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Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi will on Monday officially open the 24th National School of Government Public Sector Trainers’ Forum (PSTF) Conference at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Gauteng.

Hosted by the National School of Government (NSG), the two-day conference brings together learning and development practitioners from across the public sector to reimagine how public servants are trained and equipped to deliver on South Africa’s national priorities.

Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana will address delegates during the conference gala dinner later in the evening. The conference concludes on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Strengthening skills for a changing world

Held under the theme: ‘Building Public Sector Capacity for Economic Growth, Digital Transformation, and Ethical Governance’, the conference seeks to reshape public sector education to ensure it has maximum impact.

In a rapidly changing global environment, organisers say the need for a skilled, ethical and adaptable public service has become more important than ever.

The 2026 PSTF Conference will serve as a key platform to critically examine public sector curricula to ensure they adequately equip public officials to respond to modern governance challenges and deliver effectively on national priorities.

“There is a growing recognition that our current teaching and learning practices must evolve to better prepare public servants for the complexities of modern governance,” said the Acting Principal of the NSG, Phindile Mkwanazi.

“This conference is a call to action for curriculum designers, training facilitators, and policymakers to co-create strategies that translate learning into tangible service delivery improvements.”

Platform for dialogue and collaboration

The conference is expected to facilitate robust peer learning and networking among practitioners responsible for building skills within the public sector.

Delegates will participate in expert keynote addresses from both local and international speakers, as well as critical dialogues on curriculum reform and interactive panel discussions.

Organisers say the engagements will provide a space for practitioners to exchange ideas and explore new approaches to public sector education and training.

Focus on five priority themes

Discussions at the conference will centre on five core sub-themes aimed at strengthening the capability of the public sector.

These include strengthening the curriculum to support a capable, ethical and developmental state; leveraging digital innovation and transformation in government learning and operations; and modernising methodologies for authentic public participation through data literacy and artificial intelligence.

Other themes include designing curricula with stronger workplace integration to ensure training translates into action, as well as preparing for the future of work by embedding competencies related to artificial intelligence, automation and cybersecurity.

A growing platform for public sector training

Over the years, the PSTF has grown into a premier networking platform for more than 1 000 training practitioners across the public sector.

Its strategic objective is to position Human Resource Development as a key enabler of government’s broader development agenda.

The forum’s governance includes the National School of Government, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), all provincial Offices of the Premiers, and key Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to public sector education.

The 24th annual conference also invites human resource development practitioners, facilitators, instructional designers, policy analysts and digital transformation specialists to take part in what organisers describe as a critical national dialogue on strengthening the capability of the public service. – SAnews.gov.za

Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi will on Monday officially open the 24th National School of Government Public Sector Trainers’ Forum (PSTF) Conference at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Gauteng.

Hosted by the National School of Government (NSG), the two-day conference brings together learning and development practitioners from across the public sector to reimagine how public servants are trained and equipped to deliver on South Africa’s national priorities.

Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana will address delegates during the conference gala dinner later in the evening. The conference concludes on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

Strengthening skills for a changing world

Held under the theme: ‘Building Public Sector Capacity for Economic Growth, Digital Transformation, and Ethical Governance’, the conference seeks to reshape public sector education to ensure it has maximum impact.

In a rapidly changing global environment, organisers say the need for a skilled, ethical and adaptable public service has become more important than ever.

The 2026 PSTF Conference will serve as a key platform to critically examine public sector curricula to ensure they adequately equip public officials to respond to modern governance challenges and deliver effectively on national priorities.

“There is a growing recognition that our current teaching and learning practices must evolve to better prepare public servants for the complexities of modern governance,” said the Acting Principal of the NSG, Phindile Mkwanazi.

“This conference is a call to action for curriculum designers, training facilitators, and policymakers to co-create strategies that translate learning into tangible service delivery improvements.”

Platform for dialogue and collaboration

The conference is expected to facilitate robust peer learning and networking among practitioners responsible for building skills within the public sector.

Delegates will participate in expert keynote addresses from both local and international speakers, as well as critical dialogues on curriculum reform and interactive panel discussions.

Organisers say the engagements will provide a space for practitioners to exchange ideas and explore new approaches to public sector education and training.

Focus on five priority themes

Discussions at the conference will centre on five core sub-themes aimed at strengthening the capability of the public sector.

These include strengthening the curriculum to support a capable, ethical and developmental state; leveraging digital innovation and transformation in government learning and operations; and modernising methodologies for authentic public participation through data literacy and artificial intelligence.

Other themes include designing curricula with stronger workplace integration to ensure training translates into action, as well as preparing for the future of work by embedding competencies related to artificial intelligence, automation and cybersecurity.

A growing platform for public sector training

Over the years, the PSTF has grown into a premier networking platform for more than 1 000 training practitioners across the public sector.

Its strategic objective is to position Human Resource Development as a key enabler of government’s broader development agenda.

The forum’s governance includes the National School of Government, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), all provincial Offices of the Premiers, and key Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), ensuring a coordinated and comprehensive approach to public sector education.

The 24th annual conference also invites human resource development practitioners, facilitators, instructional designers, policy analysts and digital transformation specialists to take part in what organisers describe as a critical national dialogue on strengthening the capability of the public service. – SAnews.gov.za

Small Business Development Minister Stella Tembisa Ndabeni will host a media breakfast on Monday aimed at providing feedback on public consultations around the proposed Business Licensing Bill, 2025.

The event, organised by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), will bring together key stakeholders to discuss input received during consultations on the bill, which seeks to establish a business regulatory regime that benefits South African citizens and businesses.

According to the department, the media breakfast will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on feedback received during the consultation process for the Business Licensing Bill, which is intended to reshape aspects of the country’s business regulatory framework.

The development of the bill follows the transfer of the Business Act, 1991 to the Department of Small Business Development in October 2020. The shift placed responsibility for the legislation within the department’s portfolio as part of broader efforts to strengthen the regulatory environment for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

A significant step toward the drafting of the new bill came in May 2025, when Cabinet approved the National Business Licensing Policy. The policy approval on 28 May 2025 paved the way for the development of the Business Licensing Bill, which aims to modernise and refine the business licensing framework in South Africa.

Following Cabinet’s approval of the policy, the Business Licensing Bill was published in the Government Gazette on 26 September 2025 to allow members of the public and stakeholders to submit comments and proposals.

The department subsequently received a range of inputs through both written and oral submissions during the consultation period. These submissions came from a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public, business associations, government components, municipalities and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The department said the upcoming media breakfast will serve as a platform to share feedback from these engagements and outline the key themes and perspectives raised during the consultation process.

By bringing together stakeholders who participated in the consultations, the department aims to highlight the contributions made by different sectors and provide clarity on the next steps regarding the Business Licensing Bill, 2025.

The engagement is expected to provide insight into how the feedback gathered during the consultation process may influence the final shape of the proposed legislation, as government works toward establishing a business regulatory regime designed to support both citizens and businesses.

The engagement will take place from 08:00 to 11:00 on 9 March 2026 at the Southern Sun Arcadia, Pretoria. – SAnews.gov.za

The Ministry of Police has welcomed the steps taken by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to strengthen its response to organised crime with the establishment of two specialised units in Gauteng, aimed at tackling specific high-priority crime threats.

The formation of these units is part of SAPS’ broader organised crime strategy, which will guide the policing response to increasingly complex and coordinated criminal activities. 

Through this strategy, SAPS is progressively implementing a range of targeted measures and interventions to combat the various manifestations of organised crime.

“The first of these units is the replication of the Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng. This specialised team will focus on the investigation of political assassinations, as well as politically motivated killings of government officials,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. 

The establishment of the unit follows the proven effectiveness of the Political Killings Task Team model in addressing complex and highly sensitive cases.

“The Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng is adequately capacitated and comprises skilled members drawn from various disciplines within SAPS. These members bring a wealth of expertise and vast investigative experience, ensuring that the unit is well equipped to deal with intricate and high-profile cases.

“The second specialised unit will focus on crimes related to kidnapping, extortion and offences targeting infrastructure projects. These crimes have increasingly been linked to organised criminal networks that seek to undermine economic development and public safety,” the ministry said.

The ministry said both units are operational and are designed to function as intelligence-driven, specialised, team-orientated, multidisciplinary and prosecution-led structures. 

“The establishment of these units demonstrates the SAPS’ commitment to strengthening its capacity to disrupt and dismantle organised criminal networks, while ensuring that perpetrators of serious crimes are brought to justice,” the Ministry said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says the western and south-western parts of South Africa can expect very hot to extremely hot temperatures this week, resulting in heatwave conditions. 

This follows a brief period of cooler weather. Heatwave conditions are characterised by prolonged periods (at least three consecutive days or more) of temperatures exceeding the average of the hottest month by 5°C or more.

“The heatwave conditions are anticipated due to the presence of a strong, slow-moving high-pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The air in upper-air high-pressure systems sinks and warms as it descends, leading to higher temperatures at the surface,” SAWS said in a statement. 

SAWS explained that the system will be accompanied by offshore wind flow along the western coastline of South Africa. 

“Very hot to extremely hot temperatures (36°C to 42°C) are expected across the coastal areas and adjacent interior of the Northern Cape and the western parts of the Western Cape from Monday. 

“The highest temperatures will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday over the western parts of both the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The heatwave will spread to parts of the Central and Little Karoo on Tuesday.

“Residents are advised to be aware of the prolonged period of hot weather, which may lead to health risks such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” SAWS said.

Stay safe with these measures:

• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

• Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest hours (12h00 – 15h00).

• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing.

• Stay in the shade or in well-ventilated areas as much as possible.

• Keep an eye on vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and babies.

• Never leave children or animals in parked cars, even for a short time.

• Avoid strenuous physical activity during the hottest part of the day.

“SAWS will continue to monitor this system closely and will issue updates as new information becomes available. The public and relevant authorities are urged to follow official weather warnings and advisories from reliable sources,” the Weather Service said.

For regular updates, please visit https://www.weathersa.co.za or follow SAWS official media channels. – SAnews.gov.za