Category: MIL-OSI

Eskom and Zululand Energy Terminal (ZET) have signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) establishing the framework for a long-term strategic partnership to support South Africa’s gas-to-power programme. 

“Eskom will assume ‘foundation customer’ status at the proposed Zululand Energy Terminal, which will provide open access to liquefied natural gas (LNG) import, storage and regasification infrastructure, underpinning Eskom’s planned 3 000MW gas-to-power programme,” Eskom and ZET said in a joint statement.

At the signing ceremony on Friday, Eskom and Zululand Energy Terminal reaffirmed their commitment to make progress on the necessary regulatory approvals, long-term commercial contracting approach and structuring, and the infrastructure development required to bring the project to fruition. 

ZET is a joint venture between Vopak Terminal Durban, which is owned by Royal Vopak (a company with its head office in the Netherlands), Reatile Group Proprietary Limited (a South African company) and Transnet Pipelines (a division of Transnet SOC Ltd). ZET was awarded a concession by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to develop, construct, operate and maintain the LNG terminal.

The partnership represents a significant step in advancing South Africa’s gas infrastructure ecosystem. It also supports national efforts to diversify energy supply, strengthen energy security and enable economic growth.

Backed by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, the Ministry of Transport and Transnet, the project will help facilitate gas-to-power development, providing the flexible and dispatchable generation capacity required to complement renewable energy, maintain grid stability and support the country’s long-term energy transition.

Eskom’s Richards Bay 3 000MW Gas-to-Power Project is to be constructed and operated in the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) in KwaZulu-Natal. 

The Eskom Richards Bay Project envisages the importation and consumption of regasified LNG as the primary fuel source of the power plant. The lifecycle of the power plant is expected to be 25 years and the power plant is planned to operate primarily as a mid-merit plant. It is designated as a Strategic Integrated Project in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act 23 of 2014 and by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025.

The project will be developed through a Private Sector Participation (PSP) model, leveraging strategic partners, project finance, and long-term power off-take arrangements. 

The downstream power plant represents a large-scale capital investment, attracting international capital and accelerating industrial development within Richards Bay.

“Gas is being used as a bridge fuel to support the transition to a low-carbon energy system. These gas plants are designed to complement intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind, ensuring reliable 24/7 power, while clean energy technologies are being developed and introduced onto the grid. The availability of dispatchable power is at the very heart of the energy transition and industry cannot operate without it as it forms the backbone for renewable energy integration into the grid. 

“Securing ‘foundation customer’ status at the Zululand Energy Terminal provides a critical enabler for our 3 000MW gas programme, with the intention of a long-term contracting approach to minimise volatility and support system reliability while aligning with the IRP 2025 objectives,” said Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.

Meanwhile, Zululand Energy Terminal Director and Project Owner, Oliver Naidu, said the signing marks a significant milestone for ZET, as it advances its role in supporting South Africa’s energy future. 

“As one of our anchor customers, Eskom’s participation demonstrates growing confidence in LNG as an enabler of energy security, grid stability and industrial growth. 

“This agreement strengthens the commercial foundation of the terminal, and we look forward to building a long-term partnership as we progress towards a Terminal Use Agreement, financial close and the delivery of South Africa’s first LNG import terminal,” said Naidu.

Strengthening energy security

IRP 2025 calls for 6 000MW of gas by 2030, with 3 000MW to be procured under the Gas Independent Power Provider (IPP) programme, and 3 000MW to be delivered by Eskom.

To achieve this, the partnership directly addresses three core operational imperatives:
● Energy security and renewable support: Gas is required to ensure and guarantee energy security, while reducing coal dependence and supporting the increased reliance on intermittent renewables, as per IRP 2025.
● Grid stabilisation and diesel utilisation reduction: Gas will co-exist with Eskom’s other grid stabilisation energy sources, such as batteries and pumped hydro, and will help reduce diesel usage for mid-merit operation. There is the requirement for all solutions to work together as South Africa transitions its energy system to renewables in a liberalised marketplace.
● Mitigating the gas cliff: The project also addresses the emerging and anticipated gas cliff (a depletion/tapering off of gas supply from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields), positioning gas as a key enabler for both power generation and industrial use. While the primary focus is power generation, it remains important to support and enable broader industrialisation. – SAnews.gov.za

The Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) will host its quarterly anti-corruption campaign at Oshoek Port of Entry on 10 June 2026. 

The BMIACF is chaired by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and seeks to proactively root out corruption from South Africa’s ports of entry.

Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner, Dr Michael Masiapato — together with Acting SIU Head, Leonard Lekgetho, Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode and the Executive Mayor of the Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality, Mbuso Magubane and representatives from other government institutions — will lead the campaign. 

The leaders will demonstrate their commitment to fighting corruption by publicly signing a pledge to take a firm stand against corruption, while also calling on officials at the border to follow their lead.

On the day, incarcerated offenders, who have been sentenced on charges of fraud and corruption related activities, will share the human and financial cost of engaging in corrupt activities. 

Moreover, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) will share their strategies on organised crime and corruption at ports of entry, while also providing details on conviction statistics. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa will dispatch envoys across the African continent and to other parts of the world, as government intensifies diplomatic efforts to address migration challenges facing the country.

The announcement came during a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Thursday following official talks between President Ramaphosa and Kenyan President William Ruto during the Kenya State Visit to South Africa. 

Responding to questions on migration and regional stability, President Ramaphosa said government is exploring a range of diplomatic initiatives aimed at securing greater cooperation from countries across the continent and beyond.

“We are considering a number of initiatives at the diplomatic level. We are talking to a number of sister countries on our continent, with a view of getting more understanding,” the President said.

In a significant indication of government’s next steps, President Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa will deploy envoys to engage countries on migration-related matters.

“There will be envoys. There will be people that we will [deploy], not only on the continent, but also around the world.”

The President said the aim would be to broaden international cooperation on migration and ensure that countries work together to address the root causes of population movements.

“What we seek to do is to get the issue of migration… broadly and properly addressed, and… get as many key role players, countries, leaders and countries to work together to address the challenge of migration.” 

The comments come amid heightened public debate around illegal migration and growing calls for government to address challenges associated with undocumented migrants.

President Ramaphosa stressed that migration is not a challenge unique to South Africa and requires a coordinated international response.

“[African countries] should develop a much stronger method of helping each other to resolve problems, continental problems and national problems,” he said.

The President said discussions on migration had also featured prominently during his engagement with President Ruto, underscoring the importance of continental cooperation in finding sustainable solutions.

“We have found joy in being able to talk at a deep level with various leaders, including with President Ruto, where we shared some thoughts and ideas on how best this challenge can be resolved.” 

President Ramaphosa said South Africa intends to learn from the experiences of other countries that have grappled with similar migration pressures.

“South Africa is not the only country that is facing the challenge of migration, and we want one to learn from how others have dealt with it and how they’ve dealt with the intricate problems that we are dealing with.”

The President acknowledged that South Africa remains an attractive destination for many people seeking economic opportunities and a better quality of life. “South Africa has become an oasis… of people who want to come here for a whole number of reasons.” 

He indicated that addressing migration effectively would require cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination, as well as a better understanding of the economic and social factors driving migration across the continent.

The diplomatic outreach forms part of broader discussions between South Africa and Kenya on migration and regional stability.

Earlier during the State Visit, Presidents Ramaphosa and Ruto agreed that migration should be addressed through greater continental cooperation, economic development and the creation of opportunities across Africa.

The two leaders emphasised that reducing migration pressures would require African countries to work together to tackle unemployment, inequality and underdevelopment, while strengthening regional integration and cooperation. – SAnews.gov.za

As South Africa joins the international community to celebrate World Environment Day, government has called on every South African to be part of the climate response. 

“Businesses must accelerate cleaner and more sustainable practices. Communities must protect local ecosystems and reduce environmental harm. Civil society, youth, women, traditional leaders and local institutions must continue to lead practical action where they live and work,” the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment said on Friday.

The department said government will continue to strengthen partnerships that protect people, nature and the economy.

World Environment Day is being celebrated under the theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”.

“This year’s theme serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for governments, businesses, communities and individuals to work together in taking meaningful action to protect the environment and address the impacts of climate change.

“For decades, the world has heard the climate story through scientific warnings, global agreements, targets and distant deadlines. Too often, the response has been slowed by delay, distraction and denial,” the department said.

The effects of climate change are visible in the lives of people whose homes, livelihoods, infrastructure and local economies are increasingly affected by climate-related disasters. 

“Rising temperatures, destructive floods, prolonged droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, melting glaciers and rising seas are clear signals that the planet is under increasing pressure,” the department said.

In South Africa, recent flooding and severe weather events have affected several provinces, including Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

This has caused a tragic loss of lives, damage to homes and public infrastructure, disruption to livelihoods, and increased pressure on municipalities that are often the first line of response during climate disasters. 

“As climate-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity, government’s response must move beyond recovery after disaster strikes. It must strengthen prevention, preparedness, adaptation and resilience at the local level, where the impacts of climate change are felt most directly,” the department said.

It said it continues to work with provinces, municipalities and other organs of state to support climate change adaptation planning, risk and vulnerability assessments, climate response strategies, disaster risk reduction and the integration of climate considerations into local development planning.

This includes supporting municipalities to better understand their climate risks, strengthen early warning and preparedness measures, identify adaptation priorities, and implement nature-based solutions such as wetland rehabilitation, catchment restoration, urban greening and ecosystem protection.

“These interventions are critical because local government is at the frontline of climate impacts. When floods wash away roads, when heatwaves affect vulnerable households, when drought places pressure on water systems, and when storms damage public infrastructure, municipalities are often the first responders. 

“Supporting local government is therefore not an administrative function. It is central to protecting lives, livelihoods and public infrastructure,” the department emphasised. –SAnews.gov.za

National Treasury has issued a framework to help departments use public funds more effectively and deliver better value for money.

With the economy still growing slowly, National Treasury said government must continue to restrain spending growth and focus on priority areas.

The 2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Technical Guidelines are intended to help government reduce South Africa’s high public debt to more sustainable levels and lower interest costs, which currently consume almost one-fifth of tax revenue.

According to National Treasury, the 2027 MTEF is anchored in government’s commitment to stabilise and gradually reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio.

“This means that government must continue to ensure growth in its primary budget surplus, where revenue exceeds non-interest spending by an ever-wider margin, so that it can reduce its borrowing requirement. 

“It also means that any urgent new priority spending pressures must be funded in a way that keeps government on track to meet this fiscal objective,” National Treasury said.

The MTEF Technical Guidelines are issued each year in terms of Section 27(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). They set out the format and approach departments and public institutions must follow when preparing their budget submissions to National Treasury for the next three years.

“The previous MTEF introduced the Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) initiative. This is designed to identify programmes that are not cost-effective, do not deliver on their objectives, or are low priority, and to reduce or close them. 

“This will yield savings that can instead be used for higher priority spending and better service delivery. The Programme Assessment Matrix (PAM) was introduced to provide departments with a systematic method to evaluate the performance of each programme,” National Treasury said.

The following principles will guide budget submissions:

• If revenues come in higher than expected in the Budget, such gains will be used only to reduce debt or address temporary spending needs, such as infrastructure investment or urgent spending pressures. They will not be used to fund permanent spending increases.
• Government granted fuel levy relief in response to high oil prices resulting from the current Middle East conflict. The estimated cost of R17.2 billion was funded by lower-than-expected spending and higher-than-expected revenues, so it was fiscally neutral. Any further relief measures would likewise have to be funded in a budget-neutral manner.
• Additions to the overall fiscal envelope will only be considered for priority interventions if savings have been identified through the TARS process. 
• Departments must look first to reprioritise money in their existing baselines to address new spending pressures. Programmes that have consistently underperformed must be considered for reprioritisation. 
• Departments must use PAM to assess programmes and public entities, and evaluate their effectiveness and performance.
• Compensation budgets must remain within the limits set in the 2026 Budget. This implies that departments will need to manage their overall staff complement to remain within budget.
• Salary adjustments in public institutions should be aligned with the Public Service Wage Bill management strategy. 
• National departments must ensure that policy proposals that provinces and municipalities must implement are fully costed and aligned with the fiscal framework to avoid unfunded mandates.
   

– SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will today chair the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Committee Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The high-level meeting brings together Justice Ministers and legal officials from across the SADC region to discuss the application and interpretation of regional legal frameworks, including the SADC Treaty, SADC Protocols and other legal instruments, as well as matters relating to international law.

The gathering provided an opportunity for Member States to review progress made in implementing SADC legal instruments and to consider initiatives aimed at strengthening the administration of justice throughout the region.

Addressing delegates ahead of the meeting, Kubayi emphasised the importance of maintaining consistency in the interpretation and application of regional legal frameworks.

“This meeting gives us an opportunity, as the SADC region, to further ensure legal consistency in all regional legal instruments. Through constructive dialogue, we can address socio-economic challenges and promote our shared objectives of upholding the rule of law in the region,” she said.

The discussions are expected to contribute to enhanced legal cooperation among SADC Member States and support efforts to advance regional integration, good governance and the rule of law.

The Committee Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General serves as a key platform for coordinating legal and justice-related matters within the 16-member regional bloc. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday confirmed the dismissal of Major General Richard Shibiri, the former Component Head for Organised Crime, following the conclusion of internal disciplinary processes.

“The disciplinary proceedings were conducted in accordance with applicable SAPS prescripts and principles of procedural fairness,” the police said in a statement.

Shibiri was found guilty of misconduct relating to conduct that brought the organisation into disrepute, including associating himself with a known criminal. 

In January, it was announced that 14 high-ranking South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) officials were referred for investigation after being identified as possible wrongdoers by the Madlanga Commission. This was according to a statement released by the Presidency on the interim report of the Madlanga Commission.

The Commission submitted its interim report and recommendations to President Cyril Ramaphosa in December last year, which he studied and accepted. 

The Presidency explained at the time that the Commission made referrals for investigation where it found prima facie evidence of wrongdoing and that the investigations were to be carried out by the SAPS, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), and EMM.

Shibiri was among the five SAPS officials referred for investigation.

READ | President Ramaphosa acts on SAPS and Ekurhuleni officials named in Madlanga interim report
– SAnews.gov.za

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has tabled the KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Tax Bill, 2026, before the Provincial Legislature, proposing a modernised tax framework aimed at strengthening revenue collection, enhancing transparency and advancing transformation within the gaming and betting sector.

The proposed legislation seeks to align the province’s gaming and betting tax regime with national legislation, while introducing a structured system of taxes and levies for licensed operators.

Revenue generated through the framework will be channelled into the Provincial Revenue Fund and support targeted transformation initiatives through the Gaming and Betting Transformation Fund.

Presenting the Bill on Thursday, Rodgers said the proposed levies are expected to generate between R50 million and R100 million annually, which will be used to advance inclusive participation and sustainable sectoral development within the industry.

The Bill also makes provision for the reinvestment of horse racing tax revenue into the development of the equine sector, with a specific focus on traditional horse racing, commonly known as “Umtelebhelo”.

According to Rodgers, the initiative will be implemented alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Equine Industry Development Masterplan, which aims to stimulate growth, create opportunities and strengthen participation within rural communities.

“This Bill represents a critical step in strengthening our revenue framework, while promoting fairness, transformation and inclusive economic growth. It ensures that key sectors, including the equine industry, are supported in a manner that benefits all communities of KwaZulu-Natal,” Rodgers said.

The provincial government also called on national authorities to expedite the finalisation of legislation regulating online gambling, citing the sector’s growing revenue potential.

KwaZulu-Natal believes that revenue generated from online gambling could play a significant role in alleviating the pressure of prevailing socio-economic challenges facing both the province and the country. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says very cold conditions are still expected over the Central Karoo District in the Western Cape and the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape on Friday.

“As the cut-off low-pressure system exits the country, daytime temperatures are expected to remain below 10°C in some places,” SAWS said.

These conditions are likely to result in the loss of vulnerable livestock and crops, disrupt outdoor activities, and increase the risk of hypothermia due to prolonged exposure to very cold weather.

In addition, a Yellow Level 2 warning has been issued for disruptive snowfall that could lead to icy roads and traffic disruptions over the north-eastern high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape.

The Weather Service has also warned of damaging waves in the Eastern Cape.

A Yellow Level 4 warning has also been issued for wind and waves, which could make navigation at sea difficult and cause small vessels to take on water between Plettenberg Bay and East London.

Meanwhile, the weekend weather outlook indicates partly cloudy and cold conditions, with isolated showers expected along the country’s east and south-west coasts. –SAnews.gov.za