Category: South Africa Government

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Mining industry "filled with exciting opportunities for investors and the economy" – Mantashe

Source: Government of South Africa

Despite the challenging global environment, South Africa’s mining industry is an industry on the rise.

This view was shared by Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, who delivered the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

In his written remarks, Mantashe explained that Mintek – the country’s national mineral research organisation – has completed a study on the state of mining in the country and the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for implementation, which shows great potential in the industry.

“Having produced individual commodity reports on 21 minerals, the critical minerals strategy shows that minerals, such as platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal and chrome ore, are poised to play a critical role in the South African mining industry and the economy for the foreseeable future.

“In contrast to the sceptic view that the South African mining industry is a sunset industry, with the comprehensive and up-to-date insights into key developments within global commodity markets, mineral production trends in South Africa and the mining sector’s contribution to the economy, we are now more convinced than ever that the South African mining industry is a sunrise industry.

“This mining frontier is filled with exciting opportunities for investors and the economy,” he said.

Mantashe acknowledged that the industry is operating in a challenging global landscape.

Despite these challenges, including escalating trade tensions, evolving geopolitical relationships and the United States of America’s imposition of tariffs on some mineral exports, the industry remains a strong contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Despite the challenging global environment, mining gross value-added rebounded by 0.3% in 2024, from a 0.5% decline in 2023. Effectively, in Rand terms, 2024 saw the mining sector contributing R451 billion to the country’s GDP, thus sustaining the 6% total contribution to the GDP.

“In the same period, the mining industry’s export earnings totalled R674 billion, comprising R586.4 billion from primary minerals and R87.5 billion from processed minerals, representing a decrease of 0.6% from R678 billion in 2023,” the Minister said.

Expanding mineral exploration

The Minister highlighted that the sustainability and future of mining in South Africa is dependent on new mineral discoveries – making the Junior Mining Exploration Fund critical for discovery and transformation.

“Established through a R200 million allocation from National Treasury, matched by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), this fund is poised to unlock new mineral discoveries and drive transformation. The first funding call has already resulted in the signing of legal contracts with black-owned junior miners. 

“As the country navigates the natural decline of legacy commodities like gold, this fund will enable the discovery of new minerals that are essential for a range of industries, from advanced manufacturing to technology and infrastructure development.

“Expanding this fund is not just an investment in new mining frontiers but a commitment to ensuring that our mineral wealth contributes to a more inclusive and transformed industry,” he insisted.

Mantashe noted that, for its part, the Council for Geoscience (CGS) has implemented its Integrated and Multi-Disciplinary Mapping Programme to expand its onshore mapping coverage to meet the needs of the exploration community.

“This work provides the fundamental basis to outline the mineral potential and geological systems at an enhanced scale, allowing [for] greater clarity to focus on exploration initiatives. 

“For the 2025/26 financial year, the CGS will continue with the implementation of this backbone programme, both onshore and offshore, to make available key pre-competitive geological data, information and knowledge for considered investment in minerals exploration,” he said.

The budget

The department’s budget allocation for the 2025/26 financial year is R2.86 billion, of which R1.16 billion will be transferred to public entities, municipalities, and other implementing institutions to “enable them to fulfil their constitutional mandates”.

Some specific projects to receive funding include:

  • R134.7 million for the rehabilitation of derelict and ownerless mines implemented by Mintek.
  • R22.4 million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project implemented by the Council for Geoscience.
  • R32.3 million allocated to the CGS for the Mine Water Ingress Project.
  • R46.1 million allocated to the Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) for the implementation of the Shale Gas Project. 

 – SAnews.gov.za

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Ambitious plan to plant one million trees in one day

Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts will launch the One Million Trees campaign next week.

The campaign, part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project currently in its fourth year, aims to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life, three spheres of government, private sector, interfaith formations, business, diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs, youth, to pledge and donate trees.

At the launch, the Deputy Minister will outline the ambitious plan to plant one million trees in one day.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is the custodian of the forestry function in the country. 

One of the key activities and functions in this regard is the implementation of the National Greening Programme, aimed at planting at least two million trees per annum for a period of five years to realise the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project.

The One Million Trees campaign serves as one of the platforms of revamping the National Greening Programme to ensure that the set target of planting ten million trees over a period of five years is achieved.

This will be done through creating awareness on the importance of planting of trees, encouraging stakeholders to take ownership and responsibility of their environment through pledging and planting of trees and facilitating that one million trees are planted in one day. 

As part of the launch, Deputy Minister Swarts will showcase the Information Technology Pledge Form System and the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Tree Bank where the donated trees will be stored. 

The donated trees will be stored at the 11 National Botanical Gardens across the country and DFFE nurseries.

The launch will take place under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today” on Monday, 07 July 2025, at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens. – SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa looks to global lessons as it sharpens its focus on gender priorities at G20

Source: South Africa News Agency

South Africa looks to global lessons as it sharpens its focus on gender priorities at G20

As the G20 Technical Meetings continue in South Africa, a powerful voice is emerging from within the country’s leadership, calling for bolder and more targeted investments in women, youth, and persons with disabilities. 

Advocate Joyce Mikateko Maluleke, the Chairperson of the G20 Empowerment Women Working Group (EWWG) and Director-General of the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, told SAnews that South Africa is drawing critical lessons from global partners to respond to some of its most urgent challenges.

The Third Technical Meeting of the G20 EWWG is currently taking place at the Skukuza Conference Centre at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga.   

“There’s a lot that, as a country, we are learning from other countries. We have three priorities: valuing the care economy – both paid and unpaid; unlocking genuine financial inclusion for women, and eradicating gender-based violence and femicide,” Maluleke said. 

Maluleke began by addressing the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), which she said continues to tear through the country’s social fabric.

“Gender-based violence is a crisis in South Africa. It’s really one thing that, as a country, we want to learn from other countries. Other countries have done so many things… for prevention, even regulating access to social media, because one of the biggest challenges is that our children have a lot of unlimited access to the internet at an early age. Other countries shared that they control what young persons have access to,” she explained.

From controlling explicit media to implementing surveillance technologies that aid in prevention and justice, Maluleke said there is much to learn from. 

“They have used technology to protect women. For example, you find that there’s a surveillance camera every few meters. It does help because they can follow up… They have invested in prevention,” she said. 

Investing in strong family support structures, something other countries do well, is an area where South Africa must improve. Maluleke said this is one of the biggest prevention measures that the country needs to adopt.  

On financial inclusion, Maluleke highlighted the need to replicate successful international models that empower women from the ground up.

“We’ve learned from them… The support they give to women in businesses starts from their education systems. Countries like Germany have invested in vocational training, and they have elevated artisanship to the same level as those that went to university,” she said. 

In Germany, Maluleke noted, 60% of learners pursue technical training, while only 40% go to university. 

“That’s why Germany is so strong in terms of engineering and [technical fields],” she remarked.

The third priority, which is care work, remains an often-overlooked economic force, Maluleke said.

“Most countries have indicated that [care work] is a strong, unseen engine of the economy. Women will stay at home to raise children and to look after those who are sick…” she said, urging for an investment in systems that allow for a balance between work and life commitments.

“Care work, they say, is work of love. Yes, we love our parents, but we must still be able to live,” Maluleke emphasised.

On prevention strategies for GBVF, the Director-General stressed the urgent need to shift focus and budget accordingly.

“… [UN Women] said: ‘Preventing gender-based violence is not expensive. Not preventing gender-based violence is expensive.” It costs [a lot to raise] children [whose] families… are not able to [take them] to school, who won’t be able to contribute to the GDP… and who [might] end up getting involved in substance abuse, and to rehabilitate them is expensive,” she said. 

Towards a stronger declaration and legacy

As deliberations continue, South Africa is preparing for the signing of a declaration that addresses its three focus areas, namely, care work, financial inclusion and GBVF. 

Maluleke explained that every working group works on the technical meetings, which will culminate in the declaration that will be signed by Ministers in the G20 when they meet. 

She emphasised that a key objective is to secure tangible outcomes from the G20 engagement.

“One of the achievements that we would like to achieve is that the financial sector needs to ensure that when Ministers sign the declaration as a product… they also launch a legacy project,” she added. 

Indeed, one such legacy project is already in the pipeline.

“We already have the World Bank… The World Bank will be launching, as a legacy project of the South African G20 Presidency, a financial facility on care work.

“Women, who are running ECDs [Early Childhood Development Centres], will be able to apply for funding from that fund. They will launch it at the Minister’s meeting,” Maluleke said. 

Consensus and Positive Masculinity 

With 21 countries now part of the G20, following the African Union’s recent inclusion, building consensus remains a major hurdle. 

“All of them must consent to the declaration. That’s why we’re starting the negotiations today… and even tomorrow, we will be negotiating,” Maluleke said. 

Alongside the declaration, South Africa is preparing another powerful intervention: a conference on positive masculinity.

“Masculinity shouldn’t destroy. It should protect,” Maluleke said. 

The event will bring together G20 countries, guest nations, and international organisations, aiming to change the mindset of men and reframe masculinity as a force for protection and empowerment.

“There are countries that have reduced gender-based violence. They say gender-based violence can be prevented, but you have to invest in that prevention.

“Gender-based violence doesn’t discriminate… All of us have to make sure that we prevent it so that we protect our girls,” the Director-General said. 

As negotiations unfold and commitments solidify, South Africa is poised to drive meaningful change – not just at home but across the G20 platform by aligning global best practices with local action, and by ensuring no one is left behind in the fight for dignity, equity and justice. – SAnews.gov.za 

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Hlabisa honours memory of lives lost in Eastern Cape floods

Source: South Africa News Agency

During his department’s Budget Vote presentation on Wednesday, Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, took a moment to honour the lives lost in the recent catastrophic disaster that occurred just two weeks ago. 

This tragedy claimed the lives of approximately 102 people in the Eastern Cape.

This follows the South African Weather Service’s prediction of severe weather, including heavy rainfall, snow and strong winds, which led the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal to activate their disaster response plans.

However, the Eastern Cape experienced particularly devastating impacts, with torrential rains leading to unprecedented floods in districts such as Nelson Mandela Bay, Chris Hani, and OR Tambo.

“Families lost everything in a matter of hours. Sadly, over 100 South Africans – children, parents, and grandparents – lost their lives,” the Minister said. 

The severe floods not only washed away homes and infrastructure, but Hlabisa said they also shattered the very fabric of families and communities, leaving thousands homeless and schools submerged.

In a moment of reflection, the Minister extended condolences to those affected: “On behalf of the Ministry and the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, we offer our deepest condolences to every grieving family and to every person who has lost not only a loved one but also a sense of stability and hope.”

As a mark of respect, the National Assembly observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased.

Meanwhile, in response to the devastation, the Minister has since authorised the National Disaster Management Centre to officially classify the events as a National Disaster, facilitating immediate and necessary interventions. 

“We are now urgently working to support the affected provinces and municipalities, not just with words but with the resources they need to recover and rebuild,” the Minister said. 

Meanwhile, he announced that technical assessment teams have already been deployed, with work being coordinated through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA) to evaluate the damage to essential infrastructure, including roads, bridges and sanitation systems. 

“This powerful partnership strengthens our rapid response and operational readiness during emergencies,” the Minister added, highlighting the collaboration with the South African National Defence Force to enhance national capacity.

In addition, the Minister said South Africa is concurrently holding the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20), focusing specifically on disaster risk reduction. 

“Through the G20, we learn from the world and share our experiences,” said the Minister. 

He stressed the significance of global cooperation in addressing disaster-related challenges.

With the first G20 technical meeting having taken place earlier this year in KwaZulu-Natal, Hlabisa said attention now turns to the second meeting scheduled for next week in Johannesburg. 

The working group will address critical areas such as ecosystem-based approaches and nature-based solutions for disaster risk reduction, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and strategies for disaster recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

“These focus areas are more than just abstract policy themes; they are lifelines for the future,” the Minister stated. 

“They are the answers we seek when we ask: How do we prevent the next floods from becoming a national tragedy? How do we ensure communities bounce back stronger, not just survive?”

As South Africa continues to grapple with the repercussions of this disaster, he said the country is now shifting its commitment to recovery, resilience, and international collaboration. 

The Minister also announced a budget allocation for Cooperative Governance amounting to R410.9 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.

He said that a staggering 96.7% of this budget is earmarked for intergovernmental transfers and support to various entities that deliver tangible and measurable improvements in the lives of South Africans.

In addition to the allocations for Cooperative Governance, Hlabisa said Traditional Affairs will see an appropriated budget of R195 530 million for the fiscal year 2025/26. – SAnews.gov.za

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Care work is not a cost – it’s an $11 trillion investment waiting to transform societies

Source: South Africa News Agency

The world stands at a historic crossroads. Global economies can either continue sidelining the $11 trillion worth of unpaid care work that sustains societies or choose to invest in it as the foundation of inclusive growth, job creation, and long-term economic resilience.

This was the urgent call issued by Dr Basani Baloyi, Programme Director at the Institute for Economic Justice, at the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) underway at the Skukuza Conference Centre in Mpumalanga. 

“The care economy is not a woman’s issue. It’s an economic imperative. It’s not a burden to be managed. It’s an opportunity to be seized. It is not a cost to be minimised. It’s an investment that will transform societies,” Baloyi said on Wednesday. 

Her remarks drove home the message that investing in the care economy has far-reaching, proven returns. In Canada, a $10-per-day childcare programme created over 40 000 new jobs in the early childhood care sector, while expanding women’s participation in the workforce. 

In Nordic countries, decades of investment in comprehensive care systems have led to some of the world’s highest levels of gender equality and economic competitiveness.

“With our collective economic power, our diverse experiences and our shared commitment to sustainable development, the G20 has an unprecedented opportunity to scale these successes globally,” Baloyi said. 

Framing the conversation around care as central to economic and social planning, Baloyi said this is the moment to shift from a model where care is invisible and undervalued, to one where it is measured, invested in, and integrated into policy design.

“We have the evidence from Brazil’s groundbreaking National Caregiving Policy. We have the framework from South Africa’s comprehensive approach to women’s economic empowerment. What we need now is the collective will to act,” she said. 

Throughout her keynote, Baloyi painted a vivid picture of care work’s current invisibility, and the toll it takes on women’s economic lives.

“Picture this. It’s 3am and Maria, a nurse in São Paulo, finishes her shift caring for kids. She drives home not to rest, but to care for her mother and prepare breakfast for her children before they wake up.” 

She said similar stories echoed across the globe. “Nomsa in Johannesburg juggles a teaching job and caring for a disabled sibling, and Sarah in Chicago reduces her engineering hours to care for her ailing father.”

Baloyi said these are the women whose sacrifices are excluded from GDP, undervalued in policy, and absent in economic planning. 

“What they call love, we call unpaid work,” Baloyi quoted philosopher Silvia Federici. 

Globally, she explained that unpaid care work by women amounts to 9% of global GDP – equivalent to $11 trillion. In Brazil alone, it’s estimated that women subsidise the economy by at least $10.8 trillion annually. Yet, this work remains uncounted, unrecognised and unsupported.

“We measure the production of cars and computers, but not the production of healthy, educated, capable human beings, who drive those cars and operate those computers,” she said. 

This invisibility, Baloyi warned, has profound economic consequences, reinforcing gender roles, excluding millions of women from the labour market, and weakening economic resilience.

However, Brazil’s pioneering move in 2024 to introduce a National Caregiving Policy – a collaborative effort across 20 ministries, municipalities and academia – signals a turning point. 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency builds on this foundation, with three key priorities that will shape the future of care economies globally. 

“These priorities recognise that care economy transformation requires addressing the full spectrum of challenges that women face. What makes this moment extraordinary is not just the ambition, but the methodology. 

“South Africa is facilitating policy discourse and collaboration based on evidence, based research across G20 countries, they are creating platforms for sharing cross-country experiences, learning from both successes and challenges, and developing context sensitive recommendations that respect the diversity of G20 nations, while advancing common goals,” she said. 

The data, Baloyi explained, is on South Africa’s side. According to the World Economic Forum, a $1.3 trillion investment in social jobs, particularly in the care economy, would generate $3.1 trillion in GDP and create over 10 million jobs in the United States alone. 

The International Labour Organisation projects that invest in childcare and long-term care could result in 203 million jobs globally by 2035.

“These aren’t just numbers. They represent millions of families lifted out of poverty, and millions of women able to participate fully in economic life,” Baloyi said. 

She also urged G20 nations to adopt the ILO’s 5R Framework:

  • Recognise care work in policy and planning.
  • Reduce the burden through services and infrastructure.
  • Redistribute responsibilities between genders and institutions.
  • Represent care workers in decision-making.
  • Reward care work with fair wages and social protections.

“Imagine Maria in São Paulo able to focus on her career, knowing her family is well cared for… Nomsa in Johannesburg receiving community support services… Sarah in Chicago returning to full-time work, thanks to elder care support… This is achievable policy implementation. When countries invest in care infrastructure, the ripple effects are profound,” she said. 

Baloyi further told delegates that by 2030, over 2.3 billion adults will require care services. By 2050, 80% of the world’s elderly population will live in low- and middle-income countries, many lacking adequate care systems.

“We can either prepare for this demographic transition through strategic investment or allow it to become a crisis that overwhelms families and destabilises economies. 

“The 708 million women worldwide, who are outside the labour force due to care responsibilities, are counting on us. The future generations, who will inherit the economic and social systems we build today, are counting on us,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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R410.9bn allocated to local govt and service delivery programmes

Source: South Africa News Agency

In a move aimed at enhancing service delivery, government has announced a substantial budget allocation for Cooperative Governance, amounting to R410.9 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. 

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, announced that a staggering 96.7% of this budget is earmarked for intergovernmental transfers and support to various entities. 

“This significant investment will enable us to implement critical initiatives that deliver tangible and measurable improvements in the lives of our people,” he said during the budget announcement on Wednesday.

He announced that the budget allocation is focused on ensuring that every South African benefits from this allocation, particularly in underserved communities.

In addition to the allocations for Cooperative Governance, Vote 15: Traditional Affairs, will see an appropriated budget of R195 530 million for the fiscal year 2025/26. 

Within this allocation, Hlabisa said 24%, which is approximately R46.927 million, is specifically designated for transfers and subsidies, including a dedicated fund for the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities.

The Minister recognised the vital role that traditional leadership plays in cultural preservation and community cohesion. 

He believes that the budget reflects government’s commitment to supporting this crucial sector and ensuring that their voices are part of the national discourse.

The budget presentation and engagement form part of Parliament’s oversight function, providing a platform to transparently present the department’s financial allocations and strategic direction for the 2025/26 financial year.

The budget vote presentation detailed key areas of expenditure, offering a comprehensive breakdown of how the department’s resources will be allocated to drive impactful governance.

The Minister highlighted that a key component of the government’s reform agenda is the comprehensive review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government, initiated on 19 May 2025. 

This review is part of a strategy to modernise local governance structures and improve service delivery amid challenges like urban growth and youth unemployment. 

“Through this review, we are committed to creating a local government system that is responsive to the needs of all South Africans and that delivers quality services to our communities.”

The Minister explained that the review’s importance extends beyond governance and embodies a commitment to socio-economic development, emphasising inclusivity in community engagement.

Empowering communities

He announced that government aims to rectify historical imbalances by providing a platform for the voices of informal traders, women, youth, and rural communities. 

In response to the high demand for broader community engagement on the discussion document concerning the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG), the submission deadline for the review has been extended to 31 July 2025. 

In addition to governance reforms, government is advancing targeted interventions in distressed municipalities, focusing on infrastructure maintenance and development support. 

As part of this initiative, the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) is dedicated to 10 distressed municipalities, addressing fundamental issues such as outstanding debt resolution and improving governance structures.

“We reiterate that for us to make an impact in addressing the challenges at the local government sphere, we should eradicate working in silos, as espoused by the District Development Model (DDM),” said Hlabisa.

He said the DDM remains government’s flagship intergovernmental planning, coordination, and service delivery strategy, bringing all three spheres of government around one table to address the specific challenges across the 52 districts and metros. 

In addition, he announced that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is set to accelerate infrastructure delivery, with an allocation of R493.8 million to support critical projects in priority municipalities.

Hlabisa stated that the reallocation of R244.7 million from the MIG to the Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG) will promote integrated urban planning and development in growth areas.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Systems Improvement Grant (MSIG) is increasing from R151.1 million in 2025/26 to R165.3 million in 2027/28 to strengthen municipal systems and improve intergovernmental planning and budgeting under the DDM.

The Minister said collaboration with National Treasury is underway to establish a municipal debt relief framework, aimed at assisting municipalities in managing debt and enhancing financial sustainability.

With these substantial budget allocations and a renewed focus on local governance reforms, he stressed that government is positioning itself to create a responsive and effective local government system for all South Africans.

Hlabisa said the overarching goal remains clear, which includes delivering quality services that foster community development and resilience in democracy. – SAnews.gov.za

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Speech by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, during the Budget Vote Debate for Statistics South Africa (Vote 14)

Source: President of South Africa –

Honourable Chairperson of the Session;
Minister in The Presidency, Honourable Khumbudzo Ntshavheni;
Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Honourable Kenny Morolong;
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Honourable Thelisa Mgweba;
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Our Statistician General, Risenga Maluleka;
Our Chairperson of the Statistics Council, Dr Nompumelelo Mbele;
Fellow South Africans!

I want to start by recalling the words of English philosopher and physician, John Locke, when he said – “Our assent ought to be regulated by the grounds of probability.”

This timeless insight by Locke reminds us that belief, judgment and ultimately policy must be guided NOT by sentiment or speculation, but by evidence. And in the context of a democratic and developmental state such as ours, that evidence is found in official statistics – carefully produced, neutrally presented, and made available to all.

It is, therefore, both an honour and a duty for me to rise today in support of the Minister in the Presidency, Honourable Ntshavheni, as she tables Budget Vote 14 for Statistics South Africa, our country’s national statistical office, simple known as Stats SA.

Stats SA carries a profound responsibility: to ensure that our country has the statistical evidence it needs to make informed, transformative decisions.

As Members of Parliament and as policymakers, we cannot legislate in the dark. We must see the full picture – clearly, accurately, and regularly. That is why Stats SA’s advocacy mantra remains as relevant as ever: “Evidence-based decision-making.”

Honourable Members,

We debate this Budget Vote under the banner of a Government of National Unity -a collective political commitment to work together, across differences, to advance the aspirations of all South Africans. For this unity to succeed, it must be grounded in a shared understanding of the facts. That shared understanding can only come from a trusted and independent source of information such as Stats SA.

The department’s 2025/26 Work Programme is bold in scope and vital to our progress. It commits to the release of more than 290 statistical reports and publications, spanning the economic, social, and environmental domains. These outputs will help us understand the country we are building – its strengths, its fault lines, and its opportunities.

Among the most significant innovations in the year ahead is the continued development of the Continuous Population Survey – an ambitious re-engineering of household data collection into a modular system, enabling more detailed, localised data that aligns with our District Development Model.

This will be underpinned by updates to Stats SA’s geographic information frame, a technical but critical building block for precision in sampling and coverage.

However, Honourable Members, innovation alone is not enough. We need the public to understand and participate in Stats SA’s work. Increasingly, fieldworkers are finding it difficult to access sampled households due to rising mistrust and lack of awareness.

That is why public engagement campaigns must be prioritised. They help foster trust and improve response rates; without which our statistics lose accuracy and legitimacy.

We began our day early this morning with a community outreach initiative not far from these Chambers – in Gugulethu and Nyanga. This was not just a symbolic gesture. It was a deliberate effort to bring Statistics South Africa closer to the people, where it belongs. We engaged with commuters, distributed information, and most importantly, listened. Because statistics are not just numbers – they are our stories, our struggles, our progress or even failures.

That outreach was part of our broader mission: to demystify the work of Stats SA, encourage public participation in surveys, and remind communities that data is only powerful when it is shared, protected, and understood.

We are also mindful of the devastating floods that have impacted parts of our country. Natural disasters do not only destroy infrastructure – but they also displace lives, break routines, and often hit the poorest hardest. In times like these, Stats SA plays a critical role.

By providing accurate data on household vulnerability, migration patterns, service delivery, and access to housing, the national statistics office helps government and relief agencies respond better and faster. Data enables targeted disaster response and long-term recovery planning. In short, stats save lives.

Let us also salute the youth – not just as future leaders, but as present-day champions of change. 
We are a young nation with a median age of 28. This youthful population presents a powerful opportunity – a potential demographic dividend – that could drive economic growth and social progress. But this dividend is not automatic.

To unlock it, we must ensure our youth are well-educated, gainfully employed, and in good health. Only then can their energy, innovation, and numbers become the engine of our nation’s future.
So, as the Minister tables Budget Vote 14 before this House, we carry the voices of people from Gugulethu and Nyanga and the rest of the country we meet earlier today. Our engagements this morning reinforces a vital truth: that national progress starts with local trust. Stats SA does not work from afar.

The work of the national statistics office reinforces a simple fact – the interconnected of data collection, community participation, and policy formulation.

Together, let us keep building South Africa on facts – not fear.

Let me be clear:

A well-funded, capacitated Stats SA is not a luxury. It is an essential endowment to our democracy and our developmental state. Reliable data is the bedrock of reducing inequality, targeting services, and measuring progress.

Inadequate funding and persistent vacancies at Stats SA risk weakening one of the very tools meant to strengthen our country.

Honourable Members,

Recent debates around unemployment statistics remind us of the need for clarity about Stats SA’s mandate. The department is guided by the Statistics Act of 1999, now strengthened through the amendments signed into law in December 2024. The new Statistics Amendment Act (No. 29 of 2024) enables improved coordination across government and enshrines the professional independence required for statistical credibility.

Let us not forget:

Stats SA does not create unemployment. It measures it.
Stats SA does not make policy. It informs it.
It is for us – the policymakers, the lawmakers, the executive – to use these insights wisely.

Chairperson,

I would like to bring to your attention the operating environment of statistics offices worldwide. 

National statistics offices – including our own Stats SA – face modern challenges that demand innovation and resilience. These include growing mistrust in institutions, misinformation spreading faster than facts, declining survey response rates, digital exclusion in poor and rural communities, and the increasing cost and complexity of collecting reliable data. 

In this environment, we must adapt by embracing digital tools, investing in data literacy among our people, strengthening partnerships with community leaders, and reaffirming the independence and credibility of our statistical systems. Only then can we ensure that evidence-based decision-making remains the cornerstone of democracy and development.

I close by acknowledging the thousands of hardworking professionals at Stats SA, from fieldworkers to statisticians, whose quiet dedication helps all of us see South Africa more clearly. May we match their commitment with the resources, legislation, and support they require to do their work effectively.

As this House considers and adopts Budget Vote 14, let it be said that we chose not to govern by instinct, nor by ideology alone – but by truth, by facts, and by evidence.

Ke a leboga. Enkosi. Thank you.

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Stats SA moves into digitally powered future

Source: South Africa News Agency

Statistics South Africa has now commenced with the development of its digital business transformation strategy, which will guide the institution going forward.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, outlined the institution’s plans when she tabled its Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

“This strategy aligns with South Africa’s Roadmap for Digital Transformation of government that aims to, amongst others, enhance data exchange for improved access to information for improved service delivery.

“Stats SA’s digital transformation journey commenced with the Household Survey programme, transitioning from a paper-based data collection approach to a computer assisted methodology, thereby streamlining survey operations, resulting in significant cost savings,” Ntshavheni said.

She revealed that the institution will, over the next five years, “reinvent its statistical products and processes”.

Key initiatives over the medium-term include:

  • Researching the use of artificial intelligence in producing official statistics.
  • Introducing web-based data collection methods in economic statistics programmes.
  • Applying data science and modern methods to big data and alternative data sources.
  • Exploring the use of cloud technology in Stats SA.

“The shift to digital platforms is designed to streamline survey operations, making it more efficient and user friendly,” she said.

Ntshavheni said Stats SA’s allocation is R2.7 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, rising to R2.91 billion in 2026/27 and reaching R3.04 billion in 2027/28.

“In a world defined by rapid change, complex challenges and competing narratives, official statistics provides us with one constant: the truth told in numbers.

“They serve as a mirror through which a nation sees itself not just as it is but how its evolving. From economic performance and health outcomes to education levels and environmental conditions, statistics are the evidence base upon which sound decisions are made.”

The Minister urged Parliamentarians to support the budget vote to equip Stats SA to help government navigate ever changing global dynamics.

“It is important to support this budget vote because we are navigating a path in a world that is undergoing rapid and profound changes, and this is equally true in the realm of statistics.

“Global fundamental shifts are reshaping every aspect of human life from the escalating impact of climate change to the swift advancements in artificial intelligence, the rise of digital economies, changing social dynamics and global political tensions.

“By accurately capturing and analysing these trends, we can better equip ourselves to respond to the challenges and opportunities they present – ensuring that our nation remains resilient and forward thinking in this ever-evolving landscape,” Ntshavheni emphasised.

She assured that the institution remains “unwavering in its commitment to the strategy of improving lives through data economic systems”.

“As the landscape of information technology and data analytics continues to transform, our focus is on harnessing the power of data to enhance the wellbeing of our citizens,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Transport committed to driving change in rail, logistics and freight

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Transport is ploughing ahead with the execution of reforms to drive the work of turning around passenger, freight and logistics systems.

This is the word from Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning. 

“Prompt execution of reforms in the logistics sector is essential to address and reduce the risks present in both our global and domestic environments.  

“Effective implementation of reforms is essential for boosting growth and employment; however, geopolitical tensions may alter foreign direct investment patterns,” Creecy said.

The Minister explained that the department is guided by clear targets, including:

  • Ensuring that 250 million tons of freight are carried on the Transnet network by 2029.
  • Improving the speed of loading and unloading ships.
  • Ensuring 600 million passenger journeys per annum by 2030.
  • Moving some 42 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of airfreight through the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) network of airports by the end of this political term.
  • Reducing road fatalities by 45% by 2029.

Boosting rail

Creecy told Parliament that fundamental to the rail reform programme is the “intention to re-establish rail as the backbone of transport for people and goods”.

“Since we embarked on the journey to restore passenger rail services nationwide, I am proud to share that PRASA [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] had, by the end of May 2025, successfully revived 35 out of 40 corridors and sections of service lines.

“[We] continue to deliver at pace, with PRASA achieving an unaudited figure of 77 million passenger journeys for the last financial year and 116 million passenger journeys for the 2025/26 financial year. 

“Our competitive pricing model for commuter passengers will ensure that working-class communities take advantage of our offerings,” she said.

The agency will receive some R66.1 billion over the medium-term.

“This significant budget is for maintaining, recovering and renewing rail infrastructure, rebuilding the signalling system, rolling out new train sets to priority corridors and increasing rail passenger trips,” she said.

Freight rail

The Minister assured South Africans that the department will “do all within our power to rebuild and modernise the capabilities, operational effectiveness and competitiveness of our State-owned freight logistics operator”.

“The Roadmap for the Freight Logistics System in South Africa clarifies that strategic infrastructure, such as rail lines and ports, will remain in public ownership, as assets belonging to the South African people.

“We must also enhance the involvement of additional operators as a way of extending freight logistics capabilities of the country and region, beyond what the public sector alone would have been able to accomplish.

“It is important to point out that as an economy we need freight logistics operators that can compete, but that can also complement each other when the need arises, for the benefit of our country and region,” she said.

In this regard, Creecy highlighted that “limited state resources to fund infrastructure development” have made private sector investment critical.

“To guide private sector investment in our five priority rail and port corridors, we have just concluded a Request for Information process. Transnet will issue Requests for Proposals from the end of August 2025 and so begin the formal procurement process.

“In line with the Private Sector Participation [PSP] envisioned in the White Paper on the National Rail Policy, Cabinet approved a PSP Framework in 2023 to guide private sector involvement across the logistics sector value chain,” she said.

The Minister emphasised, however, that the department is not waiting on private sector involvement to get the trains rolling.

“To sustain our economy, we cannot afford to wait until the PSPs reach financial close before launching an ambitious programme to rehabilitate Transnet’s rail network and rolling stock, as well as port infrastructure and equipment.

“Funding sources for immediate rehabilitation of the five priority rail corridors include the current Transnet budget for rail and rolling stock maintenance and the purchase of port equipment; submissions to National Treasury’s Budget Facility for infrastructure; and private investment in refurbishing or expanding line capacity through existing customer agreements.

“As a result of the hard work by the Transnet War Room, port volumes were 54.28% higher at the end of the 2024/5 financial year than the previous year; rail tonnage increased by 9 million tons; and containers handled in our ports increased by 48 000 Units,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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SAA’s wings now in full flight

Source: South Africa News Agency

Following several challenging years, State-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA), is now in a position to contribute economic value.

This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the departmental Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning.

SAA was racked by allegations of fraud and corruption during the State capture years. It was put under business rescue and grounded but has recovered to fly domestic, continental and international flights.

“With unencumbered assets and renewed profitability, SAA is well-positioned to drive economic value through expanded international services, job creation, and increased contributions to tourism and trade,” Creecy said.

Furthermore, the airline is now contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“According to [an Oxford Economics Africa] study, SAA contributed R9.1 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2023/24, a figure projected to more than triple to R32.6 billion by 2029/2030. Over the same period, the airline’s operations are expected to support 86 700 jobs, up from the current 25 000, demonstrating its growing role as a national employer and economic catalyst.

“The airline has concluded three out of four outstanding audits and reported a profit of R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year for the first time since 2012. Now operating independently and no longer reliant on government guarantees, SAA is self-funding its operations and fleet growth, while remaining open to a strategic equity partner as part of its long-term restructuring,” the Minister highlighted.

Strengthening ACSA

Creecy revealed that the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has been allocated some R21.7 billion for infrastructure development.

“[This is] in order to meet our target of moving 42 million passengers per year and increasing air freight handling through the ACSA network of airports. This will improve facilities for passenger safety and comfort over the medium-term and build a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport.

“In addition, we are fast tracking projects to ensure reliable availability of jet fuel to all airlines at all our airports, as well as the general upkeep and upgrading of facilities and technologies at each of our airports to improve both security of passengers and cargo, as well as convenience of airport users,” she said.

On the roads

Creecy told Parliament that the state of roads in South Africa remains an important issue that the department is concerned about, with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) taking over some 3 099 kilometers of provincial roads over the past year.

“Over the period of the MTDP [Medium-Term Development Plan] and beyond, SANRAL has reprioritised within the existing maintenance and capital allocated funding so that these roads are serviced through the Route Road Maintenance Programme,” she said.

Creecy also revealed that the driver’s licence printing machine is now back in operation.

“The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards.  To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed a MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver’s licence cards,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za