Category: MIL-OSI

Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, has called on motorists, public transport operators and workers travelling to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) May Day event to prioritise road safety, as traffic volumes are expected to spike over this long weekend.

The Cosatu national May Day rally will take place on Friday, 1 May, at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium from 8am to 6pm, with an estimated 15 000 people expected to attend.

Additional rallies organised by other federations will also be held across the province.

Mathye noted that the rally coincides with month-end, a period typically marked by increased travel as workers receive their salaries.

“This is another extended weekend. We want every worker to arrive at their respective rallies safely and return alive,” Mathye said on Thursday.

Traffic management plan activated

The department has activated a comprehensive traffic management plan covering major routes into Polokwane.

Law enforcement officers will be deployed from early Friday morning to monitor key corridors, including:
•    N1 South and R101 (Waterberg District)
•    R37 (Sekhukhune District)
•    R71 and R81 (Mopani District)
•    N1 North, R524 and R578 (Vhembe District)
•    D19, R521 and R567 (Capricorn District)

Hundreds of buses and minibus taxis are expected to transport commuters from across Limpopo’s five districts to the main venue.

Safety appeal to motorists and operators

Mathye issued a strong appeal for compliance with road safety regulations:

• No overloading.
• No drinking and driving.
• No speeding.
•  Rest and patience. 

The department wished all workers a safe, peaceful, and successful International Workers’ Day. – SAnews.gov.za

EThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba has called for the establishment of special courts to address the growing problem of land invasions and property hijackings.

Xaba on Wednesday said he has approached Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, with the proposal, citing growing concern among property owners who struggle to reclaim hijacked land or buildings through existing legal processes.

“Once they lose control of their land or buildings to criminals, it becomes extremely difficult and costly to reclaim them. This process requires court supervision, which does not come cheap,” Xaba said during a media briefing on Wednesday.

Xaba noted that in many townships and suburbs, properties are still registered in the names of the original owners, who are now deceased. The problem, he said, is compounded by the fact that many did not leave wills, which further complicates the transfer of ownership.

“Some of these properties have fallen prey to criminal syndicates, who hijack them and unlawfully collect rent from tenants. Many property owners are unable to access legal recourse due to financial constraints,” the mayor said.

Xaba believes that specialised courts can ameliorate the situation and make the administration of justice more accessible, similar to municipal courts that deal with traffic violations and commercial courts.

“I strongly believe that the establishment of special courts for hijacked properties and land invasions will protect property owners from unlawful activities and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” he said.

The mayor has directed City Manager Musa Mbhele to establish a task team to consolidate a formal proposal for submission to the Minister.

Xaba’s call follows the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill, published recently, which seeks to empower municipalities, State entities and private property owners to respond more decisively to illegal occupations and evictions.

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, who announced the release of the bill for public comments, said the proposed amendments aim to strengthen the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act of 1998 by making it more effective, easier to interpret and simpler to enforce.

The move comes amid a rise in unlawful land and building occupations across the country, placing a significant financial and administrative burden on both government and the private sector.

Debt relief for deceased estates

In a related intervention, Xaba announced that the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has introduced a Deceased Estate Debt Write-Off Programme to help address challenges linked to properties registered under deceased estates.

Xaba said the programme was due to challenges when the municipality collect rates from properties registered under deceased estates.

He said through the initiative, the municipality has written off more than R500 million in outstanding debt.

The programme applies to properties valued at under R1 million, where the estate had remained unresolved for at least 24 months, as of the policy’s approval in August 2024.

“A key condition is that family members must agree on who will take responsibility for municipal accounts to prevent the re-accumulation of debt,” Xaba explained.

Xaba said the intervention aims to ease administrative and financial burdens on affected families, while improving revenue collection and property regularisation in the city. – SAnews.gov.za

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane says maximum resources have been mobilised to hunt down a group of criminals who attacked two Crime Intelligence officers this afternoon in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

The attack on the Crime Intelligence officers happened in the Mount Edgecombe area.

A member who was the driver of a State vehicle has succumbed to the gunshot wounds sustained at the scene. 

Another member, who was also shot and wounded during the attack, has been airlifted to hospital and is currently receiving urgent medical care.

A manhunt has been launched for the suspects.

South African Police Service (SAPS) specialised units, including Crime Intelligence operatives, detectives, the organised crime unit and highly trained police officers are working around the clock to track down and apprehend those involved.

Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the authority of the State and those who risk their lives in the fight against crime.

“No stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”

SAPS has deployed its Employee Health and Wellness experts, including psychologists and chaplains, to the family of the deceased and the SAPS Crime Intelligence unit to offer psychosocial services.

SAPS has extended its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen officer and has wished the injured member a full and speedy recovery. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially announced 4 November 2026 as the date for South Africa’s upcoming Local Government Elections, setting the stage for political parties and voters to begin preparations.

The President made the announcement on Thursday during the Extended Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, where he is meeting with Premiers, mayors and senior government officials.

“I therefore determine that the next local Government Elections will be held on a Wednesday, on a date I now determine as the 4th of November 2026. Therefore, with the full concurrence of the Deputy President here, I now determine that the next Local Government Elections will be held on 4 November 2026,” President Ramaphosa said.

The proclamation follows consultations with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. 

Speaking to the media after the announcement, the President said the elections will mark the completion of a full five-year term since the 2021 municipal polls, in keeping with constitutional timelines. 

“The 4th of November 2026 is the date that we have set for the Local Government Elections that will have completed a full five years since [the] 2021 [elections], and this is in line with our constitutional construct [to] keep to those timelines that are clearly set out in our Constitution,” he said.

President Ramaphosa said the announcement provides certainty and signals the official start of the campaign period, with political parties expected to mobilise support and prepare for the polls.

“It gives everyone clear focus on what needs to be done… The race has started, and people will do the best they can.” 

President Ramaphosa noted that while elected leaders will campaign for re-election, the administrative arm of municipalities will continue its work to ensure stability and continuity in governance.

The President also stressed the importance of increasing voter turnout, particularly among young people.

“Many parties are already ensuring that they talk to their voters, their supporters, and get voters to be registered, to come forward and vote. 

“Voter turnout is always a concern to political parties and indeed to the State or the government because the fewer people who vote, the more we get concerned about the status of our democracy. Our task is to increase voter turnout, to get as many people as possible, especially young people, to come out, register and vote,” the President said. 

The President said the remaining six months, supported by media networks, political party mobilisation and the spread of information on social media, should be sufficient. 

“The [objective] is to get everyone to be properly mobilised to go out and vote. Today gives them the starting blocks. They must now work harder to make sure that the campaigning starts and [that] voter registration also starts. I will also be doing my part,” he said.

On service delivery, President Ramaphosa said government has already begun implementing key interventions outlined in the Water Action Plan, with several workstreams underway. 

He acknowledged that poor service delivery often leads to public dissatisfaction, but said government and political leaders have a responsibility to both demonstrate clear plans and encourage citizens to participate in the democratic process.

“Obviously as services fail… people get disgruntled and they become unhappy. Our job as party leaders and government is to encourage people to come and vote — as many of them as possible — and to demonstrate that we have plans,” the President said. 

The President added that further details on implementation timelines would be communicated to ensure transparency and accountability.

The announcement marks the official start of preparations for the 2026 Municipal Elections, with political parties expected to ramp up campaigning and voter registration efforts in the months ahead, while government continues efforts to strengthen local governance and rebuild public trust. – SAnews.gov.za

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has commended voluntary community safety structures for their role in protecting communities and strengthening democracy. 

Ntuli was speaking at Zakheni B Community Hall in the Alfred Duma Local Municipality, where he officially welcomed newly trained members of community safety structures. 

The event coincided with Freedom Day earlier in the week, which marked 32 years of South Africa’s first democratic elections. 

Delivering his keynote address, Ntuli commended the spirit of volunteerism demonstrated by community safety structure members, noting that their work contributes significantly to protecting the gains of South Africa’s democratic dispensation since 1994.

“Community-based crime prevention structures play a critical role in supporting law enforcement agencies and strengthening grassroots safety interventions,” Ntuli said. 

He highlighted the importance of civic participation, noting that community safety structures embody the spirit of active citizenship central to South Africa’s constitutional democracy. 

Addressing crime concerns 

Ntuli raised concern about the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in parts of the municipality and urged both community safety structures and residents to report illegal weapons to their nearest police stations. 

He also pointed to growing challenges related to drug dependency and increasing incidents of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) reported, particularly in areas such as Zakheni. 

“Law enforcement agencies have identified several high-risk areas requiring intensified intervention and collaboration. These include Pieters Industrial Estate, Qinisa, Zakheni sections A, B, D and E, Manzabilayo, St Chads and Mhlumayo,” the Premier said. 

He stressed the need for stronger collaboration between police and community safety structures to effectively combat crime in these hotspots. 

Strengthening partnerships for safer communities

The Premier further acknowledged the role played by traditional leaders, including mayors, the religious sector and the business community in supporting crime prevention efforts and promoting safer environments. 

“Addressing crime requires a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach involving all stakeholders, including government, law enforcement and communities,” he said. 

Ntuli reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening and supporting community safety structures, ensuring they are adequately equipped to contribute meaningfully to safer communities across KwaZulu-Natal. – SAnews.gov.za