MIL Africa Engine

Source: Government of South Africa

The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, will embark on an official visit to Japan from 15 to 18 September 2025, to strengthen cooperation in hydrogen energy and sustainable fuels. 

The Deputy Minister will participate in the Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting and the Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Fuels on Monday, 15 September, to place South Africa at the centre of high-level global discussions on implementing and collaborating on hydrogen policies.

According to the department, Gina will engage with Japanese officials on international collaboration, demand stimulation, and supply chain development between South Africa and Japan.  

The Ministerial Meetings will be held in collaboration with Expo 2025 Osaka, an event that brings together people and innovations from around the world to address global issues and showcase Japan’s technological capabilities in achieving a hydrogen-powered society. 

“The engagements will serve as a bedrock to create institutional foundations for market-based hydrogen trading and price discovery, an essential step towards legitimising hydrogen as a tradable energy asset,” the statement read. 

Japan is committed to ensuring that its supply chains are secure, transparent and interconnected on a global scale.

The department said Japan also aims to establish global markets that will substantiate its investments in hydrogen production, transportation and utilisation technologies. 

In advancing the sustainable fuels agenda, Japan’s primary objective is to ensure the widespread implementation of sustainable fuels, particularly in industries that are challenging to regulate, such as aviation and shipping.

“The country has expressed commitment to expediting the global adoption of biofuels, e-fuels, and e-methane as part of its Initiative for Sustainable Fuels and Mobility with Brazil.  In addition, Japan aims to diversify the global energy supply ahead of COP30.”

From 16 to 18 September, the Deputy Minister will engage in discussions with representatives from the Japanese government, academic institutions, and commercial entities, including Toyota, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, as well as the universities of Kyoto and Osaka.  

The discussions will focus on science, technology and innovation-related matters, such as nanotechnology, carbon recycling, astronomy and space science technologies.

Green industrialisation

Speaking ahead of the mission, Gina said the Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Fuels holds considerable significance for South Africa, as the government aims to expedite the diversification of its energy portfolio to foster sustainable and inclusive growth. 

“For example, to reduce the carbon intensity within the aviation sector, South Africa aims to learn from Japan’s advancements in sustainable aviation fuel. Accordingly, strengthening cooperation with Japanese research institutions and enterprises specialising in sustainable aviation fuels and renewable energy sources will be essential,” said the Deputy Minister.

Gina stated that the insights gained from the mission will be instrumental in developing a robust infrastructure for renewable hydrogen and sustainable fuels in South Africa, with the potential to transform key sectors of the economy. 

These include the transformation of the energy and mining sector to decarbonisation operations and power generation.

Advancing the transportation and aviation sectors through the promotion of environmentally sustainable fuels and hydrogen-powered mobility will accelerate South Africa’s transition to cleaner fuels, thereby reducing its dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change.

In addition, South Africa’s manufacturing sector supports the expansion of new industries in hydrogen storage, fuel cells and electrolysers, while the agricultural sector supports the production of low-carbon fertilisers and strengthens the food supply chain.

“These initiatives have the potential to promote green industrialisation, create jobs in energy-intensive industries, and enhance the resilience of transport and logistics networks, thereby supporting South Africa’s broader social and economic development objectives,” said Gina.

The department said Japan remains a strategic ally for South Africa in scientific research, development and innovation since formalising a scientific and technological cooperation agreement in 2003.  

“In future, the country aims to leverage Japan’s expertise in vehicle manufacturing, electronics and the commercialisation of research to enhance collaborative initiatives in industrial development and technological innovation,” said the department. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The national executive, working with provincial government is determined to arrest the current situation and turn the Ditsobotla Local Municipality as well as other municipalities in the North West. 

This, so that municipalities can once again deliver consistent services and enjoy the respect of communities.

This was the commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his opening remarks at the engagement between the National Executive and the North West Provincial Executive Council, held in Rustenburg, on Friday.

President Ramaphosa stressed that elected leaders have a duty to serve the people above personal interests, warning against the erosion of basic rights through poor service delivery.

“We were all elected to serve the people and not our own interests. Failure to deliver services is an infringement of the basic rights of residents and our citizens more broadly. No one should go more than a day without running the water while there is a deafening silence from the municipal offices about when the water will be restored,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa addressed the issue of water, following recent water protests in several communities, including Westbury and Coronationville in Gauteng, where residents took to the streets demanding consistent water supply and accountability from municipalities. 

“We must remind ourselves of the National Treasury’s 2024 provincial socio-economic review which points to an increase in the percentage of people living in poverty. It also points to a drop in the number of households with access to basic services like water,” he said. 

The President noted that while the North West provincial government has made strides in growing public infrastructure, communities continue to suffer due to instability and recurring interventions in municipalities, with Ditsobotla Local Municipality being the most recent to be placed under administration.

The President highlighted the need to recognise that fiscal constraints are holding back a number of projects and programmes, particularly at a municipal level.  

However, he called for municipalities to be responsive to the needs of communities, stressing that maladministration, poor governance, and corruption cannot be excused. 

“If a municipality is put under administration, we need to know what the elected representatives and municipal officials are doing to earn their salaries. And we need to ask ourselves whether the salaries that they are paid are value for money and whether they are doing their work,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The engagement in Rustenburg forms part of a series of consultations between the national executive and provincial governments, aimed at strengthening cooperative governance under the Government of National Unity.

North West becomes the seventh province to host such an engagement following similar meetings in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape.

President Ramaphosa urged all spheres of government to act decisively to restore community trust and accelerate delivery, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and infrastructure. 

He further pointed to opportunities in the province’s Green Hydrogen Masterplan, describing it as a driver of inclusive growth and industrialisation that could benefit not only the North West, but also the national economy and the continent at large.

“Premier Mokgosi, working together with your executive council and the municipal leadership here, I am confident that we can drive development in the Platinum Province. In this effort, no person, no community and no industry should be left behind,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, September 12, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Friday, September 12, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

Government is currently implementing several collaborative initiatives to tackle youth unemployment, focusing on improving labour market functioning through skills training, work experience, entrepreneurship support, and wage subsidies.

This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who was responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday. 

“The rate of unemployment in our country is indeed a concern to all of us,“ he said.

Mashatile explained that government is utilising labour-intensive programmes, such as the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), Public Employment Programmes, and the Community Work Programme (CWP), to provide temporary employment and income support, especially to unemployed youth in sectors like infrastructure, environment, and social services.

To this end, Cabinet approved Phase V of the EPWP in February 2024, aiming to create five million work opportunities between April 2024 and March 2029, with an estimated five-year budget of R178 billion.

“This programme intends to address youth unemployment by providing young people access to jobs in mass projects such as road maintenance, inclusive of pothole repairs, public infrastructure development, public space beautification, waste management, and social services.“

Meanwhile, through the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), chaired by Mashatile, government collaborates with social partners, including business, labour, and civil society, to develop and implement a collective response to youth unemployment.

Speaking as Chairperson of the HRDC at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg last month, the Deputy President cited Statistics South Africa figures, which revealed that more than 3.5 million young people aged between 15 and 24 are disconnected from both the labour market and the education system.

Research from the South African Labour Development Research Unit at the University of Cape Town also highlighted the heterogeneous nature of the unemployed youth. 

According to data, more than half of unemployed youth not in employment, education and training have been searching for work for over a year, underscoring the systemic barriers they face in securing a foothold in the labour market. 

In addition, through the National Skills Development Plan and the National Skills Fund, Deputy President Mashatile said government works with social partners, the private sector, and educational institutions to equip youth and marginalised groups with market-relevant skills to boost job creation initiatives.

Last month, South Africa launched the official Jet Skills Desk, National Jet Skills Advisory Forum, and Multi-Donor Initiative.  

These joint initiatives are designed to provide leadership and coordination for a demand-driven skills development agenda, empowering disadvantaged and marginalised groups to access employment and entrepreneurship in the green economy.

In addition, the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Department of Defence, has conceptualised the South African National Defence Force-led National Youth Service Programme. 

The programme aims to empower women, youth, and persons with disabilities to become emerging industrialists in agriculture, energy security, aerospace, maritime, the digital economy, and defence sectors.

“As government, we are committed to moving from fragmented efforts to an integrated national programme that encompasses skills development, economic opportunity, workplace experience, entrepreneurship support, soft skills, and civic education to foster resilience and adaptability,” Mashatile added. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has handed over critical education resources to schools in the Zululand District, reinforcing the province’s commitment to improving learning outcomes and strengthening education infrastructure.

Ntuli, accompanied by Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, visited uPhongolo Local Municipality on Thursday, 11 September 2025, where he officially opened new facilities and delivered resources aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in schools.

At Siqalukubona Secondary School, the Premier unveiled a new science laboratory worth R810 000, designed to improve the teaching of mathematics and science.

The facility will provide learners with practical skills and prepare them for tertiary studies and future careers in science, technology, and innovation.

Ntuli also handed over two mobile classrooms and a vehicle worth R1 million to Siphosethu Special School, a move set to ease overcrowding, improve accessibility, and support mobility needs for learners with special educational requirements.

These initiatives follow the launch of two state-of-the-art schools in Newcastle last month, underscoring the provincial government’s ongoing investment in education despite financial pressures.

In his address, Ntuli reaffirmed that the government’s focus remains on delivering quality and inclusive education that inspires new hope and ensures that no learner is left behind.

“Every investment we make in education is an investment in the future of KwaZulu-Natal. These facilities are about more than bricks and mortar — they are about restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and building a province where every child, regardless of background, has a fair chance to succeed,” Ntuli said.

Operation Sukuma Sakhe engagements

Meanwhile, as part of Operation Sukuma Sakhe under the District Development Model (DDM), the Premier has engaged with communities in the Ugu District Municipality.

The programme on Wednesday started with a community dialogue at KwaDweshula village, where residents shared pressing issues affecting them.

The dialogue provided an opportunity for citizens to raise concerns directly with provincial leadership, and to contribute to solutions for local challenges.

The Premier also visited community gardens, which play an important role in boosting food security, alleviating hunger, and improving household nutrition in the area, while empowering communities through sustainable agricultural practices.

In Umzumbe Local Municipality, Ntuli met with community safety structures to discuss crime prevention strategies and ways to strengthen partnerships between communities and law enforcement.

The day concluded with the main Operation Sukuma Sakhe event at Shibase Sports Field.

The event brought together government leaders, including community representatives, and stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on service delivery, safety, and local development.

Ntuli reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working directly with communities to resolve challenges and improve livelihoods.

“Operation Sukuma Sakhe continues to serve as a vital platform for inclusive governance, ensuring that the people of KwaZulu-Natal are active participants in shaping the future of their province,” the Premier said. – SAnews.gov.za