Category: MIL-OSI

The Department of Home Affairs has urged couples in qualifying customary marriages to register their unions before the special registration period closes on 31 August 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the department reminded the public that only a few weeks remain before the deadline for registering customary marriages that were not recorded within the prescribed period.

The special registration window, which runs from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026, was introduced by the Minister of Home Affairs to allow couples to regularise their marital status.

The registration drive applies to customary marriages concluded before the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act came into effect in November 2000, as well as marriages entered into after the law’s commencement that were not registered within the required timeframe.

Home Affairs warned couples against waiting until the final days of the registration period, saying a last-minute rush could result in long queues and processing delays at its offices.

“The department urges qualifying couples not to wait until the last minute, as this may result in unnecessary queues and delays,” the department said.

The department has also appealed to traditional leaders, community leaders and civil society organisations to assist in raising awareness of the deadline and encourage eligible couples to complete the registration process as soon as possible.

Registering a customary marriage is important because it provides legal recognition of the union and helps protect the rights of spouses in matters such as inheritance, property ownership and other legal and administrative processes.

Members of the public who need information about the registration process or the supporting documents required have been advised to visit their nearest Home Affairs office before the 31 August 2026 deadline. – SAnews.gov.za
 

By Nomonde Mnukwa

The recent News24 article, Blurred lines: DA, EFF sneak party colours into government media, raises an important issue that warrants thoughtful public discussion. Beyond questions of design or branding, it invites us to reflect on the importance of preserving the integrity of South Africa’s national identity and the distinction between the state and political parties.

Every nation is defined by the symbols that express its identity, history and shared values. In South Africa, these include the National Flag, the National Coat of Arms and the National Anthem. These are symbols that belong to all South Africans and embody the principles of our constitutional democracy. Together, they reflect our journey as a nation, celebrate our diversity and inspire a shared sense of belonging.

To ensure that these national symbols are represented consistently and with dignity, the South African Government has adopted a Corporate Identity Manual. The Manual establishes a uniform corporate identity prescribing how the National Coat of Arms and other elements of government’s visual identity should be applied across all official communication. More than a set of design standards, it serves as an important governance tool that protects the integrity of government’s identity, promotes consistency across departments, and enables citizens to easily recognise authentic government communication and services. 

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), as the custodian of government’s Corporate Identity, is responsible for safeguarding the implementation of the Manual by providing guidance and support to departments and ensuring that the National Coat of Arms and other elements of government’s identity are applied correctly and consistently across all government communication platforms.

This responsibility extends beyond visual identity. It is fundamental to protecting the integrity, credibility and recognisability of government as a single institution serving all South Africans. Through the consistent application of government’s corporate identity, GCIS strengthens public trust, reinforces the distinction between the state and political organisations, and supports nation-building by ensuring that government communicates through one clear and authoritative identity.

The National Flag is perhaps the most visible and universally recognised symbol of our nation. With its distinctive colours of black, green, gold, white, red and blue, it reflects South Africa’s diversity, unity and democratic aspirations. Wherever South Africans gather, whether during international sporting events, diplomatic engagements or national commemorations, the flag is a powerful source of pride and unity. It embodies our shared identity and reflects the democratic values upon which our nation is built. 

Former President Nelson Mandela captured this sentiment well when he said:

“The new South African national flag… [flies] not as a symbol of a political party, nor of a government, but as a possession of the people – the one thing that is literally and figuratively above all else, our flag.”

These words remain as relevant today as they were when they were first spoken. They remind us that our national symbols belong to every South African, irrespective of political affiliation. They unite rather than divide and serve as enduring expressions of our constitutional democracy.

The same principle applies to the National Coat of Arms. The National Coat of Arms is the singular corporate identity of the South African Government and is consistently applied across government departments as the official symbol of the Republic. It is important to distinguish between the use of colours and the use of the government’s official corporate identity. The Government Corporate Identity Manual prescribes the correct application of the National Coat of Arms, including its approved colour palette, which incorporates colours such as green, red, blue, gold, brown, orange, black, and maroon. 

The colours contained in the National Coat of Arms and National Flag form part of South Africa’s official national identity and should not be construed as an endorsement of, or association with, any political party that may use similar colours in its branding. The fact that some colours contained in the National Coat of Arms or the National Flag may also appear in the branding of political parties should not, in itself, be interpreted as government adopting or promoting party colours.

Government departments may, where appropriate, utilise a range of colours in communication and promotional material, provided that such use complies with the Government Corporate Identity Manual. Colours are not exclusive to any political organisation. The defining feature of official government communication is the authorised use of the National Coat of Arms and compliance with government’s prescribed corporate identity standards.

Protecting the integrity of the Government’s corporate identity is a shared responsibility.  It safeguards public confidence in state institutions, ensures that national symbols remain above political contestation, and reinforces the shared identity that belongs equally to every South African. All stakeholders should therefore avoid using official government symbols in ways that could blur the distinction between the state and political organisations or undermine public confidence in official government communication. 

For this reason, any inappropriate or unauthorised use of government’s corporate identity is taken seriously. Where deviations from the prescribed standards are identified, GCIS engages with the relevant departments to provide guidance and support to ensure that the Government Corporate Identity Manual is correctly applied.

As South Africa continues to build a capable, ethical and developmental state, the proper use of government symbols remains both a constitutional obligation and a democratic necessity. Our national symbols represent far more than official emblems; they embody our shared history, democratic values and collective aspirations. Their consistent and appropriate use preserves the integrity of government communication, strengthens social cohesion, and reinforces the principle that the South African state belongs equally to all its people, irrespective of political affiliation. Through protecting these symbols, we protect an important part of our national identity.

Let us therefore recommit ourselves to preserving the integrity of our national symbols, ensuring that they remain above political contestation and continue to serve as unifying symbols of our democracy. By respecting and protecting these symbols, we reinforce our shared national identity and honour the democratic values that bind us together as one nation.

Ms Nomonde Mnukwa is the Acting Director General  of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

South Africa is today marking Nelson Mandela International Day – a global day of service observed every year on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of South Africa’s first democratically elected President. 

People are marking the day by dedicating 67 minutes to acts of community service, while commemorative events are taking place in several countries.

In South Africa, communities, schools, businesses and organisations are taking part in food donation drives, clean-up campaigns, tree-planting initiatives, blood donation drives and volunteer projects. 

As part of the country’s Mandela Day commemorations, President Cyril Ramaphosa will officiate the launch of the Unserved Communities Access Acceleration Programme in Hammanskraal, Gauteng. 

The programme, which aligns with Mandela Month, aims to accelerate the rollout of vital water infrastructure to historically marginalised communities. It forms part of the Presidential Water Crisis Committee’s long-term goal of delivering sustainable, decentralised groundwater treatment to rural and peri-urban areas.

The initiative is a key government intervention aimed at restoring dignity and combating deep-seated poverty, while advancing the 2026 Nelson Mandela International Day themes of equality and active citizenship.

Meanwhile, thousands will gather at the DP World Wanderers Stadium for the annual Mandela Day Walk & Run on Sunday, a celebration of unity, purpose, wellness, and the enduring legacy of Nelson Mandela. Inspired by Madiba’s famous walks through the streets of Houghton, this iconic Johannesburg event invites South Africans from all walks of life to quite literally walk in the footsteps of Tata Madiba.

Cape Town is hosting its annual Mandela Day Langtafel, where thousands of people are expected to gather around a giant communal table to share a meal and celebrate unity, while the 67 Blankets for Mandela Day campaign continues collecting and distributing handmade blankets to vulnerable communities across the country.

International commemorations are taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on people everywhere to carry forward Madiba’s vision of a more just, equal and peaceful world. In his Mandela Day message, the Secretary-General reflected on Nelson Mandela’s belief that ending poverty is not an act of charity, but an act of justice. 

The Nelson Mandela Foundation this week launched the inaugural Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum in New York, creating a new international platform for conversations about the leadership challenges shaping the world today. The inaugural Forum featured New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani as the Distinguished Speaker, continuing the Foundation’s longstanding tradition of convening influential voices to engage with some of the defining questions of our time.

Earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africans to use Mandela Day not only as an opportunity to perform acts of service, but also to renew the country’s commitment to tackling poverty, inequality and injustice.

In his weekly newsletter, the President said the annual commemoration should inspire both individual acts of kindness and collective action to address the root causes of inequality.

He reminded South Africans that the United Nations declared 18 July Nelson Mandela International Day in 2009, making it a global day of action dedicated to advancing Madiba’s legacy through the fight against poverty, inequality and injustice.

President Ramaphosa encouraged South Africans to dedicate their traditional 67 minutes to helping those in need by feeding the hungry, supporting the elderly, comforting the lonely or volunteering their skills to organisations serving local communities.

However, he stressed that the late Madiba viewed the eradication of poverty as an act of justice rather than charity, saying the country must recommit itself to ending poverty and inequality.

The President said addressing inequality also requires changes to global financial systems and stronger international cooperation. He noted that South Africa is working with international partners to establish an International Panel on Inequality to monitor global inequality, assess its causes and recommend policies to reverse it.

At home, President Ramaphosa said government must continue investing in education, healthcare, skills development and social protection, while creating conditions that support investment, job creation and economic growth.

He said the spirit of Mandela Day should extend beyond acts of service, with South Africans working together to build stronger institutions and a more just and inclusive society.

Quoting Nelson Mandela, President Ramaphosa reminded South Africans that “it is now in your hands”, urging citizens to ensure their acts of service contribute to building a better country and a better world for all. – SAnews.gov.za