Category: Africa

Source: Government of South Africa

The Gauteng provincial government recently met with their KwaZulu-Natal counterparts where innovative crime-fighting technologies and intergovernmental collaboration were under the spotlight.

This as the Gauteng Department of e-Government, led by Head of Department Masabata Mutlaneng, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Community Safety — led by Acting Head of the Department, Roche Mogorosi — welcomed the high-level delegation from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government. 

The delegation, led by Premier Thami Ntuli, was received at the Gauteng Provincial Command Centre for a strategic engagement focused on innovative crime-fighting technologies and intergovernmental collaboration.

The engagement follows a formal request from KwaZulu-Natal, which sought collaborative learning opportunities to enhance service delivery in key areas such as safety, digital infrastructure and technology integration.

Ntuli and his team were taken on an exclusive tour of Gauteng’s advanced e-Policing systems, showcasing the province’s commitment to digital public safety solutions. 

Central to the tour were two flagship technologies: the Gauteng e-Panic Button, a rapid-response mobile application that allows residents to instantly alert emergency services when in danger and the CCTV surveillance network, a province-wide monitoring system designed to deter criminal activity and support proactive crime management.

Mutlaneng emphasised that these technologies are not merely tools, but integral components of a broader digital transformation strategy within the Gauteng Provincial Government.

“As e-Gov, our role is to modernise government services through automation and innovation. Our work directly supports departments like Community Safety in building smarter, more responsive environments,” she said.

Mutlaneng also highlighted the importance of a shift from reactive to preventative policing, stating that communities must feel safe not only through emergency responses but also through the presence of visible, reassuring technology. 

“There’s a psychological layer to safety. When a Gauteng resident sees CCTV infrastructure or knows they have a panic button at their fingertips, that sense of being watched over becomes a deterrent to crime in itself,” Mutlaneng added.

Beyond visible policing innovations, the Gauteng Department of e-Government also shared its efforts in combatting the growing threat of cybercrime. The KwaZulu-Natal delegation was introduced to Gauteng’s internal Cybersecurity Command Centre, based at the department’s headquarters. 

The centre continuously monitors and neutralises digital threats, with a strong focus on phishing attacks and potential breaches of government infrastructure.

“We’ve seen some alarming trends in cyber-attacks, but the proactive systems we’ve put in place have significantly bolstered our resilience and enabled a much more preventative stance,” said Mutlaneng.

The visit concluded on a strong note of mutual commitment, with both delegations reaffirming their intent to foster ongoing collaboration, exchange knowledge, and harness technology to improve service delivery and community safety across provincial borders. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has welcomed the newly elected leadership in Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West.

This follows Cabinet’s approval to invoke Section 139(7) of the Constitution, placing the municipality under national intervention due to ongoing governance failures, financial mismanagement, and the collapse of service delivery.

This also means that the National Executive assumed the functions of the Provincial Executive to implement the financial recovery plan. 

According to the department, the National Cabinet Representative (NCR), Kopung Ralikontsane, supported by a team of experts, has been leading efforts to stabilise and reform the municipality.

Hlabisa commended the Ditsobotla councillors, the NCR, and the supporting team for a successful and orderly council meeting held on Tuesday, 23 September 2025.

“During the meeting, the NCR presented his report, which was noted, and the regularisation of political office-bearers was successfully concluded through proper elections. 

“The Executive Committee was determined and formally recognised, and Section 79 Committees were duly established. These outcomes represent important steps towards institutional, financial, and administrative stability in the municipality,” the statement read. 

To ensure the effective implementation of the financial recovery plan and institutional reforms, the NCR and supporting team of experts will oversee several measures. 

These include the implementation of the financial recovery plan, deployment of technical and governance support and establishment of a Joint Operations Task Team to investigate corruption and maladministration.

It also involves institutional reforms to address instability and dysfunction, strict financial controls and oversight of municipal accounts and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen administrative and service delivery functions.

Hlabisa reiterated CoGTA’s commitment to ensuring that every municipality works. 

According to the Minister, the interventions form part of a comprehensive and sustainable transformation agenda aimed at ensuring that Ditsobotla Local Municipality operates efficiently and regains public trust. 

“Our commitment is unwavering – the people of Ditsobotla are entitled to principled leadership, prudent financial management, and dependable service delivery,” said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

With the rising global support for just transition finance, South Africans are set to benefit from employment and training opportunities arising from the Just Energy Transition projects.

In South Africa, the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan has attracted over R350 billion in private renewable energy investment since 2023, alongside significant international commitments.

“Every new solar panel, every waste separation project, every environmental monitor we train is more than a line in a report. It is dignity, it is work, it is a future for families across South Africa,” Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George said on Thursday.

The Minister emphasised that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s focus is not only on job numbers, but also on the quality of work, with training and support that prepare participants for long-term employment.

According to the Minister, initiatives such as Youth Environmental Services, Youth Jobs in Waste, and Environmental Monitors are giving thousands of South Africans accredited training, mentorship, and career pathways in biodiversity conservation, aquaculture, waste management, and renewable energy.

He explained that the National Employment Vulnerability Assessment ensures that workers in coal, metals, petroleum, agriculture, and tourism are supported with resilience plans.

“This makes the country’s just transition practical, not abstract, by ensuring that people in older industries are equipped to participate in the new economy,” the Minister said.

Through the Expanded Public Works Programme, the department has committed to creating 121 059 work opportunities over the next five years, equal to more than 77 000 full-time jobs.

Sixty percent of these opportunities will go to women, 55% to youth, and 2% to persons with disabilities.

“Every government decision must be judged by whether it creates work. In our department, we can say with confidence that our programmes do exactly that. They provide jobs today while building the skills South Africa needs tomorrow,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Health is celebrating World Environmental Health Day, which aims to increase awareness about the impact of environmental factors on public health and the urgent health threats that require coordinated action.

This year’s theme is “Clean Air, Healthy People”, which highlights air pollution as a significant global health threat, leading to millions of premature deaths and serious illnesses such as asthma and heart disease. 

According to the department, clean air is fundamental to health.

World Environmental Health Day is observed annually on the 26th of September to raise awareness about the significant connection between environmental health and human well-being, stressing the need to control environmental factors that impact health and prevent disease. 

The World Health Assembly adopted an important resolution on air quality and health in 2015. This resolution recognised air pollution as a significant risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cancer, as well as the economic burden these diseases impose.

Almost all people globally (99%) inhale air that exceeds the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines and contains high levels of pollutants.

Meanwhile, the department said low- and middle-income countries experience the highest levels of exposure.

The department, in collaboration with various stakeholders including the WHO, the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the National Association of Environmental Health in South Africa, will use this year’s campaign to advocate for clean air policies. 

They will also honour the invaluable contributions of environmental health professionals, stakeholders, and educators worldwide.

The two-day event, which started today at the Birchwood Hotel and O R Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, brings together key participants such as academics, environmental health experts, policymakers, and health professionals. 

They are expected to explore strategies for improving air quality, reducing pollution, and advancing evidence-based, community-led policies that promote clean, healthy, and sustainable environments for everyone. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has advocated for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which expires later this month.

AGOA is a trade agreement that provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the USA market for over 1 800 products, in addition to the more than 5 000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalised System of Preferences programme.

AGOA has been the foundation of US-Africa trade for nearly a quarter of a century. 

“In South Africa, it has supported jobs from auto assembly plants to farms and high-tech manufacturing hubs. Its expiry would not only undermine those gains but also remove the link to the Generalised System of Preferences, which has been so critical to many of our exporters. For this reason, I appeal for your support in advocating for its renewal,” the President said on Wednesday.

The President was addressing business leaders during the SA-USA Trade and Investment Dialogue, which took place at the United Nations General Assembly, New York.

The United States is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners outside of Africa. 

The President’s calls comes at a time when South Africa has been hit with a 30% tariff on imports by the United States.

“New challenges have emerged in our trade relationship, not least the reciprocal tariffs recently imposed on South African exports. These measures have already disrupted supply chains and created uncertainty for both our exporters and American importers.

“The reality is that such measures do not only affect one side. They ripple across industries and communities in both our countries,” President Ramaphosa said.

He stressed that South Africa wishes to deal with these issues constructively. 

“We understand the concerns that have been raised by the United States and are willing to engage to find solutions that are mutually beneficial.

“Our goal is simple: to sustain and expand trade flows, to keep our companies competitive, and to ensure that consumers and workers in both countries benefit from our partnership,” the President said.

He emphasised that predictable, preferential access to the US market is vital not only to South Africa but to American companies who depend on reliable imports. 

“Our conversation this evening must also look beyond immediate challenges. Africa is rising. The African Continental Free Trade Area is opening new horizons, creating a market of 1.4 billion people,” the President said.

South Africa is ideally positioned as the gateway into this market for businesses in the US.

“We have the infrastructure, the financial systems, the legal and regulatory frameworks and the regional linkages to serve as a platform for US companies to expand into the continent.

“South Africa is a country of 60 million people, but it is also… an entry point into a continental market of immense potential. South Africa is reforming and modernising its economy. We are addressing structural bottlenecks and diversifying our exports,” the President said.

Furthermore, government is driving industrialisation so that the country can move beyond raw commodities into higher-value goods and services.

“For US investors, this means opportunities not only in established sectors but in new and dynamic industries. We see particular promise in agriculture, where we are expanding agro-processing and high-value food production.

“There are opportunities in automotives, where we are transitioning to electric vehicles and battery production. In green energy, our renewable energy endowments and platinum reserves offer unrivalled potential,” he said.

South Africa has great potential in digital and technology-driven services, with a young, skilled workforce driving innovation.

The country also offers opportunities in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and has the manufacturing capacity to strengthen global supply chains.

“In aerospace and defence, our advanced capabilities can complement US leadership. Across all these areas, our focus is on value addition, sustainable job creation and skills development.

“This is where our partnership can make the greatest difference. I want to encourage greater collaboration between US companies and our universities, research institutions and training programmes so that we can jointly build the skills and innovation capacity needed for the future,” the President said. 

He stressed that South Africa wants to secure partnerships that bring more U.S. investment into the country in renewable energy projects, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and the green hydrogen economy.

“We want to see collaboration in life sciences and health innovation, areas where we have strong capabilities and untapped potential.

“We want to build deeper partnerships in financial services, mining technology and automotive manufacturing, positioning South Africa as both a reliable production hub and a launchpad into Africa.

“At the same time, we want to ensure that South African companies expand their presence in the United States, forging stronger links in areas like food and beverages, retail, creative industries and fintech,” Ramaphosa said.

He said these are companies that can add value, create jobs and deepen cultural and business ties between both countries.

“We believe strongly that the relationship between South Africa and the United States is not defined solely by trade figures or investment flows, important as they are. It is defined by a shared commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development and inclusive prosperity,” the President said. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project as more than “just a telescope” – it is a platform for Africa to shape humanity’s cosmic narrative, answering fundamental questions about our origins and place in the universe. 

“Today, we stand on sacred ground, not only for its pristine, radio-quiet skies, but for its role in uniting nations to explore the mysteries of the universe,” Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande said.

He was speaking at the Group of 20 (G20) SKA Ministerial Event held in the historic Karoo region, in the Northern Cape.

He said South Africa has established itself as a leader in astronomical research, leveraging significant investments in large-scale research infrastructure. 

He praised the SKA project as a reflection of the country’s strategic priorities. 

“Astronomy, in particular, has been our strategic priority, and we have used it to demonstrate our commitment to science diplomacy.” 

The Minister said government has already made substantial strides by securing funding and enhancing critical infrastructure while ensuring protections for the radio-quiet zone in the Karoo, aiming to balance scientific advancement with community benefits.

The SKA-Mid project, currently under construction, is anticipated to further elevate South Africa’s role in global astronomy. 

He said the MeerKAT telescope, a precursor to SKA-Mid, has produced over 500 scientific publications, pushing the boundaries of discovery. 

These projects are not only about technological advancements but also about nurturing human potential. 

“The SKA project is a catalyst for developing the next generation of scientists and engineers,” he added.

He noted that the SKA initiative extends its impact beyond South Africa. 

“Eight African SKA partner countries have benefited from grants to establish astronomy programmes – fostering a pan-African scientific community,” said Nzimande, reinforcing Africa’s expanding role in global knowledge production. 

The project not only serves as a cutting-edge scientific instrument but also empowers participating nations to engage in core scientific inquiries.

“Our journey in astronomy stretches from early observatories to the groundbreaking MeerKAT and now the SKA-Mid.” 

Since the start of construction of the MeerKAT over 8 800 direct and indirect jobs have been created in the Karoo. 

Through investments of R288 million with local suppliers and the hiring of local individuals for SKA-Mid construction, the SKA is fostering economic growth. 

The Minister highlighted the transformation occurring at community level, adding that small businesses are thriving, with R121.5 million distributed through financial assistance programmes.

With the first four SKA dishes undergoing rigorous testing, the project continues to symbolise global unity in the pursuit of discovery. 

“The SKA offers opportunities for African nations to engage in cutting-edge science, engineering, and data analysis,” he said, adding that this positions Africa as a crucial player in shaping humanity’s cosmic narrative.

The Group of 20 (G20) SKA Ministerial Event brought together esteemed science and innovation Ministers, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and representatives from over 30 nations – emphasising South Africa’s commitment to advancing scientific exploration through the SKA project.

The gathering was organised by the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) in conjunction with the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. 

The event underscored a monumental initiative aimed at revolutionising the understanding of the universe. 

“This event is a testament to what humanity can achieve through shared vision and collaboration,” Nzimande said. – SAnews.gov.za