Category: South Africa Government

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, will this morning host a ministerial post–budget vote media and stakeholder roundtable in Cape Town. 

“The engagement will provide an opportunity to reflect on key budget priorities, outline programme commitments for the year ahead, and engage directly with media representatives, industry stakeholders, and partners in an informal setting,” the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said in a statement.

The engagement will be preceded by the 2026 Budget Vote speech, which will outline the department’s key achievements during the previous financial year in the execution of its responsibilities, as well as the budget allocations to support the roll-out of the Annual Performance Plan. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenny Morolong, has successfully concluded his philanthropic school shoe donation drive at four schools in the Greater Taung Local Municipality, in the North West province. 

The handover ceremony took place on Monday at Mokgareng Secondary School as part of the school shoes donation initiative. The initiative was launched in July 2025 during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela Month.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that partnerships between business and government are essential for youth development. 

The KwaZulu-Natal International Business Association supported the donation through its partnership with Brand South Africa. 

“Sixty percent of the population in Africa is young people; that is why today we have extended a request to business to do its part, because there is a limitation to what government can do,” Morolong said.

“The education of the African child is important for the prosperity of Africa. This partnership with business is indicative of what can be done to uplift the citizens’ lives. This expresses the spirit of humanity, which is being aptly displayed today, on Africa Day,” he said.

The school shoes donation drive forms part of government’s commitment to creating a conducive and dignified learning environment for underprivileged learners, while providing support to those in need in an effort to build a nation that works for all. – SAnews.gov.za

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called on South Africans to bear in mind their responsibility when conducting marches and protests and not to engage in criminal behaviour.

The Minister was speaking during a media briefing of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster on Monday in Pretoria.

The briefing followed an engagement with all the security cluster ministers and senior officials responsible for national security in the country, as well as political parties, various groups and associations that have been involved in mass protests and community marches against illegal foreign nationals across the country.

“We emphasised the importance of the marches being peaceful, because marches are protected. People’s right to march is protected by the Constitution, and freedom of speech is protected by the Constitution. We also emphasised the importance of ensuring that these marches remain peaceful.

“But again, others would indicate that they would march, and then they would not notify law enforcement agencies. We explained the risk associated with that. You will understand that when an organisation or an organiser decides to march, they should notify us as a state by saying: ‘We are going to march on this day. We are going to move from this point to this point.’

“Then we put mechanisms in place as the state to secure that march. But when marches are happening without communicating with the state, the organisers actually are [absolving] the state from responsibility. As a result, liability rests with the organisers,” she said.

Kubayi noted that it was impressed upon groups at the meeting that the safety of all citizens, including those who are not participating in any marches, is paramount.

Responding to questions on rumours of countrywide protests against illegal immigration on 30 June, Kubayi reiterated government’s stance.

“I want to emphasise that they have the right to march. They have the right to hold protests. But we are appealing to them to ensure that they are peaceful, and we have appealed to them in the meeting to say: ‘How many people are you expecting at those marches?’ so that, as the state, we can ensure that law enforcement is on the ground.

“As a country, we are not xenophobic, and we don’t believe that South Africans are xenophobic. There are socio-economic issues that we’ve got to deal with and must respond to. Equally, we are appealing to South Africans to know that there are migrants who are in the country legally. We are part of a global society.

“Similarly, we have committed to ensuring that where there are illegal immigrants, law enforcement takes appropriate action in accordance with the law. Those who commit crimes are criminals, irrespective of whether they are South African or non-South African,” she said.

The Minister revealed that Deputy Ministers will now be deployed to ensure visibility on the ground to further “ensure compliance with the current laws”.

“We are expecting them to give us a report on where they’ve been, what they found, and what is being done. Because citizens want to see practical action from government, although our NATJoints have been involved in a number of operations, whether it’s Operation Shanela or other initiatives,” she said.

Reflecting on the July 2021 unrest, which claimed lives and resulted in billions of rands in infrastructure damage, Kubayi said government has drawn lessons from that incident.

“We can’t allow properties and businesses to be destroyed. We’ve got to protect … lives during those protests. Another lesson is that those who are responsible for criminal acts get arrested.

“Because when  people are killed in those marches, somebody has to be held accountable. Somebody has to be held responsible for that loss of life, because families are going to demand justice,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa has pledged an initial $5 million contribution to support a $319 million continental preparedness and response plan, as Africa mobilises to combat its second-largest Ebola outbreak in history.

This, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed a High-Level Meeting of African Ministers of Health on the Ebola outbreak that has swept through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

South Africa had pledged an initial $2.5 million to the cause.

The President addressed the gathering in his capacity as African Union Champion on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

“The Kampala meeting aligned behind a continental preparedness and response plan of approximately $319 million for the period June to November 2026. This plan will support outbreak control in affected countries while strengthening preparedness in at least ten high-risk Member States.

“Importantly, African countries themselves have already committed initial domestic contributions representing approximately 10% of the required financing. This demonstrates ownership and responsibility. Africa is no longer waiting passively for others to act.

“In this spirit of African solidarity and African solutions to African challenges, the Government and people of South Africa are pleased to announce an initial contribution of U$5 million to Africa CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], in support of the ongoing continental Ebola response,” President Ramaphosa said on Monday.

The outbreak – which was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation – has claimed at least 200 lives, a situation President Ramaphosa descried as “deeply concerning”.

The outbreak is also the largest one since the one in West Africa more than a decade ago and the President raised concern over the trajectory of the disease, while underscoring the urgent need for regional solidarity.

“Although, at the onset of this outbreak, there are no therapeutics and vaccines for the Bundibugyo strain, we have reason to be hopeful. Working together with Africa CDC and the World Health Organisation through the interim medical countermeasures network, organisations such as GAVI [Vaccine Alliance], CEPI [Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations] and UNITAID are working at speed on promising vaccine and therapeutic candidates towards clinical trials.

“We strongly support these efforts, as Africa cannot continue to face deadly epidemics without equitable access to diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

“We call on all relevant partners and manufacturers to accelerate research and development, strengthen genomic surveillance, expand laboratory systems, and fast-track the equitable delivery of safe and effective vaccines and therapeutics,” the President urged.

The international community is also urged to stand with the continent of Africa in the “spirit of partnership, solidarity and respect”.

“The world is safer when Africa is safer. Delayed support today will result in much higher human, social and economic costs tomorrow,’” he warned.

The President emphasised the outbreak currently confronting Uganda and the DRC is a reminder that preparedness cannot begin when a crisis is already expanding.

“We must continue investing in resilient health systems, strong national public health institutes, emergency operations centres, local manufacturing of medical countermeasures, community health workers, genomic surveillance and sustainable domestic financing.

“Africa has the institutions, expertise and leadership to respond effectively. What is required now is speed, unity, solidarity and trust in our collective capacity.

“The people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and all countries at risk must know that they are not alone. Africa stands with them,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Communities in the Western Cape will have a chance to make their voices heard on the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land (PIE) Amendment Bill.

The Department of Human Settlements will this week host public information sessions in the Garden Route and the City of Cape Town.

The sessions are scheduled to take place at Pacaltsdorp Community Hall in George, Garden Route, on Monday, 25 May and Johnson Ngwevela Community Hall in Langa, Cape Town, on Tuesday, 26 May.

The Bill seeks to amend the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act of 1998. Published in the Government Gazette on 16 April 2026, the public has until 16 June 2026 to submit their comments to PIE.AmendmentBill@dhs.gov.za. 

The PIE Act of 1998 was enacted to prevent arbitrary evictions and address historical injustices where people were removed from land without due process.

According to the Department of Human Settlements, the proposed amendment to the Act aims to deal with matters related to land invasions and informal settlements, provision of adequate housing to mitigate against illegal occupation of private properties, court processes and enforcement of court orders, and protection of vulnerable groups.

The provinces that have already held information sessions on the PIE Amendment Bill are Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu Natal.

The department has welcomed the interest and level of participation by the public to date. – SAnews.gov.za

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, together with Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs), has embarked on oversight visits to several areas hardest hit by the severe weather system that struck the province earlier this month.

The two-day visit, taking place from 25-28 May 2026, forms part of the provincial government’s ongoing response and recovery efforts following widespread storm damage across parts of the Western Cape.

During the visits, Winde is expected to assess progress in rebuilding and repairing damaged infrastructure and restoring essential services.

He will also engage with disaster management officials, law enforcement agencies, volunteers, and municipal leadership, who played a key role in the province’s emergency response response.

Speaking at the Kransburg bridge and pipeline site near Klawer on the West Coast, Winde said several parts of the province were still without electricity as recovery operations continue.

“We are busy with the rebuild to get bridges and roads reopened, and to complete the necessary assessments,” Winde said.

The Premier expressed appreciation to teams working on the ground to restore normality in affected communities, while acknowledging that significant work still lies ahead.

“Our teams are on the ground this week, moving from town to town to… look at what is necessary, and possibly speed things up a little bit,” he said.

The oversight programme began in Malmesbury on the West Coast and is expected to conclude in the Swellendam area. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), in partnership with leading e-commerce business, Takealot Group, is working to provide 500 students with income-earning opportunities while they continue with their studies.

The initiative forms part of the expansion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DHET and Takealot, led by Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Mimmy Gondwe.

Takealot Group recently met with the South African Union of Students and the Deputy Minister to introduce the Takealot Township Economy Initiative (TTEI).

The programme offers students three flexible income-generating opportunities, while also creating a pathway towards entrepreneurship. 

The programmes are designed to accommodate student schedules, with peak earning opportunities expected on Fridays, month-end weekends and Saturdays.

The initiative builds on the four focus areas outlined in the original DHET-Takealot MOU and aims to create practical pathways from higher education into the economy. 

It will also include SETA-accredited training to provide structured workplace learning.

“Through this newly added focus area and collaboration, we are turning our already impactful MOU into real economic participation for students, providing them with tangible work experience, income, and entrepreneurship skills,” the Deputy Minister said.

Details of the programme and information on student participation are expected to be communicated ahead of the pilot period, which is scheduled to roll out at three identified institutions over the next three months.

Gondwe said strengthening public-private partnerships remains critical in addressing youth unemployment and expanding economic inclusion opportunities for students across the country. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has unveiled a real-time dashboard aimed at tracking key performance indicators of all 11 of the province’s municipalities.

The tool, known as the Gauteng Smart City Performance Monitor, will monitor crucial areas, including governance, financial management, infrastructure delivery, climate resilience and disaster preparedness.

“The dashboard will further provide residents with access to municipal performance data, enabling communities to monitor progress and strengthen accountability in service delivery.

“Integrated technology platforms, including CCTV networks, the LIMIT land invasion monitoring system and smart water management dashboards, form part of Gauteng’s broader digital transformation journey aimed at building responsive and data-driven municipalities,” the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department said.

Turning it around

The dashboard is a part of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy (LGTS), which was adopted in October 2024 to address persistent service delivery bottlenecks.

“The LGTS… continues to serve as a coordinated framework to address longstanding challenges facing municipalities, while advancing the vision of building smart and resilient municipalities.

“Through Intergovernmental Relations [IGR] platforms, facilitated by Gauteng COGTA, provincial government, municipalities and strategic stakeholders have strengthened collaboration to tackle persistent service delivery constraints. Early gains from this approach are becoming increasingly evident,” the department said.

These early gains include:

• Audit turnaround: Resolved audit findings increased from 35% in the third quarter of 2023/24 to 55% during the same period in 2024/25. Non-compliance findings also dropped from 35% to 27%, while two municipalities maintained clean audits.
• Staffing and capacity: The filling of senior management positions improved from 70% in March 2025 to 86% in March 2026. All Municipal and City Manager posts are currently occupied, alongside 88% of critical technical roles filled.
• Municipal financial performance: Provincial government debt payments amounting to R209.24 million received by March 2026. Debt settlement arrangements have been secured with most municipalities regarding Rand Water obligations, while several municipalities have improved current account payments to key service providers.

“Despite this progress, significant challenges remain. Municipal debtors reached R173.3 billion by March 2026, while Eskom debt increased to R31.27 billion. Gauteng continues to work with municipalities to strengthen revenue collection, improve financial controls and accelerate infrastructure investment.

“Infrastructure and service delivery interventions remain central to the turnaround programme. Municipalities continue implementing measures to reduce non-revenue water losses, improve maintenance expenditure and strengthen water management systems.

“New interventions aimed at reducing water losses, protecting infrastructure and improving service delivery outcomes continue to be prioritised under the Local Government Turnaround Strategy.

“The Gauteng Provincial Government maintains that the [LGTS] is not a once-off intervention, but an ongoing programme aimed at rebuilding municipal capability, strengthening accountability and improving service delivery outcomes.

“Through the… strategy, Gauteng continues to fix the basics while building smart cities of the future, anchored in integration, innovation, digital transformation and cooperative governance,” the department affirmed.

Speaking at a progress report briefing on municipal performance, Gauteng COGTA MEC Jacob Mamabolo reiterated the importance of working together to resolve challenges.

“What we are doing through our Intergovernmental Relations structures is precisely to ensure greater integration and coordination so that when we commit to resolving the 13 priority challenges identified by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Province Address, we do so with clear programmes and interventions that deliver long-term solutions.

“I am encouraged that national, provincial and local government are increasingly recognising that we are stronger when we work together, and that blame-shifting or reacting to problems in isolation will not assist us in addressing the complex challenges that continue to hamper service delivery,” Mamabolo said. – SAnews.gov.za

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has reaffirmed the importance of collective prayer as a unifying force capable of healing communities and inspiring renewed commitment to peace, compassion and responsible citizenship.

Ntuli made the remarks during the Annual KZN Provincial Prayer, held at the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Sports Ground in Ulundi on Friday, where thousands of congregants, including faith leaders and community members gathered in a spirit of unity, reflection and hope.

The prayer gathering brought together people from across the province to seek divine guidance, promote moral renewal, and strengthen social cohesion as KwaZulu-Natal continues to confront challenges including crime, gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse, poverty and social instability.

In his address, Ntuli emphasised that faith-based organisations remain critical partners in building a safer, stronger and more prosperous KwaZulu-Natal.

“Churches and religious leaders continue to play a vital role in counselling families, guiding the youth, supporting vulnerable communities and promoting values that strengthen society,” the Premier said.

The Premier also highlighted moral regeneration and social cohesion as key pillars of the province’s development agenda, calling on communities to work together to restore respect, dignity and Ubuntu in everyday life.

The Annual KZN Provincial Prayer served as a reminder of the need for continued collaboration between government, faith leaders and communities in building a province grounded in unity, peace and shared purpose.

Water project to benefit uKhahlamba communities

Meanwhile, more than 3 500 households in uKhahlamba are expected to benefit from a recently completed water infrastructure project officially unveiled by the Premier.

Ntuli launched the Vimbukhalo Water Supply Project in the uKhahlamba Local Municipality under the uThukela District Municipality, marking a significant milestone in the provincial government’s efforts to improve access to clean, reliable and sustainable water across KwaZulu-Natal.

The project included the unveiling of two major water reticulation developments, Vimbukhalo Reticulation 03 and Vimbukhalo Reticulation 04, aimed at strengthening water supply infrastructure and improving access to potable water for households in Wards 2 and 14.

The completed infrastructure is expected to bring relief to communities that have long experienced challenges related to water access.

The project has also created employment opportunities for local residents during its implementation, contributing to local economic activity and supporting livelihoods within the municipality.

Ntuli said the Vimbukhalo Water Supply Project reflects government’s commitment to addressing service delivery challenges, investing in critical infrastructure, and ensuring that communities receive essential basic services.

He said the completion of the two projects marks an important step towards restoring dignity, improving quality of life, and inspiring new hope for the people of uKhahlamba.

“Access to water is not only a basic service, but a foundation for health, development and economic participation. Reliable water supply enables communities to live with dignity, supports local development and strengthens the broader socio-economic growth of the district,” the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za