Category: South Africa Government

While the recent inclement weather conditions have reminded us of the power that mother nature wields, it has also served to remind us about how municipalities are run, and their importance.

As inclement weather often brings damage to homes, roads and other infrastructure, municipalities are often the first port of call for residents in such disasters. They are at the coal face of coordinating help for residents, including shelter, food and clothing.

Given the importance of matters of local government, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has extended the deadline for submissions on the Review of the White Paper on Local Government.

The Minister extended the initial deadline that had been set for 30 June to 31 July 2025, due to requests from stakeholders across the country for additional time to prepare and submit inputs. 

The Ministry said the extension provides an opportunity for broader consultation and deeper reflection while also encouraging interested individuals and organisations to take full advantage of the additional time to submit their views.

“The Ministry recognises the importance of inclusive participation in shaping a responsive and effective system of local governance and thus welcomes the active engagement from all sectors of society,” the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said.

These contributions are essential in strengthening the future of local government and it is crucial for citizens to make their comments count.

Like the weather, local government has an impact on daily life – whether it be refuse collection, the maintenance of roads, or the provision of electricity.

In the Government Gazette dated 10 April 2025, Minister Hlabisa invited the public, civil society, public institutions and interested stakeholders and all three spheres of government to provide comments towards the review.

Among others, the review speaks to the challenges brought on by the changing weather patterns.

This as the Eastern Cape Provincial Government announced that the floods that battered parts of the province last month claimed 103 lives. The victims include 38 children and public servants who were among the first responders. 

In total, in June, South Africa lost 107 lives because of the disaster, of which three were in KwaZulu-Natal and one in the Western Cape.

In the aftermath of the disaster, government announced a substantial Disaster Recovery Grant, allocating R1.2 billion to municipalities affected by recent disasters.  

Climate change is among the nine interconnected priorities for change that are up for discussion in the review document.
According to the review, the “escalating climate crisis” which has “profoundly reshaped municipal governance priorities,” necessitates that local authorities balance the immediate service delivery demands with long-term resilience planning. 

While it feels like mother nature is playing a cruel trick on us in the month that South Africa marks Environment Month, the review notes that municipalities are operating in an era in which climate considerations are present in every aspect of urban and rural management.

“In addition to revealing critical deficits in institutional capacity and resource allocation, this paradigm shift has required structural reforms in financial planning, infrastructure development, and cross-sectoral coordination,” it notes, while also stating that municipalities have been compelled to become frontline responders for climate adaptation.

According to the document, municipal budgets have borne the brunt of climate-induced disasters, with extreme weather events between 1998 and 2025 increasing emergency expenditures by 320% across South African cities. 

Flooding in Durban during the 2022 rainy season required R780 million in unplanned drain clearance and road repairs, diverting funds from scheduled housing projects.

“The frequency of such events has necessitated permanent budget line items for disaster response,” noted the report adding that coastal municipalities like Nelson Mandela Bay have seen 22% decreases in rates income from properties in flood-prone areas since 2018.

Additionally, critical municipal infrastructure built to 20th-century climate standards now operate beyond their design thresholds.

According to the document, the key challenges in local government show a breakdown in finance, governance and service delivery resulting in high and growing debt, instability in councils, and a deterioration in and lack of maintenance of infrastructure assets.
The review notes that local government performance has regressed due to a variety of administrative, governance, service delivery, infrastructure, financial, structural, and systemic challenges.

“The failure to do the basics well has become a major constraint on attracting investment, fostering growth, creating jobs, promoting human development, and serving citizens,” it said.

Key areas 

Government has prioritised the reform of the local government system to ensure it does not continue to be a limiting factor in the country’s development.

The other eight interconnected priorities for change in the document are: municipal fiscal and financial reform; manipulative conduct, culture and behaviour, unethical practices and poor accountability; overpoliticisation of municipalities; poor oversight over local government at national and provincial level; weak integration of traditional governance systems; poor relationships with citizens; inability of spheres of government to meaningfully collaborate and persistent spatial inequalities.

Under the issue of municipal fiscal and financial reform, the document states that local government fiscal and financial challenges are multifaceted and impact the delivery of basic services, citizen confidence, and the long-term viability of the local government system.
The document states that the discussion options for a new local government financial model will need to take into account why levels of local government own revenue have declined, with rising debtors resulting in failure to realise potential revenue.

It will also need to consider why expenditure is rising above revenue and, at the same time, declining service delivery, as well as persistent weaknesses in internal controls and financial governance, among others.

On the matter of manipulative conduct, culture and behaviour, unethical practices and poor accountability, the document notes an emergence of “a bureaucratic, hierarchical, command-and-control, and compartmentalised local government institutional culture”.

This according to the document, has distanced many municipalities from the people they serve with manipulation and methods aiming at maintaining power and/or rapid enrichment having spread, resulting in corrupt, nepotistic, and unethical activity in municipalities.

“Culture change needs to start with ethical leaders in all three spheres of government who model transparency, accountability, agility, and responsiveness and support strengthening of anti-corruption measures,” noted the review.

Meanwhile on the priority of poor relationships with citizens, the document states that there is a large divide between many municipalities and their communities (including residential, business, university, and institutional communities). 

“The fact that as of 2024, households owe municipalities a staggering R230.5 billion (74% of total municipal debt) is an indicator of the broken social contract.”

It further goes on to say that a three-way partnership between the elected political structure, the administration, and the community is part of the original conceptualisation of municipalities in the 1998 white paper.

“However, relationships have increasingly become strained and, in some cases, have broken down, hence the need for a focus on ways to improve three-way relational governance at the municipal level, within a whole of government and whole of society framework.”

Meanwhile on the issue of persistent spatial inequalities, the document noted that the persistence of spatial inequality in South African towns and cities remains one of the most pressing challenges of the post-apartheid era. 

“Despite three decades of democratic governance, the colonial and apartheid-era urban form, characterised by racial segregation, economic exclusion, and fragmented landscapes, continues to define South Africa’s towns and cities,” it said.

While adding that policies like the Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) have sought to dismantle this legacy, progress has been hindered by fragmented implementation, among others.

The document noted that the nine focus areas represent “just some of the initial reflections on the causes of local government system failure; the list is not exhaustive.”

The document notes that the process of local government reform in South Africa faces the persistent and deepening weaknesses of the local government system itself and policy implementation failure are pressing challenges.

“These two challenges need to be tackled simultaneously. If the policy reform and implementation processes are not significantly improved and recommendations are not translated into action, the necessary system changes will once again not be made or sustained,” it said.

Local government achievements

While the white paper speaks to the challenges the country faces, there have been several achievements since the dawn of democracy, including the devolution and establishment of autonomous municipalities with constitutional powers to manage local development. 

Other successes include a stable, functional democracy with regular elections established at the local level, including ward committees and other mechanisms for community engagement.

It also includes the merging of fragmented local authorities into inclusive municipal systems. 
Other developments include the expanding of access to basic services, including an increase in electricity and water provision as well as the Adoption of the Free Basic Services policies. 

The document states that the review presents a crucial opportunity to assess progress, identify challenges, and propose policy reforms to enhance local governance. 

“Central to this process is public participation, ensuring that diverse perspectives contribute to shaping an inclusive and effective local government system,” noted the document.

The White Paper can be accessed on: https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/wplg-page/ .

Contributions can be submitted via email to WPLG26@cogta.gov.za,  oRichardP@cogta.gov.za  or MaphutiL@cogta.gov.za. 

Submissions can also be made to the following postal address: 
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Attention: Mr Thabiso Richard Plank (WPLG26 Policy Review)
Private Bag X802, Pretoria, 0001
Alternatively, submission can be dropped off at 87 Hamilton Street, Arcadia, Pretoria. 

–SAnews.gov.za

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The Department of Military Veterans (DMV) has announced that the rollout of the military veterans’ pension will continue once a review process is completed. 

This decision comes after approximately 300 military veterans expressed concerns about delays in receiving their pensions.

“We acknowledge the hardship faced by military veterans and recognise their frustration. This benefit is a vital intervention aimed at restoring dignity and improving the quality of life of those who served this country with honour,” the statement read.

However, the department emphasised the need to clarify that the delays were caused by the budgetary constraints that currently affect it.

“It has become evident that the regulations governing the disbursement of the military veterans’ pension need to be reviewed. Once this process is complete, the department will resume the rollout of the military veterans’ pension, ensuring that deserving military veterans receive the financial assistance they are entitled to.” 

Since the implementation of this benefit in November 2023, the department said over 4 378 military veterans have successfully received their military veterans’ pensions. 

The department said it continues to work closely with the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA) to process and pay new beneficiaries as they are verified.

“In the future, we appeal to military veterans to engage directly with the GPAA to check on the status of their applications and to raise any challenges so that they can be addressed timeously. We remain committed to upholding the dignity of all military veterans.” 

Last week, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans expressed concern at the ongoing challenges faced by military veterans, many of whom remain in limbo due to delays in receiving their service-related benefits. 

The committee also expressed concerns regarding the DMV’s lack of a functioning internal audit unit, an essential tool for ensuring financial accountability and risk management.

“The committee highlighted the need for urgent intervention by the executive to turn around the DMV, starting with the appointment of a permanent Director-General, re-evaluating the organisational structure, addressing the findings of the Auditor-General, and developing a more responsive department.” – SAnews.gov.za

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In its continued efforts to uplift township and rural-based businesses, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in collaboration with the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) is set to host a Spaza Shop Support Awareness Campaign in the Western Cape.

Friday’s session is scheduled to take place at the KwaMandlenkosi Community Hall in the Beaufort West Local Municipality and is open to informal traders, spaza shop owners and micro-retailers operating in the area.

This community-focused initiative follows the national launch of the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund in April 2025 by dtic Minister Parks Tau and DSBD Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni.

The fund aims to help small retailers transition into the formal economy, access funding, and strengthen their businesses.

Delivered in partnership with the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), the campaign offers practical tools, guidance on compliance, and pathways for inclusion in formal supply chains.

Attendees in Beaufort West will have the opportunity to engage directly with programme implementers, ask questions about the application process, and learn more about the business development resources available to them.

According to the Minister Tau, the fund represents a concrete step by government to formalise and empower the informal sector. He said supporting spaza shops means enabling entrepreneurs, often women and young people, to participate fully in the economy.

“These small businesses generate employment, drive local commerce, and channel much-needed income into communities that have long been underserved. Studies show that small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation in South Africa. 
“By providing spaza shop owners with financial support, infrastructure upgrades, and essential business training, we are setting the stage for sustainable job creation,” the Minister explained.

Meanwhile, Ndabeni said the role played by SEDFA and the NEF is deeply appreciated and that her department believes the fund will go a long way in assisting shop owners who are registered and hold valid operating permits.

“Our partnership ensures that spaza shop owners are not only funded but also trained, mentored, and integrated into reliable supply chains. This is about building long-term sustainability for township retail,” Ndabeni said.

Through initiatives like this, government aims to ensure that township and rural-based convenience shops are better equipped to thrive in a competitive market. – SAnews.gov.za

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The B-BBEE Commission and the Black Management Forum (BMF) will today concretise their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The MoU is a culmination of years of close cooperation between the B-BBEE Commission and the BMF. 

The MoU signing ceremony will coincide with a dialogue entitled, “Safeguarding B-BBEE amidst challenges in implementation” and will feature an expert panel who will explore the status of Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) and the challenges that need to be resolved in order for it to achieve its objectives as per the B-BBEE Act. 

President of the BMF, Mpho Motsei, said Black Economic Empowerment was conceived from grassroots movements of black business and professional associations, which included the BMF. 

“It is therefore appropriate for BMF to play a part in the enhancement and safeguarding of the legislation that we helped to conceive, more than 30 years ago,” Motsei said. 

“We are therefore delighted to work with the B-BBEE Commission, as a regulator that provides oversight on the implementation of the legislation that was designed to elevate black people from social and economic subjugation.

“This event occurs at a time when B-BBEE and other transformation policies have been under attack both in the media and the public space. Views on B-BBEE remain divided and there continues to be a lack of understanding with regard to the crucial role B-BBEE plays in bringing about a society that is equitable and inclusive, as mandated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,” he said. 

The dialogue seeks to reframe the discussion on B-BBEE and transformation, by paying particular focus on building an inclusive economy through B-BBEE policy and legislation. 

In doing so, the commission and BMF hope to re-ignite public discourse around the crucial issues of nation building, economic inclusion and compliance with the legislation, thereby safeguarding the objectives of B-BBEE policy. 

The MoU will seek to establish a framework of cooperation and sharing of information and ideas, within the parameters of the B-BBEE legislation, specifically in the following areas: 

• Strategies meant to promote economic transformation in the public interest; 

• Sectoral dynamics which may hinder or promote the prospects of economic transformation;

• Advocacy and awareness programmes on transformation and B-BBEE;

• Developments related to the racial composition of ownership and management structures, as well as skill occupations in the private and public sectors of the economy; and 

• and jointly monitor the effectiveness and gaps in the B-BBEE legislation, and any other policies related to economic transformation.

The B-BBEE Commission and the BMF believe that the MoU will serve as a solid foundation from which to advance the transformation agenda. 

Tshediso Matona, Commissioner of the B-BBEE Commission said the B-BBEE Commission considered the relationship with BMF a necessary step in strengthening ties with transformation advocates and practitioners in business, who are committed to realising the Constitutional provision of redress.

“As the commission, we hold a firm view that the implementation of B-BBEE is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders in the economy and our collaboration with the BMF seeks to promote this view.

“We look forward to a productive partnership with BMF and we are excited about what it will achieve,” Matona said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, says South Africa must prioritise science, technology and innovation (STI) to achieve long-term sustainability.

“We deliver this Budget Vote against the background of a complex set of national and global challenges, some of which include economic stagnation, rising social inequality, a breakdown of social cohesion, the negative impact of climate change, technological disruption and new tensions arising from changes in the international economic and political system,” said the Minister while tabling the department’s Budget Vote on Wednesday in Parliament.

He committed to taking STI to the villages, townships, and all the corners of South Africa. 

“We hold the view that our country must place science, technology, and innovation at the centre of government, education, industry, and society if we are to secure our sovereignty and future sustainability.” 

Nzimande highlighted his department’s dedication to speeding up the transformation and growth of human resources and the research workforce in STI.

The Minister stated that this commitment includes advancing the Presidential PhD Programme, which was launched in 2023.

“We will scale up the implementation of the Innovation Fund programme. During this financial year, our target is to support between 10 and 15 venture capital funds through strategic partnerships with, among others, our entity, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).”

He stressed that the development of critical scientific skills remains central to the department’s mandate.

According to the department, 288 Research Chairs to 22 universities and national research facilities in various research disciplines have been awarded.

“I am, however, deeply concerned that black researchers and historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) have not benefited from this initiative in the manner that we had anticipated,” the Minister said.

To tackle this issue, his department is collaborating with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to establish Research Chairs aimed at addressing these and other deficits in transformation.

“Further to this, our National System of Innovation (NSI) is still characterised by several other transformation deficits, including the low participation of women at the highest levels.”

The department is also strengthening the coordination and direction of the NSI through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on STI, Presidential Plenary for STI, and policy coordination instruments.

In March this year, South Africa hosted its first NSI Transformation Summit. 

The Minister announced that under the leadership of the department’s Director-General, the resolutions of this summit are being incorporated into their strategic plan. 

In addition, he has vowed continued support for Palestinian institutions and researchers, adding that this project is making steady progress.

As part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the department is committed to advancing STI priorities for both the nation and the African continent.

The department is also working tirelessly to increase the Gross Expenditure on Research and Development to 1.5%. 

This includes establishing a strategic agreement among organised business, government, and labour to determine future funding.

In addition, the department is focused on maintaining and upgrading crucial science infrastructure and projects, including the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRi), and the development of reliable pandemic preparedness capacity.

Another priority is to build strategic innovation partnerships, which involves aligning the key focus areas of the STI Decadal Plan with the relevant line function departments and mobilising additional funding and resources. 
He said significant programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence, energy security, space exploration, vaccine manufacturing, and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) will be scaled up.

Nzimande stressed that efforts are underway to raise public awareness about the important contributions of the NSI to human development, supported by a vigorous public engagement and communication campaign. – SAnews.gov.za

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned young women not to fall prey to drug trafficking syndicates, as this can have dire consequences. 

This follows the sentencing of a 30-year-old female Namibian drug mule by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. She was sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment for drug dealing, of which three years were wholly suspended.

Pauline Mbangula was arrested on 22 September 2024 shortly after landing at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil.

At the time, she was found to have swallowed at least 68 bullets – packets filled with cocaine. A medical examination confirmed that there were drugs in her stomach, which she was later made to release.

“At the time of her arrest, she claimed that she was taken to Brazil by a man she recently met under false pretenses that they were going on holiday,” the South African Police Service said in a statement. 

Upon arrival in Brazil, she was forced to swallow the drugs and traffic them to South Africa. 

More than 22 drug mules have been arrested by police at OR Tambo International Airport in the past year. 

“The regular arrests of drug mules at the OR Tambo International Airport should send a stern warning that police in South Africa, and in particular at this port of entry, are always on high alert to clamp down on criminality,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane will on Thursday attend the official launch of the City of Polokwane’s level two accreditation for housing.

On 1 February 2024, the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs accorded the Polokwane Local Municipality level two housing accreditation. 

This means the city was given the authority to plan, budget, appoint an implementing agent, and manage housing projects.

The launch coincides with the start of construction for 404 low-cost houses.

The houses will cover 21 wards within the municipality, while 254 of the units will be built in rural areas and 150 will be built in urban areas.

“As part of the City of Polokwane’s obligation to increase the number of households with access to basic electricity, Polokwane Extension 133 will be connected to the electricity grid in phases; 251 houses are already connected to the electricity and 235 will be linked on the day of the launch,” said the department.

Simelane will be accompanied by the Mayor of Polokwane, John Mpe. – SAnews.gov.za