MIL Africa Engine

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has assured the nation that the security situation remains stable following court proceedings involving Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

In a statement on Thursday, police confirmed that since the morning hours, officers have been closely monitoring gatherings outside various courts across the country, where thousands of EFF members assembled in support of Malema. 

Malema was sentenced to five years direct imprisonment in a firearm handling and discharge case in the East London Regional Court. He was convicted of five counts last October including violating the Firearms Control Act after firing live rounds during his party’s birthday celebrations in 2018.

“Up until this hour, the SAPS has observed that, despite heightened emotions around recent developments, the marches have taken place without incident. 

“This responsible conduct by EFF members and supporters of Mr Malema reflects a shared commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting the rights of others,” the police said.

Public Order Policing units have remained deployed across multiple provinces as part of standard procedures to maintain safety and stability.

Presently, the police said, the situation remains calm and those that have gathered have done so in an orderly and peaceful manner. – SAnews.gov.za

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has announced the publication of the revised Black and White Rhino Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) in the Government Gazette — marking an important step forward for rhino conservation in South Africa.

“The Black and White Rhino BMP provides a holistic strategic framework and detailed action plan to strengthen rhino conservation in South Africa, while also supporting collaboration with relevant range states,” the Minister said on Thursday.

The new BMP builds on earlier policy instruments, namely the Black Rhinoceros BMP (2013) and the White Rhinoceros BMP (2015). 

By consolidating these into a single integrated management framework, the revised plan brings together previous policy and planning efforts into one comprehensive tool.

“This integrated approach is intended to support a whole-of-society effort to safeguard rhino populations, recognizing that successful conservation depends on collaboration between government, conservation authorities, private landowners, communities, and other stakeholders – in the interest of both South Africa’s rhinos and its people,” he said.

The notice was published in terms of sections 43(1)(b) and (c), and 43(3)(a) and (b) of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004).

Within this framework, the Minister has, in the interim, assigned responsibility for implementing the Black and White Rhino BMP to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). 

Implementation of the plan will be overseen by the Department until the National Rhino Conservation Coordination Committee is formally established.

“This multi-stakeholder coordinating committee, which will be established under the chairmanship of the DFFE, will play a central role in facilitating the implementation of the BMP and strengthening collaboration across the rhino conservation sector,” Aucamp said.

A copy of the Government Notice can be obtained at: www.environment.gov.za/legislation/gazetted_notices.or www.gpwonline.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has launched a new strategic plan to align education and skills development with the demands of a technology-driven economy and tackle high unemployment. 

Deputy President Paul Mashatile said rapid changes in how people learn and work, driven by technology, shifting demographics and economic pressures require a renewed focus on skills and human development.

Speaking at the 5th Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) summit in Johannesburg on Thursday, he said South Africa must rethink both job skills and broader human development to respond to a changing world. 

The strategy identifies four catalytic goals with the potential to unlock system-wide impact:

• Improving early learning and schooling outcomes, recognising that foundational capabilities determine life opportunities.
• Improving the employability of youth who are not in employment, education, or training, especially through short courses, work-based learning, and entrepreneurship.
• Enhancing the responsiveness of the post‑school education and training system, particularly to skills demanded by the green, digital, and care economies.
• Building a capable, ethical, and developmental state, without which no reform can be sustained.

“Together, these catalytic goals are designed to trigger system-wide impact, to ignite renewal, and to ensure that our people live and work with dignity in a changing world.

“South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of plans. Our vulnerability lies in implementation gaps, weak coordination, and uneven ownership, which hinder the effectiveness of existing plans and prevent us from achieving our development goals,” the Deputy President said on Thursday in Johannesburg.

The summit marked the launch of the Reconceptualised Human Resource Development Strategy (HRD Strategy) 2025–2035 and its implementation framework, the Master Skills Plan (MSP) 2025–2030.

The strategies aim to reform the country’s skills development system, reduce unemployment, and better align education with economic needs. 

“The Strategy and the MSP are explicit; they are living instruments, and their custodians will be held accountable over the next decade. These instruments will guide and energise our collective efforts to advance human resource development over the coming decade. 

Mashatile appealed to the HRD Council, supported by its Secretariat and Standing Committees, to now intensify its role as convener, monitor, and problem‑solver.

“We need to get things done with no procrastination. Reports to Council must help unblock constraints, leverage partnerships, and demonstrate real progress on the ground. The idea of living and working in a changing world is about agency.

“It is about ensuring that South Africans, especially the youth, are not passive victims of change but active shapers of their futures. Our responsibility is to keep development pathways open, relevant, and dignified,” the Deputy President said

He emphasised that today’s dynamic and uncertain world increasingly depends on human and social capabilities such as analytical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration, resilience, and adaptability.

“Automation and AI are transforming industries at a speed that often exceeds the ability of education and training systems to respond, leading to a growing skills gap that threatens workforce readiness and economic stability.

“At the same time, South Africa’s youthful population is reshaping workplace culture and expectations, while climate change is redefining how and where people live, learn, and earn, necessitating a shift in educational approaches to better prepare individuals for these evolving challenges,” the Deputy President said.

He pointed out that in this environment, technical competence alone is no longer sufficient. 

“Ethical leadership, critical thinking, and social capabilities are now equally essential. Our challenge, therefore, is not simply one of skills alignment but of capability expansion as well.

“While recent labour force data offers modest encouragement, it also reveals a sobering truth. Millions of discouraged work seekers, particularly young people, have disengaged entirely from the labour market. For them, exclusion from work represents not only an economic loss but also a loss of dignity, purpose, and hope,” the Deputy President said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has activated an urgent response to contain the spread of the invasive Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer following reported sightings in parts of the metro.

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer is an invasive species consisting of multiple cryptic species of ambrosia beetles.

In a statement on Wednesday, the municipality confirmed that all reported incidents from members of the public are being treated with urgency, with a response plan established and already under implementation through the city’s Public Health Environmental Management sub-directorate.

The sub-directorate is working closely with an expert, who has studied the beetle for approximately seven years, to assist officials with accurate identification and appropriate response measures.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, has urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with the relevant municipal officials whenever they experience or suspect the threat of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer on their properties or periphery.

“We have activated the municipality’s Public Health Environmental Management sub-directorate to give a special attention to this, as we understand the impact it will have on the environmental sustainability of the city,” Lobishe said.

While the municipality is finalising standard operating procedures to comprehensively address the challenge, Lobishe said environmental management officials are already responding to reported incidents.

The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer is an invasive beetle that attacks a wide range of tree species by boring into trunks and introducing a fungus that blocks the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, often leading to tree death.

The pest spreads easily through the movement of infected wood, making early detection and containment critical.

Containment measures underway

Authorities have implemented temporary measures to limit the spread, including:
•    Felling infected trees and chipping material on-site to prevent reinfestation.
•    Transporting infected wood to designated municipal sites for controlled burning or solarisation.
•    Providing guidance to residents on managing affected trees on private property.

In addition, training programmes are being rolled out to councillors and relevant municipal officials to capacitate them in identifying and managing the beetle.

Plans are also underway to train woodcutters and tree-felling operators to ensure proper handling of infected material.

“Residents who suspect infestation in their yards or surrounding areas are urged to contact the Environmental Management Sub-directorate. NMBM Public Health, in collaboration with communications, is also developing awareness material to educate the public,” the Mayor said.

To mitigate the spread and impact of the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer, residents are requested to observe the following measures:

•    Report any suspected sightings to the municipality.
•    Avoid moving firewood, as this contributes to the spread.
•    Sanitise tools after use to prevent cross-contamination.
•    Do not dispose of infected wood in garden waste.
•    Chip infected wood where possible, as this is a safer disposal method.

Members of the public can call the Parks and Cemetery Sub-directorate at 041 5062770 or Environmental Management at 041 5065464 to report suspected infestations.

The municipality reiterated its commitment to protecting the city’s urban environment, urging all residents to work together in containing this threat. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in the Kingdom of Spain on a Working Visit, where he will participate in the In Defence of Democracy Initiative. 

In a statement on Thursday, The Presidency said that on consecutive days, the President will have an audience with the King of Spain, His Majesty Felipe VI, in Madrid, followed by a bilateral engagement with the President of the Government of Spain, Dr Pedro Sánchez, in Barcelona, ahead of the In Defence of Democracy Initiative.

“President Ramaphosa’s engagement with both King Felipe VI and President Sánchez will provide opportunities to review the current status of bilateral cooperation and to advance discussions on the areas of mutual interest between South Africa and Spain, with particular focus on trade and investment, education, renewable energy, the digital economy, tourism, multilateralism and peace and security,” the Presidency said.

The initiative, In Defence of Democracy, is an international effort initially launched by Brazil and Spain in 2024 to confront the rise of extremism, polarisation and disinformation — phenomena that erode social cohesion and threaten democratic institutions.

The first meeting was held in 2024 during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), bringing together countries from different regions and representatives of international organisations, who agreed on the need for permanent coordination to safeguard democratic values.

The forthcoming Initiative will be a meeting in response to attacks against the multilateral system, disdain for international law, threats of territorial expansion and normalising the use of threats and coercion in international relations.

During the visit, President Ramaphosa will deliver remarks at the plenary on Extremism and Inequality, following commissioning the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality.

In Madrid, the President’s programme includes championing South Africa’s investment drive through engagements with Spanish companies and addressing the South Africa-Spain Business Forum. 

He will also have an audience with King Felipe VI at the Zarzuela Royal Palace.

In Barcelona on Saturday, the President is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with President Sánchez at the Fira de Barcelona, before delivering remarks at the plenary session on Extremism and Inequality. 

The President will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau.

On the margins of the Initiative, President Ramaphosa will also engage with the Global Progressive Mobilisation Group.

The Working Visit comes after President Sánchez undertook an Official Visit to South Africa in 2022, during which an invitation to undertake a reciprocal visit was extended to President Ramaphosa.

South Africa and Spain maintain close and friendly bilateral relations, underpinned by strong and significant political ties. The relations consistently upholds the values of unity and dialogue, and that stands firm in defence of multilateralism at a time when these principles are increasingly under strain.

Spain’s commitment to cooperation, respect for international law, and constructive engagement on global challenges reflects values that resonate deeply with South Africa.

Spain recognises South Africa as a strategic partner as it seeks to significantly strengthen its political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation with the African continent.

Bilateral trade between South Africa and Spain increased by 8.3% from US$2,9 billion in 2024 to US$3,1 billion in 2025, which is an important indicator of the strengthening economic partnership between the two countries.

Over the past decade, more than 150 Spanish companies have invested in South Africa, creating over 20 000 jobs. – SAnews.gov.za 

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) has taken a significant step toward strengthening collaboration between government and business, advancing a public-private partnership (PPP) policy framework aimed at improving service delivery and driving economic growth in eThekwini.

The workshop, held this week at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, brought together the eThekwini Municipality, representatives from various spheres of government, including the Office of the Presidency and key business leaders to deliberate on the Development and Service Delivery Partnering Policy Framework.

The framework reflects a collective commitment to create a more enabling environment for collaboration and to accelerate implementation following its adoption in October 2025.

Opening the session, PeWG cochairperson, Michael Mabuyakhulu, emphasised the urgency of translating policy into measurable outcomes.

“These discussions are about moving from policy to action,” Mabuyakhulu said, highlighting the need to establish an independent PPP office to serve as a central coordination mechanism.

He added that finalising the implementation framework, including standard operating procedures, an implementation plan and a steering committee is crucial to ensure legal and institutional alignment for efficient execution, while strengthening collaboration and accountability.

“The success of this framework will be measured not by its existence, but by the impact it delivers. Collective commitment from all stakeholders will determine its success,” Mabuyakhulu said.

Acting eThekwini City Manager Sipho Cele highlighted the need for a clear, credible and well-governed approach to manage partnerships with the private sector.

He said the framework addresses long-standing challenges such as fragmented partnership arrangements, regulatory uncertainty, and inconsistent application of rules.

“The policy introduces a single, standardised and transparent system for identifying, assessing, approving, and managing partnerships. This ensures legal compliance, protects financial sustainability, and delivers value for money for the residents of eThekwini,” Cele said.

Business leaders also expressed strong support for the initiative.

Speaking on behalf of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CEO Palesa Phili said business is ready to partner with the city to address key challenges, including infrastructure, water and sanitation, and energy.

“This partnership will unlock investment and accelerate service delivery in the region, and business looks forward to the speedy finalisation of the policy framework,” Phili said. – SAnews.gov.za