Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

The National Treasury Director for Financial Inclusion, Nontobeko Lubisi, has highlighted the importance of educating South Africans on sustainable finance practices to strengthen long-term financial stability.

Addressing the virtual launch of Money Smart Week South Africa (MSWSA) 2025, Lubisi said too many South Africans remain unprotected against shocks.

MSWSA is a national financial education campaign designed to raise awareness and empower South Africans with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed financial decisions.

“We gather at a moment when our financial choices are tested daily by economic shocks, rapid technological change, and widening inequalities. Insurance is still dominated by funeral cover, while other forms of protection remain out of reach. We must change this.  

“By expanding access to meaningful savings and insurance products, and pairing them with financial education, we can give families the resilience to absorb shocks and bounce back stronger,” Lubisi said on Monday.

She emphasised that access to financial services is not enough, as it must go hand-in-hand with knowledge, literacy and protection.

“South Africans have bank accounts, but many of these lie dormant. True inclusion is when people not only have financial services, but when they use them — sending money, borrowing responsibly, insuring their families, and building wealth.

“…Financial education matters. It is not only about knowing how to budget, it is about understanding products, risks and rights,” Lubisi said.

As South African consumers generally have limited resources and skills to understand the complexities of the financial sector, government introduced the National Consumer Financial Education Strategy.

According to Lubisi, the National Consumer Financial Education Strategy was a strong start, but remains fragmented and scattered in short-term projects. 

“That’s why have now drafted a Financial Education Policy, which is a unified, long-term vision that will empower South Africans not only to participate in the financial system, but to thrive in it.

“A financial system works only when people believe it will treat them fairly. This is why the Financial Sector Conduct Authority’s Treating Customers Fairly framework, and the upcoming Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill, are so important. They are not just laws. They are promises. Promises that the system will treat people with fairness and respect,” Lubisi said.

With the transformation of the financial system services, digital platforms are susceptible to online fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime.

“Access to the internet alone is not enough. We need skills to use these platforms safely, to build credit profiles, and to invest wisely. 

“Consequently, Financial literacy and cyber-awareness programmes must match digital skills training to prevent consumers from falling victim to scams,” she said.

Through initiatives like the Ya Rona Digital Skills Drive, over 20 000 people were trained.

Moreover, government is bringing Wi-Fi to rural households through the SA Connect programme.

“All these initiatives are very critical and should be recognized as interconnected with the financial sector’s digital financial literacy revolution. By equipping citizens with internet access, the National Digital and Future Skills Strategy lays the foundation for inclusive access to digital financial services such as banking, payments, and e-commerce,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, has noted the conviction of six individuals who pleaded guilty to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to siphon Compensation Fund monies into their personal bank accounts through fictitious medical providers. 

According to the department, the six are part of nine individuals who were arrested late last year as part of an ongoing investigation. Three out of the nine individuals are proceeding to trial, and the six will be sentenced in November 2025. 

“This case should be a lesson to all those who orchestrate fraudulent schemes to siphon monies from the Compensation Fund that the department, with the assistance of the law enforcement agencies, will ensure that the individuals implicated in any of the ongoing investigations in and outside the Compensation Fund will face the might of the law,” Minister Meth said. 

The Compensation Fund exists to provide financial and medical support to workers who sustain occupational injuries or diseases in the course of their employment. 

The Minister added that any attempt to defraud the fund is not only criminal, but a direct assault on the rights of vulnerable workers and their families who depend on it for their livelihood and dignity.

“We commend our Anti-Corruption and Integrity Management team, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary for ensuring that justice has been served in this matter. Their work sends a strong and clear message that fraud and corruption within state funds will not be tolerated,” she said. 

The department has since intensified measures to strengthen governance, tighten internal controls, and enhance digital verification systems within the Compensation Fund.

These include:
•    Enhanced monitoring and auditing systems to track irregular transactions.
•    Collaboration with medical regulatory bodies to validate providers.
•    Introduction of advanced digital platforms to reduce human interference in claims processing.
•    Partnership with law enforcement to fast-track investigations and prosecutions where fraud is suspected.

“As the department, we remain steadfast in restoring public trust and ensuring that every rand in the Compensation Fund is used exclusively for the benefit of workers who have suffered occupational injuries and diseases,” the Minister said. 

The Minister further assured the public, workers, and employers that this conviction is not the end, but a continuation of the broader effort to clean up and safeguard all labour-related social protection institutions. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for collective leadership and stronger partnerships across government, universities, and communities to transform South Africa’s education system.

“Our challenge and our opportunity lie in partnerships. For too long, government, universities, and communities have worked alongside each other but not always in full alignment. That must change. We need shared stewardship of the education system, one where accountability is reciprocal and leadership is collective.”

The Minister was speaking at the Western Cape G20 Provincial Education Indaba on Monday.

Held at the Century City Conference Centre, Canal Walk, the event was held under the themes: “Quality Foundational Learning – with emphasis on Early Childhood Development” as well as “Educational Professional Development for a changing world.” 

The Western Cape Education Indaba serves as a response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent call for public involvement in the G20 discussions, focusing on the Education Working Group agenda for the 2025 summit. 

Gwarube said the gathering formed part of South Africa’s commitment, as the current G20 President, to bring global debates closer to the realities of ordinary citizens. 

“As G20 President for 2025, South Africa has pledged to ‘take the G20 to the people.’ This is not a slogan, it is a commitment to ensuring that the ideas, policies, and priorities we shape globally are informed by the lived realities of our people. And today, that journey brings us here, to the Western Cape.” 

She commended the Western Cape for its contribution to the country’s economy and education sector, highlighting its recent success in creating 69 000 jobs and maintaining the lowest unemployment rate nationally.

“The Western Cape has also contributed to our country’s educational story. This is a province renowned for its innovation, diversity, and excellence.”

Gwarube said the Indaba was not about abstract discussions but about connecting global priorities to local realities, from early childhood centres in George to high schools in Cape Town and rural schools across the Karoo and the West Coast.

Priorities 

She emphasised two key G20 education priorities – Quality Foundational Learning and Professional Development for a Changing World as crucial to strengthening South Africa’s education system.

“High-performing systems around the world inspire us, including Finland, where every teacher holds a master’s degree, and Singapore, where universities and government work hand-in-hand to define and deliver excellence. But these models cannot simply be copied. 

“We must design a South African, and indeed a Western Cape model, rooted in our realities, enriched by global best practice, and driven by our vision for injecting excellence in our education system,” Gwarube said. 

The Minister emphasised that the relationship must be deliberate, practical, and unshakably focused on impact. 

“As custodians of knowledge, let us meet this moment with rigour, creativity, and a refusal to accept mediocrity. If we do that, the ripple effects of our work here today will be felt not only in this province’s lecture halls and staffrooms, but in every classroom across South Africa and far beyond our borders,” she said. 

The Minister outlined six areas where government and its partners could collaborate to strengthen education in the province:
•    Policy Alignment and Responsiveness – ensuring teacher training stays in line with evolving priorities such as ECD access, literacy, numeracy, and bilingual education.
•    Professional Learning Communities – creating platforms for regular engagement between subject advisers and academics.
•    Teacher Supply and Demand Planning – addressing shortages in high-demand subjects and rural schools.
•    Strengthening Work-Integrated Learning – placing student teachers in schools that offer the right exposure and mentorship.
•    Seamless Induction and Continuous Professional Development – aligning induction programmes with university training.
•    Joint Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research – combining government data with university expertise for evidence-based reforms.

“If we commit to these actions, we will align teacher education with national and provincial priorities; treat teacher development as a lifelong journey; close the gaps between oversupply in some subjects and shortages in others; and build Continuous Professional Development frameworks that are both rigorous and practical,” she said.

Gwarube urged delegates to ensure that the Indaba delivers tangible results.

“This Indaba must not be remembered for speeches alone, but for the partnerships it builds and the commitments it inspires. Let us strengthen the dual responsibility for education between the Department of Basic Education, the Western Cape Provincial Education Department, our universities, and our communities,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, has reminded motorists to be alert on the roads as two separate crashes claimed the lives of 10 people on Monday.

Four people were killed on the R547 between Kinross and Kriel when a sedan they were travelling in lost control and overturned on the side of the road. 

The four were all men, and they include the driver. Two passengers sustained serious injuries, and they were transported to the nearby hospital in Evander for further medical attention.

In another incident that took place on the N12 between Delmas and Emalahleni, seven people, all passengers, lost their lives abruptly when an articulated truck crashed into another truck. 

“The truck, which has seemingly been converted to transport passengers, was at the time of the crash picking up employees on the road to ferry them to work at the nearby farm. The seventh person succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the hospital,” the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison said.

Six passengers were seriously injured while eleven people escaped with slight injuries. 

The injured were rushed to the hospital closer to the scene for further treatment. The investigation into both crashes is already underway.

“Despite all efforts that government and its entities continue to put to reduce road crashes, the number of people losing their lives in these collisions is still rising.  It is essential that all road users play their part by being alert while driving. They must also comply with the rules. More than 80% of collisions on the road are caused by human behaviour and regrettably people’s recklessness claim innocent people’s lives,” the MEC said.

He has extended his heartfelt condolences to the affected families and wished those who were injured a speedy recovery. 

Motorists have been advised to follow these safety tips:
•    Do not drive under the influence of alcohol.
•    Adhere to the speed limit.
•    Ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy.
•    Avoid using cell phones while driving.
•    Buckle up at all times.
•    For long journeys, take regular breaks.
•    Pedestrians must cross streets at marked intersections.
•    Pedestrians must wear bright clothing when walking in dark areas.
–SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, August 18, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, has emphasised the continent’s critical role in global climate research and the need for African institutions to contribute to global knowledge production. 

He highlighted the urgent need for African-led scientific research and climate adaptation strategies, stressing the importance of historically Black universities in Africa’s research agenda.

“I’m a very strong advocate for the deliberate development of the research capacity of our historically disadvantaged institutions, and for them to develop and be supported to be at the centre of knowledge production in our country and indeed globally,” he said. 

The Minister was speaking at the 3rd International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences (ICEES 2025), a collaboration between the University of Zululand and China’s Chang’an University on Monday. 

“While we value collaboration. We do not want our historically disadvantaged universities to be comfortable with simply being consumers of knowledge that others produce. 

“Universities on the African continent must make their own distinct contribution to the global knowledge project,” Nzimande said, calling for a sovereign Research and Development Agenda for Africa.

The conference comes against a backdrop of severe environmental challenges. 

According to the 2023 World Meteorological Organisation report, African countries are losing 2% to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to climate change, with some nations diverting up to 9% of their budgets to climate response efforts.

The report also states that up to 118 million extremely poor people living on less than US$1.9 per day will be exposed to drought, floods, and extreme heat and Africa. 

Nzimande also touched on the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, emphasising the urgency of prompt, well thought out actions.

“There is an unparalleled peak in climate-related crises, and no continent remains unaffected. We are increasingly witnessing life-threatening heatwaves, floods, disappearing species and the severe pressures on water as well as ecosystems.”

He warned that without coordinated action, “the outcomes for future generations will indeed be devastating”.

In the South African context, he made examples of extreme weather events and their impact on farmers and rural communities.

“All of this threatens the safety and the livelihoods of citizens, especially those who live in agriculturally dependent rural settings where biodiversity is the cornerstone of everyday survival.”

He announced that the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has put in place instruments to enable research and development and build State capacity, which is very important in various fields.

“We have developed what we call a science mission. We’ve got a number of these science mission focus areas. We have developed one on global change and biodiversity science, because we firmly believe that this needs to be strengthened.”

Some of the programmes under this science mission include South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON), the Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth System Science (ACCESS) and the Centre for Global Change, which plays a crucial role in sustainable global change. 

They are also working on the initiative that focuses on climate change and environmental sustainability. 

Nzimande also discussed the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap, which includes 13 research infrastructure initiatives, including the National Equipment Programme, South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) and Centres of Excellence (CoEs).

South Africa also participates in global platforms like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. 

He announced the upcoming Global Change National Conference, which will be hosted this year, aiming to strengthen capacity in climate change and environmental sustainability.

He also stressed student involvement, with him encouraging young researchers to “grab this opportunity with both hands”, viewing youth empowerment as a critical investment in Africa’s scientific future.

The conference also seeks to provide participants with the opportunity to share their experiences and research findings, challenges and solutions, with the view to establishing productive new academic and industry research collaborations.

The conference features keynote lectures by distinguished experts from various parts of the world and will bring together scientists and industry experts from over 70 countries across Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe, and Australia. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, August 18, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, August 18, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Free State Police, through Operation Vala Umgodi, have arrest 195 suspects involved in a wide range of crimes over the past weekend. 

The arrests were made for offences including bribery, possession of drugs, trespassing, possession of illicit cigarettes, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of gold-bearing material and illicit mining.

​On Sunday morning, Vala Umgodi operatives, in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, swooped on Virginia and Meloding. 

“During a search of a salon, a 32-year-old female, who is an illegal foreign national, was arrested. Two other individuals were also taken into custody after their documents were verified as fraudulent by Home Affairs personnel,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement on Monday.

​According to the police, the team proceeded to search sleeping quarters at the back of the complex. In three units occupied by undocumented foreign nationals, drugs, including mandrax, crystal meth and rock, with an estimated street value of R150 000, were discovered. 

Three suspects, aged between 24 and 36, including two foreign nationals and one female, were arrested for possession of drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act.

​In a separate operation in Meloding, two undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after being found inside tuck shops. All seven suspects arrested in Virginia and Meloding face charges ranging from possession of drugs to contravention of the Immigration Act.

​“A proactive team was also deployed to a mine where three undocumented males were observed engaging in illicit mining activities. They were arrested and a quantity of what is believed to be gold-bearing material was seized.

​“Furthermore, on 16 August, two teams, VOC 1 and VOC 2 [Venue Operational Centre], conducted disruptive operations in Viljoenskroon and Hoopstad. 

“These operations resulted in the arrest of 12 undocumented foreign nationals found at various tuck shops in the two towns. Additionally, a 45-year-old foreign national was arrested after being found in his tuck shop with illicit cigarettes,” the police said.

​Also on 16 August, a combat team on patrol in Ventersburg arrested a foreign national on the N1, who was looking for a hitch-hike to Cape Town. A second charge of corruption was added after he attempted to bribe the police with R500.

​In another operation on 16 August in Virginia, a team working in collaboration with mine security arrested three suspects, aged between 37 and 28 years. The suspects were found on mine premises engaged in illicit mining activities and were in possession of gold-bearing material and illegal gold processing equipment.

“The multi-disciplinary operations in Lejweleputswa and surrounding municipalities are ongoing. All suspects are expected to appear in their respective magistrates courts soon,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za