Category: MIL-OSI

The Department of Social Development has warned against unregistered substance abuse treatment centres following the discovery of a suspected illegal facility in Waterval B, Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga, where residents were allegedly chained, and children were reportedly present without appropriate safeguards. 

In a statement on Monday, the department condemned the alleged abuse and degrading treatment of people at the facility, raising concern about the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals seeking help for substance use disorders.

“People seeking help for substance use disorders have the right to safe, professional and compassionate care. Their vulnerability must never be exploited, and no practice presented as treatment can justify abuse, neglect or violations of human dignity,” the department said.

As the custodian of the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act, 2008 (Act No. 70 of 2008), the department reminded service providers that all treatment centres must be registered in accordance with the law.

Section 19 of the Act prohibits any person from establishing or managing a treatment centre unless it is registered. The requirement applies to facilities operated by private individuals, non-profit organisations and faith-based institutions.

All centres are also required to comply with prescribed standards governing the care, treatment and rehabilitation of service users.

Social Development Minister Dina Pule said the immediate priority was to safeguard the rights, safety and wellbeing of those affected, particularly children.

The department is working with law enforcement agencies and relevant government departments to address the matter.

Social workers are facilitating assessments, providing psychosocial support, coordinating appropriate referrals and, where suitable, supporting the safe reunification of affected individuals with their families.

The department urged families and caregivers to verify a treatment centre’s registration with their provincial Department of Social Development before admitting a loved one.

They are encouraged to request a valid registration certificate and consult a social worker for guidance on appropriate treatment options.

“Advertising, personal recommendations or religious affiliation should never replace proper verification,” the department said.

Families and caregivers have also been urged to remain actively involved throughout the treatment process, maintain contact with their loved ones and promptly report concerns about their safety and wellbeing.

Allegations of violence, chaining, forced labour, neglect or degrading treatment must be taken seriously and reported to the relevant authorities.

Community members, traditional and religious leaders, as well as organisations involved in referring people for treatment, have been urged to help identify and report suspected unregistered facilities.

Suspected illegal operations should be reported to the nearest Department of Social Development office, while allegations of abuse or other criminal conduct should also be reported to the South African Police Service.

Acknowledging the distress families may experience when seeking help for loved ones struggling with substance use disorders, the department said social workers at local offices could provide information on registered treatment centres, appropriate referral pathways and available support services.

“Recovery requires dignity, compassion, accountability and professional care. The department remains committed to protecting vulnerable individuals, upholding their rights and ensuring that all treatment centres operate within the law,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The eThekwini Municipality is advancing plans to position Durban as a leading African destination for superyachts and a service hub, with the city set to host the first African edition of the Yachting Aftersales and Refit Experience (YARE) On Tour Symposium in November 2026.

The KwaZulu-Natal Superyacht Marina forms part of a R1.9 billion investment pipeline and is expected to create more than 2 500 direct jobs by 2030.

The project is a strategic component of the Durban Bay Waterfront development and aims to establish the city as the entry point to Africa on an emerging superyacht route linking the Mediterranean with Africa’s eastern seaboard.

A proposed superyacht precinct has been earmarked for a 24-hectare site within the Port of Durban.

eThekwini City Manager Musa Mbhele said the project extends beyond tourism to include industrial development, skills transfer, and economic growth.

“The KZN Superyacht Marina is not just about berthing boats. It is about industrial development, skills transfer, and positioning Durban as the gateway to the Indian Ocean superyacht circuit. By hosting YARE and working with global partners such as Navigo, we are turning our maritime heritage into a high-value economic engine for the city and its residents,” Mbhele said.

Investment and job creation

The municipality is working with Italy-based Navigo, which is associated with the YARE programme, to advance the estimated R1.9 billion private-sector investment pipeline.

According to Mbhele, the project’s employment targets complement the Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) ship repair strategy, which is projected to support more than 25 000 employment opportunities across the sector.

The municipality anticipates significant economic benefits from superyacht visits, including spending on fuel, maintenance, repairs, provisions, accommodation, and tourism services.

A single superyacht visiting Cape Town has reportedly spent about R10 million on diesel alone. Navigo has committed to bringing 10 or more superyacht visits to Durban annually from 2028, potentially generating about R100 million a year in fuel sales, before other expenditure is taken into account.

“Every superyacht that calls at our port supports local suppliers, technicians, hospitality businesses, and young people entering maritime careers. Our task is to make sure this opportunity translates into real jobs and skills for the people of eThekwini,” Mbhele explained.

Key project milestones

The municipality signed a letter of intent with Navigo in Viareggio, Italy, in March 2026, introducing Durban’s new route to the international superyacht community.

In July, the municipal council approved a three-year partnership with Navigo and authorised the development of a KZN Superyacht Implementation Plan.

The city engaged global industry leaders at the Monaco Yacht Show in September under the Navigo umbrella.

In October, eThekwini participated in discussions on the blue economy at the African Boating Conference in Cape Town, represented by Captain Londy Ngcobo (Ship Navigator and Africa’s First Female Dredge Master).

Durban will host the YARE On Tour Symposium at Moses Mabhida Stadium in November, bringing together captains, shipyards, refit specialists, marine companies, ports, institutions, and international stakeholders around the development of new yachting routes and destinations.

Supporting the ocean economy

The initiative aligns with national and provincial ocean economy priorities, including Operation Phakisa: Unlocking the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans, and the Oceans Economy Master Plan 2035.

It also complements the TNPA’s Ship Repair and Manufacturing Plan, which seeks to expand private-sector participation through a landlord port model and concessions, as well as the work of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group.

The municipality has called on investors, maritime businesses, and skills development partners to engage with the programme ahead of the November symposium. – SAnews.gov.za

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has entered into a partnership with Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and non-profit organisation, Moxii Africa, to ensure the integrity of election information and counter disinformation ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections. 

The partnership is a sequel to a similar framework signed with the platforms ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections (NPE). It is an indispensable lever buttressing the Commission’s purposive measures to enhance the integrity of election information. 

These measures include the gazetting of the Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation in the Local Government Elections (the Disinformation Code), on 4 September 2026. 

The Code applies to political parties, candidates and anyone acting on their behalf. It forms part of the Electoral Code of Conduct and carries the same sanctions. 

According to the Commission, the partnership brings the platforms into the same effort to keep election information accurate and trustworthy. 

Underscoring the importance of the partnership, the Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the strategic inclusion of the online platforms gives the Commission direct access to the platforms and a real fighting chance against disinformation. 

“Our partnership with digital platforms is critical to ensuring that voters have access to credible, accurate and trustworthy information to make informed political choices. A technically flawless election can still lose public trust if citizens are overwhelmed by disinformation. 

“Therefore, the partnership eliminates barriers to direct access to the platforms and enables instantaneous remedial action against disinformation peddlers,” Mamabolo said.

The partnership covers the following: 

• Cooperation in good faith during the election period;
• Respect for existing laws, with no requirement to share confidential user data;
• Alignment with the Constitution, municipal electoral laws and the Electoral Code of Conduct, including the Disinformation Code;
• A working group of partners, election awareness campaigns, and training on disinformation for political parties, candidates and other stakeholders;
• Room for platforms to apply their own policies, including content removal, advisory warnings and delisting, and

• Cooperation on other initiatives intended to curb the impact of disinformation in elections. 

  The Commission has designated the Real411 platform to support its proactive efforts to minimise the impact of disinformation during the 2026 Local Government Elections. 

Anyone who sees suspected election-related disinformation can report it to Real411 at real411.org.za or through the Real411 app. 

Complaints are handled in all eleven official languages. Real411 assesses complaints independently and recommends action to the Commission and the platforms. Depending on the findings, the Commission, upon careful review of any reported complaint indicating disinformation or misinformation, can: 

• Refer the matter to the Electoral Court, which can impose sanctions. 
• Promptly refer the matter to the relevant online platform, which is expected to prioritise referrals from the Commission by acknowledging and swiftly processing the notification in line with its policies. 
• Issue media statements to alert the public and correct the disinformation. Guidance for voters on spotting, checking and reporting disinformation is available at www.elections.org.za/pw/Elections-And-Results/Report-Election-Disinformation.

The partners welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Commission. They noted that they already have policies and mechanisms to counter disinformation and will keep using them as part of the collective effort.

“Free, fair and credible elections depend on people being able to trust the information they see. No single organisation can tackle disinformation alone, which is why Microsoft is pleased to join the Electoral Commission in this partnership. 

“Ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, we will work alongside the Commission, civil society and industry to help voters find authoritative election information, strengthen media and AI literacy, and counter deceptive AI-generated content,” said Director: Government Affairs, Microsoft South Africa, Abongile Vanda in affirming Microsoft’s support for the partnership.   

“At TikTok, we recognise the important role our platform plays in helping people discover information and engage in public conversations. This is why we take our responsibility to protect our community during elections very seriously. 

“Through our in-app Election Centre, South Africans will be able to access reliable information about the elections, and to further support this, we have introduced election-related labels and search banners that direct users to the centre with a single tap. 

“This work is supported by advanced moderation, collaboration with fact-checking partners and electoral commissions like the IEC South Africa to ensure a safe, informed, and authentic election experience for our community,” TikTok’s Government Relations and Public Policy Lead for Southern Africa, Tholoana Ncheke-Mahlaela, said.

“Information integrity is fundamental to the credibility of any democratic process. In an increasingly complex digital environment, protecting voters from misinformation and disinformation requires coordinated action across institutions, technology platforms, civil society and citizens themselves. 

“This partnership represents an important commitment to ensuring that South Africans can access accurate, trustworthy election information and participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections with confidence,” Moxii Africa Director William Bird welcoming the partnership. 

Bird said he is proud to support this collective effort to strengthen trust, transparency and democratic resilience. – SAnews.gov.za

Reliable roads, safe public transport, efficient freight movement and modern infrastructure all depend on one thing: a government that manages public resources responsibly. Behind every transport project is a commitment to accountability, transparency and sound financial management.

As South Africa marks Transport Month, Public Sector Manager magazine spoke to the Department of Transport Acting Director-General (ADG) Mathabatha Mokonyama about how the department transformed its governance systems to achieve two consecutive clean audits after more than three decades without one.

The department’s clean audit outcomes for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years represent more than an administrative achievement. They signal a culture change aimed at strengthening public confidence and ensuring that resources are used effectively to deliver quality transport infrastructure and services that support economic growth, regional trade and improved mobility for all South Africans.

According to Mokonyama, the milestone reflects the department’s commitment to embedding sound governance, accountability and ethical leadership into its day-to-day operations.

“We should not treat auditing as an event that only concerns us during the audit cycle. We need to ensure that we always do everything right so that we are in a good position when auditors knock on our door,” said Mokonyama.

He added that the department has long benefited from the expertise of skilled financial managers who ensured that its financial statements accurately reflected its work. As a result, the department’s financial statements have required no major corrections for the past seven or eight years.

Corrective measures 
Achieving a clean audit required more than sound financial management. The department had to overcome challenges that repeatedly surfaced during the audit process.

Key areas of concern included the quality of performance information, the alignment between targets and achievements, consequence management and contract management.

Consequence management 
One of the key areas the department had to confront on its journey to a clean audit was consequence management.

Mokonyama says the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) had repeatedly raised concerns about how long it took the department to act against officials implicated in wrongdoing or negligence.

“For instance, when the department incurred irregular expenditure in previous years and investigations pointed to wrongdoing or negligence, we sometimes exceeded the periods provided for by the Irregular Expenditure Framework, and that is one of the things we needed to fix,” he explained.

Recognising that delayed action weakened accountability and affected audit outcomes, the department moved to strengthen its processes and ensure that matters requiring investigation and disciplinary action were dealt with more timeously.

According to Mokonyama, part of the department’s success can also be attributed to a closer working relationship with the AGSA. Following each audit cycle, the department and auditors held post-audit workshops to unpack findings and identify areas requiring improvement.

The engagements provided officials with valuable insight into the AGSA’s audit methodologies and expectations, helping them understand the standards against which the department’s performance was being measured.

The department now develops clear post-audit action plans that spell out the corrective measures required and assign responsibility for implementing them. This approach has helped ensure that findings are not repeated and that weaknesses identified during audits are systematically addressed.

“We hope to sustain this clean audit feeling. We just need to keep doing what we have been doing in the past two financial years and even more,” he added.

Transport sector recovery
While achieving a clean audit is a significant milestone, Mokonyama points out that it is only one part of the department’s mandate. At its core, the department exists to keep South Africa moving and to support the country’s economic growth and development.

Like many institutions, the department felt the full impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, which brought large parts of the transport sector to a standstill. Even after restrictions were lifted, recovery was far from immediate, as years of disruption had left their mark on critical infrastructure.

One of the hardest-hit areas was the rail sector. Extensive vandalism of trains and railway stations during the lockdown period left large parts of the network severely damaged, presenting a major hurdle when operations resumed.

“We had to embark on a recovery plan. Today I can tell you that of the targeted 40 corridors that we needed to recover, we have already recovered 35 and the trains are moving,” said Mokonyama.

The importance of rail extends far beyond transporting passengers. Freight rail carries minerals, agricultural products, manufactured goods and export cargo that drive economic activity, while passenger rail influences how people move between their homes, workplaces and communities.

The efficiency of the rail network affects everything from travel times and commuting costs to the movement of goods through the economy.

For this reason, the department’s recovery efforts have also focused on restoring infrastructure in the freight sector. Mokonyama said the ability to move goods efficiently to ports and markets is essential for economic growth and competitiveness.

Beyond infrastructure and logistics, Mokonyama emphasised the transport sector’s critical role as a major employer and economic enabler.

The sector provides thousands of direct jobs through the Department of Transport and its entities, as well as through industries such as bus, taxi and rail transport. Yet its indirect contribution is even greater, supporting countless economic activities that rely on the movement of people and goods.

The sector enables millions of South Africans to travel to work each day, connects businesses to suppliers and customers, and ensures that cargo reaches local and international markets. From farms and factories to mines, warehouses and harbours, much of the economy depends on a well-functioning transport system.

“If we do not do our bit as a sector, many things would not function. The industry contributes about R290 billion per annum to the economy of the country,” he says.

As a key enabler of trade, investment and development, the transport sector remains central to government’s vision of a modern, efficient and integrated transport system. Continued investment in infrastructure, improved governance and enhanced operational performance are expected to support economic activity, facilitate regional connectivity and improve access to opportunities for South Africans.

This article first appeared in Public Sector Manager magazine.

Government has established a multi-pronged response team to tackle an increase in gastrointestinal illness affecting children and communities at Bronkhorstspruit in the City of Tshwane (CoT) Municipality.

This comes after 408 cases of the illness were reported between 7 and 18 October 2026.

In a media briefing on Monday evening, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Minister Pemmy Majodina explained that the source of the illness is believed to be contaminated water emanating from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works (BWTW).

Majodina was joined in the briefing by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, DWS Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Dr Nasiphi Moya.

“Patients have been treated at the hospital and local clinics from Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit, Dark City, Rethabiseng and Sokhulumi in Tshwane’s Region 7. The affected areas are largely supplied with water by the City of Tshwane’s [BWTW].

“Laboratory test results of stool specimens from infected patients by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), coupled with test results of water emanating from the BWTW, indicate that the illness has been caused by residents being exposed to contaminated water from BWTW.

“The NICD tests detected Norovirus, Campylobacter and Shigella in three of four specimens analysed, together with other pathogens that cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea. No cholera bacteria were found in the sampled stools,” Majodina stated.

The Minister noted that finding mixed pathogens in the samples as well as the rapid spread “point to a common water supply being the likely source of illness”.

“This is corroborated by water quality tests conducted by DWS on 14 October which found extremely high levels of E. coli and total coliforms in the water emanating from the BWTW and in the Ekandustria [near Dark City] and Zithobeni reservoirs.

“Further tests are currently being conducted to confirm whether any other harmful contaminants are present in the water. Further specimens are being collected by the NICD to strengthen the epidemiological evidence and to determine whether a formal outbreak declaration is required,” Majodina said.

Additionally, the DWS has appointed the Water Research Commission (WRC) to conduct independent water quality tests as well as an independent investigation of the causes of contaminated water being supplied to residents.

That report is expected to be released by 28 October.

Taking accountability

Majodina revealed that an investigation by the department found that the City of Tshwane Municipality experienced difficulties with chlorine supply, resulting in unchlorinated water emanating from the BWTW between 24 September and 14 October.

Unchlorinated water should not be drunk or used for cooking, neither is it safe for washing or bathing, even after boiling.

Majodina added that the City “failed to warn residents in the affected areas of Bronkhorstspruit”.

“As part of DWS’ regulatory function, necessary accountability steps have been initiated against those responsible for the water pollution and adherence to norms and standards governing provision of water and sanitation. 

“CoT closed the BWTW on 14 October. The chlorine supply was restored by 15 October and CoT reopened the BWTW to supply water into the distribution system on 16 October, but informed residents that the water was not yet suitable for drinking,” she stated.

Since last week Wednesday, water tankers have been distributing drinking water to residents.

“CoT is in the process of increasing the supply of this clean drinking water to the affected areas using additional water tankers [36 in total].

“Testing of this water will be conducted on a continuous basis, by both CoT and DWS,” Majodina said.

Improving service

The CoT is in the process of appointing Rand Water to improve the BWTW in order to address challenges including components that are not working.

“Together with DWS engineers, Rand Water is in the process of developing an implementation plan with timeframes in this regard.

“Part of this planning will include assessing whether the BWTW should be isolated for a further period to enable essential work to be carried out. At this stage, it is not possible to give a timeframe for when residents will again be able to drink water emanating from the BWTW,” the Minister stated.

Majodina acknowledged that the BWTW has been a “longstanding priority for the City of Tshwane”.

The City has spent some R21 million this financial year on its upkeep with further financial commitments made in the years to come.

“Together, these allocations represent more than R107 million in expenditure and planned investment over the three-year period. 

“While substantial resources have already been invested and further funding committed, the work remains ongoing, with the City’s focus on addressing longstanding infrastructure deficiencies, improving operational reliability and progressively restoring the plant’s capacity to provide residents with a safe and dependable water supply,” she noted.

Residents in areas supplied by the BWTW are warned not to consume, bathe in, brush teeth with, cook or wash clothes with tap water.

“The water can only be used for flushing toilets. Previously stored water should be discarded and water containers must be disinfected using household bleach. Drinking water obtained from water tankers should be stored in clean containers with lids.

“Residents who develop symptoms of illness should seek medical attention early and report suspected cases to their nearest healthcare facility or local health authority. Early reporting protects not only individuals and families but also enables health authorities to respond quickly and prevent further spread,” Majodina concluded. – SAnews.gov.za