Category: Africa

Source: South Africa News Agency

Deputy President Shiphokosa Paulus Mashatile will, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, deliver the keynote address at the 2025 Youth Day commemoration and career exhibition event, to be held in the North West Province.

Hundreds of young people are expected to gather on Monday, 16 June 2025, at the North West University (NWU) Rag Farm Stadium, Potchefstroom in the JB Marks Local Municipality.

“As we commemorate this year’s Youth Day, we do so fully aware of the challenges which continue to confront today’s youth, one of them being youth unemployment.  Hence this youth month, Government is putting a strong emphasis on the importance of strong collaboration by all implementing partners on  education, skills and economic development in order to link youth with education and economic opportunities to address youth unemployment in our country,” the Deputy President said on Sunday.

This year’s National Youth Day Commemorative events are taking place are held under the theme, “Skills for the Changing World – Empowering Youth for Meaningful Economic Participation.”

This is a call to all government entities and its strategic partners to accelerate and enhance meaningful interventions in bridging the gap between skills development programmes and services available for access by youth to realise economic gain.

In South Africa, June 16 has been declared a National Youth Day due to the active role and participation of young people in the liberation struggle, noting specifically the student uprising of 16 June 1976. 

The 1976 uprising raised the political awareness and introduced a renewed sense to protest against the oppressive apartheid regime. The peaceful 1976 youth demonstrations were met with brutal force from the apartheid regime, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including that of Hector Pieterson, who became the face of the brutality worldwide. 

To date, not only does South Africa continue to pay homage to the youth of 1976, but the country also recognises and applauds the greatness of today’s youth as they make up 34% of South Africa’s total population. 

During the Youth Day Commemorative event, Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, Premier of the North West Province, Lazarus Mokgosi, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Development Agency, Mafiki Duma, Mayors, senior government officials and Young Trailblazers. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has confirmed that South Africa has substantially completed all 22 recommended action items outlined in the Action Plan adopted when the country was placed on the organisation’s grey list in February 2023.

South Africa was placed on the FATF grey list due to deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regime.

During its plenary session held in Strasbourg, France, the FATF made the initial determination that South Africa has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site assessment. The on-site assessment will be to verify that the implementation of AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation in the future. 

According to the National Treasury, the completion of the Action Plan paves the way for the final step before the FATF can delist South Africa, which is an on-site visit to South Africa by the FATF Africa Joint Group (JG).

A statement by FATF on (Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring – 13 June 2025) noted that South Africa has undertaken a range of key reforms, including demonstrating a sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and the full range of [terror financing] TF activities in line with its risk profile; and updating its TF Risk Assessment to inform the implementation of a comprehensive national counter financing of terrorism strategy.

The National Treasury emphasised that the improvements to South Africa’s AML/CFT regime are particularly important for South Africa, given the legacy of state capture, one element of which was that law enforcement and prosecuting institutions were deliberately weakened. 

“Improvements in these domains are critical not just for getting off the greylist, but for strengthening the fight against crime and corruption, and for contributing to the integrity of the South African financial system. Exiting the FATF greylist is a significant step forward as South Africa continues to improve and strengthen its supervisory and criminal justice systems,” National Treasury said on Friday.

The on-site visit will take place before the next FATF Plenary, and, if the outcome of the visit is positive, the FATF will delist South Africa from the greylist at its next Plenary in October 2025. Preparations for the on-site visit have commenced.

During this visit, the JG will confirm the country’s ongoing commitment in the implementation of the country’s fight against money laundering, terror financing and other financial crimes.

“National Treasury commends the efforts and commitment of the law enforcement entities, especially the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) of the South African Police Service, the State Security Agency, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), for the sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and terror financing activities. 

“This made it possible for South Africa to secure the upgrades of the last two remaining action items, often considered to be the most difficult, in the current reporting cycle,” National Treasury said.

South Africa also commended Mali and Tanzania, who were delisted from greylisting by the FATF Plenary. 

“We also congratulate Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso, who like South Africa, were deemed to have substantially completed their action plans, and for whom on-site assessments were also approved.

“National Treasury pays tribute to the late Advocate Rodney de Kock of the NPA, who played a leading role in preparing the groundwork for South Africa to address the action items, but sadly passed away in January 2025.” 

The South African Reserve Bank (SARC) has welcomed the confirmation by the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) that South Africa has completed all 22 of its action items.

“This is a significant step forward – but not the time for complacency,” the SARB said on Saturday.-SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has commended the Water Research Commission’s (WRC) ongoing investment and efforts to provide innovative technological solutions to water challenges through the launch of the Vortex Settling Basin (VSB).

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has commended the Water Research Commission (WRC) for its continued investment in innovative technologies to address South Africa’s water challenges.

A VSB is a type of water treatment system that utilizes a vortex flow pattern to remove sediments, suspended solids, and other pollutants from water. 

It operates on the principle of centrifugal force, allowing heavier particles to settle at the bottom of the basin while cleaner water is discharged from the top. 

The VSB effectively removes heavy sediment particles through its vortex action, causing the sediments to settle in a cone shape. These particles can then be extracted by gravity, while the clearer water flows out over a discharge weir. 

“This technology will help the municipality with an energy-efficient solution for sediment removal, ensuring a reliable water supply with minimal maintenance. The vortex is at 90% efficiency, which means there will be more water to treat, thus increasing water security in the area. The technology will also ensure good water quality because the turbidity of water will be addressed,” the Deputy Minister said.

Mahlobo made the remarks at the recent official handover and launch of the VSB demonstration at the Thukela River abstraction works in Middledrift, Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.

The launch marked the beginning of a demonstration phase, during which the system’s effectiveness will be closely monitored for potential wider implementation. 

The VSB has a pump capacity of 8.6 mega-litres per day and will benefit a wide range of stakeholders, particularly those reliant on surface water abstraction for agricultural, municipal, and industrial purposes. 

The Deputy Minister assured community members that the municipality has gained a cost-effective technology, to be used also to facilitate more desilting by removing sedimentation in the dams. 

He highlighted that Madungela was chosen for the demonstration for several reasons, including the large contributing catchment downstream of the existing Spioenkop Dam, resulting in high sediment concentrations; the pump station abstracts raw water directly from the Thukela River and has no gravel trap, and current sediment extrusion is by hydro-cyclones; therefore, a good comparison with VSB performance will be possible. 

Mahlobo urged the community to protect the VSB as it will be beneficial to them. 

WRC Chief Executive, Dr Jennifer Molwantwa, emphasised that the work done by the commission has important implications, especially for rural communities who will now have access to reliable potable water. 

“This kind of work is critically important for the WRC, as it demonstrates our ability to translate theoretical scientific innovations into practical applications—not just at laboratory scale, but also in real-world settings. 

“We are hopeful that this innovation will culminate in an economy where all municipalities and bulk water suppliers recognise and adopt it as a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and capacity of water treatment systems across the country—particularly benefiting rural communities, where access to reliable and sustainable water services is often limited,” Molwantwa said. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has assured the public that the provincial government remains committed to ensuring fairness in both hiring and procurement processes in public infrastructure projects. 

This comes after concerns raised by local businesses about the perceived exclusion of a preferential procurement clause in the hiring of workers for the rehabilitation works along the Golden Highway (R553) project, amongst others.

The grievances sparked protest action, which temporarily halted construction activities last week.

LoneRock Construction, the main contractor, has since resumed attending to a set of demands by local, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs). The main contractor has since responded positively to their demands. 

These latest developments has led to the resumption of roadworks.

“We recognise the frustrations of affected community members, particularly concerning access to employment and subcontracting opportunities in public infrastructure projects. It is for this reason that, upon being made aware of the challenges, we immediately intervened and held engagements with affected parties.

“As the Department of Roads and Transport, we would like to assure the public that we remain fully committed to the principles of inclusive economic transformation, community empowerment, and transparent procurement processes, in accordance with national legislation,” the MEC said on Friday.

Diale-Tlabela urged local businesses and community members to engage concerns through formal channels, including project steering committees, ward councillors, and the project liaison offices, to ensure grievances are addressed and amicable solutions sought. 

She also condemned actions of those who disrupt construction sites with the aim to extort, intimidate, and cause violence.

“The department condemns any acts of violence, property damage, or obstruction of public roads and urges all affected parties to operate within the law as we work towards a solution that embodies fairness, transparency, and inclusivity.

“We remain open to engaging all stakeholders to strengthen our collective commitment to transformation, empowerment, and socio-economic development in the communities we serve,” the MEC emphasised.

Notwithstanding the delays, the MEC said the project should be delivered within budget and without unnecessary delays.

She reaffirmed the department’s responsibility to ensure that policies and practices align with legal and ethical standards of empowerment, equity, and social justice.

The department said it is currently reviewing the procurement and employment processes applied in the project in question in order to assess compliance with the legislative requirements. 

“If any non-compliance is identified, the department will take corrective actions to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences,” the department said. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has issued a final call to South Africa’s creative community, including artists, industry bodies, and cultural organisations, to submit their most outstanding work for consideration in the 2025 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA).

The closing date for submissions is 20 June 2025.

Now in its second year, the NACA Awards, previously known as the Cultural and Creative Industry Awards, shine a national spotlight on the creators, innovators, and visionaries who push boundaries and shape South Africa’s cultural identity. 

Whether you work as a filmmaker, dancer, designer, curator, musician, writer, or performer, this is your stage.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the NACA Awards are more than recognition, “they are a reflection of who we are as a people.” 

“We urge the sector to submit their finest work, not just to compete, but to inspire. Share your most thoughtful, impactful, and meaningful creations, works that capture the spirit of our nation and contribute to South Africa’s creative landscape. 

“If you’ve been waiting for the right moment, this is your time to share your brilliance with the country,” McKenzie said.

The 2025 NACA Awards will feature 30 honours across six major categories, and these include:

• Heritage Sites
• Visual Arts and Crafts
• Literary Works
• Audio Visual and Interactive Media
• Design and Creative Services
• Performing Arts

In addition, the Ministerial (Discretionary) Awards will be conferred at the Minister’s discretion and do not require nominations.

Key eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Open to South African citizens, permanent residents, and locally owned entities
• Works must be professional and have been created or released between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025
• Entries must be submitted online at www.naca.dsac.gov.za. Each submission should include all required documentation and media samples. Incomplete entries will not be considered.-SAnews.gov.za