Category: MIL-OSI

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Sierra Leone and African Development Bank Target $90 Billion in Annual Illicit Financial Flows

Source: APO

A four-day high-level seminar concluded last week with concrete recommendations to combat the estimated $90 billion that Africa loses annually to illicit financial flows, as the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and Sierra Leone Government intensify efforts to strengthen natural resource governance.

More than 70 stakeholders from government, civil society, private sector, and international organizations gathered at The Place Resort in Tokeh  under the theme “Harnessing Africa’s Wealth: Curbing Illicit Financial Flows for Resilient Growth and Development.” Illicit financial flows are among Africa’s most pressing economic challenges.

The dialogue produced specific policy recommendations, including establishing national communities of practice, implementing institutional reforms, and enhancing transparency in resource-backed lending (RBL). Participants agreed that RBLs should be treated as “an option of last resort” and used only with maximum transparency and for investments that directly contribute to repayment capacity.

“This initiative can help us improve revenue from natural resources by blocking leakages through illegal natural resource trade and improved management of resource-backed lending,” said Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura.

The workshop sessions focused on identifying illicit financial flows, managing resource-backed lending, and developing transparent governance mechanisms. Participants reviewed findings from the Sierra Leone Country Diagnostic Report, which examined illegal natural resource trade and institutional capacity gaps.

International expert Bernd Schlenter from Rand Sandton Consulting Group presented technical insights on illicit financial flows patterns and policy recommendations during the intensive sessions.

Halima Hashi, African Development Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone, noted the project aligns with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 and Natural Resources Management and Investment Action Plan 2025-2029.

Broader Impact

The GONAT Project, funded by the African Development Bank’s Transitional Support Facility, has three pillars: policy analysis and diagnostics, capacity strengthening, and high-level policy dialogue. The initiative supports the African Development Bank’s mission to optimize Africa’s natural wealth for inclusive prosperity.

“Achieving transparent and equitable natural resource management is not merely a technical exercise—it is a strategic imperative for Africa’s future,” said Dr. Eric Ogunleye, Director of the African Development Bank’s African Development Institute.

The seminar produced a draft communique for national adoption, with participants pledging to transform the policy recommendations into actionable reforms.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media Contact:
Natalie Nkembuh
Communication and Media Relations Department
media@afdb.org

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KZN Treasury withdraws support to Umkhanyakude District Municipality

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Treasury has officially withdrawn its financial support services to Umkhanyakude District Municipality, citing concerns over wasteful expenditure and lack of cooperation from municipal officials.

Finance MEC Francois Rodgers confirmed the decision in a formal letter addressed to the municipality’s mayor, Siphile Mdaka, on Thursday.

Rodgers said the decision was taken in a bid to conserve provincial government resources and redirect them where it is possible to work freely in the spirit of building a capable and ethical state.

According to the MEC, KZN Treasury teams had on various occasions travelled to Umkhanyakhude a day in advance, to facilitate a full productive day with municipal officials.

However, the teams have often found themselves subjected to late cancellations of sessions by municipal officials, either the evening before, the mornings of scheduled meetings.

“These [recurring late cancellations] has resulted in fruitless and wasteful expenditure being incurred by KZN Provincial Treasury,” Rodgers said.

In his letter to the mayor, Rodgers emphasised that Treasury has limited resources, and in determining which municipalities to support; the municipal manager is required to “commit to the initiative and to provide assurance that the Treasury teams will receive full cooperation.”

“This clearly has not happened, and I have therefore instructed my team to withdraw from the municipality and to reassign the resources to other municipalities that desperately require our support,” Rodgers said.

Intervention in municipality

The withdrawal of support comes as Umkhanyakude District Municipality faces heightened scrutiny.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Thulasizwe Buthelezi, recently invoked Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution to place the municipality under administration.

The section empowers the provincial government to intervene when a municipality fails to fulfil its constitutional mandate to deliver services.

Buthelezi has launched a forensic investigation under Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act to probe allegations of corruption and maladministration within the municipality.

“This investigation, being conducted in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, aims to thoroughly examine the various allegations. The intervention will ensure that officials are held accountable should any wrongdoing be uncovered by the investigators,” Buthelezi said. – SAnews.gov.za

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G20 nations called to be bold in addressing development challenges

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, has called on G20 nations to demonstrate bold leadership and shared accountability in addressing the world’s most pressing development challenges.

Ramokgopa has emphasised the importance of inclusive growth, social protection, and sustainable financing.

“This week is crucial for the advancement of our shared commitment to confront global development challenges. We gather not just as Ministers and officials, but as stewards of a common ambition to build a world in which progress does not bypass the most vulnerable,” the Minister said.

The Minister addressed the Fourth G20 Development Working Group (DWG) Meeting at Skukuza Lodge, in the Kruger National Park which wraps up today.

The working group meetings, hosted under South Africa’s G20 Presidency brought together G20 member states, invited countries, and international organisations to discuss key development priorities.  

These include the need to tackle illicit financial flows, strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, advance inclusive social protection systems and align development finance with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ramokgopa underscored the urgent need to address illicit financial flows, describing them as a threat to financial stability and a barrier to development.

“Illicit financial flows undermine public trust, drain essential resources, and destabilise economies. We urge global cooperation on automatic data sharing, beneficial ownership transparency, and digital identity tracking. We must shine light into the shadowy corners of the global financial system to finance sustainable futures,” she said.

The Minister said social protection should not be viewed as an act of charity but as a core pillar of sustainable development contributing to economic growth, societal cohesion, and gender equity.

The Development Working Group meetings were a culmination of negotiations working toward the ministerial declarations that were handed over for the Ministerial Meeting.

There was an introduction to the G20 USA Presidency, and the meeting was closed with a tribute to the delegation whose hard work and determination were instrumental in shaping a progressive and unified outcome.

South Africa’s G20 Presidency continues to prioritise inclusive dialogue and bold action in driving global progress through sustainable development, justice, and financial reform. – SAnews.gov.za

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Drive for energy efficiency sees registration of 7 000 buildings

Source: Government of South Africa

The Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, has announced that over 7 000 public and private buildings have registered for an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

An EPC is a certificate that indicates how much energy is being used to operate a building, which is indicated through a performance scale of A-G, with A indicating a building is most energy efficient and G being least energy efficient. 

The requirement of having an EPC will play a key role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction, which is a key requirement to improve energy efficiency and saving costs.

As part of the Department of Electricity and Energy’s (DEE) and South African Energy Development Institute’s (Sanedi) priority to drive energy efficiency in South Africa, organisations have until 7 December 2025 to register for the certificate.

“With only five months left before registrations close, large building owners need to prioritise this. We aim to reach 60 000 registrations by the closing date. I am working with the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Mcpherson, and will also be working with Premiers and Mayors to ensure that this issue gets immediate attention. 

“There is an opportunity for all South Africans to play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions and benefit from the programme,” said the Deputy Minister.

Since its launch in December 2020 until 21 July 2025, a total of 7 113 buildings have registered, and 3 884 EPCs have been issued. 

“I urge all building owners, both public and private, to adopt and implement alternative and energy-saving methods. We need to be creative and innovative so that we save on energy. 

“Some practical ways to do this include installing LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs and smart geysers, fitting solar panels, and turning off appliances when they are not in use. I encourage anyone to engage my department about the programme and how they can implement this initiative,” Graham-Maré said.

The purpose of EPCs:

  • Indicates the energy performance of a building,
  • Serve as regulatory tools/instruments targeting inefficient buildings, encouraging transformation towards energy-efficient buildings,
  • Are indicators for building owners to note and change their consumption patterns to benefit financially and comply with regulations, and
  • In the long term, they promote the reduction of Greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of energy efficiency interventions using reliable data from existing EPCs. – SAnews.gov.za

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Opening remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the meeting between the National Executive and the Northern Cape Provincial Executive Council, Kimberley, Northern Cape

Source: President of South Africa –

Programme Director, Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa,
Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
MECs,
Executive Mayors and members of councils,
Officials,
Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good morning. 

This is the sixth formal engagement that the National Executive is having with a Provincial Executive.

We have previously met with the Executive Councils of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and most recently, the Eastern Cape. 

We hope to have met with the leadership of the remaining provinces over the next few months. 

Advancing cooperative governance is mandated by our Constitution. As the Government of National Unity, we see this as an important part of building a capable, ethical and developmental state. 

One of the driving forces behind the District Development Model that we established in 2019 was to ultimately do away with two persistent challenges that have been holding back our progress as a Government.  

The first challenge is that of working in silos. This has been a particular problem when it comes to the interface between the national, provincial and local spheres of Government.  

The second is what I have termed ‘parachuted development’. This refers to projects and programmes being initiated, scoped and budgeted for at national level without due consideration to the realities of implementation on the ground, or even to whether that particular initiative meets community needs.  

These challenges have been time-consuming and costly. They have also contributed to a widening trust deficit between Government and communities when these ventures fail to take flight or encounter implementation challenges. 

Structured engagements between the national and provincial executives are designed to narrow and ultimately close these gaps. They are meant to help us work together more efficiently, to resolve challenges together and to plan smarter. 

I have said on a number of occasions that the Northern Cape is an economic pioneer and a frontier of innovation. 

Last year, the Pultizer Centre published a profile that characterised the Province as South Africa’s emerging powerhouse – quite literally.

The Northern Cape is at the forefront of the clean energy revolution and experiencing a significant surge in power projects, notably solar and green hydrogen. 

The Province’s Green Hydrogen Masterplan is ambitious in both scope and potential benefits – not just for the Northern Cape but for the national economy, for the SADC region, for the continent and globally. 

In recent months I, together with a number of members of the National Executive, have participated in multilateral discussions and business forums where we have been articulating our vision of South Africa being a leader in the renewable energy revolution. 

And, to quote the Pulitzer Centre report, once the energy transition unfolds as envisaged, the Northern Cape could be the new heartbeat of the economy. 

Besides the strides being made in the energy sector, we note that the Northern Cape is working to become an industrial hub.

This is supported by traditional industries like mining, but is being expanded through special economic zone development, industrial park development and major infrastructure developments, notably in port and rail.  

While the economy of the province has been growing and creating jobs, and there has been important progress in areas like education, public infrastructure and basic services, persistent challenges remain.  

The National Treasury’s 2024 provincial socio-economic review points to an increase in the percentage of people living in poverty and to a drop in the number of households with access to basic services like water. 

Unemployment, especially youth unemployment, remains high.

Fiscal constraints are holding back a number of projects particularly at a municipal level, including for disaster response, asbestos eradication, land restitution, rural electrification and public housing.  

With respect to infrastructure development, we will need to find ways to support high impact projects like the Northern Cape Industrial Corridor, the R1 billion housing programme and the Kimberley Big Hole precinct as examples. 

We will also need find creative funding mechanisms for projects like the Boegoebaai harbour. We need an urgent relook at the current delivery model to enable regulatory approval and investment activation.

Integrated planning between national, provincial and local government must involve State-owned enterprises as important stakeholders with significant capabilities. 

The integration of provincial planning into national priority planning must be prioritised through the District Development Model and aligned with the Medium-Term Development Plan. 

We are keen to discuss how the Province is addressing the issue of climate change and its state of readiness to respond to natural disasters. 

Another challenge is the increasing municipal debt and what measures are in place to improve revenue collection. 

Furthermore, how can the Province leverage its key tourism attractions?

These are among the issues that we will deliberate on today. 

Allow me to once again thank you all for your attendance. I look forward to our discussions.

I thank you.

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La Sierra Leone et la Banque africaine de développement prennent pour cible les 90 milliards de dollars de flux financiers illicites annuels

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Un séminaire à haut niveau de quatre jours s’est conclu la semaine dernière sur des recommandations concrètes pour lutter contre les quelque 90 milliards de dollars que l’Afrique perd chaque année à cause des flux financiers illicites, alors que le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement (www.AfDB.org) et le gouvernement de la Sierra Leone intensifient leurs efforts pour renforcer la gouvernance des ressources naturelles.

Plus de 70 parties prenantes issues du gouvernement, de la société civile, du secteur privé et d’organisations internationales se sont réunies à The Place Resort à Tokeh sous le thème « Exploiter la richesse de l’Afrique : Infléchir les flux financiers illicites en faveur d’une croissance et d’un développement résilients ». Les flux financiers illicites comptent parmi les enjeux économiques les plus urgents de l’Afrique.

Les discussions ont débouché sur des recommandations stratégiques, notamment la création de communautés de pratique nationales, la mise en œuvre de réformes institutionnelles et l’amélioration de la transparence autour des prêts adossés à des ressources. Les participants se sont accordés pour reconnaître que ces prêts doivent être considérés comme « une option de dernier recours » et ne doivent être utilisés que s’ils garantissent une transparence maximale et financent des investissements qui contribuent directement à la capacité de remboursement.

« Cette initiative peut nous aider à améliorer les recettes tirées des ressources naturelles en empêchant leur détournement via le commerce illégal et en renforçant la gestion des prêts adossés à ces ressources », a déclaré Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, ministre des Finances de la Sierra Leone.

Les sessions de l’atelier ont porté sur l’identification des flux financiers illicites, la gestion des prêts adossés à des ressources et l’élaboration de mécanismes de gouvernance transparents. Les participants ont examiné les conclusions du Rapport de diagnostic national de la Sierra Leone, consacré au commerce illégal des ressources naturelles et aux insuffisances des capacités institutionnelles.

L’expert international Bernd Schlenter de Rand Sandton Consulting Group a présenté des analyses techniques sur les schémas des flux financiers illicites ainsi que des recommandations stratégiques lors de sessions intensives.

Halima Hashi, responsable du bureau pays de la Banque africaine de développement en Sierra Leone, a souligné que ce projet s’aligne sur la Stratégie décennale 2024-2033 et sur le Plan d’action de gestion et d’investissement en ressources naturelles 2025-2029 de la Banque.

Impact plus large

Le projet GONAT, financé par la Facilité d’appui à la transition de la Banque africaine de développement, repose sur trois piliers : analyse et diagnostic des politiques, renforcement des capacités et dialogue politique à haut niveau. Cette initiative soutient la mission de la Banque africaine de développement d’optimiser les richesses naturelles de l’Afrique en faveur d’une prospérité inclusive.

« Parvenir à une gestion transparente et équitable des ressources naturelles ne relève pas d’un simple exercice technique : c’est un impératif stratégique essentiel pour l’avenir de l’Afrique », a déclaré Eric Ogunleye, directeur de l’Institut africain de développement de la Banque africaine de développement.

Le séminaire a abouti à un projet de communiqué pour adoption nationale, les participants s’engageant à traduire les recommandations stratégiques en réformes concrètes.

Distribué par APO Group pour African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact médias :
Natalie Nkembuh
Section communication et relations extérieures
media@afdb.org

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Benin: African Development Bank Approves Over $30 Million to Protect Farmers from Climate Shocks and Food Insecurity

Source: APO

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group  (www.AfDB.org) has approved $30.25 million in financing for a groundbreaking climate protection and agricultural sector resilience program in Benin. Thanks to this approval, Beninese farmers, particularly those in northern Benin, will no longer have to fear losing their entire harvest during devastating droughts or sudden floods.

This initiative will protect 150,000 smallholder farmers against climate shocks in a country where agriculture employs seven out of ten people but remains at the mercy of an increasingly unpredictable climate. The situation is particularly critical in the departments of Alibori and Atakora, where one in four farmers suffers from food insecurity, well above the national average.

These northern regions face a double burden of climate challenges and spillover effects from Sahel instability, creating additional pressures through forced displacement and border closures with Niger. Climate projections indicate alarming future risks, with cotton production and maize yields expected to drop by 22% and 6.3% respectively, with potential economic losses estimated at approximately 201 billion CFA francs.

“This investment represents our commitment to strengthening climate resilience in Benin’s agricultural sector while responding to the urgent needs of vulnerable farming communities,” said Robert Masumbuko, African Development Bank Country Representative in Benin. “By introducing innovative risk management tools and strengthening local capacities, we are helping farmers adapt to climate change while preventing conflicts and promoting social cohesion in fragile border areas.”

The project strengthens the Beninese government’s efforts to establish agricultural insurance, whose pilot phase is managed by Benin’s National Fund for Agricultural Development (FNDA).

It introduces innovative climate risk transfer mechanisms, including sovereign insurance coverage against droughts and floods via the African Risk Capacity, and agricultural micro- insurance for smallholders. These tools will improve farmers’ risk profiles with financial institutions, facilitating better access to credit and investment opportunities.

Beyond insurance mechanisms, the initiative will strengthen institutional capacities for climate disaster management, deploy early warning systems with agrometeorological equipment, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. The program specifically targets 30% youth participation and ensures 30% female representation among the 150,000 direct beneficiaries. Furthermore, special attention is given to social cohesion activities to support peaceful integration of displaced populations in host communities.

The financing comes from multiple sources: $20 million from the “prevention” envelope of the Transition Support Facility, $5 million from the African Development Fund, $3 million from the ADRiFi multi-donor trust fund, and approximately $2.44 million in national counterpart contributions for insurance premiums.

The project aligns with Benin’s National Development Plan 2018-2025 and its National Adaptation Plan 2022-2027, supporting the country’s agricultural transformation objectives while strengthening climate change resilience through innovative instruments such as insurance. Strategic partnerships with the World Food Programme, the World Bank, and bilateral donors such as Swiss and Luxembourg cooperations ensure comprehensive support for sustainable agricultural development, including the establishment of agricultural insurance in Benin.

For Benin’s farming families, this financing represents hope for protected harvests, stable incomes, and a safer future for their children. For northern Benin communities, this project is a guarantee of stability and social cohesion in a strategic region of West Africa, and finally, for the Beninese state, the project ensures financial resilience against increasingly recurrent disaster risks.

The African Development Bank Group remains committed to supporting Africa’s agricultural transformation through innovative climate adaptation solutions that protect vulnerable communities while promoting sustainable development and regional stability.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media Contact:
Natalie Nkembuh
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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Hlabisa to lead third roundtable with business on local government review

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will lead the third CoGTA–National Business Initiative (NBI) Roundtable on the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government.

According to the department, Hlabisa will be joined by Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola at the East London International Convention Centre in East London on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.

The roundtable, themed ‘Every Municipality Must Work – A Call to Collective Action’, is part of an inclusive policy reform process aimed at shaping a modern and effective local government system.

This engagement will allow the business sector to reflect on the legacy and limitations of the 1998 White Paper and identify policy priorities for a renewed local government framework. 

The platform will also offer practical recommendations from business and provincial perspectives and strengthen partnerships to improve governance and infrastructure delivery.

“Efficient local government is critical to economic growth and business sustainability. Poor service delivery increases operational costs, disrupts business, and threatens jobs. 

“This roundtable offers business leaders a platform to influence policies that reduce investment risk and foster a conducive business environment,” the advisory read. 

Attendees will include business leaders, key economic institutions, Buffalo City Metro executive leadership, NBI, local business chambers in the Eastern Cape, and other private sector stakeholders. 

In April this year, Hlabisa officially published a discussion document on the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. 

This represents a significant and necessary step towards creating a reimagined and results-oriented local government system in South Africa.

This document, published under Notice No. 6118 (Gazette: 52498), initiates a national discussion aimed at producing a revised White Paper on Local Government by March 2026.

According to the department, the review aims to incite fresh thinking, honest reflection, and decisive action toward building a fit-for-purpose local government system that truly serves the people of South Africa. 

In addition, the document aims to assess and revise outdated assumptions of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government and strengthen cooperative governance among the three spheres of government. 

The initiative aims to align reforms with related efforts, including amendments to the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), the Municipal Structures Act, and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). 

It also seeks to enhance integration with traditional leadership, improve community participation, and address systemic challenges, such as municipal financial sustainability, over-politicisation, climate risk, and spatial inequality. – SAnews.gov.za

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SA signs US$474.6 million loan for Just Energy Transition

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, July 25, 2025

South Africa and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed a US$474.6 million loan agreement aimed at supporting the implementation of the Just Energy Transition (JET).

The loan agreement with the AfDB follows the first policy loan concluded in 2023 to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. 

“This new agreement highlights the importance of South Africa’s partnership with the AfDB in advancing South Africa’s development agenda. It strengthens efforts to improve energy security measures, accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy, and enhance the socio-economic benefits of the energy transition enabling inclusive economic growth and fostering job creation,” National Treasury said on Thursday.

This loan is part of the third Development Policy Operation which includes participation from the World Bank, KFW Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) to support structural reforms to enhance the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of the country’s infrastructure services.

It offers favourable concessional financial terms at a nominal value of US$474.6 million with a maturity of 15 years and a 3-year grace period at an interest rate of a daily Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 1.22%.

“The National Treasury wishes to express its appreciation to the AfDB for its continued partnership and support of South Africa’s development objectives. 

“This includes efforts to implement critical reforms in the energy and transport sectors, while also advancing the country’s Just Energy Transition goals and meeting foreign currency commitments at lower interest rates.” – SAnews.gov.za

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Western Cape works to enhance road safety

Source: Government of South Africa

The Western Cape is working to enhance efforts aimed at preventing road incidents, particularly those involving pedestrians.

This as the Western Cape Mobility Department is working closely with law enforcement, municipalities, and Joint Traffic Control Centres (JTCCs) in this undertaking.

According to the provincial department, pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users, accounting for the majority of lives lost on the province’s roads this month.

Of the 72 road fatalities recorded across the province from 1 to 22 July 2025, pedestrians account for the most deaths, highlighting the need for focused interventions.

READ | Western Cape concerned at 23 deaths on province’s roads in one week 

The department said many of these incidents occurred in high-density municipal areas, with Khayelitsha, Milnerton, Paarl, and Kuilsriver repeatedly emerging as hotspots for multiple pedestrian deaths.

In addition, the R300 corridor, a provincial route, also recorded several fatalities. 

Meanwhile, outside the primary hotspots, there were over 20 individual pedestrian deaths spread across the province, from metro suburbs to smaller rural towns. 

“This wide distribution highlights that no community is immune and underscores the need for a province-wide safety response. Recent statistics reveal that pedestrian fatalities occur mostly at night, along highways, and on poorly lit roads,” the statement read. 

Contributing factors include jaywalking, alcohol use by both pedestrians and drivers, speeding, and non-utilisation of pedestrian infrastructure.

The department stated that it was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to prevent road incidents involving road users. 
In the meantime, the province has conducted 442 vehicle checkpoint operations in the first three weeks of July, including 219 drunk driving operations, 84 public transport checks, and targeted operations focusing on seatbelt use, vehicle fitness, learner and farm worker transport.

The team is deploying road safety ambassadors in high-risk areas to educate communities on safe road use and is launching awareness campaigns supported by schools, neighbourhood watches, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other community groups.

They are also enhancing law enforcement visibility on highways and provincial routes, with improved monitoring.

Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, said the loss of pedestrian lives is not just a statistic; it represents families torn apart and communities left in mourning. 

“We urge both motorists and pedestrians to take responsibility. Motorists must slow down and remain vigilant, while pedestrians should always use designated crossings, wear visible clothing at night, and avoid walking under the influence of alcohol,” Sileku said.

Meanwhile, the department is also preparing to roll out new pedestrian safety infrastructure and interventions in identified high-risk zones in the coming months, as part of its ongoing strategy to reduce road deaths.

“Road safety is a collective effort. By working together, as government, drivers, and pedestrians, we can turn the tide on these preventable deaths,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za