creation becomes a core priority across all spheres.

It will also conduct a detailed assessment of the sectors hardest hit by employment losses to identify where interventions are most urgently required.

The department further called for the acceleration and consolidation of existing labour market and economic reforms, including Operation Vulindlela, the Presidential Employment Stimulus and Active Labour Market Policies.

“Flagship intervention, Operation Vulindlela, the Presidential Employment Stimulus and our suite of Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs) must be supercharged, scaled up decisively and sharpened into effective drivers of inclusive growth. 

“These are not mere acronyms; they are our frontline weapons against unemployment. However, they can only succeed if deployed with coherence, speed and relentless accountability and if every tier of government plays its part,” the department said. 

The department said employment initiatives must be implemented through a coordinated approach involving national departments, provincial administrations and municipalities to deliver sustainable results.

“We must move with the urgency this crisis demands for the sake of every young person waiting for a foothold in the economy and for the future of our nation,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

Municipalities in the Eastern Cape are expected to experience cloudy conditions in places over the interior, with morning fog. 

Otherwise, conditions will be fine and cool to cold, becoming very cold along the Drakensberg and adjacent areas.

The municipalities include Emalahleni, Sakhisizwe, Senqu, Elundini and Matatiele Local Municipalities. 

“The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly, freshening from the south in the afternoon,” SAWS said.

The weather service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds, which could cause localised damage to temporary structures and reduce visibility due to dust storms. 

These conditions are expected over the northern parts of the West Coast District and the Witzenberg Local Municipality in the Western Cape, as well as the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape.

“Evening fog along the coast, otherwise fine and cool to warm in the west, otherwise partly cloudy, windy and cool to cold in the east of the Northern Cape,” SAWS said.

Winds along the coast will be moderate to fresh easterly to north-easterly, becoming light to moderate north-westerly from the afternoon.

SAWS further warned that extremely high fire danger conditions are expected over the Nama-Khoi and Hantam Local Municipalities in the Northern Cape, as well as the Matzikama and Cederberg Local Municipalities in the Western Cape.

Meanwhile, the weather outlook for Friday and Saturday indicates fine, cold conditions across the central parts of the country. 

On Friday, partly cloudy and cool conditions are expected elsewhere, with isolated showers along the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. –SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) says it is assessing and reviewing all relevant information related to an incident involving the deaths of illegal miners at Rustenburg, in the North West.

According to police, some 14 people died when the walls of an excavated area they were digging in caved in. Scores others have been injured while rescue operations continue.

“The department is currently reviewing all relevant information relating to the incident and will, at an appropriate time, provide further details, including matters related to compliance with applicable laws governing licenses and permits.

“The DMPR continues to work with law enforcement agencies, mining rights holders and affected communities to strengthen prevention and enforcement efforts against illegal mining,” a departmental statement read.

The department further extended its condolences to the families and friends of those who died in the incident.

“The loss of life is deeply regrettable, and the DMPR recognises the serious impact such events have on affected communities.

“The DMPR confirms that the incident occurred within the boundaries of an area where a valid mining permit has been issued. The department further confirms that the site is a surface opencast mining operation and does not include an underground mine shaft,” the statement continued.

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced on Wednesday that additional specialised capacity will be sent to the area to support the ongoing rescue, recovery and investigative operations.

“The deployment of additional specialised capacity is intended to strengthen the North West Province and ensure that every aspect of this operation is approached with the necessary professionalism, expertise and sensitivity.

“Our responsibility is not only to establish what happened, but to do so through a thorough, lawful and evidence-driven process. We owe this to the deceased, their families and the broader community. At the same time, we must ensure that the integrity of the investigation is protected.

“We therefore appeal to the public and social media to refrain from speculation and allow the investigators to follow the evidence. Where criminality is established, those responsible will be brought to justice,” Dimpane stated. – SAnews.gov.za

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has referred the Digitisation Project at courts around the country to the Special Investigating Unit (SUI) and the Hawks for investigation.

The project was rolled out five years ago to offices in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, including High Courts, Magistrates’ Courts, Labour Courts and Masters’ Offices to provide off-site records storage and digitisation.

According to the department, during an unannounced visit to the Master of the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Minister was informed that services had been disrupted due to “denial of access to the records by the service provider”.

“Instead of making it more efficient and faster to render services, the digitisation project is now at the centre of service disruption and service delay. 

“What is more concerning to the Minister is getting feedback that State records are in the hands of a private company that has the power to refuse the department access to such records.

“In response to the serious findings emerging from the inspection, Minister Kubayi has referred the matter to the SIU and the Hawks for investigation,” the department explained.

Kubayi has asked law enforcement agencies to look at, among other things, the following:

• The nature of the contract that gave a service provider unfettered access to records that must be in the hands of the department and the right for such a private company sole possession of such records.
• Any violations of government policies and legislation when implementing the digitisation project.
• Value for money of the contracts versus the service delivered.
• Whether any official of the department has been negligent, leading to the collapse of the delivery of critical services to the public.

“The disruption of services at an office that provides critical support to members of the public is a matter of grave concern. I expect a thorough account of what transpired with the digitisation project.

“Any evidence of misconduct, negligence, corruption or deliberate actions that undermine service delivery and public confidence in the justice system will be dealt with decisively. Those responsible must be held accountable and face the full consequences of the law,” Kubayi warned. – SAnews.gov.za