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Source: Government of South Africa

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Sello Seitlholo, has called on the community of Winterveld, north of Tshwane, to refrain from polluting local watercourses and to take greater responsibility for safeguarding South Africa’s water resources.

Seitlholo made the call during a river clean-up event held this week at a tributary of the Tolwane River, as part of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Clear Rivers Campaign, in support of Mandela Month.

“There is a huge crisis that we have in South Africa that we do not talk about, which is the state of our water resources. People do not protest because there is sewerage in the river or in the dams.

“But they protest when there is no water coming from their taps. Ironically, it is the state of the water in our rivers and dams that determine the quality of the water that comes from our taps,” Seitlholo said.

Highlighting the need for a holistic understanding of the water value chain, Seitlholo stressed that the condition of upstream water sources determines the quality of water that ultimately reaches households.

“The public is focused and fixated on the end-product and seem to forget that there is a beginning of the value chain. If the community fails to take care of the beginning of the value chain, then definitely the end-product will be compromised.”

The Deputy Minister expressed concern over the severe pollution of water resources in Gauteng, citing dumping of waste and foreign objects into rivers as a major contributor.

“People have taken a decision that they are not going to be conscious enough about the state of our rivers and dams. They are just going to throw foreign objects into our river streams [and] that is the behaviour. We have messed up our environment as people,” the Deputy Minister said.

He also reminded the community that water is irreplaceable, unlike electricity, which can be substituted with alternatives like gas or wood.

“When there is no water, it just cannot be replaced,” he said.

The river clean-up event saw participation from government officials, INCLUDING residents, local stakeholders, and the City of Tshwane, which assisted with waste collection and disposal.

This collective approach reflects the shared responsibility in safeguarding South Africa’s water resources.

Maintaining clean rivers and catchment areas is critical to reducing pollution, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water systems.

The river clean-up comes at the backdrop of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s annual Clear Rivers Campaign in support of the Mandela Month, where everybody is called to dedicate their 67 minutes of goodwill activities towards cleaning up streams, wetlands, dams, canals, and any freshwater sources.

The Deputy Minister noted that community-led initiatives like this not only improve environmental conditions but also help raise awareness and fosters lasting behavioral change toward responsible waste management.

“Water is a vital enabler of economic growth, investment, and social development. Therefore, it is crucial for communities living near rivers and wetlands to protect these ecosystems, which are essential for livelihoods and resilience,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Clear Rivers Campaign is observed under the theme: “South Africa is a water-scarce country – clean up and protect our water resources.”

This year’s Mandela Month is commemorated under the theme: “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

For the first time in the last 10 years, the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has announced that it will implement fare adjustments across the Metrorail network from 01 August 2025. 

“Fares have remained unchanged over the last 10 years, marking the first increase since 2015. Single tickets will increase by R2.50, while return tickets will see increases of R5.50 to R6.00, depending on the zone or distance travelled,” PRASA said on Wednesday.

The Department of Transport has approved the fare adjustment following comprehensive stakeholder consultations conducted in 2023. 

The additional revenue will fund critical operational needs, including energy and maintenance costs, as well as enhanced safety and security measures at stations and on trains. 

The fare adjustment will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the country’s biggest passenger rail operator.

“Even with this fare adjustment, PRASA Rail fares remain the most affordable across all modes of transport. We are committed to providing affordable, safe and efficient commuter services,” PRASA Rail CEO Nwabisa Gqamane-Ntiyane said.

PRASA Rail also announced the reintroduction of the much-anticipated weekly and monthly tickets. 

These tickets offer deeper discounts and are expected to be popular among regular commuters.

PRASA Rail’s off-peak discounts remain in place, offering even more affordable fares for those travelling between 09:00 and 14:00, with fares discounted by 50% – 40% during this period.

Commuters can find detailed information about the new fares, seasonal tickets, and station- specific details by visiting their nearest Metrorail station. 

Additional information is available through PRASA’s official social media channels, including @PRASA_Group, Metrorail Gauteng, Metrorail W.C, Metrorail KZN, and Metrorail E.C. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

The Department of Health has announced a vaccination drive against Mpox disease, as the number of laboratory-confirmed cases is gradually increasing in the country.

According to the department, the vaccination programme will primarily target the provinces most affected, which currently include Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Two new laboratory-confirmed cases were recorded – one in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape. 

These cases involve a 32-year-old from Cape Town and a 45-year-old from Johannesburg, and both individuals have no history of travel.

This brings to 10 the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of 2025.

“Vaccination helps to control the spread of this preventable and manageable disease, with vaccinated individuals being protected from becoming infected and from developing severe complications,” the statement read. 

The department said vaccination can be accessed at some public health facilities, travel clinics and a few private providers in the selected provinces.

Meanwhile, the department has urged people to be vigilant about the symptoms of Mpox. 

Those who suspect they may be at risk of Mpox infection are advised to consult their nearest health facility or healthcare provider for screening and testing. They should also enquire about their eligibility for this life-saving vaccination.

“Priority will be given to people at a higher risk of contracting the virus, including those who came into close contact with people who tested positive, people with multiple sexual partners and travellers going to areas where there is an outbreak of Mpox. Where indicated, vaccination will be offered to pregnant women and children older than two years.” 

Mpox vaccine

The department received approximately 10 500 doses of the mpox vaccine, Imvanex, as a donation from the Africa Centres for Disease Control. 

This donation was made through the Access and Allocation Mechanism for Mpox to help combat the various outbreaks of Mpox across the African continent.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) authorised the importation of this vaccine through a Section 21 process, which covers the sale and use of medicines not yet registered in South Africa. 

The National Control Laboratory tested Imvanex samples to establish the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before its release to the South African market.

“The vaccine was found to be safe and is well tolerated in most people. As with any vaccine, some individuals may experience mild to moderate side effects after vaccination. This is a normal sign that the body is developing some level of immunity to prevent the severity of the disease if infected,” the department said.

Several countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, the United States, Canada and European countries have utilised the Mpox vaccine to control the spread of the disease. 

Common side effects that might be experienced following immunisation include pain, redness, swelling and itching at the injection site, muscle pain, headache, nausea and fever. 

However, the department said most side effects disappear on their own within a few days without treatment.

These side effects can be managed by having enough rest, staying hydrated and taking medication to manage pain, if needed. 

Individuals are encouraged to report any suspected side effects following immunisation directly to a healthcare professional or via the Med Safety App, which can be downloaded for free on an Android or IOS smartphone at https://medsafety.sahpra.org.za.

The number of Mpox vaccine doses allocated to South Africa is limited, and quantities will be issued in a phased approach, prioritising outbreak hotspots and based on vaccine availability. 

More information regarding mpox vaccination sites can be accessed at https://health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-MPOX-VACCINATION-SITES.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

As government pursues faster and more inclusive economic growth, the fight against youth unemployment remains a priority, with large-scale programmes underway to create opportunities for young people to earn an income, develop skills and gain work experience.

Delivering the Presidency Budget Vote for the 2025/2026 financial year, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the greatest challenge that faces South Africa today is youth unemployment. 

“Approximately 3.8 million out of 10.3 million young people aged 15 to 24 years are not in employment, education or training. These are young people with energy, initiative and untapped potential,” President Ramaphosa said.

In his address on Wednesday, the President said government has launched large-scale programmes to provide young people with income opportunities, skills development and work experience.

“Through innovative and targeted interventions, the Presidential Employment Stimulus has continued to demonstrate that when a society invests in its people, the dividends are measured in hope restored and futures rewritten,” he said. 

He cited the Basic Education Employment Initiative, which entered a new phase in June this year, placing over 200 000 young people as school assistants in more than 2 0000 schools. 

To date, this initiative has created over one million posts for young people to serve as assistants in schools, supporting teachers in classrooms, school administration and school maintenance.

“The programme has been designed to strengthen the learning environment and learning outcomes in schools. In the process, participants gain work experience and skills vital to finding employment and starting their own businesses,” the President said.

He added that the SAYouth.mobi platform was launched in 2020 to tackle the barriers faced by young people such as experience and the lack of transport or lack of data money.

“There are now over 4.7 million young people registered on the SAYouth network. Young people have been supported to access over 1.67 million earning opportunities.

“A significant achievement of SA Youth is that the vast majority of earning opportunities have been accessed by the most excluded young people. Seventy percent of opportunities have been accessed by young black African women,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President noted that around 65% of the platform’s users live in grant-receiving households, demonstrating that “we are reaching some of the people who have the greatest need.”

Another impactful initiative mentioned was the Youth Employment Service (YES), which he said has become the largest corporate-funded youth jobs programme globally. 

The programme has to date provided over 190 000 young people with year-long work experience opportunities.

“Through all of these programmes coordinated by the Presidency, we are changing the way that government works and scaling innovative solutions to our unemployment challenge,” the President said. 

Education 

Turning to education, President Ramaphosa underscored its role in fighting poverty, with a focus on early childhood development, foundational learning, and access to well-run schools.

“We continue our efforts to ensure that learners have a safe and conducive environment in which to learn. To date, we have completed 97 percent of the sanitation projects under the SAFE initiative aimed at getting rid of pit latrines in our schools.”

He also confirmed the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, expansion of vocational training, and broader access to higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

Having come into effect in December last year, the Act amends sections of the South African Schools Act of 1996 (SASA) and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (EEA) to account for developments in the education landscape since the enactment of the original legislation.

Through the NSFAS, government is expanding access for students from poor and working class families, and with the support of the National Skills Fund, assistance is being expanded to the ‘missing middle’.

“This year, NSFAS is supporting over 800 000 university and TVET [technical and vocational education and training] college students. This provides opportunities to young people today that will, in time, transform our economy and society,” he said. 

NHI

On healthcare and the National Health Insurance (NHI), the President said government is addressing the poor state of health facilities and is hiring more professionals, while also permanently employing community health workers.

“To address the severe challenges in the health system and in preparation for the implementation of the NHI, we are directing resources towards the hiring of more doctors, nurses and health professionals, the permanent employment of community health workers, and the purchase of new equipment and supplies.

“We are determined to meet our HIV testing and treatment targets, despite the withdrawal of US funding,” he added, noting that Deputy President Paul Mashatile continues to lead the HIV/AIDS response through the South African National AIDS Council.

Last week, Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, said the National Treasury has allocated R753 million to the Department of Health — under Section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — to help bridge the shortfall caused by the United States’ decision to cut HIV and tuberculosis (TB) grants.

READ | Treasury allocates emergency funding of R750m towards HIV and TB after US funding cuts

The United States government’s withdrawal of funding to key health initiatives, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief P(EPFAR), which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003, led to a loss of R7.9 billion spent on HIV/Aids programmes annually.
 

Governance 

On governance, the President said building a capable and corruption-resistant state remains a priority. 

“For us to effectively tackle any of these challenges, we need to build a capable state with institutions that are resistant to corruption or interference. 

“The recent adoption of the Public Service Commission Bill by the National Assembly marks a crucial milestone, enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the Public Service Commission in promoting ethical governance,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa said the bill will allow the Commission to function as an impartial constitutional body and ensure that the executive is compelled to act on the Commission’s recommendations, thereby reinforcing accountability across the public sector. 

Digital Transformation Roadmap

He added that the Digital Transformation Roadmap launched in April 2025, is set to make government work more efficiently while also bringing it closer to the people.

READ | Digital Transformation Roadmap to make it easier to access government services

“The roadmap focuses on building digital public infrastructure including a digital identity for every South African citizen. 

“It includes a digital payments system to enable instant, low-cost payments, and interoperable data systems to ensure that citizens only have to provide their information to government once,” said President Ramaphosa. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Government is following through on its commitment to invest more than R1 trillion in infrastructure over the next three years to renew the country’s roads, port, rail, energy and water systems.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who presented The Presidency Budget Vote for the 2025/2026 financial year in the National Assembly in Parliament on Wednesday. 

The Budget Vote focused on the 7th administration’s three strategic priorities, including promoting inclusive growth, job creation, tackling poverty and the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical, and developmental state. 

“South Africans benefit when the economy grows, when jobs are created, when established industries expand and new industries emerge,” the President said. 

The President emphasised that government is hard at work to boost infrastructure investment to ensure that infrastructure development becomes the “true flywheel of economic growth.” 

Through the Infrastructure Fund, he said government is investing in the roads that link communities to economic centres and the water projects that supply expanding cities and towns. 

“We have amended the regulations for Public Private Partnerships to make it easier for the private sector to invest in infrastructure ranging from renewable energy generation to housing. 

“This infrastructure has a direct impact on people’s lives, providing the services they need, reducing the cost of living, improving the business environment and encouraging economic activity,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa noted that the country continues to face high levels of unemployment and economic growth that is too low to create jobs and reduce poverty. In addition, the country faces the corrosive effects of corruption and pervasive crime, to which the poorest are most vulnerable.

“It is with these challenges in mind that we formed a Government of National Unity (GNU) to place our country on a path of growth and transformation, a path of peace and prosperity. 

“As we established the GNU, we understood that we were embarking on a new era in the life of our democracy. We understood that there would be complex dynamics and novel challenges that we would need to navigate,” he said.

The President highlighted that the GNU adopted the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), which outlines clear actions that will be undertaken over the next five years in pursuit of three strategic priorities. 

“Across all ministries, all departments and all national entities, there is a commitment to implement the actions on which we have agreed and to move with urgency and purpose to address the needs of South Africans. 

“Most importantly, there is a shared understanding that we need to rise above our differences and to work together to make progress on our most important challenges,” the President said. 

The President explained that the approach of the Government of National Unity is to enhance national cohesion and nation building and to build partnerships across society to advance the common interests of all South Africans. 

He said the National Dialogue is being convened in response to calls from individuals and formations from across society.

The initiative has received wide support and has been endorsed by the GNU as a significant national process to develop a social compact that will enable the country to meet the aspirations of the National Development Plan.

“We are all called upon to use this National Dialogue as an instrument of development, transformation, progress, national cohesion and nation building. The National Dialogue does not displace the democratic processes mandated by our Constitution, nor the electoral mandates that parties carry into Parliament and the Executive,” he said. 

As the National dialogue process continues, the President said the GNU will continue to take action to address the immediate concerns that all South Africans share – to grow the economy, to create jobs, to tackle corruption and crime, and to fix local government.

“Everything that this government does – from trade negotiations to economic reforms, from the professionalisation of the public service to support for farmers and small businesses – is directed towards meeting the needs of South Africa’s people and securing their future. 

“The role of the Presidency is to coordinate the work of government towards this end, and to make sure that our commitments are translated into action. Our most important priority is to grow the economy and create jobs,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The President added that efforts to improve visa administration, digital payments, tourism, and industrial diversification would unlock growth and investment. 

“We are pursuing the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy recently approved by Cabinet to ensure that the country’s mineral wealth creates jobs and produces value here in South Africa,” the President said. 

The development of new sectors was also a key focus. 

“Our National Policy on the Commercialisation of Hemp and Cannabis aims to improve the livelihoods of people living in rural areas, targeting 10 percent annual growth in this emerging industry,” he said.

Highlighting tourism’s recovery, he noted that over 9 million international tourists visited South Africa last year, spending more than R90 billion.

“This is thanks in large part to reforms in our visa system, targeted tourism promotion in key markets and support to local companies,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa reaffirmed that the Presidency continues to lead implementation of economic reforms through Operation Vulindlela. 

In the energy sector, working together with all stakeholders, the President noted outstanding progress in reducing the severity and frequency of load shedding. 

“There was a time when daily load shedding was the norm. Now, it is very much the exception,” he said.

He said government is putting in place the foundations for a competitive electricity market to unlock massive new investment in energy generation. 

“This will result in lower electricity costs for all South Africans and more renewable energy to power our economy.”

In addition, the President said South Africa has received international pledges worth R230 billion towards its just energy transition, with investments in transmission, renewables and localised development. – SAnews.gov.za