Category: English

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to once again come together and participate in crafting a new vision for the country through the National Dialogue – just as they did three decades ago when the country’s democratic Constitution was born.

The President made the rallying call in his weekly newsletter published on Monday.

“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa reflected on the political culture the country has built over the past three decades.

He described the political culture as “robust, participatory, continuously evolving and firmly anchored in the democratic values we hold dear”. 

“We are fortunate to live in a society with a vibrant public space and deeply engaged citizens who know that they have a voice, and more importantly, that their voice matters. It is this active participation by the people of South Africa that continues to give life, meaning and resilience to our constitutional democracy.

“Civil society in our country remains vibrant and resilient. Our Constitution safeguards freedom of conscience, thought and expression, whilst firmly entrenching media freedom as one of the cornerstones of democracy. Political contestation takes place openly and freely, reflecting the strength and maturity of our democratic order,” he said.

Furthermore, the courts “continue to serve as institutions that our people trust”, and provide “recourse for ordinary South Africans, political actors and organisations”.

“In our country, no one is above the law and scrutiny – and no individual or institution is beyond accountability. It is this commitment to constitutionalism, transparency and the rule of law that sustains public confidence in our democracy.

“These are all a credit to the constitutional order we have worked to build over the last three decades,” President Ramaphosa added.

For the people, by the people

The President – who himself is credited as one of the key architects of the Constitution – noted that at the time of drafting, “we wanted a People’s Constitution, where every South African would be able to put his or her own brick towards building the new South Africa”. 

“For nearly a year and a half, we criss-crossed the length and breadth of the country to get people’s inputs on the type of constitution they wanted to see as the supreme law of the land. Citizens of all races, ages and classes participated. We facilitated community meetings and engaged with people at their places of work and study. 

“I remember taking part in radio shows, where listeners would call in with their ideas on what should be in the constitution. The callers had a deep understanding of why human rights mattered, which was born out of their own personal experiences with injustice.

“What some of them related about their own harrowing experiences of apartheid oppression was a painful reminder of why we needed this Constitution. They spoke of unfair dismissals by employers, of being denied access to beaches, of land being taken from them and of unfair treatment at the hands of public officials,” President Ramaphosa reflected.

Thousands of submissions were received on a variety of issues with the outcome a “homegrown constitution that reflects the aspirations” of the South Africans who helped to craft it.

Writing a new story

Looking ahead, the President announced that the next phase of the National Dialogue process will soon “commence in earnest.

“We are determined that the National Dialogue should fully reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural, social, economic and geographic diversity. 

“Just as the 1994 generation played a direct role in the production of the birth certificate of the new South Africa, so too does today’s generation carry a responsibility to participate meaningfully in the National Dialogue.

“This is particularly important for the young people who will live with the impact of the decisions we make today,” President Ramaphosa.

South Africans are urged to fully engage in the 195 pilot dialogues expected to be held between June and August throughout the country.

“As we look with optimism to this new phase in the life of our nation, I call on all South Africans to come together once more and be part of crafting a new vision for South Africa that both speaks to our contemporary challenges and lays the groundwork for the South Africa we want to be,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Budget allocations, social service delivery and government accountability will dominate Parliament’s agenda this week as lawmakers debate departmental spending plans and scrutinise government performance across a range of sectors.

The parliamentary programme begins on Monday with a media briefing by chairpersons from Parliament’s social services cluster committees. 

The engagement is aimed at providing the public with insight into key challenges facing the social development, health and innovation sectors.

Among the issues set to be discussed are concerns about the funding and capacity of social development institutions, the verification of social grant beneficiaries, health infrastructure shortcomings identified during oversight visits and developments surrounding the National Health Insurance (NHI) court case.

The briefing will also focus on innovation and research, including efforts to support youth innovators, improve transformation in the sector and strengthen research capabilities at historically disadvantaged institutions.

On Tuesday, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will consider the Division of Revenue Bill, a key piece of legislation that determines how nationally collected revenue is shared among national, provincial and local governments for the 2026/27 financial year. 

The bill plays a crucial role in ensuring that provinces and municipalities receive funding to deliver essential services.

At the same time, the National Assembly will continue its consideration of departmental Budget Votes through a series of mini-plenary debates. 

Members of Parliament will discuss spending plans for Tourism, Higher Education, International Relations and Cooperation, Trade, Industry and Competition, Basic Education, and Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Further budget debates are scheduled for Wednesday, when the National Assembly considers allocations for Human Settlements and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

A key feature of the day will be a question-and-answer session with Ministers in the Justice, Crime, Peace and Security Cluster. Ministers responsible for Policing, Justice, Defence, Correctional Services, Home Affairs, International Relations and State Security will be required to respond to questions from MPs on matters relating to their departments.

The NCOP will also hold policy debates on the budget allocations for Human Settlements and Basic Education.

Attention will turn to Parliament itself on Thursday when National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and NCOP Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane table Parliament’s own Budget Vote.

The budget allocation will provide funding for Parliament’s constitutional responsibilities, including law-making, executive oversight, public participation and intergovernmental engagement. 

It also supports the work of MPs and political parties represented in Parliament.

The National Assembly is also expected to pay tribute to the late Ntandoyenkosi Nkosentsha Shezi, a member of the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party who served on several parliamentary committees following his election in 2024.

In addition, MPs will consider reports on oversight visits to correctional facilities and vote on two draft resolutions. One calls for an inquiry into the capacity of the post-school education and training sector, while the other seeks intervention regarding the recognition of certain traditional and indigenous communities.

Beyond the chamber debates, parliamentary committees will conduct 30 meetings during the week, dealing with issues ranging from health, education and communications to municipal governance, public finances, mining regulation and agriculture. – SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has strongly condemned the destruction and vandalism of public road infrastructure and indicated that it is a criminal offence.

This follows acts of destruction and vandalism along the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route in the vicinity of Zonkizizwe and Palm Ridge in the City of Ekurhuleni during the ongoing service delivery protest.

Protesting community members deliberately dug up and damaged sections of the road, leading to its closure.

The MEC has appealed to communities to refrain from committing these acts and indicated that “damage, theft and vandalism of road infrastructure is clearly defined as a criminal offence under the Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001).”

“While the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, as the Department of Roads and Transport, we denounce these criminal acts as reckless, unlawful, and unacceptable. 

“They endanger lives, damage much-needed public infrastructure and disrupt economic activity. These acts pose a security risk and lead to disruptions in the movement of goods, emergency services, public transport operations and broader economic activity,” she said.

The Gauteng Transport Infrastructure Act (2001) clearly defines theft and vandalism to road infrastructure as a criminal offence. 

In terms of Section 52 (d) of the Act, no person or institution, including any organ of state, may, unless authorised, damage a provincial road or any transport infrastructure, or spill fuel, chemicals, or gas on such infrastructure in a manner that may cause damage.

Public infrastructure destruction also places unnecessary financial burden on the provincial coffers through costly repairs and restoration work.

“The cost of repairing vandalised infrastructure places unnecessary pressure on public finances and delays projects intended to improve road safety and public transport services. 

“The destruction and theft of transport infrastructure is not a victimless crime. It affects every commuter, every motorist, and every community that depends on safe and reliable roads and public transport systems,” the MEC said.

The department has urged motorists to avoid using the (R550) Heidelberg–Alberton route until further notice. 

They are advised to use alternative routes until further appraisal by law enforcement authorities and technical teams assessing the situation.

Therefore, the department calls on community leaders, protest organisers, and residents to pursue lawful and peaceful engagement with government structures in addressing grievances, without endangering lives or damaging infrastructure intended to serve communities.

Road users are specifically advised to approach the area with caution or make use of alternative routes, where possible.

Diale-Tlabela has called for closer collaboration between the department, communities, law-enforcement authorities, and stakeholders to identify those responsible and hold them to account.

She has also instructed maintenance teams to secure the affected area, assess the damage, and resume restoration work to facilitate safe mobility. –SAnews.gov.za

Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have called for greater regional self-reliance, collective investment and deeper economic integration as the region confronts mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.

This emerged during a media briefing at the conclusion of the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat held at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, where ministers and regional officials reflected on the impact of global instability on Southern Africa.

Speaking during a media briefing, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said one of the key outcomes of the retreat was the recognition that the region must increasingly mobilise and invest its own resources rather than depend heavily on external financing.

“There are resources that are plenty within our space, your pension funds, your insurance funds, your private equities, including even funds that are sitting in the diaspora that can actually be brought back into our region.

“Therefore, it’s not every time that when we do projects, when we do activities that require funding, that we should always be looking outside,” Magosi said.

Magosi said ministers acknowledged that many pension funds from the region continue to be invested externally instead of supporting development within Southern Africa.

“What we need to do is determine what type of projects and programs can actually absorb those resources domestically, so they can help us to develop even the financial services sector of our region,” he said.

Energy security also emerged as a central issue during the retreat, with ministers emphasising the need for SADC countries to collectively utilise regional oil and gas resources.

Magosi said Angola and Mozambique’s energy capabilities should be viewed as strategic regional assets rather than national resources in isolation.

“There is a bigger market of close to almost 400 million in SADC, and therefore when you look at oil in Angola, oil in Mozambique, and gas in Mozambique, perhaps that should be the conversation and the picture that emerges,” he said.

He added that ministers agreed the region should explore joint investment and regional partnerships in the energy sector to ensure broader benefits across member states.

“How best can we exploit this together? The retreat actually felt like it enhanced the integration that we talk about,” Magosi said.

The Executive Secretary further highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in agriculture and veterinary systems, particularly in response to outbreaks such as Foot and Mouth Disease, which have negatively affected exports and small-scale farmers.

“We realised that there is a need for collective action. So, what do we need to do for Botswana to assist Botswana as a region so it’s able to produce enough vaccines for the region to address that?” he said. 

Meanwhile, South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said SADC ministers had also prioritised discussions around debt management and regional financing mechanisms. 

Lamola said member states were working with institutions such as the African Development Bank and AUDA-NEPAD to establish a “Borrowers Club” aimed at strengthening cooperation among developing countries engaging international financial institutions.

“One of the issues that came through there was the Borrowers Club that we are encouraging. We have mandated our ministers of finance to work together towards this declaration to achieve the formation of the Borrowers Club,” Lamola said.

He said the initiative would allow African countries to collectively engage creditors and address challenges relating to debt and interest burdens.

On energy cooperation, Lamola revealed that ministers were also exploring possible regional investment into Angola’s Lobito refinery project as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional energy resilience.

“We have also encouraged our ministers of energy and finance to look into the possibility of SADC countries joining hands to invest in the Lobito refinery,” he said.

The Minister further addressed concerns relating to migration and recent anti-immigration protests in South Africa, reiterating that migration management must occur within the framework of the law and regional agreements.

“The free movement protocol also does not call for lawlessness; it calls for managed regular migration,” Lamola said.

He stressed that while SADC supports the free movement of people and goods, migration systems must remain regulated and supported by effective border management and law enforcement.

“There must still be processes of paperwork for proper papers that are required,” he said.

Lamola also linked migration pressures to broader regional economic challenges, arguing that stronger economic growth and industrialisation across Southern Africa would help reduce irregular migration.

“We are dealing mostly with economic migrants, so we need the economy of Zimbabwe to grow, we need the economy of South Africa to grow, we need the economy of Mozambique to grow,” he said.

He added that ministers had discussed expanding cross-border special economic zones and increasing regional integration to stimulate job creation and economic opportunity.

“This retreat was very key, was very important, it’s an economic solution to the SADC challenges,” Lamola said. – SAnews.gov.za

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says the future of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will be determined by the region’s ability to act collectively in response to growing geopolitical and economic pressures.

Delivering closing remarks at the SADC Ministers of Foreign Affairs Retreat in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park on Saturday, Lamola said the gathering had reinforced the importance of African unity, shared responsibility and coordinated regional action.

Held from 22 to 24 May, the retreat brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from across the region to assess the impact of global geopolitical developments on Southern Africa’s economies, food systems, trade routes and energy security.

Drawing on African traditions of leadership and consultation, Lamola compared the retreat to historic gatherings where elders advised chiefs and kings on matters affecting communities.

“It is no coincidence that this retreat closes on the eve of Africa Day. Our retreat has surely lived up to this rich African tradition of collective wisdom, frank reflection, and shared responsibility in confronting the challenges facing our region and shaping a common future for our people,” he said. 

Lamola said ministers recognised that the region continues to face the effects of global conflicts, weakening multilateralism and increasing geopolitical fragmentation.

“Our retreat further acknowledged that our region continues to feel the harsh aftershocks of conflicts that disregard international law, weaken multilateralism, and inflict devastating humanitarian and economic consequences across the globe,” he said.

At the same time, he stressed that Southern Africa possesses significant natural and economic resources that could help cushion member states against external shocks if countries work together.

“The retreat noted that our region has abundant natural resources… if we work together as a region collectively enhancing all our efforts, skills, and all the natural resources available in our region, we can be able to respond and be able to be cushioned against some of these aftershocks,” Lamola said.

He noted that these pressures have emerged while many economies were still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and confronting rising protectionism and geopolitical rivalry.

“These pressures have also emerged while our economies were still recovering from the scars of COVID-19 and confronting rising protectionism, unilateral tariffs, and intensifying geopolitical rivalry,” he said.

Lamola said ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional resilience, integration and sustainable development through coordinated policies and stronger institutions.

“We reaffirmed our commitment to collective action aimed at strengthening resilience, deepening regional integration, and advancing sustainable development across the member states,” he said.

The retreat focused on five major thematic areas, including financing regional integration, industrialisation, infrastructure and logistics, energy and mineral resources, as well as agriculture and food security.

Lamola said discussions produced concrete proposals aimed at strengthening regional value chains, expanding energy security and accelerating industrialisation.

“Concrete proposals emerged on how SADC can strengthen regional value chains in oil and gas, accelerate mineral beneficiation, fast-track land and maritime corridors, deepen agro-processing, expand energy security initiatives, share industrial expertise, and establish cross-border special economic zones capable of driving industrialisation and regional integration,” he said.

He added that ministers also discussed the need to strengthen regional financial institutions and improve domestic resource mobilisation to finance strategic infrastructure and development priorities.

“This retreat has reminded us that while global tensions may shape the environment around us, the future of our region will ultimately be determined by the boldness of our collective action, the strength of our regional solidarity, and our willingness to act together in pursuit of our shared destiny,” Lamola said.

The Minister concluded by emphasising the interconnected nature of SADC economies, saying growth in one member state would ultimately benefit the entire region.

“We are interlinked. We have a shared destiny. We also have to have a shared journey together to achieve prosperity,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za