MIL Africa Engine

By Sandile Nene 
The baton for building and advancing South Africa has now been passed to the youth of today. While the generation of 1976 made immense sacrifices to secure the freedom and democracy that we enjoy, it is now the responsibility of the youth of 2026 to safeguard and strengthen that hard-won legacy through active citizenship and participation in democratic processes, particularly through voting. 

The youth of 2026 must ensure that the spirit of courage, activism and determination demonstrated by the generation of 1976 continues to thrive and this can be expressed at the ballot box. This is to acknowledge that voting is not merely a symbolic act; it is a powerful tool for shaping the future that we desire for South Africa. 

Many young people face significant challenges every day, including unemployment, poverty, crime, inequality and limited economic opportunities. These frustrations are real and deeply felt, and choosing not to vote weakens young people’s power to change their circumstances, influence government decision-making, and take up critical roles in shaping public policy and leadership.

Young people account for about 33.1% of the South African population, yet youth voter registration and representation in elected office remain far below what their numbers may suggest. While there has been a gradual increase in the number of young people serving in government and parliament, these gains may remain limited unless more young South Africans take the first step as active citizens to shape the affairs of our state.  

This matters, especially for local government elections, as municipal leadership shapes the quality of daily life through decisions about water, electricity, sanitation, roads, refuse removal, public spaces and local development. 

Voting in local elections is therefore one of the most direct ways for young people to influence service delivery, demand accountability and choose leaders who understand the realities on the ground. Young people are not only voters; they are organisers, advocates, community leaders and increasingly important actors in governance itself.

As we commemorate Youth Month, let us remember that the generation of 1976 did not fight so that future generations would stand on the sidelines. They fought so that young South Africans of today could speak with equal power in building a better nation. To vote is to honour that hard-won sacrifice which many were previously denied.  

This year’s Youth Month theme, “RESET@50–The Future Calls”, reminds us that remembrance must lead to renewed action. Government calls upon young people to become active participants in democracy.

Furthermore, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has intensified efforts ahead of the local government elections, under the tagline, Get Up, Show Up, Vote. The Commission has deployed more than 800 Municipal outreach coordinators and also conducted targeted door-to-door voter communication and registration campaigns in several municipalities. 

It has also expanded its Tertiary Institutions Campaign, which has reached more than 97 000 students, through over 1000 activations, resulting in over 45 000 successful registrations.

These efforts are being reinforced by new platforms such as Beats for My Peeps, the Commission’s exciting electoral education programme, which uses music, popular culture, dialogue and real-life experiences to encourage informed participation. The youth is encouraged to tune in every Wednesday at 18:00 on SABC 1 as we prepare for this year’s elections.

South African citizens over the age of 18 are encouraged to register to vote, using a green bar-coded ID, smart ID card or temporary identity certificate. Eligible voters can register, check their registration status, confirm or update their details, apply for a special vote and track their application online (https://registertovote.elections.org.za/ or www.elections.org.za) or at local Electoral Commission offices. 

Citizens can also verify their details by SMS (to 32810), or through the Commission’s call centre (0800 11 8000), or at their voting station during the voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026. 

Just under 24 000 registration stations across 4 488 municipal wards will be open to help citizens register and verify their details. It is imperative that registration details are correct so that every eligible voter can vote at the right station on election day.

This youth month, we encourage every young person to get up, show up and make their mark. Through your vote, you can help shape the future of your community and the future of our nation. 
As Nelson Mandela reminded us, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.”

*Nene is the Acting Deputy Director-General at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

 

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South Africa’s painful past and hard-won triumphs serve as a reminder that although much has been achieved, building a better life for all is still a work in progress.

This was the message by President Cyril Ramaphosa as he led the launch the Milestones of Freedom campaign at the Union Buildings on Thursday.

The campaign is held under the theme: ‘Honouring the Past. Delivering the Future’, and is aimed at reflecting on South Africa’s journey to freedom and the interventions government has made to build a capable State.

This year, several significant and defining milestones in South Africa’s democratic journey are observed. These include:

• The 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution;
• The 50th anniversary of the 1976 youth uprisings;
• The 70th anniversary of the anti-pass campaign spearheaded by South African women, and
• The 60th anniversary of the forced removals from District Six.

“When we remember these milestones, we do not see them as artefacts of the past. We see them as the foundations on which we need to build.

“They are a reminder of the work we still have to do,” President Ramaphosa said.

He acknowledged that although government has made great strides in living up to the promise of the Constitution, many South Africans still face challenges.

“There are still South Africans who go to bed hungry. [There are still] young people without work, communities living in fear of criminals, and there are still South Africans waiting for the dignity that freedom promised.

“We do not gather here to declare that our long walk to freedom is complete.

“Rather, we gather here to acknowledge the great progress that we have achieved together as free South Africans and affirm our commitment to complete the task that history has bestowed upon us,” he said.

A government at work

Despite these challenges, the strides made since the fall of apartheid cannot be understated.

“Since the dawn of democracy, millions who lived in darkness now have electricity. Millions who carried water from distant rivers now have clean water flowing from a tap. Together, we have built millions of homes and thousands of clinics and schools.

“Through the provision of social grants and free basic services, we have improved the quality of life of children, the elderly, persons with disabilities and families across the country,” President Ramaphosa highlighted.

For the women and girl children of South Africa, government has “opened doors that were once bolted shut”.

“Women hold positions of leadership in government, in our courts, boardrooms, universities and colleges, and in many other areas of our national life.

“We have done much to advance the education of the girl child, achieving gender parity in access to schooling and seeing female learners excelling in matric and in further studies. We have put in place laws and programmes that advance the position of women in the workplace and in the economy more broadly.

“We have placed the fight against gender-based violence and femicide at the centre of our national agenda, because a country where women are not safe is a country that is not yet free. The work is far from done, but we can say that through our collective efforts the daughters of Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophie de Bruyn are rising,” he said.

The barriers to accessing education have also been torn down to nurture the seeds of potential in all children.

“For our young people, we have made school accessible to more children than ever before, with no-fee schools and daily meals for those who would otherwise learn on an empty stomach.

“Through financial aid, we have opened the gates of universities and colleges to the children of workers and the poor.

“And we are investing in the skills, the enterprises and the opportunities that turn the potential of young South Africans into meaningful livelihoods,” President Ramaphosa said.

The pain of the people of District Six who – together with millions of other South Africans – were forcefully removed from their homes are also not in vain with land rights protected by the Constitution for all South Africans.

“We have made great progress in returning the land to its original owners through our land restitution process. We have undertaken extensive redistribution of white-owned agricultural land to black farmers. We have given many rural dwellers security of tenure.

“Despite this progress, this work is not complete. We are committed to continue until we can say with confidence that the land belongs to all who work it and need it.

“This is what freedom has built,” the President added.

Government is also working hard in areas including:

• Building an economy that is inclusive and growing.
• Expanding the pathways from the classroom to the workplace.
• Intensifying the fight against poverty and hunger.
• Building a health system that serves all people.
• Confronting crime and corruption without fear or favour.
• Building a capable, ethical State that serves the people.

Standing together

President Ramaphosa called on ordinary South Africans to embody the spirit of those who experienced the brutality of the apartheid government and chose to stand against it.

For those milestones, the President added, were made by “ordinary people, working together, who decided that they would not rely on others to determine their fate”.

“That is the spirit we must rekindle. Freedom is not a monument we visit once a year. It is a responsibility we carry every day.

“So today, we issue a call to activism, a call to service, a call to participate. This is a call to all of us, to volunteer in a school, to mentor a young person, to clean a street, to grow a business. It is a call to serve on a school governing body, to report corruption, to prevent violence against women.

“It is a call to vote in every election and to hold to account those that are elected into public office. This is a call to register to vote this weekend, on the 20th and 21st of June,” he said.

The President urged South Africans to honour the heroes of the past by participating in the National Dialogue and have their voices heard once more and contribute in the conversation about the South Africa they want to live in.

“We must attend the public dialogues that are going to take place in our wards, in our sectors and in our organisations. We should add our voice to the millions of people who will be charting a new way forward for our country.

“This nation belongs to all of us, and it will be only as strong, as just and as free as we are willing to make it. As we launch the Milestones of Freedom, let us hold all four of these anniversaries in our hands at once: the women, the children and the dispossessed and the Constitution that turned their dreams into a promise of a better future.

“We are the inheritors of their courage. We are the keepers of their dream. And we are, every one of us, the authors of what South Africa will become. Let us, together, build the South Africa of which our forebears dared to dream, united in our diversity, equal in our dignity and free at last,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Department of Home Affairs has launched an upgraded online booking system on the MyHomeAffairsOnline platform, introducing enhanced security measures to prevent the abuse of booking slots and improve access to services.

Users are now required to create a MyHomeAffairsOnline profile linked to their South African ID number and email address before making a booking, helping to ensure that appointments remain available to legitimate clients.

The upgrade follows years of abuse of the previous booking platform by syndicates and other unscrupulous individuals who exploited vulnerabilities in the system to block appointment slots and sell them to desperate citizens. 

As a result, many ordinary South Africans struggled to secure appointments for essential Home Affairs services.

The upgraded booking system is available at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za and marks another milestone in Home Affairs’ digital transformation journey to improve service delivery, combat fraud and deliver dignity for all.

“For too long, ordinary South Africans were disadvantaged by criminals who exploited weaknesses in the previous booking system to hoard appointment slots and sell them for profit. 

“The migration of our booking system to MyHomeAffairsOnline directly addresses this abuse by linking bookings to verified user profiles, strengthening the integrity of the system and protecting citizens’ access to services.

“This reform advances our vision of Home Affairs @ home by making services more secure and convenient for citizens,” Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said in a statement on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za  

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The Electoral Commission says it is ready to welcome South Africans of voting age at all its 23 706 voting stations across the country during the registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026.

“We call on all eligible South Africans to take full advantage of the voter registration weekend to register, verify, or update their details on the voters’ roll,” said the Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, on Thursday.

The Commission also welcomed the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to operate during the registration weekend, providing identity document services to ensure eligible citizens have the necessary documentation to register to vote.

Addressing the media on the state of readiness in Pretoria today, Mamabolo told media that the voters’ roll currently stands at 28 million registered voters, despite ongoing monthly reductions of approximately 34 000 due to mortality.

“The voters’ roll stood at 27.7 million during the 2024 General Elections. The online registration platform is proving to be a crucial element in the growth of the voters’ roll,” he said.

He said the Commission remains committed to delivering free, fair and credible elections. Mamabolo urged all eligible citizens to play their part in strengthening South Africa’s constitutional democracy through active voter registration and participation.

He called on every voter to update their details, especially their address, as this will place them in the correct ward segment of the voters’ roll.

“Therefore, the voter registration weekend offers an opportunity to ensure that voters’ details are accurately captured and updated. There is no statutory mechanism to vote outside of the voting district in which voters are registered.

“Over the two-day registration weekend, all 23 706 voting stations, comprising 22 718 permanent stations, 960 temporary stations and 28 mobile stations for remote communities, will be operational. Registration stations will operate from 08h00 to 17h00,” Mamabolo said.

According to the Commission, KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of registration stations at 5 021, followed by the Eastern Cape with 4 984, Limpopo with 3 317, Gauteng with 2 832, Mpumalanga with 1 846, North West with 1 730, the Western Cape with 1 623, the Free State with 1 614 and the Northern Cape with 739.

Mamabolo said the increase in the number of stations from 23 151 during the 2021 Local Government Elections is driven by the five-yearly review of wards by the Municipal Demarcation Board and the Commission’s efforts to expand accessibility to voter registration services.

Touching on voter registration materials, Mamabolo said the Electoral Commission has successfully delivered all essential voter registration materials across all provinces.

“A stock of 39 641 voter management devices is available to service registration stations across the country. These devices have undergone the necessary maintenance to ensure that they are fit for purpose.

“These devices are central to modern voter registration operations, enabling real-time citizenship verification, accurate capture of voter details and seamless integration with the voters’ roll,” Mamabolo said.

With regard to staffing, Mamabolo said the Commission has appointed and trained 48 212 registration staff members, who will be deployed to ensure a smooth and efficient voter registration process across all registration stations.

“Of the appointed staff members, 37 994 are women and 10 218 are men. Furthermore, 22 599 staff members are under the age of 35, while 19 806 are between the ages of 36 and 50. The remaining 5 807 staff members are aged 51 years and older.

“Significantly, 34 404 of the appointed staff members are unemployed qualified persons. This highlights the important contribution that electoral events make towards temporary employment opportunities and skills development.

“The recruitment criteria for registration staff were developed in consultation with the National Political Liaison Committee. The names of appointed staff members were also shared with the Local Political Liaison Committees to allow for objections against any individuals deemed unsuitable for appointment,” he said.

Mamabolo said the Commission reaffirms its commitment to advancing the aspirations of young people as voters and candidates in the forthcoming elections.

“Given that youth in the 18-19 age category have not had multiple opportunities to enlist on the voters’ roll and have only recently become age-eligible, more than 70% in this age cohort are still to register.

“The Electoral Commission urges all eligible youth, especially first-time voters, to seize this opportunity to register and participate in these elections,” Mamabolo said.

Boosting youth participation

Mamabolo said the Commission’s Tertiary Institutions Campaign (TIC) continues to strengthen youth participation.

“By 31 March 2026, the campaign had reached 269 552 students nationwide, of whom 158 446 (59%) were newly registered voters,” he said.

On 11 and 12 June 2026, the Commission trained more than 70 members of Blind SA on the use of the Universal Ballot Template (UBT) as part of its efforts to promote inclusive electoral participation.

Mamabolo explained that the initiative aims to empower blind and visually impaired voters to confidently cast their ballots independently and with dignity during the forthcoming elections.

“Workshops with additional disability groups are planned and ongoing to ensure that the Commission engages across the full spectrum of disabilities and incorporates diverse perspectives into its electoral programmes and services,” he said.

Mamabolo said the Electoral Commission’s Contact Centre is also fully equipped to support voters and stakeholders through a multi-channel service offering assistance via voice, email, live chat and social media in all official languages.

To date, it has successfully managed 51 400 citizen interactions, reflecting its capacity to provide accessible and responsive voter support. – SAnews.gov.za

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By David Jacobs 
As South Africa marks Youth Month, we are reminded that the defining challenge facing this generation is fundamentally different from what confronted the youth of 1976. While previous generations fought for political freedom, today’s young people are engaged in a struggle for economic inclusion, opportunity and meaningful participation in the economy.

At the centre of this challenge lies youth unemployment, one of the most pressing obstacles facing our nation. Addressing it requires creating opportunities at scale, lowering barriers to entry, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting sectors capable of generating jobs across both urban and rural communities.
Tourism is one such sector. Over the past few years, it has demonstrated remarkable resilience, emerging as a major contributor to economic growth, job creation and business development. The latest Tourism Satellite Account report shows that tourism contributed R361.7 billion to the economy in 2024, accounting for 4.9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). In doing so, it outperformed several traditional sectors, including agriculture, utilities and construction, underscoring its growing importance to South Africa’s economic future.

Tourism’s impact is perhaps most evident in employment. In 2024, the sector sustained 954 000 direct jobs, meaning that one in every 18 jobs in South Africa is supported by tourism. The industry now employs more people than agriculture, mining or utilities individually, making it one of the country’s largest sources of employment. For every 13 international tourists who visit South Africa, one job is created or sustained.

This employment potential is being reinforced by a strong recovery in visitor numbers. South Africa welcomed 10.5 million tourists in 2025, up from 8.9 million in 2024, while nearly one million arrivals were recorded in April 2026 alone. This growth not only reaffirms South Africa’s appeal as a world-class destination but also highlights tourism’s ability to stimulate economic activity, support small businesses and create opportunities throughout the country.

As President Cyril Ramaphosa noted during his opening of Africa’s Travel Indaba this year, tourism “distributes economic activity across communities” and “opens opportunities for everyone”. Every visitor creates demand for accommodation, transport, food services, cultural experiences and local enterprises. The benefits therefore extend far beyond the tourism sector itself, reaching small businesses, community initiatives and informal traders whose livelihoods depend on visitor spending.

Recognising tourism’s ability to spread economic activity across cities, towns and rural communities, government has introduced programmes to expand participation in the sector. The Market Access Support Programme helps small tourism enterprises, including youth-owned businesses, connect with markets and unlock new growth opportunities.

These enterprises also stand to benefit from South Africa’s growing business events industry. Through the South African National Convention Bureau, the country has secured 66 international and regional conferences expected to contribute more than R1.2 billion to the economy between 2025 and 2030. Hosted across a range of destinations, these events will boost local economies and create opportunities throughout the tourism value chain.

Government is also investing in programmes that empower young people to become entrepreneurs and innovators. The Tourism Technology Grassroots Innovation Incubator Programme supports young entrepreneurs to develop technology-driven solutions that can modernise the industry, while the Tourism Transformation Fund provides financial support to black-owned tourism enterprises, helping to expand participation and unlock opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.

Tourism’s greatest promise, however, lies in its ability to create pathways into the economy for young people. As a labour-intensive industry, it is uniquely positioned to absorb new entrants into the workforce while equipping them with valuable skills and experience. From hospitality and tour guiding to transport, digital marketing and cultural enterprises, tourism offers diverse avenues for employment and entrepreneurship.

Government continues to strengthen these pathways through targeted skills development initiatives in the tourism sector. During the previous financial year, more than 800 Technical and Vocational Education and Training students were placed in workplaces through partnerships with Harambee and the Youth Employment Service to complete the practical training required for graduation. 

The sector is also embracing technological change, with young innovators participating in initiatives that explore how artificial intelligence can drive inclusive growth and job creation in tourism.

As we commemorate Youth Month, we should remember that the aspirations of young South Africans have not changed. Like the generation of 1976, they seek dignity, opportunity and the ability to shape their own futures. Tourism as one of the country’s most inclusive and labour-intensive sectors, has the capacity to create jobs, nurture entrepreneurs, develop skills and spread opportunity across the country.

*Jacobs is Chief Director :Cluster Communication at the Government Communication and Information System 
 

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South Africa and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to rebuilding and strengthening bilateral relations, with International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola saying the two countries are determined to deepen cooperation across a range of sectors and contribute to peace and stability on the African continent.

Lamola hosted Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier J.P. Nduhungirehe, in Pretoria on Wednesday as part of ongoing efforts to normalise and revitalise relations between the two countries.

Addressing the bilateral meeting, Lamola welcomed his counterpart and conveyed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s greetings to Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

“Our two Heads of States share a profound and deep commitment to reset and re-energise our bilateral relations. Furthermore, they also have a common love for Africa and the great promise this continent holds for its people, their wishes for a stable, secure, and prosperous Africa,” Lamola said. 

He said South Africa and Rwanda have a responsibility to work more closely together, noting that both countries emerged from painful histories.

“Both our countries emerge from painful pasts, from the apartheid era in South Africa and the genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda. We will not forget and will forever remember the heroes and the heroines who laid their lives to nurture and build foundation for the two nations that are South Africa and Rwanda today.”

He added that the visit by the Rwandan delegation reflects the commitment of both governments to advance the revitalisation and strengthening of bilateral relations.

“The normalisation of relations thus assumes great significance. This visit takes place at an important moment in our relationship, it provides an opportunity to consolidate the progress made thus far, addressing outstanding issues through constructive dialogue and openness, and chart a clear path towards a more stable and mutually beneficial partnership.”

Sectors for cooperation 
Lamola said Presidents Ramaphosa and Kagame had directed that efforts be intensified to strengthen bilateral relations across various sectors.

He said foundations already existed to enhance collaboration in trade and investment, infrastructure development, people-to-people exchanges, socio-cultural ties, tourism, wildlife conservation, health and education.

“It is important that we redouble our efforts to ensure that levels of trade and investment are increased for the mutual benefits of our countries. Rwanda hosts numerous South African companies, and it is therefore important that the presence of Rwandan companies in South Africa is also increased.”

Lamola commended Rwanda for progress made in sectors such as digital technology, agro-processing, tourism, health and education, as well as for successfully hosting major sporting events and international conferences.

Peace and security and global affairs 
The Minister highlighted the importance of peace and security on the continent, saying South Africa and Rwanda should be at the forefront of strengthening the African Union’s peace and security architecture.

“Conflicts and wars in various parts of our continent continue to be a threat to fulfilment of Agenda 2063, the Africa we want. By silencing the guns and achieving peace and stability, we will strengthen our prospects for economic development and ultimate prosperity on the continent,” he said. 

Lamola thanked Rwanda for its collaboration in supporting peace efforts in South Sudan through the African Union Committee of Five.

Turning to global affairs, Lamola said the international environment had become increasingly fragile and unpredictable, placing multilateralism under pressure.

“In this context, continued impetus and focus should be on reforming the global system of governance, including the United Nations Security Council. The voice of the developing world, represented by the Global South and the African continent, should find permanent expression in the United Nations Security Council,” the Minister said. 

He said Africa should have a greater voice on issues such as debt restructuring, development financing, climate change, health, energy and food security.

“We should not be marginal players in this regard,” he emphasised. 

Lamola also noted South Africa’s role as incoming Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), saying the country would work with member states to deepen regional integration and share lessons with other regional blocs, including the East African Community.

“Regional integration in the respective regional communities throughout our continent is a critical objective that should be pursued in a globally competitive environment. Africa is already a force to be reckoned with, but we need to collaborate more and work towards regional integration,” he said. 

He concluded by welcoming the Rwandan delegation and expressing confidence in the outcomes of the bilateral engagement. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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