Category: MIL-OSI

By William Baloyi
The goal of building a better South Africa is a partnership that requires the active participation of its citizens. A nation is not defined only by its institutions but by the people who give it meaning—their values, their contributions, and their commitment to the common good of the country. South Africa is shaped by the millions of people who call this country home and who continue to play their part in strengthening its social fabric.

As we observe Mandela Month this July, social cohesion is at the heart of our collective responsibility to build a united, inclusive, and resilient South Africa where every person can thrive. It is also a time to celebrate South Africans who continue to uphold the values that define our democracy—human dignity, compassion, equality, and a shared commitment to building a better future for all.

Social cohesion refers to the bonds that unite people in a society: the trust, shared values, sense of belonging, and collective responsibility that enable communities to work together despite their differences. It is about building a South Africa where diversity is embraced, where every person feels valued, and where citizens actively contribute to the common good.

The strength of South Africa lies in citizens who embody responsible patriotism—people whose resilience, commitment, and love for their country continue to shape the nation we are building. Through their everyday actions, South Africans demonstrate a remarkable spirit of unity, responsibility, and solidarity that strengthens the social fabric of our country.

The spirit of responsible patriotism demonstrated by South Africans today is rooted in a long history of courage, sacrifice, and collective action. The freedoms and democratic rights we enjoy were made possible by generations of South Africans who stood firm against injustice and dedicated their lives to the pursuit of equality, dignity, and human rights. From those who participated in the struggle against apartheid to communities and individuals who made sacrifices in the pursuit of freedom, their actions shaped the democratic South Africa we know today. Their commitment to justice and reconciliation laid the foundation for a society built on constitutional values.

Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa has made significant progress in transforming society and expanding opportunities for millions of people who were previously excluded. Access to basic services has improved substantially: more than 90% of households are now connected to electricity, and significant strides have been made in expanding access to water and sanitation. Education has been transformed into a more inclusive system, with millions of learners accessing public schooling and women now representing most graduates at public universities.

South Africa has also strengthened healthcare access through one of the largest public health systems in the world, including a life-saving HIV treatment programme that has benefited millions of people. Through initiatives aimed at expanding economic participation, supporting vulnerable communities, and creating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, the country continues to advance towards the constitutional vision of a more equal, inclusive, and prosperous society.

These achievements reflect the resilience of our democracy and the collective efforts of government, communities, civil society, and citizens who continue to work towards the vision of a united, inclusive, and prosperous South Africa. At the centre of these achievements are the people of South Africa, citizens whose determination, resilience, and contributions continue to give meaning to our democracy. The progress we have made as a nation reflects the millions of South Africans who have participated in building communities, creating opportunities, supporting one another, and contributing to the country’s social and economic development.

As we commemorate Mandela Month, it is important to celebrate these acts of responsible patriotism and recognise that nation building is carried forward through the everyday actions of ordinary citizens. From educators shaping future generations and healthcare workers serving communities, to entrepreneurs creating opportunities; farmers strengthening food security, researchers advancing innovation, and volunteers supporting those in need.

Nation building is also carried forward through the everyday actions of ordinary South Africans who make a meaningful difference in their homes, workplaces, and communities. It is reflected in the neighbour who supports others in times of need, the community member who volunteers, the parent who nurtures future generations, the worker who serves with dedication, the entrepreneur who creates opportunities, and every citizen who respects the dignity of others and contributes positively to society. South Africans continue to demonstrate that the strength of our nation lies in its people.

While we celebrate the progress South Africa has made, we must also acknowledge the challenges that continue to affect many communities. Poverty, unemployment, inequality, crime, and gender-based violence remain significant obstacles to building the inclusive society envisioned in our Constitution. These challenges remind us that the journey towards a more united and prosperous South Africa is ongoing and requires sustained commitment from all sectors of society.

However, our challenges cannot stop us from achieving our aspirations. They present an opportunity for South Africans to strengthen the spirit of solidarity and responsible patriotism that has carried our country through difficult moments. Each citizen has a role to play in building the South Africa we want to see by respecting the dignity of others, rejecting discrimination, supporting communities, protecting public spaces, creating opportunities, and contributing positively to society. 

South Africa is her people. Our nation’s greatest strength lies in the millions of citizens who, through their everyday actions, continue to uphold the values of our democracy and contribute to building a better future. From communities standing together in times of need to individuals serving, supporting, and uplifting one another, the spirit of unity and solidarity remains at the heart of our national identity.

As we observe Mandela Month and social cohesion, let us recommit ourselves to the values that have guided our democratic journey: unity, compassion, resilience, and a shared responsibility for the future of our country. We are stronger when we stand together, when we embrace our diversity, and when we recognise that nation-building is a responsibility shared by all.

*Mr William Baloyi is the Deputy Government Spokesperson
 

In a world that has become more inward-looking, the principle of ubuntu should continue to be a crucial part of how we show up as a nation this Mandela Month, writes Neo Semono.

This week, we celebrate what would have been President Nelson Mandela’s 108th birthday on Saturday, 18 July. One can say that selfishness and not taking others with us as we progress in life are taking us away from how we were raised. 

Many were raised on borrowed cups of sugar and flour from neighbours. We were taken in by neighbours if our parents were not yet home by the time we came back from school. There was an overall culture of sharing what little we had with others.

We cannot afford to lose our innate hospitality. While commemorating the birth of our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela, 18 July and the month of July are, at their core, about caring for one another.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead,” the late statesman said back in May 2002.

And while we all want to get ahead in life, especially in tough economic conditions exacerbated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and geopolitical tensions, such as those around the Strait of Hormuz, the ongoing unemployment challenge and cost-of-living crunch on home soil are also adding to the unpleasant cocktail.

Measures like the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) continue to connect young people to earning opportunities,  of which 155 161 new opportunities were secured during the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. 

Other initiatives like the SA Youth.mobi recruitment platform, which now has more than 5.7 million young people registered, have been created to connect job seekers with potential employers. In addition, the Department of Employment and Labour’s Budget Vote in May 2026 announced a R350 million commitment towards a government and business partnership aimed at placing 130 000 young people into learning and employment opportunities. 

Government has also been calling on young people to become entrepreneurs who create work for themselves and others and is supporting this through the National Youth Development Agency’s grant programme, which is designed to provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to access both financial and non-financial business development support, among others.

Other government initiatives, including the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), while temporary in nature, are a deliberate attempt by the public sector to use expenditure on goods and services to create work opportunities for the unemployed.

Given our inherent nature to care for one another, government also continues to provide social grants and free basic services for the most vulnerable in society.

Our humanity, based on the principle of “I am because you are”, must remain and apply to every human being.

Nelson Mandela Day and Nelson Mandela Month are a call to action for individuals, communities and organisations to reflect on Tata Madiba’s values and principles of nation-building, social cohesion and reconciliation, among others, and use them to contribute meaningfully to change in society.

Cabinet too has called on South Africans to dedicate their time and efforts during Mandela Month to help build a South Africa that works for South Africans.

As you mull over how to spend your 67 minutes with this Mandela Day, symbolically representing the number of years Tata Madiba devoted to  the quest for justice and freedom, remember that time spent in the service of others is not wasted.

So, whether you will be helping to paint an orphanage, cooking for the elderly, or contributing towards buying groceries for a child-headed household, it will help to grow and regenerate the fabric of our society. Simple things like sharing a meal or a cup of tea with the elderly who seldom get visitors can make a world of a difference to those who feel marginalised or isolated.

It also need not be a once-off affair; 67 minutes in the service of others can spark a lifelong friendship you never saw coming; teach you a new skill you can pass on to others, or teach you new things about yourself or the world.

We must not lose touch with the culture of caring for one another in our own quest to make it in the world. No person is an island.

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of,” Madiba once said.

Let us make Mandela Day and Month this July count. – SAnews.gov.za  

*Neo Semono is a Features Editor at SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, has called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders as the death toll of the 2026 Winter Customary Initiation Season climbed to 43.

Expressing deep concern over the continued loss of life and other incidents recorded during the season, Hlabisa said while customary initiation remains an important cultural practice that marks the transition to adulthood, the tradition must be conducted in a manner that safeguards the dignity, health and lives of initiates.

According to preliminary reports from Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees, 43 initiates have died during the season, including 18 in Mpumalanga, 14 in the Eastern Cape, two in Gauteng, three in Limpopo, four in North West and two in the Free  State. 

Authorities have also recorded 12 abductions, while 58 illegal initiation schools were identified, 42 of which have since been closed.

The reports further indicate that 180 initiates have been rescued; 75 hospitalised; three assault cases and one injury were recorded.  

Law enforcement agencies have opened 150 criminal cases, resulting in 40 arrests.

“These figures are deeply concerning and serve as a stark reminder that much more must be done collectively to eliminate preventable deaths, injuries and criminal activities associated with customary initiation,” Hlabisa said.

The Minister extended his condolences to the families of those who died and wished those injured or still receiving medical treatment a speedy recovery.

Hlabisa reiterated that ensuring the safety of initiates is a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of families, traditional leaders, communities, law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, municipalities, educators, and other stakeholders entrusted with safeguarding this sacred cultural practice.

He also urged parents and guardians to ensure that children attend only legally registered initiation schools and to verify that traditional surgeons and traditional nurses are properly authorised in terms of the law.

“Parents should remain actively involved throughout the initiation process and report any suspicious or illegal activities to the relevant authorities. Parental neglect and the failure to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools place young lives at unnecessary risk,” the Minister said.

The Minister further condemned the continued operation of illegal initiation schools, saying they undermine the integrity of customary initiation and contribute significantly to deaths, injuries, kidnappings and abuse reported each year.

He warned that individuals who establish, facilitate or participate in illegal initiation schools are committing criminal offences and will face the full might of the law.

“The Customary Initiation Act provides a comprehensive legislative framework to regulate customary initiation, protect initiates and preserve the cultural integrity of the practice. 

“The Act requires the registration of initiation schools, establishes Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees, and provides for oversight, inspections and enforcement measures against those who violate its provisions,” the Minister explained.

The Minister commended Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees, including traditional leaders, the South African Police Service, provincial departments, municipalities, emergency medical services and community stakeholders for their ongoing monitoring, inspections, awareness campaigns and enforcement operations throughout the season.

He said these coordinated efforts have led to the closure of illegal initiation schools, the rescue of initiates and the arrest of offenders, demonstrating the value of a united, multi-sectoral response.

Calling on all South Africans to reject practices that endanger lives while protecting the country’s cultural heritage, Hlabisa said respect for tradition must be accompanied by respect for the law and the constitutional rights of initiates.

“Respect for tradition must go hand in hand with respect for the law and every initiate’s constitutional rights to life, dignity and safety. 

“Government remains committed to working with traditional leaders, families, communities and all stakeholders to achieve zero deaths, zero injuries and zero illegal initiation schools. 

“Every initiate deserves to return home safely and with their dignity intact. This requires all of us to play our part,” he said.

COGTA said it will continue working closely with Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen monitoring, enforcement and public awareness throughout the remainder of the winter initiation season. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Minister of Social Development Dina Pule will on Friday lead an Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP) in Daggakraal, Mpumalanga, bringing a range of government and social services directly to residents as part of Mandela Month activities.

The outreach programme will take place at the Daggakraal 3 Sports Ground in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality.

ICROP is one of the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) flagship service delivery initiatives aimed at improving access to essential government services by bringing them closer to communities.

According to the Department of Social Development, the programme helps reduce travel costs, minimises waiting times and provides a variety of services under one roof, while ensuring that government and stakeholder services are more accessible, responsive and citizen-centred.

The outreach takes place a day before International Nelson Mandela Day, observed annually on 18 July, under the theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.”

The department said the initiative seeks to strengthen government’s poverty alleviation, social justice and community development programmes while creating a platform for direct engagement between government, communities and stakeholders on issues affecting poor and vulnerable communities.

The event also forms part of SASSA’s 20th anniversary celebrations, marking two decades of providing social assistance and advancing social protection for millions of vulnerable South Africans.

“The engagement presents an opportunity not only to celebrate this important milestone but also to reaffirm government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the people and strengthening service delivery,” the department said.

In recognition of Mandela Month, the outreach will focus on poverty alleviation, skills development, entrepreneurship, support for small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), and the inclusion of persons with disabilities, alongside programmes promoting social cohesion.

The Department of Social Development, together with SASSA, the National Development Agency (NDA), government departments and stakeholder partners, will provide a range of services, including social grant applications and enquiries, employment and career guidance, information on bursaries, student funding, learnerships and entrepreneurship support, social work services and referrals, support for victims of gender-based violence and substance abuse, and civil society organisation registration and support services.

Pule will be joined by Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development Nompumelelo Hlophe, as well as municipal and traditional leaders.

Ahead of the main programme, the delegation will visit local community development initiatives before participating in a community engagement session, where residents will have an opportunity to raise issues affecting their community. 

The programme will conclude with the on-site delivery of services by participating government departments and stakeholder organisations. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Home Affairs has announced another major milestone in a groundbreaking digital partnership with the banking sector, as Absa went live with digital Smart ID applications.

This makes Absa the fourth bank to offer the service through the department’s new Digital Partnership Model.

Absa joins the likes of Capitec, Standard Bank and First National Bank, where South Africans can now access Smart ID services through a network of 296 participating bank branches across the country.

As part of today’s rollout, 12 Absa branches have been enabled to provide Home Affairs Smart ID services, with a further 60 Absa branches scheduled to go live before the end of 2026. 

In addition to its branch rollout, Absa will also introduce an innovative mobile service component, Bank on the Move, extending secure Home Affairs services to even more communities. Further details on this innovation will be unveiled during the official rollout event.

More than 385 000 Smart ID applications have already been processed through the Digital Partnership, demonstrating the growing demand for convenient, digitally enabled services that make it easier than ever for South Africans to replace the fraud-prone green barcoded ID book with the far more secure Smart ID Card.

“The rapid expansion of our Digital Partnership with the banking sector demonstrates the success of our vision to fundamentally transform Home Affairs service delivery through digital innovation. 

“Processing more than 385 000 Smart ID applications in just four months demonstrates that South Africans are embracing a faster, more secure and more convenient way of accessing Home Affairs services,” Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said. 

“Under our Home Affairs @ home reform programme, which includes expanding our new Digital Partnership to 750 participating bank branches by the end of this year, together with innovations such as Bank on the Move, we are bringing secure and dignified access to Smart ID services closer to where people live and work,” Schreiber said. – SAnews.gov.za