MIL Africa Engine

Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela has expressed deep sadness following the passing of Jennifer Glennie, the founding Executive Director of the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) and respected pioneer in the field of distance learning.

In a statement on Thursday, Manamela said Glennie’s death represented a significant loss to South Africa’s education fraternity.

Paying tribute to her lifelong work, the Minister described Glennie as “a visionary leader whose lifelong passion for education, particularly in distance learning, has left an indelible mark”.

From the apartheid era through to the democratic transition, Glennie championed access, equity, and justice in education.

Manamela highlighted her pioneering role in developing contextually appropriate, activity-based learning materials and innovative student support mechanisms that transformed South Africa’s distance education landscape.

Glennie contributed extensively to the national higher education system, including playing a central role in establishing the Council on Higher Education, serving for two decades on the Council of the University of South Africa (Unisa), and representing the country at the Commonwealth of Learning. She was also instrumental in the founding of Sol Plaatje University.

A recognised advocate for technology enabled learning, Glennie was a at the forefront of promoting Open Educational Resources (OER), to create meaningful educational opportunities for poor and marginalised groups.

“The higher education sector would not be what it is today without the dedication of pioneers like Jennifer Glennie. Her deep love for the people of this country and her abhorrence for injustice touched and improved many lives. Her role in expanding access to higher education for Africans and her legacy will continue to inspire us,” the Minister said.

He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Glennie’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire higher education sector.

Sol Plaatje University’s Council Chairperson, Professor Randall Carolissen, described Glennie as a remarkable leader who devoted her life to expanding access to quality education at all levels for marginalised communities in South Africa.

“Glennie had a long and distinguished connection with Sol Plaatje University (SPU) where she was instrumental in setting the tone for the impeccable governance culture that guided the Council through its difficult early years. She served as the Chairperson of the Interim Council in 2013 and then as the Deputy Chairperson of the Inaugural Council from 2014 to 2022.

“She was the Deputy Chairperson of both the Executive Committee and the Remuneration Committee of Council; a member of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) and later served as the Chairperson of the ARC until the end of her term on Council,” Carolissen said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South African men to stand up and be counted in the national fight against gender-based violence (GBV), warning that the country faces a pandemic of violence that will continue to destroy families and communities unless men take responsibility. 

Addressing delegates at the 2025 Men’s Indaba at Lemo Green Park in Bloemfontein on Thursday, the President said he was encouraged to see “brothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and sons of our nation” gathered with a shared purpose. 

“You are here because you recognise that violence against women and children is a pandemic, and a crisis that will destroy our nation if we do not stop it. You are here because you are ready to stand up and be counted as men and boys who declare: ‘Not in my Name,’” President Ramaphosa said.

The Indaba coincides with the global 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign. 

The President noted that the latest crime statistics show a drop in certain serious crimes but a rise in contact sexual offences and attempted sexual offences.

“That means more women and girls, and even young boys, have been victims of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape. Every day across this country, the safety and dignity of women and children is being undermined by the actions of violent men,” he said. 

President Ramaphosa reiterated that gender-based violence is rooted in the actions, choices and cultural attitudes of men.

“Gender-based violence is not a problem of women. Gender-based violence is the actions of men, and about the terrible crimes they commit,” he said.

He acknowledged government’s ongoing interventions including the opening of a new Sexual Offences Court in Botshabelo earlier in the day but stressed that these efforts alone would not end GBV. 

“Without directly engaging men, we will continue to have marches, hold protests and conduct social media campaigns; all led by women. And the statistics will not change,” he said.

Broken families 

The President further highlighted deep-rooted social issues that contribute to violence, including father absence, unemployment, school dropout rates, substance abuse and the pressures men face in society. 

“South Africa has a crisis we don’t speak about openly enough, and it is broken families,” he said, noting that the majority of children do not live with their biological fathers.

He warned that many boys are growing up without male role models, leaving them vulnerable to gangs, crime and substance abuse.

“Many men in this country are suffering from depression from being unemployed, from isolation and loneliness…struggling with alcoholism and drug dependency,” he added.

President Ramaphosa also criticised harmful portrayals of masculinity promoted in communities, on social media and in pop culture.

“The image is being pushed everywhere that violence is showing strength… and that being kind and compassionate makes you weak, a coward and a ‘simp’,” he said.

Abuse in everyday spaces

The President detailed the various forms of abuse facing women and girls from intimate partner violence to exploitation, coercion and emotional harm.

“The abusers of women and children live among us. They are our fathers, our sons, our grandfathers, uncles, cousins and friends. And most shamefully, when they happen, other men look away,” he said. 

He called for honest reflection among men about the underlying attitudes fuelling abusive behaviour.

Safe spaces

The President spoke of the need for consistent, nationwide dialogues involving men and boys, beyond the annual 16 Days campaign, to create safe spaces for vulnerability and accountability.

These conversations, he said, must address prevention, psychosocial support for boys in schools, rehabilitation of offenders and community-level interventions.

“South Africa does not need a so-called new generation of men. It needs the men and boys of this generation to do better, and to be better. We need men who are protectors of women, not perpetrators,” he said. 

The President ended his address with a strong call to action, emphasising that the tide will only turn when men take a stand.

“Men of South Africa, I call on you to stand up and be counted. Let us say resoundingly: not in our name. GBV will fall when men rise. Not in violence, but in respect, courage and accountability,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa has responded to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s newsletter on Substack.

In the newsletter Rubio criticised Pretoria, stating that Washington will not tolerate what he describes as the “radical” ANC-led government. He also condemned South Africa’s focus on climate change, diversity, and inclusion during its presidency of the Group of 20 (G20).

In a break from long-standing tradition, the G20 Leaders’ Summit last month adopted a declaration addressing the climate crisis and other global challenges right at the start of their meeting. 

Despite weeks of tough negotiations and the absence of the United States, South Africa managed to achieve a consensus based on its own terms.

The G20 declaration commits major economies to combat global inequality, reform international financial systems to alleviate debt pressures on developing countries, and promote inclusive growth, with a particular focus on Africa and the broader Global South. 

It also emphasises climate action, renewable energy transitions, and enhanced multilateral cooperation to advance peace, sustainability, and development globally.

However, on Wednesday, Secretary of State Rubio announced that the United States is moving forward with a new G20. 

“America’s G20 will propel us forward with innovation, entrepreneurship and perseverance that make America great and provide a roadmap of prosperity to the world. We’re ready to lead the way in Miami,” he wrote. 

In addition, the United States officially invited Poland to participate in the G20 summit, which will take place in 2026 in Miami, Florida, while excluding South Africa. 

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has in a statement defended South Africa’s leadership of the G20 and rejecting suggestions that the country undermined consensus within the forum. 

Lamola congratulated the United States on assuming the G20 Presidency but said Rubio’s remarks required an honest response.

“Your words compel me to speak, not merely as a representative of a government, but as a voice from a nation whose very existence is a testament to a profound truth: that the deepest divides can be bridged… not through unilateral action but global solidarity,” he wrote. 

He stressed that South Africa, as a founding member, “has no unilateral right to be excluded from the G20”.

Highlighting the philosophy behind South Africa’s G20 Presidency, Lamola said the country approached its leadership with the belief “that treating Africa and the Global South as equal partners and that it was not an act of charity, but a strategic imperative for a stable, prosperous world”. 

He said the success of the summit was rooted in South Africa’s creation of “a hospitable environment in the true spirit of Ubuntu”, citing international delegates who praised the warm reception. 

The Minister rejected the United States’ claims that South Africa sabotaged the consensus, noting that “the United States chose not to attend our G20 meetings”.

He argued that the purpose of the forum was not forced agreement but ensuring “everyone leaves feeling they have been truly heard”.

Addressing Rubio’s criticism of South Africa’s domestic policies, Lamola stated that the country’s transformation agenda is rooted in its Constitution and history. 

“Our policies of redress are not a political invention. They are the fulfilment of a promise made to all South Africans as we emerged from the darkness of apartheid,” he said, quoting former President Nelson Mandela on the need to change the “excessive concentration of power in a few white hands”.

He countered claims that the government promotes racism or threatens Afrikaner farmers, insisting this was “further from the truth”. 

He pointed to growth in the agricultural sector and rising exports, adding that “no country with land grabs and invasion would reap such success.” 

Land reform, he said, is pursued through a just and equitable approach that maintains property rights and investor confidence.

He highlighted the country’s socio-economic progress since 1994, including improved access to electricity and water, as well as rising human development indicators. 

While acknowledging past challenges such as State Capture, he said describing the South African economy as a failure was “an exaggeration”.

Lamola urged a more respectful tone in international engagement. 

“The world is growing weary of double standards… We do not seek your approval for our path… but we do seek, and we will always extend, a hand of respectful partnership.”

Click here to read Minister Lamola’s full letter. – SAnews.gov.za

The use of digital platforms must be used optimally to encourage the youth to participate in electoral democracy.

This was the call made at the Electoral Commission’s seminar on digital technology held in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, ahead of the forthcoming local government elections.

The seminar was initiated to engage various stakeholders on how digital tools and technologies can inspire and drive young people to actively participate in electoral processes. 

Held under the theme: “Digital Democracy: Leveraging Digital Technology to Promote Youth Participation”, the event was attended by representatives from various sectors, including political leaders, academics, youth organisations, students and civil society.

Ntombifuthi Masinga, the Provincial Electoral Officer in KwaZulu Natal, said research continues to show a decline in voter participation among young people. 

She said the seminar provided an opportunity to initiate robust conversations that could translate youth digital activism into active participation in electoral processes.

Professor Upasana Gitanjali Singh, academic leader in Information Systems and Technology at the University of KwaZulu Natal, said the participation of young people in electoral democracy can be strengthened if institutions invest in digital innovations.

“Today, the need before us is digital transformation, an imperative driven not only by technological advancement but by the expectations and behaviours of our citizens, especially our youth,” Singh said.

Thabile Mdluli, from the Centre for Community Development South Africa (CCDSA) and Bayanda Gumbi from Luma Learn echoed Singh’s sentiments and encouraged organisations to meet young people where they were on digital platforms. 

“Voting should be an everyday conversation, that should be held by all of us in our different capacities to ensure that young people are always well informed and know how to tackle key issues that affect them,” Mdluli said.

Josias Pila, Director of Intergovernmental Coordination and Stakeholder Management at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), said bridging the digital divide will enable meaningful participation of young people in elections and civic life.

The commission has, over the years, used various digital platforms including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp to interact with the followers and has about 500 000 followers across these platforms. 

The commission will in 2026 introduce its own podcast platform and an improved WhatsApp channel to interact with voters, the media and other stakeholders.

Singh said the Electoral Commission’s online voter registration portal was one of many digital innovations necessary to encourage youth participation in democratic processes. Voters can register or update their details online on https://registertovote.elections.org.za/

“Registering to vote used to require physical presence at a station, access to transport, and awareness of registration weekends—barriers that disproportionately affected young people who were studying far from home, frequently moving between residences, or living in areas where transport was costly.

“Today, a young person can register in a few minutes using a smartphone. They can update their address instantly when they move for studies or work. They no longer depend on sporadic registration weekends or travel logistics. 

“This shift is profound: it takes voter registration from being an administrative burden to being a seamless digital experience—something a young person can do in the same space where they order food or communicate with friends,” Singh said.

Citizens are reminded to register to vote in voting districts of the wards where they are residents. 

A registered voter who has moved since they last registered is urged to check and, if necessary, update their address details to ensure that they are registered in a ward linked to their new place of residence. –  SAnews.gov.za