Category: English

Officials of the Border Management Authority (BMA), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have intercepted a truck transporting illicit drugs and goods at the Oshoek port of entry.

BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, has commended the officials for the successful joint operation.

On Monday at approximately 20h00, a truck travelling from Eswatini into South Africa was intercepted at the Oshoek port of entry during an operation involving the BMA, SARS and SAPS.

Upon conducting a thorough search of the vehicle, officials discovered 50 bags of dagga concealed in the trailer, with a total weight of approximately 671.5 kilograms and an estimated street value of R2.8 million. In addition, 916 illicit tyres were found in the same consignment.

The driver of the truck fled the scene during the interception and is currently at large. Law enforcement authorities have launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspect.

“All confiscated items, including the dagga and illicit tyres, were registered with SAPS for evidentiary purposes, while SARS has seized the truck as part of ongoing investigations. A criminal case has been formally opened,” the BMA said.

Masiapato has reiterated the Port Management Committee’s commitment to strengthening border security and preventing the cross-border movement of illicit goods. 

He further emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration in disrupting criminal networks and safeguarding the country’s borders. 

The BMA said it will continue to work closely with its partners to intensify operations and ensure that those involved in criminal activities are brought to justice. – SAnews.gov.za

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The eThekwini Municipality has intensified compliance inspections across the city to ensure that people living and working near hazardous operations remain safe and protected.

The municipality’s Fire Services Directorate and Environmental Health Division has ramped up enforcement through unannounced inspections, targeting high-risk facilities such as factories, major hazard installations and national key points.

The move comes amid growing concern over environmental and industrial risks, with authorities focusing on early intervention to prevent incidents before they impact residents.

The Fire Services Directorate, which operates a 24-hour emergency response service, is conducting proactive inspections to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations and emergency preparedness standards.

Its Emergency Planning Division is responsible for verifying that high-risk facilities maintain updated emergency response plans, clearly marked evacuation routes and functional fire safety equipment.

Fire Services Director Enock Mchunu said the inspections are aimed at identifying and addressing risks before they escalate.

“Community safety is our top priority. We are on the ground every day, proactively inspecting high-risk facilities, identifying unsafe conditions, and requiring immediate corrections before they pose a threat,” Mchunu said.

He warned that companies ignoring safety rules face severe penalties, including fines, shutdowns, or court orders where necessary.

The Environmental Health Division is conducting parallel inspections to ensure that environmental conditions do not pose risks to public health.

Guided by the National Health Act and Environmental Health Norms and Standards, practitioners follow a risk-based inspection model to target sectors such as high-risk industries, schools, food establishments, and public facilities, particularly those located near residential areas.

Inspection areas include chemical safety, water quality, pollution control, waste management, and monitoring of hazardous premises.

The municipality said common issues identified during inspections include outdated risk assessments, poor evacuation signage, expired fire equipment, and other hazardous conditions.

Depending on the severity of violations, officials may issue compliance notices, fines, prosecution directives, or order immediate closures.

Serious violations may lead to suspended permits or facility shutdowns.

Environmental Health Senior Manager Phumzile Vezi said compliance with safety and environmental regulations is not optional.

“Companies operating near communities must adopt strong safety standards and meet environmental laws. Our teams will continue to inspect, enforce, and re-inspect until risks are fully mitigated,” Vezi said.

The municipality said Fire Services and Environmental Health teams are working in a coordinated manner to ensure early detection of risks, rapid intervention, and continuous monitoring.

Follow-up inspections are scheduled based on risk levels, ranging from immediate revisits to intervals of 30, 60 and 90 days, and will continue until full compliance is achieved. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has reaffirmed the District Development Model (DDM) as a central pillar of South Africa’s development strategy.

“The DDM acts as the primary operational framework to bridge the gap between planning and service delivery across all 44 districts and eight metropolitan areas,” Hlabisa said in a statement on Tuesday.

He stressed that the model’s core purpose is intergovernmental alignment and does not replace municipal authority.

Under the framework developed by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, municipalities retain their constitutional powers to plan and govern, while the district “One Plan” integrates existing plans from municipalities, provinces, and national departments.

The model aims to avoid duplication, reduce competition for resources and address fragmented infrastructure planning.

“The DDM does not substitute municipal planning but aligns different spheres of government around shared priorities. Chapter 3 of the Constitution obliges all spheres of government to coordinate and integrate plans and programmes,” Hlabisa said.

The DDM operationalises this constitutional principle by bringing together national departments, provinces and municipalities; aligning budgets and infrastructure investment, and spatial planning; and creating joint accountability for development outcomes.

Breaking the pattern of “operating in silos”

Hlabisa said fragmented planning has long undermined effective governance in South Africa, with departments and spheres of government often “operating in silos.”

Since its launch in 2019, the Minister said the DDM has been a game-changer, breaking the pattern and focusing intentionally on integrating planning, budgeting, and implementation.

“With this level of coordination and collaboration, the DDM contributes positively to the realisation of a capable and ethical developmental state,” he said.

The Minister added that the model also supports equity across districts and metros spaces by reducing uneven development between municipalities.

He noted that financially stronger metros and municipalities often have stronger planning capacity and revenue bases, whereas many rural municipalities struggle with limited technical expertise, weak infrastructure planning, and poor coordination with national departments.

“The DDM allows national and provincial governments to strategically channel resources into districts and metros where capacity is weaker, [thereby] improving local and national spatial equity,” Hlabisa said.

Addressing concerns about the model’s impact on municipal autonomy, Hlabisa said coordination is a constitutional requirement that does not threaten local governance.

While some stakeholders have argued that the DDM and the 2024 gazetted “DDM regulations’ are unconstitutional, the Minister said legal opinions obtained by CoGTA disagreed. 

“In fact, throughout the intergovernmental dispute processes, especially by both the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town, the intent and objective of the DDM were appreciated and welcomed as a practical approach towards ensuring improved intergovernmental coordination on long-term planning and implementation.

“The concerns raised were more on procedural and technical uncertainties relating to the institutionalisation and implementation of the DDM and how these were outlined in the ‘2024 DDM regulations’, especially on matters relating to the coordination of the DDM across the three spheres of government,” the Minister said.

He added that proposed amendments to the 2024 DDM regulations, currently open for public comment, aim to improve the framework, especially on the roles and responsibilities of intergovernmental stakeholders, and the relationship between “One Plans” and other legislated development plans.

These amendments are aligned with existing planning legislation, including the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act of 2000, and the attainment of the objectives underpinning Cooperative Government as determined by Chapter 3 of the Constitution,” Hlabisa said.

Hlabisa said all 44 districts and eight metropolitan municipalities are deeply integrated into national priorities, including economic growth, housing delivery, transport systems, and climate resilience.

“These priorities will be best achieved not through working in isolation, but require coordinated action across all spheres of government, which is precisely what the DDM seeks to achieve,” the Minister said.

He reiterated that the model’s fundamental objective is to ensure that all spheres of government work together to deliver integrated development for the people of South Africa.

Looking ahead, Hlabisa said the outcomes of intergovernmental dispute processes and the proposed regulatory amendments reinforce the DDM as a practical mechanism, aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP), aimed at improving and sustaining intergovernmental coordination and cooperation across the broader government planning environment.

The Minister called for a comprehensive government and society approach to fully institutionalise the DDM nationwide, ensuring that every municipality works for the benefit of the people.

“It is only this game changer that we will be able to turn things around and together.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms in the Northern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga on Wednesday.

“A surface trough, supported by a slow-moving upper trough, will result in severe thunderstorms in the Karoo Hoogland District (Northern Cape), leading to localised flooding of susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, large amounts of small hail and localised damage to infrastructure,” the weather service said.

Slow moving storms may cause heavy downpours and strong winds.

Severe thunderstorms are expected over the western and central parts of Limpopo, Gauteng as well as the Lowveld of Mpumalanga. 

These storms may result in localised flooding of low-lying areas (including bridges and roads) and damage to infrastructure and settlements due to strong, damaging winds.

These weather conditions may cause damage to infrastructure, settlements (informal), property, vehicles, livelihood and livestock. 

There is a possibility of disruption to municipal and other essential services (education, health, communication and power supply). 

In addition, isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers are expected over KwaZulu-Natal

Some of these thunderstorms are expected to become severe in the province, except for the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, eThekwini District Municipality, uMfolozi Local Municipality, uMhlathuze Local Municipality, Mandeni Local Municipality, KwaDukuza Local Municipality and Ndwedwe Local Municipality.

The thunderstorms may be accompanied by heavy downpours, damaging winds, excessive lightning and hail, resulting in minor impacts.

The weather conditions may have the following impacts:

• Localised damage to infrastructure and settlements.
• Localised flooding of susceptible roads and bridges.
• Minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads and poor visibility.
• Difficult driving conditions on dirt and slippery roads.
• Large amounts of small hail/ large hail over an open area.
• Lightning resulting in localised fire incidents.
• Localised injuries due to flying debris.

Meanwhile, the weather report for Wednesday shows partly cloudy and warm to cool conditions are expected, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers except over the extreme western parts from the afternoon. 

It will be cloudy in places in the east. –SAnews.gov.za

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The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has provided an update on an independent forensic investigation into irregularities in seven contracts awarded for the refurbishment and extension of the service life of the agency’s legacy rolling stock fleet.

The investigation by Webber Wentzel Attorneys was commissioned to probe the General Overhaul (GO) Programme contracts signed in 2022.

The programme was launched as a strategic bridging solution to maintain commuter rail services during the transition from the legacy yellow fleet of trains to the new Gibela Electric Multiple Units (EMUs). 

Its purpose was to ensure a safe and uninterrupted transition from old to new rolling stock. 

“In April 2024, PRASA received a written complaint from a GO contractor alleging irregularities in how the programme was being administered.

“Rather than dismissing the complaint or handling it internally, together with project management concerns, we acted decisively: within one month of receiving the complaint, PRASA formally engaged Webber Wentzel Attorneys to conduct an independent investigation,” the agency said on Tuesday in a statement.

On 29 November 2024, Webber Wentzel presented its preliminary findings to the PRASA Group CEO. 

This was presented as a ‘Draft Report’, which is standard practice for a forensic investigation. 

A draft was provided to allow PRASA to review its contents, verify factual accuracy, and enable affected parties to respond before findings are finalised.

PRASA’s current position on the GO Programme is as follows:

• Payments to contractors implicated in overcharging have been frozen pending the outcome of the invoice review.
• Contractors against whom material breach has been established are being formally terminated — some are no longer part of the programme, and two are currently on 30-day notice.
• Strengthened financial management and internal control systems are being implemented for the GO Programme.

“PRASA has instructed specialist legal counsel to pursue the civil recovery of funds overpaid to contractors. Independent expert analysis has confirmed significant overcharging across multiple contractors, with the full quantum of recoverable funds still being quantified as part of the ongoing civil and disciplinary processes.”

The disciplinary and criminal proceedings that are a prerequisite for formal recovery action are actively progressing.

Formal disciplinary proceedings — including charges of bribery, corruption, fraud, financial misconduct and policy violations — were instituted against the implicated employees before they departed from the organisation. 

“In both cases, the employees concerned chose to resign after disciplinary processes had been formally initiated. Additional disciplinary proceedings affecting other employees are underway. Resignation does not constitute exoneration, nor does it extinguish liability — criminal, civil or otherwise.

“The referral of implicated individuals’ conduct to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and the pursuit of civil recovery proceedings, are not contingent on continued employment status. These processes are active and ongoing,” PRASA said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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As the country moves towards the Local Government Elections (LGE), the Independent Electoral Commission has emphasised the important role played by media in safeguarding electoral democracy.

This as the Commission concluded its latest Elections Training Workshop for Journalists in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Tuesday.

IEC Limpopo Provincial Electoral Officer, Nkaro Mateta, emphasised the important role played by the media in safeguarding electoral democracy and in the free flow of credible and accurate information about political parties, candidates, voting station operations and electoral regulations.

“In a rapidly evolving information environment, this responsibility has become even more significant. Journalists are required not only to report on events but also to navigate an increasingly complex digital ecosystem where misinformation and disinformation can spread rapidly and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions,” said Mateta, adding that this work was an essential prerequisite for free and fair elections.

The Polokwane session brought together over 90 journalists from community, regional and national media platforms across Limpopo. 

The participants engaged robustly on key issues, including imminent changes in the local government sector, the impact of misinformation and disinformation in the electoral environment, and strategies for verifying false and misleading claims, images and videos that often circulate during election periods.

The countrywide workshops are held in partnership with the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef), the South African Local Government Association (Salga), Africa Check and Moxii Africa. 

The first workshop was held in Durban on 10 March 2026 and the next one is scheduled for 25 March 2026 in Mahikeng, North West.

Last week, the Commission called on all South Africans eligible to vote to register for the Local Government Elections where they live.

“In a Local Government Election, there is no legal facility to vote outside of the voting station of registration. This is a necessary requirement as it ensures that voters vote in a ward election that has a relationship with their place of ordinary residence,” said the Commission at a media briefing on Tuesday.

The Commission announced that a national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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