Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, November 7, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has approved a 20-year licence extension for Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 2.

The extension ensures that the unit will continue to operate until 9 November 2045.

“The approval marks a significant step in strengthening South Africa’s long-term energy security and reflects Eskom’s commitment to maintaining world-class nuclear safety standards,” Eskom said.

According to Eskom, the unit contributes some 946MW to the grid and has been operating at an Energy Availability of 100% for 241 consecutive days this year.

“This consistent performance underscores the station’s critical role in supporting South Africa’s electricity supply. 

“The licence extension follows the successful completion of an extensive refurbishment and life-extension programme, which included the replacement of three steam generators, thorough safety inspections, and refuelling activities to ensure the unit’s continued safe and efficient operation,” the power utility said.

Koeberg’s Unit 1 received its long-term operating licence in July 2024 which extended its operating life to July 2044.

“Together, both units are now part of a global cohort of more than 120 nuclear reactors that have safely extended their service beyond the original 40-year design life – affirming Koeberg’s place among the world’s most resilient and well-managed nuclear facilities.

“This achievement supports South Africa’s broader energy planning objectives, including the Integrated Resource Plan [IRP2025], which recognises the role of nuclear energy in delivering low-carbon, cost-effective, and dependable baseload power.

“By extending Koeberg’s lifespan, Eskom avoids the need for immediate large-scale infrastructure replacement, preserves critical nuclear skills, and contributes to reducing carbon emissions,” Eskom said.

Collaborative effort

Eskom Chief Nuclear Officer, Velaphi Ntuli, noted that the granting of the extension is a result of the “hard work, focus and dedication of our highly skilled and competent employees at Koeberg”, together with the support of “colleagues across the company and throughout the nuclear value chain in this country”.

“The rigorous safety assessments and regulatory requirements Eskom had to meet to achieve the long-term operation demonstrate the depth and pipeline of nuclear engineering talent available in South Africa that delivers high-quality jobs.

“We continue to maintain and develop this talent through investing in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics [STEM] education as we look to build new nuclear capacity in the coming years in line with the integrated resource plan recently published,” Ntuli said.

The power utility’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, highlighted that this is another step in Eskom’s hard work to provide energy security for South Africa through the execution of the Generation Recovery Plan.

“We have ensured that assets the nation has invested in are looked after and continue to serve the country to support socio-economic growth.

“Koeberg and Eskom’s nuclear power expertise will play a key role as we move aggressively into delivering a cleaner energy portfolio and moving from high carbon to low-carbon sources of electricity generation.

“With Koeberg providing more vital baseload power it further forms the backbone for renewable energy growth and integration into the grid to maintain grid stability and supply,” Marokane said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), is developing a Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Roadmap for Agriculture.  

According to the department, this strategic initiative will enhance institutional coordination, drive innovation and support the transformation of South Africa’s agrifood system into one that is inclusive, resilient and aligned with national and regional development priorities.

Agriculture remains South Africa’s most resilient sector but still faces persistent structural challenges that contribute to low productivity and slow gross domestic product (GDP) growth.  

These include high input costs, market competition, unreliable energy supply, climate change impacts such as droughts and shifting weather patterns, widespread rural poverty, food insecurity, underutilisation of arable land and household food insecurity.

“The roadmap will promote the development of new high-value crops, livestock and agro-processed products; create expanded opportunities for women and youth in rural areas. It will focus on enhancing food and nutrition security through sustainable technologies and strengthen value chains that support livelihoods and socio-economic transformation.” 

Anchored in South Africa’s STI Decadal Plan 2022-2032 and the 2019 STI White Paper, the statement said the roadmap aims to modernise productive sectors and promote inclusive growth through innovation, creativity and strategic partnerships.  

In alignment with the FAO’s Strategic Framework for 2022-2031, this initiative promotes the “Four Betters“– better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and better living conditions. 

It also directly contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2 (zero Hunger), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and 13 (climate action).

The Decadal Plan emphasises key intervention areas for the challenges facing agriculture.  

These include, but are not limited to, plant and animal improvement, digital decision-support systems, precision agriculture, biosecurity, early-warning systems, agro-processing, value chain development, skills development and farmer development support.  

“A key aim is to build an inclusive and competitive agricultural bioeconomy targeting marginalised groups, women, youth and smallholder farmers.“

The roadmap aligns with various national strategies, including the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan, led by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. 

It also supports the Forestry Sector Master Plan and the Aquaculture Research and Technology Development Strategy, both championed by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

In addition, it incorporates the Agricultural Bio-economy Innovation Partnership Programme from the DSTI, which aims to foster public-private innovation partnerships, create innovation opportunities, promote inclusive growth, and facilitate economic recovery.

The Directors-General of the key departments will appoint a steering committee to guide the STI roadmap, while an advisory committee will be established and constituted by members from industry, academia and implementing agencies for inclusivity.  

An inception meeting to introduce the project to key role-players was convened in September 2025.

The South African government places a high priority on STI as a driver for addressing societal challenges such as food and nutrition security, while advancing the SDGs.  

“The FAO also recognises STI as central to transforming agrifood systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable – leaving no one behind.“

The roadmap is expected to be completed by the end of September 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has entered into a plea and sentence agreement with former BOSASA Chief Operations Officer (COO), Angelo Agrizzi, in connection with corruption involving senior Department of Correctional Services officials.

Agrizzi pleaded guilty to corruption linked to former Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services Linda Morris Mti, former Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, Patrick O’Connell Gillingham, and former member of the National Assembly Vincent George Smith, who chaired the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.

According to an IDAC statement, Agrizzi pleaded guilty to three counts of corruption – two of those counts of Corruption allege his contravention of section 4(1)(b) of Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities [PRECCA] and the third count of Corruption alleges his contravention of section 7(1)(b) of PRECCA. 

He also pleaded guilty to one count of Money Laundering in contravention of section 4 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act [POCA].

Agrizzi was sentenced to 10 years direct imprisonment on four counts suspended for five years.

“[The sentence] is wholly suspended for five years on various conditions, including that the accused co-operates with the IDAC and provides the Investigators attached to the IDAC and the SAPS officials assigned to the investigation of this matter with affidavits, detailing the full extent of his knowledge of all matters investigated by the IDAC regarding the corruption by both public and/or private officials at BOSASA.

“The IDAC affirms that while the crimes committed were severe – representing a critical component of state capture – the agreement secures a definitive conviction and mandates Agrizzi’s continued and truthful cooperation,” the IDAC said.

The directorate added that Agrizzi’s cooperation, which includes providing affidavits in terms of Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act and testifying in all proceedings, is indispensable to the NPA’s ongoing investigations and future prosecutions against other high-level individuals implicated in the BOSASA corruption network.

“The agreement will also ensure that broader accountability is prioritised. Furthermore, the NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) will proceed with an opposed confiscation inquiry, in terms of POCA, to recover the proceeds of these criminal activities,” the IDAC said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, has welcomed the opening of a new product development laboratory at Biovac in Cape Town, set to expand South Africa’s capacity to develop vaccines from start to finish.  

“Today marks a historic milestone for South Africa, as the opening of Biovac’s new Product Development Laboratory brings us closer to our vision of achieving full, end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capability on the African continent,” said Gina on Thursday.

Currently, vaccines in South Africa are completed and filled using active ingredients sourced from abroad. 

With the new laboratory, the country will be able to develop vaccines from start to finish, enhancing Biovac’s world-class capabilities in vaccine product development.

The new facility will also enable the production of vaccines for Africa from the early stages of product development through drug substance and drug product manufacturing and will aid in responding to the continent’s high disease burden with locally driven solutions.

This evolution into vaccine product development reflects South Africa’s growing vaccine innovation and manufacturing capacity, strengthened by public-private collaboration.

The company currently develops, formulates, fills, finishes, and distributes vaccines used in South Africa’s childhood vaccine programme.

The Deputy Minister added that this high-tech facility, equipped with advanced mRNA technology and state-of-the-art research capacity, will empower scientists to tackle the most prevalent diseases in Africa, ensuring that homegrown innovation addresses the health needs of the citizens.

“The Government of South Africa, together with partners like the Gates Foundation and the Industrial Development Corporation, remains steadfast in supporting initiatives that build robust local pharmaceutical manufacturing and enhance our preparedness for future health emergencies,” the Deputy Minister said.

She believes that the laboratory was not just a monument to technological advancement, but a beacon of hope for all Africans, a demonstration of what is possible when vision, investment and scientific excellence come together. 

“Let us celebrate this step forward, confident that today’s investment in science will yield tomorrow’s health and economic security for our country and continent.”

The new laboratory has been realised through the support of the Gates Foundation. 

The department stated that it will assist Biovac, South Africa, and the African continent, to be able to develop its own vaccines across multiple platforms and be better able to respond to future pandemics or outbreaks using advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment.

The laboratory includes infrastructure for mRNA drug substance development, screening, evaluation, and manufacturing. 

It houses a specialised suite to formulate nanoparticles that safely encapsulate and protect mRNA, along with dedicated areas for bacterial and cell culture, cell bank storage and handling of sensitive medical materials.

The African Union Commission and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) committed in 2022 to ensuring that 60% of vaccines used on the continent are manufactured in Africa by 2040. 

Currently, only about 1% are produced locally; a gap this facility seeks to help close.

Biovac CEO, Dr Morena Makhoana, said: “The establishment of our new product development laboratory gives us the capability to develop and test next-generation vaccines using the most advanced technology available, ensuring that Africa is not left behind in responding to current and future vaccine-preventable diseases.”

Gates Foundation CEO, Mark Suzman, stated that Biovac’s new product development laboratory represents a leap forward for vaccine innovation and manufacturing in Africa. 

“For millions of people across the continent, it brings the promise of faster, more reliable access to lifesaving vaccines, developed and produced in Africa, for Africa.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, November 7, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the decision to appoint an Advisory Panel for the Selection of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) is aimed at instilling public confidence in the process and the person who will fill the vacancy.

The President was speaking during a Questions for Oral Reply session in the National Assembly on Thursday.

Current NDPP, Advocate Shamila Batohi, is set to retire from the position in January 2026.

“This process is transparent and helps to build public confidence in the appointment of a person in this critical office.

“I selected a panel that would combine a variety of skills and experiences. These include the public service administration, financial management, legal and jurisprudence, administration of justice and the promotion of equality and human rights,” the President said.

The panel constituted by the President includes “representatives from the national executive, chapter 9 institutions and legal bodies”.

“I chose the heads of certain Chapter 9 institutions for the panel because these are independent bodies that were established in terms of our constitution to support and to protect South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

“They are required to always act impartially and subject to only the constitution and the law – ensuring that their decisions are made without fear, favour or prejudice.

“They are therefore well positioned to understand the qualities and capabilities expected of an NDPP,” the President noted.

Furthermore, legal practitioners are included in the panel to ensure that candidates are evaluated by experienced people in the legal and criminal justice system. 

“And in addition to their legal acumen, candidates must be able to demonstrate qualities and capabilities relating to leadership, strategic management, financial management, ethical leadership and broad understanding of our criminal justice system.

“Based on their assessment, the panel will submit a shortlist of recommended candidates to me for consideration and appointment as empowered by the constitution and the NPA Act,” President Ramaphosa said.

Members of the panel – which is chaired by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi – are:

• Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Andrew Christoffel Nissen.
• Chairperson of the Commission for Gender Equality, Nthabiseng Sepanya-Mogale.
• Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke.
• Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, Professor Somadoda Fikeni.
• President of the Black Lawyers Association, Nkosana Mvundlela.
• Representative of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers, Machini Motloung

“The panel that I have appointed are all people of great integrity and great eminence. So whatever decision will come out of the panel will be the panel’s decision. I’m assured about that.

“The minister who knows all the contours of the work that needs to be done by this key official, will play a critical role as chair of the panel so that even if they veer into areas that are not prescribed…she will be able to give guidance. 

“The panel itself will take decisions that will then be put forward to me. I have full confidence in the ability of the minister ability to do so,” President Ramaphosa said.

The closing date for applications and nominations is expected to be this week, as announced by the Justice Department last month. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

As the world prepares for the upcoming G20 Summit, global civil society has issued a call-to-action urging world leaders to commit to solidarity, equality, and sustainability as the cornerstones of a just global order. 

Representing more than 3,000 civil society organisations across the world, the Civil 20 – (C20) the official civil society engagement group of the G20 – today presented its Political Declaration and Communiqué to G20 leaders, outlining key recommendations to reform global systems and advance people-centred development. 

Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, C20 Sherpa Mabalane Mfundisi said the declaration reflects the lived realities and policy priorities of communities most affected by inequality, exclusion, and crisis.

The declaration marks the culmination of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and draws from the work of 14 C20 working groups shaped by feminist, youth, disability, Indigenous and LGBTQI+ perspectives.

“The wellbeing of people and the health of the planet must be at the centre of the global economic agenda. The time for incrementalism has passed. The path ahead must be grounded in participation, redistribution, and environmental justice,” the declaration states.

A blueprint for a just and sustainable world

The C20 communiqué calls for far-reaching reforms across five key pillars: economic justice, climate action, technology and cultural sovereignty, food and care economies, and civic participation.

Among its major demands, the C20 calls for:

• Reform of global financial institutions to reflect the economic contributions of the Global South, including democratic governance of the IMF and World Bank.
• Debt cancellation and establishment of fair, UN-led mechanisms to manage sovereign debt, coupled with reparative and redistributive financing models.
• A time-bound transition away from fossil fuels, anchored in climate justice and community-defined just transition plans.
• Investment in inclusive education, technology governance, and indigenous knowledge systems to promote decolonised, future-ready societies.
• Protection of civic space and defenders, and creation of a Permanent G20 Gender Equality Taskforce to advance women’s representation.

The declaration also urges world leaders to reject extractive economic models that erode local resources, to recognise local and Indigenous knowledge systems as engines of climate and economic resilience, and to embed equity in global migration and environmental governance.

As the C20 prepares for its official summit from 12 – 14 November 2025, the organisation says its message to the G20 is clear: the future is political, and justice delayed is justice denied.

“We present this declaration not just to G20 governments but to the people of the world, as a manifesto for just futures. Let this be the year civil society was not simply heard but heeded,” Mfundisi said. 

The C20’s Political Declaration and Communiqué will inform discussions at the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, as South Africa concludes its term as G20 President. 

“The future is not sustainable without justice. No one must be left behind. The question is: not whether the G20 has been told – but whether they will act on the clear collective demands of the constituencies they serve,” Mfundisi said. 

The 14 Policy Briefs and 2 Statements of Intent that form an integral part of this Political Declaration/ Communiquè can be found on this link : https://showmeyournumbersa-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/mabalane_showmeyournumber_org_za2/EixLqldt9M1OiYJXIv7lskABL3ZvvWuFZuscm3XwCIxVjA?e=qMvFWA – SAnews.gov.za