Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa’s mental health system is currently facing an increasing challenge due to substance abuse, which is putting immense pressure on public health facilities, emergency services, and mental health professionals. 

This situation often leads to complex diagnoses that require multidisciplinary care.

The Department of Health said addressing substance abuse challenges necessitates enhanced prevention, rehabilitation, and health promotion interventions at all levels of the health system.

To this end, the department has decided to observe World Mental Health Day in 2025 by bringing together various stakeholders and individuals who share a common goal to improve mental health and address substance abuse issues. 

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October and serves as a reminder of the importance of good mental health and the need to prioritise and invest in good mental health.

The event will focus on sharing information, best practices, and providing feedback on the impact of current interventions, allowing for necessary adjustments to achieve the desired outcomes.

Today, the department is holding a media and mental health stakeholder engagement session to discuss the burden of mental health in South Africa, including the leading contributing factors and recommendations for improving mental healthcare.

“Mental health conditions are among the leading causes of disability globally and also impose high costs on households, employers, and economies,” the department said. 

According to new data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than one billion people are living with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. However, most do not receive adequate care. 

“This has the potential to inflict huge human and economic tolls requiring a greater investment and action to scale up services to protect and promote people’s mental health.” 

The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, along with Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and other provincial MECs for Health, will participate in a panel discussion on mental health.

They will be joined by representatives from key organisations, including Shenaaz El-Halabi from the WHO, Cassey Chambers from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, and Professor Solomon Rataemane, who represents the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health. 

Health professionals and individuals with lived experiences of mental health conditions and drug dependency will also contribute to the discussion.

This session is part of this year’s World Mental Health Day commemorative activities, which will be held under the theme: “Together for Mental Health.” 

This theme emphasises the importance of collective support and connection in promoting mental health, highlighting how collaboration fosters a sense of belonging.

“The theme also highlights the importance of stakeholders working together further to strengthen access to mental health services across the country,” the department explained. 

The WHO urges all countries to speed up the implementation of their action plans aimed at improving mental health for their populations. 

This includes integrating mental health services into primary healthcare and general hospital care. 

The department said the goal is to enhance access to care, reduce the treatment gap, combat stigma, and promote overall mental well-being.

The day will start with a walkabout in selected areas within the health facility to showcase some of the progressive interventions and investments that strengthen mental health and substance abuse service provision. 

The walk-about will also include interactions with frontline health workers who manage substance abuse patients, affected patients to better understand the challenges that they are experiencing, and to collaboratively find solutions. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, October 10, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has taken a significant step towards transforming the management of its data through the launch of the MzansiXchange – an initiative that will enable evidence-based policymaking and real-time data verification between departments.

The pioneering data exchange initiative is led by the National Treasury that seeks to address the data landscape, which has been characterised by fragmentation, siloed systems, and limited interoperability.

“These challenges have constrained our ability to make evidence-based decisions, deliver integrated services, allocate resources efficiently, and build public trust in government systems. MzansiXchange addresses these gaps by enabling secure, structured, and coordinated data sharing across government,” National Treasury Director-General (DG), Dr Duncan Pieterse said on Thursday.

The launch of South Africa’s Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of Government in May 2025, paved the way for this initiative.

The roadmap forms part of Operation Vulindlela Phase II, a joint National Treasury and Presidency initiative. It provides the strategic direction for government to modernise services, break down data silos, and build the digital public infrastructure (DPI) required for inclusive growth. 

The roadmap has four key pillars: Data Exchange, Digital Identity, Digital Payments and Digital Services.

“MzansiXchange is not a central data repository. It does not store any data. Instead, it acts as a secure bridge – a structured and governed exchange that allows departments to retain ownership of their data, while sharing their data with other authorised entities, when needed. 

“This approach balances departmental data sovereignty with secure, cross-government data sharing through a structured and governed framework,” Pieterse said

Addressing the launch of the MzansiXchange Pilot Launch in Pretoria, the DG said the prototype has been built with X-road as the foundational technology for the MzansiXchange, supporting flexible mechanisms and enhancing resilience with robust design, ensuring standards harmonisation, digital inclusion and long-term sustainability. 

MzansiXchange will have governance frameworks, standardised data protocols and will set clear expectations for metadata standards, data quality, and interoperability. It will provide standardised legal instruments – such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) – to guide secure and compliant data sharing.

The initiative will provide four distinct data access components, each designed to meet the needs of different users. 

The first pillar is data sharing for regulation, compliance, and verification. 

“This provides authorised public entities with real-time access to identifiable data for verification and compliance purposes. For instance, the data exchange can be used to securely verify key information when enrolling citizens into public programmes or grants – helping ensure accuracy while simplifying the process for applicants,” Pieterse said.

The second pillar is data sharing for evidence-based policy, planning, and research.

“MzansiXchange enables bulk sharing and integration of de-identified data from government institutions to a secure data facility. For example, de-identified administrative data – such as education outcomes, tax records, or social protection information – can be securely shared with a secure data facility,” he said.

This enables researchers and policymakers to generate insights that support more targeted, evidence-based decision-making and planning.

The third pillar is data sharing for operational analytics. 

This facilitates bulk transfers of both de-identified and identifiable data between public sector institutions to support service delivery and the fulfilment of operational mandates.

“For example, MzansiXchange can support the bulk sharing of financial and procurement data between public sector institutions – helping improve coordination and strengthening planning and oversight. Finally, the fourth pillar is open access data sharing.

“It enables users to explore data catalogues, dashboards, data stories, download aggregated datasets and view metadata through secure protocols. For example, the spatialised tax data housed within the National Treasury Secure Data Facility, local data and other insights will be shared via MzansiXchange,” the DG said.

This one-year pilot will test the MzansiXchange in real-world conditions, strengthening the foundations for a broader national rollout.

“MzansiXchange is a national commitment to harnessing data for the public good. It is a platform for collaboration, innovation, and transformation. The success of MzansiXchange depends on how each of us commits to supporting and using it. Ensuring that all departments work towards integrating and being able to fully leverage the potential of the MzansiXchange,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Government will soon make an announcement on plans to expand South Africa’s foray into nuclear energy.

This according to Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, who delivered the opening address at the G20 Nuclear Energy Ministerial Conference held in Durban.

“[We] will be making big announcements next week, post-Cabinet. We are close to that. Our ambition is to build a new job program [of] at least initially the size of 5000 megawatts, and we think that we can derive the benefits of industrialisation and ensuring that there is exponential increase of the skills that are required to support that build program.

“Necsa [South African Nuclear Energy Corporation] is a big part of the conversation. As we know, we are running a 60-year-old research reactor. We are looking for suitors or partners to help us to take it to another level. We have seen that there is an insatiable appetite from across the globe to partner and work with us,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that small modular reactors [SMR] present a “pristine opportunity” for expansion going into the future.

“They are rapid deployment and the fact that they can be the production can be standardised, and therefore, reducing the long lead times. But most importantly, is to power the requirements of the artificial intelligence complex. 

“I think the prospect of locating data centres across various geographies is something that is particularly attractive, and we think that small modulary actors will help us,” he said.

Turning to the African continent, the Minister noted that the continent is an important producer of uranium – used for nuclear reactors – at 14% of global production with further untapped reserves.

Countries including Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana are either building, planning for, or considering nuclear power as a source of power.

“Africa’s time is now and given them huge endowments that we have, especially on uranium. Energy demand is going to grow exponentially on the continent as people experience upward social and economic mobility, as we bring people out of poverty and I think, nuclear to power is going to be a big part of the African story.

“A long-term view must be such that we are able to build infrastructure that will be a precondition for such enrichment to happen on the continent. We possess all the necessary apparatus that is required for us to participate meaningfully in the nuclear fuel cycle,” Ramokgopa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for global investments under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative to be structured in a way that empowers African countries and supports their own development priorities, rather than creating new forms of dependency.

The President was delivering a statement at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on Thursday, hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

He said the forum presented an opportunity to advance cooperation between Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth. 

The President emphasised that as a continent, Africa is striving for universal access to energy through diversification, equitable financing and technology transfer. 

“The support from the EU and its member states will play an important part in this journey. It is important that the substantial investments that are being made through the Global Gateway are structured in a manner that empowers African countries and does not replace one dependency with another.

“They must enable African countries to pursue development paths that are suited to their circumstances and to the needs of their people,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The Global Gateway Forum brings together leaders from around the world to discuss clean, secure, and sustainable investment in infrastructure and connectivity across regions.

Partnership anchored in shared priorities

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to the strategic partnership with the European Union, which he said had “evolved in scope and substance over the years.”

He noted that the South Africa-EU Summit held in Cape Town, earlier this year, had deepened cooperation and reaffirmed shared values in areas such as climate resilience, digital connectivity, transport infrastructure, vaccine production, and trade.

“Together, we have an opportunity to strengthen resilience by advancing investments in digital and green infrastructure, fostering innovation, securing supply chains and encouraging diversification that supports sustainable and inclusive growth,” he said. 

Driving Africa’s industrialisation and energy transition

President Ramaphosa emphasised that Africa must be an equal partner in trade and industrialisation, calling for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers that constrain African exports to the EU. 

He said investment and trade should serve as instruments to foster industrialisation on the continent and to support Africa’s vision for energy security and diversification. 

“South Africa has embarked on a just transition that advances renewable energy, while safeguarding energy security, and enabling social and economic development.
 
“We are using our natural resource endowments – such as solar, wind and our critical minerals – to build industries that will grow our economies,” he said. 

The President highlighted that South Africa is implementing far-reaching economic reforms in energy, water, logistics, and telecommunications to improve competitiveness and attract investment, alongside a massive infrastructure investment drive to expand the capacity of the economy.

Preparing to host the first G20 Summit on African soil

President Ramaphosa also used the Brussels forum to reaffirm South Africa’s readiness to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit next month, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”

He said over 100 preparatory meetings have already taken place since South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from Brazil. 

A key priority for the Summit, he said, will be to address the unsustainable debt burdens faced by developing economies, particularly in Africa.

“It is simply unacceptable that many developing economy countries pay much more for their debt than what more developed economy countries pay. This unfair treatment perpetuates inequality not only between individuals, but amongst countries as well,” the President said. 

He announced that South Africa has established a G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, led by Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, to present recommendations on global inequality at the Summit. 

Call for reform and fair climate financing

President Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s stance on the reform of international financial institutions to ensure that multilateral development banks can better tackle global challenges.

He urged stronger action against predatory mining practices and for fair management of critical minerals, while calling for greater climate financing support to developing economies in the Global South. 

“We must build consensus on the reform of international financial institutions to better tackle global challenges. Greater support needs to be given to developing countries through climate financing and reconstruction in the aftermath of extreme weather events,” the President said.

Concluding his address, President Ramaphosa said South Africa remains committed to working closely with the European Union to ensure that shared ambitions translate into tangible outcomes that benefit citizens across continents.

“Together, we can foster inclusive growth, build resilience and create a sustainable and secure future for all our people,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, will represent the South African Government at the Financing for Feminist Futures (F4FF) Conference, taking place at La Casa Encendida in Madrid, Spain, from 8–10 October 2025.

Held under the theme: “Resourcing Resistance and Building Feminist Solidarities”, the global conference is convened by the Walking the Talk Consortium, comprising Hivos, Equipop, Restless Development, ODI Europe, and Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung, and co-hosted by La Coordinadora, Spain.

The event brings together feminist leaders, funders, policymakers, and movement-builders to reimagine the future of feminist financing, amid deep cuts to global aid and the rising backlash against women’s and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights.

Building on outcomes from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and the Compromiso de Sevilla, the F4FF conference calls for expanded investment in the care economy, gender-based violence prevention, and the sustainable resourcing of feminist movements worldwide.

Letsike said the South African government is “walking the talk” by focusing on translating the gender-responsive budgeting, fiscal policies, and investment frameworks that address women’s specific needs and promote gender equality, thereby fostering inclusive and equitable economic development.

“Our approach is through strategies that focus on gender-responsive budgeting, fiscal policies, and investment frameworks, to address women’s specific needs and promote gender equality, thereby fostering inclusive and equitable economic development,” the Deputy Minister said.

During the conference Letsike will contribute to two key sessions:
• The Strategic Session – Track 3, themed: “Strengthening Feminist Funding for Gender Equality: Building on Financing for Development 4 and Exploring New Possibilities.”
• The Closing Plenary, themed: “Resourcing Resistance and Building Feminist Solidarities.”

In both sessions, the Deputy Minister will highlight South Africa’s leadership in advancing feminist economic justice and inclusive public finance, rooted in the principles of substantive equality and social transformation.

Her participation underscores the central role of feminist financing in achieving the National Development Plan (NDP 2030), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Feminist financing is not charity but structural reform. Every budget is a moral document that reveals who we value and what future we choose. Our task is to ensure that the global financing architecture reflects the principles of justice, care, and equality,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has urged all aspiring runners, young and old, seasoned, or first-time runners, to take part in the Region 5 Marathon taking place this weekend at the Union Buildings in Tshwane.

“This marathon is not only for elite athletes, but also for everyone who believes in the power of sport to unite and uplift,” McKenzie said on Wednesday.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has officially begun the countdown to the Region 5 Marathon, which is expected to set the capital ablaze with colour, culture, and competition.

With entries continuing to roll in and anticipation soaring, organisers are calling on athletes across Southern Africa to secure their spots in what is fast becoming one of the continent’s most exciting new running spectacles. 

Offering R50 000 each for the 21.1km male and female winners, the Region 5 Marathon is raising the bar for regional competition — blending elite athletics, community spirit, and cultural celebration into one unforgettable experience.

“The Region 5 Marathon is not just about running, it is about showing the world the strength, unity, and talent of our continent. This is a celebration of health and togetherness, and I’m proud that South Africa is part of it. 

“It’s about thousands of South Africans coming together, getting fit, and building our nation through sport. With big prize money on the table, we are showing our commitment to growing athletics and creating real opportunities for athletes at every level. I urge all aspiring runners, young and old, seasoned, or first-time runners, to take part in this extraordinary event,” McKenzie said.

 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 CEO, Stanley Mutoya, hailed the event as a “historic milestone” for the region. 

“It is with great excitement that we announce the hosting of the Region 5 Marathon – a first of its kind in our history. We call upon all participants and spectators to come dressed in vibrant African attire, as we turn the streets of Tshwane into a canvas of unity and identity. 

“We further encourage Embassies to exhibit and showcase Africa’s rich culinary heritage, making this event not only a sporting spectacle but also a cultural festival,” Mutoya said.

He also called on corporates to join hands with Region 5, noting that the marathon serves as a bold activation in the lead-up to the Group Twenty (G20) Summit, proving that sport is a unifying force that connects communities, economies, and nations. 

“Importantly, this marathon also serves as South Africa’s strategic build-up to the 13th edition of the Region 5 Youth Games in 2028,” Mutoya said.

The President of the Southern Africa Confederation of Athletics (SACA), Zakhele Dlamini, described the event as a defining moment for Southern African athletics. 

“We are excited about the Region 5 Marathon. This historic event is a catalyst for road running excellence in our region and a platform to inspire participation, performance, and pride among our athletics federations. It marks a bold step in strengthening Southern Africa’s presence on the global athletics stage,” Dlamini said.

President of Athletics South Africa (ASA) James Moloi said the host country is ready to deliver a spectacle worthy of the continent. 

Athletics South Africa (ASA) President, James Moloi, said the host country is ready to deliver a world-class event.

“The Region 5 Marathon is a proud moment for South Africa and for the entire Southern African athletics family. Hosting this event at the Union Buildings – a symbol of unity and progress – sends a powerful message that our region is ready to lead the future of global road running.

 “As ASA, we see this marathon as a springboard for development, giving young athletes, clubs, and communities a reason to dream big. We invite the world to witness what Southern Africa can offer – passion, performance, and pure African energy,” Moloi said. –SAnews.gov.za