Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

In a report released today, Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena, revealed findings from two investigations that uncover systemic failures and tragic lapses in the country’s healthcare system. 

The reports focused on the deaths of two patients – Pitsi Eliphuz Ramphele at the government-run Pietersburg Provincial Tertiary Hospital (PPTH) in Limpopo, and Dr Edward Mabubula at the private Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC) in Gauteng.

The investigations highlighted procedural breaches, inadequate documentation, and critical staff shortages as key issues contributing to these incidents.

According to the Ombud, Ramphele’s investigation was based on a complaint received from a relative in March this year after alleged medical negligence that resulted in his death at PPTH. 

The investigation determined that on 26 November 2024, Ramphele sought medical care at Rethabile Community Health Centre (RCHC). 

He was attended to by the nursing staff, who referred him to a doctor, but the doctor left before he could be seen. 

On the same day, he was taken to PPTH, where he was admitted with acute small bowel obstruction (ASBO). 

“Mr Ramphele waited nearly four hours before the medical file was opened for him,” the report stated, citing severe staff shortages and inadequate equipment.

The inquiry found that doctors had left the facility before all patients had been attended, with security guards instructing patients, including Ramphele, to go home.

The report found that both the triage and post-operative care were lacking and that nurses were falsifying medical records. 

According to the report, the observation room lacked essential medical equipment, and untrained enrolled nursing auxiliaries were assigned to triage duties. 

“The first allegation is that there was a delay in opening a patient file, which resulted in a delay of care.” 

In addition, the probe established that the nurses were not familiar with the concept of triage, which is critical in categorising patients’ acuity and prioritisation.

Despite clear signs of a complicated bowel obstruction, surgical intervention was delayed, contributing to Ramphele’s death. 

The patient passed away on 28 November 2024, while awaiting assessment for possible surgical intervention, which the Health Ombud believes could have been “avoidable”.

When a post-mortem was requested, the hospital said it did not offer such a service, forcing the family to seek private assistance.

In the WDGMC case, the investigation examined the death of Mabubula, a cancer patient and doctor, who died due to a series of care failures.

Mabubula’s wife alleges that WDGMC is responsible for causing the cerebral air embolism and subsequent stroke suffered by her husband, following a medical procedure performed at the oncology ward on 27 March 2021.

“The Donald Gordon Medical Centre had a long-standing informal courtesy practice of removing venous ports after chemotherapy that were carried out outside regular hours, where no patient files were created or retrieved to document clinical status,” the report said.

The report found that the private hospital in Johannesburg had “no baseline clinical assessment or essential clinical information was recorded before the procedure was undertaken”.

However, on concerns regarding alleged medical negligence by WDGMC, the Ombud said the allegation could not be substantiated. 

However, it was determined that improvements are needed in adherence to established protocols and standards for medical record-keeping and documentation. 

The Health Ombud recommends that the WDGMC management engage in mediation with Mabubula’s wife to address her concerns constructively and expediently.

The Ombud also found that there is no evidence indicating that the nurses’ conduct at WDGMC was of a nature that would require referral to their professional regulatory body.

The Health Ombud’s recommendations went beyond the two cases, calling for sweeping reforms. 

These include the establishment of protocols, mandatory clinical assessment, dedicated records and staffing and infrastructure upgrades.

Mokoena also called for clinical audits and mortality reviews to prevent future tragedies at PPTH.

He also urged the referral of implicated doctors and nurses at the PPTH to their respective regulatory councils for professional misconduct and stressed the importance of restoring leadership stability and filling management posts.

Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, emphasised the unacceptable treatment of patients, including aggressive intestinal obstruction misdiagnosis and conservative management without proper observation. 

He criticised the falsification of patient records and the abandonment of patients by doctors.

The Minister called for severe consequences, including referrals to professional councils, to ensure accountability and improve healthcare standards, highlighting that similar facilities in other countries manage with fewer resources.

“We cannot describe this as merely corrective. This needs very serious punitive measures for other people to see that they shouldn’t do something like this to any other patient or human being,” Motsoaledi said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa’s transition to cleaner, affordable and more sustainable energy will only succeed if the country develops the skills required to power new industries and ensure young people are not left behind.

Acting Director-General of Higher Education and Training, Thembisa Futshane, made the remarks during Climate Talk 2025 held in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Held under the theme: “Powering Possibility: Jobs and Innovation in South Africa’s Just Energy Future”, the event, hosted by the German Embassy, brought together young South Africans, in an exchange with industry voices and innovators, to a dynamic dialogue on how the energy transition can unlock new pathways for skills development, investment, and inclusive growth.

Futshane said the energy transition is already shaping South Africa’s economy, and will determine the skills young people need; jobs they can access, and communities that will  benefit.

“The energy transition is not a distant policy debate. It is already shaping the economy our young people will inherit,” she said.

Futshane thanked the Government of Germany for its long-standing cooperation with South Africa, including technical and capacity-building support from German development agency (GIZ) and financial assistance from KFW Development Bank to the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector.

These partnerships, she said, have strengthened curriculum development, lecturer training, equipment support and workplace exposure, all crucial for preparing young people for meaningful participation in the emerging green economy.

Futshane also commended industry partners, including BMW, Siemens, Siemens Energy, Bosch, Festo Didactics and the uYilo eMobility Programme for investing in South Africa’s emerging workforce. through training partnerships, internships, workplace exposure, research collaboration and equipment support.

She emphasised that the Just Energy Transition is not only a government responsibility; but a shared endeavour, where industry plays a critical role in shaping skills, creating jobs and “opening pathways for young people into the green and digital economy.”

“A transition cannot be considered “just” if it leaves people behind, or if those who carried the burden of the old energy system cannot benefit from the new one. This is where the skills system becomes central.

“The transition to cleaner, accessible and more affordable energy requires a whole ecosystem of new competencies across construction, maintenance, digitalisation, community engagement and entrepreneurship,” the Acting Director-General said.

In the last few years, the Department of Higher Education and Training has worked closely with a wide range of partners, including Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), the private sector, civil society, and international partners to strengthen the skills pipeline that supports the energy transition.

Key efforts include revising curricula to include renewable energy and energy efficiency, upgrading college equipment, supporting lecturer development and provide training equipment in selected colleges, expanding recognition of prior learning and piloting community-based skilling programmes.

Futshane also highlighted the establishment of the Just Energy Transition (JET) Skills Desk, a dedicated unit within the department, which is strengthening coordination across government, SETAs, training institutions and development partners to ensure the country’s skills system is fully aligned with the needs of the Just Energy Transition.

“Its work helps us move from policy to implementation, ensuring that the transition truly delivers opportunities for our people.”

Support for communities affected by coal phase-down

She also emphasised the need for government to support communities affected by coal phase-down, including workers in labour-sending areas, informal settlements around power stations and former coal mining towns.

A just transition, she said, must ensure workers are not abandoned as industries changes, communities are included in decision-making, and training opportunities are accessible and relevant.

“A Just Transition means that public investment reaches the people who need it most [and] no one is asked to sacrifice their livelihood for a transition from which they do not benefit.”

Futshane urged young people to take advantage of the opportunities emerging in the green economy, calling the energy transition “your generation’s opportunity to shape the world you want to live in.”

She encouraged educators to continue innovating and aligning training with industry needs and urged business partners to keep opening doors for young people through collaboration and skills development.

“Let us ensure that the energy transition becomes not only a technical achievement but a national project of justice and opportunity,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa and Mozambique are entering a new era of deeper cooperation, shared prosperity and renewed solidarity, following the successful conclusion of the 4th Session of the South Africa–Mozambique Bi-National Commission (BNC).

Addressing the media, alongside President Daniel Chapo, President Ramaphosa said the two countries carry a historic responsibility to ensure that current and future generations continue to benefit from a relationship forged in struggle and strengthened through decades of partnership.

“We have just concluded a successful 4th Session of the Bi-National Commission between South Africa and Mozambique. President Chapo and I concur that we have a historic responsibility to our respective peoples to ensure that current and future generations appreciate the fruits of this strategic relationship,” President Ramaphosa said in Maputo, on Wednesday.

The President said he was encouraged by Mozambique’s strong leadership and reaffirmed South Africa’s confidence in using the BNC as a platform for achieving “practical benefits” for citizens on both sides of the border.

Through focused deliberations by senior officials, technical experts and Ministers, President Ramaphosa said the two countries had assessed progress since the last BNC session in Pretoria in 2022 and agreed on clear avenues for accelerated cooperation.

The signing of several new Memoranda of Understanding marked, he said, “a significant development” that would inject momentum into joint programmes across multiple sectors.

“We agreed that we need to implement decisions, identify opportunities and explore investment avenues to the mutual benefit of our two countries. South Africa’s development finance institutions, state-owned enterprises and private companies stand ready to be partners,” President Ramaphosa said.

He noted that South African companies, many of which maintain extensive investments across the continent, had reaffirmed their commitment to Africa’s development during engagements ahead of the recent G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. 

The BNC, he said, was an important mechanism to support that continental vision.

Expanding cooperation across key sectors

President Ramaphosa said the next phase of cooperation would focus on sectors central to economic transformation, including energy, mining, infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, telecommunications, health and financial services. 

“Our countries are endowed with rich natural resources, both on land and offshore. Already, Mozambique is a major trading partner of South Africa. We will work together to explore new vistas of opportunity and possibility,” he said. 

He emphasised the importance of defence and security cooperation, including border management, highlighting that stability and safety remain essential enablers of economic growth.

This afternoon, the two leaders will travel to Inhambane Province to launch a major Sasol gas processing facility, an investment President Ramaphosa described as “another shining example” of effective cooperation between neighbours.

The President added that the project illustrates how public-private sector partnerships can be used to great effect. He also expressed gratitude to the Mozambican government for creating an enabling environment for South African companies.

A bond beyond diplomacy

President Chapo, in his remarks, described President Ramaphosa’s presence in Mozambique as deeply significant and symbolic of the long-standing friendship between the nations.

“His presence is special because we are welcoming not only a Head of State, but also an older brother and a great friend, whose leadership and closeness Mozambique always welcomes with enormous respect and appreciation,” President Chapo said.

He added that the relationship between the two countries goes beyond diplomacy, reflecting a historic and cultural brotherhood and a common struggle for freedom, now carried forward through a shared commitment to development and prosperity.

“This gesture goes beyond diplomacy. It is the living expression of a historic and cultural brotherhood and a common struggle for freedom, consolidated today in our commitment to mutual prosperity,” President Chapo said.

Looking ahead to the 5th BNC

President Ramaphosa closed the briefing by thanking President Chapo and the people of Mozambique for their hospitality, saying it reflected the depth of solidarity between the nations.

“South Africans and Mozambicans are one people. When the forthcoming 5th session of the Bi-National Commission is held in South Africa, we look forward to report on even greater progress,” the President said. 

The 4th BNC has been marked by renewed commitments, expanded partnerships and a shared resolve to strengthen cooperation across all areas for the benefit of both countries. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says Pretoria and Maputo are poised to significantly deepen energy cooperation as both countries work to strengthen economic and strategic ties under the fourth South Africa–Mozambique Bi-National Commission (BNC).  

Speaking in Maputo on Wednesday, where he is part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ministerial delegation, Ramokgopa said the energy partnership between the neighbouring States is historic, mutually beneficial and essential for powering regional growth.

“We are joining the President in the Bi-National Commission, which is chaired by both Heads of State… to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Mozambique is our fourth largest trading partner [in the world], so we have a deep-rooted cultural and economic relationship that we want to build on and enhance,” Ramokgopa said. 

He highlighted that electricity cooperation remains a cornerstone of bilateral ties. South Africa currently imports more than 1 000 megawatts from the Cahora Bassa hydroelectric scheme, a long-standing arrangement that provides critical support to the country’s energy supply. 

“There’s a lot of collaboration. We are getting electricity from Cahora Bassa, contracted for over 1 000 megawatts. We are also providing electricity to South32, the smeltery in Mozambique,” the Minister said. 

The Minister said future cooperation would focus on Mozambique’s growing natural gas potential, with both countries exploring ways to convert new gas finds into electricity that can support industrialisation on both sides of the border.

“We intend on working together on their new finds, so that we get to convert the gas into electricity. We’re building the relationship, and it’s on the back of mutual benefit for both countries,” he said. 

Ramokgopa emphasised that expanding energy collaboration goes beyond technical arrangements — it forms part of a broader mission to ensure economic stability and shared development.

“There’s no better way of doing that than ensuring that the lights are on and the economy is powered,” he said.

As part of the BNC engagements, South Africa and Mozambique signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation, which Ramokgopa described as a marker of confidence in the relationship and its future potential. 

“The MOU is an indication of the strength of that relationship. We’re looking forward to a productive day and ensuring that we grow the economy of both countries,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za 

Source: Government of South Africa

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has welcomed the latest third-quarter economic data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), which shows the first signs of growth of 0.1% in the construction sector after three consecutive quarters of decline. 

This follows the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter, which showed that 130 000 jobs were created in construction in a single quarter, nearly half of all the jobs created in South Africa during that period.

Macpherson said this emerging recovery – in both output and employment – demonstrates that the reform efforts underway across the public infrastructure system are starting to take effect. 

Strengthened procurement oversight, decisive action against non-performing contractors, improved project preparation through Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), reduction in construction mafia work stoppages and a renewed drive to unblock stalled projects have all contributed to restoring confidence in the sector.

“While significant challenges remain – including delays, budget pressures and ageing infrastructure – the latest economic data provides a reminder that our reform efforts are working, and that the construction sector has the potential to help drive South Africa’s broader economic renewal.

“This is not yet the finish line, but it is a clear indication that construction is moving in the right direction. 

“Our task now is to consolidate this early momentum, accelerate reforms, and increase infrastructure investment to drive South Africa’s economic growth, which will drive job creation for all South Africans,” Macpherson said.

The reforms introduced through the South African Construction Action Plan (SACAP), unveiled at the end of October, have laid the foundation for longer-term stability by introducing practical measures to professionalise the sector, strengthen governance, and improve accountability across the delivery chain. 

These reforms – combined with stronger collaboration between national, provincial and municipal partners and the National Treasury’s commitment to infrastructure spending – are creating conditions for more consistent construction activity.

“Construction is one of the strongest job-creating sectors in South Africa, and when it grows, the country grows. 

“With the right focus and discipline, we can turn these early gains into sustained long-term expansion that creates jobs, supports small contractors, and delivers the infrastructure that communities depend on. With sustained growth in the construction industry, we can build a better South Africa,” Macpherson said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has reaffirmed that South Africa’s economic transformation is “a constitutional and moral imperative” – warning that slow progress, non-compliance and fronting continue to undermine efforts to redress apartheid’s economic legacy.

Addressing a National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Oral Reply session on Tuesday, Tau said the country’s economic structure still excludes many black South Africans, who were historically denied access to opportunities.

Tau highlighted the proposed Transformation Fund as a key instrument aimed at shifting the economy towards greater inclusivity, stressing that its creation is rooted in constitutional directives to advance meaningful empowerment.

Referring to the latest report of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Commission, Tau said government remained concerned about low levels of enterprise and supplier development spending, widespread non-compliance with B-BBEE laws and companies “merely ticking the box” without real impact.

He also corrected what he called a misconception that the fund’s proposed 3% contribution by entities would amount to a levy.

“Companies will be contributing and participating in the fund on a voluntary basis,” he said, adding that details on participation and BEE status assessment would be finalised once the fund is formally approved.

Tau said government had held constructive discussions with stakeholders, including the private sector.

“We want to ensure that this is not just a fund where people contribute, but that it achieves socio-economic objectives.”

The Minister said government was committed to reviewing B-BBEE to address long-standing challenges, including non-compliance by companies unwilling to embrace equity and non-racialism, as well as fronting practices that exploit vulnerable black individuals.

Fraudulent BEE certificates and contracts obtained under false pretences also remain a serious concern.

Tau emphasised that the aim is not confrontation but cooperation.

“The approach will not be to fight with the private sector, but to collaborate to create a society where a person’s ability to attain their talent, capability and ambition is not hindered by race, class or gender.”

Tau said that the ultimate goal of transformation is to expand wealth creation and access to opportunity for all South Africans. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has concluded its participation in the 93rd Session of the Interpol General Assembly held in Marrakech, Morocco, recently. 

The global meeting brought together delegates from 164 of the 196 member countries to discuss international policing priorities and adopt resolutions that will guide transnational law enforcement efforts.

This year’s agenda focused on key areas including the disruption of transnational organised crime, dismantling scam centres, expanding Interpol’s policing capabilities, advancing women in policing, assessing the pilot of the Silver Notice and promoting the ratification and signing of the UN Convention Against Cybercrime. 

The assembly also elected new members to the Interpol Executive Committee, including the organisation’s new President Lucas Philippe from France. 

The SAPS said it welcomed the opportunity to participate in the high-level platform, which enabled the exchange of operational insights, assessment of emerging crime trends, and the adoption of best practices that will support South Africa’s ongoing policing modernisation.

Police Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, who led the SAPS delegation, highlighted the significance of South Africa’s participation.

“Our presence at this assembly reaffirms South Africa’s unwavering commitment to global security. The insights gained and partnerships strengthened here will directly enhance our ability to protect our communities at home and contribute meaningfully to international policing efforts,” Mathale said.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who also attended the session reflected on the operational value of the engagements.

“This assembly has equipped our delegation with advanced tools and intelligence-driven approaches that will elevate our fight against organised crime, cyber threats, trafficking networks, and financial crimes. 

“Strengthening these global collaborations is essential to staying ahead of emerging threats. “We will have to go back and evaluate the different approaches that will assist the country, in the fight against transnational crimes,” Mkhwanazi said. 

Beyond the formal sessions, SAPS held several bilateral engagements with countries across Africa, Asia, Americas and Europe, aimed at deepening cooperation against transnational crime. 

These discussions strengthened work ethics, mutual trust, and collaboration in combating cybercrime, human trafficking, terrorism, drug trafficking, financial crimes, and cross-border criminal networks.

Stronger regional ties were also forged with SADC member states, enabling greater alignment of policing strategies, improved information-sharing mechanisms, and coordinated responses to regional security challenges.

As the delegation returns from Marrakech, SAPS remains committed to implementing the best practices and lessons shared at the Assembly. 

Key priorities include improved international data-sharing, enhanced strategies for dismantling criminal networks, modernised cybercrime response models, and greater support for the advancement of women in policing.

SAPS reaffirms its dedication to leveraging these global insights to strengthen national safety, elevate professional policing standards, and contribute to a safer and more secure region in line with international law enforcement priorities. – SAnews.gov.za