Category: English

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, October 31, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, October 31, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Cabinet, at its meeting held in Cape Town this week, welcomed the official removal of South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist. 

The decision follows the successful completion of all 22 action items by June 2025 and a positive outcome from the FATF’s on-site assessment in July, which confirmed that South Africa’s reforms to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing systems are both effective and sustainable.

“Cabinet commended the sterling and coordinated work of the inter-departmental team of National Treasury, State Security Agency, National Prosecuting Authority and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, for the measures put in place to counter and prosecute terrorism and terror-financing,” Cabinet said in a statement.

Cabinet said the greylisting milestone ends a two-year period of heightened monitoring since the country’s greylisting in 2023. 

“This demonstrates South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law, strengthening key institutions, and improving enforcement and governance processes.

“The de-listing is expected to improve business confidence, strengthen financial systems, reduce the cost of borrowing, contribute to the integrity of our economy,  and increase appetite for more investments and creation of jobs. 

“Furthermore, the de-listing will ease illicit cross-border financial transactions and reinforce South Africa’s reputation as a reliable and compliant player in the international financial system,” Cabinet said. 

The FATF is an intergovernmental organisation and finance watchdog that was established to combat money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, as well as other threats to the integrity of the international financial system. 

It sets global standards for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, promotes the effective implementation of these standards, and conducts mutual evaluations of member countries to assess their compliance with the FATF Recommendations. 

The FATF requires countries that have exited the greylist to demonstrate continued commitment through measurable outcomes, including successful investigations, prosecutions, and sanctions as they relate to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism – AML/CFT.

These actions will form the basis of the next FATF Mutual Evaluation for South Africa, which is expected to commence in the first half of 2026 and conclude in October 2027. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President Paul Mashatile announced that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has created the National Anti-Gang Strategy, which aims to dismantle gang-related criminal networks through intelligence gathering, proactive policing, community engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders.

“Under the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, several measures have been introduced to restore the integrity and performance of SAPS Crime Intelligence,” the Deputy President said on Thursday. 

In response to oral questions during a session in the National Assembly, Deputy President Mashatile stated that the SAPS will expand the scope of the Anti-Gang Units. 

He announced that this expansion will include gang-related issues such as drug trafficking, shootings, and murders, extending beyond the Western Cape to include the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

“The units will also be supported by operations like Operation Shanela and Operation Vala Umgodi,” he added. 

The Deputy President was responding to a question from the Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament (MP) regarding the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. 

The MP asked what measures should be taken to strengthen the overall criminal justice system, particularly the police service.

The country’s second-in-command stated that the government will continue to strengthen the Crime Intelligence Division to combat organised crime, gangsterism, and violent criminality in hotspot areas through structural and technological interventions, including Community Policing Forums (CPFs).

Deputy President Mashatile also spoke about the Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia’s announcement to install a multi-agency anti-gang plan in the Western Cape. 

This plan involves collaboration between the National Prosecuting Authority, the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Special Investigating Unit, and SAPS to combat gangsterism and extortion.

“This plan has already been finalised with funding allocated for implementation.” 

In the meantime, he stated that the SAPS has enhanced its digital analytics, surveillance, and data-driven policing resources. 

This initiative aims to enhance intelligence-led operations in high-crime areas. 

In addition, the SAPS is collaborating with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to devise strategies that target the financial infrastructure of organised crime, focusing on cross-border business networks. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has called on citizens to act responsibly and remain vigilant during the upcoming festive season to ensure safety across the province.

Premier Ntuli made the call during the launch of Safety Month and the Festive Season Safety Plan, outlining KwaZulu-Natal’s comprehensive strategy to protect lives, property, and livelihoods during the holiday period.

Speaking at the launch, held in Durban on Thursday, 30 October 2025, Ntuli said the festive season represents both a time of joy and significant economic opportunity, with the province expecting to welcome over two million visitors and generate an estimated R13 billion in economic activity.

“The province’s tourism-driven economy depends on safe communities, secure roads, and law-abiding citizens. The prosperity and safety are inseparable.

“We cannot build a thriving tourism sector or sustain inclusive growth without ensuring that our communities, visitors, and roads are safe,” Ntuli said.

The Premier reminded citizens that the festive period often brings increased risks of road crashes and crime, calling on all citizens to exercise responsibility and vigilance.

Strengthened law enforcement and collaboration

The Premier announced the deployment of 24 515 law enforcement and emergency personnel across the province, as part of the integrated festive season safety operation.

The deployment includes 17 528 SAPS members, 2 000 metro police officers, 693 Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officers, 1 912 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) officials, 134 South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officers, and 1 167 community safety volunteers.

The Premier noted that the integrated approach brings together municipalities, community policing structures, private security, and emergency services in a unified campaign to keep the province safe.

“These teams will be strategically positioned at ports of entry, beaches, shopping centres, events, and major roads, ensuring visibility, rapid response, and safety throughout KwaZulu-Natal.

“The strength of our readiness lies not in numbers alone, but in the spirit of collaboration that binds government, law enforcement, and communities together,” the Premier said.

Strengthening local economies

While reaffirming Durban as the province’s flagship tourism destination, Ntuli highlighted plans to expand tourism beyond the coastline to secondary cities and emerging towns, including Richards Bay, Port Shepstone, Newcastle, and Howick.

He said broadening the tourism map promotes inclusive economic participation, particularly among small enterprises, creative industries, and township economies.

“When residents and visitors feel safe, they stay longer, spend more, and invest deeper in our communities. Safety is an economic imperative,” he said.

Firm stand against GBVF

Ntuli also made a passionate appeal to men across KwaZulu-Natal to take an active role in ending gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which often tend to escalate during the festive season.

“Let this festive season be a turning point. Rise to protect, not to harm. Every woman and every child deserve to celebrate safely and live without fear.”

He also called for the protection of the elderly and vulnerable, urging families and communities to make their homes sanctuaries of respect, compassion, and dignity.

The Premier further called for action on all sectors of society, including government, business, and communities, to uphold safety as a shared responsibility.

“Let this festive season be remembered not for tragedy, but for discipline, cooperation, and success. Together, we can make this a season of safety, dignity, and growth for all the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” the Premier said.

The launch of Safety Month and the Festive Season Safety Plan reaffirmed the Provincial Government of Unity’s commitment to ensuring that KwaZulu-Natal remains a safe, welcoming, and prosperous destination for residents and visitors alike. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Despite economic challenges, South Africa maintained its research activity relative to economic growth, with universities taking the lead and foreign partners deepening their support in 2023/24.

The latest South African National Survey of Research and Experimental Development (R&D Survey) reveals that nominal Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) was R43.413 billion. 

In 2015 prices, this represents a modest year-on-year increase of 1.3% to R28.621 billion in 2023/24. 

By contrast, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth stood at just 0.8% over the same period.

“Inflation-adjusted R&D growth is below nominal increases. With a flat R&D/GDP ratio of 0.62%, South Africa’s innovation investment is just keeping pace with economic expansion,” said Dr Nazeem Mustapha, HSRC Research Director and the R&D Survey’s principal investigator.

Growth by sectors 

The higher education sector showed the strongest growth in R&D expenditure in 2023/24, buoyed by strong growth in researchers.

“Our universities are not only producing world-class science but also building the skills pipeline for the future,” Mustapha noted.

Government remained the single largest overall funder of R&D, providing R21.847 billion in nominal terms (50.3% of total expenditure). 

Business enterprises contributed R12.033 billion (27.7%) in R&D funding, while foreign sources reached R8.106 billion (18.7%). 

Although foreign funding grew at a slower pace than in 2022/23, business and higher education institutions recorded double-digit increases from international sources.

Shifts in research fields and sectors

The business sector continued to channel most of its R&D spend into financial and business services, which accounted for nearly half (45.8%) of all business R&D spending. 

Manufacturing, though down slightly, remained the second-largest contributor at 29.9% of business expenditure on R&D, led by industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics. Mining and quarrying placed third, with 10.5%.

The mix between near-term applied solutions and longer-term foundational research is vital for both competitiveness and scientific advancement.

Across research activity categories, applied research dominated, representing 49.5% of all R&D expenditure. 

The HSRC said businesses were the biggest spenders on applied research, investing R9.059 billion. Higher education, in turn, led in basic research, contributing R8.278 billion – around two-thirds of the national total.

Gauteng reinforced its position as the country’s R&D hub, with 40.2% of expenditure (R17.446 billion). 

The Western Cape expanded to a 10-year high of 27.9% (R12.100 billion), followed by KwaZulu-Natal contributing 10.0% to R&D activity nationwide.

According to the HSRC, the research field that South Africa focuses on mainly is the medical and health sciences, with R10.578 billion worth of R&D expenditure in 2023/24. 

The R&D expenditure on social sciences was R6.855 billion. Engineering sciences grew strongly to R5.760 billion, overtaking information and communication technology (ICT), which declined for a second consecutive year to R4.835 billion. 

Biotechnology rose to R3.650 billion, while nanotechnology slipped slightly to R1.342 billion.

Women researchers grow their contribution

The survey notes a gradual increase in the share of women researchers, rising from 47.6% to 47.7%. 

While progress is modest this year, it continues an upward trajectory in gender representation.

Click https://hsrc.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/RD_StatisticalReport2023-24_FINAL.pdf to access the results of the 2023/24 statistical report of the R&D Survey. – SAnews.gov.za