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The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, will undertake a Working Visit to the Republic of Türkiye to co-chair the inaugural Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and Türkiye, scheduled to take place on 15 October 2025 in Ankara, Türkiye. 

The BNC will be convened in accordance with the Agreement establishing the Bi-National Commission to be chaired at the Deputy President and Vice-President level respectively between the two countries that was signed in 2012. Deputy President Mashatile will therefore co-chair the inaugural SA-Türkiye BNC with his counterpart, the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, His Excellency Mr Cevdet Yılmaz. 

The purpose of the BNC is to serve as a structured platform for enhancing and coordinating political, economic and social cooperation between South Africa and Türkiye. 

Through regular high-level dialogue and joint decision-making, the Bi-National Commission will provide both countries with an opportunity to conclude long pending draft agreements, review existing instruments and explore new areas of cooperation in the political, economic, social, justice and security sectors. A number of cooperation agreements are envisaged to be signed in this regard.

In addition to his participation at the BNC, Deputy President Mashatile is expected to also pay tribute to Türkiye's founder and first President, Mr Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, at the Antakabir Mausoleum; hold a tete-a-tete with his counterpart Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz; as well as pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Türkiye, His Excellency Mr Recep Erdogan.  

Subsequently, the Deputy President will travel to Istanbul for economic diplomacy engagements, including addressing the 5th biennial Türkiye-Africa Business Forum (TABEF) taking place on 16-17 October 2025. 

South Africa's participation at the TABEF and bilateral meetings with key role players are expected to elevate trade relations with Türkiye and cement South Africa's position as Türkiye's largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and a key partner in Africa and the Global South.

While in Istanbul, the Deputy President will also participate in the South Africa-Türkiye Business Council and engage with Turkish investors with interest in the South African market. The Deputy President will also address the closing ceremony of the Türkiye Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) on 17 October 2025.

Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Angie Motshekga; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande; Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia De Lille; Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Peace Mabe; Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube; and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Zoleka Capa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Next Engineers, a global college- and career-readiness programme working to increase the opportunities for young people in engineering, celebrated the graduation of 43 learners from the Engineering Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa. The graduation ceremony, held at The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, marked the programme's second graduating class and highlights its contribution towards bridging the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills gap in the country through exposing learners to hands-on engineering experiences and career pathways.   

The 43 learners, representing 15 high schools across Johannesburg, were joined by their families to celebrate their achievements. Many of these learners plan to pursue engineering-related qualification at universities and technical institutions. Launched in 2022, PROTEC, University of Witwatersrand, and Kutitiva Foundation are the educational partners for the local Next Engineers programme. GE Vernova engineers and employees play an active role by engaging with Engineering Academy participants through hands-on, skill-based volunteering. In the 2024 calendar year, its Johannesburg-based employees donated over 680 hours to these efforts. 

“We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of this year's graduates and commend their dedication to pursuing careers in engineering,” said Matsi Eseu, South Africa HR Director for GE Vernova. “Supporting young talent through programmes like Next Engineers is central to GE Vernova's mission. In Johannesburg, we see first-hand how these opportunities empower students to unlock their potential and contribute to solving real-world challenges. We are honored to play a role in shaping a more dynamic future for engineering in South Africa.” 

Learners who complete the Engineering Academy program and enroll in a qualified engineering or engineering-related degree programme receive financial aid to support them as they continue on their paths to becoming engineers. To date, the Next Engineers programme in Johannesburg has reached nearly 4,100 learners and awarded $36,000 in scholarships to qualifying graduates. In addition, locally, GE Vernova awarded an additional $83,000 in scholarships to ten graduates through the country's External Bursary Programme.  

Dr. Nomalungelo Gina, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, said: “I applaud PROTEC for its role in promoting STEM education and helping to develop a cohort of young people who represent the core of our future workforce. You have chosen to be the bridge between potential and opportunity for many young people in our country. You reach places that, for a variety of reasons, government programmes may not always reach - our rural communities, under-resourced schools, and marginalized groups. Your programmes continue to ignite curiosity, nurture the raw talent and open doors for young people who would otherwise be left behind. Your mentorships, youth clubs, bootcamps, and your efforts to bring scientific experiments and floating laboratories to those who have never seen a science laboratory in their lives is a transformative experience. You have helped a young girl in a village believe she can be an engineer and shown a boy from the township that coding is not only for those in affluent urban centres; careers in engineering are meant for them as well. Let us therefore commit, collectively, to building the science, technology, and engineering foundations that will carry our continent into a future we will co-create. As government, we are your ally; we do not see you as gap-fillers, but as catalysts for transformation.”  

“We're proud to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's Engineering Academy graduates. Their drive and curiosity exemplify the promise of South Africa's next generation of engineers,” said Balan Moodley, CEO of PROTEC. “We are grateful to GE Vernova for their vision and commitment in making this program possible. Together, we have helped deliver opportunities that have contributed to empowering young minds."    

STEM training and education, such as Next Engineers, is helping to solve global challenges while also lifting up communities through economic opportunities. GE Vernova's commitment to nurturing future STEM talent in South Africa extends beyond Next Engineers: through its External Bursary Programme, the company has provided comprehensive bursaries totaling $7.3 million (R128.5 million) to more than 900 beneficiaries pursuing Bachelor's degrees in Science, Commerce, and Arts since 2020 to date. These bursaries help alleviate the financial burden for tertiary students, covering tuition, accommodation, textbooks, and monthly stipends for the duration of their studies. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GE Vernova.

Media contacts: 
GE Vernova  
Kashumba Macombe 
Communications Specialist 
GE Vernova 
Kashumba.Macombe@gevernova.com   
 
PROTEC 
Annette Reed  
Fundraising and Business Development  
Programme for Technological Careers (PROTEC) 
+27 82 334 2939  
annette@protec.org.za  

PROTEC Social Media:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/47hN950
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4nifVaN
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/473iuY2

About Next Engineers:
Next Engineers, a program originally funded by the GE Foundation in 2021, now known as the GE Aerospace Foundation, is a college- and career-readiness program dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineers. Through innovative programs, mentorship, and community partnerships, we empower young minds to shape a better future through engineering. 

For more information about Next Engineers and the Engineering Academy, visit www.NextEngineers.org. 

About GE Vernova​:
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world's challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with approximately 75,000 employees across approximately 100 countries around the world. Supported by the Company's purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova (www.GEVernova.com), GE Vernova in Middle East & Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4mXcMwM), and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4nLT8VK).  

The GE Vernova Foundation supports the Next Engineers in Johannesburg, South Africa under an arrangement with the GE Aerospace Foundation. 

About PROTEC:
PROTEC was established in 1982 by a group of engineers from the South African  Institute of Civil Engineers to respond to the challenges facing the education system and to address representation across all socio-economic and racial groups in STEM careers.  To date, PROTEC has seen more than 40,000 learners complete the Learner Excellence Programme. Based in Randburg, PROTEC has 17 branches and projects in 6 out of the 9 provinces.  Our aim is to extend the programme to all 9 provinces.  The programme targets learners from Grade 4 to Grade 12 in specifically Science, Mathematics, and English. Teachers who teach these subjects as well as coding and robotics, benefit from development and support that uses a centre-based and classroom support model.  Find us on www.PROTEC.org.za

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The joint parliamentary oversight delegation, which was engaging with underperforming municipalities in the Eastern Cape this week, today called for stronger cooperation between municipalities and provincial departments in the province to ensure effective support, oversight and service delivery.

Concluding a week-long engagement with 19 underperforming municipalities, the delegation raised concern about the continuing disconnect between provincial and municipal spheres of government. It emphasised that cooperative governance is a constitutional obligation and that provincial departments must provide timely and targeted intervention where municipalities are underperforming.

The delegation identified widespread weaknesses across Eastern Cape municipalities. Key among them were many municipalities' dependence on consultants without any transfer of skills, along with poor financial management and persistent unauthorised and irregular expenditure. Other common challenges shared among the municipalities included leadership instability, a lack of much-needed technical skills and underspending on infrastructure maintenance, all of which continue to undermine service delivery. The delegation further noted poor revenue collection, which has an impact on municipalities' financial sustainability, and limited consequence management.

It was observed that several municipalities continue to receive audit disclaimers year after year, despite having adopted detailed improvement plans. This, the delegation said, reflects weak leadership, poor accountability and a lack of consequence management. The delegation was of the view that many of the challenges identified could have been avoided if officials had carried out their responsibilities effectively. The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) must be used as a tool to enforce accountability and ensure that municipal councils, managers and executives fulfil their statutory and financial responsibilities. Persistent audit failures, the delegation noted, point to a deeper governance crisis that demands decisive corrective action.

The delegation called for stronger political and administrative will to act decisively on reported irregularities and misconduct. Members warned that the reluctance to confront wrongdoing undermines public confidence and perpetuates cycles of poor governance. Ms Dikeledi Direko, a member of the delegation who chaired the sessions, said, “Many of the failures we see are not because people do not know what to do, but because there is no willingness to confront misconduct. This must change.”

The delegation urged the Office of the Auditor-General to strengthen its early-warning systems by engaging with municipalities proactively throughout the financial year, rather than only at its conclusion. Members noted that proactive engagement would enable quicker responses to emerging financial and performance risks. “We need timely systems of reporting and investigation. Action must start early so that accountability follows quickly,” said Ms Direko.

Members also acknowledged that while some municipalities have begun to show progress, the overall pace of improvement remains too slow. “We have seen municipalities that are trying, but the pace of change is too slow,” said Ms Direko. “Municipal leadership must act decisively to implement what has been raised during these sessions.” The delegation urged municipal leaders to take pride and ownership of their institutions. Leaders were urged to prioritise the maintenance of infrastructure and planning and restore credibility through tangible improvements in communities.

Along with representatives from the national and provincial departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury, the Office of the Auditor-General, and the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature's committees on public accounts and COGTA, who attended proceedings, the delegation reaffirmed the need to restore financial discipline, strengthen institutional capacity and improve consequence management across all municipalities in the province. “The task before us is not easy, but it is necessary,” said Ms Direko. “Accountability begins with leadership that acts.”

The delegation has directed the MECs of Finance and COGTA to closely monitor council decisions, ensure investigations into maladministration are completed, and intervene decisively when municipal leaders and councils fail to act. Detailed reports, including timelines and measurable targets for addressing the issues raised this week, must be submitted to Parliament and the provincial legislature.

Parliament will continue to monitor developments in the Eastern Cape municipalities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.