Category: MIL-OSI

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on businesses to expand employment opportunities for young people, urging employers to look beyond work experience and recognise the potential, aptitude and determination of young job seekers. 

Addressing the SA Youth National Leadership Convening at the Galleria Conference Centre in Sandton on Thursday, the President said government, business, labour, civil society and educational institutions must work together to tackle youth unemployment. 

He urged businesses to create more opportunities for young people to gain workplace experience, develop their skills and demonstrate their capabilities.

“Let us stop treating a lack of experience as a lack of ability. A young person should not have to spend years searching for an opportunity simply because no employer is prepared to give them a first chance.”

The President said youth unemployment is not merely an economic challenge, but a social and human challenge that affects the country’s future.

He called for a shift in how young people were prepared for the world of work, saying South Africa could not address unemployment by continuing to do more of what had always been done but instead to rethink the way “we prepare young people for the world of work.”

Shared responsibility

The President emphasised that addressing youth unemployment is a shared national responsibility and could not be left to government or business alone. 

Government must create an enabling environment for investment, enterprise development and employment, while businesses must invest, expand productive activity and open their workplaces to young people.

Educational institutions, meanwhile, must equip young people with the knowledge and skills required by employers.

Labour, civil society and communities also have a role to play in ensuring that opportunities are accessible, fair and inclusive, while young people must actively participate in shaping their economic futures.

The President said the Government-Business Partnership had demonstrated the value of cooperation in addressing constraints on economic growth, improving the investment environment and supporting reforms in critical economic sectors.

He called for the same spirit of cooperation, urgency and determination to be applied to youth employment.

The President said initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the SA Youth Pathways Network and the Youth Employment Service had established practical ways of connecting young people to opportunities.

Public employment programmes had also enabled young people to gain work experience while contributing to education, food security, community safety and environmental protection.

However, he stressed that the country’s ambition must extend beyond placing young people in temporary programmes.

He said public employment opportunities should serve as stepping stones to further training, entrepreneurship or lasting employment, while workplace placements should provide entry points into careers.

The President also called for stronger connections between education, training, work experience and employment.

He said reforms to the skills development system, including the Sector Education and Training Authorities and technical and vocational education and training colleges, are aimed at making training more responsive to industry needs.

In addition, businesses should play a greater role in identifying skills requirements, designing training programmes and providing workplace learning, while colleges should produce graduates equipped to participate in the modern economy.

He further called for vocational and technical careers to be recognised as attractive and rewarding pathways to success.

He highlighted the need for artisans, technicians, builders, electricians, mechanics, agricultural specialists and other professionals with practical and technical skills.

Supporting entrepreneurs

The President said South Africa also needed to expand opportunities for young entrepreneurs, who could establish businesses, develop products, provide services and create employment.

While young people were demonstrating enterprise and innovation in townships and rural communities, many promising businesses struggled to grow because of limited access to finance, markets, business support and infrastructure.

He called on government and business to expand access to start-up and working capital, open procurement opportunities and supply chains to youth-owned enterprises and provide mentoring and business development support. 

Established businesses were also encouraged to integrate young entrepreneurs into their value chains.

“A young entrepreneur does not always need a grant. Sometimes what that entrepreneur needs most is a customer. A contract. A market. An opportunity to prove that their business can deliver,” he said. 

The President identified tourism, agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, digital services, the green economy and the creative industries as sectors with significant potential to create employment and develop skills.

He said government, industry and training institutions needed to work more closely to identify growing labour demand and ensure young people were equipped to take up available opportunities.

Implementation

President Ramaphosa said the Work SA Youth Implementation Plan provides a framework for coordinating efforts and scaling up approaches that had demonstrated their effectiveness.

However, he stressed that implementation must take precedence over strategies and announcements.

He also called on business leaders to identify practical employment opportunities within their companies and industries, while industry associations should work with employers, including smaller businesses, to expand workplace learning and entry-level recruitment.

Education and training institutions should strengthen their relationships with employers, while government departments and agencies should remove obstacles preventing these efforts from succeeding.

The President said the partnership needed clear responsibilities, practical commitments and mechanisms to assess progress.

“We need to know what is working, what is not working and what needs to change,” he emphasised. 

In addition, successful programmes should be expanded, while those that were failing need to be improved.

President Ramaphosa also emphasised that young people were not asking for special treatment, but for a fair chance to work, learn, earn a living and contribute to the country’s development. –SAnews.gov.za 

Government has launched an investigation into reported cases of gastrointestinal illness affecting 111 people at Rhodes University in Makhanda and 23 inmates at St Albans Correctional Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay.

The investigation was announced in a joint statement by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, Makana Local Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

The investigation follows reports of individuals in the two municipalities receiving treatment at various healthcare facilities for symptoms including severe abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. 

The joint statement explained that DWS received a media alert about gastrointestinal illnesses reported by Rhodes University, prompting the activation of a response team involving the provincial Department of Health and the DWS regional offices.

A multi-stakeholder technical team has since been established to investigate the source of the illnesses and contain their spread.

The team comprises the DWS, provincial departments of Health and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Makana Local Municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), Amatola Water and Rhodes University.

An intergovernmental meeting was held on Wednesday evening, led by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, alongside Makana Executive Mayor Yandiswa Vara and Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe.

“The meeting received reports from the technical team covering information on the number and location of gastrointestinal illness cases, the samples taken by the NICD and water quality tests conducted by the DWS as well as additional urgent measures being implemented to protect communities,” the statement read.

The technical team collected water samples from various water sources in Makana, including Rhodes University’s internal water storage and distribution system, the municipal distribution network and the water treatment works.

At St Albans Correctional Centre, samples were collected from the elevated water storage tower through which the facility receives potable water from the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal supply system.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the spread is currently concentrated within the university and the Saint Albans Prison. Initial test results indicate that the contamination is within the university’s water distribution system and within the prison’s water distribution system, and not within the municipal water distribution systems.

“Laboratory test results of all the samples taken are still pending and will be communicated as soon as they become available,” the statement said.

Government has urged residents who develop symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to seek medical attention early and report suspected cases to their nearest healthcare facility or local health authority.

“Early reporting protects not only individuals and families but also enables health authorities to respond quickly and prevent further spread.”

Communities have also been urged to observe good hygiene practices, including washing hands after using the toilet and before handling food.

Earlier this week, the DWS Minister announced the establishment of a multi-pronged response team after 408 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported at Bronkhorstspruit in the City of Tshwane (CoT) Municipality. – SAnews.gov.za

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says the revised White Paper on Local Government will introduce a differentiated funding approach and strengthen merit-based appointments to improve municipal performance and service delivery.

Hlabisa was speaking at the official launch of the Final Revised White Paper on Local Government in Boksburg, Gauteng, on Thursday.

The revised policy seeks to build capable, accountable, financially sustainable and developmental municipalities, addressing challenges that have affected the local government system since the original White Paper was introduced in 1998.

Hlabisa said the review was informed by lessons learnt over the past 28 years, including the shortcomings of a funding model that applied a largely uniform approach to municipalities with different needs and capacities.

“The funding model, the one-size-fits-all, has shown it doesn’t work. If you treat a metro like a small, deep rural municipality in terms of allocation of resources, you are missing the point,” the Minister said.

The revised White Paper proposes a differentiated approach to municipal funding, recognising that metropolitan municipalities and smaller rural municipalities have different responsibilities, resource requirements and service delivery challenges.

Implementation and appointments on merit

Hlabisa said the policy also placed greater emphasis on implementation, warning that its recommendations will have little impact if they are not translated into practical action.

“The White Paper can become a good document, but it can collect dust on the table or on the shelves if there is no implementation.”

The Minister emphasised merit-based appointments as a key measure to strengthen municipal administration, saying municipalities need qualified professionals with the skills and expertise to perform their responsibilities.

He said the revised policy sought to move away from career-based deployment towards appointments based on merit, supported by competent councillors who can provide effective political oversight.

According to Hlabisa, capable municipal administrations and competent political leadership are essential to improving governance and accelerating service delivery.

The review identifies several interconnected challenges requiring coordinated reforms, including weak governance and ethics, limited administrative capacity, financial constraints, infrastructure backlogs and fragmented coordination across government.

It also highlights concerns about public trust and participation, particularly where communities do not see their input translating into visible action or improved service delivery.

Challenges

On governance, the policy identifies weaknesses in oversight, inconsistent accountability and limited consequences for poor performance. Administrative challenges include skills gaps, leadership and management weaknesses, institutional instability and uneven professional practices.

Financial viability remains another key concern, with revenue constraints, weak controls and fiscal arrangements that do not adequately reflect the different realities of municipalities. These challenges are compounded by ageing infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and unreliable services that affect residents’ daily lives.

The revised policy further points to fragmented reform initiatives, which often operate independently with different reporting structures and limited coordination across the local government system.

Public trust

It emphasises the need to strengthen public trust and accountability by ensuring that community participation leads to visible action, feedback and improved outcomes.

Hlabisa said the launch came at an important time, with local government elections approaching and new municipal councils expected to take office following the polls.

“This comes at the right time. A revised White Paper with major recommendations to fast-track service delivery is coming at the time when we are going to have new councillors,” he said.

He said the introduction of the revised policy alongside the election of new councillors presented an opportunity to implement reforms and improve the performance of municipalities.

Hlabisa emphasised that local government is central to people’s daily lives, as municipalities are responsible for delivering essential services to communities.

The revised White Paper is intended to provide a policy framework for addressing these systemic challenges, strengthening municipal governance and ensuring that municipalities are better equipped to meet their constitutional obligations and respond to residents’ needs.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially launch the revised White Paper today, bringing together Cabinet Ministers, Premiers, MECs, mayors from municipalities across the country, traditional leaders, academics, civil society organisations, business representatives and organised labour.

Transition Plan

Hlabisa said the key focus following the launch will be the 90-day Local Government Transition Plan to translate the policy framework into practical action. He said the plan will identify immediate priorities, define responsibilities and timelines, and establish multi-sectoral workstreams to advance implementation across government and the local government sector.

“The transition process will also take into account the new municipal term, following the Local Government Elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. This includes supporting the induction of newly elected councillors and aligning municipal planning, budgeting and performance management with the objectives of the revised policy framework,” Hlabisa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has called on young people to take advantage of education, skills development, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to improve their prospects and contribute to South Africa’s economic development.

Addressing the Youth Career and Services Expo in Thembalethu, George, Western Cape, Mhlauli emphasised the importance of connecting young people with government services, educational institutions and organisations that can help them move from learning to earning.

“Today is about more than an exhibition of services,” Mhlauli said, adding that the expo is about connecting young people to opportunities, bringing government closer to communities and ensuring that the support available through government and its partners reaches those who need it most.

She also added that young people must remain at the centre of South Africa’s development, and that the country’s future depends on investment in their skills, ambitions and potential.

She acknowledged the challenges facing young people, including unemployment, limited access to education and training, lack of workplace experience, and difficulties in accessing funding, mentorship and business opportunities.

“It is therefore not enough to encourage young people to work hard and pursue their dreams. We must work collectively to ensure that they have access to the information, resources and opportunities needed to turn their aspirations into reality,” Mhlauli said on Thursday.

Career and services expos, she said, provide a platform for government departments, educational institutions, public entities and other organisations to engage directly with young people and provide information about available opportunities.

Education and skills development

Mhlauli encouraged young people to explore different education and training pathways, including universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

She noted that South Africa’s 50 public TVET colleges offer qualifications in fields such as engineering, information technology, agriculture, hospitality, business and skilled trades, while the country’s 26 public universities develop professionals, researchers, innovators and leaders.

“Whether you choose a university or a TVET college, what matters is how you apply your knowledge. I encourage young people to pursue internships, apprenticeships, volunteering, leadership and practical workplace experience. Qualifications open doors, but initiative, adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning help you progress,” she said.

She also highlighted the role of the National Skills Fund, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and industry partnerships in supporting skills development and strengthening the link between training and labour market needs.

On access to higher education, she urged prospective students to familiarise themselves with the funding support available through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“If you are considering university or TVET college but are concerned about affordability, visit www.nsfas.org.za to establish whether you qualify. Applications for the 2027 academic year are still open and are expected to close on the 31st of October 2026. Do not assume that you will not qualify before checking the requirements,” she said.

READ | NSFAS receives over 868 000 applications for 2027 funding

Connecting young people to earning opportunities

The Deputy Minister also highlighted the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2020 to respond to youth unemployment.

At the centre of the intervention is the National Pathway Management Network (NPMN), which connects young people to information about jobs, internships, learnerships, apprenticeships and other earning opportunities through partnerships involving government, educational institutions, the private sector and civil society.

According to Mhlauli, the PYEI has facilitated access to more than 2.5 million earning opportunities, while more than 5.9 million young people are registered on SAYouth.mobi and over 5.36 million on Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA).

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 155 161 new opportunities were created, with more than 70% accessed by young women.

“These figures demonstrate the scale of efforts to connect young people to economic participation. However, we recognise that more work remains to ensure that opportunities are accessible and lead to meaningful, sustainable livelihoods,” she said.

She shared the story of Adelia Njabulo Nqubuka, who registered on SAYouth.mobi and enrolled in a programme run by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.

Having started without established connections or business capital, Nqubuka developed her skills and gained experience before establishing her own construction company, a sector historically dominated by men.

“Her story demonstrates what can happen when opportunity meets initiative. Government can establish platforms, support programmes and build partnerships, but young people must also register, apply and pursue the opportunities available to them,” the Deputy Minister said.

Mhlauli encouraged unemployed young people to register on SAYouth.mobi, which is free and zero-rated on participating mobile networks. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa is working to turn China’s zero-tariff treatment for African countries into increased exports, local manufacturing and job creation. 

Speaking at a briefing reception on China’s Zero-Tariff Treatment to African Countries, in Pretoria on Thursday,  Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau urged South African businesses to take advantage of duty-free access to the Chinese market, while government continues negotiations aimed at providing long-term certainty for exporters and protecting local industries.

“Let us move from interest to deals, and from deals to prosperity,” the Minister said.

China introduced the unilateral preference scheme, which provides duty-free market access for 100% of products, with the exception of 47 tariff lines subject to tariff-rate quotas, for the period from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028.

Tau said South African products that meet the applicable rules of origin can enter the Chinese market without customs duties.

Between 1 June and 31 August, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) issued 25 975 certificates of origin, while customs declarations increased by 199% year-on-year.

The Minister said South Africa had also developed a Top 100 value-added product portfolio for the Chinese market, covering sectors including agro-processing, beverages, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, machinery, medical equipment, fabricated metals, plastics and rubber, automotive products and other industrial capabilities.

The portfolio is intended to help direct export-promotion activities towards products with identified commercial opportunities.

Strengthening trade ties

China remains South Africa’s largest trading partner globally and an important source of investment.

Total bilateral trade between the two countries reached R642 billion in 2025, up from R483 billion in 2021. South African exports to China increased from R198 billion to R222 billion over the same period, while imports from China rose from R284 billion to R420 billion.

Chinese foreign direct investment stock in South Africa stood at R117 billion in 2024, with more than 200 Chinese companies having invested in the country. More than 25 South African companies have also invested in China.

Tau said the scale of the relationship made predictable trade rules and balanced trade essential.

“A relationship of this importance must rest on predictable rules and balanced trade. The zero-tariff treatment runs for two years, and we are not waiting for it to expire.”

In February, Tau and Chinese Minister Wang Wentao signed a framework agreement on economic partnership in Beijing. South Africa and China are now negotiating an Early Harvest Agreement through the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with officials in Beijing this week working towards concluding the negotiations.

The proposed arrangement is intended to provide exporters with greater certainty beyond 2028, while including safeguards to protect South African industry and jobs.

“South Africa trades with all its partners. Diversifying our markets is how we protect South African jobs in an uncertain world. Predictable market access gives investors the confidence to build production in South Africa. 

“That is what we want, not only more trade, but more factories, more processing and more jobs here at home,” the Minister said.

Expanding industrial cooperation

He also highlighted progress in industrial development, including investment in special economic zones, automotive manufacturing, electric vehicles and battery production.

On Tuesday, Tau visited the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone, which is situated between the Lion and Samancor chrome smelters in Limpopo.

READ | Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ: A game-changer for Limpopo mining and jobs

He said the focus on the zone forms part of South Africa’s Industrial Development Strategy, which prioritises the reopening of smelters to support economic growth.

In the automotive sector, Chinese vehicle manufacturers are contributing to local manufacturing through partnerships and investment in South Africa’s production capacity.

BAIC operates through a joint venture with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to manufacture and assemble vehicles locally. Chery has also acquired Nissan South Africa’s manufacturing facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria, which officially opened in July 2026.

According to the Minister, Chery retained 692 former Nissan employees and plans to scale up to nearly 3 000 direct and indirect jobs.

In the electric vehicle and battery value chain, the IDC is supporting a market feasibility study on local battery cell manufacturing, led by the Localisation Support Fund, with Afrivolt as the applicant and Gotion High Tech as the technical contributor.

The IDC is also pursuing strategic partnerships in battery mineral processing, battery component manufacturing and local battery energy storage system production, alongside technical support for utility-scale stationary storage. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Water and Sanitation has urged communities in Mpumalanga to use water sparingly as dam levels across the province continue to decline.

According to the department’s latest weekly state of reservoirs report, the provincial average dam level decreased from 98.7% to 98.3%, with all but three dams recording declines over the past week.

The three dams that recorded no change are located in the Lowveld region of the Ehlanzeni District. These include Longmere, which is at 101.6%, Klipkopjes at 100.4%, and Primkop at 101.7%.

The department has called for strengthened water conservation efforts and to prevent water wastage amid declining dam levels and concerns about the potential impact of a Super El Niño weather phenomenon.

The Limpopo-Olifants Water Management Area (WMA) declined from 99.8% to 99.1%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA decreased from 97.8% to 97.5%.

At district level, Ehlanzeni’s average dam levels dropped from 99.9% to 99.6%, Gert Sibande from 97.5% to 97.2%, and Nkangala from 99.6% to 99.0%.

“The listed dams that recorded declines in water levels include Kwena Dam from 99.8% to 99.2%, Witklip Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%, Da Gama Dam from 99.8% to 99.3%, Driekoppies Dam from 100.4% to 100.2%, Inyaka Dam from 100.1% to 99.7%, Blyderivierpoort Dam from 100.2% to 100.1%, Buffelskloof Dam from 100.3% to 100.2%, and Ohrigstad Dam from 88.6% to 87.5%,” the department said.

All listed dams in Gert Sibande also recorded decreases. Grootdraai Dam declined from 100.6% to 100.4%, Nooitgedacht Dam from 99.2% to 98.6%, Vygeboom Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%, and Jericho Dam from 91.7% to 90.5%.

Westoe Dam dropped from 52.5% to 51.9%, Morgenstond Dam from 100.3% to 99.9%, and Heyshope Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%.

The report also indicated a decline in dam levels across the Nkangala District, with all listed dams recording decreases.

Witbank Dam declined from 99.2% to 98.4%, Middelburg Dam from 94.6% to 94.2%, Loskop Dam from 100.2% to 99.5%, and Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam from 100.0% to 99.5%.

The department urged water users to use water wisely and prevent wastage by fixing leaking taps and pipes. Communities are also encouraged to report leaks in bulk water pipelines and incidents of infrastructure vandalism to the relevant institutions and authorities.

The department reiterated that South Africa is a water-scarce country, requiring responsible and efficient water use by households, businesses and other water users.

“Every drop counts as water has no substitute,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za