Category: South Africa Government

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma says authorities are monitoring the road network as the Drakensberg Mountains experience snowfall.

The MEC said grader operators are on standby to remove snow before it accumulates to more than 30cm.

“Van Reenen between Harrismith and Ladysmith is being closely monitored to ensure road closure where necessary. This will help to prevent motorists from being stuck on the N3. Coastal and low-lying areas where there are informal settlements are being closely monitored,” Duma said on Wednesday.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for disruptive rain, which is expected to result in flooding of bridges, roads and settlements, as well as damage to property and infrastructure, in places along the coast and adjacent interior between East London in the Eastern Cape and Cape Vidal in KwaZulu-Natal.

The weather service has also issued a warning for disruptive snow, which is expected in places over the north-eastern high ground of the Eastern Cape and the Drakensberg area of KwaZulu-Natal. The snow could result in traffic disruptions, disruption to essential services and some communities being temporarily cut off.

Disruptive rain, resulting in flooding of bridges, roads and settlements, as well as damage to property and infrastructure, is expected over the south-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape and the eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, except in the extreme north-east.

The Human Settlements team, working with eThekwini Municipality Human Settlements and Infrastructure, has made more than 170 rooms available at the newly acquired Montclair Lodge.

“We will accommodate families that may be left destitute because of floods. There is construction on the Quarry Heights Bridge, which was partially destroyed by floods in 2022. Gabions are being installed by eThekwini Municipality to prevent soil erosion and restore sidewalks.

“Engineers from the Department of Transport have ensured that culverts are installed in some bridges to prevent water from pooling on the road, which normally results in flooding,” the MEC said. –SAnews.gov.za

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The Electoral Commission (IEC) on Wednesday reminded all eligible South African voters that the weekend of 1 and 2 August 2026 marks the final voting station-based registration opportunity.

“The Commission calls on all eligible South Africans who have not yet registered as voters; those who are registered but have not yet inspected their address details for completeness, or those who have moved residence since they last registered, to use this final opportunity to secure their place on the voters’ roll,” Electoral Commission Chief Executive Officer Sy Mamabolo said.

Addressing the media on the state of readiness for the second round of voter registration, Mamabolo said the Commission has completed its final operational preparations for the upcoming voter registration weekend.

“As part of these preparations, the number of voting districts has been revised from 23 706 to 23 699 following the optimisation of voting station arrangements based on voter activity recorded during the first registration weekend. For the final voter registration weekend, the Commission will operate 23 699 voting stations across the country,” he said.

Mamabolo said all registration stations will operate from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

“The Commission will once again deploy 48 212 trained electoral officials who will be on hand to welcome and assist eligible voters to register, update their details or verify their registration information ahead of the elections,” he said.

During the first voter registration weekend held on 20 and 21 June 2026, over 3 million registration transactions were recorded, reflecting South Africans’ continued commitment to democratic participation.

Mamabolo said the Commission is hopeful that the same spirit of participation will prevail during the final in-person registration drive.  

“Following the first voter registration weekend in June 2026, the Electoral Commission has to date recorded more than 815 000 voter registration transactions.

“Of these, approximately 603 572 (74%) were processed through the Online Voter Registration (OVR) portal, underscoring the growing use of the digital online registration platform among South Africans. The highest levels of online registration activity were recorded in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

“Women remain the leading users of the online registration platform, accounting for 61% of all online registration activity. Young people are also embracing digital registration in significant numbers, with the 16–29 age cohort contributing 50% of all online transactions,” he explained.

In addition, the Department of Home Affairs will once again align its operating hours with the Commission’s voter registration activities, ensuring that eligible voters requiring identity documents have access to the necessary services during the registration weekend.

Once the final voter registration weekend has concluded, the Commission anticipates that the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) will proclaim the date of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Mamabolo said the voters’ roll will close at midnight on the day the election is proclaimed.

“From that point onwards, no new voter registrations or changes to existing voter registration details may be processed until after the elections. Consequently, the Electoral Commission will cease all registration drives and deactivate the online voter registration portal,” he said.

He further explained that the Electoral Code of Conduct issued in terms of the Municipal Electoral Act comes into operation until the election results are announced.

“The purpose of the Code is to foster conditions for free and fair elections by creating a climate of tolerance, open public debate and free political campaigning. The Commission wishes to indicate that the “no go” zones go against both the letter and spirit of the Code.

“We reiterate that all registered political parties, the leaders and office bearers of parties, candidates nominated by parties and independent candidates are bound by the Code.”

Mamabolo said candidate nomination processes for party candidates and independent candidates may commence.

“To this end, the Commission has activated the Online Candidate Nomination System to facilitate nomination. The system is accessible via the public website at www.elections.org.za

Eligible voters have also been urged not to wait until the last minute to register or update their details.

“Experience has shown that a surge in registration activity often occurs closer to key deadlines, creating avoidable pressure on registration channels,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za    
 

 

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The EThekwini Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate has welcomed a landmark conviction in a major electricity cable theft case, marking a decisive victory in the city’s fight against infrastructure crime. 

This follows the sentencing of three suspects who were convicted for damaging critical electricity infrastructure and possessing stolen municipal property valued at approximately R1 million. 

The convictions stem from a 2022 incident when members of the Umkhomazi South African Police Service (SAPS) acted on intelligence regarding electricity cables being stripped and burnt at a homestead near the Umkhomazi Police Station.

Investigators from eThekwini Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate later confirmed that the recovered cables belonged to the municipality, leading to the arrest of three suspects. 

The matter was investigated through a joint effort between SAPS and the municipality’s Infrastructure Theft Division before being successfully prosecuted in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court.

The court found all three accused guilty of damaging essential infrastructure and possessing stolen municipal property.

The first accused, a 37-year-old subcontractor who was working for the municipality at the time of the offence, was sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment.

The second accused, aged 26, was sentenced to three years’ direct imprisonment, while the third accused, a 63-year-old woman, received five years’ direct imprisonment.

“This conviction underscores the Directorate’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the reliable delivery of electricity services. Working hand‑in‑hand with law enforcement, the municipality will continue to investigate, prosecute, and secure convictions against those who threaten essential services,” the municipality said in a statement on Wednesday.

The municipality reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to electricity theft, vandalism, and all forms of infrastructure crime.

“This ruling sends a clear message that offenders will face the full might of the law.”

The city also urged residents to report suspicious activities involving electricity infrastructure to help protect public resources. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has called for structural women’s empowerment that rejects discrimination and advances equality, economic ownership and women’s leadership, while reflecting on the gains made since the advent of democracy.

Letsike was addressing women at the Fray Media and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Rise and Shine Women in Media Breakfast, held under the theme: “Empowered women empower the nation.” 

She stressed that empowerment is not the private escape of a few exceptional women from a structure that continues to oppress millions. 

“It is the collective redesign of that structure, so the next woman does not have to survive the same violence, exclusion and exhaustion,” the Deputy Minister said on Wednesday in Johannesburg.

She highlighted that democracy fundamentally altered the legal and political status of women.

“These are not cosmetic gains. They have changed who makes law, interprets policy and leads institutions. Our Constitution made equality and non-sexism founding values. 

“Democratic South Africa expanded reproductive freedom, strengthened protection against domestic and sexual violence, recognised women in customary marriages and advanced equality in employment,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to Letsike, women’s representation in Parliament had risen from 33% in 2004 to 42.8% in 2024.

In the National Council of Provinces, women’s representation reached 44.4%, while representation in senior public service management rose to 45.2% in 2023.

In addition, more tertiary-qualified women have also entered physical, mathematical and engineering fields.

The Deputy Minister said South Africa needed a care compact built on five commitments: recognising care, reducing its labour, redistributing it across women, men, the state and the market, rewarding paid care workers with decent conditions, and representing care workers in decisions that affect them.

“That means accessible early childhood development, support for older persons and persons with disabilities, reliable water and transport, social protection, parental leave that changes men’s behaviour, and gender-responsive budgets that reveal who benefits and who carries the cost,” she said. 

Letsike urged women to confront forms of workplace harassment disguised as humour, familiarity or supposedly harmless comments.

She said remarks about a woman’s health, body, clothing, voice, sexuality, marital status, motherhood or ambition are often dismissed as “just a joke”, with women expected to laugh along or risk being labelled difficult, humourless or overly sensitive.

“We must be clear: there is no derogatory joke that is harmless. Humour does not neutralise humiliation. It teaches the room that a woman’s dignity is negotiable; that her authority can be reduced to her appearance, and that her belonging depends on her willingness to tolerate contempt. 

“A workplace committed to equality must interrupt this conduct immediately, rather than asking women to carry it quietly,” the Deputy Minister said.

She said South Africa must build an information economy in which women own institutions, shape technology and receive a fair share of public and commercial value.

“Let it be said that we moved from visibility to ownership, from representation to redistribution, and from policy promise to lived freedom,” the Deputy Minister said. SAnews.gov.za

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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has secured a judgment declaring unlawful and invalid a R9 million National Lotteries Commission (NLC) grant to non-profit organisation (NPO) Motheo Sports and Entertainment Foundation for a sports complex that was never constructed.

The order was handed down by the Special Tribunal, a specialised judicial forum, established to recover public funds lost to fraud, corruption and illicit money flows.

The judgment found that the NPO, together with former NLC officials and other individuals, diverted funds meant for a sports complex in Protea Glen in Soweto, for personal enrichment.

“The Tribunal set aside the grant agreement and ordered Jeremane Petrus Sedibe, whom the SIU identified as the mastermind behind the scheme, together with Motheo, former NLC officials, associated individuals and entities involved in the unlawful conduct, to jointly and severally repay R6 million.

“The first two tranches [total R6 million] were released [by the NLC], but the third tranche was withheld because the SIU investigation revealed that the funds had been diverted and the sports complex was never constructed. The falsified progress report and irregular approvals meant the NLC could not justify releasing the final tranche,” the SIU said in a statement.

Additionally, the Tribunal also upheld a previous decision to preserve the pension fund of former NLC employee Sanele Dlamini until the SIU recovers the misused funds in full.

Dlamini approved the second funding tranche for the NPO.

Web of collusion

The order follows an SIU investigation which revealed that Motheo’s original application for more than R61.6 million was unsuccessful after the NLC approved only R70 000, which the organisation declined.

However, some five months later, former NLC Grant Funding Projects Manager Marubini Ramatsekisa recommended that the NPO receive R9 million through the NLC proactive funding process.

“The recommendation was approved by former Acting Chief Operations Officer Nkhesho Njoni.

“On 24 May 2021, Tebogo Joseph Mohlala, the Director of Motheo, and Nonhlanhla Matshazi, co-director of Londilox NPC, signed a grant agreement with the NLC,” the statement read.

The funds were paid to be paid in three tranches and after the first R3 million payment:

• R950 000 was transferred to PSKO (Pty) Ltd, a company owned by Sedibe;
• R500 000 was transferred to Londilox NPC, co-directed by Matshazi;
• R400 000 was paid to Synercon (Pty) Ltd;
• Between June and August 2021, there were teller cash withdrawals totalling R750 000, ATM withdrawals totalling R282 850 and purchases, bank charges and other transfers totalling R117 150.

“The investigation further established that a progress report prepared by Ziphozinhle Khoza of SRSQS Quantity Surveyors and approved by her boss, Marito Mabunda, falsely portrayed construction progress and expenditure, covering 9 June 2021 to 30 November 2021. Based on the evidence, the SIU found a prima facie case of fraud, theft and corruption against Sedibe, Motheo, Matshazi, Khoza and others involved in the scheme.

“The Judge has since ordered Motheo, Ramatsekisa, Njoni, Mohlala, Sedibe, Moadi, Dlamini, Matshazi, PSKO and 2MC to jointly and severally repay the sum of R6 million,” the statement explained. – SAnews.gov.za

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Lieutenant General Sizakhele William Dyantyi has been appointed as the new South African Police Service (SAPS) Provincial Commissioner for the Western Cape.

Dyantyi brings with him 34 years of distinguished policing experience, having served in various operational and leadership roles across both the Eastern and Western Cape.

“His career reflects a deep understanding of policing at station, district and provincial level, underpinned by a strong commitment to service excellence, integrity and community safety,” the police said in a statement on Wednesday.

Announcing the appointment, Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, said the Western Cape requires strategic leadership to address the province’s complex crime environment, strengthen public trust and drive the SAPS Reset Agenda.

“The South African Police Service congratulates Lieutenant General Dyantyi on his promotion and appointment and wishes him every success as he leads policing in the Western Cape in partnership with communities and stakeholders to create a safer province for all.”

Dyantyi holds a Master’s Degree, Honours Degree, Bachelor of Technology (BTech) and a National Diploma in Policing.

He has held senior roles including Station Commander, Cluster Commander and District Commissioner, building a track record in crime prevention, operational policing and strategic leadership.

His appointment marks a significant milestone for SAPS in the Western Cape, with his operational experience, academic qualifications and commitment to public service expected to play a key role in policing efforts in the province.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and the MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, have welcomed the appointment.

The Premier reiterated his commitment to deepening a constructive working relationship with Dyantyi in the interests of the province’s residents.

“Our residents deserve and desperately need a police service that is properly resourced, intelligence-led and capable of effectively combating and preventing violent crime,” he said in a statement.

Winde expressed his deep concern over ongoing violent crime affecting far too many communities and said improved collaboration alone will not succeed in reducing crime. It must be accompanied by meaningful improvements in police capacity.

“The Western Cape continues to face unacceptably high levels of violent crime. Addressing this crisis requires significantly greater investment in frontline policing resources, modern investigative capabilities, and intelligence-gathering. Without these critical building blocks, it will remain difficult to dismantle organised criminal networks,” the Premier said.

Marais said Dyantyi had firsthand knowledge of the unique crime challenges facing the Western Cape and understands the importance of partnerships.

“His appointment presents an important opportunity to embrace new ways of strengthening policing in the province with a strong focus on the proper resourcing of police stations and tackling gang and organised crime. I look forward to my renewed partnership with the provincial management of SAPS under his leadership.” – SAnews.gov.za

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Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, together with the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Andy Mothibi, will host a media briefing on the current developments at the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC). 

The briefing is expected to be held on Thursday afternoon at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) headquarters in Pretoria.

“The briefing follows the resignation of the former Head of IDAC, Advocate Andrea Johnson. The briefing will provide clarity on key developments to ensure continuity and stability within the Directorate while processes to address the leadership vacancy are underway.

“In addition, the briefing will reaffirm the commitment of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development and the [NPA] to maintain the operational effectiveness of IDAC, ensuring institutional stability, and reinforcing public confidence in South Africa’s anti-corruption efforts,” the department said in a statement.

Earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted a request by then IDAC head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, to resign with immediate effect.

Johnson has come under scrutiny for her role in certain prosecutorial matters arising from her evidence at the Madlanga Commission. – SAnews.gov.za

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Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has urged Southern African countries to urgently transition towards financial self-reliance to sustain their HIV responses as traditional international donor streams begin to recede.

Phaahla made the assertion at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat session during the 26th International AIDS Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The session was held under the theme: Sustaining the HIV Response in Southern Africa Beyond 2030 and took place against the backdrop of significant funding pressures threatening the global HIV response, including the withdrawal of funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

“When we speak about sustainability today, we must recognise that the concept has evolved. Sustainability is no longer simply about replacing donor funding or filling resource gaps.

“Rather, sustainability is about ensuring that countries have the institutions, systems, financing mechanisms, workforce capacity, governance structures, and community partnerships required to maintain HIV gains for generations to come,” the deputy minister stated.

Phaahla characterised health sovereignty as a central pillar to the SADC’s strategy and emphasised that countries must “determine the direction of their own health responses”.

“It means mobilising domestic resources, strengthening public health systems, building national capacity, and shaping partnerships according to national priorities rather than external agendas. 

“Health sovereignty does not mean working alone. Rather, it means engaging in partnerships from a position of leadership, ownership, and shared accountability,” the deputy minister explained.

He noted that South Africa’s own National Sustainability Framework provides “valuable insights in this regard”.

The framework was developed to support South Africa’s transition toward a more sustainable and country-led HIV response.

The framework notes that sustainability must be built across the following six interconnected domains:

• Epidemic control.
• Financial sustainability.
• Service delivery.
• Governance and accountability.
• Strengthening of critical social and community enablers.
• Resilient systems for health.

“Together, these domains acknowledge that sustainability cannot be achieved through isolated interventions.

“It requires integrated programmes, capable systems, and strong institutions that work together to maintain epidemic control through domestic leadership and financing, complemented by predictable external support,” Phaahla noted.

Solidarity the greatest strength

Phaahla stressed that even as health strategies are drawn up, no country can go at it alone, making regional collaboration “more important than ever before”.

With challenges become increasingly interconnected, regional solidarity is now the SADC’s greatest strategic assets.

“Through collaboration, countries can strengthen cross-border continuity of HIV services, ensuring that people remain connected to care regardless of where they live, work, or travel.

“Regional cooperation can also support joint procurement and supply-chain efficiencies, helping countries maximise limited resources and improve access to essential medicines and commodities.

“It enables shared learning, knowledge exchange, and innovation. It strengthens our ability to mobilise both domestic and international resources. And it allows us to coordinate responses to emerging public health threats that do not respect national borders,” he said.

The Deputy Minister asserted that the SADC’s goals should be to build HIV responses that:

• Domestically led and community-driven
• Financially sustainable
• Integrated within primary health care and Universal Health Coverage
• Resilient enough to withstand future shocks.

“The future of the HIV response in Africa will not be defined solely by the resources we receive, but by the systems we build, the partnerships we strengthen, and the leadership we demonstrate. 

“Through sustainability, regional solidarity, and health sovereignty, SADC has an opportunity not only to end AIDS as a public health threat, but to create a lasting model of African-led health development for generations to come,” Phaahla concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board will on Friday, hand over a newly digitised broadcast studio to the community radio station Icora FM in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal.

The handover will be led by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong, who chairs the MDDA Board.

The upgrade forms part of the MDDA’s efforts to strengthen community media through infrastructure development and improved access to modern broadcasting technology.

Icora FM serves Empangeni and surrounding communities, providing local news and information, as well as education, entertainment and a platform for community engagement.

The newly digitised studio is expected to improve the station’s broadcasting and production capabilities and enhance the quality of its content. It will also provide a more efficient working environment for presenters, volunteers and producers.

The upgrade is intended to strengthen the station’s ability to amplify local voices, encourage community participation and respond to the information needs of its listeners.

The MDDA said the project demonstrates the role of technology in supporting media diversity and sustainable community broadcasting. 

Morolong also handed over upgraded broadcasting facilities at Radio Mafisa in Rustenburg in the North West province earlier this month. 

Radio Mafisa broadcasts on 93.4 FM, serving communities including Phokeng, Boitekong, Marikana, Mogwase and Tlhabane.– SAnews.gov.za
 

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Social grant beneficiaries whose payments are under review will receive their August grants on Friday, 7 August, one day after the normal three-day payment cycle, according to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

The agency said in a statement that beneficiaries whose grants have been flagged for review will not be paid during the usual three-day payment cycle and will instead receive their money on the fourth payment day.

The August payment schedule is:
•    Older Persons Grant: Tuesday, 4 August
•    Disability Grant: Wednesday, 5 August
•    Children’s Grants: Thursday, 6 August
•    Grants under review: Friday, 7 August

SASSA urged beneficiaries who do not receive their grants on 4, 5 or 6 August not to panic or immediately rush to their nearest office. If their grant is under review, payment will be made on Friday, 7 August.

However, beneficiaries will still need to complete the review process during August after receiving their grants.

SASSA warned that failing to respond to a review request could result in a grant being suspended or lapsing in terms of the Social Assistance Act.

Check your SMS

SASSA said beneficiaries selected for review are notified by SMS, making it essential for grant recipients to keep their personal information up to date.

Beneficiaries must inform SASSA of any changes to their cellphone number, residential address or other contact details. They must also report changes to their financial circumstances or any travel outside South Africa.

The agency said it can only send review notifications using the contact details recorded on its database.

Grant reviews are a legal requirement designed to ensure that social assistance continues to be paid only to people who qualify. The process also helps SASSA prevent fraud and abuse and maintain an accurate beneficiary database.

What to take to your review

Beneficiaries attending a review should bring the documents required to verify their eligibility. These may include a valid South African identity document, proof of income, bank statements for the previous three months, proof of residence and proof of marital status where applicable.

Depending on the type of grant, additional documents may be required, including children’s birth certificates, school attendance confirmation and death certificates where the death of a spouse or child affects eligibility.

SASSA advised beneficiaries to attend their review appointments as soon as possible and to bring original documents, along with certified copies where required.

Beneficiaries who are bedridden or medically unable to visit a SASSA office should contact their nearest office. An authorised representative, or procurator, may act on their behalf where applicable.

SASSA is also encouraging beneficiaries to make use of its digital and online services where possible to avoid long queues and unnecessary travel.

The agency said free Wi-Fi is available at its offices to help clients access online services using their own smartphones, while officials can assist those who need help navigating the digital platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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