Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

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The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on Tuesday heard that work is underway to expand lifestyle audits to local government as part of efforts to strengthen integrity management across the public administration.

The committee received a progress update from the Department of Public Service and Administration on its recommendations in the 2026/27 budget review and recommendation report. One recommendation was to prioritise lifestyle audits to strengthen integrity management systems, improve compliance with the Public Service Regulations and ensure effective detection and prevention of unethical conduct across the public service.

The committee was informed that there had been some inter-governmental collaboration on this since the report. According to the DPSA, it is working with the Department of Cooperative Governance and the South African Local Government Association as part of a joint task team established in June this year. The task team has a dedicated workstream focusing specifically on lifestyle audits, alongside workstreams for ethics and discipline management.

The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Jan de Villiers, welcomed this development. “The extension of lifestyle audits to municipalities is an important step towards strengthening integrity across the state,” he said. “Municipalities are where government is closest to the people. It is also here where corruption and weak controls have an immediate impact on services. Lifestyle audits must therefore become an effective accountability mechanism across all spheres of government, with proper follow-through where red flags are identified.”

The committee also heard that the department convened a workshop on 23 and 24 June 2026 where key stakeholders, including the Special Investigating Uni, the Financial Intelligence Centre, the South African Revenue Service, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation and the South African Police Service participated to align their respective mandates, roles and vetting processes within the lifestyle audit framework. The strategic objective of these engagements is to draft a standardised regulation under the Public Administration Management Act to roll out uniform lifestyle audit norms and standards to municipalities and to comprehensively review and update the existing Lifestyle Audit Guide.

Members were informed that the department has developed automated red flag alerts or triggers. These alerts will immediately notify the Public Administration Ethics, Integrity and Disciplinary Technical Assistance Unit if institutional ethics officers fail to respond to flagged cases, delay referrals for formal investigation or fail to adequately monitor ongoing investigations.

The committee was also informed that the department has completed a review of the incapacity-leave system and is engaging with organised labour on proposed changes. This was in response to another committee recommendation, advising the department to fast-track the review of incapacity leave due to reported abuse and the significant costs this leave incurs for the fiscus. The recommendation was to do this in consultation with organised labour. The committee recommended that the department must work with experts as well as the Government Employees Medical Scheme to develop measures to prevent abuse of the leave and medical aid.

In addition to the progress report on its recommendations, the committee also received briefings from the National School of Government and the Centre for Public Service Innovation on their performance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Standing Committee on Appropriations has adopted its report on the Second Special Appropriation Bill, which proposes the withdrawal of R10 billion from the National Revenue Fund.

The Minister of Finance tabled the Bill on 31 July 2026. It was subsequently referred to the Committee on 4 August 2026 for consideration and reporting to the National Assembly.

The Bill provides for the transfer of R10 billion to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources to stabilise fuel costs and protect consumers from fuel price volatility arising from the current conflict in the Middle East.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Dr Mmusi Maimane, said consumers should receive immediate relief because the funds are available from the National Revenue Fund. “As Parliament and representatives of the people, we must ensure that fuel prices are reduced so that citizens can enter December with some relief,” Dr Maimane said.

The Committee said the R10 billion expenditure must achieve its intended objective and be supported by detailed expenditure reports.

The Committee recommended that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources jointly ensure that National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources report to Parliament on potential future shocks and the circumstances in which basic fuel price relief and levy measures would be used.

The report will be scheduled for debate in the National Assembly.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Shipokosa Paul Mashatile, has officially resumed work since the beginning of the week, following his full recovery.

The Office of the Deputy President wishes to extend its appreciation to all South Africans and various stakeholders for the messages of goodwill and support.

“Your thoughts, prayers and calls have been greatly appreciated,” said the Deputy President, “they have all made a positive impact on the journey towards recovery. For that, I am most grateful.”

The Office of the Deputy President also commends the members of the media for their continuous inquiry and communication, as well as monitoring the Deputy President’s healing progress.

Over the coming days, Deputy President Mashatile will, among other things, chair Cabinet Committees, attend Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement, engage inter-faith communities, respond to Oral Questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and resume his political programme.

– on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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On October 7, 2026, His Excellency Mr. Édouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Development Cooperation, received a delegation from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) led by Ms. Nelly Banaken, Commissioner for Gender Promotion, Human and Social Development. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of preparations for the third edition of the International Exhibition on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Central Africa, held under the theme: “Central African Women in Action: Economic Integration, Cross-Border Solidarity, and Diaspora Dynamism.” This event, held under the high patronage of Her Excellency Mrs. Angéline NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi, will be organized jointly with the Forum of Women Leaders Entrepreneurs. Both events are scheduled to take place in Burundi from November 3 to 6, 2026.

During the discussions, the head of the delegation expressed her gratitude to the Government of Burundi for the welcome and support extended to the ECCAS mission. She requested the Ministry to facilitate the issuance of visas on arrival at Melchior Ndadaye International Airport for the participants expected at these events. She also advocated for the exemption of duties on products intended for exhibition and sale at the fair. Furthermore, Ms. Nelly Banaken addressed logistical aspects regarding the organization of the activities, specifically the provision of a suitable venue for the events and a room for the press briefing for the Forum of Women Entrepreneur Leaders. To this end, she requested the Minister’s support in exploring the possibility of holding these activities in the vicinity of Intwari Stadium.

In response, the Minister reassured the delegation that participants would be able to obtain visas upon arrival. Regarding the exemption for products intended for exhibition and sale, he noted that this matter required prior consultation with the relevant sectoral ministries before a decision could be reached. As for the venue, His Excellency Mr. Édouard Bizimana explained that Intwari Stadium is currently under FIFA management, which could limit the feasibility of hosting the planned events there. However, he proposed exploring the Jardin Public as an alternative site and pledged to facilitate the necessary steps to assess its feasibility.

This meeting demonstrates Burundi’s commitment to supporting regional initiatives aimed at promoting women’s entrepreneurship, women’s economic empowerment, and regional integration in Central Africa.

– on behalf of Ministère des Affaires Etrangères du Burundi.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on Wednesday expressed concern about waste-management failures and gaps in climate monitoring. The committee warned that weak environmental governance increases risks to communities and the environment.

The concerns were raised after a briefing today by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the audit outcomes of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and its entities for the 2025/26 financial year.

On waste management, the committee heard that Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) in four provinces were not approved by the Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. It also heard that five provinces could not provide evidence that they acted against municipalities that had not submitted IWMPs. Five provinces also did not prepare implementation reports. Members were concerned about the implications of this for environmental protection and public health.

Climate-monitoring targets were also missed. Members heard that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) achieved 62% availability of greenhouse gas data against a target of 85%. It also achieved 89% availability of climate data against a target of 90%.

Another concern was about weaknesses in environmental law enforcement. The national Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) register comprises 3 559 inspectors, but 68% are Grade 5 field rangers. There are no national norms for EMI numbers per province. Provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Free State had no approved environmental compliance inspection plans. Members also heard that there is an average delay of 24 months in the Free State’s referral of criminal cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Furthermore, the Free State and Northern Cape did not track implementation of administrative enforcement notices.

Other missed targets included managing invasive species and wetland rehabilitation. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) achieved 32% against a target of 35% for risk analyses on alien invasive species. The committee also heard that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority treated not a single hectare against a target of 60 000 hectares for invasive alien plants. It also made no progress against its wetland rehabilitation target. The department, in turn, reported that it finalised 99% of environmental impact assessment applications within 107 days against a target of 100%.

The committee noted the portfolio’s overall audit outcomes, including iSimangaliso and the Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF), which maintained clean audit opinions – unqualified with no findings. The department, South African National Parks (SANParks) and SANBI all received unqualified audit opinions with findings. The SAWS regressed to a qualified audit opinion with findings, and the audit of the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) remained outstanding. The committee heard that it is expected to be signed off on 30 October 2026. SAFCOL, which was first under the then Department of Public Enterprises, now falls under DFFE’s oversight.

The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho, commended the two clean audits and stressed the need for sound financial management that translates into effective delivery to communities. It was, however, concerned that previously identified information technology and cybersecurity weaknesses have not been addressed. Findings included weak vulnerability remediation, issues with access control, disaster recovery and backup governance. Members heard that a system at SANParks, for example, allowed visitor entry despite bank card payments that were declined. “The IT environment, waste management and compliance monitoring failures at provincial level require urgent intervention,” the Chairperson said.

Ms Gantsho said delays in referring alleged environmental offences to the NPA undermine timely investigation and prosecution. She said the committee would address these concerns in its Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report under section 5 of the Money Bills and Related Matters Act. Proposed recommendations would include stronger annual financial statement review controls at DFFE, SANBI and SAWS; finalising consequence management standard operating procedures; quarterly reporting on irregular expenditure and investigations; risk-based inspection plans for all provinces and urgent finalisation of the SAFCOL audit.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO – Report:

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The Ministry of Health, through the National Eye Health Program (NEHP), has joined local and international partners to commemorate World Sight Day, calling for increased investment in eye-care services, specialized health workers, early screening and expanded access to treatment across Liberia.

The celebration brought together Ministry of Health officials, eye-health professionals and representatives of Lions Club International, Sightsavers, OneSight, Samaritan’s Purse, the World Health Organization (WHO), Good Vision and New Sight.

In a remark, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh-Howe, Assistant Minister for Preventive Services, said the Ministry is working to expand basic eye-health services nationwide, with emphasis on human-resource development.

“We are reaching out to individuals in the community to ensure that our people are safe,” she said, while thanking partners for their continued support.

“We want to reaffirm the Ministry of Health’s commitment to ensure that no one is left behind,” Dr. Jabbeh-Howe added.

Dr. Molley R. Goe, Director of the National Eye Health Program, said the Ministry and its partners have conducted eye screenings in schools across Monrovia and surrounding communities, reaching students, faculty and other residents.

“We want to remind the public that eye health is everybody’s business. People should not wait until they have severe problems with their vision before seeking care,” Dr. Goe said.

He urged Liberians to prioritize regular eye examinations and seek treatment when changes in vision occur.

“Early detection is very important because some eye conditions can be managed successfully when they are identified at an early stage,” he added.

Dr. Lawrence K. Bropleh, Chairman of the National Eye Health Steering Committee, commended the Ministry and its partners but stressed that infrastructure and equipment alone cannot address Liberia’s eye-health challenges.

“We can have all the best equipment here, but if doctors, nurses and administrators do not come with the requisite skills and know-how to attend to the people who need to receive care at this center, then it means that the real ends and objectives of this eye center and the equipment will not be achieved,” Dr. Bropleh said.

He called for greater investment in specialized eye-care professionals, including optometric nurses and ophthalmologists.

Dr. Bropleh urged the government and partners to integrate eye-health services into county health systems and school-health programs.

“Owing to the high burden of morbidity caused by blindness and its bi-directional link to poverty, it is my humble plea to state actors through the Ministry of Health to commit to supporting and working with existing partners to ensure that eye-health services are gradually integrated into all of our county health systems, as well as school-health services across the country,” he said.

He also called for greater support to eye-care facilities outside Monrovia, describing county facilities as critical to bringing services closer to communities.

“These facilities across our country need to be supported because they stand as the bedrock,” he

The Steering Committee Chairman also called for stronger professional training and warned against unqualified personnel presenting themselves as eye-care specialists.

“We must commit to intensively training our health practitioners to become excellent and dependable optometric practitioners to deliver the very best health-care services,” he said.

“Healthcare personnel who are not trained in optometric nursing or ophthalmology must not pretend,” he added.

Dr. Bropleh said eye health should be viewed as an essential component of national development, noting that farmers, engineers, teachers, police officers, health workers and other professionals depend on good vision to perform their duties.

“No country can thrive in prosperity and development in the absence of a healthy population,” he said.

He called for early screening, particularly among infants and children, as well as increased funding and logistical support for eye-care centers nationwide.

“When I travel across the country and interact with the population, especially in some of our counties, there are no eye clinics, no optometric nurses, no ophthalmologists,” he said.

He urged national authorities and partners to strengthen community screening, early diagnosis, public education, prevention and treatment of avoidable eye diseases, while expanding capacity for eye surgery and other sight-saving interventions.

Mr. Hiaka Hinneh, Deputy Director, Eye Health Program, highlighted the significance of World Sight Day, emphasizing public awareness, regular eye examinations, early detection and timely treatment as key measures in preventing avoidable blindness.

Representatives of Lions Club International, Sightsavers, OneSight, Samaritan’s Purse, Good Vision and New Sight also reaffirmed their support for Liberia’s eye-health agenda.

The observance underscored the need for continued collaboration among the government, partners, health workers and communities to expand access to quality eye-care services and reduce preventable vision loss in Liberia.

– on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.