MIL Africa Engine

Source: Government of South Africa

The eThekwini Municipality has seen a resurgence in tourism, with both international and domestic visitor numbers showing exceptional growth and economic impact from January to May 2025.

This performance signals a strong recovery for the sector and reaffirms Durban’s position as one of South Africa’s most attractive and dynamic travel destinations.

According to the latest data, international tourism has rebounded impressively, with over 186 000 additional arrivals, compared to the same period last year.

This influx generated a combined spend of more than R750 million, driven by robust card transactions and cash withdrawals.

The data was presented by the Research and Data Unit of South African Tourism during a two-day Strategic Planning Workshop of the eThekwini Presidential Working Group (Workstream 4), held last week.

The data showed that during the Easter period in April alone, the tourism sector contributed R115.9 million, reflecting a 48% year-on-year increase.

Leading international source markets include Mozambique, the United Kingdom, and the United States, highlighting Durban’s global appeal.

Domestically, Durban welcomed 2.8 million trips, resulting in a remarkable R4.8 billion in combined spend.

The Easter holiday period saw a 52% increase in domestic spend, while May outperformed April, reaching R844 million, a 50% growth, compared to the previous month.

A notable highlight is the surge in visitors from Cape Town, alongside Johannesburg and Tshwane, reinforcing Durban’s status as a preferred leisure destination for South Africa’s major metros.

Spending trends reveal that retail and dining are the top-performing categories, driven by leisure travel.

While traditional hotel stays remain relevant, the date showed that many domestic travellers are increasingly choosing shared or self-catering accommodation options, reflecting evolving travel preferences.

EThekwini City Manager, Musa Mbhele, said this performance underlines the importance of continued investment in tourism marketing, seasonal campaigns, and infrastructure that supports both leisure and business travel.

“These results are not just encouraging – they are a clear signal that our strategic investments in tourism are paying off. Durban is not only bouncing back; we are setting the pace for tourism recovery in South Africa.

“We remain fully committed to enhancing visitor experiences, expanding our offerings, and ensuring that Durban continues to thrive as a world-class destination for both leisure and business travel,” Mbhele said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The National School of Government’s (NSG) Acting Principal Phindile Mkwanazi says South Africa’s G20 Presidency is not only a moment of continental pride but also a moment of shared hope.

“It reflects South Africa’s long-standing commitment to solidarity with the global South, to equality among nations in an inclusive system of global governance and to sustainability as the foundation for common prosperity, the enjoyment of human rights and peaceful coexistence,” Mkhwanazi said.

The acting Principal made the remark at the National School of Government T20 Symposium on State Capacity and Institutional Transformation in Times of Complexity: Exploring State Capacity for Agile Public Institutions held at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria on Monday.

WATCH  | T20 symposium 

Mkhwanazi said that as part of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the country has placed emphasis on strengthening governance and institutions as essential enablers of development.

“We are convinced that in an increasingly complex and uncertain world, agile, transparent, and effective public institutions are indispensable. Developmental states that are responsive to citizens, and committed to shared prosperity, can help achieve sustainable development and lasting peace.”

She believes that successful nations are those that make strong investments in State capacity and embrace innovation. 

“If the G20 is to succeed, it must place State capacity at the heart of sustainable development. The G20’s strength lies in fostering meaningful cooperation and driving a global skills revolution, which is essential for a fairer and more sustainable future.
“The questions before us are complex, but through honest engagement and the collective wisdom gathered here, we can advance practical ideas that strengthen not only our States, but also the multilateral system that binds us together,” she explained.

The gathering brought together leading scholars, public servants, policymakers, and governance experts to reflect on the future of public institutions, particularly their ability to respond to complexity and remain legitimate, agile, and citizen focused.

Led by Professor Zhang Weiwei, Professor and Director of the China Institute at Fudan University, the symposium explored the challenges and opportunities of governance in complex environments, critical reforms needed to strengthen state capacity, and lessons and partnerships from the G20 to build future-ready institutions.

The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries which seek to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.

South Africa assumed the Presidency of the G20 on 01 December 2024, marking a historic milestone as the first African country to lead this influential group of the world’s largest economies.

It comprises 19 countries including: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States and two regional bodies, namely the European Union and the African Union.

The G20 is expected to have significant economic benefits for South Africa, notably for the tourism, transport, restaurant, entertainment and hospitality industries, with global visibility in all nine provinces. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Ministry in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has raised alarm over recent reports of alleged job offers circulating on social media, targeting young South African women aged 18 to 22 for employment opportunities in Russia.

“Although we recognise that South Africa faces unacceptably high youth unemployment, especially among young women, this harsh reality must never be exploited through false job offers,” the Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Department confirmed that the advertised work opportunities advertised on social media for positions in Russia, are not facilitated or endorsed by government, noting that all legitimate international employment opportunities are organised through official diplomatic channels and formal bilateral agreements.

It urged young people to exercise extreme caution when engaging with unsolicited offers for international employment, particularly those distributed via social media and other online platforms.

Before pursuing international work or study opportunities, young people are urged to verify the authenticity of the job adverts through the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and its missions abroad, relevant foreign embassies or missions within South Africa of the intended country of travel for the opportunity, the Department of Employment and Labour, the South African Police Service, or the Department of Higher Education and Training.

“The safety, dignity, and future of young South African women are of paramount importance, and we cannot allow desperation borne of high unemployment to be weaponised against our youth. As a government, we continue to work tirelessly to address youth unemployment through national initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Youth Service, and various skills development programmes,” the department said.

However, the department warned that government alone cannot win the fight against unemployment, calling for all stakeholders, including the private sector, civil society, labour, academia, and communities, to join hands with the government in creating sustainable pathways for decent work for young people, especially young women.

To fully understand the nature of the employment opportunities in Russia and provide clarity to the public, the Ministry said it will engage stakeholders, including DIRCO, the Russian Embassy in South Africa, and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (WBA).

“Let us remain united in protecting the dreams and dignity of South Africa’s young women, while redoubling our efforts to build an inclusive economy that provides meaningful opportunities at home,” the Ministry said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Africa – and South Africa – must harness its rich endowment of critical minerals to create an industrial powerhouse which can lead the green energy revolution.

This according to Gauteng Growth and Development Agency executive, Sthembiso Dlamini, who addressed the African Critical Minerals Summit in Johannesburg on Monday.

The continent boasts vast deposits of minerals such as platinum, manganese and lithium which are critical for renewable energy technology.

Dlamini noted that these minerals stand at the “centre of the global energy transition, technological advancement, and industrial development”. 

“From cobalt and lithium to rare earth and platinum group metals, Africa holds most of the most strategic mineral deposits in the world. Yet the question before us is how do we move beyond simply being exporters of raw resources to becoming global leaders in beneficiation, industrialisation, and sustainable growth. 

“Africa holds nearly a third of the world’s critical mineral reserves, making it central to the global energy transition. The continent is home to over 70% of platinum and chromium, nearly half of cobalt and manganese, and the world’s largest phosphate…reserves.

“With the African Continental Free Trade Area as a unifying framework, these resources can power regional value chains from beneficiation and processing to advance manufacturing instead of exporting [raw ores],” she said.

Dlamini highlighted that with its rich endowment in critical minerals, the continent can build “industries that supply batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable technologies”.

Furthermore, this can turn the mineral wealth into a “driver of industrialisation, sustainable growth and continental integration” with beneficiation at the centre.

“Advancing beneficiation in Africa is not just an economic imperative. It is a developmental necessity. By processing and adding value to our minerals locally, we create jobs, we stimulate new industries and build stronger linkages across manufacturing energy, and technology centres. 

“This is how we unlock greater returns for our people and ensure that the wealth of our natural resources translate into long term prosperity. Equally, industrialisation anchored on the critical mineral sector offers Africa a once in a generation opportunity. If managed well, if it can serve as a backbone of new supply chain in green technologies, batteries, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.

“By leveraging regional integration, infrastructure development and public-private partnership, Africa can really shift from being at the margins of global venue chains, to being at the heart of them,” she said. 

Sustainable growth

Dlamini put forward that the approach to growth must be sustainable for communities and the environment.

“Our approach to critical minerals must balance economic opportunity, with environmental stewardship and social responsibility. 

“Communities must benefit directly. Ecosystems must be protected, and governance structures must guarantee transparency and accountability. Only then, can Africa’s critical mineral become a catalyst for inclusive and resilient growth,” Dlamini said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Fast-tracking the delivery of infrastructure projects that are essential to KwaZulu-Natal’s socio-economic growth was at the core of Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli’s strategic meeting of the Provincial Infrastructure Council.

Held at the Archie Gumede Conference Centre in eThekwini recently, the meeting brought together senior government officials, municipal representatives, and state-owned entities in a united drive to accelerate infrastructure delivery across the province.

According to the provincial government, the council is set to play a central role in ensuring the systematic selection, planning, and monitoring of infrastructure projects implementation.

This includes oversight of the Provincial Infrastructure Master Plan, with a strong focus on practical outcomes, improved intergovernmental collaboration, and enhanced accountability.

“The Council will also ensure that infrastructure initiatives align with the District Development Model (DDM), which aims to bring development closer to communities by fostering integrated planning at district and local level.

“By strengthening partnerships and communication between government departments, municipalities, and state-owned enterprises, the Council seeks to create a more agile and responsive infrastructure delivery ecosystem,” the provincial government said in a statement.

At the meeting, Ntuli emphasised the need to remove existing bottlenecks, improve coordination, and ensure that projects are fully aligned with both national and provincial priorities.

The meeting also addressed the implementation of the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS) and explored ways to boost technical capacity within the public sector.

This includes training and support for officials involved in infrastructure planning, procurement, and project management. – SAnews.gov.za