Category: MIL-OSI

President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated veteran South African jurist Justice Navanethem “Navi” Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote peace and international law. 

In a statement on Friday, the President said the recognition was a tribute to Pillay’s courage, integrity and lifelong commitment to justice. 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee honoured Pillay for her contribution to strengthening international law and ensuring accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

The committee described her as “a person who, with exceptional courage and integrity, has led the way towards a more comprehensive legal order. This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.”

President Ramaphosa said Justice Pillay’s crowning of the Nobel Prize laureate allows the country to celebrate her progressive contributions to strengthen peace, uphold human dignity and bring hope to South Africa and peoples globally.

“She has served humanity with principle and the belief that the world can and should be a better place,” he said.

Pillay is an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice, where she distinguished herself in the genocide case of The Gambia v Myanmar.

Her legal career also includes serving as a pioneering defence attorney for anti-apartheid activists and leaders, including former President Nelson Mandela. 

She served as a judge and President of the Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003 before becoming a judge of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, a position she held from 2003 to 2008.

Following her tenure at the International Criminal Court, Pillay served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 

President Ramaphosa said the honour underscored the importance of building a society in which everyone could realise their potential and contribute to the country and the world.

“The honour bestowed on her reminds us to build a society where every person, whatever their circumstances, can develop their abilities and contribute fully to our nation and the world.

“We are proud that Justice Pillay joins Chief Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Mandela and Former President FW de Klerk in highlighting the far-reaching impact of South Africans on peace, justice and the advancement of humanity.

“We congratulate Justice Pillay and wish her well as she continues to participate in various platforms to secure the rights and dignity of all people,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has clarified its intensified social grant reviews and verification measures, saying these are necessary to protect the integrity of the social assistance system and prevent fraudulent payments.   

The agency issued the statement on Friday following media reports about money paid to beneficiaries who were allegedly not eligible to receive social grants during the 2025/2026 financial year. 

SASSA also acknowledged issues raised before the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, and welcomed continued scrutiny of the administration of public funds.

The agency said social assistance is a constitutional obligation and a critical safety net for millions of vulnerable South Africans but stressed that the system needs to be protected against fraud, abuse, errors, misrepresentation and payments to people who no longer qualified for assistance.

“The integrity of the social grants system cannot be protected by avoiding reviews simply because reviews may be uncomfortable or inconvenient,” SASSA said.

Criticism 

SASSA said the reviews and eLife certification measures had attracted criticism from some sections of society and interest groups, amid concerns that the interventions were intended to exclude legitimate beneficiaries. 

The agency rejected these concerns, saying the processes were designed to establish whether beneficiaries continued to meet the prescribed eligibility requirements.

“A social grant is not an unconditional entitlement that continues irrespective of changes in a beneficiary’s circumstances. Beneficiaries have a responsibility to inform SASSA when circumstances that may affect their eligibility change,” the agency said.

These changes include income, employment, marital status, banking details, residential circumstances and other material personal circumstances.

SASSA said reviews were an important administrative and control mechanism to verify whether beneficiaries remained eligible for the grants they received.

The agency added that beneficiaries who legitimately qualified for social assistance should not fear processes intended to verify their continued eligibility. 

eLife certification and biometric enrolment 

SASSA said it had also intensified eLife certification to establish whether beneficiaries were still alive and were the legitimate recipients of social assistance.

The process seeks to prevent public funds from being paid where a beneficiary has died, where there is uncertainty about their continued existence, or where another person may be unlawfully accessing the grant. 

“Social grants reviews and eLife certification are therefore not designed to arbitrarily terminate grants. They are a control mechanism intended to confirm the continued existence and eligibility of beneficiaries and to prevent fraudulent payments,” SASSA said.

Another intervention is Beneficiary Biometric Enrolment, which the agency said would strengthen identity verification and improve the security of social grant transactions.

The process forms part of broader efforts to reduce opportunities for impersonation and fraudulent transactions, while ensuring that grants reach their rightful recipients.

SASSA said the measures were particularly important given the substantial public resources managed by the social assistance system and the millions of beneficiaries it serves.

The agency maintained that it could not rely indefinitely on historical information, as systems, identities, personal circumstances and payment arrangements changed over time.
“Controls must therefore evolve accordingly,” SASSA said. – SAnews.gov.za

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom will conduct an oversight visit to Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality in the Free State to investigate reports of sewage pollution and safety concerns following repeated drownings at an unsecured quarry.

The visit on Monday, 12 October 2026, will include inspections of Sterkwater and Botshabelo wastewater treatment works, an investigation into reported sewage contamination of the Renosterspruit, and an assessment of safety measures at Heidedal Quarry.

“The oversight visit will focus on the condition of wastewater infrastructure, environmental compliance, the impact of pollution on surrounding communities and water users, and the measures required to address the reported problems,” the department said in a statement on Friday.

At Sterkwater Wastewater Treatment Works, Bloom will assess the operational condition of the facility, critical equipment, maintenance backlogs and effluent quality. He will also examine environmental compliance and the timelines for necessary repairs.

At Renosterspruit, the Deputy Minister will investigate the reported sources and extent of sewage pollution, its impact on residents and farmers who use the water, and the measures being taken to address the contamination. He will also establish which authorities are responsible for remediation.

At Heidedal Quarry, Bloom will inspect access to the site, the adequacy of fencing and other safety measures following reports of repeated drownings. He will also seek to establish who is responsible for securing the quarry.

The final stop will be Botshabelo Wastewater Treatment Works, where the Deputy Minister will investigate reports of untreated or partially treated wastewater being discharged from the plant.

The inspection will focus on the plant’s operational performance, maintenance, environmental compliance, and potential risks to surrounding communities and downstream water resources. – SAnews.gov.za
 

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi has joined traditional leaders in calling on men to take a stand against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and play an active role in protecting women and children.

Buthelezi joined Amakhosi, Izinduna, Amabutho and women at a campaign held in the Swayimane area under the Gcumisa Traditional Authority on Thursday.

The campaign, led by the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan leaders, sought to raise awareness of the devastating impact of GBVF, while encouraging men to take responsibility for preventing violence.
The campaign highlighted the devastating impact of GBVF and called on men to take responsibility for creating safer communities.

Traditional leaders called on men to reclaim their role as protectors and ambassadors of safety, urging communities to speak out against abuse and support efforts to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.

Buthelezi commended the initiative, saying the involvement of traditional leaders is important in ensuring that the message against GBVF reaches communities across the province.

“We are encouraged by the vision of Amakhosi in organising this campaign, which seeks to instil a sense of responsibility among men. Amakhosi play a crucial role in our communities, and we commend them for prioritising the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

“As a department, we welcome this initiative because it amplifies the collective voice against gender-based violence and ensures that everyone, including Izinduna, is actively involved in the fight against GBVF,” Buthelezi explained.

Buthelezi called for similar campaigns to be rolled out across the province to extend community participation in the fight against violence.

He also urged communities to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, report cases of abuse and support efforts to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. – SAnews.gov.za

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube has urged the Matric Class of 2026 to pursue careers aligned with the changing world of work, highlighting opportunities in technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture.

Dube-Ncube made the call during an annual mass prayer for Grade 12 learners in Pietermaritzburg, uMgungundlovu District.

The Mass Prayer, held on Thursday, brought together a range of stakeholders, each with a critical role in preparing the Class of 2026 for their National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and the transition beyond.

Addressing about 3 000 Grade 12 learners, Dube-Ncube stressed the importance for young people to make an informed decisions about their post-school studies to improve their employment prospects.
She noted the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, which found that 170 million new jobs will be created globally by 2030, while 92 million jobs will disappear, resulting in a net gain of 78 million jobs.

“Think about that. The world is not running out of work. It is changing the kind of work it needs,” Dube-Ncube said.

The report also highlighted the jobs growing demand for big data specialists, financial technology engineers, artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, software developers, cybersecurity specialists, renewable energy engineers, and environmental engineers.

Dube-Ncube encouraged learners to consider technical and artisan careers, saying the future of work will increasingly require a combination of practical skills and technological knowledge.

“The trade your grandfather practised with his hands is now practised with his hands and a tablet. The artisan of the future is also a technologist,” she said.

The Deputy Minister also noted South Africa’s participation at the recent 48th WorldSkills International Competition in Shanghai, China, where 29 young competitors represented the country across 27 skills categories.

She highlighted Matthew Bowen’s silver medal in Aircraft Maintenance, where he was named Best of Nation, as an example of the opportunities available to young people trained in the country’s skills development system.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the significant role to play by technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in preparing young people for the changing labour market.

She cited uMgungundlovu TVET College’s programmes in electrical engineering and solar photovoltaic installation as examples of training opportunities aligned with the country’s energy needs.

Dube-Ncube urged learners not to regard TVET colleges as a second choice to universities, but as an important pathway to employment and economic participation.

She also encouraged learners to strengthen their Mathematics and Physical Sciences performance, noting that these subjects opened doors to many science, engineering and technology-related careers.

She referred to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics South Africa, which revealed that youth unemployment rate reached 47.4% in the second quarter of 2026, with about five million young people aged between 15 and 34 looking for work without success.

She said part of the challenge is the mismatch between qualifications pursued by young people and the skills employers needed.

“The choice you make about what to study is one of the most important economic decisions you will ever make. Choose with information, not with rumours,” she advised learners. – SAnews.gov.za