Category: South Africa Government

The Mpumalanga Municipal Utility Reform Programme has received a significant boost with the approval of a $400 million loan by the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group.

The programme was announced by National Treasury during the 2025 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and is aimed at supporting the country’s Just Energy Transition by bolstering municipalities particularly affected by decarbonisation efforts.

Focus will be placed on:
•    Reducing water and electricity losses
•    Improving revenue collection
•    Repairing critical infrastructure
•    Strengthening utility management
•    Encouraging private-sector involvement through performance-based contracts

“We see the Mpumalanga Municipal Utility Reform Programme as an important step towards improving and stabilising municipal services.

“It will test a support model that strengthens operations and maintenance, planning, infrastructure, and municipal capability, helping to provide more reliable and sustainable water and energy services while advancing the Government’s Just Energy Transition goals,” National Treasury’s Ogalaletseng Gaarekwe said.

AfDB Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki highlighted the importance of the impact well run municipalities have on the country’s developmental goals.

“Strong municipalities are fundamental to South Africa’s long-term development.

“By strengthening the financial sustainability of municipal utilities, this operation will improve electricity delivery, build more resilient local institutions, and establish a replicable model for reforms that strengthen municipalities across South Africa,” he said.

The financing is backed by a guarantee under the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) via the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

The FCDO is also providing technical assistance in this regard.

“The UK welcomes South Africa’s efforts to advance municipal utility reform. MURP represents a practical partnership that demonstrates how innovative financing can help municipalities deliver more reliable services and create the conditions for greater investment and economic growth, while advancing South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.

“We are pleased to support the National Treasury and its partners in delivering this important initiative,” Acting British High Commissioner to South Africa Lisa Weedon said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Durban’s inner city has received a major infrastructure boost after the eThekwini Municipality invested approximately R127.9 million in rehabilitating key roads during the 2025/26 financial year.

The municipality said the investment formed part of its ongoing Inner-City Regeneration Programme, aimed at restoring and modernising Durban’s urban core, improving mobility, enhancing public safety, and stimulating economic growth within the central business district and surrounding precincts.

The road rehabilitation programme covered 13 strategic roads across the inner city and surrounding areas, resulting in the upgrade of approximately 65 lane kilometres of road infrastructure, enabling the Roads and Infrastructure Management Directorate to exceed its annual resurfacing target.

Among the major road rehabilitated through the programme include Umngeni Road, Dr Pixley ka Seme Street, K E Masinga Road, Masabalala Yengwa Avenue, Sandile Thusi Road, Margaret Mncadi Avenue, Soldiers Way, Smiso Nkwanyana Road, and the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway (M4).

According to the municipality, the extensive works have significantly improved conditions along key transport corridors used daily by thousands of commuters, residents, businesses, and public transport operators. The work also included improvements to stormwater drainage systems, pedestrian and road safety, while reducing long-term maintenance requirements.

Acting Deputy Director of Roads and Infrastructure Management Thanda Zulu said the programme’s success underscores the municipality’s commitment to building resilient infrastructure and creating a more attractive, efficient, and investment-friendly city.

Zulu noted the coordinated rehabilitation of roads across the CBD and Warwick precincts has strengthened critical transport networks, while supporting wider urban renewal objectives.

Zulu also reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to sustaining the momentum of the Inner-City Regeneration Programme through continued infrastructure investment.

“An investment of nearly R128 million in our inner-city road network reflects the municipality’s commitment to rebuilding critical infrastructure, improving the movement of people and goods, and creating an environment that supports economic growth, investment, and job creation.

“The success of the Inner-City Road Rehabilitation Programme is already delivering tangible benefits for residents, businesses, and visitors to Durban,” Zulu said.

Zulu said the programme also highlights the valuable contribution of the municipality’s internal roads teams.

“Out of the 13 roads rehabilitated during the 2025/26 financial year, four projects were completed entirely by municipal teams, while another project was delivered through a combination of internal and contracted resources.

“This demonstrates the growing capacity and expertise within the municipality to deliver quality infrastructure projects efficiently and cost-effectively,” he said.

The municipality commended the dedication and professionalism of its engineers, including project managers, technical teams and contractors, whose collaborative efforts ensured the successful delivery of the projects.

This is despite challenges related to traffic management, utility relocations, high pedestrian volumes, and adverse weather conditions.

It added that it will continue investing in strategic infrastructure projects to improve service delivery, support economic development, and enhance the quality of life for all residents. – SAnews.gov.za

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Emerging grain farmers in the Eastern Cape are poised to take a step towards commercial success following the launch of the Grain Commercialisation Chapter by the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR), an initiative aimed at building sustainable farming enterprises and expanding access to markets.

The initiative was unveiled during a Grain Commercialisation Chapter launch and Harvest Day held at Sonskyn Farm in the Elundini Local Municipality, on Thursday.

The event formed part of the department’s broader Agriculture Commercialisation Programme, which aims to unlock the economic potential of farmers through targeted support, strengthening production capacity and integrating producers into sustainable agricultural value chains.

Delivering her 2026/27 Budget Vote earlier this year, Eastern Cape Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe announced that the department had allocated R80 million to the grain and oilseeds value chain to support grain and oilseed production on 24 000 hectares of land across the province.

Addressing farmers, industry stakeholders and government partners at the launch, Kontsiwe reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to helping farmers move beyond subsistence farming to thriving agricultural businesses.

“One thing I have always emphasised is that people must not underestimate their potential. Even a child crawls before they eventually walk. The department’s approach was centred on identifying farmers’ potential and providing the necessary interventions to help them advance.

“As government, we took a decision that our people must be supported to become commercial farmers. These farmers include the young, women and other producers who participate in various agricultural value chains such as grain, wool, citrus, livestock, poultry and others,” Kontsiwe said.

She also highlighted the importance of grain production in supporting the province’s livestock production and strengthening food security.

“Joe Gqabi District is one of the leading districts in wool production, and this year, farmers have performed exceptionally well. However, to have quality livestock, you need quality feed. Through grain production, these farmers are playing a critical role in producing food for both people and animals,” the MEC said.

The Harvest Day also showcased the success of young farmers entering the agricultural sector, including 21-year-old Iviwe Sondlo, who leases Sonskyn Farm where the event was held.

Sondlo’s passion for agriculture was inspired at an early age by his father who introduced him to farming by teaching him how to operate a tractor.

In 2025, his father encouraged him to pursue farming together with his cousin and the two young farmers partnered and leased the farm, planting maize on 47 hectares of land.

“We are planning to include more grains in future, expand our enterprise, and create more employment opportunities for young people,” Sondlo said.

The department said Sondlo’s journey reflects its vision of attracting more young people into agriculture, while building a new generation of commercial producers.

Sonskyn Farm currently supplies its produce to established industry players, including, BKB in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) and Bester in Mthatha. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande is set to visit the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Friday, highlighting the role of science centres in strengthening science education and developing future skills.

Nzimande’s visit to the centre, which is described as the largest science centre in Africa, is expected to focus on its strategic vision for science education and its work in promoting science, technology, research, engineering, arts and mathematics (STREAM) education.

The visit will also showcase collaboration between government and the broader community in advancing innovation and youth empowerment initiatives.

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation is the policy custodian for science centres in South Africa, recognising their role as intermediaries that help engage the public with science and technology.

The department said science centres are also important in supporting science education and encouraging science-based career development, which remain strategic priorities for the government.

The department provides funding and in-kind support to science centres and administers a quality assurance framework aimed at promoting their effective functioning across the country.

Sci-Bono has played a prominent role in science engagement and education, with its programmes aimed at exposing young people to science, technology and innovation and encouraging them to pursue careers in related fields.

Nzimande’s visit comes as the government continues to emphasise the importance of developing scientific and technical skills among young people to support innovation and economic development. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will next week officiate the start of commercial operations at a 155MW wind energy facility in Mpumalanga, in a move expected to add renewable generation capacity to South Africa’s electricity system.

The President will officially mark the commencement of operations at the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility near Bethal on Friday, 31 July 2026.

The facility’s launch comes as South Africa continues efforts to strengthen energy security, expand electricity generation capacity and accelerate the country’s transition towards a more diversified energy mix.

The first phase of the project will generate 155MW of wind power and forms part of a planned 900MW renewable energy programme.

Located in Mpumalanga, traditionally South Africa’s energy-producing heartland, the project is being positioned as an example of the country’s Just Energy Transition, combining renewable energy generation with investment in transmission infrastructure and regional economic development.

The project also includes commitments to local supplier participation, skills development, employment opportunities and community investment.

The commencement of commercial operations comes three years after the investment commitment linked to the Seriti Green project was announced at the South African Investment Conference.

The milestone is expected to highlight the role of public-private partnerships and private investment in translating commitments made at investment conferences into operational infrastructure capable of contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth.

The project brings together government, private-sector investors and local communities, with the broader programme expected to increase renewable electricity generation while supporting infrastructure development and economic activity in the region. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday address the Official Opening of the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), at its headquarters in Midrand, Gauteng.

The session, convened by the Pan-African Parliament from 27 to 31 July 2026, will be held under the African Union’s 2026 theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”.

This follows the successful election of the new PAP Bureau on 30 April 2026, marking the commencement of a new parliamentary term, and reaffirming the institution’s role in promoting democratic governance, continental integration and the implementation of Agenda 2063.

“As the host country of the Pan-African Parliament, South Africa remains firmly committed to  supporting the institution and strengthening cooperation among African Union Member States and continental institutions in advancing Africa’s collective interests,” said the Presidency in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Postbank has issued an appeal to social grant beneficiaries who have not yet replaced their SASSA Gold Cards with Postbank Black Cards, warning that the deadline for the migration is fast approaching.

Beneficiaries have until 31 August 2026 to complete the switch, with the Postbank cautioning that SASSA Gold Cards are being phased out and will no longer function once the migration process is concluded.

The Postbank said beneficiaries who fail to replace their cards by the deadline could face disruptions in accessing their social grant payments.

The bank is urging beneficiaries not to wait until August or their usual grant payment dates to make the switch, warning that delays could result in longer queues at card replacement sites as the deadline approaches.

“We are already noticing a steady increase in queues at several of our card replacement sites and based on current trends, we anticipate that queues will become considerably longer in August, which is the final month before the deadline,” said Thamsanqa Cele, Postbank’s chief commercial officer.

“Beneficiaries who postpone their visit until then may experience substantial delays due to the expected increase in demand.”

The Postbank said it has deployed resources to support the card migration programme but stressed that beneficiaries also need to make use of the time remaining to replace their cards.

Postbank Black Cards are available from selected retailers, including Shoprite, Checkers, Usave, Pick n Pay, Boxer and Spar stores.

Card replacement sites are open nationwide from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

Beneficiaries can dial 120 355# from their mobile phones to locate their nearest replacement site.

The replacement process is free, and beneficiaries are required to present a valid South African identity document or temporary ID.

The Postbank is also advising beneficiaries not to visit SASSA offices unnecessarily for enquiries related to Gold Cards or Black Cards. Instead, beneficiaries are encouraged to visit a nearby Postbank service point or contact the bank’s call centre for assistance with payment-related queries.

It said its customer service teams are equipped to assist with issues including missed payments, PIN-related queries, lost or stolen cards, card reissues and declined transactions.

Beneficiaries requiring assistance can contact the Postbank’s call centre on 0800 5354 55. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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South Africa and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to international law and multilateralism.

This featured prominently during discussions between Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola and Germany’s Federal Foreign Minister, Dr Johann Wadephul, during the German Minister’s working visit to South Africa.

Following a tête-à-tête and official bilateral talks, the Ministers addressed the media and outlined areas of agreement and disagreement on some of the world’s most pressing conflicts.

Lamola said respect for international law was a central theme of the discussions. From South Africa’s perspective, he said, the application of international law must be consistent and free from selective interpretation.

“Indeed, this was one of the subjects of robust engagement. International law must be principled, consistent and predictable. There must be no double standards in the application of international law.

“International law must be applicable across the board,” Lamola emphasised. 

Call for accountability and negotiations

Lamola criticised what he described as the continued failure to implement provisional measures issued by international courts regarding Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

“We were very clear that we have had a number of provisional orders that continue to be ignored by the state of Israel,” he said. 

On the conflict involving Iran, he said South Africa believes the military confrontation could have been avoided.

“Our view is very clear that this was an unnecessary war that could have been avoided,” he said. 

He argued that hostilities erupted while negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme were at an advanced stage and warned that mistrust now risks further escalation.

South Africa, he said, continues to advocate for diplomacy and negotiations as the only sustainable path to peace.

“South Africa will call for a return to the negotiation table for durable peace, for peace that is sustainable,” the Minister said. 

Lamola also reiterated South Africa’s position on the war in Ukraine, saying any settlement must be anchored in international law and respect for sovereignty. 

He noted President Cyril Ramaphosa’s continued engagement with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of ongoing peace efforts.

“We stated that our President has engaged both parties, President Putin and President Zelensky, with an aim of them arriving to a long-lasting solution.”

Lamola said President Zelensky had indicated a willingness to return to negotiations.

“We are pleased that in the last engagement between our President and President Zelensky, he had agreed that he is ready to go back to the negotiation table with no conditions, except that he still stated that he would want the negotiations to happen at a neutral venue,” the Minister said. 

Sudan humanitarian crisis raised

The Ministers also discussed conflicts elsewhere on the continent, particularly Sudan.

Lamola described Sudan as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies and called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access.

“It is one of those very catastrophic conflicts, with the highest level of humanitarian disaster that the world has ever experienced,” he said.

South Africa, currently serving on the African Union Peace and Security Council, continues to support AU-led efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Partnership anchored in multilateralism

The discussions took place against the backdrop of a long-standing bilateral relationship built on democratic values, economic cooperation and support for multilateral institutions. 

Germany is South Africa’s largest European trading partner and a key investor, while both countries continue to cooperate on peacebuilding, democratic resilience and global governance reform. 

Despite differences on some geopolitical questions, both Ministers emphasised the importance of dialogue and engagement in resolving conflicts and defending the international rules-based order. – SAnews.gov.za

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South Africans can expect a mostly fine and cold to cool weekend, with warmer conditions in some areas, while parts of KwaZulu-Natal face strong winds and isolated showers and rain.

The South African Weather Service has issued a Yellow Level 2 warning for damaging winds for parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, with strong south-easterly to south-westerly winds expected along the coast and adjacent interior.

The warning, valid from 4am until midnight on Friday, follows the passage of a cold front accompanied by a ridging high-pressure system. Winds are expected to reach around 40km/h, with gusts of up to 80km/h.

The weather service warned that the strong winds could pose a risk to small vessels, with the possibility of boats taking on water or capsizing. Small harbours and ports could also experience temporary disruptions.

The conditions may also affect transport routes and travel services, particularly where trees are brought down by strong winds. High-sided vehicles could face difficulties on exposed roads, high-level routes and bridges due to crosswinds.

For Saturday, 25 July, the extended forecast indicates generally fine and cold to cool conditions, although some areas could experience warmer weather.

The north-eastern parts of KwaZulu-Natal are expected to be partly cloudy, with isolated showers and rain.

The weather service has urged members of the public, motorists and those involved in maritime activities to remain alert to changing weather conditions, particularly in areas affected by strong winds. – SAnews.gov.za