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The Presidency and Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (CMMI) and participating diplomatic missions will on Tuesday host the inaugural International Portraits of Power at the Amphitheatre, Union Buildings, Pretoria.  

“The International Portraits of Power is a Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute initiative that celebrates extraordinary women whose courage, leadership and contributions have shaped nations and inspired generations through a carefully curated exhibition,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The exhibition will feature portraits of iconic women whose legacies reflect the history, values and aspirations of their nations, as nominated by their respective countries. The portraits were created by South African artists in collaboration with participating diplomatic missions.

“The exhibition forms part of the South African government’s Women’s Month programme, which seeks to honour women’s activism towards equality, preserve women’s liberation history and strengthen cultural diplomacy as part of the recently launched Milestones of Freedom campaign,” the Presidency said.

The exhibition brings together government representatives, cultural practitioners, academics and diplomatic missions from across Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania, with each nominated woman’s legacy interpreted through a specially commissioned portrait. – SAnews.gov.za

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The South African Police Service (SAPS), working together with key law enforcement partners, has intercepted a consignment of cocaine worth an estimated R28 million at OR Tambo International Airport.

According to the police, an intelligence-driven operation was successfully executed on Friday following information received from SAPS Crime Intelligence’s Border Integrity Unit regarding a suspected drug consignment.

“The information was operationalised by members of the SAPS Visible Policing Unit at OR Tambo International Airport, in collaboration with Customs officials and Menzies Aviation operational members.

“The cargo, which had arrived on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil, was intercepted immediately upon arrival at approximately 1pm. The 95 kilograms of cocaine were seized at the cargo section of OR Tambo International Airport,” the police said.

No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the attempted smuggling operation.

“The SAPS remains committed to disrupting organised criminal networks involved in the illicit drug trade and will continue working with its law enforcement partners to ensure that South Africa’s borders and ports of entry are protected from criminal exploitation,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Electoral Commission (IEC) has welcomed the positive response from South Africans who used the final voter registration weekend to register to vote or update their details ahead of the Local Government Elections.

With only a few hours remaining until 5pm, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo urged those who have not yet visited voting stations to do so urgently, as all 23 699 voting stations across the country remain open.

“We are delighted that South Africans have responded positively to this final voter registration weekend, but there is still a crucial window of opportunity for those who have not yet registered or who need to update their registration details. We urge every eligible citizen to ensure that they are correctly registered and assigned to the right voting district,” Mamabolo said on Sunday.

The Electoral Commission said it had identified some challenges with its online data-free voter registration service.

The Commission’s technical team is working together with its partners to urgently resolve the matter.

The Electoral Commission will announce the outcome of the voter registration drive at a media briefing on Monday at 1pm at the Election House in Centurion.

The Department of Home Affairs has also extended operating hours at all offices for the final Voter Registration Weekend on 1 and 2 August 2026.

Mamabolo said the final voter registration weekend commenced on a strong footing, with more than 99% of the 23 699 voting stations across the country opening promptly at 8am.

The Commission reported that it had interacted with more than 238 000 citizens at voting stations and on the online portal on Saturday by 12pm.

Mamabolo said the majority of transactions (198 232) were recorded at voting stations across the country, while the Commission’s online data-free voter registration portal recorded 20 078 transactions, providing eligible voters with an additional convenient channel to register or update their details.

“Preliminary figures indicate that the highest volumes of voter transactions are currently being recorded in KwaZulu-Natal (55 759), Eastern Cape (46 889) and Gauteng (41 774); this is consistent with historical patterns and reflects the population densities of the provinces.

“Other provinces, including Limpopo (29 680), Western Cape (19 693), Mpumalanga (17 218), North West (15 610), Free State (13 110), and Northern Cape (6 213), are also recording voter activity as citizens respond positively to the Commission’s call to register and update their details before the conclusion of the voting station-based registration,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

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The Department of Health has welcomed progress towards a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, while confirming preparatory work to ensure timely access for South Africans as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

This comes after the ongoing trials of the M72/AS01E vaccine showed promise in Phase 1 and Phase 2. The vaccine is now in Phase 3 trials in South Africa, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Indonesia.

According to the department, a vaccine that prevents TB disease in adolescents and adults will be a game-changer for TB control and elimination, both globally and in South Africa.

“Once approved, it will be the first TB vaccine introduced in over a century, because currently we have only the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, which is given to newborn infants and children under 5 years old and offers limited protection later in life.

“Therefore, to ensure we can offer protection to South Africans at the earliest opportunity if the trial is successful, the Department of Health is proactively preparing for registration and introduction of the new vaccine.”

The department said it had been informed by officials from the Gates Medical Research Institute and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that an agreement had been reached with the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, on the number of doses of the TB vaccine to be produced and sold globally.

The agreement also provides for progressive production by pharmaceutical partners in South Africa and Indonesia over time, which the department said would consequently boost the economic growth of the country.

“This is arguably a major step toward a new TB vaccine — the first significant advance since BCG more than 100 years ago.

“The department welcomes this important agreement and stands ready to support the production and introduction of the M72/ASO1E vaccine in South Africa once the trial results are known, and the vaccine has been registered by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).” –SAnews.gov.za

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Preliminary rainfall data by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) show that parts of the south-western Western Cape recorded their lowest rainfall on record in July, with the Cape Town International Airport recording its lowest rainfall since 1958.

The Cape Town International Airport recorded only 14.4 mm, which is only about 16% of the average at the Airport. The previous record was in 1987 when only 18.0 mm was reported.

“The south-western Cape is a winter rainfall region and receives most of its annual rainfall in June, July and August. Below-normal rainfall was observed in June and persisted into July, with several parts of the region recording their lowest rainfall on record during July,” the weather service said in a statement.

SAWS said the seasonal weather forecast indicated a strong signal for below-normal rainfall for the south-western Cape during the winter period, and short-term weather forecasts suggest that this trend will most likely continue into the first week of August. 

Some stations in the south-western parts of the Western Cape also reported their lowest rainfall since records began or their previous record.

“Several severe weather systems impacted parts of the Western Cape during May and early June 2026, which significantly improved water storage across many parts of the province. 

“Since then, a strong blocking Atlantic high-pressure system to the west of the country has driven cold frontal systems further south of the province. 

“This significantly reduced the number of cold fronts that made landfall in the Western Cape, with only three weak cold fronts moving over the south-western Cape during July,” the weather service explained.

Several cold fronts moved over the Western Cape in July 2025, resulting in rainfall totals exceeding 100 mm. 

By contrast, July 2026 was the driest on record for many stations in the south-western Cape. 

“As El Niño is expected to strengthen further over the coming months, the likelihood of a warmer-than-normal summer over the Western Cape is expected to rise. Given the current uncertainty regarding rainfall during the 2027 winter season, the public is encouraged to use water sparingly in the coming months,” SAWS said. –SAnews.gov.za

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The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services will undertake an oversight visit to Mangaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein, Free State, to assess the facility following its takeover by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS).

In a statement, the committee explained that the oversight visit on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, forms part of its constitutional mandate to oversee the work of DCS.

The committee will assess the condition of the infrastructure inherited from the previous private contractor, progress on previous concerns, the conditions under which inmates are incarcerated, the implementation of rehabilitation programmes, and self-sufficiency and sustainability initiatives at the centre.

It will also engage with the department on operational challenges experienced since the takeover and identify lessons that will inform Parliament’s oversight ahead of the planned takeover of the Kutama-Sinthumule Correctional Centre in Makhado, Limpopo, in February 2027. – SAnews.gov.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed members of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide for a period of three years, effective from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029.

“As the Council assumes its term at the start of Women’s Month, President Ramaphosa expects that the Council will leverage the classification of gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster to challenge harmful attitudes and practices, advance women’s economic empowerment, strengthen law enforcement and scale up survivor-centred support,” the Presidency said in a statement.

Government officially launched the 2026 Women’s Month campaign on Saturday in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, under the theme:  “Empowered Women Empower the Nation.”

The launch recognised the significant contribution women make to South Africa’s economy while acknowledging the persistent challenges many continue to face, including limited access to finance, procurement opportunities, markets, information, technology, and business development support. 

These challenges are further compounded by poverty, unemployment, unequal pay, discrimination, and gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

The appointment was made in terms of section 6(1)(a) read with sections 6(2) and (3), and section 9(1)(a) of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, 2024 (Act No. 9 of 2024).

The Council is a statutory body mandated to provide strategic leadership on the elimination of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.

It is also charged with coordinating a multi-sectoral and inter-sectoral approach towards the implementation of the national strategy addressing gender-based violence and femicide at national, provincial and local levels and at community and other forums.

The President has appointed the following Council members:

• Dr Ramalepe Lebogang Mathibe
• Ms Keitumetse Fatimata Moutloatse
• Ms Caroline Peters
• Dr Zubeda Dangor
• Ms Vuyisiwe Numalo
• Mr Anele Siswana and
• Mr TWM Limema

In terms of section 6(6)(a) of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, the President designated Mathibe as the Chairperson of the Council and Welheminah R. (Shoki) Tshabalala as the Deputy Chairperson.  – SAnews.gov.za

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