Category: MIL-OSI

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has commended the eThekwini Municipality for its transparency and comprehensive reporting on governance, financial management and service delivery challenges.

The municipality, led by Mayor Cyril Xaba, appeared before the committee in Cape Town on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, to account on a wide range of operational and administrative matters affecting the city.

SCOPA Chairperson Songezo Zibi thanked the Mayor and City Manager Musa Mbhele for submitting information to the committee on time and ensuring all relevant officials attended the meeting.

Zibi stressed that the engagement did not imply wrongdoing by the municipality, saying it formed part of SCOPA’s ongoing engagements with institutions that play a strategic role in growing the country’s economy, including metropolitan municipalities.

“We have already met with leadership of various state-owned enterprises, departments, and metros. Working together, we believe that we will achieve positive results,” said Zibi.

Xaba welcomed the engagement, describing it as an important mechanism for strengthening accountability and oversight within the municipality.

“I made a commitment to the Auditor-General (AG) last year, which I continue to uphold today. This includes improving performance, transparency, accountability, and governance within the municipality,” Xaba said.

To reinforce accountability measures, the Mayor said the monitoring of audit action plans has now been elevated to both the Executive Committee and Portfolio Committees, where progress is reviewed monthly.

Audit matters have also been assigned greater weighting in the performance agreements of the city manager and senior managers.

The municipality reported that these interventions are already yielding positive results and contributed to a reduction in audit findings from 25 in the 2022/23 financial year to 13 in the 2024/25 financial year.

The remaining findings relate mainly to expenditure management, procurement, contract management, and consequence management.

To improve compliance, the city is implementing an online invoice processing system aimed at reducing payment turnaround times, tracking invoices electronically and allowing service providers to monitor progress online.

The municipality is also finalising a new tender management system intended to identify government employees doing business with the state and reduce conflicts of interest previously flagged by the Auditor-General.

On financial performance, eThekwini said it had maintained unqualified audit opinions over the past five years and remained financially stable.

The City said its current budget was fully funded and aligned with developmental priorities, while National Treasury had affirmed the credibility of the proposed 2026/27 budget.

The municipality added that its collection rate currently stood at 94%, in line with National Treasury norms, and confirmed that it remained up to date with payments to bulk suppliers Eskom and uMngeni-uThukela Water.

The city also briefed SCOPA on progress in resolving concerns linked to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Municipal officials said investigations by the City Integrity and Investigations Directorate had been concluded, with disciplinary processes initiated against implicated individuals.

The municipality’s legal department has also started processes to recover funds linked to double-dipping allegations, while other matters have been referred to law enforcement agencies for criminal investigation.

Irregular expenditure 

Addressing irregular expenditure, the municipality said much of the increase resulted from non-compliance with Preferential Procurement Regulations relating to local content requirements.

The city said several contracts had previously been awarded without the required local content specifications, but all new contracts now include minimum local content thresholds.

Officials said only 18 active contracts remained affected and expressed confidence that irregular expenditure linked to local content non-compliance would be eliminated by the end of the next financial year. 

Turnaround strategy and infrastructure upgrades

The municipality also outlined measures being implemented to reduce non-revenue water (NRW), which currently stands at 53%.

It announced that it is intensifying efforts to reduce water losses and improve supply reliability through the implementation of its Water and Sanitation Turnaround Strategy.

Xaba said the turnaround strategy forms part of broader trading services reforms introduced by National Treasury and is focused on improving operational efficiency and infrastructure management.

Key interventions include replacing old and faulty water meters, improving billing systems and customer data cleansing, optimising water infrastructure maintenance, pressure management, leak detection, and accelerating pipe replacement projects.

The municipality said it is also prioritising rapid response times to burst pipes and water leaks, with teams expected to attend to reported incidents within 24 hours.

Among the flagship projects underway is the R1.2 billion Southern Aqueduct Project, which involves replacing a 70-year-old 900mm concrete pipeline with a new 1200mm steel pipe.

The project is expected to stabilise water supply in Durban central and southern areas. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Hundreds of young people are set to gain access to income-generating opportunities following a new partnership between the Gauteng Department of Economic Development (GDED) and the Shoprite Group.

The two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Shoprite’s Pingo Delivery platform onboard qualifying graduates from the Last Mile Delivery Programme into its growing delivery network, creating a direct pathway from skills development to economic participation.

The agreement marks a significant step in Gauteng’s efforts to connect young people to opportunities in the digital and logistics economy, one of the province’s fastest-growing sectors.

Under the partnership, GDED will continue to identify, recruit and train programme participants, while Shoprite Group will provide access to delivery opportunities through Pingo Delivery. 

The collaboration also includes driver development initiatives, operational support, safety measures, data-sharing and the exploration of green mobility solutions.

The Last Mile Driver Development Programme, established by GDED more than four years ago, has trained approximately 780 drivers and facilitated placement opportunities across 26 delivery platforms. 

The programme forms part of the province’s e-Commerce, Transport and Logistics Action Lab, which aims to strengthen Gauteng’s logistics ecosystem through collaboration between government, industry and development partners.

A pilot linked to the rollout of Shoprite Sixty60 has already demonstrated the programme’s potential. More than 100 trained beneficiaries have been supported through recruitment processes across several Gauteng locations, providing a foundation for the expanded partnership.

Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, said the agreement would help ensure government programmes translate into tangible economic opportunities.

“This agreement represents a practical step towards ensuring that our economic programmes translate into real opportunities for our people. By partnering with industry leaders such as the Shoprite Group, we are able to connect skills development to market access, support job creation and ensure that young people, in particular, are able to participate in the digital economy,” she said.

Shoprite Checkers Enterprise and Government Relations Executive Maude Modise said the partnership demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together.

“This partnership reflects the power of collaboration between the public and private sectors to unlock meaningful economic opportunities. By linking skills development to real pathways into the digital and logistics economy, we are able to provide participants with access to income-generating opportunities while supporting the growth of a more inclusive and sustainable ecosystem,” she said.

The partnership establishes formal governance structures, including a Joint Technical Team and Project Steering Committee, to oversee implementation and monitor progress. – SAnews.gov.za

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Botswana and South Africa must seek mutually beneficial growth that creates jobs in equal measure while also deepening trade and investment relations between the two countries, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

“In my meeting earlier today with President Boko, we agreed that one of our greatest tasks of the moment is to further deepen trade and investment relations between our two countries,” President Ramaphosa said on Thursday evening.

Speaking at the Botswana-South Africa Business Forum, the President said the economic interests of both countries are closely intertwined. 

“We must therefore seek mutually beneficial growth that creates jobs in equal measure for Botswana and South Africans. We each have substantial natural resources and developed industrial capacity that we must harness,” he said.

The business forum was held on the margins of the 6th Bi-National Commission between Botswana and South Africa. 
READ | President Ramaphosa concludes SA-Botswana BNC

The President who embarked on a two-day State Visit to the country’s Southern African neighbour this week, said there are several areas in which greater economic cooperation will yield significant benefits including in agriculture.

“We are both nations of farmers, with agricultural industries that have been developed over decades. We both have ambitions to further develop these industries and to expand our agro-processing capabilities. We want to derive more value from our land.

“In pursuing these ambitions, there is great scope for us to work together.” 

He also spoke of the need to have cooperative mechanisms to manage the flow of agricultural goods between the two countries in order to ensure predictability and sustainability.

“Through the Bi-National Commission we have endorsed measures to holistically address these matters, including the placing of restrictions on imports of certain goods.”

With South Africa continuing its drive to inoculate its herd of cattle to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), the President said there is a commitment to pursue cooperation in the production of vaccines to fight animal diseases. 

He also expressed gratitude to the government of Botswana for facilitating the delivery of significant doses of vaccines to South Africa to combat FMD.

President Ramaphosa said both countries need to work together to address the effects of climate change on agricultural industries, especially as large parts of our respective countries are already water scarce.

This as the two nations’ agricultural industries are increasingly vulnerable to cycles of drought and flooding.

Infrastructure was named by the President as the second area of economic cooperation as it is vital to get agricultural produce and manufactured goods to markets. 

“It is vital to powering factories and mines, to irrigating crops, to supplying businesses and homes with water, and to enabling the rapid flow of information over great distances. Infrastructure is vital for driving industrialisation and facilitating trade.”

He said that South Africa supports plans to establish a One Stop Border Post at Tlokweng/Kopfontein as it will help reduce congestion at the border, facilitate trade and enhance the efficient movement of people and goods.

“Another cross-border venture is the proposed Lesotho–Botswana Water Transfer Project, which would bring water from Lesotho across South Africa and to Botswana. Together with the Ramotswa Transboundary Aquifer, this initiative will support water security into the future, while enabling sustainable growth and development.”

The two rail corporations of both nations, Transnet and Botswana Rail, are working together towards the establishment of the Mmamabula-Lephalale rail line.

It is expected that this would be able to transport 18 million tons of cargo a year on a 117 km rail link stretch that straddles the two countries. 

Botswana and South Africa should also focus on cooperating in the energy space as they are endowed with an abundant supply of solar energy, which should be harnessed both to power both economies and to produce green hydrogen for the broader global market. 

“In the long-term, our two countries must consider an energy corridor that locates our renewable generation sites along our borders and the linking of integrated grids.”

He also made the call to build more resilient mining industries to make the Botswana and South African economies more resilient.

“The critical and rare earths minerals that we possess provide such an opportunity. They compel us to collaborate in diversifying our mining and mineral-beneficiation sectors.”

Defining beneficiation

President Ramaphosa called on the two countries to deepen the work already underway for frameworks that define mineral beneficiation not just from a domestic vantage point, but from a bilateral and regional perspective. 

“Out of our discussions over the last few days, the governments of Botswana and South Africa have ambitious plans for driving inclusive economic growth through close collaboration.”

The President invited business communities in the two countries to embrace that ambition and to deploy their substantial resources, capabilities and energies to foster greater trade and investment.

“Through this, we can together create sustainable employment, establish new industries, invest in infrastructure and derive greater value from our abundant natural resources. We are two countries with one mission: to build a prosperous and secure future for all our people,” he said.

Also speaking at the forum, Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister, Alexandra Abrahams, called for a stronger implementation-driven approach to bilateral economic cooperation focused on investment, industrialisation and regional value chains between the two countries.

READ | Call for stronger implementation-driven approach to cooperation between SA and Botswana
–SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport will be undertaking a major rehabilitation programme for culverts and bridges in the City of Tshwane to ensure their long-term safety, durability, and functionality. 

The programme, in Regions 3 and 4, covers Wards 107, 66, 55, 48, and 7 and focuses on the repairs to and restoration of a number of bridge structures and culverts across the city.

The rehabilitation programme is conducted under the department’s Bridge Management System to preserve critical provincial road infrastructure that underpins economic activity and service delivery across Tshwane. 

The rehabilitation efforts also serve to enhance public safety, support local economic development and strengthen service delivery.

Currently the focus is on seven existing bridge structures situated across Tshwane, including: 

• Bridges B59 and B1015 along the R101, over the Hennops River, south of Valhala;
• Bridge B2114 situated along the gravel Road D775 in the south-west of Atteridgeville;
• Bridges B637, B649 and B760 on the R511, south-west of Atteridgeville; and
• Bridge B142 on the R514 (Van Der Hoff Road) in the north-west of Tshwane.

The programme will be implemented over a 12-month contract period. 

“The scope of work includes a range of structural repair and rehabilitation activities aimed at extending the lifespan of the bridges and improving road-user safety. 

“These include undertaking repairs to existing rails and parapets; replacement of bridge joints, repair to spalled concrete, cracks sealing, widening of selected bridges and approaches, bridge deck resurfacing and approaches, guardrails installation, painting of steel structures, and construction of road pavement layers,” said the department.

A structured stakeholder engagement framework was followed, covering all affected wards, to ensure transparent, equitable and inclusive stakeholder participation in the programme. 

The framework further served to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process for community beneficiaries, ensuring equal access to skills development, employment, and local economic opportunities. 

This included convening ward-based stakeholder sector forums for youth, women, persons living with disability and military veterans, including BBBEE entities/cooperatives.

The department said this process was conducted in strict adherence to applicable government policies and legislation governing financial management, procurement and accounting. “The comprehensive stakeholder engagement is also expected to prevent the interruption of services that may affect delivery timelines and resultant negative cost implications.”

MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela emphasised the department’s responsibility in undertaking these rehabilitation projects as “critical to long-term safety, durability and functionality, thus ensuring safer and more reliable infrastructure for motorists, freight operators and surrounding communities”.

Residents have been urged to exercise patience and understanding during the construction period. 

Contractors and relevant stakeholders have committed to work closely to minimise inconvenience and ensure all traffic accommodation measures are implemented.

The department has further called for motorists and members of the public to exercise extreme caution near construction sites, adhere to temporary road signage, and cooperate with traffic officials throughout the construction sites. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) says it is strengthening measures to further secure payroll controls and improve consequence management to ensure that public funds are “protected and used responsibly to support the delivery of healthcare service”.

The department said it would be tightening measures including:
•    Tightening labour relations processes.
•    Strengthening leave and incapacity management.
•    Implementing employee verification interventions and
•    strengthening human resource management functions to improve oversight.

“Currently, the department has four officials on precautionary suspension with pay. The suspensions relate to matters involving alleged misconduct, procurement irregularities, fraud and corruption investigations, as well as measures aimed at preventing possible interference with witnesses and ongoing investigations.

“The department is equally concerned about employees being paid while not rendering services and remains committed to expediting these matters without compromising investigations or disciplinary processes.

“To address delays in some of these matters, the department is working with relevant authorities, particularly where cases involve complex specialised investigations and legal processes initiated by affected the employees,” the GDoH said on Friday.

Interventions to strengthen payroll integrity and prevent irregular payments include the Ziveze Campaign which is an employee verification initiative aimed at confirming that employees on the payroll are legitimate, “accounted for and actively contributing to healthcare service delivery”.

“Through this intervention, the department identified employees who were in the system and being paid but were not known to Human Resources at institutional level. Action has since been taken to terminate irregular payments and remove affected individuals from the system.

“Healthcare institutions have also been sensitised to properly implement leave management and incapacity processes, including the Policy and Procedure on Incapacity Leave and III-Health Retirement, to ensure that no employee is paid irregularly while not rendering services,” the department explained.

Furthermore, work is underway to automate aspects of HR Management to “strengthen oversight, improve data accuracy and reduce system vulnerabilities.”

“These interventions form part of the Department’s broader strategy to strengthen financial management, ethical governance and the protection of public resources in support of improved healthcare service delivery,” the GDoH noted. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister, Alexandra Abrahams, has called for a stronger implementation-driven approach to bilateral economic cooperation focused on investment, industrialisation and regional value chains between South Africa and Botswana.

Speaking at the South Africa-Botswana Business Forum in Gaborone on Thursday, the Deputy Minister emphasised that economic growth and job creation must remain at the centre of regional cooperation efforts.

The Business Forum took place on the margins of the 6th Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) that was co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his counterpart, Advocate Duma Boko. The commission was held on the last day of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s two-day State Visit to the country’s Southern African neighbour this week.

READ | President Ramaphosa concludes SA-Botswana BNC

The forum brought together government leaders, business executives, investors and entrepreneurs from both countries.

In his address to the business forum, President Ramaphosa said that business “has a central role in achieving our ambitions for shared and sustainable prosperity” and that the economic interests of both countries are closely intertwined.
The Deputy Minister said that government has to create the right environment for businesses to thrive.

“As it is the private sector, businesses that provide the dignity of jobs for our people; it is our role as government to create a predictable and enabling environment for you to operate and thrive,” said Abrahams.

The Deputy Minister noted that South Africa and Botswana possess complementary economic strengths that create opportunities for deeper collaboration across sectors such as mineral beneficiation, agriculture, logistics and infrastructure development.

She highlighted diamond beneficiation as a strategic area for cooperation, noting that both countries have the capacity to build regional industrial value chains that move beyond the export of raw materials.

“Instead of competing against one another, we identify each of our strengths in the value chain and form partnerships for our mutual benefit,” she said.

Abrahams further underscored the importance of improving infrastructure connectivity, reducing regulatory friction and creating greater certainty for investors and businesses operating across borders.

“To achieve this, we must now move past dialogue and drafting of plans and agreements, and start with implementation and action. I believe that is what businesses want from government and what our citizens expect from us.”

She further welcomed ongoing efforts between the two countries to strengthen cooperation on transport corridors, border modernisation, industrial development and trade facilitation.

She indicated that practical implementation of cross-border projects would be critical to unlocking regional competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Abrahams also stressed the importance of ensuring that regional economic integration delivers opportunities for smaller businesses, women-owned enterprises and youth entrepreneurs.

“Inclusive growth requires policy commitments and ensuring that emerging businesses are able to access markets, build partnerships and participate meaningfully in regional value chains,” she said.

The South Africa-Botswana Business Forum forms part of broader bilateral efforts to deepen trade, investment and industrial cooperation between the two countries, while advancing regional integration and economic growth across Southern Africa. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has expressed confidence in Orlando Pirates ahead of the club’s final league match of the season against Orbit College on Saturday in Mbombela.

Maile said he is looking forward to joining the Buccaneers as they conclude their league campaign, expressing optimism that the team’s performances throughout the season have positioned them well for victory.

According to the MEC, Orlando Pirates have demonstrated quality football and maintained a rigorous training programme, which he believes will be key to securing a positive result in their final fixture.

“Orlando Pirates has played exceptionally well throughout the season and deserves to win this game on Saturday to finish the season on a high note. We have no doubt that they are moving into this game on Saturday much more poised and composed,” said Maile.

He added that a strong performance would make both the club’s supporters and the province proud.

Maile also highlighted the success of Gauteng-based teams during the current campaign, noting that they have finished among the league’s top performers, with two teams still in contention for the Betway Premiership title.

“For us as a province we can safely say that the premiership title is with Gauteng, the Home of Champions,” he said.

The MEC noted that this season has been particularly exciting, with the destination of the league title set to be decided on the final day of the campaign.

He said the uncertainty surrounding the championship race has generated greater anticipation compared to previous seasons, where the winner had often been determined well before the final round of matches.

Orlando Pirates will face Orbit College on Saturday with kick off at 15:00. – SAnews.gov.za

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Credit rating agency Fitch has affirmed Eskom’s Local-Currency Issuer Default rating at ‘B’ with a stable outlook.

The agency further affirmed the power utility’s senior unsecured debt at ‘B’ with a Recovery Rating of ‘RR4’ and its senior unsecured guaranteed debt at ‘BB-’.

“The affirmation reflects the strong links between Eskom and South Africa’s ‘BB- ‘Outlook Stable, under Fitch’s latest Government-Related Entities rating criteria.

“In its detailed update report, Fitch noted Eskom’s operations are improving and the delivery of its business plan may lead to funding on an unguaranteed basis over the medium term,” Eskom said in a statement on Thursday.

Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane said the rating is as a result of a steadfast commitment to the Generation Recovery Plan.

“We remain singularly focused on delivering the turnaround plan that is central to continuing to restore Eskom’s operational and financial stability.

“Reaching the milestone of one year without load shedding on Saturday, 16 May advances this stability, as well as the South African and Sub-Saharan Africa economy, competition and the integration of renewable energy,” Marokane said.

READ | Eskom reaches one year of no load shedding
– SAnews.gov.za

 

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The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) says it has commenced a targeted verification process of all foreign nationals currently gathered at the Diakonia Refugee Centre in eThekwini.

The operation, which began on Thursday, is being led by an integrated team comprising the Departments of Home Affairs, Social Development, Transport and provincial law enforcement authorities.

The verification process follows engagements between the Southern African Refugee Forum, representing the foreign nationals at the centre, and senior NATJOINTS officials represented by the Department of Home Affairs and law enforcement authorities in KwaZulu-Natal.

According to a NATJOINTS statement issued on Thursday, approximately 200 foreign nationals have sought refuge at the centre, reportedly fearing for their safety due to threats allegedly posed by anti-illegal immigrant groups in the areas where they reside. 

NATJOINTS, working with law enforcement agencies, has undertaken to verify the status of all individuals at the centre to determine their legal status in South Africa.

According to NATJOINTS, the process is intended to establish the legal status of those gathered at the centre and ensure that individuals lawfully residing in the country receive protection, while undocumented foreign nationals are processed in accordance with immigration legislation.

Provincial SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the verification process would be conducted by the integrated NATJOINTS team to address all issues associated with what is described as the illegal occupation of the centre.

“This process will be conducted with the integrated team of NATJOINTS to ensure that we attend to all the issues associated with this illegal occupation of the centre,” said Netshiunda.

He added that individuals found to be in the country illegally would be processed for return to their countries of origin.

Meanwhile, SAPS in eThekwini is investigating allegations of assault involving foreign nationals, as well as cases relating to intimidation, malicious damage to property and the closure of businesses.

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Phumelela Makoba said all reported cases would be investigated.

The integrated team has assured members of the public that the situation will be resolved as a matter of urgency and reiterated that illegal immigration remains an area of ongoing government attention.

SAPS said that through Operation Shanela and other crime prevention initiatives, it continues to address illegal immigration and related criminal activity across the country.

Since 1 January 2026, SAPS has arrested 29 731 illegal foreign nationals during high-density operations conducted nationwide. In the previous financial year, 76 588 illegal foreign nationals were arrested, while the Department of Home Affairs deported 59 814 undocumented foreign nationals.

Authorities said these intelligence-driven operations are conducted in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance with South African laws.

“The South African government has repeatedly maintained its position on issues of immigration that: South Africa is committed to a rules-based approach to immigration, anchored in the Constitution and the Rule of Law thus balancing national security with our human rights obligations. This ensures dignity and fairness for all. 

“Illegal immigration places pressure on public services and social stability and therefore must be addressed through lawful, orderly, and credible state processes. There is no alternative to the rule of law. 

“South Africa is modernising its immigration system to make it more secure, efficient, and responsive. Ongoing legal and policy reforms are strengthening governance. 

“Violence and acts of intimidation and threats against foreign nationals are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of South Africans or government policy. 

“Criminal acts disguised as activism will not be tolerated in our society and lawlessness will face consequences,” said NATJOINTS. – SAnews.gov.za

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