Category: MIL-OSI

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe will lead a service delivery outreach in Ngudwini, KwaZulu-Natal, as part of government efforts to improve living conditions for vulnerable communities.

The outreach, taking place on Friday, 24 April 2026, will be conducted through an Integrated Community Registration and Outreach Programme (ICROP) and guided by the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes coordinated planning and integrated service delivery across all spheres of government.

Tolashe will lead the social development portfolio, comprising the Department of Social Development (DSD), South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA), to deliver a comprehensive package of services directly to the community.

Services will include on-site assistance with applications for social grants, as well as access to a range of government support programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.

Community dialogues conducted ahead of the Minister’s visit revealed persistent challenges in Ngudwini, including Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), child abuse, malnutrition, poverty, unemployment, and high levels of substance abuse.

The Minister is expected to engage with NDA-funded women-led cooperatives working in areas such as victim empowerment, manufacturing, bakery, food security and mentorship. These initiatives aim to create employment opportunities and strengthen community resilience.

Additional concerns raised included parents and caregivers who lack essential documents such as identity documents (IDs), resulting in children not having birth certificates and unable to access social grants.

The dialogues further revealed the exploitation of social grant beneficiaries by loan sharks who confiscate identity documents and SASSA payment cards as collateral. In addition, the community reported high levels of non-adherence to HIV treatment, raising concerns about public health outcomes.

“Members of the community are encouraged to attend and should bring the necessary documents for assistance, including Identity Documents, Birth Certificates etc,” the department said.

Outreach to inspire future water sector professionals

Meanwhile, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina is leading a two-day community outreach initiative in the Eastern Cape, aimed at supporting underprivileged learners and promoting ignite interest in career opportunities in the country’s water and sanitation sector.

The programme, conducted jointly with key water sector entities, is taking place on Thursday, 23 April 2026 and Friday, 24 April 2026 at Aliwal North Orientation School and Bensonvale Methodist Church in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality.

As part of the initiative, Majodina will donate school uniforms and essential learning materials to deserving learners, while also leading a Water and Sanitation Career Exhibition designed to expose young people to opportunities within the sector.

The initiative forms part of the department’s broader strategy to build a strong channel of skilled professionals in response to growing capacity challenges in water and sanitation.

The programme will also celebrate academic excellence among top-performing learners from 17 schools across underserved communities in the district.

High-achieving learners will be acknowledged and rewarded, reinforcing the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity and socio-economic advancement.

“With South Africa facing a critical shortage of skills in water and sanitation, the career exhibition, supported by sector partners, will expose learners to diverse fields including engineering, science, policy development and infrastructure management,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms, with heavy downpours expected in the North West on Thursday.

A Yellow Level 4 warning has been issued for severe thunderstorms that may bring strong, damaging winds, hail, excessive lightning and heavy rainfall. 

These conditions could result in flooding and damage to vulnerable formal and informal settlements, as well as infrastructure in the North West province.

SAWS has also issued a warning for severe thunderstorms likely to cause localised flooding in Gauteng, the eastern parts of Northern Cape and Limpopo, excluding the south-eastern areas of Limpopo.

The potential flooding may affect susceptible roads, low-lying areas and bridges, and could lead to localised damage to infrastructure and informal settlements.

The extended forecast for Friday and Saturday indicates partly cloudy and cold to cool conditions, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. Rainfall is expected to be more widespread over the Northern Cape on Friday.

Members of the public and stakeholders are urged to monitor official SAWS forecasts and warnings regularly, as updates will be issued as conditions evolve and the severity of impacts becomes clearer. –SAnews.gov.za

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has described the establishment of a new forensic science laboratory in Mayville, west of Durban, as a significant step toward strengthening the criminal justice response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

The development follows a 2025 CGE investigation into the implementation of Pillar 3 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), which focuses on justice, safety and protection.

The inquiry identified inadequate DNA processing capacity as a key contributor to case backlogs, investigative delays, and weakened prosecution outcomes.

Following this investigation, the Commission recommended, among others, that the justice cluster prioritise the establishment of a fully capacitated DNA forensic laboratory in KwaZulu-Natal to improve forensic turnaround times and support case finalisation.

The laboratory is expected to enhance evidence management, reduce DNA processing delays, and contribute to more effective investigations and prosecutions in GBVF-related cases.

The CGE welcomed the launch of the facility, saying it marks a “critical milestone” that affirms the Commission’s recommendations for a strengthened criminal justice response to Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

“This development marks a significant step towards improving forensic capacity and enhancing access to justice for survivors,” Commission’s spokesperson, Java Baloyi said.

The Commission commends this intervention as a concrete response to its recommendations, noting its potential to strengthen evidence management and support more effective prosecutions.

The CGE also called on the Justice Cluster to replicate similar facilities in other provinces to eliminate delays linked to outstanding DNA analysis and to ensure equitable access to justice nationwide.

The CGE emphasised that it will continue to monitor the rollout to ensure these interventions deliver measurable outcomes, including reduced forensic backlogs, improved prosecution success rates, and strengthened accountability in GBVF-related cases. – SAnews.gov.za

Postbank has announced that the replacement of remaining SASSA Gold Cards with new Postbank Black Cards will begin on 29 April, with beneficiaries urged to switch before the 31 August 2026 deadline.

The bank said social grant recipients who are still using Gold Cards must migrate to the new Black Cards before the cut-off date or risk losing access to their grant payments, as the old cards will stop working after that date.

The replacement programme forms part of Postbank’s wider card migration process launched in September 2024.

Postbank Chief Commercial Officer Thamsanqa Cele said in a statement on Thursday that beneficiaries who had not yet changed cards should act urgently.

“Starting from this month, we are intensifying the final stages of the SASSA Gold Cards replacement process. This is a direct call to action for customers who have not yet migrated — please act as soon as possible,” he said.

Cele said the deadline would not be extended and warned that customers who miss it could face interruptions to grant payments.

Postbank said beneficiaries who have already received their Black Cards do not need to take any further action. The cards remain valid and continue to offer benefits such as three free withdrawals, one free card replacement and a free monthly statement.

The bank said Black Card accounts are protected from unauthorised deductions and personal information misuse.

New Black Cards can be collected free of charge at Postbank service points located inside selected retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and SPAR.

Beneficiaries only need to present a valid South African ID or temporary ID document. 

No forms are required, and cards can be collected in any province, regardless of where the grant was approved.

Postbank said balances currently on Gold Cards would automatically transfer to the new Black Cards, which can be used immediately after collection.

Recipients can find their nearest replacement site by dialling 120355# on any mobile phone. The same centres will also assist with lost cards and PIN resets.

The bank urged beneficiaries to be alert to scams. Any card not branded with “Postbank” on the front, or requiring forms to be completed in order to work, is not an official Postbank Black Card.

For enquiries, beneficiaries can contact Postbank on 0800 53 54 55. – SAnews.gov..za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has warned that global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved while systemic exclusion persists.

Speaking at the Pride Caucus Breakfast, held on the sidelines of the 2026 Ottawa Civic Space Summit, currently underway in Ottawa, Canada, Letsike called for inclusive development and the protection of human dignity, emphasising that inclusion must move from rhetoric to reality, if the world is to meet both SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

“We cannot meaningfully speak about achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, or realising the aspirations of Agenda 2063, while entire groups of people remain excluded from the very systems that are meant to support them,” Letsike said.

The Deputy Minister is representing South Africa at the summit and contributing to the plenary on “Defend What Makes Democracy Possible: Civic Space in a Time of Rupture”.

The summit, taking place from 21 – 23 April, brings together civil society organisations, governments, donors, media, academia, and private sector representatives to discuss strategies to defend civic freedoms, strengthen collaboration across sectors, and explore new tools and approaches to support inclusive democratic engagement.

The event also examines how civic space contributes to progress across areas, including human rights, gender equality, climate action, education, and humanitarian response.

Inclusion as a lived reality

Letsike anchored her remarks in a deeply personal narrative, recounting the experience of a young transgender individual in a South African township clinic who was denied care due to prejudice.

The story, she said, illustrates how exclusion often manifests quietly but with profound consequences.

“That is what shrinking civic space looks like in real life. It is not always loud or visible, but it carries an exclusionary message that is unmistakable: you do not belong here,” Letsike said.

Comparing this exclusion, Letsike highlighted Vilakazi Street, one of the most historically significant sites in South Africa, where the struggle against apartheid was lived and fought in real terms, as a site of transformation.

Once defined by exclusion and control, the street now hosts annual Soweto Pride, where Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities gather openly in affirmation of identity and belonging.

“As you stand in that space, you begin to understand that it is not simply a celebration. It is something much deeper, something more deliberate, because it is an act of reclaiming.

“When people march, gather, and take up space in that way, they are not asking to be included; they are asserting something that should never have been denied in the first place. They are saying, quite simply, we are here, we belong, and we are not leaving,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike warned that while visibility for marginalised groups is growing, civic space globally is under increasing pressure. Rights once considered secure are being reopened and debated, and identity is increasingly turned into a political battleground.

“This is not only about gender or sexuality, but also about something much broader that goes to the heart of democratic life. When a society begins to draw lines around who counts as fully human, who is worthy of dignity, who is entitled to protection, those lines do not remain contained. They expand and shift,” Letsike said.

She pointed to rising inequality, global conflict, and the climate crisis as compounding factors that disproportionately affect already vulnerable communities. These dynamics, she argued, reinforce exclusion and justify further restrictions on participation and dissent.

Highlighting cooperation between South Africa and Canada, Letsike acknowledged Canada’s role in supporting human rights and civil society initiatives. However, she stressed that civil society “cannot and should not carry” the burden of inclusion alone.

“Inclusion cannot be treated as an optional add-on to development—it is central to it,” she said.

She called for sustained investment in grassroots organisations, particularly those led by women, youth, and LGBTQIA+ communities, noting that many remain underfunded despite their critical role.

“Our investment must be flexible, responsive, and allow these organisations not only to survive, but to lead, innovate, and shape the futures we are all speaking about.”

Letsike also addressed narratives framing gender and LGBTQIA+ rights as “un-African”, or incompatible with culture and religion, arguing that such claims often ignore historical and cultural complexities shaped by colonial legacies.

“When we return to the core of African values—ubuntu, dignity, and community, we do not find exclusion, but connection, and a recognition that our humanity is bound up with one another,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

South Africa will need nearly R2 trillion in public and private investment over the next 30 years to implement a plan positioning rail as the backbone of the country’s logistics and transport system. 

This investment is expected to benefit the economy due to big infrastructure spending, with economic studies showing that for every R1 million invested, the economy could grow by about R4.3 million. 

“This kind of investment would also support key industries like steel, cement, logistics, and engineering. It would create jobs and help increase people’s incomes,” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said on Thursday in Kempton Park, Gauteng. 

According to the draft National Rail Master Plan (NRMP), the goal is to build an integrated system that delivers lower transport costs, faster and safer passenger travel, reliable freight movement, and broader economic opportunities.

The plan also marks a shift toward more inclusive, consultative planning, expanding beyond traditional commercial and state-owned enterprise considerations to include a wider range of stakeholder perspectives from the start.

Therefore, the Minister launched a centralised, web-based platform to host the draft plan and submit comments on the plan.

“This platform includes GIS mapping, interactive tools, and a user manual. I urge all stakeholders here today and across the country to engage actively with the draft Masterplan. 

“Use the digital platform to review the draft plan, provide input, and help us prioritise investments that deliver the most value to our people and our economy,” the Minister said. 

South Africa’s economy is losing potential earnings due to its inability to meet the growing demand for the transport of export goods.

Currently, about 165 million tonnes of freight are moved annually on the rail network, while research suggests the market demand is closer to 280 million tonnes.

“The unintended consequence of this underperformance by our rail network includes loss of foreign exchange earnings, and job losses when mining and agricultural products cannot be affordably and timeously exported,” the Minister said.

In addition, congestion, road deterioration and safety concerns are driving up transport costs and undermining overall efficiency.

“In the commuter sphere, high transport costs undermine take-home pay and condemn commuters to several hours a day spent on congested highways.

“An effective commuter rail system would lower household costs, save time, reduce accidents and improve accessibility to income and services for low-income communities,” she said.

The NRMP is a long-term strategic framework aimed at guiding the revitalisation, expansion, and modernisation of South Africa’s rail system. 

The Master Plan translates the National Rail Policy, approved by Cabinet in 2022, into a practical, phased investment and implementation programme for both freight and passenger rail over the coming decades. 

It seeks to build an affordable and competitive rail system by integrating passenger, freight, and high-speed rail, while promoting private-sector participation. 

The Minister has urged all stakeholders across the country to engage actively with the draft Masterplan. 

“Use the digital platform to review the draft plan, provide input, and help us prioritise investments that deliver the most value to our people and our economy.

“We will schedule engagements across all provinces and with freight, passenger, commuter groups, and labour formations to ensure a truly inclusive process,” the Minister said.

All the dates for the masterplan consultation days and venues in various provinces will be published on the website.

Public consultation will conclude in July 2026, after which the NRMP will be submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval.

“Going forward, a dedicated Rail Planning Component will maintain an up-to-date databank on passenger and freight flows, network capacity, asset condition, and rolling stock fleets. This will allow the Masterplan to be updated annually and reviewed every five years.

“We need your participation if we are to create an integrated logistical system where rail delivers lower transport costs, faster and safer journeys for people, reliable freight movement, and vibrant economic opportunity across all communities,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za