MIL Africa Engine

As South Africa marks Youth Month, the Electoral Commission is making a direct appeal to young people to register to vote ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The call comes as the IEC declared itself fully prepared for the nationwide voter registration weekend taking place on Saturday and Sunday, with all 23 706 voting stations set to open from 8am to 5pm.

The registration drive is particularly significant for first-time voters, many of whom will have their first opportunity to participate in a Local Government Election.

According to the IEC, young South Africans remain one of the most underrepresented groups on the voters’ roll despite targeted efforts to increase youth participation.

“Given that youth in the age category 18-19 years have not had multiple opportunities to enlist on the voters’ roll and since they have just become age eligible, over 70% in this age cohort are still to register,” the Commission said.

The Commission’s Tertiary Institutions Campaign has already reached more than 269 000 students nationwide, resulting in over 158 000 new registrations. 

Building on that success, the Commission plans to expand its outreach to universities and colleges in the coming months.

Youth participation has also been a key feature of the Commission’s broader voter education campaign. 

Partnerships with the SABC have seen voter education integrated into popular programmes such as Skeem Saam, while youth-focused productions including Beats for My Peeps are being used to encourage democratic participation.

The Commission said registering to vote was particularly important because voters can only cast ballots in the voting district where they are registered. Unlike national and provincial elections, there is no provision for voting outside one’s registered voting district.

The registration weekend will also provide an opportunity for existing voters to update their addresses and personal details to ensure they are assigned to the correct ward.

The voters’ roll currently stands at approximately 28 million registered voters, an increase from the 27.7 million voters registered for the 2024 general elections.

Beyond voter participation, the registration process is also creating opportunities for young South Africans. Of the 48 212 registration staff appointed for the weekend, nearly half are under the age of 35, while more than 34 000 are unemployed but qualified individuals gaining temporary employment and valuable experience.

The IEC has urged all eligible South Africans, especially young people and first-time voters, to use the weekend to register, verify their details or update their information.

To register, citizens need a South African ID card, green barcoded ID book or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called on South Africans to raise concerns about illegal migration through lawful and constitutional channels, while rejecting vigilantism and unlawful enforcement.

Mashatile was responding to a question in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday about protests calling on government to act against illegal migration.

He said government was implementing a Comprehensive Approach on Migration Management to strengthen border security, enforce immigration laws, tackle corruption and close policy loopholes.

“The plan is anchored on five pillars, namely, cracking down on violations of immigration and labour laws, preventing illegal entry into the country, stamping out corruption in the immigration system, strengthening immigration laws and policies, and working with other countries to address migration challenges across the region and continent,” Mashatile said on Thursday.

Mashatile said President Cyril Ramaphosa had also established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, led by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.

The committee is coordinating government’s response to migration and overseeing the implementation of interventions announced by the President in his address to the nation earlier this month.

“Furthermore, the Minister of Employment and Labour has introduced the Employment Services Amendment Bill in Parliament. This Bill will empower the Minister to set quotas in respect of the employment of foreign nationals in any economic sector or occupational category.

“Through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS), intelligence-led measures are being implemented to prevent xenophobic violence and unlawful parallel enforcement,” Mashatile said.

On corruption in the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mashatile said the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster was implementing corrective measures to root out corruption in the service.

He said the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) was strengthening its Serious Corruption Investigation Units to deal with complex cases, including public sector procurement fraud and state capture-related crimes.

The units are working with agencies such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) through prosecution-guided investigations to align investigations with prosecutorial requirements and improve outcomes.

“Dedicated teams continue to investigate SAPS officials who have been implicated in the Madlanga Commission, with a specialised task team handling disciplinary cases.

“Senior managers within the SAPS are now undergoing vetting by the State Security Agency (SSA) to reinforce integrity, while internal audits, ethics programmes, and oversight committees ensure accountability.

“Through these measures, corruption cases within the SAPS are pursued transparently, reinforcing integrity and safeguarding the criminal justice system,” the Deputy President said. –SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will this weekend undertake a Working Visit to the People’s Republic of China to participate in the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, as well as other economic diplomacy engagements.

CISCE is the world’s first national-level expo dedicated to global supply chains, hosted under the auspices of the Chinese Government and organised by the CCPIT.

The visit follows an invitation extended by the Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Ren Hongbin. 

The Working Visit from 20 to 26 June 2026 will further strengthen South Africa-China relations, with a particular focus on political cooperation, industrial investment, trade facilitation and economic collaboration.

Building on the successful outcomes of the 9th South Africa-China Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Cape Town in March 2026, and co-chaired by Deputy President Mashatile and Vice President Han Zheng of the People’s Republic of China, the visit seeks to further advance cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.

The Deputy President will also undertake high-level engagements with selected Chinese investors in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, reflecting the depth and breadth of South Africa’s economic partnership with China.

The Deputy President will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, as well as senior government officials. –SAnews.gov.za

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a two-year, peer-to-peer technical cooperation programme has been signed by Eskom, RTE International, the Agence française de développement (AFD) and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA).

Signed on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, the initiative is supported through a EUR 650 000 (ZAR 12 million) grant from AFD, financed by the French National Treasury.

AFD helps advance France’s policy on sustainable investment and international solidarity.

In a joint media statement on Wednesday, the parties said South Africa’s electricity supply industry is undergoing significant reform and it is anticipated that the transmission grid will be facing new challenges due to the integration of higher shares of renewable energy sources (wind, solar, etc.) and new load flow patterns.

Strengthening the grid’s resilience, flexibility, and capacity has become a key objective to enable the country’s energy transition. Within the framework of the Just Energy Transition partnership (JETP), supporting the development of the South African transmission grid is a priority for the French government.

“This partnership marks an important step in strengthening South Africa’s transmission capability as the electricity sector evolves. This collaboration affords Eskom and the NTCSA the opportunity to benefit from international technical expertise and shared learning that will help build a more resilient and modern grid. We welcome AFD’s support and RTE international’s partnership in advancing the skills, systems and innovation needed to support Eskom’s and the country’s transition path and long-term security of supply,” Eskom’s Chief Financial Officer, Calib Cassim said.

The National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA): is the credible and enabling backbone of South Africa’s evolving power system.

The cooperation between French and South African electricity transmission operators will promote the transfer of know-how and technical cooperation.

RTE International and the NTCSA will mobilise their respective experts to collaborate through a series of workshops, study tours in France and South Africa, and in-depth research projects and pilot initiatives. Renewable energy integration and system stability, artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics, high voltage direct current power transmission and telecommunications will form part of the research topics.

“The security and reliability of the transmission grid is non-negotiable. This agreement enables a focused exchange of expertise between the NTCSA and RTE international, allowing us to share practical experience and strengthen our capabilities as we modernise our systems, expand the grid and integrate renewable energy. It is through partnerships like these that we build more resilient, future-ready power networks and ensure long-term security of supply,” said the NTCSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Monde Bala.

RTE international is a leading European consulting and engineering firm specialising in power systems and essential infrastructure.

The cooperation will follow a phased implementation approach, tailored to the NTCSA’s specific needs and designed to promote strong ownership by the NTCSA teams throughout the process.

AFD expressed pride at supporting the cooperation between the biggest transmission network operators in Africa and in Europe.

“Both are facing interesting challenges given the evolution of the electricity mix in their respective countries. This is an opportunity to share best practices and to develop tailored interventions that will enhance the capability of each operator. This cooperation is a key component of the JETP, reflecting France’s strong commitment to supporting South Africa’s energy transition,” said Nicolas Willemin, AFD’s Deputy Regional Director for Southern Africa.

Willemin said the signing of the MoU represents an important step for RTE international as it builds on a long-standing relationship with AFD and on the expertise it s as a subsidiary of RTE, one of Europe’s largest transmission system operators.

“At a time when South Africa is undertaking significant reforms of its electricity sector, we believe that technical cooperation and the exchange of operational experience between system operators can play a valuable role in supporting the development of a more resilient, efficient and sustainable power system,” said Veronika Milewski, CEO of RTE international. – SAnews.gov.za 
 

The Department of Home Affairs will extend office hours across the country this weekend in support of the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s Voter Registration Weekend. 

Citizens are encouraged to visit their nearest Home Affairs office to apply for a Smart ID Card or collect a Smart ID Card that is ready for collection. All Home Affairs offices will be open nationwide on Saturday and Sunday.

“This weekend presents an important opportunity for South Africans to ensure that they are ready to exercise one of their most fundamental democratic rights. By extending operating hours nationwide during Voter Registration Weekend, Home Affairs is making it easier for citizens to obtain the Smart ID Cards they need to register and participate in our democracy,” Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber said on Friday.

More than 370 000 Smart ID Cards are currently awaiting collection at Home Affairs offices nationwide.

“We encourage all South Africans who still need a Smart ID Card, or who have been notified that their Smart ID Card is ready for collection, to make use of this opportunity. An ID is not only essential for participating in our democracy, but also serves as a gateway to opportunities, services and economic participation,” the Minister said.

The extended operating hours form part of the department’s ongoing efforts to improve access to services and ensure that all eligible South Africans have the identity documents they need to exercise their democratic rights.

The department has encouraged citizens to visit their nearest Home Affairs office this weekend and avoid waiting until the last minute to obtain or collect their Smart ID Cards. –SAnews.gov.za