Category: English

Government has acknowledged the significant hardship and disruption experienced by households, businesses and communities across Gauteng, following the explosion of a motor connected to one of the pumps at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant.

The explosion on Tuesday, 27 January 2027, had a ripple effect and affected the entire Engine Room 4, resulting in the temporary shutdown of operations, particularly in the metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

Government expressed regret for the inconvenience, distress and economic impact caused by low water pressure, temporary outages, and widespread supply interruptions, which were exacerbated by high water consumption during this period.

In response, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, led by Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, convened an urgent stakeholder meeting on Thursday evening.

The meeting brought together Rand Water, the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the City of Johannesburg and Johannesburg Water.

The meeting was also attended by Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, and City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, who provided detailed updates on the ongoing recovery efforts and the local impact of the incident.

Stakeholders received a comprehensive briefing on the cause of the explosion, assessed its impact on water supply systems and coordinated measures to accelerate recovery while strengthening long-term system resilience.

The meeting commended Rand Water for its swift and effective response, noting that emergency repair teams worked around the clock to complete emergency repairs.

“Government is pleased to confirm that full operations at Zuikerbosch have been restored, with all booster stations – Palmiet, Eikenhof, Mapleton, and Zwartkopjes – now pumping at full capacity. Reservoir levels in the affected systems are recovering steadily, and customers should see gradual improvements in water pressure and supply over the coming hours and days as the network stabilises,” government said in a joint statement on Friday.

The meeting also commended Johannesburg Water for its proactive intervention in deploying additional water tankers to alleviate pressure on businesses and communities during the disruption.

While welcoming the rapid recovery, government said the incident underscores the urgent need to strengthen the resilience of Gauteng’s bulk water supply system. 

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to supporting infrastructure upgrades, including expanded reservoir capacity, to ensure a more reliable and robust bulk water system for the province.

Over R32 billion investment in JHB water infrastructure

The meeting noted that Johannesburg, in particular, requires increased water storage capacity in reservoirs to better buffer against unpredictable events like as infrastructure failures.

In this regard, Johannesburg Water plans to invest more than R32 billion over the next 10 years in water services infrastructure across the city, with a portion of this funding earmarked for expanding storage capacity.

“Enhancing storage will ensure that accidents or technical failures have minimal impact on communities, preventing severe disruptions even during high-demand periods or unexpected incidents,” the statement said.

Government extended its sincere apology to all affected residents, businesses and stakeholders, and thanked the public for their patience and cooperation shown throughout this challenging time.

“Rand Water and Johannesburg Water will continue their close collaboration to restore uninterrupted supply fully and provide ongoing updates. Residents are encouraged to contact their local water utility or Rand Water’s Customer Care line for assistance.” – SAnews.gov.za

“The rule of law is not dead”. With that message of defiant hope, Advocate Shamila Batohi took her final bow as National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Friday.

Batohi retires from the NPA after seven years at the helm of the prosecutorial body.

“Despite everything, I leave this office genuinely hopeful. We have rebuilt an institution that was once almost written off. I have seen what South Africans can achieve when we stop arguing on who’s to blame and start focusing on what must be done.

“The rule of law in South Africa is not dead. It is worth fighting [for] and worth defending. If we back this next NDPP [Advocate Andy Mothibi], fix systemic weaknesses, strengthen partnerships with integrity and refuse to surrender to cynicism, we can absolutely turn the tide against corruption and organised crime,” Batohi said at her final media briefing.

Reflecting on her time in office, Batohi said she entered the Victoria and Griffiths Mxenge building (the NPA’s headquarters) during a time of “profound institutional decay, erosion of public trust and a deeply compromised criminal justice system”. 

“It has been an incredibly challenging journey. We had to rebuild a broken institution while simultaneously delivering on our core prosecutorial responsibilities given the understandable impatience for accountability and justice in this country.

“The work is not yet complete. But you may, as people of South Africa, be rest assured that a solid foundation has been built for a stronger, more effective NPA. We have shifted from a phase of stabilisation…to one of consolidation with increasing signs of institutional resilience and operation impact,” she said.

She highlighted that the prosecutorial body had moved from meeting 50% of its targets in 2020/21 to reaching, in the year to date, 94% of targets.

Other achievements include:

• The formal establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
• The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) recovered R6.3 billion from criminal proceeds in the past five years.
• The conviction of at least 380 people for complex corruption related crimes in the 24/25 financial year alone.
• The development of an organised crime strategy. 
• Finalising of national priorities guidelines for prosecutors.
• Strengthening of the NPA as an institution.
• The establishment of the office for ethics and accountability.

“We’ve made excellent progress in recovering the proceeds of crime, sending a message that crime must not pay.

“Accountability for organised crime, corruption and other crime involving proceeds is two-pronged: prosecutions and orange overalls is important but another critically important aspect of accountability is bringing the money back.

“We have implemented the corporate alternate dispute resolution mechanism, an innovative way of engaging with companies to deal with corporate crime more strategically. During this period, the AFU recovered R1.96 billion and of that, R1.9 billion was paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account,” Batohi added.

She acknowledged, however, that South Africans remain frustrated by the slow pace of justice.

“Despite important progress in various areas, South Africans are understandably frustrated by the slow pace of complex corruption cases and the lack of orange overalls for the most egregious offenders.

“This frustration is real. I understand, I feel it [and] the NPA understands it. But here’s the reality: globally complex corruption and organised crime prosecutions take years. They require intelligence, documents from multiple jurisdictions that must meet admissibility requirements, skilled investigators, forensic analysis and importantly, a justice system that can withstand relentless delay tactics. 

“Delays do not mean inaction. They mean that the work is difficult, intricate and if we get it right, it must be solid to withstand any appeal,” she emphasised.

Passing the baton

Batohi noted that she leaves office with some “unfinished business” still to be done by the leadership of the NPA.

However, she moved to assure South Africans that they now have a stronger NPA that is “on the right path. A path of renewal, accountability and public service”.

Key issues highlighted by Batohi include:

• Enhancing the NPA’s operational and financial independence
• The NPA must have its own accounting officer
• Comparable salary dispensation for the NPA
• Addressing the skills gap

She expressed “full confidence” in the newly appointed NDPP, Advocate Mothibi, a “man of great integrity and an impeccable track record in getting results and I’m sure he will take the work of the NPA forward”.

“We have developed a comprehensive handover report that I will handover…and we hope that this, in itself, will provide a strong platform for continued reform and progress.

“In South Africa we are in a very difficult position as far as crime is concerned. Communities are scared, businesses are fatigued and citizens are tired of waiting for justice. But the most dangerous thing we could do right now is to lose hope,” Batohi said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has raised concern over the increasing number of unaccompanied minors intercepted at South Africa’s ports of entry during the 2025/2026 festive season.

BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, said officials recorded a notable increase in cases involving undocumented and unaccompanied children attempting to enter or exit South Africa illegally, during the 2025/2026 festive season.

At Beitbridge Port of Entry alone, about 53 unaccompanied minors were discovered and recorded – some of them as young as three years old.

In one particularly distressing incident, an 11-month-old baby was found abandoned at the border on 13 December 2025, while 15 minors were intercepted in mountainous areas at Lebombo Port of Entry attempting to illegally exit South Africa.

“Of serious concern was the interception of a Mozambican national, who attempted to smuggle a South African child to Mozambique. It was later discovered that the child was reported missing in Johannesburg, and the suspect was immediately arrested and referred to SAPS [South African Police Service] for further processing,” Masiapato said.

All cases involving unaccompanied minors were referred to the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the children were placed in safe care facilities, in line with domestic and international legislative prescripts on child protection.

In response to the growing challenge, the Commissioner said the BMA, together with the DSD, convened an urgent bilateral meeting with Zimbabwean authorities at the Zimbabwean Embassy.

The delegates at the meeting agreed to engage in collective awareness sessions targeting parents, including the joint screening of children prior to them being reunited with family members.

The Commissioner also commended the cooperation of bus operators in avoiding the transportation of undocumented travellers, particularly minors.

Agricultural and environmental bio-security 

Masiapato said significant progress has been made in safeguarding South Africa against agricultural and environmental bio-security threats.

During the festive period, BMA biosecurity specialists managed to search over 369 703 pieces of luggage at various ports of entry. This led to the interception and destruction of unauthorised consignments, including more than 4 000 plants and plant products, fruit, chicken, dairy products, honey, beef, vegetable seeds, fresh spices, turkey meat, flowers and fresh leaves. All confiscated items were incinerated.

However, the Commissioner said the BMA continues to observe some travellers bringing unauthorised plants, animals and related products into the country.

“Despite all this, the BMA wishes to commend travellers who heeded the call to refrain from bringing alien invasive species, foreign pests and diseases, as well as regulated plant, animal and related products into South Africa outside the prescribed import processes,” he said.

Over one million screened

On Port Health matters, the Commissioner reported that the BMA team of health specialists screened about 1 361 270 travellers on arrival across ports of entry.

One set of human remains was also intercepted, prompting the immediate activation of the relevant health and forensic protocols.

Health inspections also detected several cases of fraudulent documentation, particularly among Angolan nationals attempting to depart South Africa using fraudulently acquired Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs), as well as individuals attempting to enter the country using fraudulent Yellow Fever certificates.

“Given the various outbreaks of infectious and communicable diseases across the world, the Port Health team ensured the significant intensification of proactive public health and security measures. This period was marked by increased traveller movements, conveyance inspections, screening activities, and disease surveillance, confirming a substantial rise in traveller volumes across the world,” the Commissioner said.

Fifteen travellers were identified as sick on-board aircraft, allowing for immediate medical intervention, while 514 travellers from Yellow Fever endemic countries were detected and screened, with two travellers intercepted without valid Yellow Fever certificates.

In addition, 167 314 travellers from malaria endemic countries were screened, with 213 suspected malaria cases tested upon arrival.

A total of 236 844 individuals further underwent follow-up screening for various infectious diseases, strengthening early-warning and disease surveillance systems during the high-risk travel season.

Enforcement actions also resulted in the confiscation and destruction of harmful and prohibited products, including pesticides, unauthorised mosquito repellents, hair chemicals and skin-lightening creams. – SAnews.gov.za

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has facilitated the legitimate movement of about 4 902 269 travellers across South Africa’s 71 ports of entry during the 2025/2026 festive period.

This was announced by BMA Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato, during a media briefing, held in Pretoria on Friday, where he presented the authority’s 2025/2026 festive season operational report.

The festive season operational plan was implemented from 10 December 2025 to 15 January 2026.

The implementation of the plan was undertaken in close collaboration with multiple law-enforcement and regulatory partners, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African Revenue Service (SARS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA), various intelligence structures, INTERPOL, the Immigration Inspectorate of the Department of Home Affairs, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), as well as the Provincial Joint Operations (ProvJoints) and provincial and local traffic authorities.

Of the total travellers facilitated, about 1 369 775 were South African nationals, while approximately 3 532 494 were foreign nationals.

“In facilitating this movement, we processed about 340 876 private vehicles, 9 072 mini-bus taxis, and 10 349 buses through our land modality. On air modality, we processed about 7 787 aircrafts while about 243 vessels were processed through our sea modality,” the Commissioner said.

OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) remained the busiest port of entry, facilitating 991 535 travellers, followed by Lebombo land port of entry to Mozambique with 755 529 travellers, and Beitbridge land port of entry to Zimbabwe with 618 562 travellers.

Lebombo experienced a significant increase in traveller volumes of about 184 398, surpassing Beitbridge to become the second busiest port of entry after ORTIA.

Masiapato attributed the increase to the post-election violence which affected cross-border travel at Lebombo during the 2024/2025 festive period.

The Commissioner noted that 84% of all travellers were facilitated at the top 10 ports of entry, including OR Tambo International Airport, Beit Bridge, Lebombo, Kopfontein, Oshoek, Cape Town International Airport, Maseru Bridge, Ficksburg Bridge, Caledonspoort and Groblersbridge.

Of the total travellers processed, about 4 115 112 were facilitated at the top ten ports, while the remaining 16% were facilitated at the other 61 ports of entry.

Joint law enforcement operations

In dealing with illegal migration and other forms of illegality, BMA Border Guards participated in more than 531 joint law enforcement operations, mainly roadblocks and vehicle check points outside designated border law enforcement areas.

The guards also conducted 10 455 vehicle and foot patrols and raided about 8 288 hotspot areas within the border law enforcement zones.

“The partnership and deployment of DCD Protected Mobility vehicles had a significant operational impact on patrol operations by markedly enhancing our mobility, visibility and response capability in high-risk areas including rugged terrain and flooded rivers.

“The deployment of the Sherp All-terrain Vehicle in the flooded Limpopo River around Beitbridge allowed for uninterrupted operations despite environmental challenges,” Masiapato said.

During the festive operations, Border Guards detected and intercepted about 26 852 individuals attempting to enter South Africa illegally. Of these, about 22 153 were undocumented, 2 353 were declared undesirable due to overstaying, and 2 346 were found inadmissible because of invalid passports, fraudulent visas or lack of yellow fever certificates.

Incrementally, the BMA has managed to intercept more than 530 145 individuals who attempted to enter South Africa illegally since July 2022, following the deployment of the first contingent of Border Guards.

Decline in attempted illegal entries

Masiapato noted a significant decline of 46% in attempted illegal entries compared to the 58 394 recorded during the 2024/2025 festive season, attributing the reduction largely to the deterrent effect of drone deployment in the border environment.

Of the total intercepted individuals, about 14 828 were Basotho nationals, followed by Zimbabweans at 5 370, and Mozambicans at about 1 373.

In addition, Border Guards arrested about 81 travellers for offences, including possession of stolen vehicles, illegal firearms, contraband, drugs and a range of dangerous goods, such as commercial explosives and blasting cartridges. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The structural reforms being implemented by government to support inclusive economic growth and job creation are beginning to have a measurable impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

“The reduction in load shedding, which has resulted from reforms in the energy sector, has had a tangible impact on every household and business,” Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said on Friday in Johannesburg. 

She made these remarks during the release of the third quarter Operation Vulindlela Progress Report, which highlighted key reform milestones achieved across priority areas between October and December 2025.

Established in October 2020, Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of priority structural reforms that support economic growth, improve service delivery, and strengthen State capability. 

“Likewise, reforms in the rail system have supported the recovery of passenger rail services, with the majority of corridors now up and running and providing cheaper public transport for people in every major city,” the Deputy Minister said.

During the 2024/25 financial year, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) saw an increase in passenger trips to 77 million, a significant increase from the previous financial year total of 39.4 million. 

In October last year, PRASA celebrated the delivery of the 300 locally manufactured train sets for transporting commuters.

Furthermore, 46 stations were revitalised, surpassing the target of 40, bringing the total of recovered and operational stations to 313 out of 468 commuter stations.

Growth in tourism

Mhlauli highlighted that the visa reforms have contributed to job creation and the growth of the tourism sector.

South Africa saw a record 10.48 million tourists arrive between January and December 2025, a 17.6% increase from the previous year. 

The latest figures signal a recovery from the COVID-19 impact, which saw the number of tourists falling to 2.8 million and 2.3 million in 2020 and 2021.

“Tourism currently sustains 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs. For every 13 international arrivals, one local job is created. Tourism is a key driver of economic growth, investment and job creation, with  spillover effects into many sectors,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that the reform momentum has strengthened, while the State is increasingly moving from planning to delivery.

“As the President has said, we are seeing important green shoots in the economy. Four consecutive quarters of positive economic growth, declining unemployment, a strengthening currency, and rising commodity prices are all acting as powerful tailwinds for our economic recovery.

“The reform programme that we are pursuing through Operation Vulindlela is essential to ensure that these positive indicators result in a sustained shift in our economic trajectory, rather than a temporary lift in growth. Ultimately, these reforms – whether in the energy, water and logistics sectors or in the immigration system – are about unlocking much higher rates of fixed investment in the economy and powering long-term growth,” the Deputy Minister said.

In the third quarter of 2025, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) reported that the unemployment rate fell to 31.9%, down by 1.3 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, the real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.5% in the third quarter (July – September) of 2025, following an increase of 0.9% in the second quarter of 2025.

“For more than a decade, we have experienced low levels of economic growth and high levels of uncertainty. This year, however, we are turning a corner, largely as a result of our commitment to far-reaching economic reform.

“By strengthening our economic fundamentals and creating an environment for growth, we can protect our economy from global disruptions and take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging alongside them. All of this combines to make a strong case for investment in order to capitalise on South Africa’s growth story,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Students, including first-time applicants and continuing students, who were rejected by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for funding, have until 31 January, to appeal the decision.

The appeals window is open until 31 January 2026.

For the 2026 academic year, NSFAS has streamlined its appeals process to ensure that every student is afforded a fair and equitable opportunity to have their application reconsidered.

“Upon receiving the outcome of their NSFAS application, students who wish to appeal are required to initiate the process promptly. The appeals window is open, and NSFAS will notify students of the outcome of their appeals on an ongoing basis,” said the financial aid scheme.

It further said that it is imperative that students submit all required supporting documentation as part of their appeal, as incomplete submissions cannot be processed.

“Applicants are granted a strict 30-day window from the date of their outcome notification to provide the necessary documents and complete their appeal. Failure to submit the requisite documentation within this period will result in forfeiture of the appeal opportunity.”

NSFAS encouraged students to prepare all relevant documents in advance and to adhere strictly to the prescribed deadlines to ensure their appeals are considered in a timely manner and without unnecessary delay.

For more information visit https://www.nsfas.org.za/content/appeals.html. – SAnews.gov.za