Category: MIL-OSI

The South African Police Service (SAPS), in close collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, the Border Management Authority (BMA), and other government departments, has sharpened its focus on immigration enforcement with 8 896 foreign nationals arrested.

In a statement on Wednesday, the police said the foreign nationals were arrested nationwide in the past 14 days for contravening the Immigration Act (Act No. 13 of 2002). 

Some of these individuals are also facing additional charges involving serious and violent crime, including murder, rape, and the possession of unlicenced firearms. 

These figures reflect government’s commitment to deal decisively with illegal immigration and related offences across the country. 

Just last week, multiple operations conducted across the Gauteng province resulted in the arrest of more than 800 undocumented foreign nationals. In one of the operations, police, supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other stakeholders, arrested 217 suspects at Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonaria on 07 July 2026. 

The operation targeted illegal mining activities and other related criminal offences in the area.

In Reitz in the Free State, intelligence led officers to a biscuit manufacturing factory on 03 July 2026, where nine undocumented foreign nationals were arrested. The suspects remain in custody pending immigration verification. 

The municipality has been engaged, and the factory faces closure while investigations continue. Authorities are weighing further action against the owner for alleged non-compliance.

Meanwhile, the Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has issued a stern warning against unlawful intimidation and harassment of foreign nationals. 

This follows the arrest of five suspects in Lephalale, Limpopo, who posed as Home Affairs officials and unlawfully demanded the removal of foreign nationals from Marapong township. Verification by the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that the targeted Nigerian national was legally documented and permitted to operate his business.

In addition, a multidisciplinary team has been appointed to investigate the murder of March and March Gauteng leader, Andile Mvuyiselwa Somgaxa, who was shot in the driveway of his home in Greenfield, Johannesburg, on 04 July 2026 and succumbed to his injuries in hospital on 09 July 2026.

“Violence, whether perpetrated by South Africans or foreign nationals, destroys communities, erodes trust, and will never be tolerated as a solution to resolve disputes. We urge communities to not take matters into their own hands. Our men and women in blue are hard at work in arresting those who contravene the laws of our country,” said Dimpane. 

The SAPS also reminded the public that only authorised law enforcement officials may conduct inspections and verify the legal status of individuals within South Africa. Acts of intimidation, vigilantism or violence will be met with decisive action. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for urgent action to remove the barriers that continue to prevent learners with disabilities from accessing quality education and meaningful employment opportunities.

Delivering the keynote address at the Recreation Aid Foundation (RAF) Graduation Ceremony in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, on Wednesday, Chikunga said South Africa must build an education system that embraces inclusion and ensures every learner has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Congratulating the Class of 2026, the Minister commended the foundation for empowering academically disadvantaged learners and young people with special educational needs through academic and vocational training.

She stressed that the greatest obstacles facing learners with disabilities are not their disabilities, but education systems and environments that fail to accommodate their needs.

“The obstacle is not the learner’s difference. It is the exclusionary design of our schools, our systems, our curricula and, more often than not, our attitudes,” Chikunga said.

The Minister highlighted that many schools, particularly in townships, rural areas and farming communities, continue to operate from buildings that were never designed to accommodate learners with disabilities. She added that inadequate assistive devices and limited specialist support remain major challenges.

“Many of our schools still operate in buildings never designed with accessibility in mind: classrooms without ramps, corridors too narrow for a wheelchair, toilets that cannot be used by a child with mobility needs.

“These physical impediments are not neutral. If a learner cannot enter a classroom with dignity, the conversation about inclusive education has already failed before the lesson begins,” she said.

Chikunga emphasised that inclusive education must be built on respect, high expectations and a genuine sense of belonging, rather than “pity or tolerance”.

She also called for stronger investment in teacher training to better equip educators to support inclusive classrooms, noting that while South Africa has a progressive policy framework, implementation continues to lag.

“We are not short of policies – it is implementation that continues to falter. Our White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is lauded on multilateral platforms,” she said.

Among the proposals announced was the transformation of special schools into resource and support hubs serving the broader education system.

Drawing on international best practice, Chikunga said special schools should become centres of expertise that provide outreach services, adaptive curriculum resources and specialist support to mainstream schools.

“By resourcing special schools to act as knowledge exporters, rather than silos, we multiply their impact across entire districts, especially those that are lagging behind. We need investment sufficient to embed multidisciplinary support teams within special schools,” she said.

The Minister noted that South Africa’s Constitution, the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the National Development Plan all recognise disability inclusion as a national priority.

According to the National Development Plan (Vision 2030), persons with disabilities account for about 12.34% of South Africa’s population. Government is working towards ensuring that at least 10% of employment opportunities and 7% of skills development opportunities are reserved for persons with disabilities by 2030.

Chikunga also outlined several initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities, including closer collaboration with the National Skills Fund’s R1 billion Disability Support Fund, launched in 2024 to support workplace training, enterprise development and economic inclusion.

She said her department also plans to partner with state-owned enterprises, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and industry to channel corporate social investment towards improving infrastructure and educational outcomes at special schools.

Another initiative under development is the Disability Inclusion Research, Advocacy and Mainstreaming Centre of Excellence, which will support teacher training, help bridge the digital divide and promote disability-inclusive education across the country.

Congratulating the graduates, Chikunga said their success reflected not only their determination but also the unwavering support of their families, educators and communities.

“Your achievement today is not only your own. It is the achievement of your families, your teachers and your communities, and of every South African who believes that our society is stronger when every one of its members is included, respected, and equipped to lead,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Reverend Musa Zondi will today brief the media on the second International Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Infrastructure and Investment Conference, currently underway in Durban. 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver the keynote address at the conference on Friday.

Held under the theme: “Reigniting Industrialisation through World-class Special Economic Zones” – the conference will place South Africa’s Special Economic Zones Programme in the global spotlight as government intensifies efforts to drive industrialisation, attract investment and create jobs.

More than 1 000 delegates are expected to attend the two-day gathering, which will showcase the country’s SEZ Programme as a key industrial policy instrument for stimulating economic growth, attracting both foreign and domestic direct investment, and expanding the country’s manufacturing base.

Special Economic Zones are geographically designated areas that offer world-class infrastructure, streamlined administrative processes, and a range of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and supporting industrial development.

Discussions during the conference are expected to focus on strengthening the governance and performance of SEZs, mobilising investment in industrial infrastructure, and unlocking opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Delegates will also reflect on the outcomes of the inaugural SEZ Conference held in 2019 and explore practical interventions to improve the ease of doing business, strengthen coordination across government institutions, increase the participation of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in SEZ value chains, expand public-private partnerships, and improve energy security to enhance South Africa’s competitiveness as an investment destination.

Hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), the conference brings together government leaders, business, organised labour, investors, development finance institutions, academia and international experts to examine the role of Special Economic Zones in accelerating industrialisation, attracting investment, boosting exports and creating sustainable employment. – SAnews.gov.za

The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has called on eligible community media organisations across South Africa to apply for financial support through its 2026/27 Annual Call for Grant Funding Applications.

The agency said the funding call forms part of its ongoing efforts to transform South Africa’s media landscape and strengthen the country’s community media sector.

“As part of the MDDA mandate, priority will be given to publications in indigenous languages that serve rural and historically marginalised communities, further promoting equitable access to information and media diversity,” the agency said.

The MDDA encouraged eligible community media organisations to apply, saying the grants are aimed at supporting a diverse, inclusive and sustainable community media environment in South Africa.

Applications opened on 3 July 2026 and will close on 31 July 2026.

Applicants are advised to note the following:

• Budget and business plan templates are available on the MDDA website to assist applicants with their submissions.
• Applicants should carefully review the application guidelines and ensure that all required supporting documents are submitted before the closing date.
• Applicants who experience challenges on the website may contact margaret@mdda.org.za for assistance.

The following documents must be submitted with the application:

• A certified copy of the company’s registration documents. Deregistered organisations will not be considered.
• A valid tax clearance certificate or tax PIN.
• Audited or reviewed financial statements for the previous financial year, certified by an accountant or auditor who is independent of the project, for existing organisations. For reviewed financial statements, applicants must provide the full registration details of the reviewing accountant.
• An affidavit confirming that the applicant is not connected to, owned or controlled by any commercial media entity or individuals, including Caxton, Kagiso Media, MultiChoice, SABC, e.tv, Primedia, M-Net, Media24, Arena Holdings or Independent Newspapers, or by any political party or government.
• A completed budget, using the template that is available on the MDDA website.
• A business plan, including three-year financial projections, using the template that is available on the MDDA website.
• A sample of the applicant’s media product, or a URL if the publication is digital.
• A Google Analytics report, or any other web analytics data covering a period of six months to one year, demonstrating the platform’s performance.
• Copies of key personnel CVs, up to a maximum of four.
• A B-BBEE certificate.

More information is available at: https://mdda.org.za/funding.html.

–SAnews.gov.za

Government has encouraged every South African to participate in Mandela Month activities to honour the life and legacy of former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela through service to others and by helping to build stronger, more caring communities.

Observed annually on 18 July, Nelson Mandela International Day was proclaimed by the United Nations in 2009 in recognition of Madiba’s lifelong commitment to peace, justice, human rights and freedom. 

It reminds people across the world that everyone has the power to make a meaningful difference through simple acts of service.

During Mandela Month and on Mandela Day, government leaders will conduct a series of service delivery initiatives aimed at meeting the basic needs of this country’s citizens.

Among the host of activities to be undertaken, government, through the Department of Water and Sanitation, will launch the National Water Access Acceleration Programme on Mandela Day. 

The programme aims to expand access to safe and reliable water services for communities that remain unserved or underserved, while accelerating service delivery through practical, sustainable and fit-for-purpose solutions. 

A key milestone of the programme will be the launch of 67 borehole interventions across the country, symbolising the 67 years that Madiba dedicated to serving humankind. 

The initial rollout will focus on rural communities served by the Babanango Community Water Supply Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal and the Mncwasa Water Supply Scheme in the Eastern Cape. The programme will also include commissioning the 50-megalitre-per-day Klipdrift Package Water Treatment Plant in Hammanskraal, Gauteng.

“These projects will provide much-needed access to safe drinking water, while demonstrating that Mandela Day is also about making lasting investments that improve people’s lives and restore dignity to communities,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Wednesday.

This year’s Nelson Mandela International Day is observed under the theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity.” 

Government said the theme speaks directly to one of South Africa’s greatest challenges.

“While democracy has transformed the lives of millions since 1994, too many people continue to experience poverty, unemployment, hunger and unequal access to opportunities. Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort from government, business, civil society and every citizen.

“Government remains committed to improving the lives of all South Africans through expanded access to healthcare, education, housing, social protection, clean water, electricity and other essential services. Continued investment in education, healthcare, science, innovation and inclusive economic growth is creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for current and future generations,” the GCIS said. 

Government said the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela extends beyond a single day of volunteerism. 

Mandela Month encourages all South Africans to embrace a lasting commitment to kindness, service and active citizenship throughout the year.

Former President Nelson Mandela captured this responsibility when he said: “Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made, and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.” 

“His words remind us that lasting change begins when ordinary people choose to act,” the GCIS said. –SAnews.gov.za

The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has arrested a 35-year-old suspect in connection with the murder of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Tshwane Region 2 Secretary and Election Coordinator, Monicca Dube.

The suspect is  expected to appear before the Cullinan Magistrate’s Court this morning.

According to the police, Dube was shot multiple times by armed men at her home in Wallmannsthal, Tshwane, on 13 June 2026. – SAnews.gov.za