Category: Africa

The Electoral Commission will give relief to 32 political parties similarly affected by the Constitutional Court’s ruling and directive concerning the African National Congress (ANC) and the submission of its candidate lists for the 2026 Local Government Elections.

“Consistent with the constitutional imperative for free and fair elections as well as the importance of upholding the inherent principle of parity of treatment, the Commission has resolved that the 32 similarly situated parties must be deemed to have lawfully submitted their candidates,” IEC Chairperson, Commissioner Mosotho Moepya, said on Friday in Pretoria.

He made the remarks at a media briefing in Pretoria on the outcome of the Constitutional Court judgment and its implications for the Commission.

The Constitutional Court order requires the Commission to include 181 ANC candidates – 51 ward candidates and 130 proportional representation candidates – across six municipalities.

“The Commission’s view is that it would be irrational and offensive to the principle of parity of treatment to exclude parties similarly situated to the ANC.

“The Commission emphasises that the inclusion of parties was made judiciously and solely for the purpose of advancing free and fair elections demanded by the Constitution,” the Chairperson said.

The Commission has already put processes in place to give effect to the judicial injunction.

Moepya stressed that the Commission has a constitutional obligation to ensure that all elections it administers meet the high standard of being free and fair.

“Part of that constitutional duty is even-handedness in the treatment of electoral contestants. The Commission recognises that thirty-two (32) other similar-situated parties intended to contest against the ANC. 

“These 32 other parties intended to contest in 121 municipalities across the country. Their intended participation involved all three ballot types: metro, local, and district. As with the ANC, these parties had nominated compliant candidates and paid election deposits but had not submitted their final candidate lists,” he said.

The Commission identified the 32 political parties after conducting compliance checks.

Thirteen other parties were found not to have met the requirements for the lawful submission of candidates, even after the effect of the Constitutional Court order was extended.

The Chairperson explained that the 13 parties failed to meet the requirements for reasons that included the payment of election deposits and the voters’ roll registration requirement to be registered in the municipality being contested.

Implications of the Commission’s decision

The Constitutional Court order applies to all parties who were in a similar situation as the ANC and affects 107 municipalities.

The IEC will have to produce 33 million ballots to accommodate the extension of the judicial injunction.

Of the new total requirement, 27 million ballots had already been printed, while 6.6 million had not yet been printed.

“However, 6.6 million ballots of that total requirement had not been printed. This affects the six municipalities whose ballots were affected by the appeal of the ANC that was before the Constitutional Court. 

“The Commission held back from commencing the printing of the ballots until the Constitutional Court had made a ruling on the matter. In other words, no costs were incurred in relation to ballots affecting these six municipalities,” Moepya said.

Immediate steps

The Commission will contact all 32 political parties to confirm whether they still intend to participate in the 4 November Local Government Elections.

“If they do, these parties will be given an opportunity to comply with candidate nomination requirements and, where required, supplement or substitute candidate names if on multiple lists. 

“Candidates will then be provided with their candidature certificate. These processes will unfold in a truncated process limited to the involved 33 parties,” he said.

The Chairperson said the Commission did not anticipate that these developments would affect the election date.

“However, it is apparent that our logistical preparations have been significantly affected. The logistical operations will now have to be conducted within a very truncated period.

“Once again, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law, including respecting the decisions of the courts. Furthermore, the Commission remains resolute that political parties are treated fairly and consistently in the administration of the electoral process,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for South Africa to move beyond exporting raw and semi-processed minerals towards greater local processing and manufacturing, saying the country must retain more of the economic value generated by its mineral wealth.

Speaking at the official inauguration of the Vedanta Gamsberg Phase II Concentrator Plant in Aggeneys in the Northern Cape on Friday, President Ramaphosa said the expansion is an opportunity to strengthen domestic industrial capacity and establish the province as a centre of mineral beneficiation and manufacturing.

“Why should the mineral wealth beneath our soil create more industrial opportunities elsewhere than it creates here at home?

“Our ambition must be to ensure that a growing share of the value generated from our minerals remains within our economy,” the President said.

He noted that South Africa and other African countries had for too long extracted minerals for processing and manufacturing elsewhere, only to import finished products made from those same resources.

“In the process, other countries have captured much of the value, the technology, the industrial capability and the employment opportunities associated with our natural resources,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa said the country must expand its refining, smelting and manufacturing capacity, while supporting local suppliers, engineers, artisans, entrepreneurs and technology companies.

“We must become a country that adds greater value to its mineral resources through processing, refining, manufacturing and technological innovation,” the President said.

The Gamsberg Phase II expansion will double the mine’s annual ore capacity from approximately four million to eight million tonnes and increase its annual zinc-in-concentrate production capacity to approximately 500 000 tonnes.

The expansion positions Gamsberg among the major zinc-producing operations globally and provides a foundation for further industrial development.

President Ramaphosa highlighted that zinc is essential for galvanising steel and had applications in construction, transport infrastructure, automotive manufacturing and emerging energy technologies.

He added that in that regard, South Africa should position itself to benefit from opportunities arising from global investment in infrastructure, industrial development and the energy transition.

Northern Cape industrial ambitions

The President said the Northern Cape boasts the potential to become one of the country’s next major centres of industrial growth given its mineral resources, renewable energy potential, land availability and strategic position for connecting producers to export markets.

He identified the Namakwa Special Economic Zone as central to this vision, with Vedanta serving as an anchor investor capable of attracting further investment in mineral beneficiation, manufacturing and related economic activity.

The development of the zone, he said, needs to be integrated with the proposed Boegoebaai Port and industrial developments, Upington’s industrial and energy initiatives and other components of the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor.

“Our vision is of a province in which mineral extraction, renewable energy, industrial production and modern logistics reinforce one another,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said coordinated planning between all three spheres of government, state-owned enterprises and private investors is essential to ensure these developments advance as part of an integrated programme.

He welcomed Vedanta’s ambition to establish zinc smelting capacity in the Northern Cape, which would enable the country to move from producing zinc concentrate towards refined zinc metal.

Such an investment could create additional opportunities for industrial production, local procurement and employment.

However, he acknowledged that further beneficiation would require commercially viable electricity, reliable infrastructure and an enabling regulatory environment.

“Our objective must be to create the conditions in which further beneficiation investments become viable and competitive,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said the Gamsberg expansion should therefore mark the beginning of a new phase of industrial development rather than the end of the investment journey.

“We want the zinc that is mined here to become the foundation of industries that manufacture here, employ here and create prosperity here,” he said. 

Jobs, skills and local businesses

President Ramaphosa emphasised that the benefits of mining should extend beyond mineral production and export earnings to include quality employment, skills development, local enterprise growth and improved living conditions.

More than 1500 people were employed during construction of the Gamsberg Phase II expansion, with between 800 and 1 000 jobs expected to be sustained during operations.

The President called for greater opportunities for local communities to participate in higher-skilled occupations and for local businesses to become competitive suppliers of equipment, components and specialised industrial services.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of protecting the environment and ensuring that mining development did not compromise the Northern Cape’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity.

He commended Vedanta’s community initiatives, including investments in education, bursaries, skills training, water security and the JF Boeboe Van Wyk Oncology Centre in Springbok.

Building on international partnerships

The President said South Africa’s relationship with India provided an important foundation for expanding investment in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, technology and mineral beneficiation.

Vedanta is a major Indian multinational mining conglomerate.

He noted that more than 150 Indian companies had established a presence in South Africa, contributing investment, employment and industrial expertise.

President Ramaphosa called on investors to support the country’s broader development objectives through skills transfer, local procurement and industrial expansion.

He said the government remained committed to creating the infrastructure and economic conditions needed to attract productive investment.

“The Northern Cape must become known not only for the wealth beneath its soil, but for the industries, innovation and prosperity that grow above it,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the country’s mineral wealth should ultimately underpin a stronger domestic industrial base, creating opportunities for businesses and communities while supporting economic growth.

“We must be a country that does more than extract the minerals that the world needs. We must become a country that uses those minerals to manufacture the products that the world needs,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called on government, business, academia and civil society to strengthen partnerships to remove barriers preventing persons with disabilities from participating fully in society.

Chikunga made the call on Friday during the launch of 2026 Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) 2026 which will be observed from 3 November to 3 December.

The launch kicked off with a disability rights awareness walk from Church Square to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

This year’s campaign is held under the theme: “Creating Multi-Sectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society” and seeks to promote coordinated action to advance the rights, dignity, equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

“Government effort on its own cannot guarantee a disability-inclusive society.

“We are leveraging DRAM 2026 to call for a collective effort towards removal of the barriers that continue to deny persons with disabilities equal opportunities, dignity and full participation in society,” Chikunga said.

She said the inclusion of persons with disabilities is a shared responsibility that requires all sectors of society to work together through purposeful partnerships that were coordinated, adequately resourced, measurable and accountable.

Chikunga also reaffirmed the importance of the principle of “Nothing about us, without us”, emphasising that persons with disabilities must be meaningfully involved in decisions affecting their lives.

“It is through your partnerships that persons with disabilities are not merely consulted but meaningfully involved in all decisions that affect both their lives and prospects for a better life,” she said.

The Minister described DRAM as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of persons with disabilities across education, science, business, sport, the arts, public leadership and community development, while confronting the barriers that limit their participation.

She added that the campaign recognises disability as part of the human experience and promotes a society that embraced diversity, equality and shared prosperity.

Progress in advancing disability rights 

Chikunga outlined several initiatives undertaken by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to advance disability inclusion.

These include a study into the impact of climate-related emergencies, such as floods and extreme heat, on persons with disabilities.

Following the presentation of the study’s findings to Cabinet, a decision was taken to integrate them into municipal disaster management master plans.

The department is also working with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to address gaps in data on the geographical locations of persons with disabilities, which make it difficult to provide timely assistance during climate-related disasters.

In education, the department has been analysing gaps in basic education policies that undermine inclusive education.

The findings of that analysis are expected to inform the ongoing review of these policies.

On employment equity, Chikunga said a Department of Public Service and Administration circular had directed government towards a 7% employment target for persons with disabilities.

“This year, as we speak, employment equity is sitting at 5%, up from 4%. While this is progress, more still needs to be done,” she said.

She called on organisations of persons with disabilities to help identify eligible candidates and urged partners to consolidate associations of businesses owned and run by persons with disabilities to enable them to benefit from opportunities presented by the Public Procurement Act.

The department is also working on a Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, which Chikunga said is expected to be submitted to Parliament by the beginning of 2027.

In addition, work is underway to establish a Disability Nerve Centre of Excellence as part of the G20 Disability Inclusion Legacy Projects, with seed funding secured from the All-China Women’s Federation.

The country has also submitted its report under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Women and girls with disabilities remain vulnerable

Despite the progress made, Chikunga highlighted the persistent discrimination and exclusion experienced by persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls.

As South Africa commemorates the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March this year, the Minister called for greater attention to the lived realities of women and girls with disabilities, especially amid the country’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

She highlighted that women with disabilities experience violence at rates estimated to be twice as high as those without disabilities.

“The struggle for gender equality cannot be complete while women and girls with disabilities continue to face discrimination and exclusion in education, employment, healthcare, financial services, public leadership and access to justice,” she said.

Chikunga said DRAM should place women and girls with disabilities at the centre of the national development agenda, not only as beneficiaries of empowerment programmes but also as leaders, decisionmakers, entrepreneurs, professionals and activists.

She called for stronger community-level partnerships to protect the safety and dignity of persons with disabilities and ensure that they could participate fully in everyday life.

Four priorities for disability inclusion

To translate the campaign’s theme into practical action, Chikunga identified four areas requiring stronger multi-sectoral partnerships.

These include:

• Ensuring that persons with disabilities participate meaningfully in planning, decision-making and implementation
• Expanding access to education, employment, enterprise development and economic ownership
• Harnessing science and emerging technologies to promote independent living
• Strengthening community partnerships to protect the dignity, safety and wellbeing of persons with disabilities

She said accessibility should be incorporated from the outset when designing public transport systems, housing developments, roads, schools and public facilities.

The Minister also called for collaboration between universities, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and industry to expand access to accessible education, occupational training, workplace experience and employment opportunities.

Financial institutions, development agencies and businesses are also urged to improve access to finance, public procurement, supply chains and markets for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

On technology, Chikunga said innovations in artificial intelligence, communication devices, mobility technologies and digital learning platforms could improve access to education, employment, healthcare and public services.

However, she emphasised that persons with disabilities must be involved in developing technologies rather than having solutions adapted for them only after they had been created.

“These four areas remind us that multi-sectoral partnerships must be judged not by the number of agreements signed or meetings convened, but by the improvements they bring to the lives of persons with disabilities,” she said.

Disability Rights Awareness Month programme

Although officially launched on Friday, the main programme for Disability Rights Awareness Month will run from 3 November to 3 December 2026, culminating in the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The programme will focus on four weekly sub-themes.

The first week will focus on investing in growth strategies that promote disability-inclusive job creation, while the second will amplify the voices of youth with disabilities and encourage self-advocacy.

The third week will focus on unlocking digital opportunities for all through technology, while the fourth will coincide with the 16 Days of Activism against GBVF, with an emphasis on disability-inclusive approaches to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

The final week will also focus on strengthening partnerships to prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities, improve protection and expand access to justice and support services.

The department has called on all spheres of government, the private sector, civil society and organisations of persons with disabilities to support and participate in activities aligned with these priorities.

The DRAM campaign is informed by the priorities of government’s Medium-Term Development Plan and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which focuses on inclusive economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.

Chikunga officially launched the month by calling for renewed commitment and measurable action to ensure that disability inclusion translated into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

“Together, let us move beyond declarations of intent and make disability inclusion a lived reality for all,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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