Category: South Africa Government

Posted on

National voter registration weekend to be held in June

Source: Government of South Africa

National voter registration weekend to be held in June

The Electoral Commission has urged South Africans to prepare for the upcoming local government elections by ensuring they are registered to vote where they ordinarily reside.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, the Commission announced that a national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026, to maximise opportunities for citizens to register closer to where they live and to broaden electoral participation.

The Commission said it must be ready to administer elections whenever they are lawfully called.

Once the voter registration process is completed, the election date is expected to be proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Eligible voters will have until midnight on the day the election date is announced to register. 

The proclamation will also trigger key processes, including the certification and publication of the voters’ roll, the inspection of the roll and lodging of objections, the adjudication of those objections and the submission of candidate nominations.

The Commission emphasised that an early announcement of an election date is important to allow voters to decide where they will be on Voting Day, as this determines where they should register. 

It noted that in Local Government Elections, voters must cast their ballot at the voting station where they are registered, as ward councillors represent communities in which voters ordinarily live.

Preparations for the elections are already underway, including the ward delimitation process. 

In December 2025, the Municipal Demarcation Board finalised and handed over 4 305 wards to the Commission, representing 95% of all wards nationally. 

Outstanding wards are in four municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, namely eThekwini, Mkhambathini, Inkosi Langalibalele and Alfred Duma municipalities. According to the Board, court proceedings relating to the affected areas have concluded and the delimitation exercise has resumed.

Ward adjustments have also led to the subdivision of 1 865 voting districts, representing about 8% of the total nationally. 

The provinces with the highest proportion of affected voting districts are KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, followed by Mpumalanga and North West. These adjustments, combined with population movement, require the Commission to revise voting district boundaries and update the network of voting stations ahead of each election.

The Commission reported steady growth in voter registrations through both digital and in-person platforms. 

Between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260 205 new voters registered, with 128 113 registrations captured through voter management devices and 132 092 through the online self-service portal. 

The Commission attributed the increase to its nationwide online registration campaign conducted during February 2026.

In preparation for voter registration activities, the Commission has begun recruiting registration staff based on approved criteria discussed with the National Political Liaison Committee. 

Candidates must be South African citizens and registered voters; must not have held political office or campaigned for a political party in the past five years and must not have been convicted of serious criminal offences.

 Municipal Political Liaison Committees will review the lists of designated presiding and deputy presiding officers to ensure compliance with these criteria.

The Commission is also conducting training programmes for electoral staff and journalists. A nationwide training initiative with the South African National Editors’ Forum aims to equip journalists with a better understanding of electoral laws and processes to promote accurate and ethical reporting during the election period.

Currently, there are 508 registered political parties in South Africa, including 20 that were registered between October 2025 and February 2026. Of these, 299 are registered nationally while 209 operate at provincial, district or metropolitan level.

The Commission warned that the growth of artificial intelligence and digital platforms has contributed to the spread of misinformation, including fake voter registration websites designed to capture personal information. 

Members of the public have been urged not to share their personal details on suspicious websites and to use only the official online voter registration portals.

It also cautioned the public about a fraudulent recruitment notice circulating on social media, stressing that all legitimate vacancies are published only on the Commission’s official website and that no payment is required during its recruitment processes. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

38 views

Posted on

Remarks by Deputy Minister in The Presidency, Kenny Morolong, on the occasion of the TikTok Safer Internet Summit, Nairobi, Kenya

Source: President of South Africa –

Addressing a gathering of journalists and Government communicators, on the eve of our State of the Nation Address; I had occasion to say:

“Our 30-year-old Constitution gave us the framework. Our 25-year-old democratic local government brought governance closer to the people. Now, as we prepare for another round of local government elections, we must ensure that our media landscape supports informed participation and strengthens the bonds of community.”

I am repeating these words to you because, I am hopeful that all of us as Africans, do realise how far we come, when the South African story is told. I firmly insist that, we cannot sufficiently tell our story – as South Africans – without counting the sacrifices of the peoples of Africa, in procuring our freedom. 

I repeat this here to tell you a story that because of these heroic sacrifices, South Africa is today celebrating the milestones.

His Excellency, Ambassador Philip Thigo;
Hon. Cabinet Secretary, William Kabogo Gitau;
His Excellency, South African Acting High Commissioner to Kenya;
Executives and Stakeholders of TikTok;
Distinguished guests;
Content Creators;
Digital Safety Experts;
Ladies and gentlemen.

KARIBUNI!

We are pleased to be in Nairobi this week, reinforcing the strong partnership between South Africa and Kenya.

By attending TikTok’s Safer Internet today, we look forward to collaborating on advancing responsible AI governance, enhancing content transparency and strengthening digital safety measures to ensure integrity in AI systems and secure online environments for all users across the continent, including South Africa.

In his work Nexus, Yuval Harari observes, “civilisations are born from the marriage of bureaucracy and mythology. The computer-based network is a new type of bureaucracy that is far more powerful and relentless than any human-based bureaucracy we’ve seen before.”

For centuries, societies were organised through visible bureaucracies: governments, institutions, administrations.

These were slow, human and limited by geography.

However, today humanity has created a new form of bureaucracy: the global digital network.

Algorithms that shape how billions of people receive and consume information every single day power this bureaucracy.

Social media platforms — including TikTok — are now part of this new digital bureaucracy. 

They organise attention, distribute narratives, amplify voices and influence how societies understand or perceive the truth, authority and reality itself.

This therefore this makes information integrity one of the defining governance challenges of the 21st century.

Programme Director,

While we acknowledge how digital networks can spread knowledge, creativity and opportunity, we must accept that they also spread something far more dangerous: misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.

These three forms of harmful information have different origins but the same destructive impact.

Together, they undermine trust in institutions, polarise communities and threaten democratic stability.

Because digital networks operate faster and further than any previous communication system, these harms “are far more powerful and relentless than any human” societies has eever experienced before.

Ladies and gentlemen,

South Africa understands the importance of responsible communication in a democracy.

Our Government Communication and Information System has adopted the National Communication Strategy Framework 2025–2030, which emphasises coordinated, credible and citizen-centred communication across all spheres of government. 

For its part, the South African government, through the National Communication Strategy Framework recognises that communication is not simply about messaging. 

It is about building trust between the state and the people. 

It stresses the importance of accurate, timely and proactive information so that citizens are empowered to participate meaningfully in their own development. 

If we accept this to be true then we should accept that information integrity is not merely a technical issue.

It is a development issue.

It is a governance issue.

It is a democratic issue.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For our purposes in Southern Africa, the SADC Protocol on Communications, calls on all member states to develop efficient, integrated and coordinated communications systems that support economic growth and social development across the region. 

The protocol recognises that communications infrastructure and services are strategic assets that must serve the collective interests of societies and strengthen regional cooperation. 

Today, however, we must acknowledge that the communications environment envisioned in the 1990s has transformed dramatically.

The most powerful communication networks in the world are no longer only national broadcasters or telecommunications systems.

They are global digital platforms that connect billions and shape public discourse.

These platforms function – whether intentionally or not – as the new bureaucracies of information.

This point, underscores the importance of TikTok Safer Internet Summit.

I think that by mere convening of this summit, the organisers are making an emphatic and a bigger point that the responsibility for a safer digital environment cannot fall on governments alone.

TikTok has become one of the most influential cultural and communication platforms in the world. 

It has unlocked creativity, empowered young voices and transformed the way information travels across societies.

However, influence carries responsibility.

With billions of users – many of whom are young – the platform sits at the centre of the global information ecosystem.

That means TikTok is not just a platform for entertainment.

It is also part of the digital bureaucracy that shapes public consciousness.

This reality calls for proactive mechanisms that discourage and disrupt the spread of harmful information.

Programme Director,

Let me suggest three areas where platforms like TikTok can lead global innovation.

First, responsible use of Algorithm.

In that regard, Aalgorithms should not only optimise engagement.

They should also actively identify and reduce the amplification of demonstrably false or harmful content.

The architecture of digital networks must reward credible information rather than sensational falsehoods.

Second, information transparency.

Users must understand how information reaches them.

Greater transparency around recommendation systems, content moderation and information verification can help rebuild public trust in digital platforms.

Third, digital literacy partnerships.

Platforms must work closely with governments, educators and civil society to equip citizens — especially young people — with the tools to recognise misinformation and verify information sources.

In this regard, we stand ready to partner with TikTok to deliver on the digital literacy programmes across the country.

In an era where every citizen carries a publishing platform in his or her pocket, digital literacy has become as essential as traditional literacy.

We also are pleased that as TikTok you are committing to work closely with content creators to properly monetise their content.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This is not a call for censorship.

It is a call for responsible stewardship of the digital public sphere.

The challenge before us is to ensure that the new bureaucracy of computer-based networks serves humanity rather than destabilising it.

If civilisations are indeed born from the marriage of bureaucracy and mythology, then the narratives circulating within our digital networks will help determine the future of our societies.

Will these networks amplify truth or falsehood?

Will they strengthen democracy or weaken it?

Will they unite communities or divide them?

The answer to these questions depends on the choices we make today.
Governments must create enabling policy environments.

Platforms must innovate responsibly.

Civil society must hold all of us accountable.

Citizens must engage critically with the information they produce and consume.

Together, we can transform digital networks from engines of misinformation into engines of empowerment.

Together, we can ensure that technology strengthens rather than weakens democratic societies.

Together, we can build an internet that reflects the highest values of humanity: truth, accountability, creativity and shared progress.

We have to be deliberate and ensure we put enough guardrails, especially for the vulnerable sections of society: the elderly, the disabled and the children.

Let this summit mark a new chapter of cooperation between platforms like TikTok and governments across the great and beautiful continent of Africa.

I thank you.

Posted on

Call for stronger SA-Brazil trade and investment ties 

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for stronger SA-Brazil trade and investment ties 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stronger economic cooperation and increased trade between South Africa and Brazil, describing the partnership between the two countries as key to advancing inclusive growth and development in the Global South. 

Speaking at the Brazil–South Africa Business Forum in Brasília during his State Visit to Brazil, Ramaphosa said both countries share similar economic ambitions and face comparable challenges, including inequality and the need for sustained economic growth.

The President addressed the forum alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and business leaders from both countries.

President Ramaphosa said the visit presents an opportunity to deepen economic ties and rebalance trade by increasing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil.

“This visit presents us with an opportunity to re-imagine a world of opportunities anchored by our shared values and vision. As Team South Africa, we are keen to rebalance our trade by growing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil,” the President said on Monday.

He emphasised the importance of improving market access through the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market), noting that expanding the agreement’s product coverage could unlock greater trade opportunities.

READ | President Ramaphosa reaffirms strong SA–Brazil partnership during State Visit

President Ramaphosa identified several sectors with strong potential for industrial cooperation between the two countries. These include biofuels, defence, agro-processing, aerospace, energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry.

The President said collaboration in these areas should include technology transfer and skills development to support industrial growth in both economies.

President Ramaphosa also highlighted the presence of South African companies operating in Brazil, including Sasol, MTN, Naspers, First National Bank, Aspen Holdings, Grindrod, Standard Bank and AngloGold Ashanti.

At the same time, Brazilian companies such as Petrobras, Embraer and Marcopolo have established operations in South Africa.

He welcomed the establishment of an aviation training academy by Embraer at O. R. Tambo International Airport, which aims to develop aerospace skills and strengthen South Africa’s participation in global aviation value chains.

President Ramaphosa noted that Brazil’s Marcopolo has invested in automotive manufacturing in Gauteng, while industrial engineering company WEG has developed a manufacturing and distribution presence that supports South Africa’s mining, energy and water sectors.

“The foundation for greater trade and investment is in place,” he emphasised.

The President said South Africa aims to position itself as Brazil’s gateway into African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area, while Brazil could serve as South Africa’s gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.

He highlighted South Africa’s advanced financial system, major ports and skilled workforce as factors that make the country an attractive investment destination.

President Ramaphosa also encouraged Brazilian investors to participate in the South Africa Investment Conference, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on 31 March 2026.

“The door to South Africa is open, and the time to invest and grow together is now.”

He added that stronger economic cooperation between the two countries would not only support job creation and economic growth, but would also demonstrate the ability of countries in the Global South to shape their own prosperity. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM

31 views

Posted on

Four bodies recovered by KZN rescue teams

Source: Government of South Africa

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Six people were swept away when their vehicle attempted to cross a flooded low-lying bridge in eNadi, eMabovini, after 19:00 last Thursday evening.

Search and rescue teams recovered the bodies of two females; the first was located in the iNadi River (uMsinga) and the second in the uThukela River on the Nkandla Local Municipality side. 

One of the deceased females was pregnant.

On Saturday, further rescue operations led to the recovery of two more victims from the uThukela River: a female on the uMsinga side and a male at eMakhabeleni within the uMvoti Local Municipality. 

The victims identified thus far are aged between 25 and 40.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), through the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, continues to coordinate search and recovery operations following Thursday’s tragic incident.

Two males remain missing and teams continue to work around the clock. 

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. 

He commended the search and rescue teams for their tireless efforts across multiple municipal boundaries to provide closure to the families.

The Department, in coordination with the uMsinga Local Municipality, is in constant liaison with the affected families to provide the necessary support during this period. – SAnews.gov.za

Posted on

President Ramaphosa reaffirms strong SA–Brazil partnership during State Visit

Source: Government of South Africa

President Ramaphosa reaffirms strong SA–Brazil partnership during State Visit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Brazil during his State Visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Speaking in Brasília on Monday, following bilateral talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the President said the discussions focused on expanding cooperation between the two countries and advancing mutually beneficial programmes that support economic growth and development. 

President Ramaphosa thanked the Brazilian government for the warm reception extended to the South African delegation and described the engagements as constructive and forward-looking.

The President also expressed condolences to the families affected by the recent floods and landslides in Brazil’s state of Minas Gerais.

“We wish to pay our respects to the victims of the recent floods and landslides in the state of Minas Gerais and to convey to the families of those who lost their lives our deepest condolences,” President Ramaphosa said.

The State Visit comes as South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of its democratic Constitution, a milestone that the President said offered an opportunity to reflect on the country’s democratic progress and the sacrifices made during the struggle for freedom.

President Ramaphosa acknowledged Brazil’s solidarity with South Africa during the apartheid era, saying the support of the Brazilian people contributed meaningfully to the achievements of South Africa’s democracy.

The President noted that the visit takes place amid renewed conflict in the Middle East and reiterated South Africa’s call for a peaceful resolution of disputes, in line with the United Nations Charter.

“We condemn the loss of civilian life and the destruction of vital infrastructure. We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities,” he said.

The President emphasised that South Africa and Brazil share common priorities, including promoting equality, economic growth and the eradication of poverty.

“These shared values provide a strong basis for building practical, mutually beneficial programmes that advance our respective national development priorities. I am joined by several Ministers and officials. Working with their Brazilian counterparts, this delegation is well positioned to expand cooperation across key areas of mutual interest,” the President said. 

Strengthening trade links

The President said South Africa’s interactions with the Brazilian government and the Business Forum are important steps in strengthening and expanding the strategic partnership. 

He said the upcoming eighth session of the South Africa–Brazil Joint Commission, expected later this year, would further strengthen bilateral cooperation. 

The President further emphasised that South Africa remains committed to strengthening cooperation in agriculture, agro‑processing and value‑added exports. 

He also highlighted the importance of expanding economic ties between the two countries, including improving reciprocal market access through the Preferential Trade Agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market).

“Enhancing reciprocal market access, including through the MERCOSUR–SACU Preferential Trade Agreement, will be vital. Our business delegation stands ready to pursue new commercial opportunities,” he said. 

During the engagements, progress was recorded in several areas of cooperation, including the conclusion of a Memorandum of Intent on Agriculture and a Memorandum of Understanding on Basic Education.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa serves as a strategic entry point for Brazil into the African continent, while Brazil provides a gateway for South Africa into Latin America and the Caribbean.

“This visit strengthens these linkages and supports broader regional engagement,” the President said.  

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to advancing its strategic partnership with Brazil and expressed appreciation to President Lula for his hospitality.

The President also extended an invitation for President Lula to undertake a State Visit to South Africa in the near future. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM

63 views

Posted on

Deputy President Mashatile to address the Eastern Cape Traditional Leaders Summit

Source: President of South Africa –

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will this afternoon, 10 March 2026, deliver a keynote address virtually at the Eastern Cape Traditional Leaders Summit taking place from 10-11 March 2026 at the East London ICC, Eastern Cape Province. 

The Eastern Cape Traditional Leaders Summit has been convened as a platform where challenges facing the Traditional Leadership Institution in discharging their constitutional and customary obligation and strategies to strengthen positioning of the institution in working closely with government will be deliberated, with a view to providing practical solutions for the betterment of the lives of communities in the areas under Traditional Leadership. 

A couple of weeks ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the official Opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Parliament, Cape Town, where he stressed the importance of the institution of Traditional Leadership in the history, presence and future of South Africa as a united, democratic and prosperous country, in the service of its citizens.

The President has delegated the Deputy President to work closely with Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in addressing issues that they have raised, including Government support to the institution; social ills confronting their communities; interface of Traditional Leadership with Local and Provincial Government; local economic development and job opportunities for Traditional Communities.

Details of the virtual address are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Time: 12h30 
Venue: East London ICC, Eastern Cape Province

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

Posted on

Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Brazil-South Africa Business Forum during the State Visit to Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellency, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
Distinguished Ministers, Ambassadors and Members of Delegations,
Leaders of Business,
Ladies and Gentlemen.,
 
It is a great honour for to be with you today in Brasilia.
 
Brazil and South Africa are much alike. 
 
We are large, complex and diverse democracies. We are resource-rich and full of talent. 
 
We carry the weight of significant inequality and we both carry the ambition to overcome it. 
 
We are members of BRICS, partners in IBSA, advocates together within the G20 and at the WTO.
 
We have consistently championed the view that the rules governing global trade and investment must be made more fair, more inclusive and more responsive to the realities of the Global South.
 
This visit presents us with an opportunity to re-imagine a world of opportunities anchored by our shared values and vision. 
 
As Team South Africa, we are keen to rebalance our trade by growing and diversifying South African exports to Brazil.
 
Both countries have an interest in improving market access and product coverage through the MERCOSUR-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement.
 
Among other things, we need to work on reducing trade friction by strengthening cooperation on trade remedies and resolving non-tariff constraints affecting priority products.
 
There is huge scope for advancing industrial cooperation in identified high-impact sectors.
 
These sectors include biofuels, defence, agro-processing, aerospace, energy, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing and automotive.
 
These cooperation should include technology transfer and skills development.
 
We want to position South Africa as Brazil’s gateway into African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area, and to position Brazil as South Africa’s gateway into Latin America.
 
Many South African companies have operations in Brazil. These include companies like Sasol, MTN, Naspers, FNB, Aspen Holdings, Grindrod, Standard Bank, AngloGold Ashanti and others. 
 
Brazilian companies such as Petrobras, Embraer, Marcopolo SA have operations in South Africa. 
 
We welcome the establishment by Embraer of an aviation training academy at OR Tambo International Airport, building South African aerospace talent and embedding our country in a global aviation value chain. 
 
Marcopolo has invested in automotive manufacturing in the Gauteng province, contributing assembly capacity and workforce development. 
 
The Brazilian industrial engineering group WEG has built a manufacturing and distribution presence that serves South Africa’s mining, energy and water sectors. 
 
The foundation for greater trade and investment is in place.
 
Within BRICS, we have both championed development-oriented reform of the international financial architecture. 
 
Within IBSA, we have demonstrated that South–South cooperation can deliver real outcomes in health, agriculture, science and education. 
 
In the G20, South Africa has built on the momentum of Brazil’s distinguished Presidency in 2024, advancing shared priorities of inclusive growth, climate finance and fairer trade rules.
 
We have the foundation of a preferential trade agreement, the MERCOSUR-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement, covering more than a thousand tariff lines. 
 
We see this agreement as a platform with much greater potential than has yet been realised.
 
We are eager to work with our Brazilian partners to expand its product coverage and increase its use within the business community. 
 
South Africa is open for business.
 
We both have the policies, infrastructure and financial and technical tools to make it happen. 
 
Our Industrial Development Corporation and the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa are in the room. 
 
They are available to support a joint financing fund instrument targeting large scale infrastructure projects in manufacturing, biofuel, transport and energy. 
 
Both countries have sound technical standards regulators and agencies. 
 
There is therefore good opportunity for technical exchanges in the field of standards, accreditation, specification and conformity assessments.
Agreements have been signed. Now is the time to accelerate implementation. 
 
To Brazilian executives who are considering where to deploy capital and build partnerships in the decade ahead, South Africa is not simply a market of 63 million people. 
 
South Africa is the gateway to a continent of 1.4 billion people, integrated through the African Continental Free Trade Area into a single market with a combined GDP approaching $4 trillion. 
 
Our main ports – Durban, Cape Town and Richards Bay – are among the busiest in the southern hemisphere. 
 
Our financial system is the most sophisticated on the African continent. 
 
Our logistics infrastructure, legal framework and depth of skilled human capital together provide a competitive advantage.
 
South Africa and Brazil are not simply trading partners. 
 
We are fellow architects of a more equitable international order. 
 
At a time when multilateralism faces real pressure, when the rules governing international trade are in flux, when the voices of the Global South risk being marginalised, our partnership carries a greater significance.
 
Let our economic partnership be the living expression of that shared political purpose. 
 
When South Africa and Brazil trade more, when we invest in each other’s economies, when we build value chains that span the South Atlantic, we are not merely creating jobs and generating returns. 
 
We are demonstrating that the Global South can shape its own prosperity.
 
I am here today with a business delegation representing South Africa’s most capable export and investment-ready companies across aerospace, mining, chemicals, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, energy, defence and advanced manufacturing. 
 
They have made this journey not as observers, but as partners ready to build.
 
As I look around this room at the companies, the entrepreneurs, the investors and the decision-makers who have made the journey to be here I see something powerful. 
 
I see two nations choosing partnership over isolation. Cooperation over competition.
 
In closing, I invite you all to join us at the South Africa Investment Conference in Johannesburg on the 31st of March 2026, not simply as guests, but as partners in building a future of shared prosperity between our nations. 
 
The door to South Africa is open. And the time to invest and grow together is now.
 
I thank you.
 

Posted on

President Ramaphosa extends period of Madlanga Commission

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa has amended the period in which the Judicial Commission of Inquiry Commission into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System arising from specific allegations by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025, must complete its work and submit its final report.

Accordingly, the Commission shall submit a second interim report by 29 May 2026 and a final report on the completion of the inquiry, on 31 August 2026.

This extension was granted at the request of the Commission due to the number of persons who must still appear.

The President appointed the Judicial Commission Inquiry in terms of section 84(2)(f) of the Constitution on 21 July 2025.

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was appointed Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry and Advocates Sesi Baloyi SC and Sandile Khumalo SC were appointed as members of the Commission.

The Commission submitted its first interim report to the President on 17 December 2025 and resumed its activities in January of this year.

In its interim report, the Commission referred a number of matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, as well as recommendations on the employment status and recommended suspension of individuals.
 

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President- media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria
 

Posted on

Media remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of the State Visit to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Brasilia

Source: President of South Africa –

Your Excellency, President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva,
Ambassadors,
Ministers,
Distinguished Members of our Delegations
Ladies and gentlemen of the Media
 
I wish to thank you, President Lula, for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation and for the constructive manner in which our discussions have been conducted.
 
We wish to pay our respects to the victims of the recent floods and landslides in the state of Minas Gerais and to convey to the families of those who lost their lives our deepest condolences. 
 
Our meeting takes place in the year that South Africa celebrates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of our democratic Constitution. 
 
On this occasion, we reflect on the progress our democratic nation has made and the sacrifices that made our freedom possible. 
 
We remain deeply grateful for the solidarity of the people of Brazil during our struggle for freedom. This support contributed meaningfully to the achievements we celebrate today.
 
Our visit takes place against the backdrop of renewed conflict in the Middle East. We reiterate our call for the peaceful resolution of all disputes in line with the United Nations Charter. We condemn the loss of civilian life and the destruction of vital infrastructure. 
 
We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
 
Your leadership has strengthened the foundations of our strategic partnership. We value your guidance on how our cooperation can be deepened and made more impactful.
 
South Africa and Brazil share a commitment to equality, economic growth and the eradication of poverty. These shared values provide a strong basis for building practical, mutually beneficial programmes that advance our respective national development priorities.
 
I am joined by several Ministers and officials. Working with their Brazilian counterparts, this delegation is well positioned to expand cooperation across key areas of mutual interest.
 
Our interactions with the Brazilian government and the forthcoming Business Forum are important steps in strengthening and expanding our strategic partnership. 
 
The South Africa–Brazil Joint Commission is a central platform for this work and we look forward to hosting its eighth session later this year. 
 
We also welcome progress in several sectors, including the conclusion of the Memorandum of Intent on Agriculture and the Memorandum of Understanding on Basic Education. 
 
Deepening our economic cooperation is imperative. 
 
South Africa remains committed to strengthening cooperation in agriculture, agro‑processing and value‑added exports. 
 
Enhancing reciprocal market access, including through the MERCOSUR–SACU Preferential Trade Agreement, will be vital. Our business delegation stands ready to pursue new commercial opportunities.
 
South Africa serves as a strategic entry point for Brazil into the African continent, just as Brazil provides a gateway for South Africa into Latin America and the Caribbean. This visit strengthens these linkages and supports broader regional engagement.
 
As we conclude our engagements, I reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to advancing our Strategic Partnership. 
 
The clarity and warmth of our discussions give me confidence that the momentum generated during this visit will yield concrete outcomes for both our nations and our respective regions.
 
President Lula, thank you once again for your generous hospitality and the spirit of partnership that continues to define our relationship. 
 
We look forward to welcoming you to South Africa soon.
 
I thank you.
Obrigado.
 

Posted on

Call for stronger cooperation to drive development in Ehlanzeni

Source: Government of South Africa

Call for stronger cooperation to drive development in Ehlanzeni

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts says stronger cooperation between government, traditional leaders and communities is essential to improving service delivery and advancing development in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality in Mpumalanga.

Swarts was addressing stakeholders during a District Development Model oversight visit to the district on Monday, where she emphasised the importance of coordinated governance guided by the National Development Plan 2030.

The District Development Model (DDM) was introduced to improve how government plans, budgets and delivers services by promoting a unified approach across all spheres of government.

“The DDM encourages us to work as ‘One Government, One Plan, One Budget’ ensuring that communities receive services more efficiently and that development happens in a coherent and inclusive manner,” Swarts said.

According to the Deputy Minister, the model seeks to align national, provincial and local government planning while strengthening collaboration with traditional leaders, civil society, the private sector and communities.

She said the DDM also serves as a mechanism for implementing the goals of the National Development Plan by enabling integrated planning at district level, coordinated investment across government spheres and stronger alignment between national goals and local realities.

Swarts noted that as District Champion for the Ehlanzeni District Municipality, her responsibilities include ensuring alignment of planning, budgeting and implementation across government, supporting the development and monitoring of the district’s One Plan, and addressing service delivery challenges.

The One Plan is a single, integrated development plan for a district that aligns the priorities, budgets and projects of national, provincial and local government, together with stakeholders, to coordinate service delivery and development in that area.

Swarts highlighted the important role of traditional leaders in the district’s development processes, saying Amakhosi are central partners in both the District Development Model and municipal Integrated Development Plans.

Traditional leaders provide community leadership and guidance, contribute indigenous knowledge on land use and environmental management, help strengthen social cohesion and assist in identifying local priorities such as infrastructure needs and service delivery gaps.

“They also play a key role in unlocking land for development, supporting local economic development initiatives and guiding community-based projects,” Swarts said.

She noted that during Phase II of the District Development Model, the district had made encouraging progress, including improved coordination of service delivery projects, better alignment of sector programmes with the One Plan and stronger stakeholder forums and intergovernmental structures.

However, she said several challenges remain, including infrastructure backlogs in key service areas and municipal financial constraints.

The upcoming Ehlanzeni District Municipal Investment Indaba, scheduled for 12 to 13 March, is expected to help unlock new investment opportunities and support efforts to address socio-economic pressures affecting households in the district.

The council-approved Phase III One Plan for the district focuses on strengthening integrated planning and budgeting, improving coordination across government and stakeholders, enhancing partnerships with the private sector and supporting opportunities for local small business development.

Other priorities include implementing and monitoring catalytic projects contained in the One Plan and ensuring that youth, women and persons with disabilities are prioritised in development interventions.

The District Development Model and the National Development Plan provide a framework for building capable, inclusive and resilient communities through collaboration between government, traditional leaders, communities and private partners. – SAnews.gov.za

Janine

102 views