Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Western Cape Provincial Government has successfully engaged with its counterparts from São Paulo, Brazil, in preparation for the 12th Regional Leaders’ Summit (RLS). 

The summit will be held in Cape Town in November 2025 under the theme: ‘Growth through Economic Resilience’.

The provincial government said the visit was an important benchmarking exercise, especially in the areas of infrastructure development and logistics. 

São Paulo, a city with a population of 20 million, is globally recognised for its advanced systems in road networks, port management, and urban planning.

The engagement covered various important areas of cooperation, in addition to infrastructure. 

This included efforts to strengthen trade and investment relationships and promote collaboration in artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and emerging industries. 

They also discussed climate change and sustainability, as well as safety and security. 

Western Cape MEC for Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers said: “São Paulo has demonstrated how infrastructure and logistics, when planned and executed at scale, can unlock sustainable economic growth.” 

He said the benchmarking visit has provided valuable lessons that can be adapted for the Western Cape as it strives to build smarter infrastructure, boost trade, and create safer communities.

By drawing lessons from São Paulo’s successes, the Western Cape said it was reinforcing its commitment to building future-fit infrastructure, stronger economies, and safer communities, in line with the 12th RLS’s theme and goals.

For nearly two decades, government leaders from Bavaria (Germany), Western Cape (South Africa), Georgia (United States), Upper Austria (Austria), São Paulo (Brazil), Shandong (China), and Québec (Canada) have participated in this biennial meeting. 

According to the RLS, these gatherings encourage discussions on common issues as well as the sharing of analyses and policies. 

The goal is to create multilateral partnerships that will benefit the citizens of each participating country.

The outcomes of discussions and cooperative projects at each conference are documented in a joint Final Declaration. This declaration outlines the various actions and ambitions that the signing governments should aim to achieve. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will embark on a service delivery visit to the community of Qunu, in the Eastern Cape on Thursday. 

The visit is part of the government’s efforts to improve public service delivery to communities.

According to the Presidency, the Deputy President’s working visit is a response to service delivery concerns raised by representatives of the Qunu community during his recent trip to eNyandeni in Libode on 19 August 2025. 

These concerns include inadequate water and sanitation, insufficient electricity, poor access roads, and a lack of infrastructure.

Deputy President Mashatile has been delegated specific responsibilities by the President, including leading the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Service Delivery. 

This visit provides the government with an opportunity to tackle the service delivery challenges impacting the community of Qunu and also serves as a platform to assess the progress made in implementing the District Development Model (DMM).

The DDM intergovernmental framework encourages collaborative planning and budgeting among all three domains of government to enhance service delivery and stimulate economic development in specific districts and metropolitan areas.  

It also prioritises districts and metros for development and enables a spatially integrated “one plan” to address poverty, unemployment, and inequality, while creating jobs by developing essential infrastructure such as water, sanitation, roads, and electricity.

The Presidency announced that the visit will highlight several initiatives and programs initiated by various government departments. 

They believe this demonstrates a commitment to developing essential infrastructure for communities in the OR Tambo District, to accelerate the delivery and maintenance of infrastructure within the municipalities.

“Moreover, it is envisaged that the visit also will enhance public participation in government programmes aimed at empowering and developing communities through a strengthened partnership with stakeholders such as the traditional leadership, business, academics, as well as non-governmental organisations,” the Presidency said.  

Deputy President Mashatile, along with Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane and several Cabinet Ministers, will engage with local stakeholders and visit important projects in sectors such as agriculture, water and sanitation, and small, medium, and micro-enterprises. 

These initiatives play a vital role in creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and helping to eliminate poverty.

As part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Programme, which aims to encourage South Africans from all walks of life to plant trees, Deputy President Mashatile will plant trees at various locations. 

This campaign is designed to unite citizens in the effort to plant trees and combat climate change.

Various departments will initiate build-up programmes in preparation for the Deputy President’s visit.

On Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, will engage with youth who are showcasing their talents in various cultural fields.

In addition, the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, is expected to hand over bridges to the community in Port St Johns.

On Thursday, Deputy President Mashatile, along with the Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, visited the Siphe Development and Capacitation Agency in Mthatha.

On the same day, the Deputy President, accompanied by the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, visited the KSD Local Municipality Reservoir in Ward 19, Qunu. 

He will also hold a meeting with traditional leaders and conclude his working visit with a community address at the Nelson Mandela Museum Youth and Heritage Centre. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

What started off as a small port today stands as one of the most promising ports in the country, with great potential to become one of the greatest in Africa – if not the world.

The Port of Ngqura, also known as Coega Harbour, is the only deepwater port on the east coast of South Africa, about 20km north-east of Gqeberha in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

Situated at the mouth of the Coega River, it is the newest and the deepest container port in South Africa. It is a world-class deepwater tranship hub offering an integrated, efficient and competitive port.

During a recent media tour at the port, Managing Executive: Eastern Cape Terminals, Wandisa Vazi, said they have learnt a lot in the process of turning the port around.

“We have worked very hard to attract business and clients, and we are now in the process of revamping the port,” Vazi said.

The process of procuring materials for the port is underway. In the last two years, Vazi said they have been working towards improving efficiency. “It has been an interesting last two years. We are now number three behind Durban.”

Vazi explained that the revamping process could take about 15 years and that this would include the refurbishing of machines, some of which are about 64 years old. 

The port is sheltered by two breakwaters. The western breakwater is 1.3km long, while the main eastern breakwater is the longest in South Africa at 2.7km. The main function of the port is to service industrial bulk commodity requirements, both regionally and nationally, and to relieve congestion at other ports.

The Port of Ngqura is unique for two reasons. Firstly, it is the only port in South Africa with environmental authorisation for its construction and operation. The paleochannel that runs through the port and Jahleel Island, situated 1km offshore, both drastically influenced the layout of the port. The paleochannel allows the convenience of a deepwater port without needing to dredge large amounts of consolidated material. The port also had to be built at least 500m away from Jahleel Island in order to protect the marine and birdlife.

Secondly, the Port of Ngqura is the first in the world to have a fixed jet pump sand bypass. This recreates the natural longshore drift of sand along the coast, and pumps the sand from the west to the east.

Transnet National Ports Authority will be constructing a manganese loading facility that will make the Port of Ngqura a leading exporter of manganese ore across the globe. The relocation of the current manganese facility from the Port of Port Elizabeth to Ngqura will increase the capacity from 5.5 to 16 million tonnes a year.

The Ngqura Container Terminal (NCT) has been designed as a state-of-the-art transhipment hub, servicing traffic from the Far East, South America, East and West African markets. 

Ngqura recently berthed one of the largest container vessels in the world, MSC Nicola Mastro, on her maiden voyage.

READ | Berthing of world class container vessel demonstrates SA’s marine infrastructure prowess

This achievement solidifies TNPA’s status as a significant player in the global maritime industry.

The successful berthing of MSC Nicola Mastro was made possible by a four-tug operation. These tugboats have a bollard-pull of 60 to 70 tonnes, fully capable to handle larger vessels efficiently.

It is a world-class deepwater tranship hub offering an integrated, efficient and competitive port and lies 20km northeast of Port Elizabeth and is situated at the mouth of Coega River in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. 

The terminal boasts a 16-metre draft, with four berths and eight ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, 1 652 reefer points and transhipment capacity of 1.5m Teus. – SAnews.gov.za