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The Consumer Price Index (CPI), known as inflation, has risen by some 1.1% in April to reach some 4% mainly driven by rising fuel prices.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), this is the highest inflation has been since August 2024 when it stood at 4.4%.

“Consumers were dealt a painful fuel price blow in April. The index for fuel rose by 18.2% from March, the steepest monthly increase since the current CPI series began in 2008.

“Petrol prices were up by 15.2% and diesel by 35.4%. The price for inland 93-octane petrol rose from R20.19 per litre in March to R23,25 per litre in April. This is the fifth-largest increase for this grade in 50 years, and the biggest this century. Motorists using diesel felt the most pain. The average price for a litre of diesel jumped from R21.28 in March to R28.80 in April,” Stats SA said.

Furthermore, passenger transport services index climbed by some 3.1% between March and April, the “largest monthly rise since July 2022”.

“Following a 14.3% hike in March, the price of an air ticket jumped by a further 24.5%. This is the largest monthly increase in airfares since March 2008, when ticket prices rose by 32.4%,” the statistical service said.

Contrastingly, annual food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation slowed for the third month in a row, decreasing from 3.6% in March to 2.9% in April.

“Meat registered the largest decline, easing from 11.6% in March to 9.4% in April. Beef mince inflation slowed from 22.2% to 15.3% and stewing beef from 22.6% to 8.7%. The rate for pork moderated from 19.5% to 17.7%.

“The cereal products category recorded its third consecutive month of deflation. Five of the 19 items in the category are cheaper than a year ago. These include white rice, maize meal, porridge, basmati rice and bread flour.

“Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded its first annual increase since May 2025. The rate was 0.1%, up from March’s -0.5%. Powdered milk and eggs continue to occupy deflationary territory, at -3.4% and -5.8% respectively,” Stats SA highlighted.

The insurance index rose by some 1.3% owing to increase in medical aid contributions.

“Health insurance recorded a monthly rise of 1.8%, taking the annual increase to 8.3%.

“Several medical schemes increased their contributions earlier in the year, with the remainder implementing new premiums in April,” Stats SA noted. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government has set aside R1.6 billion for activities related to the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with an additional R50 million allocated to provincial baselines – demonstrating that GBVF remains a whole-of-government priority within the policing budget.

Presenting the 2026/27 South African Police Service (SAPS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia said policing alone could not solve South Africa’s crime crisis and stressed the importance of coordinated action across government and communities.

“Policing alone cannot solve crime. Crime is driven by deep social and economic challenges that require a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response,” Cachalia said.

He said the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy remains central to government’s approach, emphasising that preventing crime requires stronger families, safer schools, youth development, substance abuse prevention, better urban planning, stronger community partnerships and intergovernmental cooperation.

Cachalia said government remains firmly committed to tackling Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, with Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo leading initiatives aimed at improving the response to GBV.

The Minister also announced the implementation of a structured national community patroller programme aimed at improving visibility and strengthening community-based crime prevention in high-crime areas.

“These patrollers will not do police work, and will be properly regulated, community-centred and implemented under SAPS coordination, with appropriate vetting, training and oversight mechanisms,” Cachalia said.

He also commended the role already being played by community structures across the country in supporting law enforcement and strengthening social cohesion.

“Across the country, Community Policing Forums (CPF), neighbourhood structures, faith-based organisations and community volunteers continue to play an important role in strengthening safety and social cohesion,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Acting Free State Premier Jabu Mbalula on Tuesday led a high-level multi-stakeholder engagement in Hennenman aimed at resolving the ongoing shutdown in Phomolong linked to a solar project recruitment process.

The meeting follows a community engagement addressed by Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae on 15 May 2026, amid growing tensions in the area.

Community members have raised concerns over what they describe as a flawed recruitment process connected to the solar project, which is expected to commence soon. 

The frustrations have since escalated into protest action and disruptions in the township.

The provincial government said the shutdown has severely affected access to essential services, including healthcare and schooling.

“Members of the community have unfortunately been unable to access health services and children have also not been able to attend school. Of concern, Grade 12 learners are writing an examination on Wednesday, 20 May 2026,” the statement said.

Addressing stakeholders during the meeting, Mbalula appealed for calm and urged residents not to compromise the future of learners.

“Despite the differences between different parties, the education and future of learners must not be compromised, and all reasonable measures must be taken to ensure that there are no hinderances to their schooling and that they are able to write their mid-year examinations,” he said.

The Acting Premier acknowledged the frustrations raised by the community, saying their concerns must be treated with seriousness and humility.

“We have promised the people of Phomolong that the Free State Provincial Government will visit the area and update them on the latest developments. What we have always said is that local communities must be the primary beneficiaries of projects in their towns and we stand by that.

“What we are not going to allow is for individuals to use the genuine concerns of our people for selfish reasons,” Mbalula said.

Also attending the engagement were Free State MEC for Health Monyatso Mahlatsi, councillors Maxie Badenhorst and Phehello Nthuba, as well as representatives of Middelpunt PV Solar, the company responsible for the project.

Meanwhile, Mbalula is expected to attend a community meeting at Tiger Sports Ground on Wednesday afternoon as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the impasse. – SAnews.gov.za 

 

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Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth says only 9% of employers inspected by the Department of Employment and Labour were found compliant with employment equity legislation during the 2025/26 financial year.

Delivering the Department of Employment and Labour’s Budget Vote 31 in Parliament on Tuesday, Meth said government is intensifying workplace inspections and labour law reforms to improve compliance and worker protection. 

“Through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) process, the Labour Laws Amendment Bill proposes critical reforms to the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, National Minimum Wage Act and Employment Equity Act.

“These changes are aimed at strengthening worker protection, improving dispute resolution, reducing unnecessary compliance burdens for small businesses and aligning legislation with Constitutional Court and Labour Court judgments,” the Minister said. 

Meth said the Labour Laws Amendment Bill was approved by Cabinet for public comment and published in the Government Gazette on 27 February 2026.

The process generated 216 public submissions, which are currently under review.

Employment equity compliance remains low

The Minister said more than 14 000 designated employers submitted Employment Equity reports, following the promulgation of the Employment Equity Amendment Act and introduction of sectoral numerical targets.

In addition, over 11 000 non-designated employers applied for compliance certificates.

However, compliance levels remain concerning.

“In the 2025/26 financial year, the Department targeted 3 324 Employment Equity inspections, including Director-General Reviews, re-assessments, and monitoring interventions.

“A total of 1 948 employers were reviewed and served with recommendations. Of these, only 181 employers were found compliant, representing a compliance rate of 9 percent, while 1 767 employers were found to be non-compliant and were issued with recommendations for corrective action,” Minister Meth said. 

10 000 permanent labour inspectors to be recruited

Meth said government is strengthening labour inspection and enforcement capacity through Project 20 000 inspector interns.

“The first phase of 10 000 inspector interns commenced during the 2025/26 financial year, and by the end of April 2026, approximately 3 800 young interns had already entered training and deployment processes,” the Minister said. 

She said a further 3 500 interns will begin at the end of May, while another 2 700 will start by the end of June 2026.

“These young recruits are the new boots on the ground in the fight against labour exploitation, non-compliance and workplace injustice,” she said.

Meth said the project gained momentum following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address that 10 000 permanent labour inspectors will be appointed.

“The Department will start with the recruitment of these permanent inspectors, instead of recruiting the remaining 10 000 interns. We have set aside R5 billion for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period,” she said. 

Minimum wage and worker protection

Meth said the National Minimum Wage continues to benefit millions of workers.

“Since its introduction, the National Minimum Wage has benefited an estimated six million workers,” she said. 

She added that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) continues to focus on conflict prevention and job retention. 

“In the current year, it targets the resolution of 99% of cases within prescribed timeframes and seeks to address 90% of public interest disputes while supporting the preservation of jobs during retrenchment processes,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been allocated R127.072 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, with an expected increase to R135.8 billion by the 2028/29 financial year, making it the largest institution in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.

Presenting SAPS Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia described the allocation as part of a broader “police reset agenda” aimed at building a modern, professional and trusted police service that places the safety of people first.

Cachalia emphasised that the police “reset agenda” was not a one-year project finalised in an annual budget cycle.

“It requires a multi-year turnaround strategy that is consistently implemented. The actions we take in this financial year should contribute to the foundations upon which a strengthened SAPS can be built.

“We won’t promise miracles or short-term fixes. What matters is that the direction we are taking is clear and the goals are firm,” the Acting Minister said.

He said the budget backs the department’s longer-term strategy focusing on the integrity of the SAPS, its intelligence, and investigative capabilities, in order to improve community safety.

He acknowledged growing public frustration over crime levels, corruption, and poor policing standards, saying South Africans wanted a police service that is visible, disciplined, and trustworthy.

While commending the thousands of police officers serving under dangerous conditions, the Acting Minister admitted that SAPS remained affected by systemic corruption, particularly within procurement systems.

He said investigations linked to the Madlanga Commission and internal anti-corruption efforts were continuing, warning that more arrests of implicated officials could follow.

“Most of the recent arrests and criminal charges against senior police officers is the result of investigations that predate the Madlanga Commission. However, the important work of the Madlanga Commission is assisting our endeavours to improve accountability in policing.

“The SAPS has established a dedicated Task Team to investigate referrals arising out of the Madlanga Commission. The Task Team is making progress, [and] arrests will continue,” Cachalia said.

He said a major focus of the budget will be strengthening Crime Intelligence and the Detective Service, with government aiming to improve intelligence-led policing, criminal investigations, and prosecution outcomes.

Cachalia emphasised the need for effective crime intelligence to fight organised crime; identify threats early, infiltrate organised criminal networks, prevent violent crime and guide operational deployments through credible information and analysis.

“To retain expertise, the Detective Critical Skills Allowance of R1000, introduced in October 2025 will continue to support both SAPS and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation investigators.”

Tackling organised crime

A new Organised Crime Strategy has been developed to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve interdepartmental coordination, intensify financial investigations and enhance partnerships with the private sector and international law enforcement agencies.

Cachalia said substantial resources have been allocated from Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) funds and the Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) budget.

He said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation will continue strengthening cross-border cooperation and intelligence-sharing to target criminal networks operating across the region and beyond.

Government has also allocated additional resources towards combating illegal firearms, including funding for firearm licensing and compliance activities, as well as the development of an upgraded digital Firearms Control Management System.

To strengthen regulation and enforcement under the Firearms Control Act, an additional R18 million has been allocated over and above the baseline allocation for licensing and compliance activities.

The Acting Minister announced the introduction of a renewed focus on the country’s 50 highest-crime police precincts, where detailed assessments will be conducted to evaluate leadership, staffing levels, operational readiness, detective performance, and infrastructure requirements at these stations.

“A strengthened monitoring system will assess whether resources are directed strategically towards crime hotspots and offenders who cause the most harm to their communities. 

“The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service will be playing a key role here. We will continue investing in police stations, mobile Community Service Centres and station maintenance to improve service delivery and police visibility.

“The Police Modernisation Project aims digitalise administrative systems and improve operational efficiency, allowing more police officers to focus on frontline policing and community safety. This project will continue to be rolled out at high-crime stations and is part of the public-private sector partnership – the Joint Initiative Against Crime and Corruption, being led by the Presidency,” the Acting Minister said.

Cachalia announced that SAPS procurement and supply chain management systems will undergo significant reform in partnership with National Treasury’s Government Technical Advisory Centre in an effort to improve oversight, transparency and operational preparedness. – SAnews.gov.za

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As South Africa prepares to participate in the 2026 Copenhagen Climate Ministerial Summit, government says it will reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism as a key driver of implementation-based cooperation to tackle global environmental and climate challenges.

This is the message that Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, will deliver to about 40 leaders and Ministers gathering in Copenhagen on Wednesday and Thursday to negotiate climate matters ahead of the June Climate Meetings (SB64) in Bonn and COP31 in Antalya in November.

“We are unyielding in this message that, going into COP31 in Turkiye, developing economy countries are at the table with a basket full of opportunities for the green economy and simply need the necessary financial and technical support.

“We took the same message to the Petersberg Climate Dialogue and will continue that same message here in Copenhagen all the way to COP31,” the Minister said.

The Copenhagen Ministerial Summit serves as an important international platform that brings together governments, development partners, scientists, civil society and industry leaders to advance dialogue and cooperation on climate action and sustainable development.

During the summit, ministers and senior officials will deliberate on issues related to climate resilience, particularly in the face of persistent climate-induced disasters, sustainable financing, energy transition, and strengthening international partnerships to support the implementation of global environmental commitments.

Aucamp emphasised that South Africa remains committed to advancing a just and inclusive transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, strengthening international cooperation on climate adaptation and mitigation, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and supporting innovation and scientific collaboration to address emerging environmental challenges.

The Minister said South Africa’s participation in the meeting underscores the country’s commitment to constructive international engagement in advancing climate action, sustainable development and global cooperation.

For South Africa, the Copenhagen Ministerial Summit remains an important platform for strengthening global solidarity and accelerating practical solutions that support both people and protect the environment. –SAnews.gov.za

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Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Seiso Mohai, will on Wednesday lead the Geospatial Information Management Strategy (GIMS) Roadshow at the Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in eThekwini.

The Geospatial Information Management Strategy was initiated by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation under the Chief Directorate Spatial Planning. 

The roadshow is being held in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

The GIMS was launched nationally on 19 September 2025 by the Minister in the Presidency, establishing a policy foundation for spatial governance and coordinated data management. 

The KwaZulu-Natal event marks the first provincial roadshow and is expected to serve as a model for future rollouts.

According to organisers, the strategy aims to enable evidence-based planning, data interoperability and spatial monitoring of development outcomes.

The Provincial GIMS Roadshows form part of efforts to move the strategy from policy to implementation.

The roadshow aims to institutionalise and operationalise the strategy across all spheres of government, build awareness and technical capacity among provincial and municipal stakeholders, strengthen geospatial data governance and interoperability, and promote the integration of geospatial data into national monitoring and evaluation systems.

The programme will include strategic remarks, provincial and municipal case studies, a live demonstration of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation’s Geospatial Enabled Dashboard and Geospatial Tools, as well as an interactive question-and-answer session.

The event is expected to bring together stakeholders including executive leadership from national government, the Office of the Premier in KwaZulu-Natal, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, representatives from provincial departments, technical experts from national and provincial government departments, business and private sector representatives, and academic institutions including the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Durban University of Technology. – SAnews.gov.za

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