Category: English

As South Africa marks 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March, Cabinet has approved the implementation of a Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Index aimed at strengthening gender equality and inclusive economic participation.

The index will serve as an annual scorecard to measure and track progress in women’s socio-economic empowerment and participation in decision-making structures across the country.

The initiative addresses the absence of a comprehensive and standardised measure of women’s socio-economic empowerment and participation in decision-making structures in South Africa.

The index is structured across three key pillars, including social, economic and decision-making.

On the social sphere, the index will focus on health and education, while the economic component will assess labour market participation and access to resources. The decision-making sphere will evaluate women’s representation in both public and private sector decision-making.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said baseline findings show mixed progress.

“The baseline of the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Index indicates public sector decision-making as a dimension that scores highest in terms of women empowerment whilst labour market and resources dimension records the lowest scores.

“The lowest indicator areas include firms with female ownership, share of female Chief Executive Officers of firms listed on the JSE, access to credit, and employment in high skill occupations,” the Minister said.

CEDAW report approved

Cabinet has also approved South Africa’s Sixth Periodic Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The report outlines progress made by South Africa in strengthening the constitutional, legislative policy and institutional framework for gender equality, women’s empowerment and substantive equality.

Key developments highlighted in the report include the implementation of the Gender Responsive Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing Framework; the 2019 National Strategic Plan on GBVF of 2019; economic empowerment initiatives; and public sector gender mainstreaming and representation of women in leadership and decision-making.

Despite the significant progress, Cabinet acknowledged ongoing structural and implementation challenges, including high unemployment among women, the persistent scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), weak translation of educational gains into labour outcomes, and slow progress in gender mainstreaming in the private sector. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Cabinet says South Africa continues to demonstrate world-class medical and scientific expertise in its handling of the recent cases of Hantavirus.

This comes after South African officials worked with speed to detect, contain and respond to the cases of Hantavirus in the country.

Briefing media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 6 May, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet commended the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for diagnosing two Hantavirus cases within 24 hours of the patients’ admission at a Gauteng hospital.

Members were also briefed on the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship to a South African medical facility.

A rare Hantavirus case was confirmed in South Africa in a critically ill British national, who was a passenger aboard the cruise ship, which was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The woman later died in South Africa and her husband, who was also infected, passed away in St Helena.

Another woman from the same cruise ship collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport and also passed away.

Cabinet has commended the Department of Health for the speed and effectiveness they conducted contact tracing for people who came into contact with the Hantavirus patients before the diagnosis was made.

According to Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the total number of people who were traced and who could have come in contact with the deceased were 62. Some 42 of them have already been traced and they are being observed.

Ntshavheni moved to allay public fears of a potential outbreak due to the prevalence of rats in some municipalities, noting that scientists have confirmed that Hantavirus has not been detected in any rodents in South Africa or the African continent.

R1.5 billion boost for local vaccine production

Cabinet welcomed a R1.5 billion financing package between Biovac and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group to establish Africa’s first end-to-end, multi-vaccine production plant.

Ntshavheni said the plant, expected to be completed by 2028, will produce oral cholera vaccines, and later expand to include vaccines for polio, pneumonia and meningitis.

“Once fully operational, the site will have a production capacity of up to 40 million doses annually, significantly bolstering Africa’s healthcare resilience and supply chain security. The project is also expected to create more than 340 skilled jobs and around 7 000 indirect jobs, while promoting technology transfer, innovation and long-term health resilience across the continent,” the Minister said.

Progress in Foot-and-Mouth Disease control

Cabinet also welcomed progress in the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme, with 2.59 million cattle vaccinated to date.

Cabinet noted the arrival of two million vaccine doses from Türkiye as part of the first tranche of a six million dose order.

“The Department of Agriculture is distributing the vaccines to provinces using a targeted, science-based allocation model informed by animal risk and population data,” Ntshavheni said.

In addition, a further five million doses have been ordered from Argentina through Onderstepoort Biological Products and are ready for export, pending the finalisation of the required import procedures. – SAnews.gov.za

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says there has been a significant decline in fraudulent learner licence passes, following the introduction of computerised testing systems at licensing centres across South Africa.

The computerised learner licence testing system, introduced in 2021, was implemented to combat widespread fraud and corruption in the issuing of learner driver licences, improve efficiency and enhance road safety.

Before the rollout of the technology, officials at testing centres were reportedly able to identify question papers in advance and illegally provide learners with answers before the test, allowing unqualified applicants to pass.

According to the RTMC, the new system has closed that loophole by randomly selecting question papers electronically, preventing officials from knowing which test will be used beforehand. 

The system also automatically marks the tests and determines whether candidates have answered correctly.

The impact of the reforms has been reflected in the national pass rate for learner licence tests, which has dropped sharply from 68% to 40% since the implementation of the computerised system.

The RTMC said the lower pass rate indicates that fewer incompetent drivers are obtaining learner licences, a development the corporation believes will contribute to improved road safety and a reduction in road crashes.

Despite the progress, the RTMC warned that some corrupt officials are attempting to develop new methods to assist learners illegally.

“Some arrests have been made in this regard recently and the process of identifying beneficiaries is underway,” the corporation said.

The RTMC issued a warning to aspiring drivers against paying officials for assistance in passing learner licence tests.

Anyone found participating in fraudulent activities could face arrest, criminal charges and severe penalties if convicted, the corporation said. – SAnews.gov.za

The recently launched Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong in the Kingdom of Lesotho represents a landmark achievement under Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Cabinet said on Wednesday.

The new bridge will ensure uninterrupted access to Mokhotlong, Sani Pass and surrounding areas.

Addressing a post -Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the project has contributed significantly to the upliftment of the economy of Lesotho with South Africa constructing hundreds of kilometres of roads to improve access to remote dam sites and providing royalty payments of approximately R3.8 billion annually to the country’s fiscus under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

“The Lesotho Highlands Water Project ensures Gauteng has access to bulk water through the Vaal Water system whilst Lesotho generates hydropower and supports the provision of potable water, irrigation, fisheries, and the promotion of tourism,” Ntshavheni said.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the official launch of the bridge saying it is a testament of the deep-seated relationship between the two countries. 

The Senqu Bridge, constructed at an estimated cost of R2.4 billion, is the largest of three major crossings being developed under Phase II of the LHWP. 

Measuring approximately 825 metres in length and rising about 90 metres above the river valley, the bridge will play a critical role in maintaining connectivity across the Polihali Reservoir once water levels rise. 

The Senqu Bridge forms part of the broader LHWP, a multi-phased, treaty-based partnership between South Africa and Lesotho established on 24 October 1986 to address water security, energy generation and socio-economic development.

Last week, President Ramaphosa called for urgent, coordinated action across all three spheres of government to resolve South Africa’s deepening water crisis, warning that poor municipal performance is placing an increasing burden on ordinary citizens. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Cabinet has at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday received a progress report on the Hammanskraal Clean Water Project that is driven by Magalies Water under the Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Tshwane. 

Addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on completion, the project will provide potable water to approximately 47 550 households, serving an estimated 180 679 residents.

“Cabinet noted that all four modules on the part of the project which is delivered under Magalies Water has been constructed and tested, enabling the system to produce up to 50 ML of treated water per day,” Ntshavheni said. 

The Minister of Water and Sanitation will later in the week inspect the project and outstanding works by the City of Tshwane to ensure full access to water for the communities of Hammanskraal. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation also updated Cabinet on progress with regards to unblocking water projects and the status of municipal debt to water boards, which pose a severe risk to water security and the financial viability of these boards. 

Winter Electricity Outlook 

Meanwhile, Cabinet welcomed the Winter Electricity Outlook presented by Eskom, which indicated that load shedding is unlikely between April and August, marking a significant turning point in the nation’s energy journey.

“Cabinet further welcomed progress in addressing load reduction with 352 968 customers no longer affected by load reduction during peak periods,” Ntshavheni said. 

The Minister said load reduction has been eliminated in Northern Cape and Western Cape.

The next five provinces are due for load reduction elimination in 2026 and then Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal will have their load reduction challenges eliminated by 2027. – SAnews.gov.za

Cabinet has condemned the viral circulation of fake videos and images claiming to be of attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. 

“The fake videos and images… are intended to undermine the good reputation of South Africa internationally and undermine South Africa’s pursuit of a better Africa agenda.

“South Africans are within their right to protest against the spiralling illegal immigration challenge, but violence linked to those protests in the past is not acceptable and law enforcement must deal with the instigators of such violence,” said Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday at a post Cabinet briefing in Cape Town.

This as demonstrations against undocumented immigrants have spread across several major cities in South Africa.

Cabinet, Ntshavheni said, condemned the opportunistic attempts to “hijack the genuine concerns of South Africans about high unemployment and limited economic opportunities by mobilising South Africans to destabilise the country, including mobilising attacks on foreign nationals and tribal mobilisation”. 

The Minister reiterated that there is ongoing work to address the problem of illegal immigration, which includes strengthening border management through the work of the Border Management Agency (BMA), speeding up deportations, dealing with criminality within the émigré communities, and protecting jobs and opportunities for South Africans.

Cabinet has directed the Department of Employment and Labour to intensify inspections of workplaces to ensure compliance with employment laws across vulnerable sectors such as hospitality, farms, trucking and construction, amongst others.

“Cabinet further directed municipalities to ensure the enforcement of municipal by-laws, with priority on trading by-laws. South Africans must also play their part by refraining from sub-leasing their business licences.

“On a policy level, the Revised White Paper on Immigration addresses constraints with current immigration laws by introducing provisions of ‘first country of safety’ principle, moving refugee reception centres nearest to the border, and a clause to enable relevant departments to designate certain trades, professions, and businesses only for South Africans and refugees,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

Advancing rural infrastructure development and building an inclusive economy will take centre stage as Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso, presides over the National Integrated Rural Development Indaba in Bloemfontein.

The two-day Indaba, held from 7 to 8 May 2026 at Lemo Green Park in the Free State, brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to shape strategies aimed at transforming rural economies and improving livelihoods through targeted infrastructure investment and inclusive growth.

The indaba seeks to ensure meaningful participation from grassroots rural communities alongside government, traditional leaders, the private sector, civil society, academia, and development practitioners.

The engagement is designed to encourage shared ownership of local economic transformation initiatives and rural infrastructure developmental initiatives tailored to address their specific needs and contexts, for an integrated and inclusive rural economy, leading toward sustainable development.

The event is expected to attract between 2 500 and 3 000 delegates representing various sectors.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Seiso Mohai, is also participating in the indaba. His participation underscores the department’s mandate to promote integrated planning, monitor the implementation of government priorities and evaluate the impact of government programmes and interventions.

The Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation emphasised that rural development remains a key cross-cutting priority requiring coordinated planning, effective implementation, and strong intergovernmental collaboration to achieve meaningful developmental outcomes.

“The engagement is consistent with the priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) and the National Development Plan (NDP), both of which emphasise the importance of inclusive economic growth, reduced inequality, improved livelihoods, spatial transformation, and the development of capable and responsive institutions. 

“Accelerating rural development remains central to government’s efforts to build an inclusive, equitable and prosperous South Africa,” the department said in a statement.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver the closing address on Friday. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is mourning the tragic loss of two Tactical Response Team (TRT) sergeants, who lost their lives in a single motor vehicle accident in Witbank, Mpumalanga.

At the time of the accident, the members were travelling to Pretoria on Tuesday evening to testify in cases before court when the State vehicle they were travelling in reportedly lost control, resulting in the fatal crash.

At the time of their passing, both members were deployed as part of the eManguzi Task Team in KZN, where they were actively involved in combating cross-border crimes.

The Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, friends and colleagues of the deceased members.

“The loss of these dedicated officers is a devastating blow to the organisation. They served the country with commitment and courage. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this painful time.” said Dimpane.

SAPS also extended sympathy to the colleagues of the fallen members, particularly those within the eManguzi Task Team, who worked closely with them in the fight against crime.

The names of the deceased will be released once all immediate family members have been informed. 

The SAPS Employee Health and Wellness unit has been dispatched to provide psychosocial services to the families and colleagues of the members. – SAnews.gov.za

Ahead of the Local Government Elections to be held in November, the  Electoral Commission in partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) have launched the inaugural Special Issue of the Journal of African Elections.

Launched in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the special issue is a continuation of the national dialogue on political funding framework. 

The publication tackles key challenges in political finance, including tensions between public and private funding, risks of undue influence, and regulatory gaps. 

It also underscores the need for stronger institutional capacity and sustained political will. 
The Commission said the edition brings together nine double blind peer-reviewed academic articles, each contributing to a richer and more nuanced understanding of political funding in South Africa.

Collectively, they are organised around four interrelated themes: 
• The first theme explores the theoretical foundations of political financing engaging with key conceptual questions. 
• The second theme focuses on public funding of political parties. 
• The third theme examines private financing an influential yet often less transparent area. 
• The fourth theme provides a comparative analysis of political funding approaches. 

Speaking at the launch, the Electoral Commission’s Chairperson Mosotho Moepya, said: “Democracy is expensive. But the cost of authoritarianism is higher and comes at the cost of personal freedoms and in economic stagnation resulting in harsh living standards for the majority in society.” 

Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sy Mamabolo who is also one of the co-editors of the special edition said the publication is intended to serve as both a scholarly resource and a catalyst for ongoing debate, policy innovation, and the strengthening of democracy. 

“What emerges from this collection is not a single, unified conclusion, but rather a textured and dynamic conversation. The strength of this special issue lies in its diversity of perspectives, methodological, theoretical and normative,” Mamabolo said.

In his remarks Mamabolo said political financing remains one of the most consequential and contested dimensions of democratic governance. 

“It shapes the competitiveness of elections, the accountability of political actors, and ultimately the trust that citizens place in democratic institutions. Yet it is also an area marked by complexity, opacity, and persistent reform debates. It is precisely for this reason that sustained scholarly engagement is both necessary and urgent,” he said.

He added that “that democracy is never a finished project.”

“The regulation of political finance will continue to evolve, shaped by legal reforms, political realities, and societal expectations. It is our hope that this special edition will serve not only as a scholarly resource but also as a catalyst for ongoing debate, policy innovation, and democratic strengthening,” he said.

The launch coincided with the 15th anniversary of EISA, marking a moment of reflection on its role in strengthening electoral integrity, advancing research and promoting democratic practice and dialogue across the region. 

The print edition Journal of African Elections Special Issue will made available at institutions of higher education, libraries, community libraries, community centres and an online version is available and can be accessed through the Electoral Commission’s official platforms as well as EISA website. 

It can also be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/37b3366n 
Members of the public, researchers and stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the publication to deepen their understanding of political funding and its impact on democratic governance. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially announced 4 November 2026 as the date for South Africa’s upcoming Local Government Elections, setting the stage for political parties and voters to begin preparations.

The Commission has welcomed the announcement of the date for the country’s upcoming Local Government Elections, describing it as a key milestone in preparations for the polls. – SAnews.gov.za