Category: South Africa Government

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R410.9bn allocated to local govt and service delivery programmes

Source: South Africa News Agency

In a move aimed at enhancing service delivery, government has announced a substantial budget allocation for Cooperative Governance, amounting to R410.9 billion over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period. 

The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, announced that a staggering 96.7% of this budget is earmarked for intergovernmental transfers and support to various entities. 

“This significant investment will enable us to implement critical initiatives that deliver tangible and measurable improvements in the lives of our people,” he said during the budget announcement on Wednesday.

He announced that the budget allocation is focused on ensuring that every South African benefits from this allocation, particularly in underserved communities.

In addition to the allocations for Cooperative Governance, Vote 15: Traditional Affairs, will see an appropriated budget of R195 530 million for the fiscal year 2025/26. 

Within this allocation, Hlabisa said 24%, which is approximately R46.927 million, is specifically designated for transfers and subsidies, including a dedicated fund for the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious, and Linguistic Communities.

The Minister recognised the vital role that traditional leadership plays in cultural preservation and community cohesion. 

He believes that the budget reflects government’s commitment to supporting this crucial sector and ensuring that their voices are part of the national discourse.

The budget presentation and engagement form part of Parliament’s oversight function, providing a platform to transparently present the department’s financial allocations and strategic direction for the 2025/26 financial year.

The budget vote presentation detailed key areas of expenditure, offering a comprehensive breakdown of how the department’s resources will be allocated to drive impactful governance.

The Minister highlighted that a key component of the government’s reform agenda is the comprehensive review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government, initiated on 19 May 2025. 

This review is part of a strategy to modernise local governance structures and improve service delivery amid challenges like urban growth and youth unemployment. 

“Through this review, we are committed to creating a local government system that is responsive to the needs of all South Africans and that delivers quality services to our communities.”

The Minister explained that the review’s importance extends beyond governance and embodies a commitment to socio-economic development, emphasising inclusivity in community engagement.

Empowering communities

He announced that government aims to rectify historical imbalances by providing a platform for the voices of informal traders, women, youth, and rural communities. 

In response to the high demand for broader community engagement on the discussion document concerning the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government (WPLG), the submission deadline for the review has been extended to 31 July 2025. 

In addition to governance reforms, government is advancing targeted interventions in distressed municipalities, focusing on infrastructure maintenance and development support. 

As part of this initiative, the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) is dedicated to 10 distressed municipalities, addressing fundamental issues such as outstanding debt resolution and improving governance structures.

“We reiterate that for us to make an impact in addressing the challenges at the local government sphere, we should eradicate working in silos, as espoused by the District Development Model (DDM),” said Hlabisa.

He said the DDM remains government’s flagship intergovernmental planning, coordination, and service delivery strategy, bringing all three spheres of government around one table to address the specific challenges across the 52 districts and metros. 

In addition, he announced that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is set to accelerate infrastructure delivery, with an allocation of R493.8 million to support critical projects in priority municipalities.

Hlabisa stated that the reallocation of R244.7 million from the MIG to the Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG) will promote integrated urban planning and development in growth areas.

Meanwhile, the Municipal Systems Improvement Grant (MSIG) is increasing from R151.1 million in 2025/26 to R165.3 million in 2027/28 to strengthen municipal systems and improve intergovernmental planning and budgeting under the DDM.

The Minister said collaboration with National Treasury is underway to establish a municipal debt relief framework, aimed at assisting municipalities in managing debt and enhancing financial sustainability.

With these substantial budget allocations and a renewed focus on local governance reforms, he stressed that government is positioning itself to create a responsive and effective local government system for all South Africans.

Hlabisa said the overarching goal remains clear, which includes delivering quality services that foster community development and resilience in democracy. – SAnews.gov.za

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Speech by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, during the Budget Vote Debate for Statistics South Africa (Vote 14)

Source: President of South Africa –

Honourable Chairperson of the Session;
Minister in The Presidency, Honourable Khumbudzo Ntshavheni;
Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Honourable Kenny Morolong;
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Honourable Thelisa Mgweba;
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Our Statistician General, Risenga Maluleka;
Our Chairperson of the Statistics Council, Dr Nompumelelo Mbele;
Fellow South Africans!

I want to start by recalling the words of English philosopher and physician, John Locke, when he said – “Our assent ought to be regulated by the grounds of probability.”

This timeless insight by Locke reminds us that belief, judgment and ultimately policy must be guided NOT by sentiment or speculation, but by evidence. And in the context of a democratic and developmental state such as ours, that evidence is found in official statistics – carefully produced, neutrally presented, and made available to all.

It is, therefore, both an honour and a duty for me to rise today in support of the Minister in the Presidency, Honourable Ntshavheni, as she tables Budget Vote 14 for Statistics South Africa, our country’s national statistical office, simple known as Stats SA.

Stats SA carries a profound responsibility: to ensure that our country has the statistical evidence it needs to make informed, transformative decisions.

As Members of Parliament and as policymakers, we cannot legislate in the dark. We must see the full picture – clearly, accurately, and regularly. That is why Stats SA’s advocacy mantra remains as relevant as ever: “Evidence-based decision-making.”

Honourable Members,

We debate this Budget Vote under the banner of a Government of National Unity -a collective political commitment to work together, across differences, to advance the aspirations of all South Africans. For this unity to succeed, it must be grounded in a shared understanding of the facts. That shared understanding can only come from a trusted and independent source of information such as Stats SA.

The department’s 2025/26 Work Programme is bold in scope and vital to our progress. It commits to the release of more than 290 statistical reports and publications, spanning the economic, social, and environmental domains. These outputs will help us understand the country we are building – its strengths, its fault lines, and its opportunities.

Among the most significant innovations in the year ahead is the continued development of the Continuous Population Survey – an ambitious re-engineering of household data collection into a modular system, enabling more detailed, localised data that aligns with our District Development Model.

This will be underpinned by updates to Stats SA’s geographic information frame, a technical but critical building block for precision in sampling and coverage.

However, Honourable Members, innovation alone is not enough. We need the public to understand and participate in Stats SA’s work. Increasingly, fieldworkers are finding it difficult to access sampled households due to rising mistrust and lack of awareness.

That is why public engagement campaigns must be prioritised. They help foster trust and improve response rates; without which our statistics lose accuracy and legitimacy.

We began our day early this morning with a community outreach initiative not far from these Chambers – in Gugulethu and Nyanga. This was not just a symbolic gesture. It was a deliberate effort to bring Statistics South Africa closer to the people, where it belongs. We engaged with commuters, distributed information, and most importantly, listened. Because statistics are not just numbers – they are our stories, our struggles, our progress or even failures.

That outreach was part of our broader mission: to demystify the work of Stats SA, encourage public participation in surveys, and remind communities that data is only powerful when it is shared, protected, and understood.

We are also mindful of the devastating floods that have impacted parts of our country. Natural disasters do not only destroy infrastructure – but they also displace lives, break routines, and often hit the poorest hardest. In times like these, Stats SA plays a critical role.

By providing accurate data on household vulnerability, migration patterns, service delivery, and access to housing, the national statistics office helps government and relief agencies respond better and faster. Data enables targeted disaster response and long-term recovery planning. In short, stats save lives.

Let us also salute the youth – not just as future leaders, but as present-day champions of change. 
We are a young nation with a median age of 28. This youthful population presents a powerful opportunity – a potential demographic dividend – that could drive economic growth and social progress. But this dividend is not automatic.

To unlock it, we must ensure our youth are well-educated, gainfully employed, and in good health. Only then can their energy, innovation, and numbers become the engine of our nation’s future.
So, as the Minister tables Budget Vote 14 before this House, we carry the voices of people from Gugulethu and Nyanga and the rest of the country we meet earlier today. Our engagements this morning reinforces a vital truth: that national progress starts with local trust. Stats SA does not work from afar.

The work of the national statistics office reinforces a simple fact – the interconnected of data collection, community participation, and policy formulation.

Together, let us keep building South Africa on facts – not fear.

Let me be clear:

A well-funded, capacitated Stats SA is not a luxury. It is an essential endowment to our democracy and our developmental state. Reliable data is the bedrock of reducing inequality, targeting services, and measuring progress.

Inadequate funding and persistent vacancies at Stats SA risk weakening one of the very tools meant to strengthen our country.

Honourable Members,

Recent debates around unemployment statistics remind us of the need for clarity about Stats SA’s mandate. The department is guided by the Statistics Act of 1999, now strengthened through the amendments signed into law in December 2024. The new Statistics Amendment Act (No. 29 of 2024) enables improved coordination across government and enshrines the professional independence required for statistical credibility.

Let us not forget:

Stats SA does not create unemployment. It measures it.
Stats SA does not make policy. It informs it.
It is for us – the policymakers, the lawmakers, the executive – to use these insights wisely.

Chairperson,

I would like to bring to your attention the operating environment of statistics offices worldwide. 

National statistics offices – including our own Stats SA – face modern challenges that demand innovation and resilience. These include growing mistrust in institutions, misinformation spreading faster than facts, declining survey response rates, digital exclusion in poor and rural communities, and the increasing cost and complexity of collecting reliable data. 

In this environment, we must adapt by embracing digital tools, investing in data literacy among our people, strengthening partnerships with community leaders, and reaffirming the independence and credibility of our statistical systems. Only then can we ensure that evidence-based decision-making remains the cornerstone of democracy and development.

I close by acknowledging the thousands of hardworking professionals at Stats SA, from fieldworkers to statisticians, whose quiet dedication helps all of us see South Africa more clearly. May we match their commitment with the resources, legislation, and support they require to do their work effectively.

As this House considers and adopts Budget Vote 14, let it be said that we chose not to govern by instinct, nor by ideology alone – but by truth, by facts, and by evidence.

Ke a leboga. Enkosi. Thank you.

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Stats SA moves into digitally powered future

Source: South Africa News Agency

Statistics South Africa has now commenced with the development of its digital business transformation strategy, which will guide the institution going forward.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, outlined the institution’s plans when she tabled its Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.

“This strategy aligns with South Africa’s Roadmap for Digital Transformation of government that aims to, amongst others, enhance data exchange for improved access to information for improved service delivery.

“Stats SA’s digital transformation journey commenced with the Household Survey programme, transitioning from a paper-based data collection approach to a computer assisted methodology, thereby streamlining survey operations, resulting in significant cost savings,” Ntshavheni said.

She revealed that the institution will, over the next five years, “reinvent its statistical products and processes”.

Key initiatives over the medium-term include:

  • Researching the use of artificial intelligence in producing official statistics.
  • Introducing web-based data collection methods in economic statistics programmes.
  • Applying data science and modern methods to big data and alternative data sources.
  • Exploring the use of cloud technology in Stats SA.

“The shift to digital platforms is designed to streamline survey operations, making it more efficient and user friendly,” she said.

Ntshavheni said Stats SA’s allocation is R2.7 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, rising to R2.91 billion in 2026/27 and reaching R3.04 billion in 2027/28.

“In a world defined by rapid change, complex challenges and competing narratives, official statistics provides us with one constant: the truth told in numbers.

“They serve as a mirror through which a nation sees itself not just as it is but how its evolving. From economic performance and health outcomes to education levels and environmental conditions, statistics are the evidence base upon which sound decisions are made.”

The Minister urged Parliamentarians to support the budget vote to equip Stats SA to help government navigate ever changing global dynamics.

“It is important to support this budget vote because we are navigating a path in a world that is undergoing rapid and profound changes, and this is equally true in the realm of statistics.

“Global fundamental shifts are reshaping every aspect of human life from the escalating impact of climate change to the swift advancements in artificial intelligence, the rise of digital economies, changing social dynamics and global political tensions.

“By accurately capturing and analysing these trends, we can better equip ourselves to respond to the challenges and opportunities they present – ensuring that our nation remains resilient and forward thinking in this ever-evolving landscape,” Ntshavheni emphasised.

She assured that the institution remains “unwavering in its commitment to the strategy of improving lives through data economic systems”.

“As the landscape of information technology and data analytics continues to transform, our focus is on harnessing the power of data to enhance the wellbeing of our citizens,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Transport committed to driving change in rail, logistics and freight

Source: South Africa News Agency

The Department of Transport is ploughing ahead with the execution of reforms to drive the work of turning around passenger, freight and logistics systems.

This is the word from Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning. 

“Prompt execution of reforms in the logistics sector is essential to address and reduce the risks present in both our global and domestic environments.  

“Effective implementation of reforms is essential for boosting growth and employment; however, geopolitical tensions may alter foreign direct investment patterns,” Creecy said.

The Minister explained that the department is guided by clear targets, including:

  • Ensuring that 250 million tons of freight are carried on the Transnet network by 2029.
  • Improving the speed of loading and unloading ships.
  • Ensuring 600 million passenger journeys per annum by 2030.
  • Moving some 42 million passengers and 1.2 million tons of airfreight through the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) network of airports by the end of this political term.
  • Reducing road fatalities by 45% by 2029.

Boosting rail

Creecy told Parliament that fundamental to the rail reform programme is the “intention to re-establish rail as the backbone of transport for people and goods”.

“Since we embarked on the journey to restore passenger rail services nationwide, I am proud to share that PRASA [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] had, by the end of May 2025, successfully revived 35 out of 40 corridors and sections of service lines.

“[We] continue to deliver at pace, with PRASA achieving an unaudited figure of 77 million passenger journeys for the last financial year and 116 million passenger journeys for the 2025/26 financial year. 

“Our competitive pricing model for commuter passengers will ensure that working-class communities take advantage of our offerings,” she said.

The agency will receive some R66.1 billion over the medium-term.

“This significant budget is for maintaining, recovering and renewing rail infrastructure, rebuilding the signalling system, rolling out new train sets to priority corridors and increasing rail passenger trips,” she said.

Freight rail

The Minister assured South Africans that the department will “do all within our power to rebuild and modernise the capabilities, operational effectiveness and competitiveness of our State-owned freight logistics operator”.

“The Roadmap for the Freight Logistics System in South Africa clarifies that strategic infrastructure, such as rail lines and ports, will remain in public ownership, as assets belonging to the South African people.

“We must also enhance the involvement of additional operators as a way of extending freight logistics capabilities of the country and region, beyond what the public sector alone would have been able to accomplish.

“It is important to point out that as an economy we need freight logistics operators that can compete, but that can also complement each other when the need arises, for the benefit of our country and region,” she said.

In this regard, Creecy highlighted that “limited state resources to fund infrastructure development” have made private sector investment critical.

“To guide private sector investment in our five priority rail and port corridors, we have just concluded a Request for Information process. Transnet will issue Requests for Proposals from the end of August 2025 and so begin the formal procurement process.

“In line with the Private Sector Participation [PSP] envisioned in the White Paper on the National Rail Policy, Cabinet approved a PSP Framework in 2023 to guide private sector involvement across the logistics sector value chain,” she said.

The Minister emphasised, however, that the department is not waiting on private sector involvement to get the trains rolling.

“To sustain our economy, we cannot afford to wait until the PSPs reach financial close before launching an ambitious programme to rehabilitate Transnet’s rail network and rolling stock, as well as port infrastructure and equipment.

“Funding sources for immediate rehabilitation of the five priority rail corridors include the current Transnet budget for rail and rolling stock maintenance and the purchase of port equipment; submissions to National Treasury’s Budget Facility for infrastructure; and private investment in refurbishing or expanding line capacity through existing customer agreements.

“As a result of the hard work by the Transnet War Room, port volumes were 54.28% higher at the end of the 2024/5 financial year than the previous year; rail tonnage increased by 9 million tons; and containers handled in our ports increased by 48 000 Units,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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SAA’s wings now in full flight

Source: South Africa News Agency

Following several challenging years, State-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA), is now in a position to contribute economic value.

This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, who presented the departmental Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday morning.

SAA was racked by allegations of fraud and corruption during the State capture years. It was put under business rescue and grounded but has recovered to fly domestic, continental and international flights.

“With unencumbered assets and renewed profitability, SAA is well-positioned to drive economic value through expanded international services, job creation, and increased contributions to tourism and trade,” Creecy said.

Furthermore, the airline is now contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“According to [an Oxford Economics Africa] study, SAA contributed R9.1 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2023/24, a figure projected to more than triple to R32.6 billion by 2029/2030. Over the same period, the airline’s operations are expected to support 86 700 jobs, up from the current 25 000, demonstrating its growing role as a national employer and economic catalyst.

“The airline has concluded three out of four outstanding audits and reported a profit of R252 million for the 2022/23 financial year for the first time since 2012. Now operating independently and no longer reliant on government guarantees, SAA is self-funding its operations and fleet growth, while remaining open to a strategic equity partner as part of its long-term restructuring,” the Minister highlighted.

Strengthening ACSA

Creecy revealed that the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has been allocated some R21.7 billion for infrastructure development.

“[This is] in order to meet our target of moving 42 million passengers per year and increasing air freight handling through the ACSA network of airports. This will improve facilities for passenger safety and comfort over the medium-term and build a new freight terminal at OR Tambo International Airport.

“In addition, we are fast tracking projects to ensure reliable availability of jet fuel to all airlines at all our airports, as well as the general upkeep and upgrading of facilities and technologies at each of our airports to improve both security of passengers and cargo, as well as convenience of airport users,” she said.

On the roads

Creecy told Parliament that the state of roads in South Africa remains an important issue that the department is concerned about, with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) taking over some 3 099 kilometers of provincial roads over the past year.

“Over the period of the MTDP [Medium-Term Development Plan] and beyond, SANRAL has reprioritised within the existing maintenance and capital allocated funding so that these roads are serviced through the Route Road Maintenance Programme,” she said.

Creecy also revealed that the driver’s licence printing machine is now back in operation.

“The old card machine is currently fixed and we are hard at work to clear out the printing backlog of licence cards.  To ensure we have a backup solution, we have signed a MOU with the Government Printing Works. We expect that within three months, this backup solution will be able to print driver’s licence cards,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Over 60 000 applications received on SAPS e-recruitment site

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The South African Police Service (SAPS) e-recruitment site is continuing to receive large volumes of applications for the Basic Police Learning Development Programme (BPLDP). 

The site, https://erecruitment.saps.gov.za/, was officially launched on Monday.

READ | SAPS launches long awaited e-Recruitment drive

In the first 24 hours, SAPS received in excess of 67 774 applications from various parts of the country. 

“SAPS is aware that the website is experiencing a delayed response due to traffic volumes. The Technology Management Services (TMS), inclusive of IT experts, is continuously monitoring the influx of applications. 

“Applicants are advised to be patient and to continue refreshing the careers page,” SAPS said in a statement.

The closing date for applications for the Basic Police Learning Development Programme is 18 July 2025.

All applications should be submitted via the website portal and not via email. – SAnews.gov.za

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W Cape welcomes employment of new peace officers in Bergrivier

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has voiced her support for the graduation and employment of 20 new peace officers (POs) in the Bergrivier Municipality.

According to the provincial department, the recruitment and training of these officers is part of a five-year strategic plan aimed at strengthening local law enforcement across municipalities in the province.

This initiative is designed to create a safer Western Cape for everyone.

In collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s accredited Public Training College, the graduates completed a 30-day programme accredited by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA). 

Upon finishing the course, the officers received formal certification to serve as both peace officers and traffic wardens.

Addressing the graduates during the ceremony, Marais reminded them that their role extends beyond merely enforcing the law. 

“You are here not only to maintain order but also to build trust, foster relationships, and help create safer, more connected communities, where residents can live and move freely,“ she said. 

Marais encouraged them to serve with honour, courage and distinction.

The MEC believes that the training and certification these young peace officers have received not only enhances their employability but also opens doors to future careers in law enforcement and public safety.

“The Western Cape government remains committed to investing in youth and building safer communities through initiatives like our Peace Officer Training Project. Safer communities support a stronger economy, as people are more likely to invest when they feel safe, which in turn drives job creation.” – SAnews.gov.za

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Hlabisa to announce distribution of Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grant

Source: South Africa News Agency

Hlabisa to announce distribution of Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grant

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will officially announce the disbursement of the Municipal Disaster Response Grant and the Disaster Recovery Grant to provinces and municipalities throughout the country on Monday, 7 July 2025.

These allocations are intended to bolster immediate relief and recovery measures in communities affected by recent disasters.

The department has announced that this intervention comes in response to a series of destructive incidents that have been officially recognised and declared as national disasters, in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).

Funding for this initiative is being released under Section 25(3)(a) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023), as amended by the Division of Revenue Amendment Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).

“The announcement forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to ensure an adequate and timely response to the devastating weather events of April 2025, which significantly affected several provinces, most notably the Eastern Cape. 

“In addition to addressing the damage caused by these events, the grants will support broader recovery interventions aimed at restoring essential services and the dignity of affected communities,” the department said.

The Eastern Cape has officially been declared a national disaster zone in response to the widespread destruction caused by recent severe floods that claimed about 102 lives last month. 

READ | Eastern Cape June floods declared a national disaster

Last week, the Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC, Zolile Williams, said the declaration was made under the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002). 

To ensure the integrity and effectiveness of this funding, the national department said strict accountability mechanisms will be implemented to guarantee that the allocated resources are used solely for their intended purposes. 

“Monitoring and reporting frameworks will be enforced in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to uphold transparency and good governance.

“This intervention reflects government’s commitment to moving from policy deliberation to decisive action and to building a resilient, responsive, and inclusive system of local governance that places the needs of communities at the centre of development,” CoGTA said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Judiciary set for full institutional independence

Source: South Africa News Agency

Judiciary set for full institutional independence

The process of placing the country’s judiciary under “full institutional independence” is expected to be rolled out in the 2025/26 financial year.

This was announced by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, when she was presenting the budget vote of the Office of the Chief Justice (OCJ) in Parliament, on Tuesday afternoon.

“[This] will enable the judiciary to be a fully-fledged Arm of the State. In line with the constitution, judicial governance and court administration will be placed under the authority of the Judiciary itself,” Kubayi said. 

The proposed model will entail structural independence, which includes both financial and operational independence. With the vision to establish a single Judiciary, the administration of the Lower Courts, including the Magistrates Commission, will also be transferred the OCJ.

Explaining the structure of the proposed model of the Judiciary, Kubayi highlighted that the Chief Justice will become the Executive Authority of the Office of the Chief Justice, while the Secretary-General will serve as the the accounting authority of the Judiciary. 

“The OCJ will then be re-established outside the public service and be capacitated to appoint its staff in line with its own prescripts, human resource framework tailored to judicial operations and principles of independence,” the Minister explained.

To carry out this process, the Minister announced that a task team comprising senior officials of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Presidency, Office of the Chief Justice, National Treasury, Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), has been established to chart a way for the institutional independence of the Judiciary.

The team has been given until August to present a progress report to Cabinet on the judiciary’s institutional independence.

“In the end, as envisaged by the founders of our democracy, we want to create a single judiciary that is an equal Arm of the State,” Kubayi affirmed.

Budget allocation

The Minister told Parliament that the OCJ has been allocated a budget increase of some 5.5%, which will “go a long way in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of the courts and the judiciary as a whole”.

“The OCJ provides direct support to the Judiciary and Superior Courts to ensure that the Judicial Arm of the State functions optimally. As such, the OCJ has been allocated a budget of R2.7 billion for the 2025/2026 Financial Year, which it operationalises through its three Programmes, namely: Administration, Superior Court Services as well as Judicial Education and Support. This allocation also includes the direct allocation for the remuneration of Judges.

“This represents a budget increase of just over 5.5% compared to the previous financial year, which will go a long way in ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of the courts and the judiciary as a whole. In his Budget Speech, Minister of Finance has also made an undertaking to, later this year, make funds available for strengthening capabilities in the Office of the Chief Justice,” the Minister said.

She added that the modernisation of the court system remains a key priority to “improve access to justice”, highlighting the continued rollout of the Court Online system following its successful pilot in the Gauteng Division of the High Court.

“Court Online provides a platform for Law Firms/Litigants to file documents to the Courts electronically (E-Filing) over the Internet from anywhere, and is now operational in the Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo divisions. Eastern Cape is currently being rolled out and will be completed by end of July 2025. 

“It [the system] is also being progressively implemented at the Land Court, Labour Court, and Labour Appeal Court. The envisaged full implementation of Court Online will enhance access to quality justice for all and the effectiveness of the courts,” Kubayi said.

Another priority is the implementation of the department’s Fraud Prevention and Anti-Corruption Policy and Strategy during 2025/2026 financial year.

This in line with the OCJ’s zero tolerance stance on corruption and fraud.

“This policy creates a mechanism for reporting anonymously within the department and through the National Anti-Corruption Hotline, amongst other things.

“We can inform members that following the reports of corruption in the Mthatha High Court, the OCJ has commenced with Lifestyle Audits of all employees over and above the work that is done by law enforcement agencies. Furthermore 4 officials have been suspended in Pretoria High court following allegations fraud and corruption,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

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SAPS welcomes ruling in Richmond municipal manager murder case

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has welcomed the judgment by the Pietermaritzburg High Court which found Sabelo Phewa guilty of murdering the late Richmond Local Municipality Manager, Sibusiso Sithole.

Sentencing is expected to take place on 31 July 2025, at the Durban High Court.  

Sithole was shot and killed at the Richmond licensing office in 2017 while on his way to attend a meeting with the then council to discuss issues he was investigating, which included fraud and corruption involving tenders and kickbacks in the municipality. 

The SAPS Political Killings task team took over investigations in 2018 and this led to the arrest of Phewa. 

“The firearm found in his possession at the time of his arrest was found to be linked to several other murders, including that of Amos Ngcobo, whose wife had ordered the hit. The wife turned State witness and was sentenced to five years imprisonment,” SAPS said in a statement. 

the Pietermaritzburg High Court found Phewa guilty of the murder of Sithole and Ngcobo; the attempted murder of police officers at the time they were effecting his arrest; possession of an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. – SAnews.gov.za