Category: English

By William Baloyi

September marks the end of winter in South Africa, and as temperatures rise, our thoughts inevitably drift to a weekend getaway or year-end holiday plans. It is also Tourism Month, a period that invites us to celebrate the beauty, diversity and experiences that make our country a destination worth exploring.

Our country boasts some of the most iconic experiences and adventures, many of which are often only a stone’s throw away.

From the golden hues of a safari across the vast landscapes of the Kruger National Park to the gentle ocean breeze along the shores of Durban and Cape Town, South Africa offers a remarkable tapestry of experiences. Majestic mountains, winding coastlines, vibrant cities, tranquil retreats, and hidden gems tucked away across our provinces offer something to discover in every corner of the country.

As the season changes, there is perhaps no better time to rediscover the beauty on our doorstep and experience, first-hand, the extraordinary destinations that make South Africa a world-class tourism destination.

Yet South Africa’s appeal extends beyond its landscapes and leisure experiences. Our heritage is woven into the places we visit, the stories we tell and the people who have shaped our country. From Robben Island and the Apartheid Museum to the Cradle of Humankind, the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal and the historic streets of Cape Town, our heritage sites offer more than places to visit; they provide windows into where we come from and how our shared history has shaped who we are today.

They invite us not only to explore South Africa, but to understand it, to walk through its history, engage with its diverse cultures and appreciate the stories that have helped shape our national identity.

This appreciation of our natural beauty, cultural heritage and diverse attractions also carries a deeper significance. Tourism is more than simply visiting new places or experiencing the richness of our country; it is an important contributor to livelihoods, local economies and national development. 

Every journey creates opportunities for accommodation providers, tour operators, restaurants, local artisans, guides and small businesses, allowing the benefits of tourism to reach communities across the country. In this way, choosing to explore South Africa is not only an investment in our own experiences, but also in the people, businesses and communities that make our tourism offering possible.

This year’s Tourism Month is observed under the theme “Growing South Africa’s Tourism Sector in the Digital Era”. The theme calls on citizens, young innovators, tourism businesses and partners across the sector to harness digital platforms to expand access to tourism markets, improve the visibility of local destinations and create new opportunities for inclusive growth and job creation.

It also speaks to the modernisation and transformation of the tourism sector, encouraging innovation, digital adoption and new ways of doing business that can enhance competitiveness, unlock new markets and contribute to stronger economic growth. By embracing technology and transforming how we market, experience and deliver tourism, we can build a more inclusive, dynamic and sustainable sector that creates opportunities for more South Africans.

Technology has changed how people discover, plan and experience travel. Increasingly, the tourism journey begins online, through social media, search engines, digital booking platforms and travel content. A video of a waterfall, township experience, hidden beach, hiking trail, cultural festival, or local restaurant or cuisine can influence a traveller’s decision and bring new attention to destinations that may previously have been less visible.

This digital shift presents a significant opportunity for South African tourism. It enables tourism businesses, including small and emerging enterprises, to reach audiences beyond their immediate geographic areas, market their products more effectively and participate more meaningfully in the broader tourism value chain.

Growing tourism is a collective endeavour, and this Tourism Month presents an opportunity for all of us to play our part in making travel within our own country more accessible and meaningful. We commend South African National Parks (SANParks) initiative to open the gates of participating national parks to South Africans for free during SA National Parks Week, from 7 to 13 September 2026. 

The initiative created an opportunity for more families and communities to experience the extraordinary natural heritage on their doorstep. The private sector, too, can help build a stronger culture of domestic travel by offering affordable packages, promoting lesser-known destinations and creating experiences that encourage South Africans to explore beyond their immediate surroundings.

For citizens, the call is equally simple: go out and discover your South Africa. Take a day trip, walk a heritage route, visit a neighbouring province, explore a community tourism experience or spend a weekend discovering a destination you have never seen before. Every journey can tell a story, but it can also create an opportunity for the local guide, the small restaurant, the craftsperson, the accommodation provider and the community whose livelihoods are connected to tourism. When we travel locally, we do more than see our country; we help its communities grow.

Recent tourism statistics indicate that the sector continues to make a meaningful contribution to the economy and job creation. The World Travel and Tourism Council reports that tourism contributes almost 9% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supports about 1.8 million jobs, both directly and indirectly. The tourism industry also creates about one job for every 13 international visitors who come to South Africa.

International tourist arrivals have also continued to improve, with 5 584 473 international tourists having visited South Africa between January and June 2026, which is a 12.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In July this year, South Africa welcomed 991 696 international tourists, which is also a 12.5% growth from July in 2025.

To strengthen tourism’s contribution to the economy, government, communities and the private sector must continue to work together to improve safety, transport connectivity, digital visibility, service quality and affordability. Tourism destinations must not only be attractive, but also accessible, safe, well marketed and welcoming to all visitors.

Tourism Month is therefore both a celebration and a call to action. Every local trip, visitor experience and tourism enterprise contributes to building a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient South African economy. 

Baloyi is the Deputy Government Spokesperson

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has officially opened applications for the 2027 academic year.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela announced the 2027 application cycle opening during a media briefing in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Friday, where he urged prospective students to apply early and take advantage of opportunities to access funding for university and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) studies.

Manamela said the launch came as thousands of young South Africans prepare to make decisions about what and where they will study, and how they will finance their education.

“Today’s launch is therefore about much more than opening an application window. It is about opening doors of opportunity and ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent deserving young South Africans from building their futures,” Manamela said.

The Minister noted that NSFAS has implemented several changes for the 2027 cycle to improve the application process and student experience.

These include stronger data integrity through the direct extraction of student information from institutional systems, automated document verification, electronic document signing and a modernised student-support environment.

The verification of student registration and banking details is also being strengthened through collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, while work has started on a Loan Management System to support student loans for the so-called “missing middle”.

“We have also paid particular attention to the administration of appeals. NSFAS has been working to address historical weaknesses, improve communication with students, and ensure that appeals are handled according to clear rules and timelines. These improvements are intended to make the application process simpler, faster, more secure and more responsive to students,” the Minister said.

The 2027 application cycle will close on 18 November 2026, with funding outcomes for successful applicants expected to be communicated in December ahead of registration for the 2027 academic year.

Manamela encouraged prospective applicants not to wait until the closing date, saying early applications will allow students time to verify their information, submit outstanding documents, and seek assistance if they encountered challenges.

NSFAS will also deploy outreach teams across provinces, districts, rural and marginalised communities to provide information and application support.

“We will work with schools, provincial education departments, community stakeholders and institutions to assist those who may otherwise face barriers to accessing information about student funding,” the Minister said.

Manamela said demand for student financial aid continues to grow, with NSFAS receiving a record number of applications during the 2026 cycle, which reinforces the importance of improving the scheme’s systems and service delivery.

Supporting the missing middle

The Minister also highlighted government’s efforts to support students who fall outside the NSFAS bursary threshold but still struggle to afford the full cost of higher education.

“They [missing middle] may earn too much to qualify for a bursary but not enough to comfortably cover tuition, accommodation, study materials, and other costs associated with tertiary education. We cannot ignore these students,” Manamela said.

He said government is strengthening the missing-middle loan scheme as an additional funding pathway for eligible students who do not qualify for NSFAS bursaries.

“The loan scheme expands the funding system beyond the traditional bursary model, providing an opportunity for students who might otherwise face financial exclusion. The loans are repayable in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions, making this an important part of building a funding system that is both inclusive and sustainable,” the Minister said.

Expanding opportunities through TVET colleges

The Minister also urged young people to consider public TVET colleges, which are central to building the skills base required by the economy.

Applications for the 2027 academic year at public TVET colleges are open until 30 September 2026.

Manamela encouraged Grade 9 learners and beyond, school leavers and people seeking new skills to research available programmes, identify qualifications aligned with their interests and career aspirations, and apply before the deadline.

He stressed that admission and funding are separate steps, with prospective students required to apply to their institution of choice and separately apply for NSFAS funding if they require financial assistance.

Manamela said NSFAS remained a critical government instrument in advancing education, skills development and youth empowerment, which are identified in the National Development Plan 2030 as drivers of economic growth, social transformation, and nation-building.

He called on young people to take responsibility for using the application period and urged them to apply for both admission and funding rather than waiting until the final day. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has identified innovation in housing finance, integrated human settlements, and stronger partnerships as three key priorities for the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) as it enters the next phase of South Africa’s housing journey. 

Delivering a keynote address at the NHFC’s 30th anniversary summit in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Friday, Simelane said the corporation has a critical role to play in accelerating access to affordable housing, amid continued demand and economic pressures facing households. 

“In the context of the strategic focus of the entity, we posit that the NHFC’s role in the next phase of our housing journey is critical,” Simelane said.

On innovation in housing finance, the Minister said the transition of the NHFC towards a Human Settlements Development Bank presents an opportunity for the institution to achieve greater autonomy and scale.

Simelane stressed the need for the transition to be completed efficiently and for the new institution to be equipped to operate with the agility required by the housing market.

On the second priority, the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements, Simelane said government must move beyond the delivery of individual houses.

“We must move beyond the delivery of individual houses toward integrated and sustainable human settlements that connect communities to essential services, economic opportunities, and secure tenure,” Simelane said.

She said this approach must include schools, clinics, roads and recreational spaces alongside housing.

On partnerships, Simelane said the NHFC’s success over the past three decades has been built through collaboration with financial institutions, developers, all spheres of government, and communities.

“That partnership must deepen,” the Minister said, stressing that government cannot address the country’s housing challenge alone.

More than R13 billion in housing finance facilitated

The Minister highlighted that the NHFC has facilitated more than R13 billion in housing finance and helped more than 800 000 households access housing opportunities.

Since 2019, more than 32 000 subsidy approvals have been made through the First Home Finance programme, with close to R2 billion disbursed and R10.9 billion in private sector investment leveraged.

“These are not just figures. They represent families who have a place to call home. They represent children growing up in stable environments. They represent the restoration of dignity,” Simelane said.

The Minister also acknowledged the First Home Finance programme, which serves the “gap market”, comprising households earning between R3 501 and R22 000 a month who earn too much to qualify for a fully subsidised house but too little to secure traditional mortgage finance. 

She said the programme has been expanded to rural areas, with traditional leaders playing a role in supporting its implementation and driving local development initiatives.

The NHFC’s anniversary coincides with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, with Section 26 recognising the right to adequate housing and requiring the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve its progressive realisation.

However, Simelane said the country still faced a significant housing challenge, with the backlog estimated at approximately 2.6 million people in need of housing.

She said rapid urbanisation and economic pressures continue to place enormous pressure on the cities.

“Demand for affordable housing continues to outstrip supply. Economic pressures make it harder for households to enter the property market.

“The question before us is not whether progress has been made. The question is – how do we accelerate that progress?” the Minister said.

The Minister commended the NHFC’s 30th anniversary initiatives, including its Scholarship Fund, 30 Stories campaign and digital archive, saying these demonstrate the institution’s commitment to preserving its legacy while investing in the next generation of housing and built-environment professionals.

“We celebrate what is possible when government creates the enabling conditions for partnership and investment to flourish.”

She also thanked the NHFC board, management and staff, as well as private-sector and civil-society partners, for their contribution to expanding access to housing finance.

“Government cannot do it alone. We remain committed to the translation of Section 26(1) and Section 26(2) of the Constitution, especially the promise of adequate housing for all, to make it a reality. Together, let us continue building a nation, one home at a time,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has conveyed condolences to the family of 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was discovered on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs.

According to the family, Motapane was last seen alive last Sunday. At the time her body was discovered, her family had not yet reported her missing.

Following the discovery of her body, the family has positively identified her at the Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon. 

Lieutenant General Dimpane has expressed her deepest condolences to the Motapane family during this difficult time.

She further assured the family and the community that police remain firmly on the ground, with investigations into the murders of the nine women being intensified.

Police discovered the body of a ninth woman on Thursday (17 September 2026) morning in Dawn Park, Boksburg, following the discovery of eight bodies in Ekurhuleni over the past two months. 

“A multidisciplinary team of investigators and specialists continues to work around the clock to establish the circumstances surrounding each case, identify those responsible and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the police said in a statement.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa assured the grieving families that the nation stands with them.

The President extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have died.

“We mourn with you. Your loss is our loss. These killings have disturbed our nation and brought fear and uncertainty into our communities. 

“No community should have to live with such fear. No woman should have to wonder whether she will be the next victim. No family should have to endure the anguish that these families are enduring today. 

“We are determined to act with urgency to solve these killings, to bring those responsible to justice, and to restore calm and security to communities. The South African Police Service, working together with all relevant State bodies, has dedicated personnel and resources to these cases,” the President said.

Ramaphosa has directed that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice. 

“I have directed that we use every means at our disposal, including the latest surveillance technology, to track down the perpetrators and stop these crimes,” he said.    – SAnews.gov.za