Category: MIL-OSI

The two-day Pietermaritzburg Urban Development Indaba has concluded with a series of commitments aimed at reversing urban decay, improving municipal efficiency, and restoring investor confidence in the city.

Hosted by the Msunduzi Municipality in partnership with Invest PMB and supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), the gathering brought together more than 300 delegates from government, business, civil society, and the investment sector.

The Indaba formed part of the broader Pietermaritzburg Urban Renewal Programme, which seeks to reposition the city as a safe, functional, and investment-ready economic hub.

Among the key outcomes announced at the close of the conference was the establishment of a one-stop shop for investment facilitation, intended to streamline processes for investors and improve ease of doing business in the municipality.

Delegates also agreed on measures to strengthen the municipality’s e4 rates clearance system to improve efficiency in property-related transactions, while a Single Municipal Law Enforcement Unit will be operationalised to tackle by-law violations, illegal activity, and urban decay in the city centre.

The municipality further reaffirmed its commitment to land use reform aimed at accelerating inner-city regeneration and unlocking development opportunities. 

Support for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) was highlighted as a key pillar of inclusive economic growth.

Discussions during the Indaba focused on improving service delivery, strengthening infrastructure, enhancing safety and law enforcement, and creating conditions for investment-led renewal.

Closing the event, Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla said the city’s renewal efforts would be judged by implementation rather than promises.

“Our mission is not only to attract investors but to build confidence to show that this city is ready for business. The success of our city will not be measured by what we promise today, but by what we deliver tomorrow,” he said.

The conference concluded with stakeholders committing to a joint implementation pact designed to ensure that resolutions taken during the Indaba are translated into measurable action. – SAnews.gov.za

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Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela conducted oversight inspections at the Tsamaya Road (K54) and Garsfontein Road (K50) projects in the City of Tshwane on Monday as part of efforts to monitor progress on major road infrastructure developments in the province.

According to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, the visits were aimed at assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the projects and ensuring that implementation aligns with approved plans, budgets and quality standards.

Speaking during the inspections, Diale-Tlabela said both projects were progressing well and expressed confidence that they would be completed on time and within budget.

“The K54 and K50 projects are critical investments in Gauteng’s future. Improved road infrastructure will enhance mobility, reduce travel times, stimulate economic activity, and create opportunities for communities across the province,” the MEC said.

The department said the oversight programme is designed to identify operational and technical challenges that may delay project completion. 

The inspections also allow officials to implement immediate corrective measures to keep projects on schedule and within budget.

The MEC said the department continues to face several obstacles affecting infrastructure delivery across the province, including encroachments, community disruptions, project stoppages and contractor performance issues.

“Road infrastructure development remains a major challenge for us in Gauteng due to a variety of issues, including encroachments, community disruptions, project stoppages, and contractor performance. This is why we continuously assess our projects to ensure they are completed on time,” she said.

The MEC added that proactive oversight was essential to ensuring projects meet engineering and safety standards while maintaining accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.

“These oversight visits are essential to ensuring that our road infrastructure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to the highest engineering and safety standards,” Diale-Tlabela said.

The department said continued investment in smart transport infrastructure forms part of government’s broader vision to improve mobility, accessibility and socio-economic opportunities across Gauteng.

“Smart transport infrastructure is central to our vision of a modern, connected, and inclusive Gauteng. These projects will not only improve accessibility but also unlock socio-economic opportunities for businesses, workers, and communities,” the MEC said.

The inspections form part of the department’s ongoing commitment to advancing the #GrowingGautengTogether vision through smart mobility initiatives.

“As government, we have a responsibility to ensure that every rand invested in infrastructure delivers tangible benefits to our residents. Through these inspections, we are reinforcing accountability, transparency, and quality service delivery,” Diale-Tlabela said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Department of Human Settlements will this week host public information sessions in Mpumalanga and Limpopo on the proposed amendments to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill.

The sessions are scheduled to take place from Tuesday, 19 May to Thursday, 21 May 2026, following successful engagements held in KwaZulu-Natal on 13 and 15 May.

On Tuesday, sessions will be held at Valencia Community Hall in the City of Mbombela, Mpumalanga, and at Nirvana Community Hall in Polokwane, Limpopo.

In Mpumalanga, the sessions will proceed to Nkangala District Municipality on 20 May at City Hall in Middelburg, and at the Gert Sibande District Municipality on 21 May at City Hall in Secunda.

In Limpopo, a session is scheduled for 20 May at Seleka Community Hall in Lephalale, located within the Waterberg District Municipality.

The proposed bill seeks to amend the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, 1998 (PIE Act), which governs the process of evictions and aims to balance the rights of landowners with those of unlawful occupiers.

The bill was published in the Government Gazette by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and has now been open for public comment for over a month.

Members of the public have until 16 June 2026 to submit written comments via email to PIE.AmendmentBill@dhs.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA) is assessing the impact of severe weather conditions that struck the province between 10 and 13 May 2026.

A series of intense cold fronts resulted in widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to farming communities across key agricultural regions.

According to the department, the agricultural sector has been particularly hard hit, with extensive damage reported in areas such as Hex River Valley, Grabouw/Elgin, and the Ceres and Worcester areas.

Floodwaters have devastated vineyards, orchards, and cropland, with some farmers reporting complete loss of harvests, including apple crops in Grabouw.

In addition to crop damage, farms have sustained serious infrastructure damage.

Irrigation systems, access roads, and bridges have been compromised, while power outages have disrupted irrigation, storage, and packhouse operations. In several cases, farms have been completely cut off due to flooded rivers and damaged transport routes.

“The knock-on effects are expected to impact the province’s agricultural economy, particularly fruit and wine export supply chains. Delays in harvesting and transport are likely to reduce yields, affect export quality, and increase financial losses across the sector,” Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Disaster risk reduction damage assessment app

To support response efforts, the WCDoA has deployed its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Damage Assessment App to improve the collection of real-time data from affected farming areas.

The department said the digital platform is playing a critical role in strengthening situational awareness and coordinating recovery efforts, despite challenges such as power outages, poor connectivity, and limited access to some rural communities.

Meyer said the department is currently consolidating preliminary damage reports gathered through the app, extension officers, and industry stakeholders.

“As conditions stabilise and access improves, teams will conduct on-site verification visits to assess crop losses, infrastructure damage, and broader impacts on livelihoods, with priority given to high-value agricultural regions,” he said.

Recovery and disaster classification under consideration

The provincial Department of Agriculture met with industry representatives on Monday, 18 May, alongside the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure, to assess road and infrastructure damage, and prioritise critical agricultural regions.

Meyer reported that contractors have already been appointed to begin repairs on critical road infrastructure in several affected regions. Mopping-up operations, including road clearance and humanitarian support, are ongoing as part of a coordinated provincial response.

The Western Cape Provincial Government is expected to meet on Wednesday, 20 May, to consider declaring the event a provincial disaster. Should this proceed, authorities will approach the National Disaster Management Centre to seek a formal declaration, which would unlock additional national resources to support recovery efforts.

“The scale of this event presents a complex and evolving challenge for the agricultural sector. Our immediate priority is to ensure accurate damage assessment and to support farmers through a coordinated, data-driven recovery process,” Meyer said.

He also commended farmers, organised agriculture, volunteers, and law enforcement agencies for their response efforts.

“The WCDoA remains committed to working closely with farmers, industry bodies and government partners to mitigate the impacts of the disaster and support the recovery of affected agricultural communities,” Meyer added. – SAnews.gov.za

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By Legadima Leso, Head of Communications, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs 

Each year, as the winter and summer initiation seasons approach across South Africa, thousands of young people prepare for one of the most significant moments of their lives: customary initiation. For generations, this sacred rite of passage has marked the transition from childhood to adulthood, shaping identity, instilling discipline and reinforcing the cultural fabric of communities across the country.

In many homes, families gather with pride and anticipation. Elders prepare teachings, communities organise ceremonies and young initiates step forward on the journey to adulthood. Traditionally, customary initiation has been a time of celebration, reflection and transformation. It is a cultural milestone deeply rooted in African heritage, where elders guide young people and pass on values that shape character, responsibility and respect.

Restoring safety and dignity

However, alongside this proud tradition, troubling realities have emerged over the years. Each initiation season brings reports of injuries, dehydration, infections and, in some cases, deaths. These tragedies cast a shadow over what should be a joyful and meaningful time for families welcoming their children back home from initiation schools.

Many of these incidents are linked to illegal initiation schools operating without proper oversight, untrained traditional surgeons and caregivers, poor health and sanitation conditions, and the growing commercialisation of what was once a sacred cultural practice.

In such environments, initiates are placed at risk, far removed from the careful guidance and protection that traditionally defined initiation. However, registered schools also experience challenges which traumatises initiates and their families.

These challenges have prompted necessary conversations across communities, traditional leadership and government. The burning question is how has this proud age-old, respected cultural practice become associated with such preventable tragedies? What must be done to restore its dignity and safety?

Government has implemented various interventions to ensure that legal initiation schools comply with applicable regulations, illegal initiation schools are prevented from operating and authorities are empowered to respond promptly to emerging risks.

A whole of society approach

The introduction of the Customary Initiation Act (CIA) of 2021, marked an important step in strengthening oversight and accountability. Among others, the far-reaching legislation seeks to regulate initiation schools, improve safety standards and ensure that those responsible for negligence are held accountable. However, legislation and government alone cannot preserve tradition or protect young lives.

As the primary people responsible for their children’s safety, health and emotional well-being, parents and guardians are an integral part of a successful customary initiation process; the sacred rite of passage.

The CIA of 2021 recognises the active role of parents, which includes verifying that initiation schools are properly registered, ensuring that traditional surgeons are trained and recognised, staying informed about the conditions at initiation schools and engaging traditional leaders when concerns arise.

Parental involvement does not weaken tradition; rather, it strengthens it by ensuring that cultural practices continue in a safe and responsible manner.

Saving lives

The establishment of provincial initiation coordinating committees, heightened awareness campaigns and the deployment of monitoring teams working in collaboration with various stakeholders, can ensure safe initiation and help save lives.

It is also imperative to strengthen the registration and monitoring of initiation schools, support the training of traditional surgeons and caregivers, and improve coordination between government departments, traditional leadership structures and health authorities.

The mandatory pre-initiation medical screenings required under the CIA of 2021, seek to prevent deaths and injuries. They are necessary in identifying underlying health issues such as dehydration and chronic medical conditions before initiates embark on the initiation process. Pre-screening initiates often is a life-saving action by acting as a crucial barrier between life and death.

Protecting initiates is a shared responsibility. Communities and families must remain vigilant and informed. They must report illegal initiation schools to authorities. This challenge requires an all of government and society approach, hence the need for communities, traditional leaders, health professionals, faith leaders and organisations to work together.

Customary initiation symbolises identity, unity and continuity, therefore, the goal is to restore its dignity.

Communities must collaborate with government to strengthen efforts to restore the dignity of customary initiation. By so doing, we can ensure that it remains a proud, safe and transformative journey into adulthood for generations to come.

No family should experience a loss of life because of a botched initiation process. As CoGTA, we are saying, “One life lost is one too many”, hence the clarion call that “Mabaye Bephila, Babuye Bephila”. 

*This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager Magazine

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By Sihle Manda 

The Public Service Commission Amendment Bill is poised to become one of the most consequential reforms in South Africa’s public administration landscape. 

Should it see light of day, the legislation will significantly expand the authority of the Public Service Commission (PSC), strengthening oversight across national, provincial and local government, as well as state-owned entities.

In a recent interview with the Public Sector Manager magazine, PSC Chairperson, Commissioner Somadoda Fikeni, was at pains to emphasise the importance of the long-in-the-making document. The Bill is currently before National Council of Provinces after Parliament’s nod in March 2025.

The Bill was conceived in June 2023, when it was first published for public comment. This is the furthest the Bill has gone, with previous attempts aborted. 

For Fikeni, the document represents one of the most significant milestones in the evolution of public administration since the democratic era. More importantly, he believes it provides practical tools to address long-standing governance weaknesses.

At the heart of it is the proposed expansion of the PSC’s mandate beyond national and provincial government to include local government and state-owned entities. These are government structures that have in recent years faced significant governance challenges.

Fikeni explained that the current interpretation of the legislation limited the commission’s reach.

“Most of the time those institutions were outside the gaze of the PSC, for one simple reason – the notion of public service was interpreted narrowly to mean national and provincial government,” he said. 

A single public administration 

The Bill changes that fundamentally.

“The Bill immediately gives us powers to go to local government, and it gives us powers which we were exercising provincially and nationally. It gives us powers to go to Eskom, to Transnet and every other state-owned entity.

“The harmonising and standardising of standards and norms for public administration, and creating a single public administration will be greatly assisted in that sense,” he said.

Stronger enforcement powers

Another key shift introduced by the Amendment Bill is the strengthening of the PSC’s authority to enforce its recommendations. 

Historically, departments were notorious for ignoring PSC findings, weakening accountability mechanisms. 

“The new Bill says you will no longer ignore those directives from the PSC and the findings. You would have to challenge them in court rather than just ignore them”.

He compared the reform to similar legislative strengthening seen in other oversight institutions.

“You saw the same thing with the Public Protector when the case law started giving it more teeth. You have seen the same thing with the Auditor-General (AG)l. Now the PSC is coming to that space”.

Independent investigation 

Fikeni added that the PSC occupies a unique oversight position because it can initiate investigations independently.

“we can do our own accord investigation without anyone reporting, and we can recommend policy changes. We can partner with the department or with an institution to change certain things”.

Currently, the commission’s secretariat operates as a government department under the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) – an arrangement that at times presented governance complexities.

This reform, he noted, removes an institutional contradiction.

“In that way, we will not have this awkwardness of overseeing the DPSA, and at the same time having our department reporting to the Minister. They will be completely outside”.

A professional public service

The Bill complements broader reforms aimed at professionalising the Public Service, particularly the implementation of the National Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service approved by Cabinet in October 2022. 

Fikeni stressed that professionalisation begins with merit-based recruitment and expert-led selection processes.

“Professionalisation of the Public Service will ensure that a panel of experts is created by the PSC,” he said. “If you are appointing a director-general (DG) or head of department, you will no longer just have a Minister calling another Minister and then one other DG to sit around the table”.

Instead, expert panels aligned to specific sectors will guide recruitment.

“If it is science and technology, if it is communication and digital technologies, we go to the relevant professional bodies or highly respected experts in that field to say, ‘you will be part of this panel’”.

Such reforms are intended to restore integrity in leadership appointments, he said.

“One of the reasons that we saw a decline in our public service over time was that people were being appointed for loyalty rather than for competence,” he said.

Lifestyle audits

Alongside structural reforms, the PSC is prioritising anti-corruption interventions such as lifestyle audits, particularly those in high-risk functions.

He explained that ethics officers in departments must be trained to detect unexplained wealth and suspicious financial behaviour.

“All of a sudden, a person who is earning R15 000 just rolls in in a Maserati or another type of car… the lifestyle audit ought to target those”.

Initially, the audits will focus on sensitive roles such as procurement and human resources (HR).

“We are proposing to target the sensitive areas for now as we roll it in supply chain, project managers, HR and people who are in the value chain most exposed in procurement”.

These measures will be strengthened through collaboration with oversight bodies such as revenue authorities and forensic agencies.

“If entities are overwhelmed, we are beginning to say, let us coordinate with the AG, with SARS and other departments so that we can have an early warning system”.

Innovative technology

Technology also features prominently in the PSC’s reform strategy. The commission is advocating for an integrated digital system that records biometric information for all public servants.

Such a system would address long-standing problems such as ghost workers and disciplinary evasion.

“You do not get expelled in province A and reappear in province B. whenever you put your finger, your face or your iris into the system, it will bring in all those files”.

The Amendment Bill identifies municipalities as a primary focus area for the PSC due to local government being at the coalface of service delivery. 

“That is where most criminal cases, corruption cases and service delivery issues are concentrated”.

SOEs will also receive targeted oversight, he added.

“If we get that one right, especially in the current geopolitical situation, our logistics and harbours will be in good space”.

Restoring confidence

While the Amendment Bill holds promise for positive change in the public sector, its success will ultimately hinge on effective implementation. 

“The problem in South Africa is that we come up with good policies, but struggle with implementation,” Fikeni cautioned.

Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that the new legislative framework will strengthen accountability and restore confidence in public institutions. 

*This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager Magazine

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By Nomakhosazana Meth, Minister of Employment and Labour

May Day is a profound reminder of the hard-fought battles for labour rights, and the collective power of social dialogue. From the factory floors and deep-level mines to the bustling tech hubs and vast agricultural lands, the hands of our workers continue to build the foundation of our democracy and power up the engines of our economy.

May Day serves as an annual pledge to ensure that the Decent Work agenda is not just a policy framework, but a lived reality for every citizen. 

This Worker’s Month, South Africa stands in solidarity with the global community to pay tribute to the unwavering resilience, dedication, and sacrifice of the South African workforce.

From 1994, South Africa’s public service merged into a single, non-racial system to serve all citizens equally and fairly. This journey of transformation enshrined in our Constitution with new values, would not have been possible without the sacrifice of those public service workers who joined the millions of South Africans in the struggle against an unjust segregated apartheid system.

The Department of Employment and Labour remains deeply committed to its dual mandate: protecting the vulnerable and facilitating the entry of the unemployed into the mainstream economy. 

We recognise that the greatest threat to the dignity of our people, in particular the youth, is the scourge of unemployment. To this end, our labour activation programmes (LAP) have transitioned from mere concepts into powerful catalysts for change. 

Hence, we have declared 2026; “the Year of Putting Young South Africans to Work, in Honour of the 1976 Youth and Commemoration of the Youth Uprising Golden Jubilee”.

By strategically deploying billions of rands into various sectors, we are not simply spending public funds; we are investing in human capital. 

These interventions are designed to bridge the gap between existing skills and the evolving demands of the modern market. Whether it is through training-to-placement schemes or supporting budding entrepreneurs, our goal is to ensure that no South African is left behind in the shifting economic landscape.

Furthermore, we continue to strengthen the social security safety net through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) as well as the Compensation Fund. 

These institutions are the silent guardians of our workforce, providing essential relief and support when workers face unforeseen circumstances. We are aggressively modernising these services to ensure that they are accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of those they serve, who are most often vulnerable workers and beneficiaries.

We remain vigilant in our enforcement of the National Minimum Wage and occupational health and safety standards. A worker who is safe and fairly compensated is a productive worker, and a productive workforce is the only path to a prosperous South Africa. However, growth cannot exist without justice.

As the Ministry of Employment and Labour, we have tabled before Parliament Bills aimed at the protection of the rights of the labour force; the Employment Services Amendment Bill (ESAB) and the National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP), while the Labour Law Amendment Bills are currently undergoing public consultation.

Employment Services Amendment Bill

The ESAB aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market. The primary focus is on the regulation of the employment of foreign nationals and enhancing job opportunities for South African citizens. 

The Bill amends the Employment Services Act of 2014, to address rising unemployment and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower skilled sectors, and has since been approved by Cabinet and taken to Parliament for further processing. 

National Labour Migration Policy 

The NLMP and ESAB are intrinsically linked with the NLMP, providing the policy framework for managing foreign labour and ESAB provides policy legal force.

Together, they aim to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in our country through quotas and sector restrictions. Cabinet has also approved the NLMP. 

Labour Laws Amendment Bill

The department has published the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, 2025 together with the Labour Relations amendment Bill, 2025 and related notices, marking an important step in strengthening protections for workers across the country. The proposed changes modernise key labour laws and introduce practical measures aimed at improving job security, promoting fairness, and extending fundamental rights to vulnerable and previously excluded categories of workers. 

The Bills also aim to improve enforcement mechanisms, ensuring that employees receive the full benefits of the law. 

In summary, the amendments introduce a more equitable parental leave system by replacing the fragmented maternity and parental leave framework with a shared parental leave model.

A single or sole employed parent is entitled to four months’ parental leave, while two employed parents share four months and ten days, subject to agreed arrangements or equal sharing in the absence of an agreement, with priority given to the birthing mother.

Protecting the most vulnerable

Most vulnerable are workers often in retail, security or hospitality –  frequently vulnerable to irregular hours, no guaranteed income and last-minute cancellations. 

As the department of Employment and Labour, we remain committed to advancing a fair, modern and inclusive labour market that protects the dignity and rights of the labour force.

The announcement of the 10 000 inspectors by President Cyril Ramaphosa at this year’s State of the Nation Address is a significant jobs boost aimed at significantly strengthening our capacity to enforce compliance with labour legislation, protect vulnerable workers and ensure fair labour practices across all sectors of the economy. 

The 10 000 inspectors, together with the Project 20 000 inspector interns will support stability and fairness in the labour market.

As we commemorate Workers’ Month, let us renew our social compact. I call upon organised labour, the private sector, and civil society to join hands with government. 

In the words of South Africa’s first democratically elected President, our beloved Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on the occasion of his Inauguration in 1994; “We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must, therefore, act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world”.

Let us, therefore, continue to transform our labour market into an inclusive space of opportunity, innovation and mutual respect.

To the workers of South Africa: your labour is the architect of our future. We salute your contribution to this great nation.

*This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager Magazine

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Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe has tabled the department’s R2.86 billion budget in Parliament today.

Operational allocations include: 

• R70.46 million for the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator. 
• R94.98 million for the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA). 
• R666.9 million for the Council for Geoscience. 
• R328.7 million for Mintek.  
• R4.89 million for the Mine Health and Safety Council. 

Project-specific allocations include: 

• R23.48 million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project. 
• R140.87 million for the Rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines. 
• R48.1 million for the implementation of the Shale Gas Project 
• R33.83 million for the Mine Water Ingress Project. 
• R31.12 million for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Project. 

The budget, Mantashe said, is government’s response to global challenges arising from conflict and a sluggish economy.

“We are tabling this Budget Vote during a difficult period in the global economy. A time when conflict rages in the Middle East with its tremors felt far beyond its frontlines, destabilising global energy supply chains and casting a long shadow over our own economic recovery.

“In this era, where energy security is intrinsically linked to national stability, we cannot stand on the sidelines and be passive observers. This budget is our strategic response to these geopolitical realities, a commitment to protecting the livelihoods of our people, securing our energy future, and anchoring our economy against the rising tides of international instability and price volatility,” Mantashe said.

Central to the strategic response is an acceleration of the Upstream Petroleum Industry and a determined push to expand South Africa’s refining capacity, despite what the minister described as “persistent pressure from certain environmental lobby groups”.

“The fact remains that petroleum security is not a theoretical debate, but an economic necessity and a national imperative.

“For this reason, it is imperative that we accelerate processing of the South African National Petroleum Company Bill [SANPC] to enable the full operationalisation of the SANPC as a strategic state-owned entity to enable meaningful and strategic state participation in the oil and gas sectors, as envisioned in the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act [UPRDA],” Mantashe said.

In that same vein, the moved to calm any public anxiety over fuel supply.

“While global fuel supply challenges persist, I would like to assure the people of South Africa that we have sufficient fuel supply to meet demand, and that our fuel supply remains stable.

“Working closely with industry stakeholders, we continue to monitor the supply situation and will ensure ongoing transparency in this regard,” he said.

The mining industry

Mantashe noted that despite global headwinds, the sector is demonstrating resilience and “remains a cornerstone of our economy”.

“South Africa’s mining Gross Value Add reached R477 billion in 2025, contributing approximately 6.3% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This growth was driven largely by strong iron ore and manganese exports, improved commodity prices, and strong sectoral performance during the first three quarters of the year.

“Mining royalties collected into the fiscus totalled approximately R11.8 billion in 2025, marking an increase of 11% from the R10.6 billion recorded in 2024,” he said.

The Minister acknowledged that despite the continued resilience, the sector still faces challenges with rising the rising cost of electricity placing “severe operational pressure on mining companies, particularly deep-level gold and Platinum Group Metal [PGM] operations”.

Turning to the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy, Mantashe told the House that the era of dormant policy documents was over.

“House Chairperson, last year, we made a solemn commitment to this House that the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy would not become a document destined to gather dust on a shelf. We said, it must become a shovel in the ground and a magnet for investment.

“Today, we are happy to share with you that the era of passive policy is over. We have moved decisively from blueprint to battlefield, aggressively actioning the framework to secure a seat at the head of the global critical minerals dialogue and transactions.

“We are transforming our mineral endowment into a catalyst for industrialisation, investment, and economic growth. I can assure you that we are not just planning for the future, we are actioning it,” he insisted.

One of the key pillars of the strategy is geoscience mapping and exploration.

The minister said through the Council for Geoscience (CGS), government is investing in “high-resolution geoscientific data aimed at derisking exploration and attracting investment”.

“We can report that through its Integrated and Multi-Disciplinary Geoscience Mapping programme, the CGS has increased national onshore mapping coverage from below 5% in 2019 to a cumulative 20% in the 2025/26 financial year. The CGS will continue scaling this flagship programme across both onshore and offshore domains, with a focused effort on generating and disseminating high-quality pre-competitive geoscience data.

“This data can be accessed through the Virtual Core Library – launched at this year’s Mining Indaba – which serves as a strategic national asset designed to transform how South Africa unlocks value from its geological assets,” Mantashe revealed.

Furthermore, the R400 million Junior Mining Exploration Fund has funded some 13 projects with exploration already underway at sites including Giyani and Bothaville.

Mine safety and policy

Mantashe told the House Mineral Resources Development Bill is undergoing legal certification at the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor before heading to Cabinet for approval.

It is anticipated that the Bill will then be introduced to Parliament in the second quarter.

The Mine Health and Safety Bill aimed at embedding compliance as a core business function “rather than an administrative exercise” is before Parliament.

“Once enacted, this legislation will strengthen accountability, tighten operational requirements, improve enforcement measures, and further our commitment towards achieving the goal of zero harm.

“Notwithstanding the ongoing review of the policies, it is encouraging that the sector is already making strides towards attaining the goal of zero harm, as evidenced by a historic 41 fatalities recorded in the 2025.

“The Ekapa disaster, which claimed five lives, is a stark reminder that complacency has no place in this industry. Investigations regarding the disaster are already underway, and we will ensure that no stone is left unturned in uncovering the facts surrounding the disaster,” Mantashe noted. – SAnews.gov.za

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