Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has vowed to introduce a number of legislative reforms to avoid a repeat of the tragic George building collapse that claimed the lives of 34 people and injured 28 people.

The Minister made this assertion during a media briefing on Saturday where he released the findings of investigative reports into the George building collapse of 6 May 2024, which found that the incident was preventable and was a result of a lethal convergence of failures.

The apartment building collapsed while under construction in George on 75 Victoria Street in the Western Cape on 6 May 2024.

READ | Minister Macpherson speaks on George building collapse 

“Our legislative framework is outdated. The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act was last meaningfully amended in 1996. The built environment has changed. Our laws have not. 

“We will introduce a revised Council for the Built Environment Bill in Parliament. This Bill will give the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) stronger investigative powers, consolidate regulatory functions, and establish it as a single, more effective regulator for the built environment,” the Minister said.

The CEB is a regulatory body of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, established under the Council for the Built Environment Act (No. 43 of 2000) (the CBE Act).

It was established for the purpose of instilling good conduct within built environment professions, mobilising transformation in the built environment professions, protecting the interest of the public and advising the South African Government on built environment related issues.

“The CBE will establish a reporting protocol that mandates the registration of any structural system failure. A hotline will be launched to allow workers, built environment practitioners and professionals, or members of the public to anonymously raise safety concerns. These reports will trigger automatic inspections and, where necessary, emergency site shutdowns,” the Minister said.

Credentialing scheme

The department will introduce a national credentialing scheme for built environment professionals, that will distinguish the specialised skill set from the generalist who are already professionally registered. 

“In the immediate, the first will be to address structural engineers working on high-risk buildings. It will no longer be enough to simply be professionally registered. 

“Engineers will need to prove their competence for complex projects, just like pilots or surgeons,” the Minister said.
He emphasised that the collapse of the George building calls for a legislative review of the National Building Regulations.
This will include alignment with new technologies, climate resilience standards, and 21st-century construction practices such as Building Information Modelling. 

“We cannot regulate 2025 buildings with 1996 legislation. The NHBRC [National Home Builders Registration Council], municipalities, the Department of Labour, and other entities will be required by law to share inspection data and site conditions with one another. No single authority should be able to proceed blindly. Integration is essential,” the Minister stressed.

Amendments 

In partnership with the Department of Labour and Employment, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will propose amendments to the Construction Regulations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, to strengthen enforcement and accountability of all duty holders: clients, designers, and contractors alike.

The reform will be implemented in three phases as follows:

•    Phase One from 2025 to 2026: Immediate interventions, including new regulations, mandatory standards and emergency protocols.
•    Phase Two from 2026 to 2028: Implementation of long-term reform, including legislative amendments and competency-based registration systems.
•    Phase Three from 2028 onwards: Institutional consolidation and relocation of custodianship of building regulations functions and standards to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

–SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has emphasised that the collapse of the George Building, which claimed the lives of 34 people, was preventable.

The Minister made these remarks on Saturday during a media briefing on the outcomes of investigation into the George building collapse, where he described the incident as a lethal convergence of failures.

Twenty-eight people were injured when the apartment building collapsed while under construction in George on 75 Victoria Street on 6 May 2024 in the Western Cape.

“At every problem, there was a chance to turn back, but because of [a] weak regulatory environment, there was either no incentive or requirement to do so. And this is what makes me so angry when I view this tragedy from today’s perspective, it was entirely preventable,” Macpherson said in George.

The investigation confirmed that serious safety concerns were raised well before the collapse.

“Workers noticed cracks in columns, strange vibrations in the slab, and even visible holes through the walls in the basement. Some of these observations were made as early as 2023.

“Second, despite these warning signs, site managers reportedly instructed workers to patch the damage with sand and mortar, rather than halting construction and escalating the matter for formal investigation.

“Third, the concrete used in the slabs did not meet required specifications. Where 19 to 25 megapascal were needed, only 13 megapascal of concrete were delivered. This is a material failure of the most basic kind,” the Minister said.
The investigation found that the so-called “competent person” responsible for the structural system did not have the necessary competency requirements to oversee a project of this complexity (a five-storey building).

“Our system currently allows engineers to self-assess their own competence. This is a loophole that must be closed and with speed.

“The geotechnical study of the site, critical in determining soil stability and groundwater conditions, was not only incomplete, but grossly deficient. Key tests and geological mappings were missing.

“The Health and Safety Agent appointed to monitor site compliance resigned midway through the project, stating clearly that they could no longer ensure safe working conditions. This was a dereliction of duty as it was not reported to any of the relevant authorities. That should have stopped the project in its tracks,” the Minister said.

READ | Public Works to study final George building collapse report 

Moreover, there was a lack of coordination between regulatory authorities. 

In the aftermath of the collapse, the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), a statutory body of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, initiated a full investigation looking into the systematic failures that lead to the building’s collapse.

Parallel to this investigation, the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), which is one of the six councils under the CBE, undertook an investigation that investigated the culpability of the engineer involved in the construction project.

“The full ECSA investigation report has been completed and it will be published in the Government Gazette in due course. An appeal window to these finding is currently underway which expires on the 3rd of August 2025.

“This report must form part the police investigation as we must establish criminal negligence for what happened. If criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible must be prosecuted without delay.

“We must ensure that people are held accountable for 34 souls losing their life. No contractor, engineer, or official should be beyond the reach of the law,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has officially commissioned the Mpophomeni Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) project, which is set to significantly improve sanitation services, protect sensitive wetland ecosystems and enhance the quality of life for communities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Over 27 000 households in Mpophomeni, Khayelisha and surrounding communities are expected to benefit from this strategic infrastructure development project estimated at over R450 million in Mpophomeni, Pietermaritzburg. 

The commissioning of this critical infrastructure highlights the success of strong and deliberate collaboration across all three spheres of government. 

“The success of Mpophomeni proves that service delivery is possible when all spheres of government work together. But we cannot stop here. Municipalities must build on this momentum and address governance gaps, strengthening technical capacity and accelerating delivery.

“Our citizens deserve systems that work and leaders who make that happen without delay,” Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Sello Seitlholo said on Friday.

The Mpophomeni WWTWs is designed to produce high-quality effluent that complies with standards set by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). 

It is currently operating at a treatment capacity of six million litres per day, with provision for future expansion to 12 million litres per day. The facility includes a seven-kilometre treated effluent pipeline and the rehabilitation of the Mpophomeni wetland. 

“The Mpophomeni WWTWs is part of a broader government commitment to roll out bulk water infrastructure projects in water-stressed communities across KwaZulu-Natal and the country. It forms part of a long-term strategy to secure water resilience and inclusive development. 

“Beyond infrastructure, the project delivered meaningful economic opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme, which created consistent local jobs averaging 19 per month throughout the construction phase. This helped drive youth employment, enterprise development and inclusive participation in the construction economy,” the DWS said.

The department has reiterated that the long-term sustainability of such infrastructure depends on sound operations and maintenance practices. 

This includes adequate funding, skilled management and active community involvement to secure water quality, safeguard ecosystems and achieve the constitutional right to clean water and dignified sanitation for all. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Amidst the global economy facing heightened uncertainty and complex challenges, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo, has emphasised the importance of fair trade.

The global economy is experiencing ongoing wars and conflicts, geopolitical and trade tensions, disruptions to global supply chains, high debt levels, and frequent extreme weather events and natural disasters, which affect economic growth, financial and price stability.

To address the existing and emerging risks to the global economy, the Group of Twenty (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting that was held in Durban this week, pledged to strengthen multilateral cooperation to address existing and emerging risks to the global economy.

The meeting also recognised the importance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to advance trade issues and the agreed-upon rules in the WTO as an integral part of the global trading system. 

It also recognised that the WTO has challenges and needs meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions, through innovative approaches in order to be more relevant and responsive in light of today’s realities.

“We are living in a globalised economy. Multinational companies are producing in different sovereigns in geographic spaces and as they produce you don’t want them to find it difficult to have access to markets.

“If it is difficult for them to get access to the market, they are not going to realise profits and they won’t reinvest into the growth of the economy. This meeting emphasised that it [is]important for us to be a rules-based world. It’s important for us to run our global economy through multilateral platforms,” the Deputy Minister said on Friday at a media briefing held at the conclusion of the FMCBG.

WATCH | Closing media briefing

[embedded content]

The Ministers and Governors agreed to bolster long-term growth potential by pursuing growth-oriented macroeconomic policies, while building fiscal buffers, ensuring fiscal sustainability, encouraging public and private investments, undertaking productivity-enhancing reforms and safeguarding central bank independence to maintain price stability.

“Structural reforms are essential for generating strong economic growth and creating more and better jobs.

“All excessive imbalances should be further analysed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and, if necessary and, without discrimination, addressed through country-specific reforms and multilateral coordination, in a way that contributes to an open global economy and without compromising sustainable global growth,” the FMCBG communique said.

Central banks affirmed a strong committed to ensuring price stability, consistent with their respective mandates and will continue to adjust their policies in a data-dependent manner. 

“Central bank independence is crucial to achieving this goal,” the communique said. 

Meanwhile, members of the G20 have pledged to address the mounting debt pressures in low and middle-income economies amid global financial turbulence.

READ | G20 members commit to addressing debt vulnerabilities

This as developing and emerging economies – particularly those in Africa – are grappling with high and rising debt vulnerabilities, shrinking fiscal flexibility and high borrowing costs.
–SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Members of the G20 have pledged to address the mounting debt pressures in low and middle-income economies amid the global financial turbulence.

This is according to Deputy Finance Minister Dr David Masondo who addressed a media briefing on Friday following the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting held in Kwa-Zulu Natal this week.

Developing and emerging economies – particularly those in Africa – are grappling with high and rising debt vulnerabilities, shrinking fiscal flexibility and high borrowing costs.

“[Members]…reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the implementation of the G20 Common Framework. To give effect to this, the G20 FMCBG endorsed the G20 Note on Lessons Learned from the Initial Common Framework Cases and the G20 Note on Steps of a Debt Restructuring under the Common Framework.

“These documents have been published on the G20 website. In addition, fact sheets on the Common Framework country cases for Chad, Zambia and Ghana have also been published on the G20 and Paris Club websites to improve information sharing,” he said.

WATCH | Closing media briefing

[embedded content]

In further discussions, the members also acknowledged the G20 Note on Special drawing rights [SDRs] which, the Deputy Minister said, “highlights the achievement of exceeding $100 billion in voluntary channelling of SDRs or equivalent contributions for countries in need.”

The pledges to this currently stand at some $113.8 billion coming from 35 countries. 

“Members also underscored the need for enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in decision-making in MDBs [Multilateral Development Banks]and other international economic and financial institutions.

“Members recognised the relative resilience of capital flows in Emerging Market and Developing Economies [EMDEs] despite heightened global policy uncertainty – underscored by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and sound policy frameworks.

“They also highlighted the growing influence of non-bank financial institutions [NBFIs] and stressed the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of their impact on these flows. Members further emphasised the significance of structural reforms in fostering long-term sustainable capital flows to EMDEs,” said the Deputy Minister.

Energy transitions

Regarding energy transitions, Masondo said during the meeting, Ministers and central bank Governors considered key recommendations for “enhancing collaboration among Vertical Climate and Environment Funds, Multilateral Development Banks, National Development Banks and the private sector”.

“Members reaffirmed the urgency of scaling up financing for adaptation and just transitions and reflected on key recommendations emerging from a comprehensive analysis undertaken by multiple knowledge partners. These included guidance on integrating adaptation into voluntary transition planning, addressing insurance protection gaps, scaling financing mechanisms, and strengthening enabling environment.

“[They] also received an update on the work of the Climate Data Steering Committee, which has developed a set of principles for the development of a Common Carbon Credit Data Model aimed at promoting interoperability and improving transparency of carbon markets. 

“They noted that the draft data model is currently undergoing a public consultation with both the private and public sectors,” the Deputy Minister said.

The full communique of the third FMCGB meeting is available at https://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/2025/3rd%20G20%20FMCBG%20Communique.pdf and on the g20.org website. 

READ | Fair trade is key cog in global economy 

The Third Meeting of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) took place on 17 and 18 July 2025 in Durban.

READ | Global challenges require ‘bold, cooperative leadership’ – Godongwana

The National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank are jointly responsible for overseeing the work of the G20 Finance Track under the co-chairship of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago.
– SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the presence of anti-retroviral (ARV) residues in drinking water poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission.

This follows the release of a study by North West University’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, which found measurable levels of ARV residues in some South African water sources.

The report, titled “Quantification, Fate, and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources”, revealed that ARVs are entering the water supply primarily through municipal wastewater treatment systems.

These facilities, originally not designed to eliminate such pharmaceutical compounds, allow residues to pass into rivers and into drinking water sources.

The most detected ARVs included lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms.

Despite this, the department emphasised that the presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless, although “prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research”.

In a joint statement with the Water Research Commission (WRC), the department noted that the appearance of ARVs in water is a result of South Africa’s massive programme to curb HIV and AIDS treatment programme.

As a result, traces of ARVs are entering municipal sewage systems and passing through these systems into rivers.

“Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases – they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.

“At present, there is limited knowledge of environmental toxicity, potential adverse effects on ecosystems and viral resistance of these compounds. The study did not find any ARVs in fish,” the department said.

Emerging global challenge

The Water Research Commission, alongside local and international partner research organisations, has since early 2000 commissioned several studies on the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in water resources and drinking water.

The WRC’s research has focused on CECs such as microplastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals that could potentially pose risks to human health and the environment. These studies inform the water quality guidelines and regulations issued by DWS.

“However, CECs are a relatively new area of research globally, particularly relating to the causes and effects of CEC, the human health risks, treatment methods to remove CECs, and potential regulatory measures that can be taken to address the problem.”

The study commissioned by the WRC and carried out by North West University found that:

• Almost all the concentrations in drinking water samples at the test sites were below limits of quantification. The most frequently detected compound was fluconazole (28 detections from 72 samples), with concentrations ranging between 0.06-1.8 μg/L (nanograms per litre).
• Nevirapine and efavirenz were the second most detected compounds, both with 22 detections out of 72 samples.
• However, on average, lopinavir and efavirenz had the highest concentrations of the compounds analysed, while Didanosine and zidovudine were the least detected compounds (2 and 6 detections out of 72 samples).

The department has also assured that the key water quality risks to human health of a biological and microbiological nature, are well understood and regulated in South Africa.

“The South African National Standard SANS241 for water quality is based on World Health Organisation standards, ensuring that the human health risks are mitigated. 

“This has enabled DWS to implement monitoring programmes such as the blue and green drop programmes to provide information to the public on the performance of municipal water and wastewater systems relative to SANS241.

“The traces of pharmaceuticals, microplastics and other such CECs that have been found in water resources in South Africa are very small quantities, measured in nanograms (one billionth of a gram). Conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies are designed to remove much larger contaminants such as particles of faeces and bacteria,” the department said.

To access the report visit: wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2594 – Volume 1.pdf and https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/31661.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Justice, Police committees to recommend Ad Hoc Committee on Mkhwanazi allegations

NeoB
Fri, 07/18/2025 – 11:20