Category: MIL-OSI

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the passing of renowned futures strategist, Clem Sunter who passed away at the age of 81.

Sunter was a business leader having held the position of Chief Executive at Anglo American and also helped develop a future scenario for South Africa as pressure on the Apartheid government began to ramp up in the 1980s.

“Clem Sunter was a pioneering, incisive leader who cared deeply for our country and focused the attention of political movements, of his peers in the economy and of ordinary citizens on the character and future of our nation.

“He made us think of the terms and conditions of transformation and of the South Africa we needed to build for an inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful country. From consultations with leaders, to his books and the passionate sharing of his ideas with communities, Clem Sunter made his insights accessible to all of us.

“Today, we continue to explore futures for our country and as we do so, we honour Clem Sunter’s groundbreaking reflection on who we are and what we can be. May his soul rest in peace,” President Ramaphosa said on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed a high court judgment dismissing controversial businessman Hamilton Ndlovu’s application to reinstate an appeal against the Special Tribunal decision to set aside a R158 million Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contract.

The contract was awarded by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The appeal had lapsed due to the failure to act within the prescribed timelines, and the appellants’ explanation for the delays was found to be superficial, contradictory and dishonest.

“Evidence presented in the case revealed that Mr Ndlovu used multiple fronting companies to exploit emergency procurement processes fraudulently during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the SIU said in a statement.

Ndlovu’s legal troubles began when the SIU launched an investigation into allegations of corruption and the circumstances in which eight companies, directly and indirectly linked to Ndlovu, obtained contracts worth a total of R172 million for the NHLS PPE procurement.

The businessman was eventually hauled to the Special Tribunal by the corruption-busting unit and ordered by the tribunal to pay back some R158 million in monies gained from the tenders.

“The SIU’s investigation found that almost 90% of the NHLS funds were diverted to Mr Ndlovu and his family for luxury assets, including cars, houses and investments, rather than being used for the intended PPE supply. Ultimately, the court confirmed that Mr Ndlovu and company had no prospects of success in overturning the Special Tribunal’s ruling.”

Between March and April 2021, the NHLS awarded 19 contracts for PPE worth R172 million to companies controlled by Ndlovu.

“However, only R13.8 million of the allocated funds was actually used for the procurement of PPEs, with the remainder being diverted for Mr Ndlovu’s personal enrichment,” the SIU explained.

The contracts were declared unlawful by the Special Tribunal in 2022 and set aside while Ndlovu was ordered to repay R158 million to the entity.

“This ruling follows a series of civil litigation initiated by the SIU and the NHLS to recover assets acquired from the unlawful procurement of PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The SIU is empowered by Proclamation R.23 of 2020, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to investigate allegations of corruption, malpractice, maladministration, and irregularities in procuring goods and services by State institutions in response to COVID-19,” the SIU said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences on the passing of Palestine’s first female Ambassador and activist Leila Shahid.

Shahid passed away at the age of 76 in France.

The President described Shahid’s passing as a “moment of sadness that ripples from the ruins of a brutalised Palestine to places all over the world where we remain resolute in our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for freedom”.

“Leila Shahid leaves us while the State of Israel perpetuates the excessive violence and disregard of international law that Leila witnessed, fought against and brought to the attention of the international community during her decades of activism.

“As an anthropologist, she sought to preserve the cultural history of the people of Palestine who suffered and continue to suffer recurrent attacks on their identity, dignity and political and physical security.

“She campaigned for the freedom of Palestine until the end of her extraordinary life, and her passing is a moment for appreciating the full extent of her leadership and ensuring that her vision of a free Palestine is realised in our lifetime. May her soul rest in peace,” President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Thursday. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished faith communities well over Lent and Ramadan.

The period of Lent and Ramadan has coincided this year.

“The start of the Lent period coinciding with the start of Ramadan is a rare occurrence that, at the same time, is a powerful reminder of the deep commonality of faith traditions.

“Though they are observed in different ways, both Lent and Ramadan call on those who observe towards introspection, discipline, humility, generosity, and care for society’s most vulnerable – these are values sorely needed in today’s fractured world,” President Ramaphosa said.

Lent is the Christian season of fasting starting on Ash Wednesday and culminating just before Easter.

Similarly, Ramadaan is the Muslim period of fasting and community, which will end on 19 March.

The President emphasised that both faiths and others are protected under South Africa’s constitution.

“Every faith has a room here, and no South African will be marginalised or persecuted for their beliefs. The claims of those who would seek to paint a different picture do not withstand scrutiny when measured against the record of our constitutional democracy.

“At this time of great spiritual significance for our Christian and Muslim brethren, I call on all South Africans to rally in solidarity and hold fast to the unity that defines us as a people,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has noted the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, which show that headline inflation eased in January.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), headline inflation eased from 3.6% in December 2025 to 3.5% in January 2026.

“The easing in inflation reflects a combination of stable food prices and lower fuel costs. This contributes to a generally contained price environment at the start of the year,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Wednesday.

Food price inflation remained steady overall, with several staple items recording slower increases or price declines. Products such as cereals, rice, dairy and eggs showed signs of moderation, providing some relief to households.

Furthermore, fuel prices declined on both a monthly and annual basis, supporting the broader moderation in inflation. The decline of fuel prices also contributed positively to easing transport-related costs.

“Overall, the January outcome indicates that inflation remains relatively stable. Government continues to implement measures to support food security, enhance market monitoring, strengthen competition, and protect vulnerable households from rising costs. 

“Government will continue to monitor price developments closely and act, where necessary, to safeguard consumer welfare and support economic growth,” the GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za 

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has assured Parliament that the department is intensifying efforts to improve service delivery, starting with eliminating long queues through collaboration with banks on the rollout of the Digital ID.

The Department of Home Affairs is set to launch the first group of bank branches offering Home Affairs services under a new digital partnership model within the next few weeks. 

“This will mark the beginning of the end of long queues at Home Affairs. Under the new digital partnership, you will be able to walk into your local bank branch, including in rural and underserved areas, and apply for a Smart ID in as little as three minutes.

“The Home Affairs digital revolution is also enhancing border security and immigration management. With the core biometric technology already live for the citizenship portal, we now shift our focus to building the front-end user interface,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) Debate, Schreiber said the Digital ID will allow South Africans to access enabling documents on their mobile phones and remotely verify their identities using secure facial recognition technology.

“Of course, even in a digital world, there remains a need for greater access to secure physical documents, including the Smart ID and passport.

“The track record we have built over the past 20 months is also the reason I can tell the House today you have seen nothing yet. In 2026, the best is about to come.

“As a result of our reforms to the Online Verification Service and other upgrades to internal systems, I can today announce that turnaround times for Smart ID and passport applications have been cut by an incredible 66.7%,” Schreiber said.

South Africa is set to launch its first-ever Digital ID system this year, which aims to modernise government services and enhance national security. 

The initiative, announced by the Minister last year during his department’s Budget Vote, will eliminate identity fraud and improve accessibility for all citizens. It aims to modernise government services, eliminate identity fraud, and improve accessibility for all South Africans.

The Department of Home Affairs last year submitted a Digital ID policy to Cabinet for approval to conduct public hearings.

The initiative is also part of a broader vision to transform how South Africans interact with their government, moving from manual to digital solutions.

Key features include:

• Digital versions of essential documents, such as IDs and passports, allowing citizens to access services online or through smart devices. 
• Electronic Travel Authorisation and a revamped www.gov.za platform for seamless digital access to government services. 
• The system is expected to phase out the traditional green ID book, which is vulnerable to fraud, and replace it with a modern, secure alternative. – SAnews.gov.za