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Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has called on communities to support law enforcement and stop shielding criminals.

“When we come into communities, do not protect criminals, even if it is your child. Sometimes hard love is necessary. Do not come to the justice system and plead for their release,” she said.

Kubayi made the call during a Community Outreach Imbizo and Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) community activation at the Dulcie September Civic Hall in Athlone, Western Cape, on Tuesday.

Kubayi was joined by Police Deputy Ministers, Dr Shela Boshielo and Cassel Mathale; Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel; Social Development Deputy Minister Ebrahim Hendricks; police provincial commissioners and National Police Commissioner, General Fanie Masemola, among others.

The members of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster joined the community to listen to their challenges, provide government services and inform them about government’s interventions to fight crime in the Western Cape and across the country.

Addressing the community, Kubayi urged parents not to buy toy guns for children or expose them to gang culture.

“As children grow, they must know that a gun is a no-no. Do not normalise it, because they will grow up thinking it is acceptable,” she said.

The Minister also noted that R1 billion has been allocated from the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) to combat organised crime, particularly gangsterism, extortion, and illegal mining in South Africa.

“We are here to say we cannot have people taking over our communities and lawlessness. We understand police constraints in fighting organised crime. We want them to buy helicopters, equipment, and bring technology to fight crime.

“Those [police] who work with criminals must stop or hand over their badge, or uniform, or certificate and resign. We do not want to tell you that you must be safe; we want you to tell us that we are now comfortable to walk freely on the streets. Following our visit, we expect action,” the Minister said.

She further committed the cluster to addressing illegal alcohol outlets.

“We agreed that peace officers will help identify illegal outlets and shut them down. Alcohol contributes to many social problems. I have seen the worst effects of alcohol in our communities,” she said.

She urged residents to work with government to combat crime in the Western Cape, including drug abuse, gangsterism and illegal firearms.

“We are fixing things. We are removing bad elements from the streets, and we will ensure that change is felt,” she said.

Expanding Thuthuzela care centres

Kubayi also announced that plans are underway to expand Thuthuzela Care Centres across the country and increase the number of sexual offences courts to strengthen support for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) survivors and improve prosecution outcomes.

“The centres will provide integrated services, including prosecutors, doctors and social workers, to assist the victims.”

SASSA grant verification

Meanwhile, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe urged South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries to visit the agency’s offices for grant verification as part of efforts to ensure that social grant payments reach only qualifying recipients.

The Minister said beneficiaries who experience problems with their payments should seek assistance directly from nearby SASSA offices.

“If you did not receive your payment, or if you are uncertain about your payment status, do not ask your friend or neighbour to explain the reasons. Go to your nearest SASSA office,” Sisisi said.

She emphasised that the verification process is necessary to protect the integrity of the social assistance system and to prevent payments from being made to ineligible recipients. –  SAnews.gov.za
 

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Deputy President Paul Mashatile has assured young people that the concerns raised during the Presidential Youth Roundtable Engagement would be reflected in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday.

The Deputy President was delivering remarks on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Presidential Youth Engagement in Khayelitsha on Tuesday, where young people from across the country raised urgent issues affecting them. 

“The President is unable to attend this year due to pressing issues as he is preparing for the State of the Nation Address. I however want to assure that immediately after this session I will be joining him to look at the final touch up on his speech and ensure that the issues that will be emerging from this gathering form part of his address to the nation,” Mashatile said.

The Deputy President emphasised that young people remain central to South Africa’s present and future, describing them as “our nation’s beating pulse.”

“You are not passive observers of the national mood – you set its tone and pace, you surface new ideas, and you turn what matters to you into conversations, debates and movements.” 

He said gatherings such as the Presidential Youth Engagement provide government with an honest reflection of the country’s realities, particularly those experienced by young people.

“It is from you, the youth, that we come to appreciate what this country sounds like, what its many currents are, and the lived experiences of our people are,” he said.

The Deputy President noted that the engagement takes place in a year of historical significance, as South Africa marks 50 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, drawing parallels between past and present generations of young people.

“In 1976 the youth took to the streets, demanding that their voices be heard and refusing to accept a future that would exclude and marginalise them. As today’s generation of young people, you are infused with the same moral clarity and sense of purpose,” Mashatile said.

He added that the responsibility of ensuring democracy delivers meaningful outcomes now rests with the current generation.

“A future in which democracy truly delivers for all is the struggle of your time and your generational mission. In striving to fulfil your goals, you are the worthy inheritors of the mantle of the 1976 generation,” he said.

Mashatile also acknowledged the role of the NYDA in advancing youth development over the past 17 years, highlighting its work in connecting young people to skills training, entrepreneurship support and employment opportunities.

“For the past 17 years the NYDA has been at the forefront of our efforts as government to connect young people to livelihoods, skills training and economic opportunities,” he said.

He said insights from the engagement would once again inform government’s priorities, as has been the case in previous years.

“As has been the case in the past, the valuable insights gleaned from this engagement have enriched the State of the Nation address and given us valuable food for thought,” Mashatile said.

He concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to listening and working with young people.

“I am here with Ministers, Deputy Ministers, the Mayor of Cape Town, Councillors, officials from all spheres of government not only to share with you what we as government are doing but to plan with you the future of our country,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za 
 

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The gap between policy intent and lived reality took centre stage at a Presidential Youth Roundtable Engagement in Khayelitsha on Tuesday, where young South Africans confronted government with the daily impact of unemployment, crime, limited access to opportunities and barriers to business growth.

The engagement, hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), brought Deputy President Paul Mashatile – on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa – together with young entrepreneurs and beneficiaries ahead of the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), creating a platform where personal experience shaped the national conversation.

NYDA Executive Chairperson Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende said the roundtable was designed to move youth development from discussion to direct engagement.

“Over time, as young people, we have been kept on the sidelines of important discussions in the country,” Myende said, adding that the engagement was necessary so that whatever government is doing, the youth is at the centre of it. 

She said youth unemployment, skills development and economic inclusion required urgent, intentional action.

“That is why we’re calling for a firm approach to be taken on issues of skills revolution and issues of economic freedom as a generation,” Myende said.

Young people used the platform to describe the human cost of unemployment and the value of targeted State interventions.

NYDA beneficiary Ayasanga Ben said access to youth programmes had changed her life after a prolonged period of despair.

“I started the programme in 2023 after a devastating year of not finding any placement, being depressed at home, doing nothing,” she said.

Through the SAYouth Mobi platform, Ben found an opportunity that enabled her to serve her community.

“I am able to stand and serve my community and be part of a social change due to this program,” she said, urging government to expand such initiatives.

“The unemployment rate of young people is really extreme, and that’s what leads to the things that are happening in our communities,” Ben said.

Entrepreneur Nontsha Viwe Putuma of SV Bakery shared the challenges of building a township-based business, while creating jobs for others.

“The reason for starting this business, even though I was unemployed, was more about youth empowerment,” Putuma said.

She said NYDA support had enabled her business to grow from producing dozens of loaves a day to hundreds, employing six young people from her community.

“Even though I’m running this business and I have six employees, I’m still facing challenges,” she said.

Putuma highlighted electricity shortages, delivery constraints and safety concerns, including extortion, as threats to small business sustainability.

“Recently, I was visited by guys, and then they demanded a protection fee,” she said, adding that fear had become part of her daily reality.

Responding to the issues raised, Deputy President Mashatile acknowledged that youth unemployment remains government’s most pressing concern and outlined coordinated interventions across the state.

“We know that unemployment is quite high in the country, but even high amongst young people, and that’s really our biggest concern,” Mashatile said.

He said programmes such as the Presidential Youth Intervention, the Youth Stimulus and the National Youth Service were designed to provide skills, funding and pathways into employment.

“These programmes are funded, will be funded, and they are going to continue,” Mashatile said, adding that government aims to significantly increase the number of young people reached over the next three years.

Mashatile also acknowledged challenges around access, particularly for young people in rural and township communities.

“Access is going to be a big challenge that we must resolve quicker,” he said.

Myende reinforced calls for zero-rated digital access to youth opportunities, saying unemployed young people should not be excluded by the cost of data.

“All opportunities relating to young people, funding jobs, bursaries, when young people are accessing those opportunities, it must be zero rated,” she said.

Issues raised from the floor included extortion affecting township businesses, high crime rates in Khayelitsha, limited access to skills development, restricted library hours and calls for the NYDA mandate to be expanded to reach more young people.

Mashatile said government would look into the concerns raised and work towards resolving them.

The roundtable formed part of a series of consultations ahead of the 2026 State of the Nation Address, with young people calling for their realities, dignity and aspirations to be reflected not only in policy pronouncements, but in delivery on the ground. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government has reiterated its declaration to strengthen the fight against crime adding that law enforcement operations will be intensified.

The warning was sent during a Community Outreach Imbizo and Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) community activation, held on Tuesday at the Dulcie September Civic Hall in Athlone, Western Cape.

“We must be frank and honest with each other because these criminals are among us. Some of them stay in our houses. They are our children, uncles, fathers and, to some extent, our mothers.

“We know our problems and we know where drugs are being sold. As members of the community, you should be able to give us this information so that we can be able to do our work,” Police Deputy Minister, Dr Polly Boshielo, said.

The imbizo brought together officials from the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, including the Departments of Justice and Constitutional Development and the South African Police Service (SAPS), to engage residents on issues affecting their neighbourhoods.

Boshielo said government was “tired of talking” and was now moving decisively to action, stressing that the engagement must result in practical solutions.

She said the challenges facing the community were well known and included gangsterism, drug and substance abuse, illegal firearms, high murder and attempted murder rates, as well as gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

Boshielo said her department had received complaints about some members of the police service being involved in criminal activities, which was why Police Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola were present at the meeting.

“We cannot have people killed as if we are at war. We have an obligation to protect our children. Our children must be at school, have certificates and identity documents, and must be protected from these gangsters,” she said.

She warned that law enforcement operations would be intensified.

“As a community, you must draw the line – criminals on one side and those who fight criminals on the other side,” Boshielo said.

She also challenged law enforcement agencies to take action against all criminals, including those within the police and correctional services.

“We are drawing the line. Everyone who commits crime must face the consequences,” she said.

She also urged communities to inform law enforcement of those who selling drugs.

“Someone once said: ‘only the police don’t know’. We are tired of talking and not implementing what is in the law. Those who are running illegal taverns must be arrested,” she said.

“Let us work together, be united, and come up with solutions. It is time for action.”

No room for institutional complacency

Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews assured residents that the presence of senior officials was not merely symbolic, but intentional.

“It signals a shared commitment to move beyond diagnosis towards shaping practical, forward-looking solutions that will deliver safer communities,” Andrews said.

He said the meeting must mark a decisive shift from “business as usual” to action that produces measurable change.

“The scale and severity of the safety challenges we face leaves us with no luxury of time and no room for institutional complacency. Fighting crime is not the responsibility of one sphere of government alone,” he said.

Andrews added that meaningful reform of the criminal justice system requires collective ownership, coordinated action, and the courage to make necessary changes to restore safety and public confidence.

“Our attendance today reflects the seriousness with which we approach the work of the cluster. Safety is not the responsibility of one department, but an integrated system working with a shared purpose,” the Deputy Mayor said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, young people have called for youth unemployment, dignity and economic inclusion to be placed firmly at the centre of national priorities.

The call was made during a Presidential Youth Engagement hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) at the Thusong Service Centre in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, ahead of the 2026 SONA.

Welcoming delegates on behalf of the NYDA Board, Executive Chairperson Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende, said the engagement was taking place at a critical moment for young people in the country.

“This is the single most important moment in the diary of the President and that of the Deputy President, where he directly engages with us as young people and through us to understand our lived realities as young people,” Myende said.

She described the engagement as a platform where youth development must move from policy to action.

“This engagement is substantive in its nature. It is a moment where all hands must be on deck; where youth development moves from policy to presence, and where ahead of the State of the Nation Address, the voices and realities of young people are placed firmly at the centre of the nation’s attention,” she said.

Myende said young people expect the President to speak directly to issues affecting them when he delivers the SONA.

“After all, young people are the majority in this country, so there can never be anything about us without us. We must influence the State of the Nation Address. The President must be able to pronounce on issues that are going to speak directly to us as young people,” she said.

She said youth unemployment remains a major concern and has a direct impact on the dignity of young people.

“Youth unemployment remains high. It is causing us sleepless nights as young people. Because we’re unemployed, our dignity is stripped off every day. If you’re unemployed, you’re not respected even during family gatherings,” Myende said.

Myende highlighted the frustration of qualified young people who remain without work.

“Others have Master’s degrees but are sitting at home, and some are relegated to low paying jobs, despite having qualifications. It’s unfair and unjust for us as young people with Master’s degrees to be sweeping the streets,” she said.

She also raised concerns about the exclusion of young people from key economic sectors.

“Entrepreneurship opportunities in some industries like mining and energy, young people are not included in the table. DP, we’re being given the crumbs of the bread and not while, while we deserve the actual bread,” Myende said.

She called for a national skills revolution to better prepare young people for the economy.

“As the NYDA, we are calling for skills revolution in the country, so that young people are reskilled for the relevant sectors and others are provided with the necessary skills,” she said.

Myende said the engagement coincided with significant historical milestones, including 50 years since the 1976 Soweto uprising, 30 years of the Constitution and 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March.

“They tell one continuous story that freedom in South Africa has always been pushed forward by us young people and defended by women and secured through collective struggle,” she said.

She said young people are demanding action, not promises.

“As young people, we want delivery through action,” Myende said.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile attended the engagement on behalf of President Ramaphosa, who is leading engagements ahead of the SONA. The Presidential Youth Roundtable forms part of ongoing consultations with stakeholders to inform the President’s address.

The Presidential Youth Engagement is an interactive session where young South Africans have a direct and open exchange with the President and members of the National Executive. – SAnews.gov.za 

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