Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of former Deputy President David Dabede Mabuza who passed away on Thursday.

Mabuza, who served as Deputy President between 2018 and 2023, passed away in a hospital at the age of 65.

“On behalf of government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President’s wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children.

“I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios.

“My thoughts are also with Deputy President Mabuza’s comrades in his political home, the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organisation’s Deputy President in December 2017,” President Ramaphosa said.

He praised the former Deputy President’s contribution to government.

“During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development.

“Deputy President Mabuza also represented South Africa on global platforms and consolidated relations between South Africa and its closest partners.

“As Deputy President, he chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development [GSCID] as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security [JCPS],” the President said.

The Mpumalanga-born politician – affectionately referred to as DD or The Cat – was a teacher by training, however, he was drawn into political activism.

“We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President.

“The former Deputy President deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation’s development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state.

“Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, is embarking on a series of engagements with young people in agriculture across the province.

According to the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the sessions aim to empower youth to take an active role in shaping the future of the sector, reflecting their commitment to supporting sustainable, youth-led growth in agriculture.

The first leg of the district engagements kicked off on Monday, 30 June 2025, in Coligny, within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District. 

The department said that at the heart of this focused intervention is the Youth in Agriculture and Rural Development (YARD) structure, whose elected leadership has been tasked with advancing youth representation and development at all levels of the sector.

The rollout continues in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District on Friday, 4 July, at Mooilagte Farm in the Naledi Local Municipality. 

This will be followed by engagements in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District on 11 July at Ga-Matsapola Farm, and in the Bojanala Platinum District on 14 July at the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

The initiative brings together key stakeholders, including the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), North West University Business School, the Small Enterprise Finance and Development Agency (SEFDA), AgriSETA, the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), commercial banks, and development finance institutions. 

“The sessions serve as a gateway for young people to access critical information on funding, skills development, mentorship, and market access tools essential for building resilient and sustainable agri-enterprises.” 

Held in partnership with local municipalities through the District Development Model (DDM), the engagements aim to ensure that the needs and aspirations of young farmers are integrated into local economic development plans.

“In addition to dialogue and presentations, each session includes live demonstrations and planting activities, exposing participants to practical techniques and climate-smart agricultural methods.” 

Addressing youth during the Coligny engagement held on Monday, Sambatha emphasised the department’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for youth in agriculture.

“This is not a ceremonial exercise; it is a deliberate strategy to reposition young people as central drivers of agricultural growth and rural development. We are here to remove bottlenecks, unlock opportunities, and invest in future producers,“ Sambatha said.

The department encourages all young people involved in farming, agri-processing, and rural enterprises to take full advantage of these sessions and the wide range of support offered through government and its partners. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, says government will continue to develop policies that open doors and support sustainable livelihoods for women. 

“Women, especially in rural areas and the informal sector, are still excluded from land, credit, capital, markets, procurement and the digital economy,” Chikunga said on Thursday.

Addressing media ahead of her department’s Budget Vote at the Imbizo Centre in Cape Town, Chikunga said for many women in rural areas, there is no easy access to the internet, and information is difficult to get. Transportation and getting the right documentation also proves a challenge. 

“We need simpler, more inclusive systems that meet women where they are, not where the system assumes them to be,” Chikunga said.

A substantial amount of money from the department’s budget is used to uplift women, youth and people with disabilities.

Chikunga said a proposal has been made for the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Working Group, which will be an additional Working Group to be established and discussed further at the level of the G20 by countries that will subsequently take up the chairship of the G20.

“We have committed to taking the G20 to the people, so that it is truly ‘The People’s G20’, a G20 that listens, that includes, and that leaves behind a legacy of progress.

“Our participation and activities in the EWWG [Empowerment of Women Working Group] reflect the lived realities of South African women, youth and persons with disabilities. It continues to also include diverse historically marginalised communities in rural areas, informal settlements, farms and townships.”

Chikunga said they have visited Taung in the North West and Mkhondo in Mpumalanga to consult communities as part of a broader national process to ensure that the voices of women, youth and people with disabilities inform South Africa’s contributions to the G20. The similar visits will also be undertaken to other provinces.

“As South Africa, we are approaching our G20 Presidency in the spirit of Ubuntu: ‘I am because we are’. This is to remind us that we are connected and we are stronger when we build together and leave no one behind.

“We are in Solidarity – working together, across countries and communities, to find shared solutions. We speak of equality because it is fundamental that we fix the unfair systems that keep so many people, especially women, young people and persons with disabilities, trapped in challenges of climate change, unemployment, poverty, inequality, hunger and rising debt.”

Laying the foundation for the nation to thrive

Chikunga said no economy can function and no society can thrive when women are unsafe at home, at work, in schools and in public spaces.

“Safety is not a side issue. It is the foundation of empowerment. We are strengthening governance and the legislative and programmatic response in addressing the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide. Addressing feminism requires all of us. Law enforcement must take its course,” the Minister said.

Over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, the department will continue focusing on enhancing the coordination of the national response to gender-based violence; advancing responsive planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation within government; protecting the rights of people with disabilities, and encouraging the participation of women, young people and people with disabilities in the economy.

An estimated 76.6% (R2.3 billion) of the department’s budget over the medium-term is earmarked for transfers and subsidies to the National Youth Development Agency and the Commission for Gender Equality. 

As part of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20, which runs until 30 November 2025, R5.3 million is set aside for the G20 women empowerment working group meetings in 2025/26. 

Cabinet has approved additional allocations to the department’s baseline amounting to R66.4 million over the medium-term (R21.2 million in 2025/26, R22.1 million in 2026/27 and R23.1 million in 2027/28). These funds are intended to support the department’s operations, including public wage increases.  – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

As the Third Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) draws to a close, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Steve Letsike has called for G20 members to transform commitments into lasting action. 

Delivering closing remarks on Thursday, the Deputy Minister applauded the depth of deliberations held over the past days and called for greater accountability to drive tangible progress in the global pursuit of gender equality. 

“This meeting has been a powerful space of shared purpose. We have engaged in thoughtful and sometimes difficult conversations, recognising that the path toward gender equality requires not only commitment, but concrete action and accountability. 

“Through collective commitment and action, G20 members can make significant strides in promoting gender equality and achieving sustainable development,” Letsike said.

Framed around three interlinked priority areas – care economy, financial inclusion, and gender-based violence – the EWWG discussions drew attention to the complex and deeply rooted inequalities that continue to hinder the advancement of women and girls globally.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the economic and social significance of care work, both paid and unpaid, which is often overlooked, despite being “the backbone of our societies and economies”. 

She highlighted the importance of elevating care work and ensuring decent wages and equitable conditions, underscoring that these are “not just gender issues but they are economic imperatives”.

On the issue of financial inclusion, Letsike welcomed the early outcomes under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, including a newly proposed action plan aimed at increasing access to financial tools and opportunities for women and girls.

“I am happy that we are beginning to see the tangibles that will emerge from the South African G20 Presidency. One of these is the action plan on financial inclusion, which starts to define the key strategic focus or pillars, action areas and initiatives that we could adopt as G20 members to drive financial inclusion. 

“This action plan or framework will assist to ensure systemic reform, institutional accountability, and policy innovation grounded in lived realities and rigorous evidence,” the Deputy Minister said. 

The meeting also took a firm stand on the global scourge of gender-based violence and femicide, calling for decisive action through prevention, protection and prosecution.

“No society can claim to be just or equal while women continue to live in fear, or worse, lose their lives simply because they are women. 

“We reaffirmed the urgent need for prevention, protection and prosecution anchored in survivor-centred policies and a culture of zero tolerance,” Letsike stressed. 

Policy briefs on the care economy and gender-based violence, along with global frameworks, such as the 5R [Recognise, Reduce, Redistribute, Represent and Reward unpaid and paid care work] and SIGI [Social Institutions and Gender Index], are expected to guide G20 members toward national policy development and implementation.

The Deputy Minister reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to a G20 approach built on consensus and inclusive growth, adding that the knowledge products generated during this technical meeting would contribute to the legacy of the country’s Presidency.

“The South African G20 Presidency is committed to the principles of G20 based on consensus, which is a cornerstone of our collective efforts. Through open dialogue and collaboration, we have reaffirmed our shared vision of a more inclusive and accessible world,” she said. 

Looking ahead, the Ministerial Declaration resulting from these engagements will be presented to the Ministers for adoption in October 2025. 

The gathering brought together senior government officials, G20 partners, civil society, academics, and international organisations strengthening global momentum toward a more just and equitable world for women and girls.

The closed sessions that took place on Wednesday and continues today focused on the global context of gender-based violence, emphasising the need for private sector engagement and legislation to protect women. 

Key points included the criminalisation of certain behaviours, the creation of codes for daily access, and the importance of community-driven sustainability in health provisions. 

The speakers also stressed the importance of international support, governance, and the need for a comprehensive approach to address gender-based violence effectively. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The North West Provincial Government has disputed claims regarding its budget expenditure for the 2024/25 financial year, after reports indicated that it would return R383 million to the National Treasury.

This is after an opposition party noted that while most provincial departments spent between 98% and 99% of their allocated budgets, which aligns with acceptable spending norms, the province’s underspending still amounts to a significant R383 million. 

According to the party, this underspending includes considerable shortfalls in key departments.

The party has called on the North West Provincial Government to account for the R383 million in underspending for the 2024/25 financial year. 

However, the provincial government confirmed that, according to the preliminary audit outcomes for 2024/25, 99.29% of its R54.2 billion budget was spent, which translates to a total expenditure of R53.9 billion.

“This is a much-improved performance compared to the previous financial year, with only two departments spending below a threshold of 95%.

“The under-expenditure of R383 million, which is made up of R176 million of the equitable share, will be retained by the province.” 

The provincial government stated that the remaining amount, approximately R207 million, will roll over into the 2025/26 financial year.

“Already, National Treasury has approved R172 million, which will be re-appropriated through the November adjustment budget. These funds will be used for various infrastructure projects to address service delivery challenges and create various socio-economic opportunities for locals. 

“Therefore, there is no R383 million which is going to be returned to National Treasury, as alleged by some in the mainstream and social media platforms.” – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

W Cape completes housing market studies for seven municipalities

Gabisile
Thu, 07/03/2025 – 10:37

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, July 3, 2025