Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has announced its commitment to revising its initial statement on the 2024 US Human Rights Report, specifically regarding the safety conditions in rural and farming communities in South Africa.

“The South African Government wishes to set the record straight on this matter and to clarify what we believe is an inaccurate and distorted account of the facts,” the statement read on Wednesday. 

This is after the report published by the United States Department of State last week claimed that South Africa’s human rights situation has significantly worsened over the past year. 

READ | SA rejects US claims on ’deteriorating’ human rights in the country

It noted concerns regarding the signing of the Expropriation Bill, which was described as a troubling step toward land expropriation affecting White Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities in the country. 

In January this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa promulgated the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 which states that property may not be expropriated arbitrarily or for a purpose other than a public purpose or in the public interest and subject to just and equitable compensation.

The report criticises the South African government for its alleged mistreatment of Afrikaner farmers, highlighting significant human rights issues. It claims it has credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions, and the repression of racial minorities.

However, DIRCO said the nation’s foreign policy is guided by a commitment to a rules-based international system based on international law and a respect for human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution. 

“It is within this framework that we address all forms of crime, which remain a significant challenge for all of our citizens, regardless of race or location. The suggestion that these crimes represent a concerted practice of racially motivated attacks, as insinuated by the US report, is not borne out by the facts.” 

The department has since cited the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) official statistics on rural safety for the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year from 1 January to 31 March 2025, which they believe demonstrate this reality. 

According to the figures, a total of six murder cases were reported in farming communities. 

The department stated that the breakdown of the victims reveals that these crimes are not targeted against a single racial group, which includes three victims who were employees, two farmers and one victim who was a farm dweller. 

“These figures underscore that violent crime in rural areas affects everyone who lives and works on farms and related rural areas. While the loss of any life is a tragedy, these statistics do not reveal a pattern of action driven by inflammatory racial rhetoric against a specific community.” 

National Rural Safety Strategy

The government said it continues to implement a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to rural safety. 

“Our National Rural Safety Strategy is a priority and is implemented in police station areas that serve rural and farming communities.” 

By the end of the fourth quarter of 2024/25, the department said the country reported that 893 out of 900 identified rural police stations (99%) had fully implemented the strategy.

This initiative focuses on enhancing police capacity and fostering community involvement with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders. 

In addition, the programme involves commercial farmers’ associations, including the African Farmers Association of South Africa and the National African Farmers’ Union, Agri-SA and its provincial structures and the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAUSA). 

They also involve labour unions like the Food and Allied Workers Union and organisations advocating for the rights of farm workers and interest groups like AfriForum, South African Agricultural Research Institute and Stop Attacks and Farm Murders.

Government is also actively strengthening public-private partnerships through initiatives like the Eyes and Ears (E2) programme, coordinated with Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA).

According to the department, this initiative leverages the private security industry’s technological and logistical capabilities to enhance the situational awareness of the SAPS and improve response to rural crime.

“South Africa remains committed to a transparent and collaborative approach to addressing crime. 

“We stand ready to engage with any nation on matters of mutual interest through established diplomatic channels, and we will continue to provide accurate, data-driven information to counter any misrepresentations of our domestic situation. There is a focus on the safety and security of all South Africans.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the Innovation Hub, is hosting an innovation workshop at the eKasi Labs Sebokeng, at the Vaal University of Technology Science Park.

This is part of its mandate to support South African innovators from idea, development of prototypes, protection of intellectual property and commercialisation.

The workshop aims to identify and unearth innovative solutions available in the care of the Innovation Hub. 

The Innovation Hub, a science and technology park based in Gauteng, focuses on driving innovation and economic development. It is a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) and acts as the province’s innovation agency. 

The Innovation Hub aims to foster a culture of innovation, support entrepreneurs, and promote the growth of knowledge-intensive businesses.

According to the Acting Chief Director of Innovation and Technology at the dtic, Takalani Ramuthaga, innovation has a direct link to economic growth and development, and there is a direct correlation between innovative countries and industrialised countries.

Against this backdrop, Ramuthaga says, engaging with township innovators has the potential to stimulate local economic activity and growth within the township. 

A total of eight workshops have been scheduled in Gauteng townships where the Innovation Hub has its eKasi Labs programme infrastructure. 

This will enable township entrepreneurs to access information on innovation support instruments as well as other incentives of the dtic.

“Apart from information dissemination, the workshop is aimed at identifying gaps that the innovation support programmes should effectively bridge between the markets and local communities, including innovation in townships and rural areas that policies and strategies may not have addressed adequately,” Ramuthaga said.

She said valuable knowledge exists in townships and rural areas where there is mainly no infrastructure and services. 

“People innovate for survival and develop valuable knowledge,” she said.

To add value to such knowledge, Ramuthaga said government’s intervention is needed in the form of funding, exposure and forming linkages with the existing instruments. 

To this end, these workshops are aimed at identifying and unearthing innovative solutions.

“These engagements with innovators are also aimed at unearthing technologies from underdeveloped communities and townships, as well as creating networking platforms for technology development and commercialisation. 

“They will also create awareness of valuable knowledge and skills that exist in the township and identify innovation that can be supported through other existing innovation instruments of the dtic, as well as other role players,” Ramuthaga said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has confirmed that over 113 new houses will be built within the next four months to provide permanent shelter for families displaced by the 2022 and 2025 floods.

The announcement was made by Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli during the recent Operation Siyahlola Oversight Programme, which monitors service delivery and infrastructure projects across the province.

Ntuli said the initiative forms part of KwaZulu-Natal’s accelerated disaster recovery plan, which aims to ensure that by 2027, every flood victim in the province will be accommodated in a safe, permanent, and fully serviced home.

The Premier highlighted that the houses will be built to high-quality, disaster-resilient standards, and will include special adaptations for people with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity, accessibility, and long-term comfort.

“These 113 houses represent a promise in action. Our designs are disaster-resilient and inclusive, catering even for people with disabilities. Rebuilding after disaster must mean building better and building for all,” Ntuli said.

Long-term housing plan

The Provincial Government, through the Department of Human Settlements, has made significant progress in fast-tracking the resettlement of flood victims, ensuring that affected families are moved from temporary shelters into safe, permanent housing.

According to the department, a total of 113 top structures will be completed between July and December 2025, supported by an additional R149 million allocations to prepare 692 serviced sites for further housing development.

A further R261 million has been ring-fenced from the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG) in the 2026/27 financial year for the construction of more top structures, while R25 million from capital balances will be used to complete 108 houses by October 2025.

“The 692 houses are scheduled for completion by December 2026, with beneficiaries expected to move in from December 2026 to January 2027. Working in partnership with affected municipalities, the provincial government will also embark on intensive social facilitation programmes to engage communities that resist the resettlement of flood victims or other developments in their areas.

“All Temporary Emergency Accommodations (TEAs) are planned to close by January 2027, as 837 houses will be completed by December 2026 and 375 flood victims temporarily accommodated at Montclair Lodge and Cornubia TRUs, while their permanent homes, targeted for completion by June 2027, are being built,” Ntuli said.

In addition, the Premier said seven parcels of rezoned land under the eThekwini Metro will be utilised for normal housing projects to address the municipality’s broader housing backlog.

Warning against unlawful resale of government houses

Meanwhile, Ntuli has issued a stern warning against the unlawful resale of government houses or unlawful accommodation of non-beneficiaries.

“Such actions will not be tolerated, and the Department of Human Settlements, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, will take strict legal action against offenders to protect the integrity of the resettlement programme and ensure that the rightful beneficiaries are accommodated,” Ntuli said.

KwaZulu-Natal was hit by catastrophic floods in April 2022, which claimed more than 400 lives, destroyed infrastructure, and left thousands homeless. The 2025 floods compounded the crisis, displacing even more families, many of whom remain in temporary accommodation.

The Premier has expressed gratitude to all government officials, municipal teams, engineers, and construction workers for their role in fast-tracking recovery efforts.

He also commended the communities that have embraced the relocation of flood victims and allowed these critical developments to proceed in their areas.

“Their cooperation has made it possible for the province to move forward with urgency and unity in restoring dignity to those who have lost so much. This housing and resettlement programme marks one of the most ambitious post-disaster recovery initiatives in KwaZulu-Natal’s history, reaffirming government’s commitment to rebuilding communities, restoring dignity, and ensuring no flood victim is left behind,” Ntuli said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, says that South Africa’s first artificial intelligence (AI) robot will enhance education in the country by enabling learners to reach their full potential.  

Gina was speaking in Durban on Tuesday at the launch of IRIS, the AI-powered, first-of-its-kind robot in South Africa, designed to redefine learning experiences in the country. 

According to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), it can master all subjects from Grade R to tertiary level, in 11 of the country’s official languages.

Gina said this will not only be used to teach children at school, but it will also inspire them to become familiar with technology, especially in rural areas. 

IRIS is the brainchild of BSG Technologies, founded by Thandoh Gumede, who hails from the rural area of KwaMnqobokazi in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal. 

The idea to build IRIS came while teaching maths and physical science at a local school, during which she experienced several challenges.

The robot is equipped with software and a keyboard. It functions similarly to any AI tool that utilises deep machine learning, with a special feature of being multilingual. While tools like ChatGPT use text, IRIS uses voice to respond to prompts.    

With her digital innovation skills, Gumede has won several international awards and was crowned Miss Tech Universe 2024-2025 in Thailand. 

Here at home, she is already taking South Africa by storm and is fondly called “Mamaka IRIS”.  

As South Africa celebrates National Women’s Month, the Deputy Minister reminded the audience that science has no gender, no geographical specificity, and no look. 

“Women must lead in shaping the future of science, innovation and fields like AI. These are the skills that will drive tomorrow’s economy, and they require contributions from both men and women.”

The Deputy Minister stated that it was the mandate of the DSTI to support all emerging innovations and encouraged women and youth to take advantage of the department’s funding instruments, such as the Women in Technology and Innovation and the Grassroots Innovation programmes.  

She emphasised the importance of leveraging technologies such as AI within the African context, highlighting the need for the continent to drive innovation and become a primary consumer of its innovations.

Deputy Director-General for Curriculum Management and Delivery at the provincial Department of Education, Mbongiseni Mazibuko, said maximising the full benefits of AI will require everyone to be on the same wavelength of preparedness, and with innovations like IRIS, teachers must be equipped to harness these technologies.  

“Technology is not here to replace teachers, but rather innovations like IRIS will be part and parcel of the future of teaching and learning. We need to make our teachers ready for these technologies, and as a department, we embrace IRIS,” said Mazibuko.

Gumede plans to introduce IRIS to every classroom in South Africa by the end of October this year and stressed the importance of partnership with the private sector to help transform teaching and learning in the country.  

“IRIS does not belong to me. It belongs to everyone of us in South Africa, and that is the reason we need partnerships to be able to do that,” said Gumede, quelling the fear that AI will replace teachers in class.  

Rather, she believes that IRIS will enhance learning and teaching in South Africa and help to close the educational gaps in the country, particularly in Maths, science and technology. 

The launch featured a demonstration of IRIS answering complex questions from some of the learners attending. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Japan leading South Africa’s high-level delegation at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development Summit (TICAD9) in Yokohama City.

President Ramaphosa, who arrived in Japan on Tuesday, will participate in the TICAD9 Summit from 20 – 22 August 2025 under the theme “Co-creating Innovative Solutions with Africa”. 

The summit is underpinned by three Plenary Sessions, which illustrate established areas of cooperation between the African Union and Japan, namely: Society: Realizing a Sustainable Future; Economy: Promoting Trade and Investment; and Peace and stability: Ensuring Human Dignity and Human Security.

In a statement, the Presidency said the 9th TICAD Summit takes place at a time of unprecedented threats to global peace and security, ongoing conflicts in some regions of the world, distortions and disruption to global trade and a concerning revision by some states to unilateral action at a time when multilateralism and collective solutions to common challenges is crucial.

The Presidency highlighted that rising fuel, food and energy prices have severely impacted developing countries, entrenching poverty and fuelling higher levels of inequality in the face of constrained employment and job opportunities. 

“The debt and liquidity crisis on the African continent is worsening the challenging socio-economic environment and constraining the fiscal space for governments to cast a safety net over its citizens. 

“The AU discussions with the government of Japan under the auspices of TICAD presents an opportunity for the two sides to engage in discussions that seek to foster collective solutions to these challenges,” the Presidency said. 

South Africa, as a Member State of the AU, will prioritise support from the government of Japan for the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, especially in the priority areas of infrastructure development, peace and security, and health.  

“President Ramaphosa will advance South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 and pursue bilateral economic engagements with the government of Japan with a view to strengthening trade and investment ties between South Africa and Japan,” the Presidency said. 

The year 2025 marks 115 years of relations between South Africa and Japan. 

The two countries enjoy well-established bilateral relations within the framework of the Partnership Forum held at a ministerial level and maintain strong cooperation in the fields of trade and investment; science and technology; education; skills transfer and capacity building through development cooperation. Bilateral trade between Japan and South Africa had been expanding since the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1992. 

Japan is one of the major investors (over R90 billion) in the South African economy, with 260 Japanese companies, sustaining over 150 000 local jobs. 

Japan is the 4th largest economy in the world, and total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2024 was R132 billion, with South Africa recording a trade surplus of R52 billion. 

“President Ramaphosa will engage with leading captains of Japanese industry and business. 

“Japan is one of South Africa’s major economic partners with sizeable investments in the South African economy, and the potential for further investments exists. A South African high level business delegation is also participating at the TICAD9,” the Presidency said. 

Also, at the margins of TICAD9 in his capacity as the chair of the Global Leader’s Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, President Ramaphosa will deliver a keynote address to parliamentarians, business and developmental agencies on the importance of increasing investments into women’s, children’s and adolescents health as an imperative for peace and security. 

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, and senior government officials. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

North West Premier Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi will reaffirm the provincial government’s commitment to improving service delivery by leading the rollout of Phase 5 of the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme –Thuntsha Lerole Reloaded. 

This event will take place on Friday, 22 August 2025, at the Ditsobotla Local Municipality in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.

The provincial department said this phase marks a strategic continuation of the provincial government’s efforts to bring integrated services closer to the people, address long-standing service delivery challenges, and strengthen public participation in governance issues. 

During Phase 5, efforts will be strengthened to provide water and sanitation infrastructure, upgrade sewer networks, maintain roads, clear illegal dumping sites, combat crime and create jobs. 

These initiatives will target and prioritise specific local municipalities, including Ditsobotla, JB Marks, City of Matlosana, Tswaing, Madibeng, Kagisano-Molopo, Ramotshere Moiloa, Moses Kotane, Rustenburg, and Mahikeng.

Government departments, State-owned entities and the private sector will converge at Itsoseng Community Hall, where on-the-spot services will be provided and a community feedback session held. 

Central to this service delivery-oriented programme will be the handing over of community facilities, including a community hall at Springbokpan village, a sports facility at Itekeng township in Biesiesvlei, a community hall at Tlhabologang in Coligny, and a new cemetery site at Itsoseng. 

Included in the day’s activities is a planned oversight visit and inspection of a brick-making plant and facility in Itsoseng. 

This flagship facility was established by the Department of Public Works and Roads (DPWR) during the 2014/15 financial year. At that time, it provided job opportunities for beneficiaries of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). 

However, operations were halted more than three years ago due to various challenges.

As an intervention strategy, the department has plans to resuscitate all brick-making plants across the province to make them sustainable, and to create job opportunities and skills. 

In addition, more than 4 000 paving bricks, which are on-site and produced by EPWP beneficiaries, will be donated to the Ditsobotla Local Municipality for use in any of their paving projects planned on access roads to service delivery points and streets. 

An inspection of a special maintenance project on road D40 – from Thusong to Itsoseng – will also be conducted on the day. 

Some of the standard features of Thuntsha Lerole that will take place during the day include the installation of high-mast lights, mass registration of qualifying citizens for free basic services, clearing illegal dumping sites, law enforcement activities, distribution of agricultural packages to a community agricultural project and a local school, provision of integrated primary health care services, and distribution of sanitary towels to identified local schools. – SAnews.gov.za