Category: South Africa Government

National Treasury will begin directly deducting funds from national and provincial departments that owe billions of Rands to struggling municipalities.

This according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana who delivered the department’s Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Friday.

The Minister revealed that provincial departments owe municipalities more than R14 billion, while national departments lag with R8.2 billion in outstanding debt.

“Municipalities have consistently raised concerns that where they owe organs of state, National Treasury deducts funds directly from municipal allocations. However, the same principle has not been consistently applied where national and provincial departments owe municipalities outstanding amounts. 

“Consequently, National Treasury has taken a decision to deduct monies from national and provincial departments to settle outstanding debts owed to affected municipalities,” Godongwana announced.

Municipalities themselves remain under close scrutiny.

Godongwana said Treasury would continue to invoke Section 216(2) of the Constitution to withhold funds from municipalities that fail to adopt funded budgets or violate financial management laws.

“Municipal unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure remains deeply concerning. Accountability and consequence management remain critical to restoring public confidence in local government,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that reform of local government also remains an “urgent priority as municipalities continue facing infrastructure, governance and financial sustainability challenges”.

Some of the reforms being implemented relate to:

• the local government funding model;
• metro trading services;
• infrastructure delivery systems;
• municipal financial sustainability; and
• budget and grant reforms

Water and healthcare infrastructure

Godongwana told the House that government is moving towards a more “coordinated and performance-driven approach focused on infrastructure rehabilitation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability” plan on water infrastructure.

The aim of this strategy is to ensure that every Rand invested measurably improves:

• water availability;
• water quality; and
• financial sustainability.

“Firstly, government continues spending significant resources responding to water leaks and system failures, rather than addressing the root cause of the crisis, namely ageing and dilapidated water infrastructure. 

“Secondly, the current water funding landscape remains fragmented across multiple grants and funding instruments, limiting coordination, reducing efficiency, and weakening the long-term sustainability of infrastructure investment,” he explained.

On the healthcare front, some R41 billion has been allocated over the medium term to support health infrastructure programmes, including the rehabilitation and replacement of dilapidated facilities.

He reiterated government’s focus on health equity despite fiscal constraints.

“Infrastructure investment remains central to economic growth, job creation and improved public services. National Treasury will continue strengthening monitoring, reporting and accountability to ensure infrastructure spending delivers visible results.

“It is imperative that we proceed with the implementation of the National Health Insurance. Notwithstanding current challenges, government must continue investing in infrastructure readiness to support a functional and sustainable health system,” Godongwana said.

He noted that the country’s healthcare system has faced several challenges including “ageing and poorly maintained facilities that require repair, refurbishment, and in some instances, complete replacement”.

“There is also a need to invest in new health facilities to address service delivery gaps arising from historical inequities and changing demographic pressures.

“As indicated in the Budget Speech, this includes investments in Dr George Mukhari Hospital, Nelson Mandela Bay Hospital and Victoria Mxenge Hospital,” the minister said.

Economic challenges

The Minister noted that “heightened geopolitical uncertainty and persistent global trade tensions” continue to create headwinds for the South African economy.

These challenges have led to marked increases in the costs of fuel, higher fertiliser costs and increased shipping expenses.

“These developments are intensifying cost-of-living pressures across economies and compounding inflationary pressures, with inflation reaching a concerning 4 per cent.

“Over the last three months, the National Treasury has made an intervention to ease the burden on consumers by announcing a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy. This has cost the fiscus approximately R17.2 billion. 

“This is further disrupting an already fragile global economic environment shaped by trade wars and supply chain vulnerabilities,” he said.

Despite these global vulnerabilities, economic projections indicate steady resilience with:

• Sub-Saharan Africa projected to grow by 4.3% and
• South Africa’s economy projected to grow by 1.8% over the medium term.

“These projections reflect both continued recovery efforts across the continent and the structural constraints that continue to weigh on domestic economic performance.

“Against this backdrop, government is closely reviewing the fiscal and economic baseline assumptions underpinning the current framework.

“Necessary adjustments will be made during the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement process to ensure that fiscal policy remains responsive to evolving global and domestic conditions,” Godongwana said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Nearly half of all rapes reported in South Africa during the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year took place in the homes of either the victim or the perpetrator, highlighting the persistent threat of gender-based violence behind closed doors.

Releasing the latest crime statistics on Friday, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said 47.2% of reported rapes during the January to March 2026 period occurred in residential settings.

Of the 9 782 rapes recorded during the quarter, 4 620 took place at the home of the victim or the perpetrator.

“That is 4 620 out of 9 782 rapes, committed not in dark alleys by strangers, but in homes, by people known to the victim,” Cachalia said.

The Minister said the figures underscored the reality that violence in South Africa is often perpetrated by people known to victims, including partners, relatives, neighbours and acquaintances.

“The home, where we should be safest, is for too many of our people, a dangerous place,” he said.

The latest crime data also pointed to broader patterns of interpersonal violence. During the quarter, 1 523 murders occurred in the residences of either the victim or the perpetrator.

According to Cachalia, arguments and misunderstandings were linked to 898 murders, while 251 killings were motivated by retaliation, revenge or punishment.

He said the statistics reveal that many violent crimes are rooted in social and cultural factors, including gender inequality, toxic notions of masculinity and the acceptance of violence as a means of resolving conflict.

“This is a sobering truth: if we want to reduce violent crime, we must confront the culture of violence inside the home, the mistaken idea that men must be violent to be respected or that women must put up with violence to be loved,” he said.

Alcohol abuse also emerged as a significant contributing factor. The Minister said 7 267 incidents of murder, attempted murder, rape and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm were linked to alcohol use during the quarter.

Cachalia called for stronger efforts to address the social drivers of violence, arguing that policing alone cannot solve the problem.

He said government would continue promoting the implementation of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, which focuses on addressing the root causes of crime through interventions targeting families, young people, schools, communities and substance abuse.

“Effective crime prevention requires enhanced support from all government departments and from community-based, civil society and private sectors,” he said.

While South Africa recorded declines in several major crime categories during the quarter, Cachalia warned that violence against women and children remains a serious challenge requiring sustained action beyond the criminal justice system. – SAnews.gov.za

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Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has called for stronger protections for whistleblowers and anti-corruption activists, warning that too many people who stand up against crime and corruption continue to be targeted for doing the right thing.

Speaking at the release of the fourth-quarter crime statistics on Friday, Cachalia used the occasion to pay tribute to North West anti-crime activist and traditional healer Thato Molosankwe, who was recently murdered.

“We are saddened to have lost an individual who was committed to fighting crime and corruption, while also working to strengthen relations between local communities and the police,” Cachalia said.

He said maximum resources had been deployed to investigate the killing and bring those responsible to justice.

The Minister said Molosankwe’s death highlighted a broader problem facing South Africa, where individuals who expose wrongdoing or challenge criminal networks often face intimidation, threats and violence.

“Regrettably, too many people who stand up to crime and corruption, including councillors, professionals like auditors and lawyers, are targeted for doing the right thing,” he said.

Cachalia argued that strengthening whistleblower protections must become a national priority if South Africa is to make meaningful progress in tackling corruption and organised crime.

He revealed that Cabinet has approved the Protected Disclosure Bill for public comment, describing it as an important step towards improving the country’s whistleblower protection regime.

The Minister’s remarks come amid ongoing concerns about the safety of individuals who report corruption, fraud and criminal activity, particularly where organised crime and public-sector corruption intersect.

Cachalia linked the issue directly to the fight against organised crime, which he described as one of the country’s most serious threats.

He warned that criminal networks continue to infiltrate economic and government systems, while those who expose wrongdoing are often left vulnerable.

“While high-flying and well-dressed criminals amass wealth and are revered by those who benefit from their illegal activities, too many of our communities will continue to suffer from drugs, shootouts, infrastructure damage and corrupt government officials,” he said.

The Minister said protecting whistleblowers is essential to strengthening accountability and ensuring that corruption and organised crime can be exposed without fear of retaliation. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has agreed to reconvene its meeting with Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela over his decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration.

The committee deliberated on Chairperson Tebogo Letsie’s decision to postpone a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, after members did not receive the required documentation in time to prepare adequately.

Committee members agreed that Letsie had little choice but to postpone the meeting after the minister failed to provide the committee with the necessary presentations and supporting documents relating to the NSFAS intervention.

The committee also rejected claims that the meeting had been cancelled through a WhatsApp message, clarifying that the chairperson had formally communicated the postponement to members through an official letter and had engaged the Chair of Chairs on the matter.

“The committee has recommended that the next meeting be held on Friday, 29 May 2026. Committee members also called for the timeous delivery of documentation about the appointment of the NSFAS administrator, so they can prepare for the meeting effectively,” Letsie said.

He added that, in line with Parliament’s accountability framework, the Minister is required to appear before the committee to account for the decision to place NSFAS under administration and to explain the process followed.

The committee further accepted NSFAS’s explanation that it could not cover travel expenses for former board members, as they no longer hold office and there may be no legal or policy basis for such expenditure.

Earlier this month, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela placed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration due to governance instability within the institution.

READ | NSFAS placed under administration

Members said the meeting is of significant public importance, as it affects millions of NSFAS students and the broader higher education sector. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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The Western Cape Department of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, says expanded access to the Chinese market will be a major boost for economic growth, jobs, and Western Cape citrus producers.

Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, Dr Ivan Meyer, welcomed the recent supplementary citrus phytosanitary agreement between South Africa and China as a major step forward in driving economic growth and creating jobs, while unlocking new export opportunities for the province’s citrus industry.

Meyer confirmed that the agreement, formalised on 10 April 2026, will ease export requirements, and strengthen market access for Western Cape producers.

“This agreement is a significant breakthrough for economic growth and job creation in the Western Cape. By removing trade barriers and expanding access to the Chinese market, we are creating new opportunities across the agricultural value chain – from farm workers to exporters – while strengthening the competitiveness of our citrus industry,” Meyer said.

The MEC emphasised that expanded access to the Chinese market comes at a critical time for the agricultural sector, which continues to navigate global uncertainties.

“Growing our export markets is essential to sustaining jobs and unlocking further economic growth. The opening of the Chinese market for increased citrus exports reduces volatility and helps cushion our producers—and the workers they employ—against disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions in traditional markets,” he said.

With approximately 20% of South Africa’s citrus production located in the Western Cape, he said the agreement is expected to have a meaningful impact on export volumes over time, particularly as compliance requirements become more efficient.

Supporting producers to maximise opportunities

Meyer highlighted that the Western Cape Provincial Government is actively supporting producers to capitalise on the zero-tariff access to China through a range of targeted interventions.

These include participation in trade shows and export exhibitions in China, facilitating business-to-business engagements with international buyers, providing extension and advisory services to ensure compliance with export standards, and collaborating closely with industry stakeholders to strengthen competitiveness.

“Our focus is on ensuring that producers are well-positioned to expand exports, grow their businesses, and in turn sustain and create more jobs in rural communities,” Meyer said.

He noted that China presents significant long-term potential for the Western Cape citrus industry due to several key factors, including strong demand driven by a population of approximately 1.4 billion people; continued economic growth and rising consumer demand; and the advantage of counter-seasonal supply, allowing South African citrus to fill market gaps when Northern Hemisphere production is low

“This counter-seasonal advantage not only boosts export potential but also supports stable production cycles that are critical for job retention in the sector,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa recorded a 9.5% decrease in murders during the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, with 546 fewer people killed compared with the same period a year earlier, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced on Thursday.

Presenting crime statistics for the period January 1 to March 31, 2026, Cachalia said murders declined from 5 727 in the corresponding quarter of the previous year to 5 181.

Compared with the same quarter in 2024, murders fell by 1 355 cases, representing a 20.7% reduction.

“Most strikingly, murder has decreased nationally by 9.5%,” Cachalia said, describing the figure as the country’s most reliable crime indicator.

The decline formed part of a broader reduction in serious violent crime. Contact crimes, which include offences involving direct contact between perpetrators and victims, decreased by 4.6%, with 7 405 fewer cases reported than in the same quarter last year.

Cachalia highlighted significant reductions in aggravated robbery categories. House robberies fell by 20.4%, business robberies by 18.3%, and robberies at non-residential premises by 22%.

Property-related crimes, including burglary and theft of and from motor vehicles, declined by 8.5%, while other serious crimes such as general theft and shoplifting dropped by 4.2%.

The Minister attributed the improvements in part to the efforts of police officers and communities working together to combat crime.

Despite the gains, Cachalia cautioned that crime levels remain unacceptably high. 

South Africa recorded an average of 58 murders a day during the quarter.

“A decrease in crime is not the same as achieving safety,” he said. “Our goal is not just fewer crimes, but that communities are and feel safe everywhere.”

The statistics showed that Gauteng, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal all recorded notable decreases in murders. However, those four provinces still accounted for more than 80% of all murders nationally.

The Minister said government would continue implementing its police reform agenda, strengthen efforts against organised crime and expand violence-prevention initiatives aimed at addressing the social factors driving violent crime.

“These statistics provide us with guidance,” Cachalia said. “Our task is to transform this decline in violent crime into a sustained, long-term reduction in violence and organised criminality across the country.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has moved swiftly to contain and manage an outbreak of African Swine Fever detected among pigs in the Grogro informal settlement in the Sherwood area while also assuring residents that there is no risk to human health.

According to the Municipality’s Director for Environmental Health, Dr Patric Nodwele, municipal health officials were alerted on Monday, 18 May 2026, to a mass mortality of pigs originating from the Grogro informal settlement.

“Upon arrival on site, our initial suspicion was possible poisoning. However, after engaging the State Veterinary Services and conducting the necessary tests, the final confirmed diagnosis was African Swine Fever,” Nodwele said.

African Swine Fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects pigs. The virus mainly originates from wild pigs and can spread rapidly among domestic pigs, particularly where animals roam freely and come into contact with infected wild pigs.

Nodwele said preliminary indications suggest that freely roaming domestic pigs may have come into contact with wild pigs in the area, resulting in the spread of the disease.

To prevent further infections, the Municipality’s Environmental Health Practitioners, working together with the State Veterinary Services team, this week conducted community outreach and awareness campaigns in the affected informal settlement.

Residents and pig owners were educated on the importance of containing pigs, improving animal control measures, and preventing the further spread of the disease.

Following the collection of samples for testing, municipal teams safely removed and disposed of the affected pig carcasses in accordance with health and environmental safety protocols.

While African Swine Fever does not pose a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted to people, the municipality has urged the community members not to consume meat from dead or infected pigs.

“The municipality will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with veterinary authorities to ensure the outbreak remains contained,” Nodwele said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Department of Health has confirmed the detection of two different polio virus strains from wastewater sampled from a wastewater treatment plant in Cape Town.

The department was informed of the detection by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).

“This detection was part of the NICD’s routine environmental and wastewater testing to conduct proactive, population-wide disease tracking. This entails analysing municipal sewage and water resources to detect emerging outbreaks and viral variants before clinical cases appear. 

“These detections are called ‘vaccine events’ because no actual cases of virus have been detected in a human being. These events need a public health response, are not high risk, and no additional vaccination campaign is required,” the department said in a statement.

The department emphasised that polio is preventable by vaccine with the country officially declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation’s African Regional Certification Commission in 2019.

“This suggests that these viruses detected in wastewater are likely from imported cases of people vaccinated with different vaccines from those used in South Africa. This does not translate to an outbreak. 

“The department working closely with the NICD, has activated appropriate health response activities including strengthening surveillance and increasing frequency of environmental sampling of wastewater.

“South Africa continues to maintain outbreak preparedness plans, especially given the sporadic outbreaks of this disease in other countries and cross border movements,” the statement read.

Symptoms of the virus are:

• Progressive muscle or joint weakness and pain
• Fatigue
• Muscle wasting
• Breathing or swallowing problems
• Sleep-related breathing disorders

“However, these are common symptoms for other health conditions.

“While there is no need for the public to be concerned, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and ensure timely reporting of any suspected symptoms of polio to the nearest healthcare provider,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Local government, which is at the coalface of service delivery, has for many years faced challenges that many would deem insurmountable, writes Neo Semono.

Understandably, for many citizens, it feels as if government is taking too long to address pressing issues such as water and sanitation, overcrowding in public schools, and refuse collection.

Skill mismatches, corruption and the flouting of the Public Finance Management Act and other legislation by some government officials, have also not helped matters, taking away from the democratic gains of basic service delivery to all South Africans, regardless of one’s skin colour.

One can also assert that while corruption within the corridors of state institutions such as municipalities is a challenge, not every government official is corrupt or unqualified for the job.

The presence of rotten potatoes does not mean that government has abdicated its responsibility to citizens. The state has continued to come up with ways to address its service delivery challenges, through vehicles such as the recently gazetted, reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government, which is out for public comment. You can access the draft here:  https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/docs/government-gazette-review-of-the-white-paper-on-local-government/

The review of the 1998 White Paper seeks to modernise and strengthen the local government system to ensure municipalities are better equipped to respond to the developmental needs of communities. It proposes a range of key reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening accountability, enhancing financial sustainability, and accelerating effective service delivery.

Government took the decision to review the 1998 version of the White Paper in 2022, cognisant of the challenges faced by municipalities. Following refinement, the document is ready for you and me as citizens to make our inputs ahead of the 28 May 2026 deadline.

The notion that the public participation process makes no difference in the outcome of what government passes as policy or legislation in the end is untrue. We ought to make inputs. This is our country and our home – and local government issues affect us all.

It is true that the drafting and passing of legislation does not automatically resolve problems. By no means is the legislation a silver bullet, but it does provide a framework for the effective running of the country’s 257 metropolitan, district, and local municipalities.

The White Paper is structured around five reinforcing pillars for change – namely: one local government system; clean and capable political and administrative governance; differentiated powers and functions and a pathway to a single-tier future; partnership-based relational governance; and financial and service delivery reform – all aimed at modernising the system.

The draft White Paper does not shy away from the reality on the ground, stating that “too many municipalities are trapped in reinforcing cycles of decline” and that this results in “a system that often struggles to sustain basic reliability, maintain assets, and deliver responsive local governance at the pace and quality communities expect.”

However, the White Paper is not the only way government has been working on resolving local government challenges.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been leading engagements between the National Executive and  provincial governments across the country. To date, the President and Cabinet have held eight engagement sessions, with the last held in the Free State in March 2026. The engagements are aimed at encouraging closer collaboration between the national government and the provinces to tackle service delivery challenges.

Recently, Deputy President Paul Mashatile also revisited the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the North West where water and sanitation, unreliable electricity supply and poor road infrastructure among other issues, were flagged by community members during his visit in January 2026.

During his oversight visit to the municipality in May 2026, the Deputy President said efforts to stabilise the municipality, including the deployment of seasoned former Free State Director-General Kopung Ralikontsane to help rebuild and strengthen the municipality, which Cabinet placed under administration in terms of Section 139 of the Constitution, were underway. 

Section 139 of the Constitution speaks to provincial intervention in local government.

In addition, a National Cabinet Representative (NCR), through whom the Cabinet will attend to the situation in this municipality on a day-to-day basis, has also been appointed. The NCR is a multi-disciplinary team under the supervision of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and the Treasury.

Furthermore, as the voice of the people, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), as one of the two houses of Parliament that represents provincial and local interests at the national level, recently embarked on its “Taking Parliament to the People” programme, which President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed on Friday, 15 May 2026, in the North West. In this programme communities are engaged on their concerns and issues. 

With its core function amongst others, including the oversight of local and provincial government, the NCOP acts as a bridge that makes sure that provincial and local concerns inform the country’s national policy and legislation. This shows that policies and legislation are not drawn up in a vacuum.

As citizens, we need to take an active interest in the running of our country; it is not the sole job of the state. Let us participate in fixing our municipalities by commenting on the White Paper and refusing to participate in corrupt activities in our municipalities. Let us not connect water and electricity illegally, let us pay for the services we use and not ignore municipal bills.

The clock is ticking; if we all play our part, we can turn the fortunes of municipalities around. –SAnews.gov.za

Neo Semono is a Features Editor at SAnews.gov.za 
 

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