Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

Railway sector can do more to contribute to economic growth

nosihle
Tue, 11/04/2025 – 12:29

Source: Government of South Africa

With global attention set to turn to Johannesburg in a few weeks for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has assuredly stated that “Gauteng is ready” to host the global gathering.

The Premier briefed the media on Tuesday – revealing a “comprehensive” plan to host the summit, including securing energy supply, cleaning and preparation of public spaces, the activation of a disaster management centre and the preparation of law enforcement.

The summit will be held in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 November 2025.

“A comprehensive and resilient energy plan is now in place to secure uninterrupted power supply for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit but also for the overall energy supply to residents and businesses in our province.

“All primary electrification for key avenues and corridors is now complete with final minor work scheduled for timely conclusion in the next few weeks,” Lesufi said.

The energy plan also includes multiple layers of security, high mast solar lighting, the protection of cables and the installation of emergency generators.

“We have monitored the energy power at OR Tambo International Airport, the ICC and key hotels so that during the summit and beyond, we don’t have energy challenges that can disrupt the flow of visitors in our province.

“This integrated effort…not only ensures energy stability but also incorporates beautification and safety measures. Support by Eskom, we will continue to monitor the energy supply in our province,” Lesufi said.

Cleaning of public spaces – particularly the Joburg CBD – is also intensely underway with grass being cut, litter picked up and illegal dumps being cleared.

“New street furniture and bins have been installed in key areas, including the Cradle of Humankind, where we expect to host more tourists who want to experience this wonder of the world.

“We have rehabilitated streetlights in almost all major routes. We have enhanced safety and furthermore, we have developed and strengthened all our recycling stations so that all of them can be operational,” he added.

Ensuring protection

Safety and security are of paramount importance – with all law enforcement ready to serve.

“Gauteng is well equipped to ensure a safe and secure environment for all participants and our residents. The South African Police Service [SAPS], in full coordination with all other law enforcement agencies, has robust plans in place that we have all adopted and accepted.

“Our multi-level law enforcement strategy will see delegates escorted by a unified force comprising of SAPS, National Traffic Police, Gauteng Provincial Traffic and all metropolitan police departments will be deployed to escort and support our visitors.

“A coordinated and comprehensive strategy has ensured that the province’s main ports of entry…are all operating at an elevated state of readiness. This includes streamlined and enhanced security protocols and exceptional logistics support to facilitate the seamless and secure arrival and departure of all international guests,” the Premier highlighted.

In preparation for the possibility of disaster, the provincial disaster management centre “stands ready to ensure a secure and seamless” summit.

“A comprehensive multiagency command centre has been established – integrating all emergency services, law enforcement and essential service providers to facilitate real-time coordination and rapid response.

“With personnel strategically deployed and a state-of-the-art technology for monitoring and communication, the centre is prepared to manage any potential scenario from medical emergencies and security incidents to logistical disruptions so that we can ensure the safety of all delegates and the uninterrupted progress of this critical global gathering,” he said.

The Premier assured that delegates can look forward to the vibrancy of Johannesburg’s and the broader Gauteng province’s atmosphere.

“As we prepare to handover this province to national government, we do so with immense pride and confidence that Gauteng is ready.

“We have worked as one, we have delivered on our commitments and we are prepared to offer the world a warm and exceptionally unique experience about our province. Gauteng is ready, zwakala. Let’s make this an experience that we’ll all love,” Lesufi concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure Martin Meyer have concluded a successful visit to His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. 

The visit at the Mashobeni Royal Palace on Monday, formed part of the Minister’s official engagements in KwaZulu-Natal.

The discussions focused on the department’s infrastructure delivery plans for the province, including ongoing construction and maintenance projects, job creation through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), and the upcoming Social Facilitation Framework (SFF), aimed at enhancing delivery performance and promoting inclusive development.

The Minister and the MEC were accompanied by the Chairperson of the Independent Development Trust (IDT), Zimbini Hill, Chairperson of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Khulile Nzo, and Council for the Built Environment (CBE) CEO, Dr Msizi Myeza.

After the briefing, the delegation held discussions with Amakhosi, during which a number of matters were resolved.

During the engagement with the King and Amakhosi, both the Minister and MEC expressed the importance of working with the Royal Family to deliver services to rural communities across KwaZulu-Natal.

Among the major initiatives highlighted by the Minister includes the ongoing reforms to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to become a hand-up towards permanent employment, and the the introduction of social facilitation framework to work with communities to bring an end to construction stoppages. 

The Minister also highlighted the important work of the Independent Development Trust as a force for good by building much needed social infrastructure.

The King voiced his full support to the initiatives and entities and said he would join the launch of the pilot EPWP program in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as encourage Amakhosi to work alongside the department to implement the social facilitation framework.

Meanwhile, MEC Meyer highlighted projects such as the Nongoma cultural amphitheatre which has been able to show that state-of-the art facilities can exist in rural KwaZulu-Natal, while driving tourism and economic development. 

He said the department is working to release 11 commercial properties to the KwaZulu-Natal Agriculture and Rural Development Department, and a shoe factory in Msinga to the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, while the Tourism and Environmental Affairs Department will further support the empowerment of rural communities.

Minister Macpherson said the visit, a first by the department to the King, marks an important milestone towards strengthening relationships as the department delivers on its mandate and improve the lives of all South Africa.

“To achieve our development goals, it is essential that we work with His Majesty, King Misuzulu, to uplift rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal. 

“I am therefore deeply grateful to the King for granting us the opportunity to visit him and brief both him and the Amakhosi as we work together to build a better province for all its people,” said Minister Macpherson.

“Without the support of traditional leadership, we will not secure the community buy-in necessary to prevent construction stoppages across the province, meaningfully implement a reformed EPWP to benefit young people, and deliver large-scale infrastructure projects in rural communities such as schools, police stations, and hospitals that will improve the lives of many. This is why support for entities like the IDT and CIDB by His Majesty is most welcomed,” he said.

MEC Meyer added that KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure remains committed to improving the infrastructure and lives of the many people that live in rural KZN.

“Through programmes like EPWP and stakeholder involvement, we are working to ensure that the quality of training aligns with the industry demands which will equip beneficiaries to be skilled in lifelong essential skills,” MEC Meyer said.

“KZN Public Works and Infrastructure is also hard at work to reclaim what it owns. Having recently completed our audit, we now understand how our 10 067 assets are used and how many are hijacked properties. 

“In this regard, it has been identified that some of the biggest concentration of hijacked properties is in Ulundi. 

“That is why KZN Public Works and Infrastructure has begun talks with KZN SAPS provincial commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and the Honourable Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, as the custodian of Community Safety and Liaison to take back these assets which are paid for by the taxes of the people of KwaZulu-Natal and which harbour various illegal and criminal elements,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za 

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it’s all systems go for the Local Government Elections 2026/7.

Briefing the media in Pretoria earlier today, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi, said the Commission is encouraged by the number of South Africans who have acted on the call to register and update their details through various convenient platforms ahead of the upcoming local government general elections in 2026/2027.

The Minister of Home Affairs is yet to announce the date for the elections.

“From January to September 2025, over 305 206 new voters registered, while 60 752 voters updated their registration details,” Shiburi said.

Shiburi said the highest number of new registrations occurred in September with 71 324, followed by August with 51 714 and February with 39 967.

“Of this total of registered voters, 76.8% of voters were captured via the Voter Management Devices (VMD), 12% used the online registration portal and ten percent visited their local IEC office,” Shiburi said.

Shiburi said despite the registration activity, a lot more citizens must still register and that the Commission encourages all eligible voters to use the convenience of the self-registration platform to register to vote or update their voter details.

“Voters are urged to register where they live and vote at the voting station where they are registered. 

“A registered voter who has moved since they last registered should check their voting district and voting station status and, if necessary, update their address details to ensure that they are registered in a ward linked to their new place of residence,” he said.

With regard to the Annual Report, Shiburi said on 14 October, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs received the Electoral Commission’s 2024/25 Annual Report, reflecting strong performance and commitment to excellence.

“The Electoral Commission continues to demonstrate strong performance across all operational areas, including electoral operations, political funding, civic and democracy education, and governance.

“Building on five consecutive clean audits, the Commission is proud to have achieved 92% of its key performance targets during the 2024/25 financial year,” he said.

With regard to political funding, Shiburi said the Electoral Commission reported a 90% compliance rate among represented political parties with 18 of 20 submitting audited financial statements for 2024/25. 

“Build One SA and the National Coloured Congress (CCC) have been issued formal directions for non-submission on the due date of 30 September 2025.

Among 438 unrepresented parties, only 28% complied with the requirement to submit financial records accompanied by an affidavit. Therefore 304 unrepresented have also been served with directions,” Shiburi said.

Shiburi said the Commission continues to emphasise that all parties are legally and ethically obliged to maintain proper financial records and will continue to promote compliance, capacity-building, and accountability under the Political Funding Act.

The 30th of September 2025 marked the conclusion of the national consultation process on the feasibility and future of electronic voting (e-voting).

“The consultations allowed South Africans to share their views and perspectives on the potential introduction of digital voting in the country,” Shiburi said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has called on society to build a truly inclusive South Africa where people with disabilities participate fully and equally in all spheres of life.

Speaking at the launch of Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) 2025 at the Supported Employment Enterprise (SEE) Factory in Kimberley, Northern Cape, Chikunga said this year’s theme: “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society”, is a call to action for government, business, academia and civil society to work collaboratively to remove barriers that continue to marginalise people with disabilities.

“The SEE Factory stands as living proof that inclusion is possible — where persons with disabilities are not spectators in the economy, but skilled workers, producers, and innovators. Your factory represents what is possible when the state, the private sector, academia and civil society work together to transform ability into opportunity, and opportunity into dignity,” Chikunga said.

The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing universal access, inclusive education, decent employment, community-based services, and accessible technologies in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the G7 Solfagnano Charter.

Confronting exclusion in education and economy

Chikunga expressed deep concern about the ongoing exclusion of people with disabilities from education and the economy, noting that unemployment among people with disabilities exceeds 80% in some regions.

“When unemployment among persons with disabilities exceeds 80 percent in some regions, we are not seeing the natural workings of our economy — we are seeing deliberate structural abandonment,” Chikunga said.

She highlighted that too many schools still operate in buildings never designed for accessibility, when a child cannot enter a classroom with dignity.

“Resources — especially assistive devices — remain scarce, and many teachers have not been adequately prepared for inclusive classrooms. Technology promises personalisation, yet without equitable access to devices, connectivity and the skills to use them, innovation risks widening rather than closing the gap.

“Participation by children with disabilities still lags behind that of their peers, with only modest improvement in recent years. Educational inclusion is not about “fixing” the learner to fit the system, it is about fixing the system to embrace every learner,” the Minister said.

The Minister also raised concerns about the increased vulnerability of women with disabilities to gender-based violence (GBV), warning that as femicide rates climb, women with disabilities face compounded risk.

She said the department has approached the Minister of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) to issue a Ministerial directive compel all departments to employ people with disabilities, until the 4% public service employment target is achieved.

According to the latest Employment Equity data, people with disabilities make up about 1.2 percent of reported employees in the public service and 1.3% in the private sector, which is far below the 3 percent national benchmark and the 7 percent goal set for the public service.

Cabinet has also called for every department to recruit and plan deliberately towards this target and directed that every board of a public entity must include at least one person with a disability.

She further announced that SEE factories will now be able to supply goods such as furniture, uniforms and linen directly to government departments and entities without undergoing lengthy tender procurement processes, a move designed to preserve jobs for people with disabilities and reduce costs to the State.

“The SEE model makes economic sense: it promotes inclusion, supports local manufacturing, and ensures that public procurement restores both income and dignity.”

Building partnerships that deliver

Chikunga emphasised that the real test of government is whether inclusion moves from paper to practice, whether every school, business and public entity becomes part of the machinery that advances the rights of persons with disabilities.

“A society that is inclusive is a society where persons with disabilities move freely through our cities on public transport designed with them from the start; where buildings welcome everyone through their doors; and where every digital platform — from government services to banking apps — works seamlessly for all South Africans regardless of ability,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

In preparation for the summer initiation season, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), has equipped cultural practitioners with the necessary skills and resources to ensure a safe and dignified rite of passage.

The 2025 summer initiation season commenced on Saturday, 1 November 2025, and will run until 31 January 2026, marking the beginning of a significant cultural period for initiates, their families, and communities.

According to the provincial department, a total of 680 cultural practitioners, including traditional surgeons, traditional caregivers, and administrators, have participated in capacity-building training. 

The training focused on key areas, including fire and environmental management, health and hygiene, specialised training for traditional surgeons, and organisational development.

In collaboration with the Initiation Forums, DCAS has also announced the revised Initiation Minimum Standards to reinforce safety and accountability. 

“These standards now require Initiation Forums to be registered under relevant legislation as responsible community organisations, ensuring both the safety of initiates and compliance by cultural practitioners.” 

Meanwhile, the DCAS is also actively distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), fire equipment, and water tanks to initiation schools across the province.

From this summer season, the department said a digital initiation management system approved by the Western Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee (WCPICC) will be utilised. 

This system is designed to improve the efficiency of initiation applications and represents a significant step forward in enhancing the protection and well-being of initiates.

“The Western Cape Government is committed to supporting initiatives in our province to ensure that all initiates can safely undergo this important and sacred practice. We wish all initiates well for the upcoming season, and we will continue working closely with all stakeholders to protect the welfare and dignity of all initiates,” said the Western Cape MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie.

The Head of Department, Guy Redman, stated that ensuring a safe and meaningful rite of passage depends on strong collaboration among all stakeholders involved. 

This includes the initiates, their families, cultural practitioners, healthcare professionals, Initiation Forums, traditional leaders, municipalities, and the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee.
“Each of them plays a crucial role, and by working together, we can uphold this tradition with the utmost care and respect for all,” Redman added. 

The Chairperson of the WCPICC, Nkosi Ntsika Minenkulu Joyi, said that they are working hard as a collective with all stakeholders to ensure compliance with the Customary Initiation Act (Act 2 of 2021) across the province.

“We wish all initiates well as they undertake this important journey, and we will continue providing support to ensure that initiations are practised safely in the Western Cape,” Joyi said. – SAnews.gov.za