Category: South Africa Government

The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is pressing ahead with multi-billion-rand water infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening water security, stabilising supply and improving service delivery across the city.

The Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme, which includes a storage dam, a water abstraction point and a water treatment plant, has entered Phase 2 at a price tag of R11 billion.

“Upon completion, the project will produce 100 megalitres of water per day. Of this amount, 75 megalitres will be supplied to eThekwini Municipality. This volume will be sufficient to supply all areas in the south, from Isipingo to uMkhomazi. 

“The water currently being supplied to these areas will then be redirected to the central, northern and outer western regions to further stabilise supply,” eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba said on Thursday during a media roundtable outlining the progress of the eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba.

Phase 1 focused on raw water components, including the Ngwadini and Goodenough systems, while Phase 2 will deliver potable water infrastructure.

This infrastructure features a 100 ML/day water treatment facility, gravity pipelines and expanded reservoir capacity.

The Mayor said significant strides have been made with the Lower uMkhomazi Bulk Water Supply Scheme. 

“Last week, we introduced the contractor who will commence with the second phase of the Water Treatment Works. Although the project was delayed by legal processes, Umgeni-uThukela Water has committed to ensuring that, by the end of next year, we will begin receiving water from this scheme,” he said.

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group is driving infrastructure projects, demonstrating the effectiveness of its work in coordinating and accelerating interventions to address key developmental, infrastructure, economic, and service delivery challenges within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

The Working Group also seeks to strengthen collaboration between national, provincial and local government, while ensuring improved communication and stakeholder engagement on progress made.

“For the first time in five years, all our bulk water reservoirs remained stable throughout the festive season, with the Durban Heights, Wiggins and Midmar Treatment Works operating at full capacity. 

“This resulted in communities in the north, south and central regions enjoying an uninterrupted water supply, and I am pleased that this trend has continued beyond the festive season,” Xaba said.

This is due to investment in the Northern Aqueduct, as well as the refurbishment and upgrade of the Ntuzuma Pump Station, both of which have significantly stabilised water supply in northern areas.

The R1.2 billion, 24 km bulk pipeline of the Southern Aqueduct Project involves replacing a 70-year-old, 900 mm diameter concrete pipe with a 1 200 mm diameter steel pipe and is expected to stabilise water supply from Durban Central to southern areas.

The system supplies water to approximately 1.2 million people via 33 reservoirs and is one of the city’s most critical bulk water infrastructure projects, aimed at improving the bulk water network, reducing water loss and enhancing water service delivery.

“We are also making excellent progress with the Southern Aqueduct upgrade, with several work packages already completed. We are confident that this R1.2 billion project will be completed by December this year, bringing much-needed relief to the 1.2 million residents living in the south of Durban,” the Mayor said.

Work Package One has been successfully commissioned. This newly commissioned section consists of approximately four kilometres of new steel pipeline, connecting the Westcliff Reservoir, Chatsworth Reservoir 1 and downstream reservoirs in Umlazi.

Work Package Three remains on track for commissioning at the end of May.

Work is progressing on the concrete pipeline on Northbourne Road in Westville. Pipe installation was scheduled to start on 27 May 2026.

Due to the system’s inability to operate at full capacity, after a scheduled shutdown and tie-in works, emergency water rationing was implemented until 27 May 2026.

Delays were experienced in the preparatory phase due to fibre and electrical cables within the construction area. –SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, has praised Bafana Bafana’s relentless effort and attitude to never give up following their 2-0 defeat to Mexico in the FIFA World Cup opening game on Thursday night.

“Our boys showed resilience against all odds. They never folded and kept it going until the end. They battled hard for the badge and the aspirations of millions of South Africans back home. 

“We say to them football is a game of mistakes and chances and against a top 15 ranked team with such overwhelming home support, they were unfortunately at the end of the harsh realities of the game,” the MEC said on Friday.

The MEC had previously joined the nation in wishing Bafana Bafana well in their game.

The match held at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, saw the Mexicans score their first goal in the first eight minutes of the game while their second goal was scored in the second half.  South Africa walked away with two red cards in last night’s game.

“We call on them to hold their heads high, regroup and confront the harsh technical lessons of the match and learn from it. Tactically they faced an uphill battle, however they showed their intentions and readiness to do their best even with two men short,” said Maile.

The MEC further urged the public to pull together and rally behind the team as they navigate the group stage. 

“A single result does not dictate our destiny. We call on the nation to lift our players up, drown out the noise, and show them unconditional love and support. This disappointment should serve as motivation for the next games to stay in the tournament for as long as it is possible,” he said.

In a statement on Thursday night, government commended the men’s team for their “spirited performance” at the World Cup opener.

“While the final score was not what the nation had hoped for, the team represented South Africa with unity, determination, and a sense of pride on the world’s biggest stage,” Acting government spokesperson, Nomonde Mnukwa said.

READ | Chin up, Bafana Bafana 
The senior men’s team will face Czechia in their next Group A match in Atlanta on Thursday, 18 June 2026. –SAnews.gov.za

While they had a disappointing start in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opening game, government has commended Bafana Bafana following their match against Mexico on Thursday night.

“Government commends Bafana Bafana for their spirited performance in their opening match against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup. While the final score was not what the nation had hoped for, the team represented South Africa with unity, determination, and a sense of pride on the world’s biggest stage,” Acting government spokesperson, Nomonde Mnukwa said.

This as the national senior men’s team suffered a 2-0 loss to Mexico at the at the iconic Estadio Azteca.

“We encourage the team, coaching staff and support team to remain focussed and confident as they prepare for the remaining matches in the group stage.  Together, we can inspire our team to greater heights; South Africans are urged to rally behind our boys and cheer them on as they carry the hope of the nation,” she said in a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information System.

Mnukwa urged South Africans to wear their green and gold on Bafana Fridays and continue to stand united behind the national team throughout their FIFA World Cup journey. 

“South Africa remains proud of Bafana Bafana and believes in their ability to bounce back stronger,” she said.

The senior men’s team will face Czechia in their next match in Atlanta on Thursday, 18 June 2026. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Heartbreak was the order of the day for Bafana Bafana who went down 2-0 to Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match, on Thursday night.

The loss took place at the iconic Estadio Azteca, following the 9pm kick off, which saw Captain Ronwen Williams lead his teammates onto the pitch in Mexico City.

Stepping onto the pitch has been a journey of four years of hard work in a game that saw many hold on to the edge of their seat.

While it ended in disappointment for South Africa in the Group A Stage, Thursday’s match marked exactly 16 years since South Africa, as host nation, opened the first World Cup on African soil against Mexico in Johannesburg.

This year’s FIFA World Cup is being hosted by the United States of America, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called on the fuels industry to deepen collaboration with government as the State builds economic prosperity for South Africa.

The Minister was speaking at the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa Annual Imbizo held at the Sandton Convention Centre this week.

“We recognise that the fuel industry requires predictability and this means that we must build strong partnerships between government, State-owned entities, regulators, investors, infrastructure users and organised industry formations.

“The challenges facing our logistics sector cannot be addressed by government acting alone. Equally, the opportunities before us can only be fully recognised through collaboration, shared commitment and a common vision for our country’s future,” Creecy said.

The Minister noted that government is keenly aware of the fuel industry’s importance to keep the South African economy ticking.

“We understand that the fuel industry is indeed one of the most strategic sectors within our economy because it enables mobility, powers production, supports trade and logistics and contributes significantly to employment and investment.

“As government, we recognise that a resilient and sufficient fuel supply chain is fundamental to the functioning of our economy. 

“We are… committed to creating an enabling environment through effective policy regulation, infrastructure development planning and oversight of State-owned entities operating within the transport and logistics sector,” Creecy said.

She told the imbizo that the future growth of the liquid fuels industry requires “modern, efficient, safe and well regulated infrastructure and… government frameworks that provide certainty to investors, transparency to infrastructure users and confidence to the broader market”.

“The [department], working closely with Transnet and the Transnet Ports Authority is promoting several initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure planning, operation efficiency, safety and long-term investment in the Island View precinct [at the Port of Durban].

“These interventions seek to ensure that the precinct continues to meet current demand requirements, while positioning South Africa to accommodate future growth in fuel imports, storage capacity and associated logistics services,” she stated.

Creecy assured the industry leaders that government is committed to working with the industry.

“We are committed to creating a transport and logistics environment that is efficient, competitive, sustainable and capable of meeting the needs of a growing economy.

“I am sure that together, we can ensure that South Africa’s strategic infrastructure continues to support energy security, attracts investment and drive economic prosperity for many generations to come,” Creecy said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Home Affairs on Thursday confirmed that it has processed 586 Nigerian nationals for repatriation after they were found to be residing in South Africa illegally. 

In its statement, the department said the first repatriation flight departed on Thursday morning, 11 June 2026, carrying 268 passengers. 

“All individuals processed for repatriation were issued with Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission, enabling their exit from South Africa and return to Nigeria.  In accordance with the Immigration Act, all affected individuals have been declared undesirable persons and are consequently prohibited from re-entering South Africa for a period of five years,” it said.

In addition, it acknowledged the cooperation and assistance provided by the Nigerian High Commission throughout the documentation and repatriation process.

Meanwhile, a second flight, which will transport the remaining individuals from the group of 586 processed for repatriation, is scheduled to depart on Monday, 15 June 2026. 

“The department further reminds all foreign nationals residing in South Africa that they are required to be in possession of valid visas or other authorisations that entitle them to remain in the Republic lawfully. Foreign nationals must ensure that their immigration status remains compliant with South African immigration laws at all times and to regularise their stay.”

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the department is irrevocably committed to enforcing South Africa’s immigration laws and restoring the rule of law. 

“Our ongoing orderly and lawful deportations and repatriations, which have increased by 46% over the past two years, is clear evidence of this,” he said.

He went on to say:  “Our reform agenda as recently affirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including the ongoing scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation to record biometrics for every foreigner entering our country, the replacement of the fraud-prone Green ID Book with Smart ID cards through our digital partnership with the banks, and the introduction of a cutting-edge Digital Identity system, are systematically enhancing our capacity to enforce immigration laws. 

“In this context of ongoing progress, the public is again urged to never engage in violence or take the law into their own hands.” –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, says Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates represent the bridge South Africa needs to connect skills development with economic opportunity.

Addressing young built-environment professionals at the Institute of Building Inspectors Youth Sector Business Breakfast on Thursday, Letsike said TVET graduates are critical to addressing skills shortages, youth unemployment and transformation within the construction and infrastructure sectors.

“They represent the bridge that South Africa desperately needs – the bridge between artisan knowledge and professional recognition, between technical skill and regulatory authority, between township and college pathways and formal professional status,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike’s remarks come against the backdrop of persistently high youth unemployment, with many graduates struggling to secure workplace experience and professional registration, despite completing their studies.

She argued that South Africa must stop treating TVET education as a secondary option and instead position it as a credible pathway into professional careers and leadership positions.

“If we are serious about youth development, we must stop treating TVET education as a second-class pathway.”

The Deputy Minister highlighted the success of the Gauteng-funded Youth Building Inspector Programme, which has provided workplace learning opportunities for unemployed graduates through partnerships involving municipalities, higher education institutions, and industry stakeholders.

The programme has placed 248 unemployed built-environment graduates in workplace learning opportunities, while supporting 51 young women on their journey towards professional registration.

According to Letsike, the programme demonstrates that South Africa does not lack talent but often falls short in providing the support systems needed to help young people transition from education into employment.

“Transformation fails when support systems are absent,” she said.

She noted that many of the programme participants possess TVET and technical qualifications in fields such as electrical engineering, plumbing, civil construction, building, and construction management.

Letsike said young people will only embrace TVET pathways if they can clearly see opportunities for career progression and professional advancement.

“A young woman who studies electrical engineering at a TVET college must be able to imagine herself not only as an assistant on site, but as a registered inspector, a compliance professional, an entrepreneur, a municipal official, a project manager and a leader in the built environment.”

The Deputy Minister also called on government departments, municipalities, professional councils, the private sector, and educational institutions to work together to create seamless pathways from training to employment.

She said young professionals should be able to move from recruitment and training to workplace learning, mentorship, professional registration, employment, and entrepreneurship without facing unnecessary barriers.

“Candidate categories must become bridges, not traps,” Letsike said, urging professional bodies to make registration processes more accessible while maintaining high standards.

Investing in meaningful workplace opportunities 

The Deputy Minister also challenged private companies to invest in mentorship, internships and workplace opportunities that lead to meaningful careers rather than temporary placements.

South Africa’s infrastructure development ambitions, she said, will depend on the country’s ability to attract, train, and retain a new generation of skilled professionals.

“The developmental state must behave like one state. Young people should not be left to navigate fragmented systems alone,” Letsike said.

She added that empowering TVET graduates and young professionals would not only strengthen the built-environment sector, but also contribute to economic growth, improved municipal capacity and more inclusive development.

“The youth of this generation are fighting against an economy that too often produces exclusion. Different battlefield, same demand: dignity, opportunity, recognition, and freedom,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Improved service delivery and infrastructure investment, backed by the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), are helping restore business confidence in eThekwini, unlocking major private-sector investment and supporting job creation.

The city’s interventions in electricity, water and sanitation are strengthening industrial and manufacturing zones and positioning eThekwini as a more attractive destination for investment.

As part of this effort, eThekwini is supporting 61 designated industrial areas that are home to about 27,000 businesses.

“These businesses generate around R9 billion annually and contribute more than 50% of the City’s total revenue base,” eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba said on Thursday during a media roundtable outlining the progress of the PeWG.

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group was established to coordinate and accelerate interventions aimed at addressing key developmental, infrastructure, economic and service delivery challenges within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. 

The Working Group further seeks to strengthen collaboration between national, provincial and local government, while ensuring improved communication and stakeholder engagement on progress made. 

In Prospecton, the city has undertaken major infrastructure improvements, with significant investment directed towards roads, electricity, water and sanitation.

“As a result of this work, Toyota has committed R10 billion towards expanding its investment in the area. This industrial node alone generates more than R1 billion annually in rates revenue for the city,” Xaba said.

The Mayor added that the city has also resolved several service delivery challenges in the Phoenix Industrial Park, unlocking further investment opportunities.

“A few weeks ago, I visited Tiger Brands in Umbilo, where management indicated that they will soon announce plans to expand their investment in the area,” he said.

Other industrial nodes, such as New Germany and Springfield, are also receiving focused attention.

Creating an enabling environment for investors

To accelerate the implementation of catalytic projects, the city has established a One-Stop Shop to centralise approvals related to planning, transport, infrastructure and compliance. 

This structural reform is designed to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

The One-Stop Shop will provide a single point of entry for investors; integrated approval processes and defined turnaround times to ensure certainty and predictability.

“We are confident that this initiative will accelerate the implementation of catalytic projects valued at R217 billion.

This effort will be supported by an investment of R588 million in the next financial year towards bulk infrastructure for catalytic projects,” the Mayor said.

The projects include Durban Film City, Durban Waterfront, Oceans Umhlanga, Brickworks, Westown/Shongweni and Giba Business Park.

“We are encouraged that more than two-thirds of catalytic projects across all regions are already under implementation.

“For example, in northern Durban, construction has commenced on the R25 billion Sibaya Precinct Development. This mixed-use development, comprising retail facilities, a hospital, residential units and a private college, is expected to create 70,000 sustainable jobs.

“Significant progress is also being made on the newly launched R3.6 billion Birchwood Estate development, which is expected to create 2,500 jobs,” he said.

In Cato Ridge, yellow plant including cranes are already on site at the R10 billion Insimbi Ridge Development, which forms part of the Inland Port Development aimed at decongesting the Port of Durban. 

This project is expected to create 5,000 sustainable jobs.

Governance

In terms of financial management and governance, the city has secured an unqualified audit opinion for five consecutive years.

“Consequence management continues to be implemented against individuals involved in corruption and maladministration. Irregular expenditure is showing a downward trend, while our collection rate remains within the National Treasury benchmark of 93% to 95%,” Xaba said.

The city is also among the few municipalities that are not in arrears with Eskom and Umgeni-uThukela Water for bulk electricity and water purchases.

Without the collaboration of all stakeholders through the PeWG and the District Development Model, the Mayor said these achievements would not have been possible.

“This demonstrates that when we work together as social partners, we can achieve remarkable results,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has warned that development cannot be considered genuine progress if it results in unsafe, inaccessible, and unequal spaces.

Letsike made the remarks while addressing the Institute of Building Inspectors Youth Sector Business Breakfast at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre in Johannesburg.

Letsike called for a human rights-centred approach to infrastructure development, arguing that the built environment plays a critical role in advancing dignity, equality, and constitutional rights.

“A human rights approach to the built environment begins with the simple truth that development is not development if it produces unsafe, inaccessible and unequal spaces,” Letsike said on Thursday.

She said South Africa’s democratic project should be measured not only through laws and policies, but through the quality and accessibility of homes, schools, clinics and public spaces experienced by citizens every day.

“The right to housing is not meaningful if the house is structurally defective. The right to education is weakened if the school is unsafe or inaccessible. The right to health is compromised if the clinic cannot be reached or used by persons with disabilities.”

Letsike said the work of building inspectors and other built environment professionals must be understood as human rights work.

” You are not simply checking walls, roofs, foundations, fire safety, drainage, accessibility, and compliance. When you do this work, you are not only inspecting a structure; you are carrying a public trust.

“You are the person who helps ensure that poor workmanship does not become a family’s financial ruin, that weak oversight does not become tomorrow’s tragedy, and that the promise of development is not betrayed by unsafe construction. In many ways, you stand at that critical point where regulation meets real life, where a technical decision can protect a worker, a homeowner, a child, a tenant, and an entire community from harm,” the Deputy Minister explained.

She further warned that weak inspection systems can have devastating consequences, including collapsed buildings, unsafe workplaces, defective housing, wasted public resources and declining public confidence in government institutions.

According to Letsike, every structure and public space communicates who is valued and protected in society.

“The built environment is never neutral because every structure we raise and every space, we design carries a message about who matters, who belongs and who is protected,” she said.

The Deputy Minister linked the discussion to South Africa’s constitutional journey, noting that the country is commemorating 30 years of the Constitution, 50 years since the 1976 Soweto Uprising and 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March.

These milestones, she said, should serve as a reminder that the struggle for dignity and inclusion continues in modern forms, including access to safe infrastructure and economic opportunity.

She further called for greater transformation within the built-environment sector, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and professionals from township and rural communities.

In addition, municipalities, professional bodies, training institutions and the private sector were urged to work together to create clearer pathways into professional practice, strengthen mentorship programmes and ensure that professional registration processes remain rigorous but accessible.

“A building inspector who refuses to sign off unsafe work is defending the Constitution. A municipality that strengthens inspection capacity is defending the Constitution. A developer that respects standards and trains young professionals is defending the Constitution,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za