Category: Africa

South Africans must draw inspiration from the life and legacy of struggle icon Charlotte Maxeke to confront the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), economic exclusion and all forms of discrimination.

This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile who addressed the 125th Graduation Anniversary Memorial Lecture of Maxeke on Saturday.

“She taught us that learning must uplift the underprivileged, give voice to the voiceless, and open doors where walls once stood. She whispered to us across time that, ‘If you rise, bring someone with you’.

“Therefore, as we reflect on the towering legacy of Mama Charlotte Maxeke and the rich history of our country, it rests upon our shoulders to safeguard our incredible inheritance of resilience and the championing of equality.

“It is now in our hands to eliminate gender-based violence and femicide, to dismantle economic exclusion, and to uproot all forms of discrimination that continue to weigh upon women and girls,” the Deputy President said.

Maxeke was the first black woman to obtain a university degree in South Africa.

“When colonialism tried to suppress African voices, when patriarchy tried to confine African women, and when poverty tried to limit African dreams, she defied them all.

“She brought her learning and experience back to South Africa, founded schools, led women’s organisations and was in the vanguard of the liberation struggle,” Deputy President Mashatile added.

He emphasised that Maxeke’s principles remain as applicable as ever and must be woven into modern technological developments to safeguard against further marginalisation of the vulnerable.

“In these contemporary times of AI [artificial intelligence], technology and digitalisation, her legacy advocates for technology that promotes inclusivity and shared knowledge, where each graduate illuminates the path for others, fostering a human-centred approach to technology.

“Where AI should serve as a tool to enhance opportunities rather than exacerbate exclusion. This enables young people to contribute to the economy and instil a sense of responsibility and excellence in the youth.

“Indeed, education should serve as a tool for empowerment, guiding future leaders to make impactful changes within their communities and the broader economic landscape,” the Deputy President said. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has arrived in the People’s Republic of China for a Working Visit.

The Deputy President arrived in the Asian country on Saturday and is accompanied by Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi as well as senior government officials. 

“Building on the successful outcomes of the South Africa-China Bi-National Commission held in Cape Town in March 2026, and co-chaired by Deputy President Mashatile and Vice President Han Zheng of the People’s Republic of China, the visit seeks to further advance cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest,” the Presidency said in a statement.

During the visit, Deputy President Mashatile will participate in the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) at the invitation of the Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Ren Hongbin.

“This will be the Deputy President’s second participation in the expo, following his attendance at the Third CISCE in July 2025, where he advanced the South Africa-China All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era and reinforced South Africa’s position as a gateway to Sub-Saharan Africa for trade, investment and industrial cooperation.

“The Deputy President will also hold a bilateral meeting with His Excellency Mr Han Zheng, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China,” the statement said.

In a bid to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, the Deputy President will also engage with leading Chinese companies focusing on “infrastructure development, advanced manufacturing, technology innovation, industrialisation and sustainable economic growth”.

“The Deputy President will thereafter travel to Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, from 25 to 26 June 2026, to build on the outcomes of the 2024 Shenzhen Presidential Business Forum. 

“During the Shenzhen leg of the visit, the Deputy President will continue engagements with business leaders, to reflect South Africa’s commitment to building sustainable partnerships with Chinese private and state-linked enterprises,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong has urged the youth to actively participate in building the green economy of the future.

The Minister addressed the closing ceremony of the 11^th  Green Youth Indaba held at Sun City in the North West on Friday.

The two-day indaba was held to bring awareness to the youth regarding the opportunities available to them within the green economy.

“As we conclude the 11th Green Youth Indaba, we do so inspired by what we have witnessed over the past two days and challenged by the responsibility that now rests upon all of us.

“This gathering has shown that young South Africans are not waiting for the future to arrive; they are already building it through innovation, enterprise, research, activism and service.

“This year’s theme, From Youth Innovation to Green Enterprise and Economic Impact, speaks directly to the task of our time: to convert ideas into practical solutions, and to convert those solutions into enterprises, jobs and lasting economic value,” the deputy minister said.

Morolong noted that over the course of the indaba, participants explored solutions in areas including renewable energy, water security and circular economy development.

They also heard from policymakers, investors, researchers, entrepreneurs and from young people who are already developing practical solutions to real-world challenges.

“What has become abundantly clear is that South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of talent.

“Our greatest challenge is ensuring that innovation is transformed into enterprise, that enterprise attracts investment and that investment creates jobs, incomes and sustainable economic opportunities,” the deputy minister said.

Milestones of Freedom

Morolong drew comparisons between the Green Youth Indaba and the Milestones of Freedom campaign launched President Cyril Ramaphosa last week under the theme: Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future.

The campaign is aimed at reflecting on South Africa’s journey to freedom and the interventions government has made to build a capable State.

“We would like to repeat that message here today, because the story of freedom is also the story of youth courage, youth imagination and youth action.

“The milestones we commemorate are not monuments frozen in time. They are instructions to the present generation on how to use today to build tomorrow,” he stated.

The campaign also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, the 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprisings, the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March and the 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

“Each of these moments teaches us something important: that freedom is defended by courage, deepened by organisation and made meaningful through delivery.

“The Constitution reminds us that every young person has dignity, rights and responsibilities. The youth of 1976 remind us that young people can change the direction of history when they refuse to accept injustice.

“The women of 1956 remind us that organised communities can confront systems that appear immovable [and] District Six reminds us that development without justice destroys lives, and that rebuilding must always restore belonging, opportunity and dignity,” Morolong emphasised.

The green economy is here

Turning back to the business of the day, Morolong noted that the indaba has grown into “one of South Africa’s most important youth development and green economy platforms”, connecting young people with “opportunities, partnerships, knowledge and networks”.

“The significance of this gathering extends beyond sustainability.

“It speaks directly to one of the central priorities of the Government of National Unity: creating faster economic growth, creating jobs and expanding opportunities for all South Africans, especially young people.

“The Medium-Term Development Plan 2024–2029 recognises that South Africa’s long-term success depends on building an economy that is inclusive, competitive, innovative and capable of delivering measurable improvements in people’s lives,” the deputy minister said.

He added that at the centre of this plan is the youth of South Africa.

“Every economic reform we undertake, every infrastructure programme we implement, every industrial policy intervention we introduce, and every investment we mobilise must ultimately expand opportunity for the next generation.

“That is why youth development cannot be treated as a separate programme. It must be integrated into every aspect of economic transformation,” Morolong highlighted.

He added that young people must lead as innovators, entrepreneurs, industrialists, employers and active builders of the economy of the future.

“In renewable energy, young people can become installers, electricians, maintenance technicians, energy auditors and green construction entrepreneurs. In agriculture, they can work across the full value chain from production to processing, packaging, logistics, irrigation, exports and agribusiness management.

“In water, they can build solutions for leak detection, treatment, conservation and infrastructure maintenance.

“In the circular economy, waste can become value through recycling, plastics beneficiation, e-waste recovery and circular manufacturing. In the digital economy, coding, data analytics, artificial intelligence, digital platforms and advanced manufacturing can help young people solve old problems in new ways,” Morolong said.

He encouraged the youth to use government programmes aimed at supporting enterprise development, skills development and innovation.

These structures include the National Youth Development Agency, the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency, Sector Education and Training Authorities, TVET colleges, universities, innovation hubs and business incubators. – SAnews.gov.za 

The fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is gathering pace with the arrival of another batch of vaccines and the acceleration of provincial vaccinations.

Some two million doses of the Dollvet vaccines arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced in a statement.

“I am also pleased to announce that the Agricultural Research Council bottled 20 000 vaccines on 12 June 2026 with the process commencing for the bottling of another 20 000 before the end of June, which will bring our local production to 40 000 for the month.

“It remains imperative that we continue with the provision of a consistent supply of vaccine provision,” he said.

The total number of vaccinations has eclipsed five million with the Free State the second province to reach the one million vaccination milestone.

The total number of vaccinations per province are as follows:
•    Eastern Cape: 891 924
•    Free State: 1 015 020
•    Gauteng: 351 945
•    KZN: 1 163 193
•    Limpopo: 357 045
•    Mpumalanga: 531 096
•    North West: 753 522
•    Northern Cape: 114 071
•    Western Cape: 309 044

“We will continue to work closely with the provinces and reiterate our call for faster vaccinations. It is also important that the feedlots utilise their allocations in order to keep the economic value chain going.

“I have also engaged with my Department and requested them to expedite the Section 9 Report which should reach my Office within the next day or two in order to bring additional reprieve to our farmers,” Steenhuisen added.

The Minister thanked stakeholders for working together with the department to vaccinate at scale.

“The goal must remain: to work together to vaccinate as many cattle as possible as quickly as possible in order to end the current outbreak and place us on the path to ensuring that this is the last major outbreak of FMD in South Africa,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Health has reassured South Africans that its plans to achieve more financial independence from external funding sources have been under development for some time.

This after media reports suggested that the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is set to be withdrawn.

“While the department has not received a formal correspondence from the US Government, directly or indirectly, regarding what has been published in the media, this did not come as a surprise because the department has long been working on a self-reliance plan to minimise the impact of funding withdrawal since the initial freeze on foreign assistance and a cancellation of USAID grants in January 2025.

“Thus, there is no need for public to panic because the transition plan has long been developed and the implementation has been ongoing,” the department said in a statement.

The department acknowledged that PEPFAR funding was a “big contributor” to government’s HIV/AIDS response programme.

However, it said, the funding does not affect the provision of antiretrovirals (ARVs) because the country procures 90% of ARVs from government fiscus, supported by 10% from the Global Fund.

“It is important to remind the public that PEPFAR was supporting the Department of Health in 27 HIV/AIDS High burden Districts out of 52 districts in the country in 8 provinces, with the exception of the Northern Cape.

“Public health facilities remain accessible for to clients, including those who used to receive health services from PEPFAR funded clinics.

“The issue of HIV/AIDS response funding will be part of the United Nations High-Level Meeting agenda scheduled to take place on 22–23 June 2026, which Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will participate in the debates in New York,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za