Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Government of South Africa

The Group of 20 (G20) Social Summit kicked off with a spirited cultural programme, where delegates and invited guests were entertained by groups, which showcased South Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

The three-day summit, which began on Tuesday, saw thousands of delegates from all walks of life gather at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, to air their views ahead of the long-awaited G20 Leaders’ Summit, taking place over the weekend.

The three-day G20 Social Summit is designed as an inclusive platform to amplify the voices of civil society, grassroots organisations and communities.

In a groundbreaking moment for international diplomacy, the G20 Summit has landed on African soil for the first time, marking a pivotal chapter in global governance. 

The summit, hosted in South Africa, is emerging as a powerful platform for challenging existing global power structures and demanding meaningful African representation.

Dr William Carew, representing the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council, delivered a passionate address that cut to the heart of the continent’s long-standing marginalisation. 

“We are no longer content to be observers of our own destiny, but we are builders of a new global war,” he said, stressing Africa’s determination to author its own narrative.

Highlighting the stark inequities in global systems, Carew pointed out critical disparities. 

“Africa owns 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, possesses 60% of the world’s arable land and is home to the youngest population on Earth, and yet we remain on the periphery of global economic decision making.”

Meanwhile, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s welcoming remarks set a tone of hope and transformation.

Lesufi proclaimed that this summit will deepen cooperation, and will ensure all nations come together with one goal: to make the world a better place.

Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller, representing the G20 engagement groups, further amplified the call for systemic change. 

“We meet at a time of compounding crisis… climate collapse, democratic erosion, backsliding on human rights, economic precarity and deepening inequalities.”

However, she believes this is “a time of opportunity, where the architecture of global governance can be reimagined and not only repaired”.

The delegates’ core message resonated with the principle of Ubuntu – “I am because you are” – a philosophy of interconnectedness and mutual responsibility. 

“We are not just stakeholders. We are co-authors of the global agenda,” said Bohler-Muller.

The delegates believe that this is more than a diplomatic event, but a profound statement of African agency, demanding recognition, respect and genuine partnership in solving global challenges.

“This is not a call for charity or concession. This is a demand for justice,” Carew said. 

The G20 Social Summit stands as a landmark moment, signalling a potential shift from a world order built on historical inequities, to one founded on genuine solidarity, equality, and shared prosperity.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver the keynote address at the Social Summit this afternoon. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

By Willaim Baloyi 
South Africa’s recent commemoration of National Press Freedom Day on 19 October 2025, marked 48 years since the infamous Black Wednesday of 1977. This day serves not only as a remembrance of the brutal silencing of voices under the apartheid era but is also as a powerful reminder of the enduring value of media freedom in a democratic society.

Black Wednesday saw the banning of The World and Weekend World newspapers, the outlawing of 19 Black Consciousness organisations, and the detention of journalists like Percy Qoboza under the Internal Security Act. This legislation allowed governing authorities at the time to arrest, detain or ban whoever threatened the regime. 

These actions were designed to suppress dissent, conceal the system’s atrocities and hidden agendas, and prevent journalists from exposing the truth. The apartheid government weaponised secrecy and censorship to maintain control, raiding newsrooms and harassing reporters in a bid to silence alternative voices.

But through the resilience of the South African people, we have earned our freedom through struggle and sacrifice.  The dawn of democracy in 1994 ushered in a new era of freedom, enshrined in our South African Constitution enacted in 1996, which remains one of the most progressive laws in the world. 

Freedom of expression is guaranteed through Chapter 2 of the Constitution, which details our Bill of Rights, specifically Section 16 which declares freedom of the press and other media, as well as the right to receive or impart information.

This constitutional protection laid the foundation for the expansion of the public sphere, as journalists are enabled to unveil the untold stories and realities of societies. Media freedom enables open dialogue, protects whistleblowers, and ensures that uncomfortable truths are not buried. Through this liberation, independent journalism can flourish—giving rise to a press that acts as a fourth estate and watchdog of democracy.

We honour the courageous journalists who amplify the voices of ordinary citizens and hold officials to account as well as those who expose corruption, all whilst risking it all to speak truth to power without fear.
Through the actions of bold investigative journalists, revelations on allegations of corruption such as State Capture have been brought to light, reflecting a transparent and accountable media, which is a corner stone of our democracy. 

Though media freedom is stronger than ever before in South Africa, it is not absolute. It must be exercised responsibly and ethically- grounded in factual reporting, supported by trusted sources, and integrity, which is essential to maintaining public trust and democratic accountability. 

To further reinforce transparency, accountability and public participation, the media is guided by legislation such as the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), the Films and Publications Act, and the Broadcasting Act. These laws empower citizens and journalists alike to hold power to account and promote social justice.

Today, the media landscape is rapidly evolving. Journalists face new threats such as online harassment, political pressure, and financial instability. Traditional newsrooms and journalism appear to be shrinking, whilst citizen journalism increases.

The rise of citizen journalism has broadened access to information, giving marginalised citizens a platform to speak out and voice their concerns. However, it has also presented challenges- as misinformation, propaganda and unverifiable claims which blur the lines between fact and fiction.

Citizens are reminded that as they create and share information online, they assume the role of citizen journalists- a role that has become increasingly influential in the digital era. Therefore, every citizen is encouraged to act responsibly online and not abuse the freedom we have struggled to earn. 

Our freedom, including media freedom, comes with social responsibility. It involves taking accountability, for the information we share, remaining vigilant of our actions online and respecting the rights of others. Let us continue to safeguard media freedom whilst also maintaining accountability- which is a necessity for a flourishing media and a thriving democracy. 

*William Baloyi is the Deputy Government Spokesperson

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has heralded the commencement of production at the Ivanplats Platreef Mine as “an important moment for the company, for the mining industry and for the country”.

The President delivered remarks at the event at the mine on Tuesday.

The mine is considered one of the world’s largest undeveloped precious metals mines – with deposits of Platinum Group Metals, which hold properties essential for technologies driving the global green energy transition.

“The inauguration of the Platreef concentrator plant at Mogalakwena is taking place as South Africa is positioning itself as a strategic partner in the global energy transition and the next wave of green industrialisation. 

“Platinum Group Metals are strategic enablers in the critical minerals transition, so we see the Platreef mine as being integral to the success of our new Critical Minerals Strategy,” the President said.

The mine has allocated some 20% of its B-BBEE [Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment] shareholding structure to a community trust to benefit at least 20 local communities with a further trust in the structure that holds a “3% interest for the benefit of non-managerial employees at Platreef”.

“Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment continues to play a pivotal role in the transformation of the highly racialised economy we inherited from apartheid. These laws are no less significant now than they were when they were first passed. 

“We have seen great progress in promoting worker ownership of the companies in which they work. Worker ownership schemes in the mining sector are to be welcomed, particularly with its troubled history in South Africa and on the continent. 

“I congratulate Ivanplats and other miners that are prioritising worker shareholder schemes. This is an important contribution to the ongoing transformation of the mining industry,” President Ramaphosa affirmed.

Furthermore, some 85% of the workforce is drawn from the local communities with a “concerted effort to prioritise local procurement and enterprise development”.

“We, therefore, call on the community to safeguard this production facility that is today a source of employment and development. To Ivanplats we say, hire from this community, procure goods and services from this community, and leave a sustainable legacy for this community.

“With the Platreef mine now officially having commenced production, the imperative of sustainable, ethical and patriotic corporate citizenship becomes all the greater.

“We want mining companies to take this approach not merely for purposes of compliance, but out of a firm commitment to the communities in which the operate,” President Ramaphosa said. 

Industry on the rise

The President highlighted that despite turbulent times globally, the mining industry – a key building block of the South African economy – continues to show its strength.

“Even amidst strong headwinds, figures released in September by Statistics South Africa point to 1.2 percent growth in total mining production on a year-on-year basis. 

“As the Minerals Council has noted, there has been a notable uptick in total mineral sales for 2025, reaching R614 billion between January and September. This is better than the same periods in 2023 and 2024. 

“The opening of mines like Platreef gives us confidence that the mining industry will continue to grow,” he said.

The President noted that the mine’s opening comes as the country readies itself for the first G20 Leaders’ Summit to be held on African soil.

“In the week that we prepare to host the first G20 Leaders’ Summit on African soil, the opening of this mine stands as a proud testament to South Africa’s steady economic recovery. 

“Your journey to this opening is an example of sustainability in action. Well done to everyone involved in achieving this great milestone. It gives us a glimpse of the bright future of South Africa’s mining industry,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

As South Africa hosts global leaders for the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit this weekend, law enforcement agencies are urging Gauteng residents and commuters to plan their travel ahead of time, with significant traffic disruptions and road closures expected. 

According to a joint statement by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, (JMPD), Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department, (TMPD), Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department, (EMPD) and South Africa Police Service (SAPS), road closures are scheduled from 18 to 23 November 2025.

“These measures are necessary as South Africa proudly hosts the G20 Summit, a major international event bringing together global leaders. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, allow additional travel time, and consider alternative routes where possible. 

“These measures are essential to enhance public safety, enforce traffic compliance, and support ongoing traffic law enforcement initiatives, including vehicle inspections and congestion management.

“Clear signage, traffic officers, and real-time updates will be provided to guide road users, and access for emergency and essential services will be always prioritised,” law enforcement agencies said.

Road closures will affect the City of Johannesburg, City of Tshwane and City of Ekurhuleni.

Affected routes and road networks: operations will target high-security routes, including major national highways and central urban arteries.

Major national and regional routes:

• N1 Atterbury / Garsfontein / Delmas / Flying Sauser / Botha / John Vorster / Brakfontein / Samrand / Olifantsfontein / New Road / Allandale / Bucculeuch / Winnie Mandela / Rivonia / 14th / Gordon / Maraisburg / N17 / Rand Show
• N3 south / N3 north flyover
• N12 Elands / Voortrekker / Reading / Comaro / Kliprivier / Xavier / Uncle Charlie / Diepkloof
• N14
• R21 south and Atlas off – ramp / R21 south and Voortrekker off-ramp
• R24 west and N12 west junction
• M1 Woodmead / Marlboro / Grayston / Corlett / Athol Oaklands / Glenhove / 11th Avenue / Oxford / St Andrew / Jan Smuts / Empire / Smit / Carr / M2 Crown / Booysens / Xavier / Golden Highway

Major arterial and urban roads:

• Sandton: 5th Street; Maude Street; Daisy Street; Rivonia Road; Grayston Drive and Kathrine Street.
• Melrose Arch: Whiteley Road; Melrose Boulevard and Athol Oaklands Road.
• Rosebank, Westcliff, Parkview: Oxford Road; Glenhove Road and Jan Smuts Avenue.
• Fourways: Winnie Mandela Drive.
• Roodepoort: Hendrick Potgieter Road.

Nasrec: Rand Show Road; Booysens Reserve Road; Nasrec Road and Golden Highway (Nasrec).

• Full closure on Grayston Drive will be implemented on Saturday, 22 November 2025 between 04h00 – 10h00.
• Full closure will be implemented on Golden Highway between Rand Show Road and Soweto Highway from Wednesday the 17th of November 2025.
• On the 22nd and 23rd November, Nasrec Road will be closed off to traffic between Rand Show and Shaft 17 Road. There’ll limited access on Nasrec Road from the N17 traffic circle to Shaft 17 Road.
• On the 22nd and 23rd the northern portion of Rand Show Road will be closed off between the N1 and Nasrec Road. The southern portion of Nasrec Road will be converted into dual carriage to allow contra traffic flow accommodating residents of Ormonde View.
• On the 22nd and 23rd, Booysens Reserve Road will be closed between Crownwood Road and with limited access. Intersections leading towards Booysens Reserve; Crownwood and Amethyst / Crownwood and Modulus will be closed off to traffic with limited access.

South Africa will host the G20 Social Summit from 18 to 20 November 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province.

Affected regional routes: 1st Road; View Point Road; North Rand Road; Trichardt Road and Northern Road.

“When the convoys are moving, roads will be closed off completely and movement from road users; pedestrians, cyclists and motorists will be limited. Roads will be opened as soon as the convoys move pass the affected routes with approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour delay in some areas,” law enforcement agencies said.

Operation schedule and times:

• Date: Saturday, 22 November 2025 and Sunday, 23 November 2025
• Time Period: Morning, 07h00 – 10h00 and Evening, 17h00 – 20h00
• Action: Rolling Road Closures in the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni

Alternative Routes Around Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane

• Use M57 as an alternative to the R21 between Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
• For east-west travel, use smaller regional roads through Germiston, Kempton Park, or Bedfordview instead of R24/N12.
• In the Roodepoort area, use Beyers Naudé Drive, Christiaan De Wet Road, Ontdekkers Road instead of Hendrick Potgieter Road.
• Within Fourways, use Main Road, Cedar Road and Witkoppen Road
• Within Sandton/Rosebank/Parktown, use side streets parallel to Jan Smuts, Oxford, or Rivonia Road, such as Corlett Drive, Sandton Drive, 11th Avenue,
• In southern Johannesburg, Riverlea, Nasrec and Ormonde View, use Chris Hani Road, Main Reef Road, Crownwood Road (Fordsburg–Crown Mines) Soweto Highway, N17, Aerodrome Road and Adcock Ingram Road. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

By Nosihle Shelembe

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) have the potential to help bridge the continent’s infrastructure financing gap, enabling industrialisation, infrastructure expansion and social development, says Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo.

With Sub-Saharan African countries only allocating 3.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to infrastructure annually, it falls short of the 7.1% required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

SDGs are aimed at tackling a wide range of global issues, including those related to poverty, health, education, water and sanitation, energy, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. 

Infrastructure development plays a key role in the SDG agenda, with three goals focused directly on addressing infrastructure-related challenges in water, sanitation and hygiene; energy; and industrialisation.

“The continent faces an estimated infrastructure funding gap of US$130–170 billion per year, yet only US$80 billion is currently accessible. Traditional financing mechanisms like national budgets, development finance, or concessional loans, are insufficient on their own. 

“What is required is a new mix of capital and a new appetite for risk-sharing, where SWFs become catalytic investors rather than passive reserve custodians. This need is further amplified by shifts in the global development finance landscape,” the Deputy Minister said on Monday.

Masondo highlighted the role that Sovereign Wealth Funds could play in accelerating development on the African continent during the Group Twenty (G20) Social Summit side event in Ekurhuleni, noting also that Official Development Assistance is projected to decline sharply. 

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there is a 7% drop or US$4.2 billion, in external funding to Sub-Saharan Africa. 

“At the same time, low levels of economic diversification, high informality and slowing growth continue to constrain tax revenue. In this environment, development financing must evolve. It is therefore no surprise that more African countries are exploring or establishing SWFs to promote investment, stabilise fiscal systems, and leverage global partnerships,” he said.

When appropriately structured and governed, SWFs offer several unique advantages for Africa’s development trajectory. 

“They strengthen resilience against commodity price volatility, support intergenerational wealth transfer, and reduce exposure to volatile external markets. 

“They can crowd-in foreign direct investment, promote industrialisation, and create opportunities for domestic businesses and workers, particularly in marginalised communities. 

“A well-designed SWF model also aligns strongly with Agenda 2063, prioritising infrastructure, industrialisation, technology development and a just transition to a green economy,” Masondo said.

He emphasised that SWFs can also unlock Africa’s green industrial opportunity. 

With long-term mandates, these funds are well positioned to invest in renewable energy including solar, wind, hydro and green hydrogen and in sustainable agriculture, circular-economy industries and climate-resilient infrastructure.

“These investments deliver financial returns while advancing energy security, climate action, jobs and inclusive growth. Across the continent, we are seeing encouraging examples: Morocco’s Green Growth Infrastructure Facility, Senegal’s FONSIS [the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Senegal for Strategic Investments], and new frameworks emerging in Angola and Nigeria dedicated to social impact and strategic industries,” the Deputy Minister said.

South Africa has placed this agenda firmly on the table during its G20 Presidency, advocating for the establishment of more African SWFs and for greater visibility of Africa’s development financing needs within global financial governance. 

“Our message was unmistakable: Africa does not lack ideas, opportunities, or ambition, it lacks access to predictable, affordable and long-term capital. SWFs can be an important part of the solution.

“Over the past two decades, the global Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) ecosystem has grown remarkably in number, assets and sophistication. By 2023, SWF assets expanded by 14%, reaching US$13 trillion, up from US$11.6 trillion in 2022. 

“In Africa, however, SWFs collectively account for just 0.24% of global SWF assets. Their scale may be modest, but their potential impact for Africa’s industrialisation, infrastructure expansion and social development is immense. Nowhere is this potential more urgent than in bridging the infrastructure financing gap,” he said.

The Deputy Minister called for designing SWFs that are transparent, professionally governed and socially impactful. 

“We must promote Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and social outcomes alongside financial returns. We must build partnerships with global sovereign investors, multilateral financial institutions and private capital, which deliver results on the ground for communities, workers and households.

“If we succeed, SWFs can become more than financial instruments. They can become vehicles of dignity and could be used in funding hospitals, schools, infrastructure, affordable energy, resilient cities and new industries that allow young Africans to thrive,” Masondo said. 

South Africa is hosting the G20 Social Summit from 18 to 20 November 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng Province.

Th summit brings together a wide spectrum of stakeholders including governments, civil society, labour, youth, women, persons with disabilities, philanthropy, and grassroots organisations ensuring that the lived experiences of ordinary people shape the outcomes of the G20 process.

The event is being held as part of the South Africa’s G20 Presidency, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.” 

The G20 Social Summit will convene formal and informal networks, including youth movements, women’s organisations, faith-based groups, organisations of persons with disabilities, community forums, and other grassroots structures.

Together, they will engage on global issues that directly impact people’s daily lives.

The G20 Social Summit seeks to elevate issues of social development, equity, and inclusion to the same level of priority as macroeconomic and financial matters. -SAnews.gov.za