Category: MIL-OSI

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has welcomed the landmark Constitutional Court ruling on parental leave equality as a significant step forward in advancing gender equality in South Africa.

On Friday, the court ruled that the current parental leave provisions under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Act, unfairly discriminate between birth mothers, fathers, adoptive parents, and commissioning parents in surrogacy arrangements.

According to the judgment, the differentiation in leave entitlement amounts to unfair discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender, and family structure.

The court declared that parents will now be entitled to four months and 10 days of parental leave, which they may share between them

Commission for Gender Equality spokesperson, Javu Baloyi, said the Commission, which participated in the case as an applicant, has held the view that Section 25 of the BCEA and Sections 24, 26, 27, and 29 of the UIF Act, contain provisions that entrench outdated gender roles, unfairly discriminating between parents based on sex, gender, and the method of family formation.

“By declaring these provisions unconstitutional, the court has affirmed the principle that all parents, whether through birth, adoption, or surrogacy, must be treated with equal dignity and afforded equal rights,” Baloyi said.

The CGE also welcomed the court’s decision to extend equal leave entitlements to adoptive and commissioning parents in a surrogate agreement be granted the same leave entitlement as birth mothers.

Baloyi noted that the ruling not only supports gender equity in the workplace but also acknowledges the importance of caregiving as a shared responsibility.

“It enables families to make decisions based on their unique circumstances rather than being confined by rigid legal categories.”

The Commission has urged Parliament to act swiftly to amend legislation in line with the ruling, ensuring that South Africa’s parental leave framework is inclusive, equitable, and consistent with international best practice.

The CGE also called on employers, trade unions, and civil society to embrace this opportunity to build a culture of equality, care, and shared responsibility both at work and at home.

“This judgment is a victory not just for parents, but for children, families, and the broader project of gender equality in South Africa,” Baloyi said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo has expressed frustration and disappointment over the ongoing vandalism of water infrastructure in the Eastern Cape, warning that such acts are undermining efforts to deliver reliable water services to local communities.

Mahlobo explained that this damage has significantly complicated efforts to deliver services to local communities.

Mahlobo accompanied Deputy President Paul Mashatile on a visit to Qunu Village in Ward 19 on Thursday, 2 October 2025, where they inspected the Qunu Noyiya Water Scheme, as part of the Deputy President’s two-day programme to address service delivery challenges in the area.

The visit aimed to evaluate the community’s challenges, provide updates on water supply progress, and ensure that the newly constructed Qunu Reservoir would supply clean water to households in Qunu.

Mahlobo reported that the reservoir has been out of operation due to vandalism of two boreholes feeding into it.

“One of the boreholes has been fixed and it pumps 500 million litres per day (mgl/d) to the reservoir. Working together, the district and local municipalities and the Department of Water and Sanitation team have concluded that the main cause of the vandalism is a lack of security,” Mahlobo said.

The reservoir, which distributes 0.1 mgl/d to households, is now supplying water to the Qunu community.

Mahlobo added that the second borehole, located in Mqanduli Village, is still under repair, and is expected to be fully operational by 10 October 2025, to ensure the borehole becomes fully operational.

“The ongoing vandalism of water infrastructure is crippling service delivery and putting lives at risk. Nevertheless, efforts are being made through enhanced security in high-risk areas, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration with law enforcement,” Mahlobo said.

He further emphasised that lasting change would require collective action from both communities and government authorities to prevent further damage and ensure continuous supply of safe and sustainable water services,

Following the site inspection, Deputy President Mashatile and Mahlobo engaged with the residents to discuss the current state of water services and discussed solutions to improve supply and maintenance. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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With the severe population declines of vultures over the past three decades, government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that vulture conservation remains a national priority.

According to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, this year alone, two mass poisoning incidents resulted in the deaths of hundreds of vultures.

“If these events continue unchecked, the loss of thousands of vultures could have devastating environmental and public health consequences,” the Minister said on Monday.

He therefore called on South Africans to play an active role in protecting these critically important birds.

The Minister’s remarks comes ahead of the Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), which will take place in November 2025.

Vultures, once widespread across Africa, have suffered severe population declines over the past three decades. 

Many vultures die after feeding on carcasses laced with poison, amongst other threats, often left by poachers targeting elephants or rhinos, or by communities involved in human–wildlife conflict. 

This has far-reaching consequences as carcasses left to rot increase the risk of disease outbreaks, poor sanitation around rural settlements, rising stray dog populations, and greater incidences of human injuries and rabies fatalities.

South Africa is home to nine vulture species, seven of which have established breeding populations, and these vulture populations continue to face varying degrees of threats of extinction.

As part of government’s plan to protect vultures, the National Multi-Species Vulture Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) was published on 18 March 2024.

The plan is now being implemented through the National Vulture Task Force (NVTF) and its subcommittees.

“The desired state is to see all vultures fulfilling their essential ecosystem services through the achievement of a safe and secure environment in which all the components of a vulture’s life cycle are fulfilled.

 “This will be achieved through the reduction of the key threats facing the species (intentional and unintentional poisoning, interactions with energy infrastructure, habitat change), the improvement of stakeholder involvement, improving knowledge gaps and developing best practice guidelines for ex situ, or off-site, conservation action,” the Minister said.

Vulture Conservation Strategy

Through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE), South Africa participated in a regional workshop convened by the Southern African Development  Community (SADC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and BirdLife International and the rest of the region in commemorating International Vulture Awareness Day in September. 

It was at this workshop that the SADC Vulture Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035) was also launched. 

The strategy and plan seeks to mobilise collective action among the 12 SADC vulture range states to address these complexities through coordinated conservation efforts, while emphasising stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making.

The workshop not only highlighted the ongoing threats to vultures, including poisoning, collisions, and electrocutions from energy infrastructure, and habitat loss; but also the opportunities for internal and cross border collaboration and cooperation to implement targeted actions, raise awareness, and strengthen legislation to secure the future of vultures. 

“South Africa is committed to the implementation of the SADC Vulture Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035). Without decisive and coordinated action, several vulture species face the very real threat of extinction,” George said. –SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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The endeavours of the respective South African Police Service (SAPS) stations and units in the Western Cape to bring stability to crime-ridden areas have proved fruitful with the confiscation of illegal firearms and ammunitions during police operations.

On Thursday evening, the police were observing a memorial service of an extortionist in Hobo Hobo Street, Ilitha Park, Lingelethu-West when they heard gun shots (gun salute). 

They responded and followed a suspect with a firearm running to a white Toyota. The vehicle was searched, and a revolver, two spent cartridges and three .38 rounds of ammunition were found in the car. 

A 22-year-old man was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition where after a gun residue test was done on him. 

The members discovered that the firearm belonged to a deceased person from Mbekweni in Wellington. The suspect is due to appear in the Wellington Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 06 October 2025.

Also last week, the police attached to Anti-Gang unit deployed to combat and prevent the escalating gang violence between rival street gangs in Lotus River, Grassy Park area, received information of a firearm being stored at a premises in Duiker Avenue, Lotus River.

The members operationalised the information and searched the premises and its occupants. A a revolver with five rounds was found on the person of a male at the premises.

The 26-year-old suspect, who had no valid license for the firearm, was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He is expected to appear before the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court.     
 
On Friday, members attached to Vanrhynsdorp SAPS in collaboration with Provincial Traffic was setting up a vehicle checkpoint when a Blue Mazda Etude with four occupants was pulled over. 

The vehicle and its occupants were searched, and the members found two big bags containing dagga and confiscated it. The four occupants, aged between 22 and 49, were arrested for dealing and possession of dagga. 

The suspects are due to appear in the Klawer Magistrate’s Court.

On 03 October 2025 at 09:45, SAPS members were doing crime prevention patrols in Main Road, Rondebosch area. Information was received for operational units to be on the lookout for a beige VW Polo that was stolen in the Athlone area. 

The vehicle was spotted in Main Road driving towards Cape Town, where members gave chase. A high-speed chase ensued, and the suspect turned towards Liesbeeck Parkway and collided with a marked Fidelity vehicle. 

The vehicle came to a halt, and two occupants who sat in the front seats were seen fleeing from the scene but were apprehended by SAPS members.

The two other suspects sitting at the back were arrested and the firearm found next to them was confiscated.

All four adult males were taken to Woodstock SAPS for further investigation. Two firearms, 10 rounds of ammunition, two cellphones, and four mandrax tablets were found in their possession and confiscated. 

All suspects were arrested on a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition and the possession of drugs. 

On Saturday, Saldanha Crime Prevention Unit members were busy with patrols in Diazville, Saldanha, when they heard a gunshot in Vraagom Street. 

The members stopped the police vehicle and went on foot in the direction from where they heard the gunshot.  Two suspicious looking men came from the front, saw the members and tried to escape but were apprehended. 

One was found to be in possession of a 9mm firearm with its serial number removed, an extended magazine with 27 9mm rounds of ammunition. The 18-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of a prohibited firearm and will appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, is set to embark on a Working Visit to Dakar, Republic of Senegal, to attend the 2025 Edition of the Invest in Senegal Forum, taking place from 7-8 October 2025.

The Deputy President will depart on Tuesday to attend the Forum at the invitation of His Excellency, Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko of the Republic of Senegal.

“The Forum is accordingly dedicated to promoting trade and investment by connecting the business communities of Senegal, Africa and the world.

“Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to highlight prospects offered to investors by Senegal’s 2025 National Transformation Agenda,” the Presidency said in a statement on Monday.

During his visit, the Deputy President will also hold consultations with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, with the aim of further strengthening the existing bilateral, political and economic relations between South Africa and Senegal.

This will include deepening trade and investment relations with Senegal to create employment opportunities for citizens of both countries, transform economies through the beneficiation of the natural resources, manufacturing, industrialisation, value addition as well as increasing productivity and ensuring the competitiveness of both countries’ economies.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi. –SAnews.gov.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa says Eskom’s latest financial results which show a return to profitability for the first time in eight years, is a testament to the value of staying the course and to the benefits of partnerships.

“The relative improvement in Eskom’s financial position reflects the significant recovery in Eskom’s operational performance,” President Ramaphosa said.

In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa said Eskom’s improved financial position will enable it to invest in critical infrastructure and maintenance under its Generation Recovery Plan that has been pursued with diligence.

“There are plans to invest more than R320 billion in expanding existing infrastructure,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said as the reliability of Eskom’s coal-fired plants has improved there has been less need to burn diesel, resulting in approximately R16 billion in savings on diesel costs.

“In the 2025 financial year, the country experienced loadshedding on just 13 days, down from 329 days the year before. Eskom is to be congratulated on this achievement. 

“However, there are still serious challenges. Municipal debt arrears have grown by 27% since the previous financial year. That is why we continue to work with municipalities to come up with sustainable solutions that enable municipalities to settle their accounts with Eskom, as this is key to its financial viability,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said with grid expansion being central to getting more capacity, Eskom, in partnership with the private sector, has plans to build approximately 14 000 km of new transmission lines over the next decade. 

“On the road to achieving energy security, social partners will continue to be key. The role played by these partners in NECOM [National Energy Crisis Committee] and the Government Business Partnership has been invaluable. 

“Two years since its inception, this collaborative model continues to yield results not only around energy but also in the other workstreams of transport and logistics, crime and corruption and youth unemployment,” President Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa said the ongoing structural reform process represents consistency and resilience.

“We will continue along this recovery path across the economy to achieve our goal of inclusive economic growth that creates more jobs for our people,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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