Category: South Africa Government

Parliament has expressed condolences to the family of retired Judge President Achmat Naeem Jappie who passed away at the age of 70.

The retired Judge President had served for nearly two decades on the bench.

“His passing is a profound loss not only to the Judiciary and legal profession, but to the broader constitutional project of South Africa.

“On behalf of Parliament, the Presiding Officers extend their heartfelt condolences to his wife, Judge Soraya Hassim, his children, family, colleagues, and all who were touched by his life and service,” Parliament said in a statement.

The respected jurist was appointed to the bench in 1998, just four years after South Africa’s transition to a democratic dispensation.

“His leadership as Deputy Judge President and later Judge President of the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court, as well as his service as an Acting Justice of the Constitutional Court and at the Labour Appeal Court, reflected the high regard in which he was held and was an affirmation of his deep commitment to the rule of law and as a principled advocate of the constitutional values that underpin South Africa’s democracy – integrity, fairness, accountability, and fidelity to the law.

“Through his judicial service, including his contribution to South Africa’s evolving legal jurisprudence, Judge President Jappie formed part of a generation of jurists who have, over time, shaped and affirmed the principles of constitutional supremacy, legality, and accountability in the exercise of public power.

“This body of jurisprudence continues to guide all arms of state, including Parliament, in ensuring that legislative processes, executive oversight, and institutional conduct remain firmly grounded in the Constitution,” the statement read.

Jappie retired in 2021 but continued to serve as Chairperson of a Judicial Conduct Tribunal.

“Even in retirement, Judge President Jappie continued to serve the nation with distinction, including through his role in judicial conduct processes, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to institutional accountability and ethical governance,” the statement concluded.

Earlier in the week, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mandisa Maya, on behalf of the South African Judiciary, expressed sadness at the passing of the retired Judge President.

READ | Condolences for respected jurist

Jappie died on Wednesday, following a short illness. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Eastern Cape Provincial Government, led by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, will host its official Freedom Day commemoration in Alexandria on Monday, 27 April 2026.

The event will take place at the Derrick Mbele Stadium in the Nonkqubela Location, Alexandria, and is expected to bring together communities, government leaders and stakeholders to celebrate more than three decades of democracy and constitutional governance in South Africa.

This year’s commemoration will be held under the theme: “Freedom and the Rule of Law: Thirty Years of Democratic Citizenship”.

The programme also aligns with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution, recognising the country’s democratic progress since the dawn of freedom in 1994.

According to the provincial government, the event will reflect on achievements made in promoting equality, human dignity and inclusive development, while reaffirming the Constitution as the cornerstone of democratic governance, justice and accountability.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Government said it remains committed to improving the lives of residents through continued investment in basic services, economic development, infrastructure and social protection programmes, particularly in historically disadvantaged communities.

Organisers say the celebration will go beyond remembrance, creating opportunities for residents to actively engage with government and reflect on freedom as an ongoing and lived experience.

Several community-centred activities are planned for the day, including a 5km Freedom Day Fun Run and Walk through the streets of Alexandria. 

Government departments and public entities will also deliver services directly to residents through a “Services on Wheels” initiative.

Cultural performances and exhibitions highlighting the province’s heritage and diversity will form part of the festivities. 

Educational activities, including a children’s reading corner and book exhibitions, are also planned to promote literacy and youth participation. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Garden Route has been ranked the number one road trip in the world by Autotrader, achieving a score of 90.6 out of 100.

The global study assessed leading road trips based on factors such as road quality, scenery, weather conditions, visibility, temperature, and overall driving experience. 

The Garden Route emerged as the top performer.

“The Garden Route National Park remains a key part of this internationally recognised route, offering diverse landscapes where forests, rivers, mountains, and coastline meet.

“Visitors are encouraged to experience this globally recognised journey and the national park that forms part of it,” South African National Parks (SANParks) said this week. 

At the centre of this route is the Garden Route National Park, which spans key sections along the journey and offers a range of nature-based experiences.

The Wilderness Section, located along the N2, is known for its calm waterways, birdlife, forest cabins, and outdoor activities such as canoeing and mountain biking.

The Knysna Section offers access to estuarine and forest environments, with activities including visits to the Thesen Island area to see the endangered Knysna seahorse, as well as forest trails in Diepwalle and scenic viewpoints.

The Tsitsikamma Section features rugged coastal scenery at Storms River Mouth, with accommodation options, camping sites, and access to the famous suspension bridge. –SAnews.gov.za

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 The role of the media in society remains vital, with the government continuing its work to ensure a free, independent, and thriving media sector, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong said.

Morolong said the media landscape today is very different from what confronted the country in 1994.

In his closing remarks at the two-day North West Media Sustainability and Collaboration Summit held in Mahikeng, Morolong said the landscape and power resided in the hands of a few powerful media houses, allowing them to shape the media agenda. 

“Today the print media is a shadow of its former self, and many former staple publications have either vanished or are only available online,” he said on Friday.

He added that, similarly, the South African Press Association, known as SAPA, which for many decades was a mainstay in the news industry, closed shop as the industry changed and evolved. 

“This closure paved the way for others to fill the void, and I am pleased to say that SAnews, the government news agency run by the GCIS [Government Communication and Information System], has steadily emerged as one of the most trusted sources of government news,” the Deputy Minister said.  

In its 2024–2025 Annual Report, the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) noted that despite having invested more than 20 years into community media development initiatives, research indicated that merely 7% of respondents in the sector perceive their organisations as being sustainable, with 74% of respondents identifying as partially sustainable.

“The MDDA Annual Report also notes that community radio outperformed community television, as well as community and small commercial print, in terms of sustainability, while also highlighting challenges faced by the sector, including funding limitations, a shortage of skilled personnel, restricted access to advertising, and infrastructure.

“I can assure you that the survival of the community media sector has been at the forefront of various administrations since 1994.

“In support of this noble cause, the MDDA has funded 586 community media projects, consisting of 321 radio/television stations and 185 print projects (newspapers, magazines, small commercial print. 
“GCIS continues to work with the MDDA, which is responsible for promoting media development and diversity,” he said.

In addition, the MDDA continues to strengthen its role as an enabler of credible, community-driven media that empower voices, promote democracy, and support national development priorities.   

Meanwhile, the Deputy Government Spokesperson William Baloyi applauded the organisers of the summit for prioritising community media and thanked the North West University for availing their facilities for this important event. 

“The government of South Africa has elevated community media in its policies. The GCIS has developed a Draft Media Buying Policy that was presented to stakeholders. 

“One of the key tenets of the policy is to answer the question of non-adherence to the 30% advertising spent on community media. The policy is expected to come into implementation this year.”

Baloyi told SAnews.gov.za that once the policy is approved, it will make it compulsory for government departments to ensure that community media become part of the broader beneficiaries of the advertising budget.

He emphasised the importance of compliance and encouraged community media owners to ensure they comply with the necessary requirements and to feel free to approach GCIS for advice. 

“Those in the community radio sector, it is important to check the ICASA [Independent Communication Authority of South Africa] requirements and also to approach MDDA for advice,” he said.

Baloyi also emphasised the centrality of community media in providing information to citizens to enable them to improve their lives while also encouraging community media to use the local language in their areas of coverage.

Speaking to SAnews.gov.za, Chairperson of the North West Media Awards, Brenda Ramokopelwa spoke of the importance of the media.

“In the future, I would like to see media being sustainable and more partnerships forged,” she said, adding that some journalists lack knowledge about the work of the MDDA.

“We need to have journalists who are supported and who are well informed about the various issues,” Ramokopelwa said.

The delegates at the summit agreed that government and local municipalities should support community media, especially when it comes to funding.

The summit was designed to unite the region’s most influential stakeholders in media, communication, funding, and the private sector.

At the summit, delegates explored funding models, digital transformation, sector-wide collaboration, skills development, and audience growth with 20 expert speakers and five specialist facilitators driving each conversation.– SAnews.gov.za

 

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International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has called for a decisive shift from policy commitments to implementation as South Africa chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC) amid growing global uncertainty.  

Delivering closing remarks at an interdepartmental workshop on the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020 – 2030 at the O.R. Tambo Building in Pretoria on Friday, Lamola said the region’s primary challenge was no longer a lack of frameworks, but the failure to effectively execute them.

“The feedback I have received confirms that the SADC region is not constrained by a lack of frameworks, vision or institutional architecture. The core challenge is implementation,” he said.

The workshop, supported by the European Union and the SADC Secretariat, brought together senior government officials, representatives of State-owned enterprises, development finance institutions and senior officials from the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana, to develop a strategy and identify priorities for South Africa’s chairship of SADC. 

The workshop also reflected on the implementation of the SADC RISDP in order to foster synergies with South Africa’s national development frameworks, National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) and priorities.

Lamola said discussions over the past two and a half days had focused on assessing performance, identifying constraints and proposing practical interventions aligned with the RISDP, whose implementation currently stands at just over 60%.

“This requires a decisive shift from policy articulation to disciplined execution, and from broad commitments to focused, high-impact priorities,” he said.

He warned that South Africa would assume the regional leadership role at a time of “considerable global uncertainty”, with geopolitical and economic developments placing added pressure on the region.

“We cannot afford to be passive observers, while some states reshape the global order in ways that risk reversing gains achieved over decades in international law, global trade, peace and security, food security and ocean governance,” Lamola said.

Among the challenges facing the region are slow domestication of protocols, limited enforcement mechanisms and reliance on external financing, alongside climate vulnerability, debt pressures and exposure to external shocks.

Lamola noted that intra-regional trade remains between 19% and 23%, while manufacturing contributes just over 12% to regional GDP. Indicators, he said, must inform planning and prioritisation during South Africa’s tenure.

He also highlighted the need to strengthen public support for regional integration, warning that low awareness and rising anti-migrant sentiment could undermine progress.

Citing Afrobarometer findings, Lamola said while six in ten South Africans support easier trade with other countries, awareness of key continental initiatives remains low.

“Only 12 per cent of South Africans interviewed had heard of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This means that more than 80 per cent of our citizens were unaware of one of the continent’s most important economic integration projects,” he said.

He condemned recent acts of violence and intimidation against migrants, stressing that such actions have no place in a constitutional democracy.

“Acts of lawlessness, intimidation and violence against migrant communities have no place in our constitutional democracy. Acts of violence constitute a threat to our constitutional order,” Lamola said.

Looking ahead, Lamola urged officials to confront two key questions: how to build public confidence in regional integration, and how to navigate an increasingly unstable global environment.

“This places upon us both a responsibility and an opportunity: to provide steady leadership during a period of transition, and to shape regional integration in a manner that is practical, responsive and focused on implementation,” he said. 

SADC consists of 16 Member States, including South Africa. On 07 November 2025, South Africa was elected as interim Chair of SADC until August 2026, where it will be elected as Chair until August 2027. – SAnews.gov.za 

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As South Africa commemorates Freedom Month, government has emphasised the importance of reflecting on South Africa’s democratic journey while fostering intergenerational understanding of the country’s history.

Speaking at a dialogue ahead of the commemorations for Freedom Day, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Director-General for Corporate Services, Mandisa Tshikwatamba, reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening democracy through public dialogues.

“Government has placed particular emphasis on youth, noting that many South Africans born after 1994 have no lived experience of apartheid. As a result, intergenerational dialogue remains critical to ensuring that younger citizens understand the country’s past and the significance of its democratic transition,” Tshikwatamba said on Friday in Mangaung, Free State.

The initiative encourages citizens to discuss the origins of South Africa’s freedom and the progress made since the advent of democracy in 1994.

The dialogue takes place under the theme: “Freedom and the Rule of Law – Threats and Solutions,” which marks three decades since the adoption of the country’s Constitution in 1996.

Freedom Month commemorates South Africa’s transition from apartheid to a democratic society and marks the country’s first democratic elections in 1994. 

Tshikwatamba said this period provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made in expanding rights and opportunities while acknowledging ongoing challenges.

Since 1994, South Africa has made significant strides in improving the lives of its people. 

“Government remains committed to building an inclusive, participatory democracy and ensuring that every voice is heard.

“These platforms are about ensuring that, from generation to generation, we continue to reflect on how we gained our freedom and how it came about. As we speak about rights, we must also emphasise responsibilities,” she said.

Tshikwatamba added that democracy requires active participation and accountability from all citizens. 

“This engagement aims to create a platform for meaningful dialogue between the government, young people, and community leadership,” she said. 

Through continued engagement with citizens in both small and large forums, government aims to strengthen democratic participation and ensure that the gains of freedom are preserved for future generations. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

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The Electoral Commission of South Africa says preparations for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) in KwaZulu-Natal are well advanced, with significant progress made in staffing, training, and voter registration planning.

Addressing the media in Durban, following the conclusion of a week-long stakeholder engagement programme held in the province, the Commission reported that 9 268 of the 9 948 electoral staff positions have been filled, representing 93% of required capacity.

Recruitment for the remaining 680 posts is ongoing, while training programmes for appointed staff have already started to ensure full operational readiness ahead of the registration weekend, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, and service mindedness at voting stations.

“Following the handover of final wards to the Commission by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) in December 2025, the realignment of the voting district (VD) boundaries to the new ward boundaries commenced in January and has been concluded in 40 out of 44 municipalities. 

A total of 424 out of 901 wards in the province were impacted by ward boundary changes, which affected 606 VD boundaries across the province,” the Commission reported.

The Commission added that the assessment of the impact of ward boundary changes on VD boundaries in the four outstanding municipalities will commence once the final wards are received from the MDB.

To address these changes, the Commission will roll out targeted communication and registration (TCR) from 9 to 11 May 2026 to assist affected voters in updating their registration details.

Voter education initiatives are also underway, including the School Democracy Focus Week running from 20 to 30 April, with 98 schools already reached to promote civic awareness among learners.

KwaZulu-Natal is expected to see a competitive electoral contest, with 15 political parties currently operational in the province out of 520 registered nationally.

The Commission has encouraged eligible voters to use its online self-service platform to register or update their details ahead of the elections. 

A voter registration weekend is scheduled for 20–21 June, although online registration remains available at all times.

“In the upcoming elections, voters must ensure that they are registered where they live, as they will vote in the ward where they are registered,” the Commission said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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