Category: South Africa Government

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is inviting interested parties to submit bids in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the appointment of a terminal operator to finance, operate, maintain, refurbish and/or construct a Liquid Bulk Terminal at the Port of Cape Town for a 25-year concession period.

The project site is an existing brownfield development comprising a tank farm with eight storage tanks offering a combined storage capacity of approximately 44,430 m³, including an adjacent storage warehouse and admin building. 

The site allows for the interface with common-user berths at Tanker Basin 1 and Tanker Basin 2, supporting both local supply from the refinery and the importation of bunkering products.

Through this RFP, the Port of Cape Town seeks to retain and enhance a strategically important liquid bulk terminal, ensuring the continuity of critical services. This also supports long-term financial sustainability and optimal infrastructure utilisation through private sector participation.

“The Port of Cape Town is strategically positioned to support multiple liquid bulk operations, and this RFP allows for private sector participation to enhance liquid bulk cargo volumes whilst strengthening bunkering capabilities and revenue generation,” said Ophelia Shabane, Acting Port Manager at the Port of Cape Town. 

“By attracting a capable terminal operator, we aim to ensure that the site continues to operate efficiently while supporting regional fuel supply and broader economic growth. 

“The RFP is underpinned by demonstrable market demand, which informs the appointment of a new terminal operator to deliver operational efficiency, ensure operational continuity and effectively use and modernise existing infrastructure,” Shabane said on Thursday.

The RFP documents can be accessed from the National Treasury’s e-tender portal www.etender.gov.za and/or the Transnet website: www.transnet.net 

TNPA is responsible for the safe, effective, and efficient economic functioning of the national port system, which it manages in a landlord capacity.

It provides port infrastructure and marine services at the eight commercial seaports in South Africa – Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mossel Bay, and Ngqura. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Western Cape government says it continues to implement a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to mitigate the impact of the intense weather system that has swept across parts of the province, with the Garden Route and parts of the Central Karoo among the hardest-hit areas.

Acting Premier of the Western Cape, Dr Ivan Meyer, and acting provincial MEC of Local Government, Anroux Marais, on Thursday provided an update on measures implemented by government and disaster management stakeholders in response to the severe weather conditions.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had earlier issued a warning of an intense cut-off low bringing disruptive rain and strong winds to parts of the province.

“The Western Cape government, together with affected municipalities, disaster management teams, emergency services and humanitarian partners, continue to respond to severe weather impacts,” the provincial government said.

A Joint Operations Centre (JOC) has since been activated through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) to coordinate the response.

Tragically, one person has died as a result of the severe weather conditions.

“Our thoughts are with the family, loved ones and colleagues of Ms Lauren Fredericks, who was a social auxiliary worker at the Western Cape Department of Social Development.

“Our priority during disasters is always to protect lives. Ms Fredericks’ death is deeply unfortunate. Our most sincere condolences go to her family,” Meyer said. 

Numerous incidents of localised flooding have been reported, while several roads in affected areas remain closed until further notice.

Authorities have urged road users to avoid flooded roads and comply with all road closure notices.

While the weather system affecting the Garden Route has since been downgraded, authorities warned that the risk of flooding remains.

Emergency shelters, food provision and support services have been activated in several municipalities to assist displaced residents and vulnerable communities.

In Bitou Municipality, approximately 58 people are being sheltered at the Kranshoek Griqua Church, while a further 138 people are being accommodated at the Wittedrift Community Hall.

Additional displaced residents are also being housed at community halls in Qolweni, Kwanokuthula and New Horizon.

In Knysna Municipality, about 200 people are currently being accommodated at a local church, while some residents from Masifunde and Hornlee have been relocated to community halls as a precautionary measure.

In Oudtshoorn, 25 people are being accommodated at the Toekomsrus Community Hall, where food and blankets have been provided.

The provincial government said an additional 10 people remain cut off by floodwaters but are not believed to be in immediate danger.

“All 64 occupants at the Oudtshoorn Mountain Resort are safe. The resort supervisor and staff remain on site, and rescue operations will be undertaken at first light tomorrow should they become necessary,” the provincial government said. 

Meanwhile, in Prince Albert Municipality, 80 people displaced in Klaarstroom are being housed in a community hall, with hot meals provided by the Central Karoo District Municipality. 

In Beaufort West Municipality, a rescue operation successfully assisted two adults and two children trapped by rising water at Grootvlei Farm in the Loxton area.

The provincial government said it remains in close coordination with municipalities, disaster management centres, emergency services and community organisations to monitor conditions and respond where required.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant, avoid flooded areas and roads, and follow official safety advisories and emergency instructions.

“I urge all residents to remain safe and not take unnecessary risks. All stakeholders – disaster management teams, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and faith-based groups – have been working incredibly hard under difficult conditions to keep residents out of harm’s way. I cannot thank you enough. We have all shown how we can come together to help one another,” Meyer said.

The acting provincial MEC of Local Government, Marais, also thanked all role players involved in the disaster response. 

“To every person and organisation involved in this response: your commitment, professionalism, and service are deeply appreciated. Thank you for standing together in support of our communities during this challenging period,” Marais said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Cabinet has approved a series of legislative measures aimed at strengthening early childhood development at a time that the country marks Child Protection Month.

Cabinet approved the submission of the Children’s Act Amendment Bill, 2026 to Parliament.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the proposed bill seeks to streamline South Africa’s fragmented Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and regulatory framework by consolidating oversight under a single authority.

“The programmes and regulations were overseen under Chapter 5 of the Children’s Act by different authorities to a consolidated ECD regulation under the revised Chapter 6 of the Amendment Bill under the sole responsibility of the Department of Basic Education. 

“The Amendment Bill introduces a single registration process for ECD centres and one set of Norms and Standards for the ECD Programme,” the Minister said at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

South Africa marks Child Protection Month in May. Speaking at the official launch in eDumbe Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday, Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe called for urgent and coordinated national action to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Tolashe warned that the rising cases of child sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy remain a “national disgrace”. 

READ | Minister Tolashe calls for urgent national action to protect children

Draft Nuclear Energy Amendment Bill, 2025

Meanwhile, Cabinet also approved the publication of the Draft Nuclear Energy Amendment Bill, 2025, for public consultation.

The draft legislation proposes amendments to the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999, which governs the country’s participation in international trade involving nuclear materials and technology.

Ntshavheni noted that the bill addresses the regulatory gaps resulting from developments in the global and domestic nuclear landscape by updating terminology, aligning the Act with international standards, and strengthening oversight of nuclear material, goods, and related activities across the value chain.

National Building Regulations and Building Standards Amendment Bill, 2026

In addition, Cabinet further approved the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Amendment Bill, 2026 for public participation.

The draft bill aims to promote uniformity in law within the jurisdiction across municipalities, and ensure safe construction practices through sound building science, good workmanship, and quality materials.

The bill also responds to longstanding concerns over challenges related to the inconsistent application and interpretation of the Act, which have contributed to uneven compliance and safety risks in the built environment. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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As South Africa marks 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March, Cabinet has approved the implementation of a Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Index aimed at strengthening gender equality and inclusive economic participation.

The index will serve as an annual scorecard to measure and track progress in women’s socio-economic empowerment and participation in decision-making structures across the country.

The initiative addresses the absence of a comprehensive and standardised measure of women’s socio-economic empowerment and participation in decision-making structures in South Africa.

The index is structured across three key pillars, including social, economic and decision-making.

On the social sphere, the index will focus on health and education, while the economic component will assess labour market participation and access to resources. The decision-making sphere will evaluate women’s representation in both public and private sector decision-making.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said baseline findings show mixed progress.

“The baseline of the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Index indicates public sector decision-making as a dimension that scores highest in terms of women empowerment whilst labour market and resources dimension records the lowest scores.

“The lowest indicator areas include firms with female ownership, share of female Chief Executive Officers of firms listed on the JSE, access to credit, and employment in high skill occupations,” the Minister said.

CEDAW report approved

Cabinet has also approved South Africa’s Sixth Periodic Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The report outlines progress made by South Africa in strengthening the constitutional, legislative policy and institutional framework for gender equality, women’s empowerment and substantive equality.

Key developments highlighted in the report include the implementation of the Gender Responsive Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, Evaluation and Auditing Framework; the 2019 National Strategic Plan on GBVF of 2019; economic empowerment initiatives; and public sector gender mainstreaming and representation of women in leadership and decision-making.

Despite the significant progress, Cabinet acknowledged ongoing structural and implementation challenges, including high unemployment among women, the persistent scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), weak translation of educational gains into labour outcomes, and slow progress in gender mainstreaming in the private sector. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Cabinet says South Africa continues to demonstrate world-class medical and scientific expertise in its handling of the recent cases of Hantavirus.

This comes after South African officials worked with speed to detect, contain and respond to the cases of Hantavirus in the country.

Briefing media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, 6 May, Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet commended the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for diagnosing two Hantavirus cases within 24 hours of the patients’ admission at a Gauteng hospital.

Members were also briefed on the circumstances surrounding the transfer of the patients from the MV Hondius cruise ship to a South African medical facility.

A rare Hantavirus case was confirmed in South Africa in a critically ill British national, who was a passenger aboard the cruise ship, which was travelling to the Canary Islands via Cape Verde from Argentina. The woman later died in South Africa and her husband, who was also infected, passed away in St Helena.

Another woman from the same cruise ship collapsed at OR Tambo International Airport and also passed away.

Cabinet has commended the Department of Health for the speed and effectiveness they conducted contact tracing for people who came into contact with the Hantavirus patients before the diagnosis was made.

According to Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the total number of people who were traced and who could have come in contact with the deceased were 62. Some 42 of them have already been traced and they are being observed.

Ntshavheni moved to allay public fears of a potential outbreak due to the prevalence of rats in some municipalities, noting that scientists have confirmed that Hantavirus has not been detected in any rodents in South Africa or the African continent.

R1.5 billion boost for local vaccine production

Cabinet welcomed a R1.5 billion financing package between Biovac and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group to establish Africa’s first end-to-end, multi-vaccine production plant.

Ntshavheni said the plant, expected to be completed by 2028, will produce oral cholera vaccines, and later expand to include vaccines for polio, pneumonia and meningitis.

“Once fully operational, the site will have a production capacity of up to 40 million doses annually, significantly bolstering Africa’s healthcare resilience and supply chain security. The project is also expected to create more than 340 skilled jobs and around 7 000 indirect jobs, while promoting technology transfer, innovation and long-term health resilience across the continent,” the Minister said.

Progress in Foot-and-Mouth Disease control

Cabinet also welcomed progress in the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination programme, with 2.59 million cattle vaccinated to date.

Cabinet noted the arrival of two million vaccine doses from Türkiye as part of the first tranche of a six million dose order.

“The Department of Agriculture is distributing the vaccines to provinces using a targeted, science-based allocation model informed by animal risk and population data,” Ntshavheni said.

In addition, a further five million doses have been ordered from Argentina through Onderstepoort Biological Products and are ready for export, pending the finalisation of the required import procedures. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) says there has been a significant decline in fraudulent learner licence passes, following the introduction of computerised testing systems at licensing centres across South Africa.

The computerised learner licence testing system, introduced in 2021, was implemented to combat widespread fraud and corruption in the issuing of learner driver licences, improve efficiency and enhance road safety.

Before the rollout of the technology, officials at testing centres were reportedly able to identify question papers in advance and illegally provide learners with answers before the test, allowing unqualified applicants to pass.

According to the RTMC, the new system has closed that loophole by randomly selecting question papers electronically, preventing officials from knowing which test will be used beforehand. 

The system also automatically marks the tests and determines whether candidates have answered correctly.

The impact of the reforms has been reflected in the national pass rate for learner licence tests, which has dropped sharply from 68% to 40% since the implementation of the computerised system.

The RTMC said the lower pass rate indicates that fewer incompetent drivers are obtaining learner licences, a development the corporation believes will contribute to improved road safety and a reduction in road crashes.

Despite the progress, the RTMC warned that some corrupt officials are attempting to develop new methods to assist learners illegally.

“Some arrests have been made in this regard recently and the process of identifying beneficiaries is underway,” the corporation said.

The RTMC issued a warning to aspiring drivers against paying officials for assistance in passing learner licence tests.

Anyone found participating in fraudulent activities could face arrest, criminal charges and severe penalties if convicted, the corporation said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The recently launched Senqu Bridge in Mokhotlong in the Kingdom of Lesotho represents a landmark achievement under Phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, Cabinet said on Wednesday.

The new bridge will ensure uninterrupted access to Mokhotlong, Sani Pass and surrounding areas.

Addressing a post -Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the project has contributed significantly to the upliftment of the economy of Lesotho with South Africa constructing hundreds of kilometres of roads to improve access to remote dam sites and providing royalty payments of approximately R3.8 billion annually to the country’s fiscus under the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

“The Lesotho Highlands Water Project ensures Gauteng has access to bulk water through the Vaal Water system whilst Lesotho generates hydropower and supports the provision of potable water, irrigation, fisheries, and the promotion of tourism,” Ntshavheni said.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the official launch of the bridge saying it is a testament of the deep-seated relationship between the two countries. 

The Senqu Bridge, constructed at an estimated cost of R2.4 billion, is the largest of three major crossings being developed under Phase II of the LHWP. 

Measuring approximately 825 metres in length and rising about 90 metres above the river valley, the bridge will play a critical role in maintaining connectivity across the Polihali Reservoir once water levels rise. 

The Senqu Bridge forms part of the broader LHWP, a multi-phased, treaty-based partnership between South Africa and Lesotho established on 24 October 1986 to address water security, energy generation and socio-economic development.

Last week, President Ramaphosa called for urgent, coordinated action across all three spheres of government to resolve South Africa’s deepening water crisis, warning that poor municipal performance is placing an increasing burden on ordinary citizens. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

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Cabinet has at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday received a progress report on the Hammanskraal Clean Water Project that is driven by Magalies Water under the Department of Water and Sanitation and the City of Tshwane. 

Addressing the post-Cabinet media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on completion, the project will provide potable water to approximately 47 550 households, serving an estimated 180 679 residents.

“Cabinet noted that all four modules on the part of the project which is delivered under Magalies Water has been constructed and tested, enabling the system to produce up to 50 ML of treated water per day,” Ntshavheni said. 

The Minister of Water and Sanitation will later in the week inspect the project and outstanding works by the City of Tshwane to ensure full access to water for the communities of Hammanskraal. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation also updated Cabinet on progress with regards to unblocking water projects and the status of municipal debt to water boards, which pose a severe risk to water security and the financial viability of these boards. 

Winter Electricity Outlook 

Meanwhile, Cabinet welcomed the Winter Electricity Outlook presented by Eskom, which indicated that load shedding is unlikely between April and August, marking a significant turning point in the nation’s energy journey.

“Cabinet further welcomed progress in addressing load reduction with 352 968 customers no longer affected by load reduction during peak periods,” Ntshavheni said. 

The Minister said load reduction has been eliminated in Northern Cape and Western Cape.

The next five provinces are due for load reduction elimination in 2026 and then Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal will have their load reduction challenges eliminated by 2027. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

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