Category: MIL-OSI

Annual consumer inflation rose to 5% in June 2026 from 4,5% in May, reaching its highest level in two years, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has announced.

Stats SA said the June figure was the highest inflation reading since June 2024, when the rate stood at 5,1%. 

Prices rose by 0,7% on average between May and June, the same increase recorded between April and May.

“Transport was the largest contributor to both the annual and monthly changes in the consumer price index (CPI), mainly underpinned by higher fuel prices. The annual rate for transport accelerated to 12,7% in June from 9,4% in May. Fuel prices climbed by 34,3% in the 12 months to June, driven by increases of 50,8% in diesel prices and 31,7% in petrol prices,” Stats SA said on Wednesday. 

Higher fuel prices also pushed up passenger transport inflation, which rose by 8,1% month on month in June.

As a result, the annual rate for the category increased to 12,5% from 4,0% in May.

Sharp monthly increases were recorded for minibus taxi fares (+11,5%), e-hailing services (+8,7%), long-distance bus fares (+8,4%) and school transport (+3,7%).

“Annual food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation slowed further in June, dipping to 1,6% from 1,9% in May and 2,9% in April. Cereal products recorded a fifth consecutive month of deflation at -1,5%. Several notable products are cheaper than a year ago, including white rice (-13,4%), maize meal (-5,9%), samp (-1,5%) and porridge (-1,3%).

“Meat inflation also extended a downward trend, moderating further to 5,1% from a peak of 13,5% in January 2026. Inflation for beef products is settling, with the annual rate for beef mince cooling to 3,9% from May’s 10,6%. Stewing beef entered deflationary territory, with its annual rate declining to -2,7%,” Stats SA said.

Pork inflation eased for the third consecutive month but remained in double digits at 13,9%.

The annual rate for mutton and lamb rose to 8,4%. Processed meat products that experienced high rates in June include sausages at 11,8%, corned meat at 10,2% and bacon at 8,6%.

Hot beverages inflation, which has remained above 6,0% since June 2022, reached 7,4% in June 2026.

The annual rate for black tea was 8,3% in June 2026, while instant coffee was 7,0%.

The graph below shows the food and beverage products that recorded the sharpest price changes. Pork, tomatoes, sausages, corned meat and hake registered the largest annual increases in June, while seasonal fruit, beetroot, white rice, potatoes and dried beans saw the largest decreases over the same period.

Actual housing rents and owners’ equivalent rent are included in the CPI calculation at the end of each quarter.

In June, actual rents rose by 1,1% from the March quarter, bringing the annual increase to 4,1%.

Over the past 12 months, rent increased by 5,4% for townhouses, 4,6% for flats and 3,7% for houses. –SAnews.gov.za

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The Office of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Oversight Judge has confirmed receipt of complaints relating to IDAC Head, Advocate Andrea Johnson.

The public acknowledgment comes amid growing media interest and public scrutiny regarding leadership integrity within IDAC, following allegations against Johnson at the Madlanga Commission. 

“The Office does not ordinarily comment on complaints received or matters under consideration. However, given the exceptional public interest in this matter, the numerous media enquiries received, and the fact that the existence of the complaints is already in the public domain, the Office considers it appropriate to confirm their receipt.

“The complaints are receiving attention through the Office’s established processes and are being assessed in accordance with its statutory mandate and the applicable legal framework,” the office said in a statement.

The ombud insisted that it remains committed to protecting whistleblowers and complainants who make “disclosures in good faith”.

“The reporting of alleged corruption and misconduct is an essential feature of constitutional accountability and the rule of law.

“The Office will take all reasonable measures within its mandate and the bounds of the law to ensure that individuals who raise concerns are not discouraged from doing so by fear of prejudice, intimidation, or retaliation,” the statement continued.

Furthermore, the Office explained that there is no “hard-and-fast rule” on the protection or publication of the identity of “persons against whom complaints have been lodged”.

“Whether such information is disclosed or remains confidential depends on the particular circumstances of each case, including considerations of public interest, procedural fairness, legality, the rights and interests of affected parties, and the integrity of the IDAC Oversight Judge Office’s processes.

“These considerations are carefully weighed and balanced on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the Office’s constitutional and statutory mandate,” the statement read.

The public is cautioned against drawing premature conclusions regarding Johnson’s conduct.

“The Office emphasises that the receipt of a complaint does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing, nor should it be interpreted as evidence of misconduct. Every complaint is considered independently, objectively, and in accordance with the principles of procedural fairness.

“To protect the integrity of the Office’s processes and the rights of all concerned, the Office will not comment further on the substance of the complaints or any assessment or investigative steps that may or may not be undertaken while the matter remains under consideration,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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Banyana Banyana are fine-tuning their preparations in Morocco ahead of their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) opening match against Tanzania.

“We’ve had two sessions now trying to acclimatise to the heat as we are coming from a cold South Africa, but fortunately, for now, it’s not as hot as it was last year. We had really good sessions, and now we are looking forward to the rest of the week,” Head Coach, Dr Desiree Ellis said, on Tuesday. 

The tournament will be staged in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August 2026, with South Africa drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.

Banyana Banyana head coach, Dr Desiree Ellis, recently announced a final 26-player squad to represent South Africa at the continental showpiece.

The 2022 African champions will make their 14th appearance at the tournament.

According to the South African Football Association (SAFA), Ellis and her technical team have retained the core group of players who have featured for the senior women’s national team in recent matches.

Of the players selected, 17 were part of the WAFCON 2024 squad, while nine additions have been included for the upcoming competition: Katlego Moletsane, Isabella Ludwig, Asanda Hadebe, Antonia Maponya, Zoe October, Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Nthabiseng Majiya, Thembi Kgatlana and Ronnel Donnelly.

Six players will make their tournament debuts: Moletsane, Hadebe, Maponya, Phila, Ludwig and October, with October the youngest member of the squad at 18.

“We have a nice mixture of youth and experience, and that was key in making our selection because while we have immediate goals, we still need to look beyond the tournament and not be found wanting. 

“We are under no illusion that this competition will be tough, but we believe we have a balanced squad and are well prepared for what lies ahead of us,” Ellis said.

Ellis said the team’s immediate mission is to qualify for the World Cup.

“That means the focus for now is the opening game against Tanzania as it will set the tone for the tournament. We also depart with the full knowledge of the weight of expectations from all South Africans, and we promise not to disappoint,” Ellis said.

WAFCON 2026 kicks off on Sunday, with South Africa in action the following day, Monday, 27 July, when they face Tanzania in their opening game. They will then meet Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in the group stage.

The top four nations will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. –SAnews.gov.za

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South Africans now have more than double the number of locations where they can apply for a Smart ID Card, following the expansion of the Department of Home Affairs’ Digital Partnership with Absa, which also includes the launch of the country’s first bank-based Home Affairs mobile unit.

Absa becomes the fourth banking partner to join the Department’s Digital Partnership, with the new mobile unit set to bring secure Smart ID services directly to remote, peri-urban, and previously underserved communities. The initiative is aimed at extending access to Home Affairs’ digital services beyond traditional departmental offices.

Launching the partnership in Tembisa on Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the reforms are designed to make identity services more accessible.

“For far too long, accessing Home Affairs meant taking a taxi or a bus, missing a day of work, standing in long queues, and spending hours simply to apply for an identity document. Our Home Affairs @ Home reform programme is changing that forever by bringing Home Affairs to where people live, work and bank,” Schreiber said.

The launch builds on the rapid expansion of the Digital Partnership, which went live on 9 March 2026.

The Minister highlighted that in just four and a half months, the department has expanded to 327 participating bank branches.

“Together with the department’s 214 modernised Home Affairs offices, South Africans can now access Smart ID services at 541 locations, compared to just 214 before the partnership began.

“This is the fastest expansion of access to Home Affairs services since the dawn of democracy, with the Digital Partnership already adding more Smart ID service points than the entire modernised Home Affairs network that existed when the reform programme began,” Schreiber said.

The Minister said the Digital Partnership is expected to expand to approximately 750 participating bank branches by the end of the year.

Together with Home Affairs offices, he said this will give South Africans access to around 1 000 locations where they can apply for a Smart ID Card – nearly five times the number of access points that existed just two years ago.

Schreiber added that the Digital Partnership will also be expanded before the end of the year to include applications for adult and minor passports, first-time Smart ID Cards applications and, in the next major milestone, home delivery of identity documents directly to citizens’ homes.

“Through Home Affairs @ home, we are making it easier than ever before for South Africans to replace the fraud-prone green barcoded ID book with the secure Smart ID Card. Together, we are closing the chapter on the fraud-prone green barcoded ID book and opening a new chapter of secure, digitalised identity services that delivers dignity for all,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says South Africa is accelerating efforts to build a digital-first department, with expanded access to identity services, a growing electronic travel authorisation system and further reforms planned for the country’s immigration regime.

Speaking at the Xpatweb Annual Global Mobility Conference on Tuesday, Schreiber said the department was moving beyond plans for reform and was now focused on implementation, positioning Home Affairs as an economic enabler that could support investment, tourism, critical skills and economic growth.

The Minister said the department’s latest milestone was the expansion of its Trusted Employer Scheme, which has been broadened to include major infrastructure projects, companies establishing headquarters in South Africa and the financial services sector.

The scheme is also being streamlined through reduced red tape and greater digitalisation.

Companies interested in participating have until 4 September to apply.

Schreiber said the broader reform programme, known as Home Affairs @ home, was aimed at using technology to decentralise access to government services and reduce the need for people to visit Home Affairs offices.

A key part of the programme has been a partnership with the banking sector, which has enabled South Africans to apply for Smart ID Cards at participating bank branches without paperwork or appointments.

According to Schreiber, 422 119 applications had been processed through the partnership in just over four months.

The number of locations where citizens can obtain replacement Smart IDs has increased from 214 Home Affairs offices to 541 sites, with more than 750 bank branches expected to offer services by the end of the year.

The Minister said the expansion had been achieved without additional staff, budget or cost to taxpayers.

By the end of the year, passports and first-time Smart ID applications for adults and minors are also expected to become available at participating bank branches.

Schreiber said citizens would additionally have the option of having their IDs and passports delivered by courier to their homes before the end of 2026.

The Minister said the expansion of Smart ID services would also pave the way for the eventual discontinuation of the green identity document, which he said would help combat fraud and identity theft.

Another major pillar of the department’s reforms is the development of a voluntary Digital ID system. Schreiber said South Africans would eventually be able to access secure digital versions of Home Affairs documents on their mobile devices, while retaining the option of using physical identity documents.

The digital transformation is also being extended to immigration.

Schreiber described the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) as the department’s flagship immigration reform, saying it was designed not merely to digitise existing processes but to replace the country’s outdated visa operating model with a modern platform using machine learning, biometric verification and automated risk analysis.

The ETA, initially piloted for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, has already processed more than 203 000 applications, according to the Minister.

More than 5 700 fraudulent applications were rejected after the system detected fraudulent passports, manipulated documents and other indicators of fraud.

Schreiber said the system would be expanded to additional countries and visa categories, with study visas among the categories expected to be added by the end of the year.

The department has also activated an extension module that will allow qualifying visitors already in South Africa, including visa-exempt travellers, to apply digitally for an additional 90 days.

Schreiber said the long-term goal was to turn the ETA into a comprehensive digital immigration platform covering a broader range of immigration services.

He also pointed to Cabinet’s adoption of the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection as an important policy milestone.

Government intended to introduce legislation giving effect to the revised policy framework in Parliament at the beginning of the next financial year. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has transferred the management of seven state plantations to beneficiary communities in the Nqadu area, with a further four plantations set to be transferred during the financial year.

To build communities’ capacity to manage plantations, the department is facilitating partnerships between beneficiary communities and strategic forestry companies, which will provide investment, technical expertise, skills transfer and access to markets.

“We anticipate concluding these partnerships before the end of this financial year. One of the government’s priorities is to ensure that communities become meaningful participants in the forestry economy. 

“However, the transfer of plantations alone is not enough. Communities must also receive the technical, financial and business support required to operate commercially viable forestry enterprises,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said at the Nqadu Great Place in the Eastern Cape.

The Deputy Minister said the Eastern Cape remains one of South Africa’s priority provinces for forestry expansion, with more than 100 000 hectares identified as having afforestation potential.

Swarts stressed that the potential is subject to technical assessments, market availability, and strategic partnerships. 

“Working together with the Kingdom, we have an opportunity to identify suitable land within the Nqadu area and bring it into production, subject to the necessary assessments. 

“Such investment has the potential to create employment during plantation establishment and, over time, support downstream industries such as timber processing, furniture manufacturing and biomass energy,” she said.

Swarts was speaking during the nature-based carbon dioxide removal and rural development initiatives event, where she announced that the DFFE will donate 2 000 indigenous and fruit trees to the Nqadu Kingdom as part of government’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Of these, 750 indigenous trees were delivered on Tuesday, while the remaining 1 250 fruit trees will be delivered by 15 August 2026.

Swarts said President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed the department to implement the National Greening Programme, which aims to plant one billion trees within five years.

The Presidential One Billion Trees Programme seeks to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life — including government, the private sector, business, interfaith formations, the diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs, youth formations and communities — to plant trees.

“In the 2025/26 financial year, the DFFE, working with stakeholders including Traditional Authorities, managed to plant 1 303 930 trees in one day – on 24 September 2025.

“Following this achievement, the department will be facilitating and coordinating the planting of 10 million trees across the country on 24 September 2026 as part of the broader goal of achieving the One Billion Trees target,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to Swarts, the department has already implemented six successful community projects across the Eastern Cape under the Global Environment Facility.

These projects have restored degraded land, promoted indigenous tree planting, strengthened agroforestry and improved food security, while creating temporary employment and building skills in rural communities.

The Deputy Minister urged the Nqadu Kingdom to work with government to introduce the E-Waste Programme to collect and recycle electronic waste.

“Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, but it is also one of the greatest opportunities for creating green jobs. Through our national E-Waste Programme, more than 108 tonnes of electronic waste have been collected, and approximately R400 000 has been received by communities as incentives.

“We believe that similar programmes can be introduced within the Nqadu Kingdom. Working together, we can establish community-based e-waste collection and recycling enterprises that create employment, particularly for young people and women, while protecting the environment,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

 

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By Michael Currin
South Africa’s investment story is increasingly moving beyond pledges and conference commitments. It is taking shape on factory floors, industrial parks and manufacturing hubs, where production lines are being modernised, facilities expanded, workers retained and upskilled, and businesses positioned for long-term growth and global competitiveness.

Investor confidence is increasingly being reinforced by evidence that commitments are translating into implementation. This demonstrates that South Africa’s investment story is becoming more compelling because it is grounded in delivery, not promises. Because of its extensive infrastructure, industrial capacity, skilled labour force, advantageous location, policy backing, and access to both African and international markets, South Africa continues to be a desirable place for investment.

South Africa’s automotive industry provides a powerful example of how investment commitments are translating into real economic activity. Toyota South Africa Motors’ R10.4 billion investment in the production of the ninth-generation Hilux at its Prospecton plant in eThekwini is a strong vote of confidence in the country’s economic potential. The investment will support the modernisation and expansion of manufacturing capabilities, strengthen local production capacity, retain jobs, enhance skills development and reinforce South Africa’s position as a competitive vehicle manufacturing and export hub.

The significance of this investment is reflected in the broader contribution of the automotive sector to the economy. The sector contributes around 5% of South Africa’s gross domestic product and supports more than 115 000 direct manufacturing jobs, making it a key driver of industrial development, economic growth and export earnings.

The value of this investment extends well beyond new machinery or production capacity. Every manufacturing investment creates opportunities for workers, strengthens supplier networks, supports young people entering the workforce and bolsters small businesses connected to manufacturing value chains. In this way, the benefits ripple throughout the economy, reinforcing manufacturing value chains and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.

Chery’s decision to acquire Nissan’s former Rosslyn manufacturing facility in Gauteng reinforces this point. The company has committed to retaining 692 employees, while the project is expected to create nearly 3 000 direct and indirect opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, supply chains and related services. Its vision of transforming Rosslyn into an African manufacturing, export, research and development, supply chain and skills hub shows that investors see South Africa not only as a market, but as a platform for regional growth.

A crucial part of the success of South Africa’s automotive sector rests on two of government’s long-term industrial policy interventions. Firstly, the Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP) has helped position South Africa as a globally competitive automotive manufacturing hub. Through this programme, the country has attracted leading international manufacturers, including Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, BMW and Volkswagen, while strengthening the domestic automotive value chain and creating an enabling environment for sustained investment, production growth and job creation.

Secondly, South Africa’s network of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) has become a key pillar of the country’s industrialisation, investment attraction and regional economic development strategy. SEZs are designated geographic areas where government provides targeted support, including serviced industrial land, infrastructure, regulatory assistance and other incentives, to attract businesses and encourage production. By creating an enabling environment for companies to establish and expand operations, SEZs help channel investment into strategic locations, stimulate local economies, create jobs, develop supplier networks and promote inclusive industrial growth.

South Africa’s designated SEZs are already showing measurable progress. They host 224 companies with a combined investment of about R31.7 billion and have supported more than 28 000 direct jobs. These figures matter because they show that the SEZ model is moving beyond policy design into operational impact. Investment is becoming visible in buildings, production activity, logistics networks, exports and livelihoods.

The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone is an excellent illustration of what can happen when infrastructure, policy, and anchor investors come together. The zone provides enormous efficiencies by bringing together automobile manufacturers, component suppliers, logistics businesses, and skills institutes in a single ecosystem, lowering manufacturing costs, increasing competitiveness, and strengthening local supply chains.

This is why SEZs remain at the centre of South Africa’s investment and industrialisation strategy. They are essential to attracting foreign and domestic investment, accelerating industrial growth, promoting beneficiation, strengthening exports and bringing micro, small and medium enterprises into industrial value chains. At a time when South Africa must grow its economy more rapidly while ensuring that growth is more inclusive. SEZs provide a practical bridge between investment and inclusive development.

South Africa remains committed to strengthening the conditions that ensure investors choose our country. That means reliable infrastructure, efficient logistics, faster approvals, policy certainty, competitive incentives, skills development and stronger partnerships between government, business and labour. Investment attraction cannot be treated as an event; it must become a continuous delivery system.

The opportunity is to now convert the country’s investor confidence into long-term competitiveness. Sustained manufacturing-led growth creates demand for suppliers, raises the need for technical skills, supports logistics services and gives young South Africans a route into advanced industries. 

The investments by Toyota and Chery and the continued expansion of SEZs all point to a country that can manufacture at scale, expand its export base, innovate with confidence and create jobs. The task ahead is to build on this momentum by ensuring that every investment strengthens the country’s productive capacity and lays the foundation for faster, more inclusive and more resilient economic growth.

*Currin is Deputy Director-General at the Government Communication and Information System.
 

 

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