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His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has reaffirmed the importance of credible, transparent, and peaceful elections as a cornerstone of constitutional democracy and societal stability.

The King received a high-level delegation from the Electoral Commission at his Private Office at Emashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola on Tuesday.

The meeting formed part of the Commission’s national stakeholder consultation programme ahead of the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Zulu Kingdom spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu said the engagement served as an important platform to explore constructive and collaborative approaches to strengthening trust in democratic processes.

“The delegation presented His Majesty with a comprehensive briefing on the state of readiness for the elections, including key timelines, operational preparedness, and ongoing voter education initiatives aimed at ensuring free, fair, and credible polls,” Zulu said.

He added that discussions also reflected on recent findings highlighting challenges related to public confidence in governance institutions in KwaZulu-Natal.

The King emphasised the critical role of traditional leadership in fostering social cohesion, civic responsibility, and active participation in democratic processes, particularly at community level.

He further expressed his full support for the work of the Commission and encouraged all eligible citizens, especially the youth, to register and participate in the upcoming elections in a peaceful and responsible manner.

The Private Office of His Majesty welcomed the Commission’s recognition of the role of traditional leaders in advancing voter education and participation, particularly in rural communities, and underscored the importance of sustained cooperation in this regard.

Both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting peaceful elections, strengthening democratic participation, and working collaboratively to enhance public confidence in the electoral process. 

The Commissioners of the Electoral Commission, led by Chairperson Mosotho Moepya will on Friday, 24 April 2026, brief members of the media on the conclusion of a week-long stakeholder engagement programme in KwaZulu-Natal.

The briefing to be held in Durban, will present the key outcomes of the engagements, consider the implications of the Voter Participation Survey for the province, and provide an update on the province’s state of readiness for the 2026/27 municipal elections.

The briefing will also provide a comprehensive account of the key issues raised by stakeholders, outline the Commission’s planned interventions to mitigate identified risks, and reaffirm its constitutional mandate to deliver free, fair, and credible municipal elections. – SAnews.gov.za

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As South Africa experiences more frequent extreme weather events, government has launched a national initiative to strengthen climate-responsive development across municipalities.

Municipalities play a critical role in addressing climate change through service delivery, infrastructure development and community engagement. 

However, many local authorities continue to face capacity, coordination and resource constraints that limit their ability to effectively plan and implement climate responses.

“South Africa has made significant progress in developing robust climate policy frameworks. However, the true test of our success lies not in the policies we adopt, but in the impact we deliver on the ground – particularly within municipalities, where citizens experience the realities of climate change most directly,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh said on Tuesday in Pretoria.

He was speaking at the launch of the Climate Action Planning (CAP) Support Project, an initiative of the South African Local Government Association in partnership with the African Climate Foundation.

The project was initially piloted and is still ongoing at nine district municipalities. 

It is designed to provide focused technical and institutional support to all 44 district municipalities in the country, to review, strengthen, and implement Climate Action Plans in line with the Climate Change Act, national climate policy, and South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and developmental priorities.

The launch expands the intervention to 35 remaining district municipalities.

“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is actively advancing the implementation of the Climate Change Act, Act 22 of 2024.

“We have embarked on the process of developing the National Climate Change Adaptation Scenarios to provide South Africa with the scientific basis upon which we frame our adaptation responses. 

“These scenarios will be consulted upon to ensure that we collect inputs across our stakeholders, ensuring that they reflect the realities faced by communities across urban, rural, and coastal environments,” the Deputy Minister said.

The department has also developed technical guidelines to support different spheres of society to undertake their adaptation needs and response assessments, as well as corresponding climate change response plans required by the Act. 

These guidelines are intended to ensure consistency, improve planning quality, and support municipalities in meeting their legislative obligations.

Beyond introducing the project, the launch established a platform for stakeholder alignment, partnership mobilisation and resource coordination, reinforcing municipalities’ role as key implementers of South Africa’s climate response. 

The initiative also positions SALGA as a leading champion of climate-responsive local governance and collaborative action across sectors. –SAnews.gov.za

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Suspended police official Sergeant Fannie Ezekiel Nkosi has been denied bail in the Pretoria North Magistrate’s Court.

In January, Nkosi was identified as a possible wrongdoer by the Madlanga Commission’s first interim report and was arrested this month following a raid at his home.

“It is alleged that police officials attached to a task team emanating from the Madlanga Commission acted on information regarding the unlawful possession of ammunition at the accused’s residence.

“On 02 April 2026, the task team executed a search warrant at Nkosi’s home in Pretoria North. During the search, police discovered firearms, ammunition, a stun grenade, South African Police Service dockets, and other state-issued items at various locations on the premises.

“A substantial amount of cash, exceeding R50 000, was also found concealed beneath a mattress. The accused was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the origin of the money. He was subsequently arrested,” the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement.

The prosecutorial body – which opposed Nkosi’s bail application – welcomed the decision of the court.

“The court found that the accused failed to discharge the onus resting upon him to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permit his release on bail.

“Nkosi faces multiple charges, including unlawful possession of explosives; three counts of failure to safeguard firearms; eight counts of failure to safeguard ammunition; defeating the administration of justice; failure to mount a stand up safe as per the SABS 953-1/2, theft and money laundering.

“In opposing bail, the State, led by Advocate Tholoana Sekhoyana, placed on record the affidavit of the Investigating Officer, Sergeant Thembekile Mathwa. The affidavit indicated that the accused poses a flight risk, may evade trial, and is likely to interfere with witnesses and ongoing investigations, particularly given his knowledge of police processes,” the statement read.

The case has been postponed to 21 May 2026 for further investigations. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Department of Home Affairs has expressed concern over unfounded media reports and social media posts suggesting that nationals of Lesotho will no longer be required to present valid passports when entering South Africa.

The department has dismissed these claims as false, emphasising that citizens of the Kingdom of Lesotho are still required to present valid passports when entering the Republic and cannot use only their national identity cards for travel.

“No such agreement has been reached between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.

“Allowing entry without a valid passport would violate South Africa’s laws. Specifically, such an act would contravene section 9 of the Immigration Act of 2002, which stipulates that no person shall enter or depart from the Republic unless they have a valid passport,” the department said.

Home Affairs Ministers of Lesotho and South Africa met in Cape Town on 17 April 2026, to receive a study report from a joint task team that was established to look at the development of a new migration model. 

The Ministers were directed by the Bi-National Commission between the two countries to undertake the study. 

This was the first time that the outcome of the study was presented to the Ministers with various recommendations which are to be considered by the Bi-National Commission.

“For any such change to even be considered, a legislative process involving Parliament would be required to amend existing immigration laws. No such process is currently underway.

“The status quo remains. All Lesotho nationals and South African citizens must continue to present valid passports for all entry and exit purposes at our shared ports of entry. The department urges the public to desist from spreading this misinformation,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Following a fire incident at the retail shop at Lower Sabie rest camp in the Kruger National Park, guests with bookings at the campsite should stock up on supplies before arrival.

“Accommodation has not been affected, with the camp fully booked for the upcoming two long weekends, 27 April and 1 May 2026. Activities such as guided game drives and walks are continuing as normal,” the South African National Parks (SANParks) said on Tuesday.

Although the restaurant did not suffer any fire damage, it will remain closed due to the power cuts affected by the fire. 

A temporary retail, food and beverage services will be implemented as soon as possible.

“SANParks urges guests at the camp to stay clear of the affected area for safety reasons.”

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of Tuesday’s fire. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called for the urgent development of a coherent education-to-work pipeline, stressing that South Africa must align early childhood development, schooling and post-school training to ensure young people transition successfully into the economy.

Delivering a keynote address at the National Education Summit held this week at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) in Gauteng, Manamela said the country’s greatest challenge is not only unemployment, but a “crisis of pathways” that leaves millions of young people disconnected from opportunity.

The Minister warned that about 3.4 million young South Africans are currently not in employment, education or training (NEET), describing this as a “lived reality” reflecting systemic failures in linking education to economic participation.

“Our crisis is not only unemployment [but] a crisis of pathways. A system that does not yet move young people efficiently from learning into earning, from potential into productivity… from aspiration into dignity.

“We must build a pipeline that is coherent from early childhood, through schooling, into post-school education and training, and ultimately into the economy,” the Minister said.

Manamela said education should not be viewed as a merely sector, but a bridge between that waiting and economic citizenship.

The Minister identified Early Childhood Development (ECD), entrepreneurship education and vocational training as critical pressure points requiring urgent intervention.

He highlighted that government has made progress in ECDs through increased funding and expanded access, including the allocation of R18.4 billion over the medium term and the addition of 300 000 children gaining access to early learning programmes.

However, Manamela warned that only 42% of children are developmentally on track by the age of five, according to the Thrive by Five Index findings.

“This means inequality is not simply reproduced later in life. It is produced early, in access to nutrition, stimulation, language development, and quality early learning,” he said.

Turning to entrepreneurship, Manamela said the education system must evolve from producing job-seekers to job creators, particularly in an economy that cannot absorb all graduates.

He noted that all 50 public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are now offering entrepreneurship programmes, with more than 47 000 students participating in 2024. 

He, however, stressed that success depends on providing practical exposure, access to funding and markets, and building confidence through mentorship and support networks.

“Entrepreneurship will not thrive in an economy that is structurally closed. This is not only about changing the mindset of young people but also opening the economy itself [and] ensuring that small enterprises can access funding, compete, and grow,” the Minister said.

Expanding centres of specialisation

On vocational education, the Minister highlighted a persistent skills gap, noting that while the economy requires approximately 30 000 artisans annually, the country is currently producing around 20 000.

He said government is expanding Centres of Specialisation, which are central to the country’s artisan strategy, increasing training capacity, improving quality, and aligning programmes with economic demand.

Targets include 37 000 artisan registrations this year, 29 000 artisans qualifying annually within the next two years, and over 200 000 work-based learning opportunities.

“Vocational education is not a second choice. It is a central pillar of our development. From fragmentation to a single system,” he said.

Manamela acknowledged that while significant funding has been allocated to education, including support for over 700 000 students through National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and daily meals for nearly 10 million learners, delivery, and execution matters.

“Our challenge is not a lack of programmes but fragmentation,” he said. “This is a system problem, and it requires a system response.”

He called for stronger collaboration between government, industry, labour, and civil society to build an integrated and responsive education system.

“When funding is delayed, when systems fail, [and] when young people are left uncertain, we are not simply dealing with administrative issues [but] breaking a contract. That is why we are addressing these challenges directly, with urgency and accountability.

“We have the plans, resources, and targets. Delivery requires all of us as government, industry, labour, and civil society to work together as a coordinated system,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Eskom projects that no load shedding will be implemented this coming winter season.

The power utility presented the State of the System at a media briefing on Wednesday, to share its 2026 Winter Outlook.

“Eskom enters the 2026 winter season with a resilient power system, projecting a winter period of continued energy stability from 1 April to 31 August 2026. This positive outlook follows the successful conclusion of the summer period, during which the national grid operated with ongoing sustained reliability.

“With the Generation Recovery Plan firmly embedded in day‑to‑day operations, Eskom has moved beyond short‑term recovery into a phase of stability and sustained energy security, ensuring that homes, businesses and industries remain powered through the peak winter months,” Eskom said in a statement.

Eskom Group Chief Executive Dan Marokane added that the power utility now has a stable platform to “operate and grow from”.

“This enables us to integrate renewable energy sources as per the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan for the maintenance of energy security in the future.

“Eskom is consciously assessing the new capacity build rate across all required technologies as this, along with other socio-economic conditions, will be vital in determining the transition of the coal fired power stations,” Marokane said.

The power utility’s diesel consumption – once relied upon to power expensive open cycle gas turbines – is also on the downturn, reducing by some R26.9 billion.

Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, reflected that cost savings such as those were hard to embed when the generation fleet was unstable.

“These savings are a result of strengthened maintenance discipline and project delivery. Every megawatt we return contributes toward economic growth.

“The restoration of a consistent baseload electricity supply has enabled Eskom to be in a position to support industries in distress, particularly the ferrochrome industry, and play a meaningful role in preventing job losses.

“The country has invested in Eskom, and we are continuously working to restore this national asset to full health; it is a resource that all citizens have supported,” Nxumalo said.

Other year‑on‑year improvements in system performance include:

• Energy Availability Factor (EAF) improved by ~10.8%:  The EAF has improved from 54.55% in Financial Year (FY) 2023 to ~65.35% in FY2026, a gain of ~10.8%, reflecting stronger generation reliability and power system stability. EAF reached or exceeded 70% on more than 83 occasions during FY26.
• Unplanned losses, reduced by ~7.1GW: Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor (UCLF), measuring unplanned losses, reduced by ~7.1GW, declining from 16.5GW to ~9.1GW as at 31 March 2026, a reduction exceeding one‑and‑a‑half times the capacity of Kusile Power Station.
• Planned maintenance increased, averaging 5.4GW:  Planned maintenance increased from an average of 4.7GW in FY2023 to peaks of around 8.0GW, with an annual average of 5.4GW in FY2026, strengthening long‑term plant reliability while temporarily reducing available capacity.

“Together, these improvements supported a period, as of [Wednesday], of 341 consecutive days without load shedding,” Eskom said.

Tackling load reduction

Eskom noted that it is working closely with the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) and other relevant stakeholders to “accelerate the elimination of load reduction”.

Load reduction is implemented by the power utility to protect infrastructure from overloading and destruction where there are illegal connections.

Eskom said its elimination programme is already yielding results, with the Northern Cape and Western Cape now fully removed from load reduction schedules.

“Nationally, more than 340 000 customers who previously faced load reduction are no longer experiencing it, ensuring continuous supply during the winter period.

“A key part of the programme is the installation of more than 600 000 smart meters, which improve network visibility, support better load management and help stabilise local electricity networks.

“In addition, 2119 customers have been connected through distributed energy resources to strengthen the electricity supply in areas where network limitations previously contributed to load reduction,” the power utility explained.

The programme is expected to be concluded by next year.

“By September 2026, Eskom expects that about 60% of feeders currently affected by load reduction, 573 out of 971, will be removed from load reduction, with the remaining feeders addressed progressively by 2027,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has emphasised that South Africa will continue to pursue gender parity on the judicial bench “vigorously and unapologetically”.

The Minister addressed the third day of the Second High-Level Meeting of Women Judicial Leaders of Africa held in Johannesburg this week, in conjunction with the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA).

The gathering convenes women in judicial leadership across Africa, with the aim of fostering collaboration, facilitating the sharing expertise, and advancing constitutional justice and gender equality.

“Our country has made huge strides in empowering and affirming women jurists in the judiciary. At the advent of our democracy in 1994, our Judiciary comprised of 165 Judges of which 160 were white males, three black men and two white women. South Africa had no black woman Judge in 1994.

“Today, there are about 255 Judges in all the Superior Courts of which 131 are men and 124 women Judges.

“Progress has indeed been made however, more still needs to be done to ensure gender parity which we are vigorously and unapologetically pursuing,” Kubayi said.

She added that out of South Africa’s 15 Superior Courts, at least six are led by women, including the Constitutional Court as led by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya.

Additionally, the Constitutional Court has a majority of women Judges as well as the Supreme Court of Appeal – the country’s second highest court in the land.

“The Magistracy has fared much better in terms of gender transformation in that of the 1626 magistrates, 898 are women. This means that 55% of the total number of magistrates are women.

“We are immensely proud that women in the Judiciary continue to lead in our quest to transform our jurisprudence on gender equality, reproductive rights and the protection of the vulnerable. Their presence in the Judiciary is in line with the vision of our constitutional order,” the minister said.

Confronting challenges

Although hopeful of the future ahead for women in the judiciary and in general, Kubayi did not mince her words on the challenges that still persist in the sector.

She cited slow implementation and the scourges of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) as two of the key obstacles to overcome.

“In the past 30 years, we have learnt that the codification legislative or regulatory does not always translate into implementation. The achievement of gender equality requires a deliberate set of implementable actions that are conceptualised with a gender perspective. We all know that power concedes nothing without demand.

“As happens in many countries around the world, South African women continue to experience high levels of pernicious discrimination and violence.

“And despite the plethora of progressive rights-based legislation in our country, we cannot claim that we are closer to delivering on the aspirations embedded in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Maputo protocol, the Constitution and the Sustainable Development Goals, to promote gender equality and empower women,” Kubayi said.

The Minister bemoaned the abuse of women across the globe and the devastating effects it has on families, the grotesque scar it leaves on communities and how it undermines the rule of law.

“It is for this reason that our President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has declared gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) a national disaster. Accordingly, South Africa developed, as a response, the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, a multi-sectoral, rights-based framework that seeks to eliminate GBV through coordinated prevention, protection, accountability, and support services.

“In addition to this, Government has also put in place a number of strategies to strengthen gender focused jurisprudence in our quest to fight the scourge of gender-based violence and other discriminatory practices,” Kubayi stated.

These strategies include:

• Expansion of Specialised Sexual Offences Courts and Thuthuzela Care Centres which designed are specifically to deal with GBVF;
• Strengthening of legal protections through the GBVF Legislative reforms;
• An online application service of domestic violence protection orders and the delivery of such protection orders through social media, e.g. WhatsApp;
• Judicial and prosecutorial training on gender sensitivity and victim empowerment;
• Development of a Femicide Watch to collect data and monitor GBVF incidents and trends, and
• Engagement with traditional leaders and community forums to embed constitutional values in every corner of society – ensuring that custom and culture do not undermine women’s dignity and safety.

From history to history making

Kubayi reminded the delegates that their presence in Johannesburg is a fulfilment of a legacy sparked decades ago.

Reflecting on the August 1956 Women’s March, she noted that the gathering coincides with the 60th anniversary of that historic defiance.

On that iconic day, struggle heroes Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophie De Bruyn and Rahima Moosa led 20 000 women to the seat of the Apartheid Government in Pretoria, demanding the scrapping of pass laws.

“Asserting themselves through a firm slogan that says: ‘wathint’ abafazi wathint’ imbokodo, you strike a woman you strike a rock’, these brave women stood firm to tell their oppressors and the world at large that they too were their own liberators. 

“Not only were they fighting for the end of racial and class discrimination, but they also fought for the unconditional end of gender discrimination,” Kubayi said.

Invoking the spirit of those 1956 heroes, the Minister emphasised that today’s judicial leaders must carry that same defiance to push back against discriminatory challenges.

“Many of you have personal stories about the obstacles that you had overcome and the walls you had to break down for you to get to where you are today.

“As women judges, your lived experiences provide better insight into the realities behind the cases. The resilience and courage of the delegates attending the conference is not only personal, but it is structural. It reshapes how law is interpreted, how justice is delivered, and how society evolves.

“This meeting should not only be used to exchange insights, but to sharpen our collective commitment to law that heals, courts that transform, and systems that centre around humanity. Together we can create a world in which men and women are equal,” Kubayi concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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