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Discussions on improving the status of service delivery and sustainability, sharing best practices and developing joint strategies to enhance municipal performance, took centre stage during a Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) engagement session with mayors of metropolitan municipalities.

CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa convened a ministerial engagement with the executive mayors of metropolitan municipalities, as part of government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperative governance, stabilise metropolitan municipalities and enhance service delivery outcomes.

With Local Government Elections expected between late 2026 and early 2027, Hlabisa urged municipalities to strengthen governance systems and maintain public trust.

“As municipalities prepare for these elections, as part of our democratic journey, they need to strengthen governance systems, ensure transparent processes and maintain public trust in local government institutions,” the Minister said on Friday.

Hlabisa reiterated the Ministry of CoGTA’s commitment to continue providing municipalities with the necessary support during this transitional period.

“Let us reaffirm our dedication to democratic principles by ensuring a peaceful, stable environment that guarantees free and fair elections.”

Commitment to collaboration

Hlabisa also reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting municipalities through policy reforms, including the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government, which is nearing completion, and ongoing work on municipal funding models and staffing frameworks.

“Your invaluable input will help shape the metros into centres of improved service delivery and sustained development that attract investment. CoGTA, working together with the National Treasury and SALGA, will have a meeting in April 2026 to finalise the funding model discussion,” the Minister said.

He also emphasised that the success of metros is critical to the country’s overall stability, urging all spheres of government to work together to rebuild capable, accountable and responsive municipalities.

“We are three spheres of government but one country. We will successfully overcome the obstacles that our metropolitan municipalities are currently facing by working together,” he said.

The voter registration weekend for Local Government Elections will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

Government is making progress in reducing road accidents, with the latest preliminary data for the period 1 January to 15 March showing an 11% decline in crashes compared to the same period in 2025.

“Every province has seen a decrease in the number of crashes. Fatalities have decreased by 10% compared with the same period last year,” Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy said on Friday.

Six provinces recorded decreases in fatalities: namely Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North West and Eastern Cape.

“This progress was not accidental; it is the direct result of coordinated law enforcement, strategic partnerships with civil society, and a shift in the collective consciousness of our road users. However, we cannot rest on these laurels. As long as one family still receives a knock on the door with news of a tragedy, our work is not done,” Creecy said.

She was addressing the launch of the 2026 Arrive Alive Easter Road Safety Campaign under the theme: ‘It Begins With Me’, on the N3, near Spruitview Offramp, East Rand.

The Easter holidays are marked by an increase in traffic on major corridors as travellers embark on various religious and holiday destinations.

Government has appealed to travellers to take personal accountability when using the roads during the upcoming holidays. 

“Over 80% of road crashes are the direct result of human behaviour. We are calling on every driver, passenger, and pedestrian to take ownership of their conduct on our shared roads.

“Our law enforcement strategy over this time will be uncompromising. I have directed all agencies to prioritise public and freight transport safety as well as pedestrians,” the Minister said.

This year, there will be a targeted focus on preventing pedestrians from crossing and walking on highways. 

“We will also patrol areas of entertainment near highways to prevent inebriated pedestrians from running across major roads. Pedestrians currently account for almost half of all road deaths.

“Traffic Authorities, for the first time this year, are instructed to deploy their students to patrol these national critical pedestrian locations and not release students to go home,” she said.

Law enforcement visibility in and around pedestrian accident-prone areas will be assisted by the members of the communities and support from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

“We continue our intensified focus on drunken driving. We are currently pursuing legislative amendments to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act to further tighten these restrictions.

“High-risk routes, including the N1, N2, N3, and N4, will see an unprecedented saturation of mobile and static checkpoints, as we intensify traffic policing on critical corridors together with the deployment of the National Traffic Police,” Creecy said.

In addition, in April, there is an increase in mobility across the region, with heightened movement of passengers and freight between South Africa and neighbouring countries.

“I call upon the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency to intensify monitoring and enforcement along key corridors to ensure full compliance with permit conditions, regulatory requirements, and overloading of freight and passengers. 

“We will also prioritise vehicle roadworthiness and fatigue management, and clamp down decisively on illegal operations and non-compliance,” the Minister said.

She called on road users to use the roads responsibly and respect each other.

“I urge those who will be undertaking long-distance journeys to stagger your travel times to avoid peak congestion and to stop every two hours to combat fatigue. To the pedestrians: Be visible, and do not cross major highways while under the influence,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

A call for the urgent strengthening of intergovernmental relations and strategic partnerships to revitalise governance and service delivery in South Africa’s metropolitan municipalities has been made.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, made the call at an engagement session with mayors of metropolitan municipalities on Friday.

Held under the theme: ‘Improving Intergovernmental Relations and Contracting to Improve Governance and Service Provision in Metropolitan Municipalities’, the high level engagement provided a structured platform for the Minister and mayors to jointly reflect on governance and service delivery challenges.

 The session also afforded the parties to strengthen intergovernmental coordination and co create practical, implementable solutions aimed at improving the performance, sustainability and resilience of metropolitan municipalities.

The engagement also took place within the broader context of preparations for the 2026/2027 Local Government Elections, underscoring the importance of governance stability, institutional readiness, transparency, and the restoration of public confidence in local government.

Addressing mayors, Hlabisa said collaborative governance across all spheres of government is essential to reversing the decline in municipal performance.

He said metropolitan municipalities, which house about 62% of the country’s population and generate more than two-thirds of its gross domestic product (GDP), remain central to South Africa’s economic stability and social well-being.

“We stand at a crossroads. The time for decisive action is now. We must commit ourselves to enhancing intergovernmental relations and fostering partnerships that can revitalise our governance framework,” Hlabisa told delegates at the session held at the held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Gauteng.

Challenges 

The Minister painted a bleak picture of the challenges facing metropolitan municipalities across the country, citing systemic governance, fiscal, and institutional pressures that severely hinder their ability to serve their communities effectively.

Hlabisa highlighted political instability in some metros, poor decision-making, and a lack of accountability as having a negative impact on the municipalities’ ability to effectively govern and provide sustainable and efficient service delivery.

He said these are compounded by declining revenue and low municipal collection rates, leaving many areas financially strained.

“Additionally, organisational inefficiencies and ageing infrastructure create significant barriers to delivering essential services, while rapid urbanisation heightens demand for these services, resulting in community dissatisfaction and protests.

“Furthermore, many municipalities struggle to comply with their constitutional and legislative obligations, eroding public trust and emphasising the necessity for enhanced governance and accountability mechanisms.”

Financial mismanagement also remains a major concern, with several municipalities grappling with unfunded mandates, unauthorised and wasteful expenditure, and debt to bulk suppliers, particularly Eskom and water boards.

At the same time, the Minister said, municipalities are owed money by national and provincial departments.

He said government, together with National Treasury, is currently finalising verified data on these debts and a report is expected to be presented to Cabinet by the end of April 2026.

“This is a Cabinet resolution, and rest assured that the matter will now be resolved. Ultimately, as is the case with the withholding of funds to local municipalities when certain conditions are not met, the National Treasury would now be equally able to withhold funds from the departments if they don’t pay their accounts or enter into some payment arrangements with the municipalities,” Hlabisa said.

As part of a collective approach to effectively address the challenges, Hlabisa stressed a need to strengthen intergovernmental coordination that underscores political, institutional, management, administrative, and governance collaboration.

The Minister also urged metros to leverage partnerships with the private sector to mobilise skills, funding, and technical expertise, particularly in key areas such as engineering and financial management.

District Development Model Regulations and water

Central to government’s approach is the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes integrated planning through a “One Plan, One Budget” approach across 44 districts and eight metropolitan municipalities.

Hlabisa said in April 2026, government will begin processing the gazetting of the final DDM 2026 Regulations, which have been agreed upon by all metros, including the City of Cape Town.

Hlabisa also highlighted the role of the recently established National Water Crisis Committee in addressing the country’s water challenges, noting that the first meeting was held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, with the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 24 March 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Fuels Industry Association has moved to assure South Africans of a stable fuel supply, with no need for consumers to panic buy.

“The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has noted with concern the circulation of statements and messages by certain organisations and individuals encouraging members of the public to rush to filling stations due to a perceived fuel shortage and anticipated fuel price increases. 

The Department and Fuels Industry Association wish to firmly reiterate that South Africa’s fuel supply remains stable in the immediate term, and there is no basis for panic-buying,” the department and the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa said in a joint statement on Friday.

The department said that while there may be isolated localised logistical challenges affecting the movement or availability of fuel in certain areas, these are operational in nature and do not constitute a national supply shortage. These issues are being actively managed through established industry and regulatory channels. 

“It is therefore incorrect and misleading to link such isolated domestic logistical matters to broader geopolitical developments. Such claims risk creating unnecessary alarm and confusion among the public,” the department and association said.

the department and association said that calls for the public to rush to the pumps are irresponsible and that such calls place undue pressure on supply systems, congestion at service stations, and anxiety among consumers. 

“The department calls all organisations, public representatives, commentators and social media users to act responsibly and to refrain from spreading unverified or speculative claims regarding fuel supply and fuel price developments.”

In addition, the public has been encouraged to continue purchasing fuel in the normal course and to rely on official government communication for accurate and verified information. 

Consumers who experience fuel-related challenges or wish to lodge complaints are encouraged to report these to fuel.complaints@dmpr.gov.za, enabling the department’s inspectors to respond and intervene where necessary. 

“The department and the Fuels Industry Association will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate any confirmed developments through official channels.” – SAnews.gov.za 

Durban is reinforcing its status as a leading centre for ocean economy dialogue and innovation, as it prepares to host the Ocean Innovation Africa Summit from 23 – 25 March 2026.

The summit, organised by Ocean Innovation Africa, in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality, will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), bringing together global and continental stakeholders focused on advancing Africa’s blue economy.

A major highlight of this year’s event will be the keynote address by Director-General of the European Commission for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Charlina Vitcheva, who will deliver the keynote address aligned to the summit theme: ‘Accelerating and Scaling Out Regenerative Blue Economy Action.”
Vitcheva will also participate as a panelist in a high-level panel discussion titled “Blue Finance for Resilience: Shifting from Aid Dependency to Sustainable Local Capital’.

The significance of this annual event is reflected in its growing reach, with the 2025 summit attracting 593 delegates from 59 countries, including representatives from 28 African nations.

The summit will bring together policymakers, including practitioners, innovators, community leaders, investors, researchers, and development partners to explore pathways that support the uptake of African-developed solutions.

Discussions will centre on advancing regenerative blue business models, promoting nature-positive growth, strengthening marine economic expansion, community resilience, and the strengthening of pan-African innovation ecosystems.

Welcoming Vitcheva’s participation, eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba said Durban is honoured to host a global leader in maritime affairs.
“As a coastal city deeply connected to the ocean economy, Durban stands to benefit from strengthened engagement between international policymakers and African stakeholders, creating opportunities for regeneration, collaboration and inclusive growth,” Xaba said.

Ocean Innovation Africa co-founder Alexis Grosskopf emphasised that the summit is designed to move beyond traditional conference formats by fostering coordinated, action-oriented outcomes among keyholders.
Grosskopf noted that Vitcheva’s participation will help bridge policy, investment priorities, and practical pathways to scale regenerative ocean solutions across Africa, bringing valuable expertise across finance, innovation, science and implementation.

In her role, Vitcheva leads European Union policy on maritime affairs and fisheries, focusing on ocean health, sustainable fisheries, and resilient coastal economies.

She highlighted the importance of international cooperation, pointing to initiatives such as the European Ocean Pact, which serves as a blueprint for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean.

“Partnerships, including those under the Global Gateway Strategy and initiatives such as Blue Invest Africa are critical to promoting sustainable ocean governance, supporting local value creation and unlocking investment in ocean solutions,” Vitcheva said.

Vitcheva emphasised the importance of international cooperation, stating that the European Ocean Pact serves as a blueprint for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean.

“Partnerships, including those under the Global Gateway Strategy and initiatives such as Blue Invest Africa are critical to promoting sustainable ocean governance, supporting local value creation and unlocking investment in ocean solutions,” Vitcheva said, adding that protecting the ocean must go hand in hand with building prosperity for coastal communities. – SAnews.gov.za

The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) has committed to restoring justice for employees dismissed after raising concerns about alleged irregularities, signalling a shift toward stronger protection for whistleblowers.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Services SETA Administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga outlined steps being taken to address cases involving three former employees believed to have suffered occupational detriment after making protected disclosures.

The briefing follows a recent update by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela on progress at entities placed under administration, including the Services SETA.

READ | Department’s interventions restore governance and trust in SETAs

Masoga said the organisation had undertaken a comprehensive legal review process, including internal assessments, independent external evaluations and senior counsel input, to determine whether the dismissals were linked to whistleblowing activities.

“The process was guided by a victim-centred restorative justice approach, ensuring fairness, transparency and the protection of those who acted in the public interest,” Masoga said at the briefing in Pretoria.
The move comes amid growing national attention on whistleblower protection, particularly following remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2026 State of the Nation Address, where he reaffirmed plans to introduce legislation criminalising retaliation against whistleblowers.

Masoga emphasised that existing legal frameworks, including the Protected Disclosures Act 26 of 2000 and the Labour Relations Act, prohibit any occupational detriment against employees who disclose wrongdoing in good faith.

Cases under review
The review focused on three former employees dismissed between 2017 and 2020.

In the case of Lehloma Ramajoe, Masoga said independent findings confirmed that the employee suffered an occupational detriment as he was disciplined, suspended or dismissed “on account, or partly on account, of having made a protected disclosure.”

Ramajoe alleged that he disclosed information of maladministration within the Services SETA to at least seven individuals or entities, including the then two erstwhile Chairpersons of Services SETA; the National Skills Authority; Parliamentary Portfolio Committee (presumably of Higher Education and Training); then Minister of Higher Education and Training; the Public Protector; and OUTA.

“It was independently confirmed that Mr Ramajoe has suffered an occupational detriment as he was disciplined, suspended or dismissed “on account, or partly on account, of having made a protected disclosure. It follows that the Administrator should afford Mr Ramajoe a remedy in accordance with the provisions of section 193 and/or 194 of the LRA [Labour Relations Act].

For Thandi Mkhize, the Administrator said there were reasonable grounds to conclude she was targeted after raising concerns about irregularities. As she has reached retirement age, compensation is being considered as the appropriate remedy.

In July 2017, Mkhize was charged for misconduct for allegedly sharing information with the union members on a matter she considered irregular. She was subsequently dismissed and her attempts to challenge the dismissal through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), and Labour Court did not bear fruit.

“Upon review of the facts at my disposal and on legal advice, there is reasonable grounds to conclude that the employee was deliberately targeted and may have been exposed to occupational detriment as a result of raising various issues of irregularities as per the provisions of Protected Disclosure Act,” the Administrator said.

In the case of Tshepiso Mofokeng (Mngceke), findings indicate her dismissal followed disputes with management over alleged maladministration, including concerns about the appointment of a service provider. Despite a prior settlement, the matter meets the threshold of a protected disclosure case and may warrant further remedial action.

Masoga acknowledged institutional failures and accepted responsibility on behalf of the organisation.
“We take full responsibility for the actions and inactions of our predecessors and commit to dispensing justice to the victims.”

He added that the whistleblower review process is running alongside efforts to hold accountable those implicated in wrongdoing within the entity.

Towards restorative justice

Masoga said the approach adopted reflects principles of restorative justice, including acknowledging harm, involving affected parties and ensuring corrective action.

He noted that whistleblowers often face severe consequences, including loss of employment and, in some cases nationally, threats to their safety.

Masoga reaffirmed the Services SETA commitment to justice through timeous and decisive action in pursuit of good governance.

“I wish to state categorically the Services SETA has its own internal policy on whistleblowing and further that this process is running parallel to other efforts to ensure that decisive and concomitant action is taken against those who committed act[s] of irregularity and malfeasance. The Minister’s decision to put the entity under administration was primarily for the purpose of addressing among others challenges of this nature.

“Restorative justice incorporates among other elements active participation by the affected parties, taking responsibility and commitment to repair damages, and a victim-centred approach. It is for this reason that on behalf of the Services SETA, I take full responsibility for the actions and inactions of my predecessors and commit to dispense justice to the victims of our previous decisions and/or sometimes lack thereof,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms in the escarpment and Highveld of Mpumalanga, and the northern parts of Gauteng, for Friday.

“A high likelihood of minor impacts due to severe thunderstorms is expected over the central interior of Mpumalanga as well as the northern parts of Gauteng,” the weather service said.

These storms may result in localised flooding of low-lying areas (including bridges and roads) and damage to infrastructure and settlements due to strong, damaging winds.

There is a possibility of service disruption due to power surges/ disruptions.

Meanwhile, the extended weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday shows partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. –SAnews.gov.za