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The South African Weather Service has warned the public about the expected impact of an intense cold front set to affect the western parts of the country from Sunday to Tuesday. 

“Following close on the heels of a prolonged period of adverse weather conditions associated with a cut-off low weather system, a strong cold front is expected to make landfall over the Western Cape on Sunday afternoon before progressing eastwards along the southern parts of the country,” SAWS advised.

This weather system is expected to result in widespread disruptive rainfall, strong to gale-force winds, very rough seas, and significantly colder temperatures over the western interior and coastal regions. 

Disruptive rain is expected to develop over the western parts of the Western Cape from Sunday evening into Tuesday. 

Current indications suggest a low likelihood of severe flooding, particularly over the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands and Overberg.

“Rainfall accumulations between 100 and 200 mm are possible in some areas, which may result in significant impacts upon infrastructure, transport routes and vulnerable communities. 

“In addition, very cold and windy conditions are expected across the western interior of South Africa, with wind speeds ranging between 50 and 70 km/h. Strong to gale-force winds are also expected along the west and south coast from Sunday afternoon, persisting until at least Tuesday night,” SAWS said.

Moreover, there is a high risk of the development of very rough and choppy sea conditions, accompanied by destructive waves, which may pose a danger to navigation at sea and coastal activities.

The following weather-related impacts are anticipated as the cold front progresses over the country between Sunday and Tuesday: 

• Orange level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads, bridges and formal and informal settlements, mudslides and danger to life due to fast-flowing rivers is expected over the mountainous regions of the Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, the western parts of the Theewaterskloof, Breede Valley and Witzenberg local municipalities of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10 –12 May 2026). 
• Orange level 6 warning for disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads, low-lying bridges, and formal as well as informal settlements is expected over the West Coast, Cape Winelands, City of Cape Town, and western parts of the Overberg Districts of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 
• Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves leading to danger to navigation at sea and damage to coastal infrastructure is expected along the coast between Lambert’s Bay and Plettenberg Bay (Western Cape) from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 
• Orange level 5 warning for damaging interior winds leading to damage of formal and informal settlements, power interruptions and closure of some routes due to falling trees is expected over parts of the Cape Winelands and western parts of the Central Karoo Districts of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 
• A yellow level 4 warning for damaging winds and waves leading to danger to navigation at sea is expected along the coast between Alexander Bay to Lambert’s Bay (Western Cape) from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 
• A yellow level 2 warning for damaging winds leading to localised damage of informal settlements, falling trees and localised problems for high-sided vehicles on prone routes is expected over parts of the West Coast, City of Cape Town, Overberg and Central Karoo Districts as well as the Kannaland Municipality of the Western Cape, including the southern Namakwa District of the Northern Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 
• A yellow level 2 warning for disruptive snowfall leading to loss of vulnerable livestock, disruption of traffic due to icy roads and possible closure of mountain passes is expected over the Karoo Hoogland municipality of the Northern Cape and in places over the Cape Winelands District of the Western Cape from Sunday to Tuesday (10 – 12 May 2026). 

The public is strongly advised to:

• Monitor official weather updates and warnings issued by the South African Weather Service. 
• Avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain and flooding. 
• Never attempt to cross flooded roads, bridges, or swollen rivers. 
• Secure loose outdoor objects that may be displaced by strong winds. 
• Exercise extreme caution along coastal areas and avoid fishing or recreational activities at sea during the warning period. 
• Provide adequate shelter, warmth, and protection for livestock and pets. 
• Prepare emergency kits, including flashlights, batteries, warm clothing, blankets, and essential supplies. 
• Community leaders and disaster management authorities are encouraged to remain on high alert and activate contingency plans where necessary.

The public is also advised to remain cautious of unauthorised or unverified information sources and refrain from distributing such information further.

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

 

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Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel says the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution is a historic milestone that will continue to shape the country’s democracy and collective aspirations.

“The Constitution is more than a legal framework and more than just the supreme law of our country. It is the foundation of our democracy, rooted in human dignity, equality and freedom,” Nel said.

The Deputy Minister was speaking at the Milestones of Freedom Campaign panel discussion on Friday night.

Held at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) offices in Pretoria, the panel discussion came as the country marked the 30th anniversary of the Constitution’s adoption on 08 May 1996, when the Constitutional Assembly formally adopted it.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of that historic moment, a milestone that continues to shape our democracy and guide our collective aspirations,” said Nel, who, as a member of the Constitutional Assembly, helped draft the Constitution.

He also spoke of the Constitution’s progressiveness, saying it enables South Africans to deliver the future they want.

“The Constitution is progressive because it not only recognises the injustices and inequalities of the past but places an obligation on government and citizens, women and men, young and old – to work to ‘heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights,’” he said.

He told those attending the gathering that the commemoration is a national civic renewal campaign: a coordinated, multi-sectoral programme that reaffirms constitutionalism as the cornerstone of national identity.
This as Cabinet has adopted a programme providing for a year-long, whole-of-government and whole-of-society celebration of the Constitution.

Celebrating and reaffirming constitutional values, educating and engaging citizens, especially the youth, promoting the rule of law in everyday life, and fostering national unity and social cohesion are among the seven goals of the celebrations.

Nel spoke of the importance of this year’s national commemoration being an inclusive initiative by involving multiple stakeholders, including government departments, Chapter 9 institutions, civil society, academia, organised labour, business, traditional and religious leaders, youth formations, and educational institutions.

The programme will include public dialogues, civic education, cultural events, youth engagements, symbolic events at historic sites and other community driven initiatives to deepen constitutional awareness and social cohesion.

Milestones of Freedom
“The Milestones of Freedom Campaign is an important part of celebrating and commemorating this historic milestone. The campaign is a year-long, whole-of-government programme designed to honour our past while delivering tangible improvements in people’s lives today.

“Guided by the theme: ‘Honouring the past, delivering the future’, this campaign brings together national, provincial, and local government, working hand in hand with communities and partners across society,” he explained.

The Deputy Minister said the panel discussion hosted by the GCIS in collaboration with the Department of Justice served as a precursor to the official launch later this month. He said it also provides an opportunity to engage deeply with the Constitution as a critical milestone of freedom – a living document that continues to safeguard our rights, strengthen accountability, and inspire our vision of a just, inclusive, and prosperous society.

This year, through the Milestones of Freedom Campaign, the government will also commemorate other defining chapters of the country’s history, including the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, 60 years since the District Six removals, and 70 years of the Women’s March, amongst others.

“These milestones remind us that our democracy was hard-won, and that its preservation requires active participation, vigilance and continuous commitment from all of government and all of society. Importantly, this campaign is not only about remembrance. It is about action.

“It is about bringing essential services to communities across the country – from IDs and birth certificates to health outreach events, access to housing opportunities, and support for small businesses and youth entrepreneurs, to name but a few,”  Nel said.

In her message of support, the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, said the anniversary of the Constitution calls on South Africans not only to reflect on where they come from, but also to ask themselves how they are advancing the promise of dignity, equality and freedom for all.

“The Constitution itself laid the foundation for a society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, and it is through initiatives such as this campaign that we give practical meaning to these values.
“Let us therefore use this moment to strengthen our shared commitment to the values that unite us, and to ensure that the gains of our democracy are felt in every community across the country,” the Deputy Minister Letsike said.

Capable youth
In his message of support, Mthembeni Mzobe, President of the Student Chapter of the Black Lawyers Association, said that he appreciates the freedom the country has gained.

He added that many South Africans still experience freedom in part and not in full, stressing that the youth have a role to play in the country’s development.

“South Africa has a capable youth; our voices should not be treated as a threat to older leadership. Involve us, we are capable of bringing solutions to the challenges facing this country,” Mzobe said.

Inclusiveness
Meanwhile, Brand South Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Neville Matjie, said the commemoration of 30 years of the Constitution is a defining milestone in the nation’s journey to freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

“At its core, our Constitution positions our country as inclusive, rights-based, [and] a society founded on human dignity, equality, freedom and social justice,” he said.

Charting the way forward
Speaking during the panel discussion, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Professor Somadoda Fikeni, congratulated the country on reaching the 30-year milestone of the Constitution.

“When we started our journey guided by this aspirational document, our Constitution, we did so well. In the early years, you could see houses where there were no houses, and schools where there were no schools.

“Institutions and the architecture of our democracy are still one of the best and aspirational,” he said in his reflection on developments in the country.

He said that to deal with challenges like corruption, “we have to go back to basics”, including fixing the public sector and fighting inequality.

“If we’ve become the most unequal society in the world, even the ability of a person to feel and exercise that democracy will elude that person. Democracy is not a noun, it’s a verb, it’s what we do,” Fikeni said.
South Africa began the commemoration of 30 Years of the Constitution – a world-renowned document born from negotiation, compromise and public participation on an unprecedented scale in March 2026.

READ | From negotiation to nationhood: SA celebrates 30 Years of the Constitution

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, led the national launch held at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. – SAnews.gov.za

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Marking a key step in the ongoing reform of South Africa’s local government system, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has officially gazetted the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government for public comment.

The publication follows an extensive nationwide consultation process that commenced with the release of a discussion document in April 2025.

Since then, government has undertaken broad engagements with communities, civil society, organised local government, traditional leaders, academics, public institutions, and stakeholders across all spheres of government.

The review seeks to modernise and strengthen the local government system to ensure municipalities are better equipped to respond to the developmental needs of communities. It proposes a range of key reforms aimed at improving governance, strengthening accountability, enhancing financial sustainability, and accelerating effective service delivery.

Hlabisa said the review process represents an important opportunity to reimagine a capable, responsive and developmental local government system that places communities at the centre of governance.

“The review of the White Paper is a necessary and timely intervention to ensure that local government remains responsive to the changing needs of our people. We are calling on all South Africans and stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of local government through this public consultation process,” the Minister said.

Hlabisa emphasised that the review is aligned with government’s commitment to cooperative governance and the strengthening of municipalities as the sphere of government closest to the people. The process also reinforces the principles of the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes integrated planning, coordination and collaboration across all sectors of society and government.

Members of the public and interested stakeholders, including civil society organisations, organised local government, state institutions, traditional leadership structures, business formations, labour and all interested stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the Reviewed Draft White Paper.

The closing date for submissions is 28 May 2026.

Submissions may be sent via email to: WPLG26@cogta.gov.za; RichardP@cogta.gov.za, or MaphutiL@cogta.gov.za  Alternatively, submissions may be posted to: The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, for Attention:  Mr. Thabiso Richard Plank (White Paper Review), Private Bag X802, Pretoria, 0001.

Submissions can also be delivered in person to the  Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for Attention: Mr. Thabiso Richard Plank (White Paper Review), 87 Hamilton Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001

The Reviewed Draft White Paper is available on: https://tinyurl.com/ycyran3p 

At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet approved the gazetting of the Draft White Paper on Local Government for public consultation.

“The Revised White Paper is part of the local government reforms of fixing local government to build a modern, fit for purpose local government system capable of delivering services sustainably.

“The review of the White Paper was initiated to ensure that the local government policy framework remains responsive to current and evolving developmental, economic, spatial and environmental realities. Priority focus areas identified are institutional culture in municipalities, political leadership and accountability, intergovernmental coordination, citizen involvement, financial and fiscal reforms, and traditional leadership,” said Ntshavheni.

The Draft White Paper adopts a phased and sequenced implementation approach to ensure a coherent and sustainable transition in local government reform. 

“The draft recognises that previous reform efforts have often faltered at the implementation stage, due in part to insufficient attention to sequencing and transition management. As a primary reform action, the Revised Draft White Paper proposes the establishment of a time-bound Local Government Transition Management Body,” said Ntshavheni. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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Water users across the country have been urged by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to register or update their water use information in order to strengthen the management and protection of the country’s water resources.

The DWS said accurate registration allows both the department and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) to determine who is using water, where it is being used, how much is consumed, and for what purposes.

“This is critical to ensuring sustainable, equitable and efficient allocation of water, while supporting economic growth, development and social equity,” the department said in a statement. 

The 90-day registration period opened on 24 April 2026, with water users urged to comply within the stipulated timeframe to avoid penalties and ensure compliance.

The department warned that failure to register continues to pose a serious risk to effective water resource management.

“Unregistered users create critical data gaps that undermine planning and decision-making, disrupt fair distribution and place additional strain on already limited water supplies. In a water-scarce country such as South Africa, this not only threatens long-term water security but also has broader implications for economic stability and growth,” the department said.

The department has urged all unregistered users or those with outdated details to come forward. 

This includes individuals and entities who have acquired property from registered water users without updating ownership details; those who obtained land through restitution processes without notifying authorities, and those leasing property where water use has not been formally registered.

It also applies to users who have changed their contact or registration details without informing the department, as well as those operating boreholes for commercial purposes that have not been declared.

Agricultural users who have expanded into industrial activities are also required to ensure that all water uses are properly recorded.

Certain categories of users are exempt from registration. This includes those whose water use falls within the area of operation of a water user association — provided their water use is registered through that structure.

However, any groundwater use for commercial purposes, including boreholes, must still be registered with the responsible authority. 

Users classified under Schedule 1 of the National Water Act, 1998, are also exempt from registration requirements.

Beyond regulatory compliance, the DWS said registration benefits water users directly by strengthening security of access and promoting fair allocation, particularly during periods of scarcity. It also provides greater planning certainty for farmers, businesses and households, while ensuring their water needs are formally recognised in decision-making processes.

“This registration period provides an opportunity for all unregistered water users to disclose their water use, avoid penalties and safeguard their ongoing water use for economic and domestic activities,” the department said.

No fees during registration period

The department confirmed that no fees will be charged for applications submitted within the 90-day registration. However, late applications may incur a fee of R300 per property.

“Non-compliance with this directive constitutes an offence, and any person who fails to register or update their water use information within the stipulated period may, upon conviction, be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.”

The DWS encouraged all water users to act promptly to avoid penalties and to contribute to the responsible management of South Africa’s water resources.

For more information or to register and update water use details, members of the public can visit their nearest provincial Department of Water and Sanitation or Catchment Management Agency offices, or access the online portals on:
https://www.dws.gov.za/Projects/WARMS/Notices.aspx  
https://www.dws.gov.za/Projects/WARMS/contacts.aspx. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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