Category: MIL-OSI

President Cyril Ramaphosa has affirmed that the Presidency is resolutely focused on driving economic growth to transform the lives of all South Africans.

The President delivered his reply to the Presidency Budget Vote debate in Parliament on Wednesday.

He emphasised that economic growth is not an “abstract concept” without real world consequence.

“It is about whether a young person can find work. It is about whether a small business can expand. It is about whether investors have confidence to build factories, establish enterprises and create opportunities.

“Our task is therefore not simply to grow the economy. It is to ensure that growth is inclusive, sustainable and capable of transforming the lives of ordinary South Africans.

“As Deputy Minister [in the Presidency Kenny] Morolong said, building a common future for all South Africans is our overriding priority. We can assert with confidence that we are building a Presidency capable of driving transformation across society,” the President said.

In this regard, the Presidency remains undeterred by “distractions” and is, rather, hard at work to grow an inclusive economy and create jobs.

“We will not be sidetracked by narrow agendas that have nothing to do with the needs, interests and concerns of the people of South Africa,” President Ramaphosa said.

Tackling youth unemployment

The President acknowledged that one of the “greatest threats” to South Africa’s future prosperity and social stability is youth unemployment.

In May, Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey reported that those aged between the ages of 15-24 face an unemployment rate at 60.9% while unemployment stands at 40.6% for those aged 25-34.

To address this, the Presidency has been central to driving “mass public employment”.

“The Presidential Employment Stimulus, coordinated through the Presidency, has created work and livelihood opportunities for more than 2.5 million unemployed South Africans.

“Last year, the Basic Education Employment Initiative provided work experience for nearly 200,000 young people in schools across the country, with support also provided to social employment, the creative sector, metros and the National Youth Service.

“The National Pathway Management Network continues to expand with more than 900,000 young people joining SA Youth mobi in the last year, increasing the number of young people on the platform to 5.7 million,” President Ramaphosa said.

While these are important, he added, the objective is to “create a growing economy capable of generating sustainable employment at scale.”

Tangible results

Turning to questions on what the Presidency has achieved, the President laid out some of the “meaningful and measurable” results.

“Through the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, through Eskom’s generation recovery programme, through the massive investment in renewable generation, we have in effect brought load shedding to an end.

“For years, corruption, dysfunction and mismanagement at Transnet was a severe constraint on growth. It has taken a great effort, involving partners across government and across industry, to turn the situation around.

“Transnet is now registering a steady increase in rail volumes and vessel traffic through its ports. Its financial position is improving and in the last financial year, cargo volumes through its ports showed its strongest growth in 15 years,” he said.

Furthermore, Operation Vulindlela is driving reforms in electricity sector, telecommunications, logistics, water and the visa system are “improving the conditions for investment and economic expansion”.

“These reforms are not always immediately visible, but they are steadily reshaping the foundations of our economy and strengthening South Africa’s long-term growth prospects,” President Ramaphosa added.

Turning to questions on the value of investment conferences, envoys and task teams, the President recalled that some eight years ago, South Africa’s fixed investment had “all but stalled, business confidence was low and the relationship between government and the private sector was characterised by mistrust”.

Now, the picture is much different thanks to the SA Investment Conference which has attracted some R1.5 trillion in investment pledges over the first five years.

Of that amount, a total of R634 billion has already been invested in “new factories, new production lines, new mines, renewable energy plants, data centres and new machinery”.

“These investments have sustained and created employment, have developed valuable skills, provided opportunities to emerging businesses and supported livelihoods in communities across the country.

“This year’s South Africa Investment Conference recorded the highest cumulative value of pledges to date, encouraging us to set our ambitions even higher,” President Ramaphosa noted.

The President delivered The Presidency’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

READ | Government intensifies fight against corruption, illegal immigration. – SAnews.gov.za

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has urged communities to exercise extra caution following severe weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) in parts of the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

According to SAWS, the weather system is expected to bring widespread bitterly cold, wet and windy conditions across several provinces, with flooding anticipated in parts of the Eastern and Western Cape from 3 to 4 June 2026.

Light snowfall is also anticipated over the higher-lying mountains of the cape provinces and the Drakensberg mountain range.

In response to the warning, the Minister said the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) is working closely with provincial and local disaster management centres to monitor the situation and coordinate response measures where necessary.

To strengthen preparedness and ensure a coordinated response, the following measures have been implemented:

• Provincial Disaster Management Joint Operations Centres (JOCs) have been activated in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
• Municipal Disaster Management JOCs have been activated in affected districts and metropolitan municipalities.
• South African Search and Rescue teams have been placed on standby.
• The National Joint Flood Coordinating Committee (NJFCC), including the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), has been activated to ensure intergovernmental coordination.
• Temporary Mass Care Centres have been identified to accommodate affected residents should the need arise.

The NDMC will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as the situation evolves.

“Members of the public are strongly encouraged to regularly monitor official weather forecasts and warnings issued by SAWS, as these will be updated continuously based on changing weather conditions and potential impacts. 

“The public is also advised to remain vigilant against unauthorised or unverified information and to refrain from sharing such content,” Hlabisa said.

The public is therefore advised to:

• Monitor official weather updates and warnings issued by the South African Weather Service.
• Avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rainfall and flooding.
• Never attempt to cross flooded roads, bridges, or swollen rivers.
• Secure loose outdoor objects that may be displaced by strong winds.
• Exercise extreme caution along coastal areas and avoid fishing or recreational activities at sea during the warning period.
• Ensure adequate shelter, warmth, food, and protection for livestock and pets.

Hlabisa emphasised that preparedness and vigilance remain critical in reducing the impact of severe weather events and safeguarding lives, property, and livelihoods. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested a suspect in connection with the alleged murder of 19-year-old Nhlamulo Sambo in Mossel Bay, Western Cape.

Initial reports claimed that Sambo was targeted during protests against illegal migration. However, police have confirmed that there is no evidence linking his death to tribalism, xenophobia, anti-immigration protests, or his identity as a Tsonga-speaking South African.

Instead, preliminary investigations indicate that Sambo and a 15-year-old companion were found inside a shack in Mossel Bay by its owner, before a confrontation broke out.

Sambo reportedly fled during the confrontation, while the younger boy hid under a bed inside the shack.

The 23-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

Police clarified the circumstances surrounding Sambo’s death after social media platforms were flooded with claims that he had been attacked because he was Tsonga and was allegedly mistaken for a foreign national amid ongoing tensions over illegal immigration in parts of the Western Cape. – SAnews.gov.za

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane says the future of human settlements delivery depends on the ability to align planning, infrastructure, financing, regulation, and implementation behind a common vision.

The Minister’s remarks come as the Department of Human Settlements faces significant budget constraints, with R26.97 billion allocated for the 2026/27 financial year, representing a reduction of nearly R7 billion compared with the previous year.

Addressing the Tshwane Human Settlements Symposium in Centurion on Tuesday, Simelane said mounting housing demand, rapid urbanisation, infrastructure constraints and budget pressures require government and its partners to adopt more innovative and coordinated approaches to housing delivery.

She warned that the budget cuts would have a substantial impact on the department’s Medium-Term Development Plan targets, making partnerships and innovation increasingly critical to achieving housing objectives.

“This means, going forward, we will have to do more with less and become more innovative in how we deliver human settlements. These realities require us to think differently, stronger partnerships, innovation, and most importantly, they require coordinated action,” Simelane said.

Despite financial pressures, the Minister said the department has set ambitious national targets for the current financial year, including the delivery of 39 058 housing units, completion of 25 186 serviced sites, approval of 11 358 First Home Finance applications, and the disbursement of 9 231 housing subsidies.

She stressed that housing development opportunities must be understood beyond the traditional delivery of top structures, and include fully subsidised housing, serviced sites, affordable home ownership opportunities, rental and social housing, first home finance, mixed-use developments, and the release of well-located land for integrated human settlements.

The Minister highlighted that the First Home Finance Programme has exceeded its target by 200% during the 2025/26 financial year, assisting 8 544 households compared with an initial target of 4 272.

She said the programme’s performance demonstrates the effectiveness of partnerships between government, financial institutions, and developers in expanding access to affordable housing.

“The gap market is real. Demand is strong. Government support can unlock home ownership when it is properly aligned with financing institutions, developers, and beneficiaries,” the Minister said.

Infrastructure remains a major constraint

Simelane identified inadequate infrastructure and delays in land release as some of the biggest obstacles to housing delivery.

She noted that South Africa faces an estimated infrastructure financing shortfall of approximately R13 trillion, warning that housing projects cannot succeed without sufficient bulk infrastructure.

“A housing project without bulk infrastructure is a promise waiting to fail. A land parcel without water, sanitation, roads, and electricity is not yet a settlement opportunity. A well-located land parcel that is not released, serviced, or connected to infrastructure remains potential rather than delivery,” the Minister said.

She said the department has prioritised efforts to unblock stalled housing projects. During the 2025/26 financial year, 85 of 212 blocked projects identified nationwide were successfully unblocked, resulting in the delivery of 1 136 housing units across several provinces.

“This experience has taught us that projects are rarely blocked by a single issue. The issues are multi-layered and multi-context.”

The Minister also outlined several regulatory reforms aimed at accelerating housing delivery and creating greater certainty for investors.

These include the development of a new Human Settlements Act to replace the Housing Act of 1997, a modernised Human Settlements Code and amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act.

The reforms intend to improve policy coherence, reduce administrative bottlenecks and unlock development-ready land.

“There is no developer, investor and financier who would want to invest in a chaotic environment,” Simelane said, referring to proposed amendments to legislation governing unlawful occupation of land.

Blended finance and innovation

Simelane called for greater use of blended finance models, arguing that public funding alone cannot meet the country’s housing needs.

She said government resources should increasingly be used to attract investment from commercial banks, development finance institutions, pension funds and the private sector.

“Investment follows certainty. Where projects are well planned and development-ready, financing becomes easier to mobilise and implementation becomes easier to achieve,” Simelane said.

Concluding her address, Simelane emphasised that the success of the country’s human settlements programme would ultimately depend on stronger collaboration among government, municipalities, developers, financiers, researchers and communities.

“The true measure of this symposium will not be today’s discussions. It will be the actions that follow. Together, we can build sustainable, inclusive, and resilient human settlements that improve lives, restore dignity, and contribute to South Africa’s long-term development,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has confirmed the arrest of two suspects in Mozambique in connection with the brutal murder of two South African tourists.

The bodies of Dina and Ernst Marais were discovered nearly two weeks ago near a river area in the northern section of the Kruger National Park after a search operation was launched when the couple failed to return to their camp.

The suspects reportedly confessed to the crimes, and the vehicle belonging to Mr and Mrs Marais has been recovered.

“South Africa will now start the formal extradition process to get the suspects to South Africa to stand trial for this heinous crime,” the Minister said on Wednesday.

Aucamp has called on law enforcement to ensure the suspects are brought back to the country to account for their crimes. 

“I have engaged with my colleagues in the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and Justice to emphasise the importance of securing the suspects’ return to South Africa to face the full might of the law. We said that these criminals would be apprehended, and that is exactly what has happened,” he said.

Aucamp expressed his appreciation to the dedicated personnel at the South African National Parks (SANParks), South African Police Service (SAPS), Mozambican authorities, and conservation partners for their exceptional commitment and cooperation, which were instrumental in achieving this outcome.

The arrests are the result of effective cross-border cooperation between the following entities:

• Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal (SERNIC), Mozambique’s agency responsible for investigating serious and organised crime; 
• The Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC); and 
• Kruger National Park Ranger Services, led by the Regional Ranger for the Nxanatseni (Far North) Region, together with rangers from the Pafuri Section. 

The Minister reiterated that criminal activity will not be tolerated in South Africa’s national parks and called on communities and law enforcement agencies to continue working together to safeguard these protected areas.

“While the Marais family has suffered a devastating loss, I hope that these arrests will provide some measure of comfort to them as they continue to navigate this difficult journey,” Aucamp said. –SAnews.gov.za

Social Development Acting Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga will, in the fight against the scourge of statutory rape in the country, lead the closing of the Child Protection Campaign in Ezibeleni, Eastern Cape, on Sunday.

The closing event will be held at Sinako Junior Primary School under the theme: “Working together in ending violence against children”.

In addition to multiple child abuse incidents such as cyberbullying, abduction, assault and child trafficking, South Africa has been experiencing a high prevalence of statutory rape, which remains a serious threat to efforts aimed at ensuring that children are protected.

In terms of Section 15 and 16 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007, any sexual activity involving a child under 16 years is illegal, regardless of consent.

 “Child Protection Campaign is grounded in inter-sectoral collaboration approach and seeks to unite government departments, Civil Society Organisations, international development partners, and community structures,” the department said in a statement. 

The campaign further seeks to strengthen collective responses to statutory rape amid rising teenage pregnancy rates and persistent gaps in mandatory reporting and case handling. 

The department said that families are also placed at the centre of child protection efforts, regarded as the first line of defence in nurturing, development and the promotion of positive societal values. 

At the closing event, residents of Ezibeleni and surrounding areas will be given an opportunity to make presentations on issues including gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, child neglect, child labour, substance abuse and teenage pregnancy, which continue to negatively affect children’s wellbeing and community development. – SAnews.gov.za 

Rand Water has successfully completed the first phase of its large-scale planned maintenance programme, with major pumping stations, including Mapleton and Eikenhof resuming operations at full capacity on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

The City of Ekurhuleni confirmed that both the primary maintenance work and associated opportunity projects undertaken between 29 May and 2 June had been completed as scheduled.

“Rand Water is supplying at full capacity. The systems under the municipalities are in the recovery phase,” the city said in a social media update.

The maintenance programme forms part of Rand Water’s broader infrastructure improvement initiative affecting the Palmiet and Zuikerbosch systems. The works, scheduled between 29 May and 17 July 2026, are aimed at strengthening the reliability and long-term sustainability of water supply infrastructure across several provinces.

According to Rand Water, the maintenance focuses on critical electrical and pumping infrastructure upgrades designed to improve operational flexibility and system resilience.

The utility previously warned that temporary pump shutdowns during the maintenance period could result in water supply disruptions affecting municipalities, industries and direct customers.

Major maintenance activities include Eskom-related electrical work at the Zuikerbosch and Palmiet systems, the installation and upgrading of motors at Zuikerbosch Raw Water Engine Room 4, replacement of critical valves and thrust bearings at the Palmiet, Vereeniging and Foresthill systems, as well as M11 pipeline cross-connections within the Mapleton system.

The maintenance programme affects parts of Gauteng, the North West, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces.

Municipalities impacted by the project include the metropolitan municipalities of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, as well as Mogale City, West Rand, Merafong, Rustenburg, Madibeng, Lesedi, Victor Khanye, Govan Mbeki, Thembisile Hani, Midvaal, Emfuleni, Metsimaholo, Ngwathe and the Royal Bafokeng Administration.

Several industries, mining operations and direct customers, including Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), may also experience supply disruptions during maintenance activities.

Tshwane reports steady recovery

Meanwhile, the City of Tshwane has reported continued improvement in its water distribution network following the completion of the first phase of Rand Water’s maintenance programme.

“Most of the city’s reservoirs, towers and supply systems have remained stable throughout the recovery period, with water supply being maintained across most affected areas,” City of Tshwane said in a statement.

According to Rand Water, the Palmiet System is currently operating at approximately 89% capacity as the network continues to stabilise.

Despite not yet reaching full operational capacity, the city said steadily improving reservoir storage levels indicate that the city’s water network is gradually returning to normal.

“All affected systems are showing signs of improvement and recovery efforts continue to yield positive results across the network,” the city said.

The second phase of the planned maintenance programme is scheduled to commence on 17 July 2026, as part of Rand Water ongoing efforts to modernise critical water infrastructure and enhance long-term supply security. – SAnews.gov.za