Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with communities to fight, expose, prevent, and prosecute violence against women and children.

Ntuli’s recommitment comes as South Africa launches the national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.

This year’s campaign is observed under the theme: “Letsema: Men, Women, Boys and Girls Working Together to End Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.”

Speaking at a media briefing at the Marine Building in Durban on Monday, Ntuli highlighted the worsening crisis of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in the country, noting that three women are killed every day by an intimate partner and that more than a third of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical violence in their lifetime.

Ntuli said KwaZulu-Natal continues to record some of the highest GBV figures in the country, with rape cases increased compared to the same period last year.

“Seven districts have reported a rise in sexual assaults against children under the age of 12. The districts of eThekwini, uMgungundlovu, and King Cetshwayo remain the highest GBV hotspots in the province.

“Between July and September 2025 alone, 2 013 survivors sought assistance at Thuthuzela Care Centres, and in the previous quarter, 65 percent of all recorded GBV survivors were children. These numbers represent real people, real families, and real suffering,” Ntuli said.

Ntuli expressed the pain he endured when he personally attended funerals of victims who lost their lives at the hands of people they trusted, including partners and employers.

The Premier welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to declare GBVF a National Disaster, saying it “recognises the scale and severity of the crisis.”

He said the provincial government is intensifying its response through the year-round Silwisanane Chilo Campaign (let’s fight this, let’s stop this), which focuses on strengthening prevention, protection and accountability.

Expanded support services

Ntuli announced that the Provincial Gender Machinery is active in all districts, with GBVF activists now deployed at 184 police stations across the province, providing support to survivors, conducting follow-ups and leading prevention programmes.

“Awareness and prevention campaigns have reached more than 39 000 community members, 62 859 learners, over 5 000 men, 606 traditional leaders, and more than 278 000 people through substance abuse prevention initiatives,” Ntuli said.

Victim support services have also been expanded, with 21 shelters and 31 White Door Centres of Hope now operational. A new Khuseleka One Stop Centre has opened in Zululand, and 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support in the last quarter.

“During the last quarter alone, 25 976 survivors received psychosocial support,” the Premier said.

The Silwisanane Chilo Campaign will be formally presented to the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature today as a 365-day mobilisation effort aimed at challenging harmful norms, holding perpetrators accountable and empowering communities to act against violence.

The five focus areas of the campaign include:
•    Protecting people living with disabilities who face disproportionate vulnerability to GBVF.
•    Citizen activation through sustained public education and community mobilisation.
•    Leveraging sport, arts, and culture as tools for prevention and social change.
•    Partnering with the taxi sector, faith-based communities, and traditional leaders to drive behavioural change.
•    Strengthening leadership partnerships by involving political leaders, councillors, traditional authorities, and the media to promote accurate messaging and accountability.

“KwaZulu-Natal will not surrender to the scourge of GBV and Femicide,” Ntuli said.

National launch of 16 Days Campaign

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, together with Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, will officially launch the national campaign today at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.

Observed from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 Days campaign forms part of a global United Nations initiative aimed at raising awareness, mobilising communities and strengthening accountability in efforts to end violence against women and children.

Earlier this year, government launched the 90-Day GBVF Acceleration Programme to fast track the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

Led by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, the 90-Day programme focused on urgent and impactful interventions to reverse the upward trend of GBVF cases in the country. These include the re-establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure cooperation in the implementation of the GBVF National Strategic Plan. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Transnet and the French Development Agency (AFD), with support from the European Union (EU), have announced a major partnership aimed at accelerating the decarbonisation of South Africa’s ports and rail network.

Transnet, which manages South Africa’s rail, port, and pipeline infrastructure, has set an ambitious decarbonisation and corporate sustainability goals and AFD is proposing a €300 million (R6 billion) loan in support of those objectives.

“The funding package from AFD will assist us in revitalising our infrastructure while supporting the clean energy initiatives under the capital investment programme. 

“In addition, this initiative will contribute significantly to supporting Transnet’s decarbonisation journey while actively exploring the company’s strategic role and potential opportunities within the green hydrogen value chain,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Tuesday.

The agreement to curb carbon emissions was concluded on the sidelines of the first-ever G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted on African soil by South Africa this past weekend.

As a sustainability-linked loan, disbursements will be tied to progress on strategic targets. 

These include diversifying into transition minerals and increasing the use and purchase of 300 GWh of renewable electricity per year — equivalent to 20 percent of Transnet’s electricity needs.

The French contribution will also aim to promote a shift from road transport to rail, including the rehabilitation of 550 km of railway.

It will participate in the modernisation of port infrastructure, strengthening service quality, reliability, competitiveness, and overall attractiveness across Transnet’s network.

“Transnet is a long-standing partner of AFD, and is a key actor in South Africa’s low carbon transition. Our support will enable Transnet to pursue opportunities that will emerge from the green hydrogen economy, contribute to the modernisation of its operations and reduce its environmental footprint,” AFD CEO Rémy Rioux said.

This prospective AFD loan to Transnet forms part of France’s contribution to the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which AFD has been implementing since 2021, and fulfils France’s €1 billion commitment announced at COP26 in support of South Africa’s just energy transition.

Completing the loan, a €7 million (R140 million) grant from the EU, AFD will assist Transnet in advancing its green hydrogen strategy, a cornerstone of its decarbonisation pathway, across key sectors including ports, rail, pipelines, and facilities. 

The funding will support key studies, impact assessments, pilot projects, and technical assistance that will refine Transnet’s green hydrogen roadmap and accelerate the scale-up of low-carbon hydrogen initiatives across South Africa.

“Through our investment strategy Global Gateway, the EU is supporting concrete investments in South Africa’s green hydrogen economy. Investments that cut emissions and create high quality jobs. With its central role in rail, ports and pipelines, Transnet is essential to building a credible and scalable hydrogen ecosystem. This partnership will help deliver the expertise and infrastructure needed for South Africa’s 2050 net-zero goals,” EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said. –SAnews.gov.za 

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) will probe allegations of maladministration and improper conduct in the affairs of the South African Tourism Board, in relation to the procurement of media buying services at the entity.

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation authorising the probe into irregular media buying linked to three specific invoices and purchase orders and payments made for services that were not rendered.

“The investigation will focus on contracts where media buying services were paid for but either not delivered or not fully executed as stipulated in the agreements.

“The investigation will determine whether the media buying contracts and related payments were conducted in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable or cost-effective,” the SIU said in a statement.

The corruption busting unit will also investigate “potential violations of applicable legislation, including instructions or guidelines issued by the National Treasury”.

Further assessments will be made on whether the procurement adhered to internal manuals, policies, and procedures.

“The unit is mandated to investigate any related unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful expenditure incurred by the Board or the State, with specific attention to payments made for media buying services that were not delivered.

“The scope of the investigation includes any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of SA Tourism, the applicable suppliers or service providers, and any other person or entity involved in the alleged scheme involving media buying and services not rendered,” the unit said.

The proclamation covers the period between 1 March 2020 and 21 November 2025. 

“It also empowers the SIU to investigate any conduct before or after this period that is relevant or connected to the matters under investigation, including contracts where services were paid for but not delivered.

“In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. 

“The SIU is also authorised to initiate civil proceedings in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during its investigation and to recover financial losses suffered by the State, including funds paid for services not rendered,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The Gauteng Provincial Government has embarked on a campaign to rehabilitate key mobility corridors, improve road safety and enhance service delivery capacity across all municipalities.

“We are on a campaign to fix Gauteng’s roads and restore service delivery at the pace and scale our communities expect,” Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, said on Monday.

She made these remarks during the launch of a major road maintenance activation in Mogale City.

“Magalies Road is one of the priority corridors in Mogale City, and the work we are doing here is part of a broader commitment to improving mobility and road safety across the province,” she said.

The strategic route carries high traffic volumes and plays a central role in connecting communities, supporting businesses, enabling tourism activity, and facilitating freight movement in the West Rand.

The Mogale City works will include resurfacing and patching, the rehabilitation of sinkholes, restoration of streetlights and traffic signals, and stabilisation of slope failures caused by excessive rains.

“Our increased maintenance capacity means we can now meet our road repair targets not only in Mogale City, but in every municipality across Gauteng,” the MEC said.

The provincial Department of Roads and Transport has significantly increased its road maintenance capability, enabling teams to respond more effectively to road surface failures, storm damage, electrical faults and other critical infrastructure needs.

“We are bringing roads to an improved level of service so that motorists, public transport operators, and businesses can travel safely. Well maintained roads save lives. By repairing potholes, fixing signals, and restoring lighting, we are reducing crashes and creating safer conditions for all road users,” she said.

The MEC emphasised that road maintenance is also central to the province’s road safety agenda.

The department will continue rolling out maintenance activations across Gauteng in the coming weeks, as part of its ongoing infrastructure improvement programme. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has urged religious leaders to promote peace and stability and to assist in creating safe spaces for women and children, free from fear and violence. 

The call comes as the country continues to confront the issue of gender-based violence (GBV).

“Together, as leaders in diversity, we have a collective responsibility to build a society rooted in constitutional values, where every human being enjoys dignity, equality, and freedom,” he said on Monday.

Hlabisa spoke at the second Faith-Governance Conference hosted by the South African Community of Faith-based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF) in partnership with the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) on Monday at the Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria.

He informed the delegates that femicide rates in South Africa are five times higher than the global average, and that one in three women has experienced physical violence in her lifetime.

“These numbers are not statistics; they represent shattered families and broken communities. This is why President Cyril Ramaphosa recently classified gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national disaster, calling for urgent and coordinated action.” 

On Thursday, 20 November 2025, President Ramaphosa declared GBVF a national crisis during the closing ceremony of the Group of 20 (G20) Social Summit at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni.

He also called on leaders to promote tolerance and respect for diversity in race, gender, religion, culture, and language while mobilising communities to eradicate crime, corruption, and GBV.

“Faith-based organisations are already making a difference. SACOFF, for example, represents over 20 900 faith-based organisations nationwide that work on food security, early childhood development, GBV prevention, and disaster relief. These partnerships demonstrate the power of faith communities to deliver social impact at scale.” 

Hlabisa described Monday’s gathering as more than a meeting; it is a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to shape a society that embodies the highest ideals of justice, peace, and human dignity.

The interfaith initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between faith and state to build a united South Africa and a better Africa for all.

“We are here because we recognise that faith communities are not passive observers; they are active partners in transforming society.”

Hlabisa also praised religious formations for historically playing a critical role in the struggle against colonialism, apartheid, and poverty.

“Today, they remain central to efforts to eradicate unemployment, inequality, and social injustice. Churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples must continue to serve as pillars of society, providing education, feeding the poor, and speaking out against corruption, GBV, and substance abuse.” – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, has arrived in Angola to attend the 7th African Union-European Union Summit.

The summit kicks off today and will close on Tuesday.

“The 7th AU-EU Summit takes place at a time of unprecedented threats to global peace and security, ongoing conflicts in some regions of the world.

“Other global challenges include an inclination to unilateralism on the part of certain states,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The statement noted that the summit comes on the heels of the success, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, at the weekend. 

“The African Union and the European Union contributed significantly to the consensus achieved during South Africa’s year-long G20 Presidency on the key issues facing the global economy and human society.

“South Africa, as a Member State of the AU, will prioritise support from the EU region for the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of the AU Agenda 2063,” the statement read.

The two continental blocs will aim to strengthen political and economic ties during the summit.

The two plenary thematic sessions that will underpin the summit are:

• Thematic Session I: Peace, Security and Governance and Multilateralism
• Thematic Session II: Prosperity, People – Migration and Mobility

“The African Union will be led by host President João Lourenço as Chairperson of the AU, and His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission.

“Europe will be represented by the President of the European Council, António Costa, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and the Leaders of Denmark, France, Hungary, Croatia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Italy, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Ireland and Germany,” the statement said. – SAnews.gov.za