Category: South Africa Government

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a cessation of all violence and hostilities in South Sudan. 

The President delivered the closing remarks at the African Union (AU) Ad-hoc High Level Committee for South Sudan (C5) Plus Summit, held in Ethiopia on Sunday.

The summit was convened on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of States and Government in Addis Ababa.

“I want to welcome that we met at Heads of State level to provide a clear direction on the way forward. We have agreed that the Revitalised Agreement [on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan] remains the paramount legal instrument which all parties must comply and by which progress in South Sudan will be measured. We encourage inclusive dialogue in accordance with the Revitalised Agreement.

“To this end, we should bring an end to all violence, hostilities and to allow all this and all other electoral processes to take place,” President Ramaphosa said.

Recommendations stemming from the summit include:

• There should be a ceasefire, and all hostilities must be brought to an end;
• There should be a release of political detainees, and this should also include people like the Vice President Riek Machar who is going through various processes of a legal nature;
• That there should be meaningful dialogue that is inclusive, that is thorough and leaving no stakeholder behind; 
• Elections must go on and not be postponed. There should be no more postponements, and the elections must be held on a free and fair basis including all the people who are eligible to participate in those elections (the citizens of South Sudan);
• There should be coordination of the efforts and work through IGAD Secretariat as well as C5; and 
• The Chair of the Commission should work together with three IGAD Heads of State (which is composed of sitting presidents) who will work together with the C5 and will have an oversight role to monitor and support the implementation of this process in South Sudan.

“We also agree that the Government of South Sudan needs to agree, identify and implement minimum standards, which should be put in place for people of South Sudan to exercise their democratic right to vote and choose their leaders.

“And that in this process there should be credible and meaningful processes to prepare for the elections as articulated by the Under-Secretary General of the UN,” President Ramaphosa said.

An inclusive and meaningful dialogue amongst all parties must also be conducted with an eye on leading to the “unification of forces and ensure that the political processes of preparing for elections do take place”.

Additionally, as the country moves towards elections in December, funding must be made available to ensure credibility.

“As regional leaders we will do our utmost best to assist South Sudan to transition to a peaceful and stable country. However, it is up to the leaders of South Sudan to act in good faith and demonstrate a willingness to undertake an inclusive process that fosters national cohesion, solidarity and reconciliation. And upholds the rule of law; and ensures a transparent, credible and peaceful electoral process.

“We have heard very clearly from President Salva Kiir that from their own point of view that they are committed to ensure that the roadmap is adhered to and that they would want us to assist them and support them without undue interference.

“That is something we should comply with and support the people of South Sudan without interference. That is what support should mean. Of course they will be open to counsel, to take advice and to be fully supported,” President Ramaphosa said.

Last week, South Africa was elected to serve a two-year term on the African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security Council. 

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa was elected alongside Lesotho to represent Southern Africa on the council.

Read I South Africa elected to AU Peace and Security Council 

– SAnews.gov.za

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has suspended the indemnity and verification form requirement at Table Mountain National Park with immediate effect.

“We have listened to the concerns raised by visitors and tourism partners and have acted decisively. Over the next 12 months, SANParks will implement a fully digitised ID and passport verification system at park gates, including high-speed scanning technology to ensure accurate compliance while delivering a seamless visitor experience.”

The indemnity and verification form was introduced to strengthen verification and governance processes.

However, SANParks acknowledged that its implementation led to operational delays and visitor frustration.
During this time, gate operations will continue without the indemnity form requirement. –SAnews.gov.za
 

Scientists have identified several insect species previously unknown to science in the richly biodiverse Richtersveld National Park.

Internationally respected entomologists, Dr Massimo Meregalli (Italy) and Dr Roman Borovec (Czech Republic), recently published new research on flightless weevils collected in remote parts of the park. 

These soil-dwelling insects are notoriously difficult to study, living discreetly beneath shrubs and emerging mainly at night. Their discovery requires meticulous fieldwork in challenging terrain — conditions the Richtersveld is well known for.

“With the support and guidance of Richtersveld National Park Nursery Curator Pieter van Wyk, the researchers explored the remote Armmanshoek Valley, an area not previously surveyed for soil insects. 

“Their efforts resulted in the identification of multiple new species, further confirming the Richtersveld as a hotspot of endemism and scientific importance,” the South African National Parks (SANParks) said.

In recognition of the park’s conservation significance and SANParks’ role in enabling biodiversity research, the scientists named a newly described genus and species Richtersveldiella sanparkensis — the first known insect species formally named after SANParks and Richtersveld National Park.

The researchers have also previously honoured the region’s cultural heritage by naming other genera Khoisan and Nama, acknowledging the deep historical connection between local communities and this unique landscape.

“These discoveries highlight the importance of continued scientific exploration within protected areas and reinforce SANParks’ commitment to conserving not only iconic wildlife and landscapes, but also the often-overlooked species that form the foundation of healthy ecosystems.

“The naming of Richtersveldiella sanparkensis stands as a lasting scientific tribute to the Richtersveld and SANParks’ ongoing dedication to biodiversity conservation,” SANParks said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed government’s commitment to creating work opportunities for young people, while improving the quality of education. 

The President on Monday said targeted interventions in schools are helping to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world. 

In his weekly newsletter today, following the recent State of the Nation Address, the President reflected on progress made in expanding access to education over the past three decades, including steady improvements in matric results. However, he acknowledged that significant challenges remain.

“Access to resources and quality teaching is uneven. Schools in townships and rural areas often struggle with overcrowding and educators have limited access to professional development and support,” the President said.

A key intervention to address these gaps is the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI), which was founded in 2020 as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus. The initiative deploys young people to schools as education and general school assistants. 

To date, the programme has created more than 1.3 million work opportunities, making it the largest youth employment programme in the country’s history. It provides young people with critical work experience, while reinforcing teaching and learning in schools that need support the most.

General school assistants are required to have at least a Grade 9 qualification, while education assistants must have a matric certificate. In the most recent phase of the programme, 32% of education assistants had some form of tertiary qualification and 14% held a teaching qualification. Participants receive both compulsory and optional training in areas such as school safety, online safety, financial literacy, word processing, AI fluency and coding.

The President said the initiative advances the objectives of the Public Employment Stimulus by delivering large-scale public employment, while generating social value.

“The work of the education assistants allows teachers to spend more time on teaching and on lesson preparation, thereby contributing directly to improved educational outcomes,” he said.

Education assistants have been placed in 19 000 no-fee primary schools, where they support numeracy and serve as Reading Champions to improve literacy and bilingual reading. According to the President, improvements in foundational literacy skills are already being observed in many schools. 

In addition to curriculum support, assistants contribute to digital learning, provide care and support to at-risk learners, and serve as laboratory and workshop assistants.

The programme is also having a transformative impact on the young people involved, equipping them with practical skills and work experience that enhance their employability and career prospects. 

As part of broader efforts to expand access to Early Childhood Development (ECD), government is rolling out the Bana Pele mass registration of ECD facilities and increasing subsidies for ECD learners. Through the Social Employment Fund, support has been extended to the ECD sector.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, working with an implementing partner, is assisting more than 1 000 previously disadvantaged and underfunded ECD centres to meet subsidy requirements. These centres are receiving nutritional support, as well as toys, books and learning materials. The Social Employment Fund now reaches over 50 000 children in ECD centres nationwide.

The President emphasised that fulfilling the constitutional imperative of providing quality education requires collaboration across society.

“These initiatives illustrate clearly the benefits of multisectoral cooperation between government, the private sector and civil society. 
 
“It is our aspiration that this successful programme should continue to grow as we strive to create more work opportunities for young South Africans and at the same time, deliver quality education for all,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for “urgent and unified action” to move South Sudan towards a path of peace and stability.

The President delivered opening remarks at the meeting of the African Union (AU) Ad-hoc High Level Committee for South Sudan (C5) Plus Summit.

The meeting was convened on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of States and Government in Addis Ababa.

“The choices made in the coming months will determine whether South Sudan moves towards durable peace or back into cycles of instability. 

“Let us act with urgency, courage and unity. Let us use this summit to foster a process that delivers inclusive dialogue, free, fair and credible elections and sustainable peace for the people of South Sudan,” President Ramaphosa urged.

The meeting is a joint effort between the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the East African Community and marks the first time the committee has met at the level of Heads of State since 2018.

“This was the same year that the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan [R-ARCSS] was signed. 

“Eight years later, implementation of the Revitalised Agreement remains slow. As guarantors of the Revitalised Agreement and as sister countries, we are here to support the peace process in South Sudan, the youngest member of our Union.

“We felt it was vital that we expand the meeting to include member states from IGAD and the IGAD Secretariat, considering that they are the primary regional mediator of the Revitalised Agreement. Furthermore, the C5 was established to enhance the mediation efforts of IGAD,” he said.

Road to peace

The year ahead is a pivotal one for the East African country, with elections expected to take place in December.

“We welcome the government of South Sudan’s stated intention to hold elections and to convene a national dialogue to resolve outstanding issues before elections are held,” President Ramaphosa noted.

President Ramaphosa outlined the pathway pivotal for peace, emphasising that the environment must be right before South Sudanese citizens head to the polls in December.

“The people of South Sudan yearn to live in a peaceful and prosperous country, and elections alone will not guarantee lasting peace. Firstly, a conducive political and security environment is vital. Violence and conflict at any stage will undermine confidence and derail the process. 

“Secondly, the political processes, such as the national dialogue and legal processes, must be genuinely inclusive. 

“They must bring together all signatories and stakeholders to the Revitalisation Agreement so that decisions reflect broad ownership, credibility and legitimacy,” the President said.

Furthermore, the summit is called on to send a “clear, unified message that calls on all stakeholders to enter into dialogue without delay”.

“We wish to encourage measures that will build unity, including all options to facilitate reconciliation. The C5 supports the proposal that the Chairperson of the AU Commission should appoint a former Head of State to mediate amongst the signatory parties to the Revitalisation Agreement, and to facilitate dialogue between President Kiir and Dr Riek Machar.

“We stand ready to support mediation, to monitor implementation and to coordinate our efforts. 

“A focused, oversight mechanism involving the C5 and IGAD would help track progress and report back to the Heads of State,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

The success of South Africa’s G20 Presidency has been hailed as both a national triumph and a powerful testament to Africa’s capacity for global leadership.

This according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who briefed the African Union’s 39th Ordinary Session of the African National Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The Leaders’ Summit was held in Johannesburg in November last year – the first time that an African nation has hosted the premier international economic forum.

At least 130 G20 meetings were held all over the country preceding the final Leaders’ Summit.

“South Africa hosted the summit but all of Africa shares in its success. We have together demonstrated that Africa can lead at the highest level of governance with vision, substance and principle.

“The reforms we have advanced, the partnerships we have strengthened and the initiatives we have launched must translate into measurable progress for our continent.

“We believe that South Africa’s G20 Presidency truly elevated Africa’s global standing and showcased Africa’s leadership. It reaffirmed that Africa is a central architect of global solutions. It ensured that Africa’s voice is heard, its priorities respected and its future secured,” President Ramaphosa said.

He noted that South Africa’s yearlong Presidency took place against a backdrop of high “geopolitical fragmentation and persistent global economic uncertainty with weakening multilateral consensus”.

“South Africa’s Presidency was tested diplomatically by the actions of some to undermine our presidency and the Leaders’ Summit.

“We would like to thank our sister countries in Africa and indeed other G20 countries for having given South Africa’s Presidency their support in making the summit successful,” he said.

South Africa’s theme for the summit was ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’, described as a rallying call to ensure that the voices of Africa and the global South were amplified

It was also a call in support of multilateralism and promoted dialogue as a way to resolve challenges.

“The G20 Summit highlighted the importance of multilateralism and that it is relevant and capable of delivering results, and that it is also a powerful instrument to end conflict, advance peace, reduce inequality and secure sustainable development — much as this type of multilateralism consensus is under strain and being weakened by powerful countries.

“We also held the G20 Social Summit, which was widely praised for its inclusivity and commitment to ensuring that all voices are heard. Hence, it became known as the People’s G20 Summit,” President Ramaphosa said.

On the all-important Leaders’ Declaration adopted by the summit, President Ramaphosa said the declaration reflects “shared determination to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals”.

“It contains commitments to supporting vulnerable economies, to strengthening disaster resilience, to scaling up reconstruction and to mobilise significantly greater financing [for] climate and energy transition.

“It emphasises the natural endowments of countries, including critical minerals, that these must be used as catalysts for prosperity and sustainable development.

“This is of particular interest and significance to our continent. The Africa 10-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan is a strategic continental blueprint developed under the G20 Presidency,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

Eskom has continued to sustain positive momentum, as the power utility marked more than 270 days without load shedding.

Load shedding was last implemented in April and May 2025.

“South Africa’s power system continues to show sustained stability, supported by ongoing improvements in plant performance and the successful implementation of the Generation Recovery Plan.

“Over the past week, the national grid has remained reliable, with the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) continuing its upward trajectory and unplanned outages decreasing year‑on‑year. These gains have enabled Eskom to maintain a consistent supply without the use of diesel generation, contributing to stronger operational performance and long‑term energy security,” Eskom noted.

The EAF has risen to 65.04% for the financial year to date, with the generation fleet reaching or exceeding the 70% EAF mark on 66 occasions over the same time period.

Furthermore, last week, average unplanned outages measured 11 397MW, compared to some 10 965MW during the same period last year, indicating a slight increase of 432MW.

“Over the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor [UCLF], reflecting unplanned outages, was at 23.29%, representing a slight reduction of 0.40% compared to the 22.89% recorded during the same period last year.

“During the same period, Eskom’s Planned Capacity Loss Factor PCLF, reflecting planned maintenance, rose to an average of 15.79%, up from 10.89% in the previous financial year.

“This increase aligns with Eskom’s maintenance strategy and demonstrates our commitment to improving plant reliability, strengthening operational stability, and supporting long‑term fleet performance,” the power utility added.

Reduced diesel dependence

The improvement in the EAF has resulted in a reduction in the power utility’s use of diesel generation.

“There was minimal diesel usage over the past week, mainly due to test runs conducted at the Ankerlig and Gourikwa power stations.

“Year to date… total diesel expenditure is now R4.88 billion lower than at the same time last year, reflecting substantial cost savings and continued improvements in operational performance driven by Eskom’s turnaround initiatives. Overall, this trend highlights the growing stability, efficiency, and resilience of the power system.

“Year to date, diesel expenditure remains consistently below budget,” Eskom said.

The power utility noted that it now has some “3 181MW… in cold reserve due to excess capacity”.

“To further ensure a stable electricity supply, Eskom will bring 2 429MW of generation capacity online ahead of the evening peak on Monday, 16 February,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will investigate allegations of maladministration and irregular expenditure in relation to a fuel supply tender at the Mkhondo Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.

The corruption busting unit is authorised to probe the allegations under Proclamation 309 of 2026 signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“Proclamation 309 of 2026 empowers the SIU to probe serious allegations relating to procurement and tender processes of fuel supply, where payments may have been made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective, and potentially contrary to applicable legislation and Treasury regulations.

“The SIU’s probe will also investigate alleged maladministration that resulted in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure,” the SIU explained in a statement.

The unit will also seek to “identify any improper or unlawful conduct by municipal officials, employees, service providers, or other parties connected to these tenders”.

“The scope of the investigation includes conduct that occurred between 1 October 2017 and 13 February 2026, as well as related matters connected, incidental, or ancillary to the tenders under scrutiny.

“In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

“The SIU is also authorised to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation and to recover financial losses suffered by the State, including funds paid for services not rendered,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za