Category: MIL-OSI

The final voter registration weekend on 1 and 2 August saw 1.7 million citizens interacting with the Electoral Commission by either visiting one of the 23 699 registration stations or using the online voter registration portal.

“Of the 1.7 million transactions, 291 806 or 16% were persons registering as first time voters,” Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo said.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on Monday to give an update on the final voter registration weekend, Mamabolo said an additional 1 502 245 or 84% of persons already registered, inspected and updated their registration details.

“This is in line with the message that a voter must register and vote in the voting district within the ward where they reside,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest volume of registration transactions at 427 592, followed by the Gauteng with 314 856, while Eastern Cape third with 313 797.

“Registration station- based applications continue to be the leading mode of registration with 1 555 318 of the total 1.7 million applications.  

“Provincially, KwaZulu-Natal comprises the largest number at 386 258 registration station-based activity, followed by Eastern Cape at 295 655 and Gauteng at 228 364. The online portal contributed 238 733 transactions over the two days.

“The highest usage of the online voter registration platform was recorded in Gauteng (86 492), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (41 334) and the Western Cape (33 783). Unsurprisingly, these are provinces with highest concentrations of urban populations,” Mamabolo said.

He explained that of the total 1.7 million transactions recorded, young people in the age cohort 16 to 29 account for 485 757 or 26%.

“Even more encouraging is that 46% of the new registrations are by voter under the age of 29. KwaZulu-Natal again leads with young person’s registration at 137 046, followed by Eastern Cape at 79 417, followed by Gauteng at 78 405.

“The total registration activity for the final registration weekend, female voters account for 1 005 790, representing 56% of total activity, while male voters account for 788 261or 44% of total activity. This is consistent with the well-established trend of there being more females than males on the voter’s roll. Of the 291 806 new registrations 50% are female,” he said.

Mamabolo said the combined impact of the two voter registration weekend drives resulted in close to 4.7 million interactions with voters (4 666 547) compared to the 1.7 million transactions recorded during the comparable 2021 Local Government Elections with one registration weekend due to the COVID-19 reduced election timetable.

Collectively, the two voter registration weekends held in June and August 2026 contributed 754 332 new voters, adding to the continued growth of the voters’ roll ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. – SAnews.gov.za

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Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has called on South Africa’s future public sector professionals to become a new generation of ethical, innovative and accountable leaders capable of rebuilding public trust and driving national development.

Addressing the Public Sector Finance Work-Integrated Learning Engagement Session hosted by the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Polokwane on Friday, Simelane said the country needs skilled public servants who view public service as a calling to improve people’s lives, rather than simply a career.

“South Africa needs your talent, your energy, and your ideas. But it also needs your discipline, humility, and courage. Choose excellence over mediocrity.

“Choose evidence over assumption. Choose integrity over convenience. Choose service over self-interest [and] be the authors of your destiny,” Simelane said.

Simelane said the country’s developmental agenda depends on capable institutions, ethical leadership, and a new generation of professionals, committed to serving the public interest.

She reminded students that South Africa is marking 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution, which sets out the democratic values and principles governing public administration, including accountability, transparency, professionalism, fairness and efficient use of public resources.

“A developmental state requires capable institutions; capable institutions require ethical and accountable leadership; and sustainable renewal requires a new generation of skilled public servants. Human Settlements brings these connections into sharp focus because the quality of governance is ultimately experienced in the places where people live,” the Minister said.

Highlighting the role of the Human Settlements sector, Simelane said government is not merely responsible for administering policies but for translating constitutional rights into tangible improvements in people’s lives through serviced land, housing opportunities, secure tenure, and integrated communities located closer to economic opportunities.

She said every school, clinic, road and housing project delivered, reflected the work of public institutions and the public servants responsible for turning government policies into reality.

The Minister also stressed the critical role of public finance professionals in ensuring government programmes achieve meaningful outcomes.

“Public finance is where policy intention meets the discipline of implementation,” she said.

Simelane noted that sound financial management converts limited public resources into infrastructure, services and opportunities, particularly important in a sector such as Human Settlements, where delivery depends on coordinated investment in land, bulk infrastructure, basic services, housing, and social amenities.

She said success should not be measured solely by how much money is spent, but by whether expenditure translates into quality services and improved living conditions.

“A housing project is not successful merely because the budget has been exhausted. It must result in safe, durable, and well-located homes, functioning services and communities connected to opportunity. Compliance, performance, and impact must therefore reinforce one another,” the Minister said.

Ethical leadership and accountability

The Minister also warned that competence without integrity posed a significant risk to public institutions. 

“Ethical leadership is demonstrated in the choices we make when those choices are difficult. It means placing the public interests above personal interests, applying rules fairly, declaring conflicts, protecting public resources, and refusing to normalise conduct that undermines the institution. It means we must not use the authority attached to public office for personal enrichment.

“When ethics and accountability are weakened and effectively undermined, the consequences are felt far beyond an audit report. Resources are diverted from communities, projects are delayed, incomplete or of poor quality, institutional morale declines and public trust is eroded,” Simelane said.

She encouraged aspiring public servants to establish strong professional values before entering the workplace, by maintaining accurate records, respecting governance controls and speaking out when wrongdoing occurs.

Innovation in a changing public sector

With rapid technological change, the Minister said digital platforms, including data analytics, artificial intelligence, geospatial information, and integrated financial systems, are reshaping how governments plan, spend, monitor and report.

However, she warned that technology cannot replace ethical leadership or sound judgement.

“Technology is not a substitute for judgement, ethics or accountability. Poor data produces poor decisions, and sophisticated systems cannot compensate for weak values,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s Just Energy Transition is gathering momentum, with growing investment in renewable energy creating new opportunities while the country works to secure reliable and affordable electricity.

In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa highlighted the opening of the first phase of the Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm on the Mpumalanga Highveld as a significant symbol of South Africa’s changing energy landscape.

The wind farm, situated between Bethal, Davel and Morgenzon, has been developed by Seriti Green, a subsidiary of South African mining company Seriti Resources.

The first phase comprises 25 wind turbines with a combined generation capacity of 155MW. The electricity will be wheeled through Eskom’s transmission network to supply Seriti’s coal mining operations.

According to President Ramaphosa, the project is expected to form part of a much larger 900MW hybrid energy cluster incorporating wind, solar and battery storage.

Once completed, it is expected to be the largest hybrid energy facility in South Africa.

President Ramaphosa said the development was significant because it demonstrated that the country’s clean energy investment is not being driven solely by international investors, but also by South African companies investing in the country’s energy future.

The project is also symbolic of the transformation taking place in Mpumalanga, a province whose economy and communities have for generations been closely linked to coal.

“Since the late 1800s, the coalfields of Mpumalanga have helped industrialise our country,” President Ramaphosa said, pointing to the contribution of coal miners, artisans and power station workers who have helped produce the electricity that powers South Africa’s mines, factories, businesses, hospitals, schools and homes.

He said it was therefore significant that some of the energy systems of the future were now being developed on the Mpumalanga Highveld, drawing on existing strengths and resources while incorporating renewable technologies.

Renewable energy investment accelerates

Although coal continues to dominate South Africa’s energy mix, President Ramaphosa said renewable energy generation is growing rapidly.

Citing Statistics South Africa, he noted that renewable energy accounted for just 2% of locally generated electricity in 2016. That figure increased to 6% in 2021 and reached 9% in 2024.

South Africa now has close to 16GW of installed renewable energy capacity, while another 32GW of projects are in the grid connection process and are expected to connect by 2030.

The renewable energy expansion is also evident in households and businesses, particularly through rooftop solar.

According to Statistics South Africa figures, the number of households with solar panels increased by 86% over a three-year period, reaching 675,000 households in 2025.

The President said investment in clean energy technologies had accelerated during the years of load shedding and had been supported by significant legislative and regulatory reforms.

Among these was the removal of the licensing threshold for self-generation, together with the revival of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. These measures helped unlock greater private investment in electricity generation.

Investment and jobs at the centre of transition

The President said attracting investment in clean energy was important not only for South Africa’s climate commitments, but also for inclusive economic growth and job creation.

At this year’s South Africa Investment Conference, more than R50 billion in green energy investment commitments were announced.

Government has also released South Africa’s first Energy Infrastructure Investment Prospectus, which provides a coordinated pipeline of investment-ready projects across the electricity value chain.

But President Ramaphosa stressed that the Just Energy Transition cannot simply be about replacing coal with renewable energy.

It must also protect communities, workers and businesses that could be affected by the transition while creating new economic opportunities.

“Going green” must, he said, ultimately contribute to lower electricity costs for consumers.

The government is therefore working towards establishing a competitive electricity market in which different operators compete to provide electricity efficiently and at the lowest possible cost.

President Ramaphosa also pointed to recent policy developments, saying Cabinet had approved the publication for public comment of the Revised Electricity Pricing Policy and the draft Electricity Sector Market Transformation Position Paper.

He further said he had received a progress report from the task team working towards the establishment of a fully independent state-owned entity responsible for electricity transmission and the operation of the electricity market.

Ensuring communities benefit

For President Ramaphosa, the transformation taking place in Mpumalanga represents more than a change in the technology used to generate electricity.

The opening of Ummbila Emoyeni and the broader expansion of renewable energy demonstrate, he said, how South Africa has responded to its energy crisis by adapting, implementing reforms and laying the foundations for a different energy future.

The challenge now is to ensure that the benefits of this transition reach the communities and workers who have historically supported the country’s energy system.

President Ramaphosa said government would need to work with business, labour and civil society to ensure that the transition is inclusive and expands economic opportunity.

The ultimate goal, he said, should be a transition that leaves communities stronger than before while delivering secure, reliable and affordable electricity for South Africans both now and in the future. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, will on Wednesday visit the Harry Gwala District Municipality in Ixopo, KwaZulu-Natal, in his role as District Development Model (DDM) Champion.

The DDM is designed to address problems with service delivery by allowing all spheres of government, from local municipalities to the national government, to work together in a more effective and coordinated way.

“Minister Nzimande’s visit follows a previous meeting with the Harry Gwala District Municipality and surrounding local municipalities and is intended to present the department’s response to the concerns that were raised in this meeting.

“The meeting will also provide the Minister with an update on the Status Report of the Political and Technical Hub, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Harry Gwala District Municipality, and the proposed projects by the department’s entity, the Technology, Innovation Agency (TIA),” the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation said in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za

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National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) have invited interested parties to submit written comments on the draft Crypto Assets Manual for cross-border activities (draft Manual).

“The draft Manual should be read together with the draft Regulations [draft Capital Flow Management Regulations 2026] as part of a broader effort to strengthen the oversight of cross-border financial activities and to address emerging risks associated with crypto assets,” a joint statement by the National Treasury and SARB said on Monday.

The proposed regulatory measures seek to minimise the risk of regulatory arbitrage between regulated entities conducting cross-border activities, and to enhance the ability of the Financial Surveillance Department (FinSurv) to detect, deter and disrupt illicit financial flows. 

“These measures will complement the existing regulatory oversight of crypto asset activities by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, Financial Intelligence Centre and South African Revenue Service,” the statement said.

The call for public comments follows the publication of the draft Capital Flow Management Regulations, 2026 (draft Regulations) for public comment on 17 April 2026 and the joint media statement by National Treasury and the SARB on 15 May 2026, which addressed, among other matters, public concerns regarding the treatment, possession and trading of crypto assets, including the potential regulation of cross-border crypto asset transactions. 

The joint statement further indicated that a separate cross-border crypto asset framework, in the form of a draft Manual, would be released for public comment to complement the draft Regulations.

“The draft Manual provides practical guidance on the implementation of the draft Regulations regarding cross-border crypto asset transactions, in particular the application and adjudication process to conduct the business of an Authorised Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP), the permissions and conditions applicable to cross-border crypto asset transactions, details of related administrative responsibilities, and reporting requirements to FinSurv,” the statement said.

National Treasury and the SARB emphasised that comments received on the draft Regulations during the public consultation process are currently being considered. 

“Due to the release timing and the volume of the comments, this draft Manual has not yet taken into consideration the inputs already submitted in relation to the draft Regulations. The draft Regulations and draft Manual remain subject to refinement following the consideration of all public comments and stakeholder engagements,” the statement said.

The draft Manual provides clarity on the point at which crypto asset transactions are regarded as cross-border in terms of the draft Regulations. 

“The trigger point arises when crypto assets are transferred between a domestic Authorised CASP and an offshore CASP, or from a domestic Authorised CASP to a non-custodial wallet, resulting in a cross-border inflow or outflow that must be reported to FinSurv.

“The above means that only individuals, at this stage, will be allowed to externalise crypto assets via Authorised CASPs in terms of their single discretionary allowance or foreign capital allowance. 

“Providing the trigger point ensures that crypto asset transactions giving rise to cross-border flows are consistently identified, appropriately reported and effectively monitored,” the statement said.

The SARB has adopted an activity-based approach following research, testing and assessments of the benefits and risks. 

“It is important to note that, at this stage, this proposed approach neither distinguishes between different types of crypto assets, nor does it declare crypto assets an official currency in South Africa. 

“The SARB is still undertaking research and consultations on various other aspects of crypto assets, and both local and global developments will be tracked closely to make appropriate future enhancements to the draft Manual.” –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Government is calling on families whose loved ones died, disappeared, or were buried in Angola during the liberation struggle to come forward and register with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA).

This comes after government officially launched the Angola phase of South Africa’s Exile Repatriation Programme on Friday in Pretoria at a media briefing hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and SAHRA.

The Exile Repatriation Project gives effect to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which called on government to continue tracing people who disappeared in political circumstances between 1960 and 1994.

Cabinet approved the initiative in Angola in March 2026 as part of government’s Five-Year Exile Repatriation Plan, which gives effect to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of South Africa and Angola in December 2024 under the Roads to Independence: African Liberation Heritage Programme.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie said the programme is about restoring dignity to families who have spent decades without answers.

“There is a woman in this country who was a girl when her brother walked out of the family home. She never saw him again. Today there are hundreds of families like hers. We are here to tell them that the waiting is coming to an end,” McKenzie said.

The Minister explained that Angola has been identified as the immediate focus because it holds the largest concentration of South Africans who died in exile during the liberation struggle. 

Government has already identified more than 400 possible burial sites across various regions of Angola, although the recovery process will remain complex due to landmines, overgrown and unmarked graves, deteriorated remains, difficult terrain and limited historical records.

The Minister acknowledged that despite the use of advanced forensic science and DNA analysis, some remains may never be recovered or identified.

McKenzie said applications are now open for families seeking the exhumation, forensic identification and repatriation of relatives who died in exile in Angola.

Government has emphasised that the programme is open to all South African families, regardless of political affiliation or organisational membership. 

Families can submit applications online through the SAHRA Exile Repatriation Portal at https://www.sahra.org.za/exile-repatriation/, where they can complete the application form, access a step-by-step application guide, download the repatriation request form and obtain detailed information about the programme. 

Families requiring assistance may also register telephonically or in person at SAHRA offices, Freedom Park, provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture offices and through military veterans’ structures, where assistance will be provided in their preferred language.

“Every family that applies will be supported. Where physical remains cannot be recovered, government will facilitate spiritual repatriation so that no family is left without an opportunity to honour their loved one,” McKenzie said.

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga described the initiative as a national obligation to honour those who sacrificed everything for South Africa’s freedom.

“This work is far more than an administrative exercise. It is a national duty. It is about restoring dignity to those who sacrificed everything for the freedom we enjoy today,” Motshekga said.

She said recovery teams continue to navigate mine-affected areas, unmarked burial sites, deteriorated remains and changing landscapes, making each recovery mission technically demanding and requiring close cooperation between South Africa, Angola and specialist forensic teams.

Motshekga urged families to come forward, emphasising that every testimony, document and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sample strengthens government’s ability to identify and return another liberation hero to their family. –SAnews.gov.za

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Team South Africa athletes finished the 2026 Commonwealth Games on a high note, clinching 28 medals – one more than at the 2022 Games in Birmingham. 

That placed the team 11th on the final medals table at the multi-sport event in Glasgow, Scotland, which began on 23 July 2026 and ends on 2 August 2026.

“The outstanding performer for Team SA was swimmer Pieter Coetze, who won three individual gold medals in the backstroke and two in the relay. Other gold medals came from Lara van Niekerk (swimming), Nathan Hendricks and Christian Sadie (para swimming) and Sinesipho Dlamini (athletics),” Team SA said on their website.

South Africa secured seven gold medals, 11 silver medals and 10 bronze medals.

On Saturday, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie congratulated Team South Africa on an outstanding performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the team started the day with 25 medals.

“This team went to Glasgow and did us proud. They have given it their all, and every single one of them comes home having helped to add another proud chapter to South Africa’s sporting history,” the Minister said in a statement.

A large part of Team South Africa’s delegation arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday morning.

Although the Minister was unable to welcome the team, he conveyed a message of congratulations to the athletes and officials through the South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC).

“To every young South African who watched these Games: these athletes were once just like you, and you can write your own names into the record books if seeing these achievements lit a fire in your belly.

“And to every South African living with a disability who saw Nathan Hendricks, Christian Sadie, Danika Vyncke and Masala Makatu on that podium – that was a reminder that the focus of life should never be only on what you cannot do, or what may be denied to you, but rather should be on the many things you can do. By overcoming adversity, you inspire someone else facing their own struggles.

“We salute you all as the heroes you are, and I look forward to being with the whole team again soon,” McKenzie said.

The Minister confirmed that the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture would be arranging a formal reception for the full delegation once all athletes had returned from Glasgow. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says typical winter conditions are expected across the country this week, with some cold fronts passing south of South Africa.

“No significant weather is expected. Monday’s conditions will be fine and cool to warm, but partly cloudy in places, with isolated showers and rain along the east coast and adjacent interior,” the weather service said.

SAWS said forecasts and warnings will be updated as the likelihood and severity of impacts become clearer.

The public is also advised to remain cautious of unauthorised or unverified information sources and to refrain from sharing such information. — SAnews.gov.za