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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the freezing of a Greater Kokstad Local Municipality official’s pension fund following his alleged involvement in a R5.2 million fraudulent information technology (IT)  tender. 

The Special Tribunal granted the order after an SIU investigation into the matter found that municipal IT manager Yaw Owusu-Boakye was the owner of an IT company, Obytech Solutions, which was awarded the tender.

“The SIU investigation found that Owusu-Boakye allegedly manipulated the procurement process to secure the appointment of his company through fraudulent misrepresentations in its bid documents.

“The municipality made three payments to Obytech Solutions in respect of the software license renewal contract, including R1,227,875.55 on 5 March 2023; R2,815,652.74 on 26 July 2023; and a further R1,227,875.55 on 24 January 2025. The payments totalled R5,271,403.84,” the SIU said in a statement.

Furthermore, the unit’s investigation found that the municipality had “little or no value for money from the services provided by Obytech Solutions”.

“The investigation identified significant non-delivery under the contract, valued at R3,465,835, with proceeds allegedly used to fund personal expenses and lifestyle. He resigned in June 2025 after the SIU investigation began.

“On 31 March 2026, the SIU launched an application before the Tribunal seeking to review and set aside the…municipality’s decision to appoint Obytech Solutions to provide the three-year software license renewal services. The SIU is also seeking an order directing Obytech Solutions to repay the profits derived from the tender,” the statement read.

The corruption-busting unit was authorised to investigate two tenders of the municipality through Proclamation 244 of 2025.

“The preservation order forms part of the SIU’s efforts to implement investigation outcomes and ensure consequence management, including the recovery of financial losses suffered by state institutions as a result of corruption, fraud and maladministration.

“The SIU also refers evidence pointing to criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is investigating Airlink’s flypast over the DHL Stadium ahead of last weekend’s international rugby fixture between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

The formation flyover over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium went viral on social media, prompting public concern and renewed scrutiny of the event.

“Following various media discussions relating to the events of the past weekend, the SACAA initiated compliance verifications, engaged the operator, obtained the flight data recording downloads, and requested additional information,” the Regulator said.

The Regulator said it has begun analysing the information and has asked the operator for further details before reaching an informed position.

A full report, including recommendations, will be shared with the operator once the SACAA has completed its assessment.

According to the Regulator, Airlink submitted three applications for flypasts related to the rugby matches. The flypast under review was the second of the three applications.

“The applications were submitted in line with the regulatory provisions governing non-passenger or cargo-carrying flights conducted in terms of Part 91.06.32.

“Following the SACAA approval, the first flypast took place on 22 August 2026 in Johannesburg, and the second one took place on 29 August 2026,” the Regulator said.

Meanwhile, the operator notified the Regulator on Tuesday that it was withdrawing its application for approval for a third flypast planned for this coming weekend.

The SACAA, which describes itself as the safety net of South African skies, assured the public that aviation safety and security compliance remain paramount and non-negotiable.

“South Africa has one of the most sought-after aviation talents in the world, and as a country we remain proud of our 0% record in fatal accidents in the commercial airline operations space for over four decades.

“This is a record we intend to uphold well into the future. It is therefore critical that we interrogate this past weekend’s events with clear minds and data at our disposal to determine whether there were any safety concerns that warrant a review, as we seek to continuously strengthen our safety standards,” the SACAA said.

South Africa is ranked seventh globally and first in Africa for aviation safety standards by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations specialised agency for civil aviation safety and security.

“This is achieved through a culture of compliance and a South African aviation industry that prioritises aviation safety and security,” the Regulator said. –SAnews.gov.za 

The Department of Agriculture has urged South Africans to play their part in preventing rabies.

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp said responsible pet ownership, regular vaccination of dogs and cats, reporting suspected cases, and seeking immediate medical attention after possible exposure are critical to preventing rabies deaths. 

Aucamp said rabies is one of the world’s deadliest yet most preventable diseases, and “no one should lose their life to a disease we know how to prevent.”

“Vaccinating dogs and cats, practising responsible pet ownership, reporting suspected cases and seeking prompt medical care after potential exposure are essential to preventing deaths.”

He said South Africans can contribute to the fight against rabies through responsible pet ownership and by acting quickly when exposure occurs.

“Through responsible pet ownership and acting quickly, we are ‘Stronger Together’ in the fight against rabies,” the Minister said.

Working through the National Rabies Advisory Group, stakeholders across South Africa are joining efforts to raise awareness of the disease and strengthen measures to protect both animal and human health.

Rabies remains a serious threat in all nine provinces, with significant hotspots in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

As of 26 August 2026, South Africa has recorded 15 human rabies deaths since the beginning of the year. These include seven confirmed and two probable cases in the Eastern Cape, five confirmed cases in KwaZulu-Natal and one confirmed case in Limpopo.

The department also reported 115 laboratory-positive animal rabies cases between 1 January and 31 July 2026.

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but deaths can be prevented through vaccination and timely post-exposure treatment.

The department advised anyone bitten or scratched by an animal suspected of having rabies, or exposed to the saliva of a potentially infected animal through a wound or mucous membrane, to immediately wash the affected area with soap and running water for at least 10 minutes and seek medical attention.

Post-exposure treatment can prevent the disease when administered promptly and correctly.

The department reminded the public that rabies can affect any mammal, including domestic animals, livestock, wildlife and humans.

Regular vaccination of dogs and cats remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of rabies and protect households and communities.

Responsible pet ownership also includes preventing the movement of unvaccinated animals, monitoring animals for unusual behaviour and reporting suspected rabies cases to the relevant authorities.

The department encouraged communities to contact their local state or private veterinarian, animal health technician or animal welfare organisation for advice and assistance with rabies prevention and vaccination.

Contact details for provincial veterinary services are available at: https://www.nda.gov.za/index.php/component/content/article/451-provincial-veterinary-services. 

It said veterinary and para-veterinary professionals, healthcare workers, government departments, policymakers, communities, pet owners and partner organisations all have an important role to play in eliminating rabies.

The department said stronger collaboration and coordinated action are essential to reducing rabies infections and moving South Africa closer to becoming rabies-free.

South Africa will join the global community on 28 September 2026 to mark World Rabies Day under the theme: “Stronger Together”, highlighting that rabies elimination requires collaboration across communities, animal and human health sectors, government and international partners. 

As World Rabies Day approaches, the department calls on all South Africans to take practical steps to protect themselves, their families, their pets and their communities from the disease. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The publication of the Block Exemption for Promotion of Exports, enabling South African exporters to collaborate in pursuing international markets, will not benefit them unless they make full use of the regulation. 

This is according to the Director of Export Development and Support at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Kwanele Mkhwanazi, who addressed a webinar on the Block Exemption for Promotion of Exports co-hosted by the dtic and the Competition Commission of South Africa (CCSA) on Monday. 

The Block Exemption, promulgated by the dtic Minister Parks Tau, under the Competition Act, provides for specified categories of collaboration in export markets that are exempt from certain provisions of the Competition Act. 

These include opportunities for qualifying exporters to achieve economies of scale and efficiencies, share certain landed costs, export-related infrastructure and market information, coordinate logistics, collectively market South African goods and jointly negotiate or contract with foreign buyers where permitted.

The promulgation of the exemption is a direct policy response to deteriorating global trade conditions, including the imposition of broad-based tariff increases by key trading partners, rising logistics costs, and increased complexity in accessing alternative export markets. 

Mkhwanazi said South African companies have a joint responsibility with the government to broaden and strengthen the export ecosystem and to ensure that exporters understand the opportunities available to them and help grow the economy.

He emphasised the important role of Export Councils, industry associations and provincial export-support agencies in identifying such opportunities, given their knowledge of businesses and sector-specific challenges.

He added that the Block Exemption should be linked to the broader support available to exporters through the dtic and its partners, including the Export Help Desk, Export Councils and provincial partner networks, market intelligence, training, coaching and mentorship, incubation and acceleration programmes.

“South Africa’s exports are still largely driven by larger firms, while smaller businesses remain less active in international markets. So, the opportunity before us is not simply to get more businesses into markets. 

“It is to help businesses enter, compete, retain and grow in those markets.  We need to think differently about the export ecosystem. A single company may struggle with the cost of areas like market research, overseas warehousing, logistics and international marketing. Collectively, there may be opportunities to share certain costs and activities, where permissible under the regulations,” he said.

The dtic and the CCSA have encouraged exporters and export-support formations to familiarise themselves with the requirements and limitations of the Block Exemption before entering into collaborative arrangements. 

The exemption applies to qualifying activities within its scope and does not provide a blanket exemption from competition law. – SAnews.gov.za