Category: South Africa Government

Nelson Mandela Bay has welcomed the 2025 edition of SA Auto Week, describing it as an opportunity to rebuild the automotive sector, forge partnerships and protect jobs.

The city is currently hosting the event at the Coega Vulindlela Accommodation and Conference Centre in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 1–3 October 2025.

Billed as South Africa’s premier automotive thought-leadership gathering, SA Auto Week is held in partnership with the Eastern Cape provincial government, marking a significant milestone to the city where the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (naamsa) was founded.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, welcomed the industry leaders, including investors, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEMs), Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), noting that the event and the partnerships can accelerate investment, skills development and inclusive industrialisation across the metro and province.

Lobishe highlighted the significance of discussions on innovation, localisation, the new-energy transition and workforce development held on the opening day.

“Nelson Mandela Bay is committed to ensuring these discussions translate into practical opportunities for our people, especially for SMMEs, youth and workers seeking re-skilling and placement,” she said.

The mayor also expressed concern over recent industrial job losses in the automotive value chain, pledging to work with government, labour representatives and industry stakeholders in expressing deep concern for affected workers and their families.

“We will continue to push for collective, practical responses to protect livelihoods and create tangible re-employment pathways,” Lobishe said.

Lobishe acknowledged service delivery challenges raised by auto sector companies regarding service delivery, particularly electricity reliability, street lighting, waste management and urban cleanliness.

Lobishe announced that council has appointed nine companies, effective 01 October, to address streetlight outages across the metro.

In addition, the municipality is intensifying the War on Waste campaign in hotspot areas, ensuring that the city’s industrial zones, communities and economic corridors remain clean, safe and attractive to investors.

“These interventions form part of our broader programme to restore confidence in Nelson Mandela Bay as a competitive investment destination,” Lobishe said.

The municipality committed to:

• Convene an immediate stakeholder roundtable involving Coega Development Corporation, the provincial government, naamsa, labour (including organised unions) and affected SMMEs to agree on concrete short and medium-term interventions, including skills retraining, rapid SMME linkages and local procurement opportunities.
• Fast-track municipal support measures for SMMEs and suppliers to access SA Auto Week business linkages and buyer-seller platforms being hosted during the event.
• Work with provincial and national partners to secure re-skilling and placement programmes for retrenched employees and to promote new investments in the Coega SEZ and local supplier base.

Lobishe committed to improving service delivery infrastructure, from electricity reliability and water security to roads, street lighting and digital connectivity, “because these are the foundations for attracting and retaining investment.”

“A competitive Nelson Mandela Bay depends on reliable services, efficient municipal systems and responsive governance. By fixing streetlights, intensifying our War on Waste, and stabilising core services, we are making service delivery a driver of job creation, industrial growth and inclusive development.

“We welcome responsible investment, and we will hold investors and partners to a shared promise: growth must be inclusive, locally anchored and supportive of job retention and creation,” the mayor said.

Coega Development Corporation CEO, Themba Koza said SA Auto Week at Coega is more than an industry gathering,

“It is a platform for rebuilding confidence, forging inclusive partnerships, and protecting the jobs that sustain our communities. At Coega, we are proud to host this catalytic event and reaffirm our commitment to driving investment, innovation and transformation in South Africa’s automotive sector,” Koza said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Former SABC board members, Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe, Ndivhoniswani Aaron Tshidzumba, and Maleshane Audrey Raphela have been ordered to pay back some R11.5 million related to an unlawful ‘success fee’ paid to former SABC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng in 2016.

The order was handed down in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which had been pursuing the matter, welcomed the order.

“The order, granted by the Honourable Judge Crutchfield, compels [the three] to pay the amount, together with interest from the date of service of summons, jointly and severally.

“The former SABC board members are also liable for the SIU’s legal costs. Previously, Mr Motsoeneng was the only one liable for paying the R11.5 million. This ruling now holds board members accountable for also repaying the money that resulted from their unlawful decision, which was at the public broadcaster’s expense,” the SIU said.

The corruption busting unit described the order as a “crucial enforcement action stemming from the broader litigation concerning” the ‘success fee’.

“The then SABC Board paid the fee in August 2016 for his role in securing the MultiChoice deal, a decision subsequently declared unlawful and invalid by the High Court.

“The SIU is committed to following all legal avenues to recover every cent lost by the SABC and ultimately, the South African public. We will now proceed to carry out this latest court order to ensure the recovery of these funds.

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

 

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With Cybersecurity Awareness Month being observed in October, Digify Africa Head of Client Services Omphile Kgwathe-Nkiwane has outlined practical guidelines that can keep South Africans safe online.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a global initiative that raises awareness about online safety and empowers individuals and businesses to protect themselves from cybercrime. 

To promote online safety, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) hosted a webinar on Thursday to mark the month under the 2025 theme: “Secure Our World”.

The webinar was aimed at empowering the public with practical tools that will enable them to use online platforms responsibly and to protect themselves against any possible dangers that may arise while using the platforms.

As part of an initiative to educate parents and guardians about cyber safety, Digify Africa has created a WhatsApp Learning Bot called Kitso.

“It offers tools and techniques to help you and your loved ones stay safe online. The WhatsApp learning chat bot is an educator. We give these chat bots personalities; it’s like you are talking to someone.

“The content is aimed at educators, parents and guardians. In the past, the boogeyman was on the streets but now he is on the internet,” she said.

Kitso can be added to one’s contacts on WhatsApp by typing in the number 076 593 7181 and saving the contact as Kitso. 

“With so much information online, some people find it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is not and that is why we created the WhatsApp learning bots. We wanted to make the content easy for anyone to read the content and use it in a practical way,” Kgwathe-Nkiwane said.

The public can keep safe online by following these guidelines:
•    Use strong and unique passwords: Make sure to use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use your name and your children’s name. Make it difficult for people to hack your accounts.
•    Two-factor authentication: Use a two-factor authentication security method that requires two distinct forms of verification to access an account or system.
•    Recognise phishing attempts: Make sure that you do not click on suspicious links and ensure that the email that you have received is authentic. Look out for requests that are out of character. Look out for sms’s informing you that you have a parcel to pick up when you did not place an order. Do not follow instructions from individuals requesting an OTP for banking or asking for a pin code to a bank account or from people claiming that your bank account has been compromised and they can help. Look out for individuals who call you and rush you to make a decision about your bank account.
•    Safety on social media: Make sure that you don’t arrange meetings to meet a person that you have met online.
•    Use secure connections: Very often malls and airports offer free access to the internet that does not need a password. While there is nothing wrong with the internet connection, if there is no password, you could be exposed to hackers who can hack into your bank account. Do not use open Wi-Fi to access sensitive information on your phone or laptop.
•    Use critical thinking, if it is too good to be true, it probably is. If it does not feel right, it’s probably not right.

–SAnews.gov.za
 

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Optimism reigns supreme amongst South African businesspeople who are heading to Germany to participate in the Anuga Food and Beverage Trade Fair.

The fair will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 4 – 8 October 2025. 

As part of the county’s export market diversification initiatives, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has set up a national pavilion at the fair, in which 30 South African agro-processing companies will showcase their products. 

As they prepare to depart for Germany, the businesspeople are looking forward to participating in the trade show, having committed to taking full advantage of the opportunity to showcase their products with the aim of grabbing the attention of international importers. 

They relish the prospects of returning home with bags full of trade leads that will develop into concrete deals.

“We are looking forward to the trade show in Germany. We are excited by the opportunity to interact with potential new customers, linking with current customers and networking amongst other companies from around the world.

“We are hoping to expose various companies to our vitality-centred products,” said the Sales Executive of Macavation, Peter Symons.

Macavation innovates with macadamias and produces a range of high quality products, including extra virgin macadamia oil, crude cosmetic macadamia oil, macadamia protein powder, macadamia protein crispies and various styles of macadamia kernel. 

The KwaZulu-Natal company, which employs 34 full-time employees, sells its products to local food manufacturers, as well as exporting them mainly to Europe and Canada.

The Chief Executive Officer of Limpopo-based Setšong Tea Crafters, Retang Phaahla, said she is excited about the opportunity to showcase proudly Limpopo and Proudly South African products in Germany.

“We have been eyeing Germany as a potential market for quite some time.  There is a big tea market in Europe, and Germany is one of the countries that already import Rooibos tea from South Africa.

“For us to be able to tap into that market and showcase the products that we have developed is really exciting. We hope that this will help us create more jobs and build the revenue of the business,” Phaahla said.

Setšong Tea Crafters are based at Ga-Matlala Ramoshebo village near Marble Hall, where they provide permanent employment to 30 people, and seasonal employment to 15 people. They produce tea from indigenous plants that have been consumed as herbal tea by the people of Limpopo for hundreds of years.

READ | No storm in a teacup as local company seeks new market in Germany

The Co-Founder and Managing Director of Niice Foods, Taryn Muller, says her main objective for travelling to Germany is to secure new retail, import, and distribution partners in key European Union countries and the United Arab Emirates.

“This will be the second consecutive Anuga fair that we will be participating in. It is an opportunity for us to expand our global market presence and establish long-term, strategic territory. 

“It also provides a platform for us to elevate brand recognition and showcase our new value-added macadamia offerings. Our premium macadamia cooking oil is our flagship product. It is positioned perfectly as a more affordable, functional, and versatile cooking oil with an extremely favourable health profile,” Muller said. 

Niice Foods, which is based in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, where it employs 12 people, manufactures value-added macadamia nut, ready to eat products, macadamia cooking oil, macadamia nut spreads and macadamia seasoning.

The General Manager of the South African Fruit and Vegetable Canners Export Council (SAFVCEC), Jill Atwood-Palm, says as one of the largest trade shows globally, Anuga provides her with a perfect opportunity to showcase the South African canned fruit and vegetable industry to the world.

“Anuga also serves as a platform for gathering market information, benchmarking competitor activity, assessing supply-demand conditions and identifying emerging consumer trends,” said Atwood-Palm. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has welcomed the progress that has been outlined in the September 2025 report on the revitalisation of the Western Cape’s 12 Proclaimed Fishing Harbours.

The report highlights steady improvements in infrastructure, safety, and operational efficiency, all aimed at supporting coastal economies and sustainable fisheries.

READ | DFFE on a fiscal discipline mission

“Our Proclaimed Fishing Harbours are central to coastal livelihoods and the fishing industry. The work being done to enhance their safety and functionality reflects our commitment to both people and the environment,” the Minister said.

Key updates include the following:
•    Harbour operations: In the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, 33 vessels were managed through slipping, side slipping, and launching activities. More than 300 vessels are currently moored across the 12 harbours. The second quarter operational report (July–September 2025) is due on 3 October.
•    Salvage of sunken vessels: In Hout Bay, the Edelweiss and African Unity are scheduled for removal by their owners at the next low tide in October 2025. The department is working closely with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to ensure compliance with the Wrecks and Salvage Act.
•    Security measures: Purchase orders for electronic security installations were issued for Kalk Bay on 29 September, with Lamberts Bay, Hermanus, Gansbaai, and Gordon’s Bay to follow in early October. Installations are expected to begin this month. Re-advertisements for Hout Bay, Laaiplek, and St Helena Bay are underway, while requests for quotations are being processed for Still Bay, Arniston, and Struisbaai. Security at Saldanha Harbour and Paarden Eiland Workshop already includes 24/7 monitoring and rapid armed response. –SAnews.gov.za
 

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Long serving Eskom official, Monde Bala, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the power utility’s transmission arm, the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA).

Bala has been serving as the entity’s interim CEO for the past two months and was appointed following a rigorous recruitment process.

NTCSA board chairperson, Priscillah Mabelane, expressed the board’s confidence in Bala’s ability to lead it “into its next chapter”.

“He brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role, and we look forward to continuing our work with him and the executive team as we drive forward our strategic deliverables,” Mabelane said.

Bala brings some 27 years’ experience in the energy sector to the NTCSA and was serving as Eskom Group Executive for Distribution prior to his appointment.

He also served in various senior positions within the power utility.

“Mr Bala is uniquely positioned to guide the NTCSA as it continues to deliver on its mandate of providing reliable, fair, and affordable access to the electricity grid and market, supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth. His appointment marks a significant milestone in accelerating the development of a more competitive and efficient electricity market that benefits all South Africans.

“Mr Bala’s leadership will be instrumental in accelerating the execution of the NTCSA’s strategy, which includes attracting investment into the transmission grid through the implementation of the Transmission Development Plan [TDP], advancing operational unbundling in line with legislative requirements, and fostering a fair and competitive electricity market.

“He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. The NTCSA welcomes Mr Bala’s appointment and looks forward to his leadership in shaping the future of South Africa’s energy landscape,” the NTCSA said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is closely monitoring the situation regarding the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which is currently navigating a high-risk area in the Mediterranean Sea.

Recent reports indicate that the Gaza-bound aid flotilla has many ships still “sailing strong” toward the Palestinian territory on Thursday, despite interceptions by Israeli naval forces.

The GSF is an international initiative led by civil society, launched in June this year. The movement aims to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, raise awareness about the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, and emphasise the necessity of ending the conflict in Gaza.

“We note with grave concern the reports of unidentified drone activity in the vicinity of the civilian vessels. 

“South Africa wishes to reiterate, in the strongest terms, its call for all actors to adhere strictly to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant international humanitarian law principles.  

“We urge utmost restraint and caution against any unilateral actions that could escalate the situation or endanger human life,” the statement read. 

The department said the safety, security, and physical integrity of all unarmed participants aboard the flotilla, including South African citizens, are of paramount importance. 

“Any military engagement with or forceful detention of these vessels in international waters would constitute a grave breach of international legal norms and fundamental human rights. 

“It must be underscored that the flotilla, a civilian-led initiative, embarked upon a peaceful and humanitarian mission. Its participants aim to draw attention to the severe and urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza and to deliver vital aid to alleviate the widespread suffering.” 

South Africa has once again reiterated its profound concern over the devastating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. 

The country believes that the Palestinian civilian population requires immediate protection and sustained humanitarian assistance to counter the catastrophic levels of food insecurity and the threat of famine. 

“We call upon the international community and all relevant parties to uphold their obligations under international law and to ensure the safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian missions.” – SAnews.gov.za 
 

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