Category: English

The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has called on qualifying residents and municipal account holders to take advantage of the city’s Debt Relief Programme Phase 4 before applications close on 31 October 2026.

According to the CoJ, the programme is aimed at efforts to assist qualifying customers experiencing financial difficulties, rehabilitate municipal accounts, encourage responsible payment behaviour and strengthen the City’s long-term revenue sustainability.

Some 18 043 applications have already been received, representing R2.052 billion in outstanding municipal debt across various customer categories.

CoJ Director of Communications and Stakeholder Management in Group Finance, Kgamanyane Maphologela, urged customers to apply with haste.

“We are making a final appeal to all qualifying residents and account holders who have not yet submitted their applications not to wait for the last minute.

“The Debt Relief Programme presents an important opportunity for eligible customers to address historical municipal debt and work towards restoring their accounts to good standing.

“We encourage customers to submit complete applications, together with all required supporting documents, well ahead of the closing date. Early submission allows sufficient time for applications to enter the assessment process and reduces the risk of delays associated with the last-minute rush,” Maphologela said.

Apply for the programme by:
–    Visiting an official City of Johannesburg Revenue Customer Service Centre for assistance with the application process and submission of the required documentation. 
–    Visiting www.joburg.org.za and select the Debt Relief Programme link or icon to access the relevant application information and online process. Applicants should ensure that all information supplied is accurate and that the necessary supporting documents are included

“This programme is about giving qualifying customers an opportunity to address their historical debt while building a culture of consistent payment for municipal services. Every account that is successfully rehabilitated contributes to a more sustainable revenue environment and ultimately supports the City’s ability to deliver services.

“The closing date is 31 October 2026. We, therefore, urge residents not to leave their applications until the last moment. Act now, use the official application channels and ensure that your application is submitted before the deadline,” Maphologela said.

The City emphasised that the programme is not an “automatic or blanket cancellation of municipal debt”.
“Applications are assessed individually in accordance with Council-approved eligibility requirements and the applicable conditions of Phase 4,” the CoJ said.

Customers are encouraged to note the following important conditions:
–    Relief is not automatic: Submission of an application does not guarantee approval. Each application must meet the prescribed qualifying criteria.
–    Relief differs by customer category: The extent of relief depends on the applicable customer category, qualifying debt and programme conditions.
–    Current municipal accounts remain payable: Customers must continue paying their current monthly municipal charges in accordance with the programme requirements.
–    Complete documentation is essential: Applicants should ensure that the prescribed application form and all required supporting documents are submitted.
–    Beware of fraudulent intermediaries: Customers should use official City channels and avoid individuals or organisations promising guaranteed approval in exchange for payment.

“The City further emphasises that debt relief must be accompanied by a commitment to sustainable payment behaviour to prevent customers from accumulating new municipal arrears,” the CoJ said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Film and Publications Board (FPB) has encouraged the public to adopt good online habits to protect themselves from cyber threats as South Africa joins the international community in observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October.

The month is being observed under the theme: “Don’t Make It Easy for Them,” with a focus on promoting digital safety and protecting personal data.

“While that sounds like a technical topic for IT professionals, the truth is that staying safe online is now a basic life skill for all of us – just like looking both ways before crossing the street.

“You don’t need to be a computer genius to protect yourself. You just need to build a few good habits. Here are four simple things you can do starting today to keep your digital life safe,” the FPB said.

The FPB has shared the following tips to help the public stay safe online.

Treat your passwords like toothbrushes

You wouldn’t share your toothbrush with your neighbour, right? Treat your passwords the same way. Don’t use the same password for your email, banking and social media accounts.

If a hacker figures out one password, they may try to use it to access your other accounts. Make sure each account has a unique password.

If you have trouble remembering all your passwords, consider using a password manager app to store them securely.

Turn on two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the most effective ways to protect your online accounts.

For example, when you log into a website and receive a code via text message to verify your identity, that is 2FA.

Even if a hacker steals your password, they will still need the verification code sent to your phone to access your account.

Enable this feature on your email and banking apps. It takes only a few minutes to set up and can save you hours of stress later.

Think before you click

Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. You might receive a text message claiming that a package has been delayed or an email warning that your account has been locked.

These messages often appear legitimate but may contain links designed to steal your personal information.

If you receive a suspicious message asking you to click on a link or provide personal information, stop and check the sender’s email address.

If the address looks suspicious, delete the message. When in doubt, visit the official website directly instead of clicking on the link.

Update your devices

Many people ignore software update notifications on their phones and laptops, often postponing updates until later.

However, these updates frequently contain important security fixes that protect devices against cyber threats.

Delaying updates can leave your devices vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The next time you receive an update notification, install it promptly to help keep your devices secure.

The FPB emphasised that cybersecurity is not about being paranoid but about being prepared.

By taking these simple steps, individuals can help make the internet a safer place for themselves and others. –SAnews.gov.za

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

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