Category: South Africa Government

The formation of the District Stock Theft Task Team is beginning to show positive results in the OR Tambo District, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This follows the arrest of two men for their suspected involvement in stock theft on Thursday.

On Thursday, at around 01:00, members from the task team operationalised intelligence information. 

A homestead in Blackhill was searched, where a 37-year-old man was found in possession of nine sheep. The suspect alleged that he exchanged his two horses for the sheep.

Police followed up on the information and were led to a homestead in Mjikelweni, where they interviewed a 21-year-old man who denied knowledge of such an exchange. 

The police found the second man in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. He was charged for being in possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition. 

The 37-year-old man was charged for being in possession of suspected stolen property. A firearm with no serial number was confiscated and the sheep were taken to the nearest municipal pound for investigation. 

Both suspects are due to appear in the Qumbu Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

OR Tambo District Commissioner, Major General Norman Modishana, has applauded the task team for their excellent work in fighting stock theft in the district. 

“We urge farmers, especially in areas that are known as hotspot areas to work closely with the Task Team,” Modishana said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has moved to clarify the status of its Oryx helicopters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This as media reported that the Oryx helicopters are likely to remain permanently stranded in the DRC, as there is no money to replace two of the five engines of the helicopter.

“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) wishes to clarify that none if its Oryx helicopters are abandoned in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as alleged by some media sources,” it said.

In a statement on Thursday, the SANDF said such allegations are misleading and do not reflect the actual condition or status of SANDF aircraft. 

“Out of the three helicopters reported, only one sustained damage during the United Nations peacekeeping military operations last year, and it will undergo repairs. The other helicopters are operational and remain under the strict control of the SANDF.

“The SANDF reaffirms that all its Oryx helicopters are being maintained in accordance with technical and safety requirements,” the statement read. 

In June of this year, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, welcomed the return of 249 South African troops who had been deployed to the eastern DRC as part of the Southern African Development Community Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC).

The first group of the SANDF heroes and heroines arrived at the Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria from Tanzania, following South Africa’s phased withdrawal from the regional peacekeeping mission.

Earlier this year, 14 troop members lost their lives and others sustained injuries during clashes with the M23 rebel group, as fighting in the Goma region escalated. 

The rebel group fought intensely against the Congolese armed forces, resulting in the deaths of soldiers from 23 to 27 January 2025 during M23’s advance on Sake and Goma. 

The South African soldiers were part of the SAMIDRC, which aims to help restore peace, security, and stability in Africa’s second-largest country. – SAnews.gov.za

A 51-year-old school principal, Cornelius Sebothoma, who stands accused of sexually assaulting a learner appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where he was granted R3 000 bail. 

The case has been postponed to 20 October 2025 for further proceedings.

The incident allegedly occurred at approximately 11:00 on Saturday at a local school in the Lebowakgomo policing area.

According to reports, a 17-year-old female learner went to the principal’s office to retrieve her cellphone that had been confiscated by her teacher during class time.

It is alleged that the victim made several attempts to collect her cellphone from the principal’s office but was unsuccessful as the principal was not available. 

On Saturday, when she returned to collect her cellphone, the principal allegedly instructed her to come alone to his office. The victim informed her friend to wait outside before returning to the office, where the suspect allegedly touched her inappropriately and sexually assaulted her.

The victim reported the incident to her family, and the matter was subsequently reported to the Lebowakgomo Police Station on Wednesday. 

The case was referred to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.

The suspect was immediately arrested and charged with sexual assault.

Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said: “It is deeply disturbing when those entrusted with the care and education of our children allegedly abuse their positions of authority. 

“Schools should be safe havens for learning, not places where children fear for their safety. We commend the victim for her courage in reporting this incident and assure the community that we will ensure a thorough investigation and that justice takes its course.” – SAnews.gov.za

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, has called on South Africans to plant trees to help reduce the impact of carbon emissions and restore natural ecosystems.

“I learnt that we are not doing enough to meet the tree planting targets. This is due to limited resources within the fiscus. There is a realisation now that we can do better through collaboration,” Swarts said on Thursday in Durban.

Addressing the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) National Urban Forum in KwaZulu-Natal, the Deputy Minister explained that tree planting is a valuable tool in the fight against climate change as it acts as a natural carbon sink by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

“While not a complete solution, reforestation and afforestation initiatives play a crucial role in mitigating climate change and helping communities adapt to its impacts,” she said.

Trees provide a range of benefits beyond carbon sequestration, including habitat for biodiversity, soil stabilisation, and water purification.

South Africa’s Constitution recognises that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to human health and well-being, and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations.

“Tree planting has been happening in South Africa for a number of years, this then led to the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, directing that the tree planting programme be escalated to Ten Million Trees over a period of five years starting from 2020/21.”

READ | Campaign to plant trees and help mitigate effects of climate change

The Deputy Minister challenged the nation to plant one million trees on 24 September 2025 as part of celebrations for Arbor Month. 

“The target that is set is not only for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), but it is a call for action to other role–players to assist in achieving the target. I am calling on all South Africans to plant one million trees.
“This initiative has been consulted with a number of stakeholders who have shown interest in planting the trees. It is also important to note that once the trees are planted, they need to be taken care of, hence we have identified safe space to do the planting,” Swarts said.

The safe spaces include human settlements, clinics, schools, and police stations. 

“The idea is that these trees must be available when we come back to audit them. Furthermore, this initiative is structured such that citizens of the country start to appreciate the role that trees play in our daily lives. In terms of municipalities, the department is also assisting with [the] drafting of greening plans to ensure that all areas are greened appropriately,” she said.
The DFFE has noted with concern the increased pressures on natural forests, especially coastal forests due to urban development.

“Forests also play a crucial role in mitigating various natural disasters, acting as natural buffers against events like floods, landslides, and droughts. Deforestation, however, significantly weakens these protective functions, increasing disaster risks and impacts. 

“Deforestation, the clearing of forests, also significantly undermines disaster risk management efforts. It is therefore important that urban planners, particularly in cities like Durban / eThekwini, [to] take into account the need to safeguard the integrity of the environment,” the Deputy Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

A multidisciplinary inter-provincial cross border operation comprising the Northern Cape, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State provinces successfully disrupted the trade and distribution of illicit cigarettes in and around Colesberg on Wednesday.

According to Northern Cape police, search warrants were obtained and executed, resulting in the seizure of counterfeit cigarettes valued at approximately R370 000.

Members of Colesberg South African Police Service (SAPS), Kuyasa SAPS, Crime Intelligence and South African Revenue Services (SARS) customs acted on intelligence and approached a general dealer in Kerk Street, Colesberg, where illicit cigarette trading was suspected.

“A suspicious truck parked next to the store was also searched. Police discovered a further consignment of counterfeit cigarettes valued at approximately R2.5 million, which was seized as well as the truck,” said the SAPS in a statement.

The operation continued at a filling station in station Road, Colesberg, where additional counterfeit cigarettes worth an estimated R590 000 were confiscated.

The total estimated value of the seized cigarettes and the truck stands at R7.5 million. The owners were issued a seven-day notice to provide original documentation for the goods,” the police said.

The Provincial Police Commissioner of the Northern Cape, Lieutenant General Koliswa Otola, commended the team for their work.

She reiterated that the SAPS and its partners remain unwavering in their efforts to eradicate the illicit trade in counterfeit goods which pose a serious threat to the country’s economy. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa’s Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) has convened a critical meeting to address the country’s alarming unemployment rate, affecting a significant portion of the workforce, especially youth, women, and marginalised groups.

“We must acknowledge that the crisis of youth unemployment is particularly severe among young people not in employment, education, or training – the NEET cohort,” the Deputy President Paul Mashatile said on Thursday.  

The country’s second-in-command was speaking as Chairperson of the HRDC at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

He cited Statistics South Africa figures, which revealed that more than 3.5 million young people aged between 15 and 24 are disconnected from both the labour market and the education system. 

Research from the South African Labour Development Research Unit at the University of Cape Town also highlighted the heterogeneous nature of the unemployed youth. 

“Alarmingly, more than half of unemployed youth not in employment, education and training have been searching for work for over a year, underscoring the systemic barriers they face in securing a foothold in the labour market.”

Deputy President Mashatile referred to this as a persistent issue that requires the council’s innovation and leadership. “The future of the youth of South Africa is in our hands, and we must be radical in securing it.” 

The HRDC is a multi-stakeholder advisory body that includes representatives from the government, business, labour and civil society. Its mandate is to advise the state on issues related to developing the skills and human potential of all South Africans.

The HRDC is identified as crucial in addressing this crisis by improving workforce skills, creating jobs, and fostering economic growth.

He believes that the statistics should encourage the council to reassess its role in engaging various stakeholders and social partners to develop skills that align with the needs of the South African economy.

“We must adopt a proactive stance and address the disparity between labour supply and demand,” Deputy President Mashatile said, highlighting the urgent need for innovative strategies.

He stressed the need for the HRDC to focus on the discipline of execution and ensuring policies are implemented effectively.

“We have at this stage mastered the art of policy making; however, some of these policies are not coming alive in the areas where they are needed to transform the lives of South Africans and the youth.” 

He believes the school system faces difficulties in cultivating the skills required for a globalised, knowledge-driven economy, with a scarcity of skilled educators and a discord between existing skills and employer requirements.

However, he told delegates that the country is working to improve educational outcomes.

“The country is actively working to improve educational outcomes, particularly in foundational learning, and to attract and retain skilled professionals.” 

In addition, initiatives like workplace integrated learning, career guidance, mentorship programme, entrepreneurship, and public employment programmes are crucial.

“Our nation requires us to have an integrated approach across a variety of sectors and levels, beginning with the development of young children and ending with their entry into the labour market. 

“We need to do this with new energy and determination to build an HRDC that makes a difference in our communities.” 

He called for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to be at the forefront of integrating real-world experiences into education, fostering collaboration between educational institutions and employers, and equipping students with relevant skills.

With technological advancements rapidly transforming job markets, the council stressed the critical need for adaptable, digitally-inclusive skills development programmes that prepare youth for future economic challenges.

“The South African community must become digitally adaptive to ensure digital inclusivity for future generations.

“We must refocus our curriculum and skills development programmes to align with industry, economic, and social needs. As technology advances exponentially, today’s abilities may become obsolete tomorrow.”

The Deputy President highlighted the G20 Leaders’ Summit, emphasising the opportunity to create more inclusive and resilient education systems that prepare students for the future. – SAnews.gov.za