Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of South Africa

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies committee has indicated that in the next few weeks, it will prioritise and fast-track law-making to modernise communications legislation to be in line with the fast-changing digital environment. 

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies Khusela Sangoni-Diko expressed that one of the most pressing barriers to progress in the sector is outdated legislation.

“Our communications laws were largely designed for an analogue era and are not fit for purpose in a fast-changing digital environment characterised by artificial intelligence, e-commerce, internet of things, blockchain and many other technologies. 

“This outdated framework hampers innovation, delays transformation, and constrains the ability of entities such as the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Sentech, South African Post Office (SAPO) and the Postbank to adapt to new realities,” Sangoni-Diko said.

In the next few weeks, the committee’s legislative agenda will be adopting committee-initiated bills.

“The committee will prioritise and fast-track law-making to modernise this legislative environment for an inclusive, agile and secured society. 

“Amongst the priorities will be legislation for the preservation and protection of the media, amendments where necessary to the Electronic Communications Act and the overarching legislation, to govern the so-called over-the-top services for platform accountability, should government not move with the requisite speed. 

“Ours is to ensure that our legal framework keeps pace with global technological advancements,” Sangoni-Diko said.

Meanwhile, the committee welcomed progress made under SA Connect, particularly the rollout of over 3 000 public Wi-Fi hotspots serving four million South Africans to date.

“Young people and people in rural areas are beginning to access the opportunities the digital world offers. However much more remains to be done. Meaningful school connectivity remains a pipe dream for many learners. We call on the Departments of Communications and Digital Technologies and Basic Education to prioritise this urgently,” she said.

SABC

Meanwhile, the committee has warned that the SABC is at risk of collapse due to financial and operational challenges.

“Sentech, in turn, is bleeding more than R70 million per month subsidising the broadcaster’s signal costs. Yet the SABC Bill – essential to ensuring sustainability – remains stalled in Parliament. As the SABC is teetering on the brink of collapse, jobs livelihoods and the sustainability of the public and community broadcasting sector is threatened.”

Sangoni-Diko has called on Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to engage with the National Treasury on the investment into the SABC.

“The public broadcaster has not had a technology or infrastructure refresh in more than a decade. The SABC is not looking for a bailout. Government has a responsibility to invest in this strategic asset and recapitalise it where necessary. The time for decisive action is now; otherwise, South Africa risks losing its public broadcaster altogether,” the Chairperson said.

Furthermore, she implored the department to finalise the digital migration process.

“Since missing the ITU [International Telecommunication Union] deadline in 2015, government has repeatedly postponed analogue switch-off. Ten years later, South Africa continues to squander the economic and technological benefits of digital migration. 

“Digital content creators are calling for space on the channels promised to them as part of the benefits on migration. We call on the department and the Minister to bring this matter to finality,” she said.

Post Office

The committee stressed that the Post Office must diversify its revenue streams and leverage its infrastructure for broader service delivery.

“Two years into business rescue, progress at SAPO has been slow and costly, with almost R250 million spent on business rescue practitioner fees and thousands of jobs lost. While we welcome signs of stabilisation, a sustainable turnaround plan remains elusive.

“Despite its challenges, the Post Office remains a strategic state institution which is a lifeline who many underserved communities. We must leverage its strengths,” Sangoni-Diko said. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) is a “stain” on South Africa’s conscience which government is working hard to eliminate.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who was delivering oral replies to questions posed by members of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

In his response on the establishment of the National Council on GBVF, the President said the council is a vital part of the country’s response to the scourge.

“It is vital that the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is established with the authority and resources outlined in the Act. The interim allocation of R5 million for the secretariat is a transitional measure, enabling the coordination of the implementation of the National Strategic Plan against GBVF.

“To ensure that the National Council is able to fulfil its critical functions, National Treasury has approved the Council as a separate sub programme with ring-fenced funds from 1 April 2026. The Council is planned for establishment from 1 April 2026, following due processes,” he said.

Ahead of the establishment of the council, Ministers have “nominated government representatives to the Council” with the relevant Parliamentary Portfolio Committee expected to call for civil society and private sector nominations.

Furthermore, the Board of the council will appoint the CEO and the secretariat staff.

National plan against GBVF

The President highlighted that the strength of the National Strategic Plan [on GBVF] lies in “mobilising multiple stakeholders and mainstreaming this work across government”. 

“Every government department and entity is expected to contribute to the implementation of the National Strategic Plan within its mandate, while the National Council provides leadership and oversight.

“All relevant government departments have dedicated funds towards the implementation of those pillars of the National Strategic Plan that fall within their respective areas of responsibility,” the President said.

The implementation of the NSP is also ongoing in the form of the GBVF National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) awareness campaigns, operational sexual offences courts and Thuthuzela Care Centres, psychosocial support and integrated services through the Department of Social Development, Khuseleka One-Stop Centres and the GBV Command Centre.

“There is also progress with economic empowerment initiatives, mainly through improving the access of women-owned businesses to procurement opportunities in both government and the private sector. These initiatives show that the National Strategic Plan is a living framework. 

“The National Council is expected, once operational, to accelerate this progress through stronger oversight, coordination and accountability. Gender-based violence and femicide is a stain on the conscience of our nation.

“The National Council is an important instrument in strengthening our response to this epidemic, ensuring that all South Africans are mobilised to ensure that is brought to an end,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has updated the National Assembly on South Africa’s preparations to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit, in Johannesburg, in November.

The country will host the leaders’ summit under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, marking the first time an African nation leads the forum of the world’s major economies.

Delivering his oral replies to questions from members in the National Assembly on Tuesday, the President said South Africa’s G20 Presidency has received “strong support” from G20 members, invited countries and international organisations.

“South Africa’s G20 Presidency has entered its final 90 days. Approximately 87 of the 132 official meetings on the G20 calendar have already taken place.

“These meetings addressed some of the most urgent and significant challenges facing the global community, demonstrating our firm commitment to finding sustainable and innovative solutions through dialogue, collaboration and cooperation,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the discussions have centred on South Africa’s priorities to:

• Strengthen disaster resilience and response.
• Ensure debt sustainability for low-income countries.
• Mobilise finance for a just energy transition.
• Harness critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

“South Africa is also championing broader and cross-cutting issues through all the G20 Working Groups. These include reform of the multilateral trading system and the international financial architecture, including strengthening of multilateral development banks.

“While there is divergence on some issues, as is expected in multilateral engagements, there is strong support for South Africa’s priorities among G20 members,” the President said.

Furthermore, negotiations on the G20 Working Group Ministerial Declarations and Outcomes are also underway with the last rounds of most of the Ministerial meetings to be held this month and in October.

President Ramaphosa described the Third Meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, held in July 2025, as a “significant milestone”.

“The meeting outcomes were agreed in a communiqué consented to by all members.

“The meeting delivered productive and constructive discussions on Africa, the global economic outlook and macroeconomic stability, the international financial architecture, sustainable finance, global health, infrastructure, tax, financial sector issues and financial inclusion,” he said.

The G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality was also launched in August with Nobel Laureate, Professor Joseph Stiglitz, chairing the panel.

“This initiative seeks to heighten global attention on inequality and outline practical action to address growing disparities in income, wealth and opportunity,” he explained.

The G20 Ministerial Meetings are a key part of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, which will be adopted at the leaders’ summit.

“South Africa aims to produce an ambitious Leaders’ Declaration that will promote the development agenda of the Global South in general and the African continent in particular,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that an inmate that had escaped from the Allandale Correctional Centre in the Western Cape has died in an apparent suicide.

The offender, identified as Graine Martin, escaped from custody on Tuesday, while working as part of facility’s Agricultural Programme.

He was serving a 12-year sentence for three counts of assault and theft, after being sentenced on 29 August 2023.

“Following an intensive search operation, involving SAPS and members of the community, the escapee was found deceased. Preliminary observations indicate that he took his own life through hanging,” the department said.

A police report has been opened with the SAPS with an inquest expected to be conducted “in line with applicable procedures”.

“A full-scale investigation is to be instituted to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape and subsequent death of the offender,” the department said.

Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has called for the immediate termination of government’s contract with the private security service G4S, that manages the Mangaung Correctional Centre.

This follows a briefing from DCS on unnatural inmate deaths, with specific reference to Mangaung, Goodwood and Oudtshoorn correctional centres.

Committee chairperson Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng accused G4S of “acting as a law unto themselves,” highlighting the committee heard that G4S only provided a report last week on the unnatural death of an inmate that occurred in March 2025, in Mangaung.

According to the statement, in March this year, an inmate at Manguang died following a search operation in which “offenders were allegedly assaulted and tortured”.

The inmate – who was an asthma patient – sustained “severe injuries, including blunt force trauma from tonfas and complications from pepper spray exposure” and died the following day.

The committee heard the contractor presented pre-drafted statements to officials to sign off to ensure their versions aligned. Officials were allegedly also advised to assault the inmate on his body and not the face in order to hide the marks.

“In addition, the committee heard that throughout the investigation into the incident, G4S and its employees sought to conceal the truth and obscure the investigation. This is viewed in serious light as it is tantamount to defeating the ends of justice.

“G4S’s refusal to provide reports about the March incident to DCS and only complied on 4 September, which amounts to refusing to take responsibility,” Ramolobeng said in a statement.

The centre gained infamy following the escape and subsequent re-arrest of convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester, in 2022 and 2023. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, September 10, 2025