Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of South Africa

In a rousing call to action, Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has called for G20 countries to ensure that the Energy Transitions Working Group and Ministerial meetings serve as a beacon of hope for those living on the margins of society. 

The Minister delivered the opening address at the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting held in Ballito, north of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday.

“May this gathering stand as a beacon of hope, as testament strengthen our unity, compassion and collective resolve.

“This moment should not be defined by contests of economic power or political will, but by our shared duty to the people we serve individually and together,” Ramokgopa said.

The Minister implored the gathering to bear in mind the plight of those they serve.

“We must place at the forefront the real, lived experiences of women and men, of young people and children striving to make ends meet, trapped in cycles of poverty and exposed to the persistent challenges that weigh upon our communities.

“We cannot turn away from those who live on the margins of society, denied electricity, clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Nor can we ignore millions of children growing up in deprivation, deprived of education and opportunity, and of the simple right to dream without limits. Their reality must be the heartbeat of our deliberations,” he said.

Ramokgopa emphasised that the gathering calls upon the leaders to “chart a different path one that values people above profit”.

“Let this be a moment where we realise a world that is just, equitable [and] humane. A world where every person in every nation is given the chance not merely to survive, but to thrive.

“As we open this fourth Ministerial Meeting, we are reminded that our work here is both a conclusion and a beginning. It concludes a Presidency that has sought to balance ambition with inclusivity and it begins a new phase where future presidencies will take forward these outcomes, as we chart a new G20-led revolution to reaffirm Africa’s centrality in ensuring that we power our respective countries and especially those of developing economies,” he said.

The Minister reflected on South Africa’s leadership of the G20 over the past year.

“South Africa stands proud to have steered this process. Not for us alone but for Africa, for the global south and the world. 

“Let us ensure that Durban is remembered as the moment where we reaffirmed our shared commitment to secure affordable, reliable and accessible energy, to balance just and sovereign energy transitions and to a future where industrialisation and sustainability walk hand in hand,” Ramokgopa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has welcomed a criminal investigation into allegations of bribery and fraud related to the issuing of licences at the Midrand Driver Licensing Testing Centre (DLTC). 

“During our visit, we identified the presence of so-called ‘runners,’ including an undocumented foreign national who was facilitating services for other undocumented individuals. This raises serious concerns about the possible sale of licences to people who are not legally in the country,” MEC Diale-Tlabela said on Thursday.

The MEC conducted an unannounced visit as part of the Department of Roads and Transport’s broader efforts to ensure that all licensing and testing centres operate with integrity, efficiency, and in full compliance with the law.

She was accompanied by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Logistics, Greg Schneemann, and the Head of Department, Dr Thulani Mdadane, during which several disturbing irregularities were uncovered.

The MEC emphasised that the visit marks the beginning of a province-wide crackdown on fraud and maladministration within licensing centres.

“We will intensify our oversight across all Driver Licensing Testing Centres,  to ensure full compliance and root out corruption. Our officials must remember that they serve the people of South Africa and should do so with dignity, integrity, and respect,” she said.

Diale-Tlabela urged all public servants to honour their oath of service and uphold the values of clean and accountable governance.

“The continued corruption and fraud at some of our DLTCs is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” she stressed.

Schneemann also expressed deep concern over the state of affairs at the facility.

“What we witnessed is deeply troubling. If staff can disrespect government officials, one can only imagine how they treat ordinary citizens.

“Even more troubling, we confirmed reports of bribery and fraudulent activity, including the use of a fake passport. These are not rumours, they were verified on site. We fully support the MEC, the city, and law enforcement agencies in investigating and taking firm action against any officials implicated in corruption,” he said.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) Anti-Fraud Unit and the Department of Home Affairs Anti-Fraud Unit have confirmed that criminal investigations are underway.

The facility is managed by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. The MEC will be meeting with the City’s Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) to discuss the future of the centre. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has successfully wrapped up a two-day working visit to South Sudan, which began on Wednesday. 

The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress of implementing the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

South Sudan is actively implementing a peace process under the framework of the R-ARCRSS, which was signed in September 2018.

Key provisions of the R-ARCRSS include, among other things, drafting a new constitution, establishing transitional security arrangements, and preparing for elections scheduled for December 2026.

According to the statement issued by the Presidency on Thursday, the country’s second-in-command held engagements with South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Vice-President Benjamin Boi Mel and other signatory Parties to the Revitalised Agreement.  

“All parties are committed to doing everything possible to avoid worsening political tensions, which could lead to increased insecurity. 

“Furthermore, the parties expressed confidence in the Revitalised Agreement as the only existing instrument to facilitate the transition to a peaceful, stable and prosperous future. Accordingly, the parties underscored the need to work together in creating a conducive environment for the holding of credible elections, scheduled to take place in December 2026,” the statement read.  

Deputy President Mashatile visited the mother of the nation, South Sudan Vice President Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, at her official residence in Juba.

“Mama Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior is the wife of the late Dr John Garang de Mabior, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and the first President of South Sudan. She urged South Africa to remain seized with the process,” the statement read. 

Concluding his visit, Deputy President Mashatile underscored the importance of strengthening political and economic bilateral relations between South Africa and South Sudan. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa’s mental health system is currently facing an increasing challenge due to substance abuse, which is putting immense pressure on public health facilities, emergency services, and mental health professionals. 

This situation often leads to complex diagnoses that require multidisciplinary care.

The Department of Health said addressing substance abuse challenges necessitates enhanced prevention, rehabilitation, and health promotion interventions at all levels of the health system.

To this end, the department has decided to observe World Mental Health Day in 2025 by bringing together various stakeholders and individuals who share a common goal to improve mental health and address substance abuse issues. 

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October and serves as a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.

The event will focus on sharing information, best practices, and providing feedback on the impact of current interventions, allowing for necessary adjustments to achieve the desired outcomes.

Today, the department is holding a media and mental health stakeholder engagement session to discuss the burden of mental health in South Africa, including the leading contributing factors and recommendations for improving mental healthcare.

“Mental health conditions are among the leading causes of disability globally and also impose high costs on households, employers, and economies,” the department said. 

According to new data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than one billion people are living with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. However, most do not receive adequate care. 

“This has the potential to inflict huge human and economic tolls requiring a greater investment and action to scale up services to protect and promote people’s mental health.” 

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, along with Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and other provincial MECs for Health, will participate in a panel discussion on mental health.

They will be joined by representatives from key organisations, including Shenaaz El-Halabi from the WHO, Cassey Chambers from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, and Professor Solomon Rataemane, who represents the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health. 

Health professionals and individuals with lived experiences of mental health conditions and drug dependency will also contribute to the discussion.

This session is part of this year’s World Mental Health Day commemorative activities, which will be held under the theme: “Together for Mental Health.” 

This theme emphasises the importance of collective support and connection in promoting mental health, highlighting how collaboration fosters a sense of belonging.

“The theme also highlights the importance of stakeholders working together further to strengthen access to mental health services across the country,” the department explained. 

The WHO urges all countries to speed up the implementation of their action plans aimed at improving mental health for their populations. 

This includes integrating mental health services into primary healthcare and general hospital care. 

The department said the goal is to enhance access to care, reduce the treatment gap, combat stigma, and promote overall mental well-being.

The day will start with a walkabout in selected areas within the health facility to showcase some of the progressive interventions and investments that strengthen mental health and substance abuse service provision. 

The walk-about will also include interactions with frontline health workers who manage substance abuse patients, affected patients to better understand the challenges that they are experiencing, and to collaboratively find solutions. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, October 10, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has taken a significant step towards transforming the management of its data through the launch of the MzansiXchange – an initiative that will enable evidence-based policymaking and real-time data verification between departments.

The pioneering data exchange initiative is led by the National Treasury that seeks to address the data landscape, which has been characterised by fragmentation, siloed systems, and limited interoperability.

“These challenges have constrained our ability to make evidence-based decisions, deliver integrated services, allocate resources efficiently, and build public trust in government systems. MzansiXchange addresses these gaps by enabling secure, structured, and coordinated data sharing across government,” National Treasury Director-General (DG), Dr Duncan Pieterse said on Thursday.

The launch of South Africa’s Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government in May 2025, paved the way for this initiative.

The roadmap forms part of Operation Vulindlela Phase II, a joint National Treasury and Presidency initiative. It provides the strategic direction for government to modernise services, break down data silos, and build the digital public infrastructure (DPI) required for inclusive growth. 

The roadmap has four key pillars: Data Exchange, Digital Identity, Digital Payments and Digital Services.

“MzansiXchange is not a central data repository. It does not store any data. Instead, it acts as a secure bridge – a structured and governed exchange that allows departments to retain ownership of their data, while sharing their data with other authorised entities, when needed. 

“This approach balances departmental data sovereignty with secure, cross-government data sharing through a structured and governed framework,” Pieterse said

Addressing the launch of the MzansiXchange Pilot Launch in Pretoria, the DG said the prototype has been built with X-road as the foundational technology for the MzansiXchange, supporting flexible mechanisms and enhancing resilience with robust design, ensuring standards harmonisation, digital inclusion and long-term sustainability. 

MzansiXchange will have governance frameworks, standardised data protocols and will set clear expectations for metadata standards, data quality, and interoperability. It will provide standardised legal instruments – such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) – to guide secure and compliant data sharing.

The initiative will provide four distinct data access components, each designed to meet the needs of different users. 

The first pillar is data sharing for regulation, compliance, and verification. 

“This provides authorised public entities with real-time access to identifiable data for verification and compliance purposes. For instance, the data exchange can be used to securely verify key information when enrolling citizens into public programmes or grants – helping ensure accuracy while simplifying the process for applicants,” Pieterse said.

The second pillar is data sharing for evidence-based policy, planning, and research.

“MzansiXchange enables bulk sharing and integration of de-identified data from government institutions to a secure data facility. For example, de-identified administrative data – such as education outcomes, tax records, or social protection information – can be securely shared with a secure data facility,” he said.

This enables researchers and policymakers to generate insights that support more targeted, evidence-based decision-making and planning.

The third pillar is data sharing for operational analytics. 

This facilitates bulk transfers of both de-identified and identifiable data between public sector institutions to support service delivery and the fulfilment of operational mandates.

“For example, MzansiXchange can support the bulk sharing of financial and procurement data between public sector institutions – helping improve coordination and strengthening planning and oversight. Finally, the fourth pillar is open access data sharing.

“It enables users to explore data catalogues, dashboards, data stories, download aggregated datasets and view metadata through secure protocols. For example, the spatialised tax data housed within the National Treasury Secure Data Facility, local data and other insights will be shared via MzansiXchange,” the DG said.

This one-year pilot will test the MzansiXchange in real-world conditions, strengthening the foundations for a broader national rollout.

“MzansiXchange is a national commitment to harnessing data for the public good. It is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and transformation. The success of MzansiXchange depends on how each of us commits to supporting and using it. Ensuring that all departments work towards integrating and being able to fully leverage the potential of the MzansiXchange,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Government will soon make an announcement on plans to expand South Africa’s foray into nuclear energy.

This according to Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who delivered the opening address at the G20 Nuclear Energy Ministerial Conference held in Durban.

“[We] will be making big announcements next week, post-Cabinet. We are close to that. Our ambition is to build a new job program [of] at least initially the size of 5000 megawatts, and we think that we can derive the benefits of industrialisation and ensuring that there is exponential increase of the skills that are required to support that build program.

“Necsa [South African Nuclear Energy Corporation] is a big part of the conversation. As we know, we are running a 60-year-old research reactor. We are looking for suitors or partners to help us to take it to another level. We have seen that there is an insatiable appetite from across the globe to partner and work with us,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that small modular reactors [SMR] present a “pristine opportunity” for expansion going into the future.

“They are rapid deployment and the fact that they can be the production can be standardised, and therefore, reducing the long lead times. But most importantly, is to power the requirements of the artificial intelligence complex. 

“I think the prospect of locating data centres across various geographies is something that is particularly attractive, and we think that small modulary actors will help us,” he said.

Turning to the African continent, the Minister noted that the continent is an important producer of uranium – used for nuclear reactors – at 14% of global production with further untapped reserves.

Countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana are either building, planning for, or considering nuclear power as a source of power.

“Africa’s time is now and given them huge endowments that we have, especially on uranium. Energy demand is going to grow exponentially on the continent as people experience upward social and economic mobility, as we bring people out of poverty and I think, nuclear to power is going to be a big part of the African story.

“A long-term view must be such that we are able to build infrastructure that will be a precondition for such enrichment to happen on the continent. We possess all the necessary apparatus that is required for us to participate meaningfully in the nuclear fuel cycle,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za