MIL Africa Engine

Source: Government of South Africa

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube, in partnership with Diageo South Africa, the University of Johannesburg’s School of Tourism and Hospitality, and the Youth Employment Service (YES), has launched a new internship programme aimed at empowering young South Africans in the hospitality sector.

The initiative, unveiled on Thursday at the University of Johannesburg, seeks to open pathways to skills training, internships, and job opportunities for young people in the sector.

Speaking at the launch, Dube-Ncube said the collaboration between government, business, and academia shows South Africa and the world that collaboration can change lives.

“This is about producing chefs, creators, innovators and entrepreneurs. It is about building careers, not just filling jobs,” Dube-Ncube said.

She added that last year, the YES Programme achieved a 100% absorption rate; with all trained youth either placed in employment or supported to start a youth-led business.

The Deputy Minister also noted that while South Africa faces high youth unemployment, the hospitality industry presents unique challenges: rapid growth but slow transformation, with many disadvantaged young people confined to low-paying entry-level jobs without pathways to grow into leadership.

“To develop a skilled chef takes more than a job; it requires education, mentorship, and opportunity. Our vibrant tourism industry, which contributes nearly 4% of GDP, cannot yield its full potential while so many remain excluded.

“That is why programmes like Learning for Life matter are about much more than cooking, but about economic inclusion, transformation, and nation-building,” the Deputy Minister said.

She highlighted government’s broader role in creating an enabling environment for youth employment through investment in infrastructure, reducing red tape, and supporting skills development.

“One of our key tools has been the establishment of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in 2000, under the Skills Development Act of 1998. These 21 SETAs, each serving different industries, were designed to tackle skills shortages and fund training.

“In hospitality, this responsibility lies with the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). In May this year, CATHSSETA proudly graduated 164 learners from the Occupational Chef Qualification Programme (NQF 5). That milestone reflects progress, but it also tells us we must do even more” Dube-Ncube said.

• Looking ahead, Dube-Ncube outlined government’s priorities, which include:
  Expanding access. We are exploring satellite training hubs in townships and rural areas, so that geography is no longer a barrier to opportunity.
• Simplifying access. Many talented youth are excluded by complicated application systems and a lack of digital tools. We must make the process easier and more inclusive.
• Guaranteeing opportunities. Training must lead to internships in reputable kitchens, apprenticeships, and meaningful work.
• Supporting entrepreneurship. Beyond employment, we must provide seed funding, mentorship, and business development support to those who want to start their own businesses.
• Tracking outcomes. Alumni tracking will allow us to refine training, showcase success, and scale what works best.

“This is how we will ensure that today’s beneficiaries are not just employees but become employers, innovators, and leaders,” Dube-Ncube said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has delivered a stark warning on the state of local government, saying while progress has been made in many areas, a number of municipalities still battle poor financial management and eroding public trust.

Speaking at the Local Government Indaba in Midrand on Thursday, Hlabisa said too many municipalities leave citizens “with a sense of despair, where almost everything is upside down”, highlighting widespread governance failures.

He cautioned that the culture of “no accountability, lack of transparency, political interference and no consequence management” is crippling service delivery — particularly in underperforming municipalities — and insisted this must come to an end.

Despite the bleak assessment, the Minister pointed to municipalities that are thriving, adopting funded budgets consistently, using grants effectively, delivering services, and earning clean audits. 

“There are municipalities that render services at an above-satisfactory level and give clean accountability to the Auditor-General,” he noted, describing them as examples to follow.

Hlabisa outlined key reforms needed to restore confidence, including professionalising local government, strengthening ethical leadership, ensuring inclusive public participation and driving accountability at every level. 

“Every municipality must work,” he stressed.

Underscoring the economic importance of metros – which house 62% of South Africa’s population and control the largest budgets – Hlabisa warned that “if they are not functional, our country’s economy cannot grow.”

He also highlighted ongoing reforms, such as the proposed Coalitions Bill and the review of the White Paper on Local Government, both aimed at stabilising councils and reconfiguring municipal structures.

READ | Hlabisa engages with business on review of White Paper on Local Government

Looking ahead, Hlabisa presented his vision for municipalities that are ethical, capable, climate-resilient, transparent, and centred on community needs. 

He urged delegates to treat the Indaba as “a golden opportunity to confront challenges affecting our communities where they live” and to emerge with actionable resolutions for rebuilding effective, accountable, developmental municipalities.

The two-day Indaba continues at the Gallagher Convention Centre. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has condemned hateful remarks made against the LGBTQIA+ community by artist Ngizwe Mchunu.

In a video circulated on social media, Mchunu denounced same-sex marriages and called for queer people to leave South Africa.

Deputy Minister Steve Letsike warned that the remarks are not only deeply offensive but also undermine the hard-won constitutional freedoms that guarantee dignity, equality, and non-discrimination for all people in the country.

“South Africa’s democracy is anchored in the values of equality, human dignity, and freedom. Attacks on queer persons are attacks on the very heart of our constitutional promise,” Letsike said in a statement.

Letsike stressed that the South African Constitution is an intersectional document, born at the intersection of race, gender, class and culture.

“It promises not only formal equality but substantive equality that takes account of history, of context, and of the deep wounds of apartheid and patriarchy. As government, we affirm that marriage equality is not a privilege but a constitutional right.

“The Civil Union Act [of 2006], passed nearly two decades ago, remains a testament to South Africa’s commitment to justice and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation,” the Deputy Minister said.

She said the Ministry has formally referred the matter to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for investigation. The Commission, a Chapter 9 institution, plays an important role in protecting and advancing human rights in our country.

Letsike also called on all faith leaders, including traditional leaders, artists, educators, politicians and community leaders, to use their voices to dismantle systems of oppression, rather than reinforce it.

“Silence is complicity, and we must all refuse to be complicit in hate. Soft violence the words, jokes and comments that demean, exclude, and incite hatred is never harmless. It is violence that corrodes dignity, which normalises discrimination, and that lays the foundation for physical violence.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the comments made by Mr Mchunu, because they are not only reckless, [but] also dangerous. They endanger the lives of LGBTI [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex] persons who already live under constant threat,” Letsike said.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to all efforts that foster equality for all and building a South Africa, “where no one is left behind, and where equality is lived in every home, school, workplace and cultural space.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has strengthened its fight against serious and violent crime with the addition of two state-of-the-art helicopters and 12 armoured vehicles to its fleet.

National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said the new resources – two H125: ZT-REC and ZS-HGA helicopters, along with 12 Marshall vehicles – will significantly enhance operational capacity, improve response times and bolster national security.

“This additional fleet will play a critical role in enhancing the SAPS’ operational capacity and capability, as well as strengthening national security,” Masemola said at the official handover ceremony on Friday.

He said the helicopters and vehicles will boost the work of specialised SAPS units, including the Special Task Force, Tactical Response Team, National Intervention Unit, Public Order Policing and Visible Policing.

“This new fleet will play a critical role in responding to organised crime incidents such as cash-in-transit heists, hijackings, armed robberies and other violent crimes. The helicopters will enable us to respond rapidly to crime scenes and serve the people of South Africa timeously and effectively,” Masemola said.

The Commissioner also linked the new equipment to the intensification of Operation Shanela II, a nationwide campaign targeting violent crime hotspots through raids, roadblocks and stop-and-search operations.

“Just this week, we arrested more than 17 247 suspects for various offences including the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs. This is the result of the tireless work of the men and women in blue across the country,” he said.

Masemola thanked officers for their perseverance despite resource constraints, saying the new fleet was procured to ease their work and improve service delivery.

“We are striving to provide all necessary tools of trade to enable our members to perform their functions optimally. These resources should give you hope that management is doing its utmost to support you,” he told officers.

He reminded members who will operate the new equipment to exercise maximum care. The helicopters and vehicles will be distributed to specialised units across the country. – SAnews.gov.za