Category: South Africa Government

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has urged motorists to take extra caution due to the adverse weather conditions in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and the Northern Cape.

Earlier this week, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned a cold front would make landfall on Wednesday.

“Wet and slippery roads may result in dangerous driving conditions. Motorists should exercise caution and adhere to safety measures. Heavy rainfall with a risk of localised flooding over the western parts of the Western Cape [is expected], especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas on Wednesday into Thursday (25 – 26 June 2025).

“Cold to very cold conditions can be expected, along with possible snowfall over the western mountain ranges of the Western Cape, spreading into the south-western interior of the Northern Cape,” SAWS said earlier this week.

Motorists have been advised to follow these road safety precautions when driving in wet and icy conditions: 

• Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
• Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
• Keep your lights and windshield clean.
• Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
• Don’t use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
• Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently travelled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
• Don’t pass snow ploughs and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you’re likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
• Don’t assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads. – SAnews.gov.za

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), in partnership with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, will host a community activation on Thursday in the North West province to raise awareness on drugs and illicit trafficking.

This activation is part of Youth Month activities and held under the sub-theme: “Promoting Physical and Mental Health by Reducing Risky Behaviours”. 

The event coincides with the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on 26 June to strengthen global action and cooperation towards a world free from drug abuse. 

The activation will showcase services provided by the JCPS cluster. Key focus areas will include providing evidence-based, voluntary services for all; offering alternatives to punishment; prioritising prevention and leading with compassion. 

“The world drug problem and response continue to present challenges to the health, safety, and well-being of people in South Africa. A drastic change in approach to drug policy recognises that the punitive approach has not been successful in tackling drug-related problems. 

“Instead, emphasis should be placed on evidence-based public health and social justice principles that focus on individuals, families, communities, society as a whole, and must underscore social protection and health care instead of conviction and punishment,” this is according to the National Drug Masterplan of 2019 to 2024. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, is today scheduled to address an integrated parade of law enforcement officers in Cape Town signalling the official launch of Operation Shanela 2 targeting crime hotspots across the nine provinces. 

The launch will also see similar parades simultaneously taking place in other high crime provinces namely Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. 

“Operation Shanela 2 was conceived as an operational response to deal with serious and violent crimes afflicting communities in identified hotspots throughout the country,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement. 

“After receiving operational directives and marching orders, the integrated forces will embark on a number of high density targeted operational activities at identified hotspots across the country,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Durban Specialised Commercial Crimes Court has sentenced a former Msunduzi Municipality official to 10 years’ direct imprisonment following his conviction on two counts of corruption.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Nhlakanipho Wiseman Dlamini (45), who was employed as an acting Fleet Control Advisor at the municipality, was found guilty of soliciting bribes from a municipal service provider.

“Dlamini was employed at Msunduzi Municipality…and a company named EWCop was contracted to supply and maintain vehicle tracking devices for the municipal vehicles. During 2018, EWCop’s contract with the municipality ended, and the contract was subsequently extended on a month-to-month basis pending the outcome of the award for a new tender.

“Dlamini then approached EWCop and solicited their offer to secure the pending tender in favour of EWCop. Dlamini further solicited R100 000 from EWCop to ensure that the outstanding payments in respect of the month-to-month contract were paid to EWCop,” the NPA said in a statement.

A trap was set up in accordance with section 252 A of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, and Dlamini was arrested between November 2019 and January 2020, after receiving the ‘trap’ money.

Dlamini was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on each count of t corruption.  Six years of the second count run concurrently with the first, resulting in an effective 10-year sentence.

“The NPA welcomes this successful prosecution. Together with our partners in the Justice Cluster, we will ensure that corrupt officials are brought to book. Rooting out corruption remains an organisational priority,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The third Sherpa meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) kicked off on Wednesday, focusing on global collaboration, sustainable development, and addressing new international challenges.

The Sun City Convention Centre was filled with representatives from the world’s largest economies and organisations as Zane Dangor, the Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, delivered his opening remarks.

The meeting, which will run for three days, brings together international representatives to discuss critical global challenges and explore potential collaborative solutions.

The meeting will take place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.

Dangor announced that the Foreign Ministers will lead detailed discussions on global geopolitical issues, focusing on international law and mutual accountability while emphasising the need to prioritise substantive matters.

“The meeting also provides an opportunity for Sherpas to have a discussion, dare I say it, on the geopolitical issues as part of the agenda. 

“And I think, we’ve always shied away from geopolitical issues, but given the events not only of the last two years but particularly of the last month, we’re going to have some discussion in a measured but robust way,” he told delegates. 

He recognised that the G20 serves as a platform for international economic cooperation, making it a crucial focus.

“But the ongoing conflict worldwide, as it has been pointed out before, is definitely now even more detrimental not just to peace and security but economic development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. 

“So, we will discuss it, but we will also make sure it doesn’t hold us back.”

However, he said, only the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and ultimately the leaders will engage in the geopolitical issues, following the example set by Brazil, while the working groups will concentrate on the technical issues.

Today’s meeting marked the beginning of a series of 10 sessions, during which Dangor announced leadership changes, including the appointment of several new Sherpas and representatives from Brazil, India, China, and the United Kingdom. 

This shift indicates a new approach to international cooperation. 

“The discussions will provide us with the opportunity to refine objectives. We will report back from some of the working groups and task teams, and we’ll look at how they align with the priorities we’ve set up to ensure that we do reach out to inclusivity and that also reflect our own collective aspirations.” 

Dangor stressed the importance of creating actionable, measurable declarations that go beyond aspirational statements, with a commitment to reducing global inequalities.

“It is our responsibility, collectively as Sherpas, to resolve the challenges that are being presented to us within the working groups or task teams, even the new emerging challenges, and there are many new emerging challenges. I do think that we should work to ensure that none of the working group fails to reach consensus.” 

According to South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, the gathering also aims to shape a clear and actionable G20 Leaders’ Declaration, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development, reducing inequalities, and achieving measurable goals.

Dangor said he hoped that the G20 Leaders’ Declaration has concrete, measurable, and time-bound actions, not just aspirational statements.

He announced that, out of the 132 planned meetings, the Presidency has already hosted 70, and most of the working groups have completed their third sessions.

The Sherpa also announced the upcoming social summit. 

He concluded the opening remarks, expressing confidence in the fruitful deliberations over the next three days. – SAnews.gov.za

Henrik Harboe of Norway has highlighted the crucial role of the third Sherpa meeting in addressing international crises, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the broader tensions in the Middle East. 

“We are halfway through this year, only five months away from the summit in November, so we have a lot of work to formulate, what are the G20 recommendations to deal with all these international crises and the big issues around development and economic stability in the world,” he told SAnews. 

The third Sherpa meeting of the G20 kicked off on Wednesday morning at the Sun City Resort in the North West. 

“We’ll have a round [of discussions] about the G20’s role in the world in general. That’s very important. But then go straight into the geopolitical tensions. And then, of course, this being a group with a lot of different countries and different perspectives. 

“But I think we’ll touch upon Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the horrible crisis in Gaza as a result of Israel’s response to the terrorist attack. And then, of course, the recent developments in the broader Middle East, with both Israel and the US bombing of Iran,” he explained.

The Director of Development Policy at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed deep concern about recent developments. 

He noted that these events involve multiple violations of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter.

“I mean, G20 is actually not about geopolitics, but we cannot avoid discussing geopolitical issues.”

In his opening remarks, Zane Dangor, the Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, announced that the Foreign Ministers will have in-depth discussions on global geopolitical issues. 

These discussions will focus on international law and mutual accountability, while emphasising the importance of prioritising substantive matters.

In December last year, South Africa welcomed Norway as a G20 guest country during its Presidency. 

In an interview with SAnews, Harboe, a Norwegian Sherpa, said South Africa was poised to make history as the first African nation to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit. 

According to Harboe, the G20 focuses on sustainable development and a stable global economy to ensure growth for all countries.

As the first Presidency in Africa, Harboe believes they will use their position to highlight critical issues such as energy security, essential minerals, and sustainable development.

“All these issues are extremely important for Africa. So, we are very happy to see that and strongly support South Africa’s priority on these issues.” 

The official is of the view that South Africa serves as a microcosm of global challenges, making its perspective crucial. 

“South Africa has a huge poverty problem, job creation problem, inequality, and these are exactly the issues. 

“So, I think what we discussed around the G20 table is relevant for the world and developing countries, but also very much for Africa, and South Africa. South Africa’s own experience is extremely relevant for this broader discussion. I always encourage South African colleagues to talk about the challenges here.” 

He mentioned that he had attended a Just Energy Transition programme. He said while South Africa’s energy situation is challenging, it also serves as a valuable example for the world on how to conduct an energy transition in a fair manner while also creating job opportunities for young people.

On a lighter note, he told the SAnews that he had a wonderful stay in Sun City since his arrival. 

“I always love South Africa. It’s fantastic. Since I’m from Norway, the cold weather, I don’t mind, the fresh morning like today was just nice. The only problem this morning was a monkey, taking my bread on the breakfast table,” he said, with a chuckle. – SAnews.gov.za