Category: English

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced three investment initiatives, worth more than R120 billion, aimed at driving industrialisation, expanding manufacturing and creating employment opportunities in the Free State.

The initiatives, announced during the launch of the Free State Catalytic Investment and Industrialisation Programme at the Phuthaditjhaba Multipurpose Centre in QwaQwa on Friday, include renewable energy, electric vehicle manufacturing and agricultural processing projects.

“The proposed YJC renewable energy project represents an investment of approximately R100 billion and has the potential to create 6,500 jobs,” President Ramaphosa said.

The planned Joylong Automotive Manufacturing project, valued at approximately R5.5 billion, is expected to create 1 500 direct jobs over five years and produce up to 8,000 electric vehicles annually.

Meanwhile, the Walk of Life Apple Juice Concentrate Plant, representing an investment of approximately R330 million, is expected to create 100 permanent jobs and about 600 seasonal employment opportunities.

“These projects demonstrate the type of economic activity we need to bild investment that creates productive capacity, develops local value chains, strengthens exports and expands employment,” the President said.

Reviving industrial potential

President Ramaphosa said the Free State is strategically positioned to become a key contributor to South Africa’s economic growth, particularly through the industrialisation of the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality.

He noted that the province was a manufacturing hub until the early 2000s, but deteriorating municipal services and infrastructure had contributed to companies closing or relocating to other provinces.
The Free State Growth and Development Strategy aims to reverse this trend, with the Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone playing a central role.

The President said the zone had sites for 65 factories, of which 58% were occupied.
However, he stressed that industrial development depends on reliable infrastructure and effective municipal services to attract and retain investors.

“To attract the investment to this area, government is committed to providing reliable electricity and water provision, functioning roads, safe industrial premises, efficient approvals and accountable project management.

“Good and reliable infrastructure attracts investors. The quality of municipal services influences where companies invest,” he explained.

He added that the province’s central location, connections to transport and logistics networks, agricultural producers and markets in South Africa and beyond offered significant opportunities for economic development.

Boosting agriculture and the green economy

President Ramaphosa said the province needs to move beyond primary agricultural production towards agro-processing, beneficiation, packaging, manufacturing and expanded market access.

The Walk of Life investment, he said, demonstrates how agricultural production can be linked to industrial processing and value addition.

The planned electric vehicle manufacturing project, meanwhile, could position the Free State within the emerging green economy and new-energy industrial value chain.

He emphasised that these investments should benefit local businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, which could supply components, materials, packaging, maintenance, security, cleaning, transport and professional services.

“A factory depends on far more than its production line. It needs to be part of a broader value chain,” he said.

Skills development, job opportunities

The President also acknowledged the 130 learners who had received skills training and were progressing towards placement opportunities.

The learners had been trained by the Free State Development Corporation, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and Eskom in areas including plumbing, environmental practice, construction road work, food and beverage, first aid and electrical systems management.

President Ramaphosa called for stronger partnerships between government, industry, training institutions and investors to connect skills development with economic participation and decent work.

“Institutions and employers must help young people connect training to further experience and, where opportunities become available, to decent work.”

He urged local businesses to prepare to participate in the supply chains created by new industrial investments.

Tracking implementation

The President said the success of the programme would depend on implementation beyond the launch, with the provincial government committed to tracking announced actions over the next 30, 60 and 90 days.

He called on municipalities to provide dependable services and responsive planning, investors to honour their commitments, and communities to be meaningfully involved throughout the development process.
Development finance institutions and specialised agencies would also need to leverage private investment through the effective deployment of public resources.

“The measure of today’s success will be what happens after the banners come down. Our ambition is to build a Free State that makes more of what it uses, processes more of what it grows and creates more paths into productive work,” the President said.

He said preparing projects properly, investing in enabling infrastructure, and equipping people with the necessary skills and information would help turn the province’s industrialisation ambitions into reality. – SAnews.gov.za

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister David Maynier has declared 18 properties in the Eastern Cape, covering 10 225.9242 hectares, as the Grasslands National Park.

The declaration was published in Government Gazette No. 55531 under Government Notice No. 8002.

Situated in the Eastern Cape highlands between Nqanqarhu and Rhodes, the park will help protect under-represented grassland ecosystems and part of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area. 

These landscapes are important for water security, biodiversity and the livelihoods supported by the region’s working agricultural land.

Maynier has assigned the management of the new Grassland National Park to South African National Parks (SANParks), in terms of section 38(1)(aA) of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003. 

The declaration follows the publication of a notice of intention in 2025 and the conclusion of the statutory process under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 2003.

The declaration moves the project from a proposed protected area to a formally declared national park.

“The declaration of the Grasslands National Park is an important step in protecting one of South Africa’s least-protected biomes and a strategic water source landscape. It also demonstrates how conservation and compatible productive land use can reinforce one another through voluntary, long-term partnerships,” Maynier said.

The park has been established primarily through biodiversity stewardship, an approach that allows participating landowners to retain ownership of their land while committing it to agreed conservation and management arrangements.

Conservation-compatible agricultural activities may continue, supporting both ecological protection and local livelihoods.

“This is the first national park established primarily through a biodiversity stewardship model. This initiative is an example of how inclusive partnerships can drive large-scale conservation success,” the Minister said.

Alongside the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and SANParks, World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF South Africa) played a leading role in coordinating the establishment of the park, together with a wide range of partners. – SAnews.gov.za
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated veteran South African jurist Justice Navanethem “Navi” Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. 

In a statement on Friday, the President said the recognition was a tribute to Pillay’s courage, integrity and lifelong commitment to justice. 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee honoured Pillay for her contribution to strengthening international law and ensuring accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The committee described her as “a person who, with exceptional courage and integrity, has led the way towards a more comprehensive legal order. This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.”

President Ramaphosa said Justice Pillay’s crowning of the Nobel Prize laureate allows the country to celebrate her progressive contributions to strengthen peace, uphold human dignity and bring hope to South Africa and peoples globally.

“She has served humanity with principle and the belief that the world can and should be a better place,” he said.

Pillay is an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, where she distinguished herself in the genocide case of The Gambia v Myanmar.

Her legal career also includes serving as a pioneering defence attorney for anti-apartheid activists and leaders, including former President Nelson Mandela. 

She served as a judge and President of the Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003 before becoming a judge of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, a position she held from 2003 to 2008.

Following her tenure at the International Criminal Court, Pillay served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

President Ramaphosa said the honour underscored the importance of building a society in which everyone could realise their potential and contribute to the country and the world.

“The honour bestowed on her reminds us to build a society where every person, whatever their circumstances, can develop their abilities and contribute fully to our nation and the world.

“We are proud that Justice Pillay joins Chief Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Mandela and Former President FW de Klerk in highlighting the far-reaching impact of South Africans on peace, justice and the advancement of humanity.

“We congratulate Justice Pillay and wish her well as she continues to participate in various platforms to secure the rights and dignity of all people,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has clarified its intensified social grant reviews and verification measures, saying these are necessary to protect the integrity of the social assistance system and prevent fraudulent payments.   

The agency issued the statement on Friday following media reports about money paid to beneficiaries who were allegedly not eligible to receive social grants during the 2025/2026 financial year. 

SASSA also acknowledged issues raised before the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, and welcomed continued scrutiny of the administration of public funds.

The agency said social assistance is a constitutional obligation and a critical safety net for millions of vulnerable South Africans but stressed that the system needs to be protected against fraud, abuse, errors, misrepresentation and payments to people who no longer qualified for assistance.

“The integrity of the social grants system cannot be protected by avoiding reviews simply because reviews may be uncomfortable or inconvenient,” SASSA said.

Criticism 

SASSA said the reviews and eLife certification measures had attracted criticism from some sections of society and interest groups, amid concerns that the interventions were intended to exclude legitimate beneficiaries. 

The agency rejected these concerns, saying the processes were designed to establish whether beneficiaries continued to meet the prescribed eligibility requirements.

“A social grant is not an unconditional entitlement that continues irrespective of changes in a beneficiary’s circumstances. Beneficiaries have a responsibility to inform SASSA when circumstances that may affect their eligibility change,” the agency said.

These changes include income, employment, marital status, banking details, residential circumstances and other material personal circumstances.

SASSA said reviews were an important administrative and control mechanism to verify whether beneficiaries remained eligible for the grants they received.

The agency added that beneficiaries who legitimately qualified for social assistance should not fear processes intended to verify their continued eligibility. 

eLife certification and biometric enrolment 

SASSA said it had also intensified eLife certification to establish whether beneficiaries were still alive and were the legitimate recipients of social assistance.

The process seeks to prevent public funds from being paid where a beneficiary has died, where there is uncertainty about their continued existence, or where another person may be unlawfully accessing the grant. 

“Social grants reviews and eLife certification are therefore not designed to arbitrarily terminate grants. They are a control mechanism intended to confirm the continued existence and eligibility of beneficiaries and to prevent fraudulent payments,” SASSA said.

Another intervention is Beneficiary Biometric Enrolment, which the agency said would strengthen identity verification and improve the security of social grant transactions.

The process forms part of broader efforts to reduce opportunities for impersonation and fraudulent transactions, while ensuring that grants reach their rightful recipients.

SASSA said the measures were particularly important given the substantial public resources managed by the social assistance system and the millions of beneficiaries it serves.

The agency maintained that it could not rely indefinitely on historical information, as systems, identities, personal circumstances and payment arrangements changed over time.
“Controls must therefore evolve accordingly,” SASSA said. – SAnews.gov.za

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom will conduct an oversight visit to Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State to investigate reports of sewage pollution and safety concerns following repeated drownings at an unsecured quarry.

The visit on Monday, 12 October 2026, will include inspections of Sterkwater and Botshabelo wastewater treatment works, an investigation into reported sewage contamination of the Renosterspruit, and an assessment of safety measures at Heidedal Quarry.

“The oversight visit will focus on the condition of wastewater infrastructure, environmental compliance, the impact of pollution on surrounding communities and water users, and the measures required to address the reported problems,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

At Sterkwater Wastewater Treatment Works, Bloom will assess the operational condition of the facility, critical equipment, maintenance backlogs and effluent quality. He will also examine environmental compliance and the timelines for necessary repairs.

At Renosterspruit, the Deputy Minister will investigate the reported sources and extent of sewage pollution, its impact on residents and farmers who use the water, and the measures being taken to address the contamination. He will also establish which authorities are responsible for remediation.

At Heidedal Quarry, Bloom will inspect access to the site, the adequacy of fencing and other safety measures following reports of repeated drownings. He will also seek to establish who is responsible for securing the quarry.

The final stop will be Botshabelo Wastewater Treatment Works, where the Deputy Minister will investigate reports of untreated or partially treated wastewater being discharged from the plant.

The inspection will focus on the plant’s operational performance, maintenance, environmental compliance, and potential risks to surrounding communities and downstream water resources. – SAnews.gov.za
 

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has joined traditional leaders in calling on men to take a stand against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and play an active role in protecting women and children.

Buthelezi joined Amakhosi, Izinduna, Amabutho and women at a campaign held in the Swayimane area under the Gcumisa Traditional Authority on Thursday.

The campaign, led by the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders, sought to raise awareness of the devastating impact of GBVF, while encouraging men to take responsibility for preventing violence.
The campaign highlighted the devastating impact of GBVF and called on men to take responsibility for creating safer communities.

Traditional leaders called on men to reclaim their role as protectors and ambassadors of safety, urging communities to speak out against abuse and support efforts to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Buthelezi commended the initiative, saying the involvement of traditional leaders is important in ensuring that the message against GBVF reaches communities across the province.

“We are encouraged by the vision of Amakhosi in organising this campaign, which seeks to instil a sense of responsibility among men. Amakhosi play a crucial role in our communities, and we commend them for prioritising the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

“As a department, we welcome this initiative because it amplifies the collective voice against gender-based violence and ensures that everyone, including Izinduna, is actively involved in the fight against GBVF,” Buthelezi explained.

Buthelezi called for similar campaigns to be rolled out across the province to extend community participation in the fight against violence.

He also urged communities to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, report cases of abuse and support efforts to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. – SAnews.gov.za

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube has urged the Matric Class of 2026 to pursue careers aligned with the changing world of work, highlighting opportunities in technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture.

Dube-Ncube made the call during an annual mass prayer for Grade 12 learners in Pietermaritzburg, uMgungundlovu District.

The Mass Prayer, held on Thursday, brought together a range of stakeholders, each with a critical role in preparing the Class of 2026 for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and the transition beyond.

Addressing about 3 000 Grade 12 learners, Dube-Ncube stressed the importance for young people to make an informed decisions about their post-school studies to improve their employment prospects.
She noted the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which found that 170 million new jobs will be created globally by 2030, while 92 million jobs will disappear, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs.

“Think about that. The world is not running out of work. It is changing the kind of work it needs,” Dube-Ncube said.

The report also highlighted the jobs growing demand for big data specialists, financial technology engineers, artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, renewable energy engineers, and environmental engineers.

Dube-Ncube encouraged learners to consider technical and artisan careers, saying the future of work will increasingly require a combination of practical skills and technological knowledge.

“The trade your grandfather practised with his hands is now practised with his hands and a tablet. The artisan of the future is also a technologist,” she said.

The Deputy Minister also noted South Africa’s participation at the recent 48th WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China, where 29 young competitors represented the country across 27 skills categories.

She highlighted Matthew Bowen’s silver medal in Aircraft Maintenance, where he was named Best of Nation, as an example of the opportunities available to young people trained in the country’s skills development system.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the significant role to play by technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in preparing young people for the changing labour market.

She cited uMgungundlovu TVET College’s programmes in electrical engineering and solar photovoltaic installation as examples of training opportunities aligned with the country’s energy needs.

Dube-Ncube urged learners not to regard TVET colleges as a second choice to universities, but as an important pathway to employment and economic participation.

She also encouraged learners to strengthen their Mathematics and Physical Sciences performance, noting that these subjects opened doors to many science, engineering and technology-related careers.

She referred to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa, which revealed that youth unemployment rate reached 47.4% in the second quarter of 2026, with about five million young people aged between 15 and 34 looking for work without success.

She said part of the challenge is the mismatch between qualifications pursued by young people and the skills employers needed.

“The choice you make about what to study is one of the most important economic decisions you will ever make. Choose with information, not with rumours,” she advised learners. – SAnews.gov.za