Category: South Africa Government

Deputy Director-General at the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), Shoki Tshabalala, says government is pursuing protocols that will ensure that gender-based violence (GBV) cases reported on higher education campuses are not swept under the carpet. 

Tshabalala was speaking during a gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) Hybrid Panel discussion hosted by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in partnership with the University of Johannesburg on Friday.

“I can guarantee you that the Deputy Minister of Higher Education is doing a lot to make sure that there are protocols in place. There is a policy on whistleblowing [to make sure] that institutions are held accountable for not dealing with cases when [students] report issues of harassment.”

She also referred to the International Labour Organisation’s Convention 190. According to the Department of Employment and Labour, the instrument provides a common framework to stop violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment.

She highlighted that on a broader front, government is also working on an African Union protocol on violence against women and children.

Tshabalala noted that GBVF has been classified as a disaster in South Africa, which means that departments reprioritised funds to address GBVF challenges.

GBVF was declared a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002 in November last year.

She added that the department is engaging development partners as well as Treasury and the Department of Social Development as part of efforts to ensure that resources are redirected to where they are needed most.

She called on men on and off campus to ensure that they make campuses safe for all women.

“I would like to plead with all of you…we regard you as our brothers, and we trust you. We believe in you. Make universities a safe space for women.”

Tshabalala urged institutions of higher learning to ensure that streetlights on campuses are working and that dark alleys are attended to as part of efforts to keep students safe.

“No one should feel unsafe when you walk at university,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) will operate dedicated train services for the Barbarian Tour and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fixtures taking place in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

The services will cover the Springboks’ test against the All Blacks at 10BET Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the Lions’ match against the All Blacks at the same venue, and the Springboks’ second test against the All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

“As the backbone of public transport, PRASA is committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable and convenient rail services that allow thousands of spectators to travel to and from major sporting events with ease and confidence.

“Supporters are encouraged to arrive at their departure stations early and to buy return tickets before travelling. This will reduce queues and make for a smoother journey. Commuters travelling on Isitimela Sabantu, and within all stations, are reminded to comply with all rail safety regulations at all times,” the agency said in a statement on Friday.

Through partnerships with key stakeholders, PRASA said it continues to position rail as the public transport mode of choice for major events.

The schedule for train services is as follows:
•    Springboks vs All Blacks, 10BET Ellis Park, Saturday, 22 August 2026: 
PRASA will operate a free shuttle service between Johannesburg Park Station and Ellis Park Station for holders of valid match tickets. Trains will run every 15 minutes from 12:30 pm to 8:30 pm, with connections to and from Gautrain services at Park Station. The last Gautrain departs at 9 pm.
•    Lions vs All Blacks, 10BET Ellis Park, Tuesday, 25 August 2026: PRASA will operate a shuttle service between Johannesburg Park Station and Ellis Park Station. Trains will run every 15 minutes from 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm, with connections to Gautrain services at Park Station. The last Gautrain departs at 11 pm. A return ticket costs R20.
•    Springboks vs All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Saturday, 29 August 2026: PRASA Western Cape will operate additional train services to transport the thousands of supporters expected at DHL Stadium in Cape Town. The additional services will offer supporters a safe, reliable and convenient alternative to private transport, while helping to reduce the heavy traffic expected around the Cape Town CBD and Green Point. Rail can move large numbers of spectators efficiently and ease pressure on the roads.

Further information on train schedules will be shared through PRASA’s official digital platforms, including WhatsApp commuter groups. 

For updates, follow PRASA on X, Facebook and Instagram. –SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike has called for a shift from merely ensuring women’s participation in the economy to placing greater emphasis on ownership, wealth creation and economic power.

Letsike noted that while South Africa has made significant progress in opening spaces for women in Parliament, universities, boardrooms and industries from which they had historically been excluded, the next stage of women’s economic emancipation must focus on ownership.

“For me, the next stage of women’s economic emancipation must be about moving from participation to power,” Letsike said.

Addressing the Ascend Her Business Conference in Sandton on Friday, she said women can participate in the economy without having meaningful economic power, indicating the difficulties many entrepreneurs face in accessing capital, owning productive assets and accumulating wealth.

“A woman can register a company but struggle to obtain capital. She can win a contract but not own the equipment required to deliver it. She can distribute somebody else’s products without ever becoming a producer herself.”

She said the country needs to be more demanding about what it means by women’s economic empowerment, arguing that the focus should not only be on preparing women to succeed in the economy, but also on transforming the economy itself.

“Real economic transformation must therefore concern itself not only with what women earn, but increasingly with what women own.”

Letsike said African women historically have demonstrated entrepreneurship and resilience by trading, farming, organising stokvels and cooperatives, and creating livelihoods under difficult circumstances.

The challenge is to ensure that women’s ambition is supported by an economy that creates meaningful opportunities for growth and ownership.

This requires confronting questions around access to finance, collateral, land, procurement opportunities and the business networks where important economic decisions are made.

The Deputy Minister also called on government, the private sector, development finance institutions and entrepreneurs to play their part in creating conditions that enable women-owned businesses to grow.

Businesses need access to capital, markets and opportunities, she said, adding that government and corporate procurement could either reinforce existing economic patterns or help transform ownership and production.

“Our ambition must go beyond producing a permanent class of women subcontractors. At some point, the subcontractor must become the principal contractor. The distributor must become the manufacturer.”

The Deputy Minister also emphasised the importance of ensuring that women participate as owners and creators in emerging industries and technologies.

She said artificial intelligence, renewable energy, financial technology and digital commerce were already reshaping the economy and warned against allowing inequalities from the old economy to be replicated in new sectors.

“We need women building technology, owning intellectual property, manufacturing, investing and creating enterprises that can compete across our continent. The future cannot simply be something that African women enter after somebody else has built it. African women must be among those who build it.”

Letsike called for greater economic solidarity among women, encouraging successful entrepreneurs to support others by buying from women-owned businesses, sharing opportunities, making introductions and opening doors.

“Perhaps, then, the next evolution of women’s solidarity is that our solidarity must become economic infrastructure.”

She urged the Ascend Her graduates to build profitable businesses, own assets and create wealth, while also using their success to create opportunities for others. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS) Director-General, Smike Thulani Sibuyi, is today engaging stakeholders in Amaoti, one of the areas hardest hit by crime in the eThekwini region, on solutions to address the challenge.

The stakeholder engagement session at the Inanda precinct in KwaZulu-Natal will discuss the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), which calls upon all members of society and government to work together in the fight against crime. 

“The Strategy recognises that crime and violence are the results of a complex web of social, economic and political factors, such as poverty, inequality and unemployment amongst others,” the department said in a statement ahead of Friday’s engagement.

Through a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, the strategy places strong emphasis on mobilising communities, strengthening partnerships, and encouraging active citizen participation in crime prevention efforts.

“The Director-General of the CSPS is committed to ensuring that the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service champions the implementation of this strategy across the provinces in the country,” the department said.

This Amaoti stakeholder engagement is about the integration of government, civil society, and the community at large to collaborate on issues of safety and violence prevention.

The Civilian Secretariat for Police Service provides efficient and effective civilian oversight over the South African Police Service for safer and more secure communities through community participation, legislation and policy development. – SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has called on communities and road users to help protect critical road infrastructure from theft and vandalism.

Following the appointment of contractors last month, the Department of Roads and Transport has intensified the repair, restoration, maintenance and upgrading of traffic signals at priority intersections across the provincial road network.

“Public infrastructure theft and vandalism place an unnecessary financial burden on the provincial coffers through costly repairs and restoration work.

“As the department undertakes this restoration programme, we are calling on all road users, communities, motorists, bikers, cyclists, pedestrians and runners to stand with us in protecting these critical assets. If you see or witness suspicious activity, theft or vandalism, kindly report it to the authorities for immediate action,” the MEC said in a statement on Thursday.

The programme will be implemented over the next 36 months and will focus on restoring vandalised infrastructure, modernising existing traffic signals, and strengthening the protection and management of these critical assets.

Contractors have already commenced restoration work at multiple priority intersections, with further interventions scheduled across key development corridors and strategic routes. 

The programme represents a significant and ongoing effort to modernise the province’s traffic signal infrastructure by using the latest technology, while addressing the persistent challenges of cable theft, infrastructure vandalism, illegal connections, and damage caused by vehicle collisions.

The MEC added that criminal acts targeting road infrastructure have a direct impact on communities and commuters.

“These criminal acts affect every commuter, every motorist and every community that depends on safe and reliable roads and public transport systems,” Diale-Tlabela said.

The programme encompasses five key areas:
•    Installation of new traffic signals at intersections where infrastructure has been completely vandalised.
•    Establishment and operationalisation of the Provincial Transport Management Centre (TMC).
•    Upgrading of existing traffic signals.
•    Retrofitting of existing assets with modern technologies and enhanced security measures.
•    Maintenance and repair of existing traffic signal infrastructure.
–SAnews.gov.za

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has, on behalf of the Judiciary, expressed condolences to the family of Justice Fikile Eunice Mokgohloa, Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), following her death.

Mokgohloa died following a long illness.

“The Judiciary has lost a valued colleague and an accomplished jurist. Justice Mokgohloa served with dignity, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility to the law.

“Her passing is a painful loss to all of us who had the privilege of knowing and working with her. Her judicial record stands as part of the enduring contribution she made to the development of South African law,” Chief Justice Maya said on Thursday.

The Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) described her passing as a “profound loss to the Judiciary, the legal profession and the people of South Africa.”

It further added that Justice Mokgohloa leaves behind a “judicial legacy marked by intellectual rigour, diligence, independence and an unwavering commitment to the administration of justice”.

“Justice Mokgohloa started her judicial mentorship at the Northern Cape Division, Kimberley High Court in 2006 [and]…was later appointed as Acting Judge in the same court. Later, she was appointed as a judge of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court in November 2008.

“She later served in the Limpopo Division and was appointed Deputy Judge President of that Division in 2016. During this period, she also served in an acting capacity in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), where she gained further experience at the appellate level.

“In June 2019, Justice Mokgohloa was appointed to the [SCA] by the President [Cyril Ramaphosa], following a recommendation by the Judicial Service Commission. Her appointment was part of an important period of renewal and transformation of the appellate bench,” the OCJ said.

She further made notable contributions to South African jurisprudence while at the SCA.

“Her judgments reflected careful engagement with the law, the facts and the constitutional principles that underpin the administration of justice.

“Among the matters in which she participated were cases concerning constitutional and administrative law, traditional leadership, criminal justice, commercial disputes, the enforcement of legal rights and the wide spectrum of legal issues that are routinely adjudicated by that Court. She contributed to the leadership of the Supreme Court and acted as the Deputy President of the SCA in 2024.

“The Chief Justice extends her deepest condolences to Justice Mokgohloa’s family, friends, colleagues and all those who worked with her throughout her distinguished career. At this time of profound grief, the Judiciary stands with her family and honours the life and service of a judicial officer who devoted many years to the pursuit of justice,” the OCJ stated. – SAnews.gov.za

A 44-year-old suspect has been arrested for allegedly coordinating the theft and illicit trade of minerals valued at approximately R26 million in and around Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.

The suspect, believed to be a key figure in a criminal syndicate, allegedly paid individuals to steal the minerals.

He was arrested on Tuesday by the South African Police Service (SAPS) National Organised Crime Task Team, bringing to 12 the number of suspects arrested and charged in connection with the investigation.

The suspect appeared before the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday on a charge of theft of minerals. The matter was postponed to 28 August 2026 for a formal bail application.

The latest development follows the sentencing of 37-year-old Sphamandla Mdletshe, who was sentenced to 10 years’ direct imprisonment by the Richards Bay Regional Court on 5 August 2026 for theft of minerals valued at R26 million.

Mdletshe’s conviction followed a plea and sentence agreement entered into with the State.

The Richards Bay Investigation Team, which is probing the criminal syndicate allegedly involved in the theft and illicit trade of minerals, has arrested 11 suspects and charged them with various offences, including theft of minerals, money laundering and racketeering.

The remaining accused are expected to appear before the Richards Bay Regional Court on 27 August 2026 for a pre-trial conference.

Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, commended the National Organised Crime Task Team for securing the warrant and successfully apprehending the latest suspect.

“The arrest of this suspect is an important development in advancing the investigation into the theft and illicit trade of minerals in and around Richards Bay.

“We remain committed to dismantling criminal syndicates involved in organised crime and ensuring that those who participate in the illegal exploitation and trade of our mineral resources are identified, arrested and brought before the courts.

“We will continue to intensify our efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks and recover assets linked to criminal activities,” Lieutenant General Dimpane said. – SAnews.gov.za

Police Deputy Cassel Mathale, together with the Limpopo Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Jan Petrus Scheepers, will lead a Crime Prevention Ministerial Imbizo in Giyani, Thomo Village in Limpopo.

“The imbizo aims to provide a platform for meaningful and effective engagement between the South African Police Service (SAPS), traditional leaders, community members, and key stakeholders on collaborative efforts to combat and prevent crime,” the police said on Friday.

Saturday’s imbizo will also entail tackling gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), stock theft, as well as other prevalent crimes affecting Thomo Village and surrounding communities.

According to the police, the engagement aims to identify practical, sustainable solutions and strengthen partnerships in the fight against crime. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has called on churches to take a firm stand against gender-based violence (GBV), child abuse, discrimination and other forms of injustice.

Letsike made the call while addressing the Central District Young Women’s Manyano 21st Annual Convention in Soweto.

“If the church could find its voice against racial oppression, it must find its voice against gender-based violence. If our church halls could become spaces in which oppressed communities organised for freedom, they must become safe spaces for survivors today,” Letsike said on Thursday.

The Deputy Minister noted that some of the most difficult “unmapped territories” confronting society are not geographical, but exist within homes, communities, and in some cases, churches.

These include violence against women, abuse of children, the vulnerability of persons with disabilities, poverty, unemployment, discrimination and the isolation experienced by many people.

She said women may enter churches while carrying the burden of unemployment, single parenthood, disability, financial dependence on an abusive partner or trauma caused by sexual violence.

“These realities do not disappear when the hymn begins. Our religion must therefore be capable of responding to the deepest social needs of the people who practise it. There is no justification for silence when abuse is taking place.”

The Deputy Minister also warned against using forgiveness to shield perpetrators from accountability.

“Forgiveness cannot be manipulated into immunity from accountability.”

Letsike said survivors often faced a second battle after surviving abuse – persuading their communities to believe them.

For women and children with disabilities, the risks can be compounded because of their dependence on others for transport, communication, money, personal assistance or care.

“The very relationship that should provide safety can become the relationship through which power is abused. That is why our approach must be intersectional,” she said.

Letsike also called for the inclusion and protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people, saying their dignity should not be regarded as less important.

“Lesbian, bisexual and transgender women are women. They experience the same economic pressures, violence and insecurity that other women experience, while sometimes also confronting discrimination because of who they are,” she said.

Equality cannot depend on a person’s sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, class, or where someone happens to live.

Letsike said faith communities should ensure that prayer is accompanied by action and service, noting that the Young Women’s Manyano is a prayer and service union.

“Not prayer alone. Prayer and service. The conjunction matters. Prayer turns us towards God. Service turns us towards one another.”

While government has established policies and institutions to address gender-based violence and femicide, including the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, Letsike stressed that no national strategy can succeed through government intervention alone.

“The success is determined in homes, churches, schools, clinics, police stations and communities.”

The Deputy Minister called on the church not to spiritually mediate conduct that requires legal and social accountability.

“A child who has been sexually abused requires protection. A woman whose life is threatened requires safety. A person with a disability who reports violence requires accessible justice,” Letsike said.

Reflecting on 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March, 50 years since the 1976 Student Uprising and 30 years of Constitutional Democracy, Letsike said South Africans should not merely admire previous generations but consider what courage requires of them today.

She said the “unmapped territory” could include confronting conversations about abuse, building churches where women could disclose violence without fear, ensuring that persons with disabilities take leadership roles, and challenging homophobia and the exclusion of LGBTI people. – SAnews.gov.za