Category: South Africa Government

The South African Police Service (SAPS), in partnership with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), has launched a Campus Community Safety Forum at the Northern Cape Urban TVET College, strengthening efforts to improve safety and security at institutions of higher learning.

The launch, led by Northern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Limakatso Koloi, forms part of a national SAPS-DHET initiative to create safer learning environments for students, lecturers and support staff at universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges across South Africa.

Koloi was joined by the Northern Cape Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing, Major General Johnny Besnaar; DHET Chief Director Sabelo Buthelezi; Northern Cape Urban TVET College Deputy Principal Elgin Mokokong; senior SAPS management, stakeholder representatives and students.

To date, SAPS has launched 12 Campus Community Safety Forums nationwide, underscoring its commitment to strengthening safety and security at institutions of higher learning.

The forums provide a platform for SAPS, campus management, security personnel, students and community stakeholders to work together to identify safety concerns, address crime threats and implement proactive crime prevention measures on and around campuses.

“The initiative seeks to enhance coordination among all role players to tackle challenges such as gender-based violence and femicide, robberies, theft, drug-related crimes, bullying, intimidation and other threats that may negatively affect the learning environment,” SAPS said in a statement.

Addressing the launch, Koloi stressed that partnerships are critical to creating safer campuses.

“A safe and secure campus environment is essential for academic success and the wellbeing of students.

“We encourage students to actively participate in safety structures such as the Campus Community Safety Forum and to work closely with law enforcement and campus management in preventing crime.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, and together we can build campuses where students can learn without fear,” Koloi said.

Besnaar welcomed the establishment of the forum, saying stronger safety and security measures would help create an environment where students can focus on achieving their academic goals.

The two-day engagement concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to supporting the forum and its initiatives to strengthen safety, security and crime prevention on and around the campus.

“SAPS remains committed to ensuring that students at institutions of higher learning across South Africa are able to pursue their education in environments that are safe, secure and conducive to learning,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

4

The Ministry of Higher Education and Training has defended the governance and administration costs of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), saying the current administration has adopted a leaner and more cost-effective technical support model than previous governance structures.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry said public scrutiny of the expenditure of public funds is both legitimate and necessary but stressed that discussions should be based on verified facts and the applicable legal framework.

The Ministry noted that NSFAS, which administers more than R50 billion annually in student financial aid, has operated under different governance arrangements over the years, each carrying its own governance and management costs.

According to the Ministry, the current administration has appointed four specialist advisers to support the NSFAS Administrator in implementing a time-bound institutional stabilisation programme.

The combined annual remuneration of the four advisers amounts to about R9.9 million.

The Ministry said this compares with technical support costs of about R16.5 million a year under one previous administration and R19.6 million under an earlier administration. It added that remuneration for the former NSFAS Board and its committee structures totalled about R31 million during the 2025/26 financial year.

“These governance arrangements are not identical and should not be treated as direct like-for-like comparisons. Boards, administrations and statutory governance structures perform different functions,” the Ministry said.

It noted that the figures demonstrate that the current administration has adopted a smaller and less costly technical support structure, while ensuring access to the specialist expertise needed to execute its mandate.

“The purpose of these appointments is not to create additional bureaucracy, but to restore governance, strengthen financial controls, improve operational performance, modernise systems and rebuild institutional capability,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry also clarified that the appointment of the NSFAS Administrator and the approval of technical advisers are separate from the statutory process governing remuneration and allowances under Section 17C of the NSFAS Act.

It said the Minister of Higher Education and Training has engaged the Minister of Finance in accordance with the Act and will continue to cooperate with all lawful oversight processes.

The Ministry said the administration should be assessed on its ability to deliver measurable improvements in governance, accountability and service delivery to students, “not simply by the existence of technical advisors.”

It said the administration’s priorities include restoring sound governance and internal controls; strengthening financial management and audit readiness; developing a sustainable student funding model; modernising NSFAS through digital transformation; improving applications, appeals and student support services; and rebuilding public confidence in the institution.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the current administration restores the institution to stability and leaves behind a stronger, more accountable and more effective NSFAS. – SAnews.gov.za
 

0

Banyana Banyana will depart for Morocco on Saturday as they step up preparations for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026), where they will look to make their mark on the continental stage.

The South African senior women’s national team has been drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.

According to the South African Football Association (SAFA), head coach, Dr Desiree Ellis, will name her final squad for the tournament on Friday. 

“Sasol Banyana Banyana have moved up one place to 57th on the FIFA rankings, following their 1-0 win against Japan in an international friendly match played away from home in June 2026. Coach, Dr Desiree Ellis’s charges are second on the CAF rankings behind leaders Nigeria,” SAFA said.

The tournament will be staged in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August 2026.

The 2022 African champions went into camp on 12 July as they fine-tune their preparations for another tilt at continental glory. –SAnews.gov.za

0

Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Lebogang Maile has paid tribute to legendary South African actor and musician Seputla Sebogodi, describing him as one of the country’s most gifted and influential performers.

Sebogodi passed away on Wednesday at the age of 63.

In a statement issued following Sebogodi’s passing, Maile said the province joined the rest of South Africa in mourning the loss of a celebrated actor, writer, producer and musician whose contribution to the creative arts would be remembered for generations.

“He will forever be remembered for his contribution and influence in the creative sector.”

Maile praised Sebogodi’s versatility and enduring impact on South African television and theatre, saying audiences were captivated by the authenticity and depth he brought to every role.

“Many will remember him for his sterling craftsmanship in the various roles he played both on television and in theatre. His delivery has always enthralled audiences across platforms as he brought the characters he portrayed to life in a captivating manner,” he said.

Sebogodi built a distinguished career spanning several decades, earning acclaim for his performances in popular television productions including Bophelo Ke Semphekgo, Generations, Suburban Bliss and Scandal.

He also appeared in acclaimed stage productions such as The Rivonia Trial, Big Dada and, most recently, Black Moon, which was staged at the 2026 National Arts Festival in Makhanda.

Maile said Sebogodi’s body of work had left an indelible mark on South Africa’s creative landscape and would continue to inspire future generations of performers.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, friends and the entire creative industry and all people he impacted through his work. His legacy and versatility will continue to inspire generations of South African performers and may his humble soul rest in peace,” he said.

Sebogodi’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment industry, with many remembering him as a humble and accomplished artist whose work helped shape South African television and theatre. – SAnews.gov.za
 

4

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs), describing them as key drivers of industrialisation, investment and job creation as the country works to grow a more competitive and inclusive economy.

Delivering the keynote address virtually at the 2nd International Special Economic Zones Conference Presidential Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, the President said the gathering celebrated South Africa’s industrial potential and the role of SEZs in transforming the economy.

“Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate excellence, but to celebrate possibility. We celebrate the possibility of a South Africa that manufactures more, exports more, innovates more and creates far greater opportunities for its people.

“We celebrate the men and women who are transforming ideas into industries, investments into factories, and factories into jobs,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa said the awards recognised more than outstanding performance, but reaffirmed the country’s belief that industrialisation remained one of the most effective tools to tackle poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“Special Economic Zones are not simply designated industrial sites. They are engines of economic transformation.

“They are places where policy is translated into production, where investment becomes enterprise, where innovation becomes competitiveness, and where hope becomes opportunity,” he said. 

The President said investment remained central to South Africa’s economic programme, noting that the country secured a record R890 billion in investment commitments at the Sixth South Africa Investment Conference held just over three months ago.

He said the commitments spanned strategic sectors including mining and mineral beneficiation, automotive manufacturing, agro-processing, tourism, renewable energy, digital technologies and the green economy.

“Much of this investment will find its home within our Special Economic Zones. In the automotive sector alone, approximately R12 billion of planned investment is destined for our SEZ programme,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa cited the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone as an example of successful collaboration between government and business.

“The investment by Ford and its component manufacturers has already created more than 3,000 permanent jobs while strengthening South Africa’s position as a globally competitive automotive manufacturing hub,” the President said. 

He said South Africa’s SEZ programme had become one of the cornerstones of the country’s national investment strategy by providing modern infrastructure, efficient logistics and one-stop investor support that reduce the cost of doing business and improve investor confidence.

The President also highlighted government’s recently adopted Industrial Development Strategy, which he said responds directly to the country’s structural challenges of low growth, de-industrialisation and unemployment.

“It is built upon three strategic pillars: Decarbonising our industries, diversifying our export markets, and accelerating digital industrialisation,” he said. 

He added that the new Spatial Industrial Development Strategy introduced a strengthened SEZ model aimed at ensuring industrial development generated greater benefits for surrounding communities, supported local enterprise development and advanced inclusive regional growth.

The President said independent assessments showed the programme was already delivering results.

“A recent World Bank assessment found that South Africa’s Special Economic Zones have attracted more than R34 billion in investment, created over 30,000 direct jobs, and generated more than R14 billion in revenue for the fiscus,” he said. 

He said government would carefully consider the World Bank’s recommendations, including enhanced investment incentives and the introduction of privately owned Special Economic Zones, as it continued strengthening the programme.

Looking ahead, the President said SEZs would play an increasingly important role in advanced manufacturing, electric mobility, renewable energy technologies, green hydrogen, battery manufacturing, digital industries, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing and mineral beneficiation.

“They will enable us not merely to export raw materials, but increasingly to export higher-value manufactured products.

“They will help position South Africa as a leading industrial economy on the African continent,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa said government was also working to improve the country’s investment climate by reducing regulatory burdens, accelerating approvals for permits and licences, strengthening customs systems, restoring energy security and improving freight logistics, ports and rail infrastructure.

“These reforms are making South Africa an increasingly attractive destination for productive investment,” he said. 

The President stressed that the success of Special Economic Zones should benefit the broader economy by creating opportunities for small businesses, supporting localisation, developing skilled workers and empowering women and young entrepreneurs.

“Our Special Economic Zones should not be islands of prosperity. Their success must benefit the broader economy,” the President said. 

He also welcomed delegates from across Africa, saying the African Continental Free Trade Area presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen regional value chains and intra-African trade.

Concluding his address, President Ramaphosa congratulated the award recipients and called on all stakeholders to continue building globally competitive industrial zones.

“Let us therefore continue building Special Economic Zones that compete with the very best in the world. Let us continue attracting investment that changes lives.

“Let us continue building industries that create lasting prosperity. And let us continue working together to build a South Africa that is more industrialised, more competitive, more inclusive and more prosperous for generations to come,” the President said.  – SAnews.gov.za

0

A former state accountant in the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has been dismissed after a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation uncovered corruption linked to the procurement of COVID-19 disinfection services during the pandemic.

The SIU on Thursday welcomed the dismissal of Jacob Bandile Ngcobo, who served as the department’s State Accountant for Property and Facilities, saying the decision marked an important step in holding public officials accountable for corruption.

According to the SIU, its investigation found that Ngcobo had an improper and corrupt relationship with Superia Services Trading, a company that secured government contracts to provide pest control and later COVID-19 disinfection services.

Superia Services Trading, owned by Tshidi Suzan Sedibe, was initially appointed in February 2019 to provide pest control services at government buildings in the Gert Sibande District Municipality.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company was awarded contracts for disinfection services and received payments totalling more than R3.75 million from the department between July 2020 and September 2021.

The SIU’s financial analysis found that shortly after the company received payments from the department, it transferred money to Ngcobo through cash-send transactions.

Between August 2020 and March 2021, Ngcobo allegedly received R28 000 from the company.

Investigators said Ngcobo played a central role in selecting and appointing service providers, including Superia Services Trading, but failed to declare the financial benefit he received, creating a conflict of interest.

The SIU referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in November 2021, recommending criminal prosecution and disciplinary action against Ngcobo and five other officials.

Ngcobo and Sedibe are currently facing corruption charges before the Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela.

In July 2024, the Mpumalanga High Court granted a preservation order freezing assets worth approximately R52.6 million linked to an alleged corruption network involving 22 officials, service providers and entities connected to the department.

The order includes Ngcobo’s bank accounts, assets and bail money.

The investigation forms part of the SIU’s broader probe into COVID-19 procurement under Proclamation R23 of 2020, which authorised the unit to investigate allegations of corruption, maladministration and irregular expenditure arising from government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SIU Acting Head Leonard Lekgetho said the dismissal demonstrated the importance of enforcing accountability against officials who abuse public office.

“The SIU welcomes the department’s decisive action to dismiss Ngcobo for abusing his position and unlawfully benefiting from funds intended to protect South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Lekgetho said.

He added that the outcome highlighted the value of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and government departments in ensuring officials implicated in corruption face consequences.

The SIU has urged all government departments and public institutions to implement its recommendations to strengthen governance and safeguard public resources.

The SIU is mandated under the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act to investigate corruption, fraud and maladministration, recover state losses through civil litigation and refer evidence of criminal conduct for prosecution. – SAnews.gov.za
 

4

As South Africans prepare to mark Mandela Day, the country has urged the global scientific community to ensure that research delivers tangible improvements in people’s lives, particularly in developing nations facing poverty, unemployment and inequality.

Speaking at UNESCO’s 2026 Global Conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development in Paris, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina said science must move beyond producing evidence to driving practical solutions that improve livelihoods and strengthen public services.

Her message echoed former President Nelson Mandela’s enduring belief that education, knowledge and innovation should be used to build a more just and equitable society.

“The decade is an opportunity to strengthen the bridge between evidence and implementation, especially for developing countries that require support for research infrastructure, skills development, data systems, technology transfer, innovation financing and institutional coordination,” Gina said.

The three-day conference, which concludes on Friday, is assessing progress under the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), a UNESCO initiative aimed at strengthening the role of science in achieving sustainable development.

South Africa used the global platform to argue that scientific research should be embedded in government planning, budgeting and service delivery to help address pressing national challenges such as unemployment, food insecurity, climate change and inequality.

“For South Africa, this is urgent. Unemployment remains above 30%, food insecurity persists, and inequality remains high. These pressures affect households, communities, municipalities and the ability of the state to deliver,” Gina told delegates during a high-level discussion on translating scientific evidence into action.

The appeal comes as South Africans commemorate International Mandela Day on Saturday, 18 July, which encourages citizens to dedicate time and resources to improving their communities. 

This year’s message from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry extends that principle to the global stage, arguing that scientific knowledge should also be a form of service by helping governments make better decisions and improve lives.

The month of July is also National Science and Technology month. 

According to UNESCO’s latest assessment of the Science Decade, 397 scientific initiatives have been endorsed across 79 countries, attracting more than US$50 million in confirmed funding and supporting all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

However, the report also highlights significant disparities. Africa accounts for fewer than 10% of the initiatives despite representing 17.5% of the world’s population. It also found that 40% of participating projects identified poor coordination, rather than funding, as the biggest obstacle to achieving impact.

South Africa acknowledged its own challenges, noting that the country’s gross expenditure on research and development stands at 0.62% of Gross Domestic Product, underlining the need for greater investment and stronger coordination between research institutions and policymakers.

Gina cited South Africa’s internationally recognised genomic surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how sustained investment in science can translate into effective public policy.

She said the country’s experience demonstrated that scientific evidence only delivers results when backed by capable institutions, partnerships, public trust and efficient decision-making.

UNESCO Director-General, Dr Khaled El-Enany, said the challenge was no longer generating scientific knowledge but ensuring it benefits society.

“The world is not lacking scientific knowledge. What we need now are stronger systems to put that knowledge to work for people and the planet,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

0

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has reflected on former President Nelson Mandela’s enduring legacy, the importance of solidarity in confronting injustice, and the responsibility of leaders and citizens to build societies rooted in dignity, freedom and equality.

Mamdani recalled the injustices former President Mandela endured, including his imprisonment, the abuse that left him with permanently damaged eyesight, and his continued presence on United States terror watch lists until 2008, when he was 90 years old.

Despite the hardship Madiba endured for resisting oppression, Mamdani praised his capacity to forgive and to extend solidarity to all, helping to shape a future for South Africa that differed from its past.

“It is only through that solidarity that we can do the same. Solidarity, as Madiba showed us for 95 years, is not just a value; it is a strategy. Madiba showed us the power of solidarity, universal and unyielding. In his demand for solidarity from himself and from each of us, Madiba becomes more than a man, more than a Messiah. He becomes a mirror,” Mamdani said.

The Mayor was speaking on Wednesday ahead of International Nelson Mandela Day at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum, hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation at The Town Hall in New York City. The forum creates a new global platform for conversations on the leadership challenges shaping the world today.

As the world marks Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July, Mamdani said that while people remember Madiba the man, they should also ask themselves a harder question: who is being treated today the way Madiba was treated before history declared him a Messiah?

The Mayor called on the international community to confront injustice as Mandela did, without waiting for it to become popular to do so.

“Eventually, almost everyone claims they opposed apartheid. Eventually, almost everyone claims they stood with Madiba. Eventually, almost everyone will claim they oppose so much of the injustice that they justify today. But justice is not measured by where we stand after history has issued its verdict. It is measured by where we stand when the verdict is still being rendered,” he said.

Mamdani referred to parents losing their children in Palestine; Dr Hussam Abu Safiya waiting more than 18 months for freedom in Israeli detention; Umar Khalid, who has been in captivity for six years in Delhi, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero, who was shot in the head by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Biddeford.

“Why must we wait to practice solidarity until it no longer costs us anything? The responsibility of answering those questions honestly and fully rests upon each of us. It is a responsibility of drawing solidarity further into our lives, our politics, the way we walk through the world,” he said.

The Mayor acknowledged that this was no easy task, as the world is often designed to tear humanity apart.

“When Madiba endured decades of racial domination and dehumanization, was that conducive to solidarity? The truth is that solidarity is perhaps best nurtured by the conditions that seek to destroy it. Solidarity is not perfection. Solidarity is not purity. Solidarity is people choosing one another sometimes even over themselves,” Mamdani affirmed. 

He said there are people with hardly anything to their name who still open their hands to share what little they have with those who have even less.

“Solidarity, my friends, so often feels impossible. Like something only a mythical figure could make real. And yet, as Madiba reminds us through the life he lived, through the leadership he showed. And through the words he spoke, it always seems impossible until it’s done. Let us do it together,” the Mayor said. –SAnews.gov.za

0

Nelson Mandela’s legacy should be measured not by the praise he receives today – but by whether people are willing to show the same courage and solidarity in confronting today’s injustices, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said ahead of Mandela Day.

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Nelson Mandela Global Leadership Forum in New York on Wednesday, Mamdani challenged world leaders and citizens alike to honour Tata Madiba through action, rather than commemoration.

The forum, hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation at The Town Hall, was launched as a new platform for dialogue, democratic leadership and global engagement ahead of International Nelson Mandela Day on 18 July.

“For 27 years, this organisation has insisted that Madiba’s legacy belongs not only in museums, but in movements for freedom too,” Mamdani said, praising the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s work.

Reflecting on Madiba’s life and leadership, Mamdani said the former South African President’s greatest legacy was his unwavering commitment to solidarity, even when doing so was politically unpopular.

“Madiba lives in every protest for justice, every call for democracy, every march with a righteous demand,” he said.

Rather than treating the former statesman as a flawless historical figure, Mamdani urged people to remember his humanity.

Throughout his address, Mamdani drew on Mandela’s 1990 town hall appearance in New York, shortly after his release from prison, describing how the anti-apartheid leader responded calmly to hostile questioning about his political alliances.

He argued that Mandela’s refusal to compromise his principles demonstrated that solidarity should be universal rather than selective.

The Mayor used the speech to draw parallels between Mandela’s struggle against apartheid – with contemporary global conflicts and political issues, including the war in Gaza, immigration, xenophobia and political imprisonment. He argued that history often vindicates those who are initially criticised for standing against injustice.

“Justice is not measured by where we stand after history has issued its verdict. It is measured by where we stand when the verdict is still being rendered,” he said.

Mamdani also warned that economic inequality, political polarisation and social media algorithms were driving divisions within societies, making solidarity more difficult but also more necessary.

“The world we live in is designed to pull us apart,” he said. “Solidarity is not perfection. Solidarity is people choosing one another, sometimes even over themselves.”

As the world prepares to mark Mandela Day on 18 July, Mamdani said the annual commemoration should prompt people to ask whether they are supporting those facing injustices today. – SAnews.gov.za

0