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On Wednesday, 24 June 2025, on the sidelines of the United States of America–Africa Summit in Luanda, Angola, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi engaged with the Assistant United States Trade Representative responsible for Africa, Ms Connie Hamilton. The meeting followed the submission by South Africa on a proposed Framework …
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has learned with shock about the brutal assassination of Mr Mpho Mafole, the City of Ekurhuleni's group divisional head of corporate and forensic audits.
According to media reports, the 47-year-old was gunned down on Monday while driving along the R23 in Esselen Park. Police reportedly discovered Mr Mafole's body inside his vehicle, riddled with gunshot wounds.
Mr Mafole, who was appointed to the position only three months ago, brought with him an impressive track record of public service, including 14 years in the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa. He was tasked with uncovering financial irregularities and promoting transparency in the City of Ekurhuleni, one of the country's largest municipalities.
Committee Chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize said the nature of Mr Mafole's work underscored the often-dangerous responsibilities undertaken by those at the forefront of rooting out corruption in our public institutions. “The committee condemns this cowardly and violent act as this not only threatens the lives of dedicated public servants but also seeks to intimidate and hinder efforts to build clean and accountable governance, particularly in our municipalities where systemic failures persist,” said the Chairperson.
Dr Mkhize said this tragedy is a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers and anti-corruption officials. “Reforms to safeguard those who speak out and act against corruption must urgently be expedited.” He said municipalities, and the rest of government, must uphold the highest standards of financial oversight and integrity.
The Chairperson also noted that this tragedy comes as the committee prepares for the start of extensive oversight visits across provinces to demand accountability from municipalities following the latest dismal municipal audit outcomes. “The committee will continue to exercise its oversight mandate, working with all spheres of government to ensure that those who risk their lives in service of public accountability are protected and that the rot that enables criminality is eradicated,” he said.
“The committee extends its heartfelt condolences to Mr Mafole's family, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult time. We urge law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Malcolm Libera ·2 Jul 2025 The rand and South African government bonds strengthened on Tuesday, driven by investor optimism regarding progress towards a lower inflation target. The rand was trading at 17.65 against the dollar, reflecting an increase of about 0.3% from Monday’s closing level. The rand has reached its highest level since November and has …
GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,GOOD Secretary-General 02 July 2025 If President Cyril Ramaphosa is serious about prosecuting apartheid era operatives accused of heinous crimes, instead of waiting for a judicial commission to investigate the reasons for decades-long delays, he must demand urgent accountability from his Ministers of Justice and Defence for their dithering departments. Because, […]
The post CRADOCK FOUR: DEPARTMENTS OF DEFENCE AND JUSTICE COMPOUND INJUSTICE appeared first on For Good.
Economic development is crucial for Eersterust, and the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the public meeting recently hosted by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Economic Development Committee to discuss the matter. The new chairperson of the Economic Development Committee and Freedom Front Plus MPL, Adv Anton Alberts, organised the meeting as part of the Committee’s […]
The post Eersterust economic development initiative welcomed, but fairness and transparency are vital appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
At homechoice, chat commerce (powered by Infobip) is not just a support channel; it’s a full sales and customer experience engine. Second, where traditional e‑commerce requires heavy infrastructure, chat commerce thrives with leaner teams, automation and 24/7 bots. This makes it especially attractive for SMEs and emerging brands looking for scale without the complexity. Clickatell maintains that chat …
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies is inviting members of the public to comment on the nine candidates shortlisted for interviews to fill two vacancies on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA).
The shortlisted candidates are Dr Lario Malungana-Mantsha, Ms Melanie Roy, Dr Natalie Skeepers, Ms Chantel Manuel, Dr Rofhiwa Mukhudwana, Ms Sithembile Nkosi, Ms Moipone Malefane, Ms Onkgopotse Phala, and Ms Sandika Daya.
Their abridged profiles are published on the Parliament website using this link: https://tinyurl.com/3m8wsftf
The process of filling the two vacancies on the Board of the MDDA is done in terms of section 4(1)(b) of the MDDA Act.
Members of the public who wish to comment on the candidates have until the end of business on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
BULAWAYO: Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to a left groin...
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a warning for yellow level 4 disruptive rainfall this coming weekend. The forecast is from Friday, 4 July into Sunday, 6 July. Among the potential impacts are localised flooding of roads and settlements and saturation of waterways. ‘The Disaster Risk Management Centre will once again coordinate the …
The public participation process to submit comments on the possibility of expanding the Coastal Park Landfill officially began on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, and will run until Wednesday, 25 July 2025. In response to the growing demand for effective waste management in Cape Town, the City has identified an urgent need to expand the existing …
June proved to be a fantastic month for carmakers in South Africa with 47,294 units making their way off the showroom floor. This is 7,444 units more than the industry sold in June 2024, reflecting a year-on-year (YoY) improvement of 18.7%. As expected, Toyota led the pack last month with 11,690 sales – considerably more …
I observe the barrage of media images. Two strike me as strangely familiar. One is of ICE agents rounding up those suspected of being in the US illegally, and the other of members of the California National Guard and US Marines on the streets of Los Angeles – apparently to quell the protests there. These …
By De Wet Joubert, Operations & Strategic Projects Director, RS South Africa (https://Africa.RSDelivers.com)
South Africa's discrete manufacturing sector, which includes industries such as automotive, electronics, rail, and aerospace, faces mounting pressure from global competition, fragmented supply chains, and outdated infrastructure. In this complex environment, digitalisation is emerging not as a future consideration, but as a critical lever for survival, resilience, and growth.
Manufacturers are grappling with inconsistent supply chains, where limited visibility can halt entire operations. In discrete environments where the failure to procure even a single component can delay or derail entire production runs, real-time supply chain data is is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.
By integrating Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors, smart data loggers, and blockchain-enabled tracking platforms, manufacturers can transform disjointed supply chains into agile ecosystems. This transition can be supported with industrial communication modules, IIoT gateways, and advanced inventory management tools, all available through RS South Africa's extensive digital platform.
Modernising infrastructure doesn't require a full-scale overhaul. Legacy equipment such as traditional PLCs and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) are not obstacles, but opportunities for optimisation. With retrofit solutions like programmable logic controllers (e.g. Siemens LOGO! 8, Allen-Bradley Micro800), signal converters, and edge computing devices, manufacturers can equip existing machinery with smart capabilities. These upgrades extend equipment lifecycles and build toward fully connected environments without requiring massive capital expenditure.
Yet, alongside this technology imperative, there is an urgent need to address the African skills gap. National research shows that many African manufacturers remain at the early stages of Industry 4.0 readiness, with a particular deficit in digital and systems integration skills.
To meaningfully close South Africa's industrial skills gap, we must strengthen collaboration between higher education and industry. Universities are making great strides in incorporating real-world scenarios and advanced technologies into their programmes, but industry must also play a more active role in embedding its requirements at grassroots level. At RS South Africa, we support this through technical enablement and educational outreach, from providing Arduino and automation kits to funding student-led projects. Combined with STEM engagement and soft skills development, these efforts help bridge the gap between academic learning and industry expectations, equipping future engineers with the tools and confidence to lead.
A cornerstone of effective digital transformation is real-time decision-making, which is enabled by robust Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) systems as a framework. Its implementation can be supported by offering plant monitoring hardware, data acquisition systems, and panel PCs capable of displaying live dashboards. These systems streamline operations and reduce waste, while also enabling quality control, predictive maintenance, and compliance tracking.
Digitalisation is also a powerful tool for building resilience and sustainability. With South Africa facing ongoing energy constraints and growing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expectations, manufacturers are under pressure to operate leaner and smarter. The role of predictive analytics and IIoT-enabled systems in monitoring energy usage, scheduling maintenance, and automating efficiency improvements needs to be emphasised. Products such as power meters, energy monitoring kits, smart relays, and sensor-driven HVAC systems support manufacturers in meeting these efficiency and compliance goals.
One of the standout examples of local transformation is the Gibela rail manufacturing facility in Gauteng. Through automation, local supplier development, and workforce training, the site has achieved high levels of local content and productivity. Such projects are proof that digitalisation, combined with long-term investment in people and technology, can drive inclusive and competitive industrial growth. Components essential to such advanced environments include control panels, terminal blocks, protective relays, and advanced safety switches.
For example, RS South Africa's framework for enabling digital transformation in discrete manufacturing is grounded in five key pillars: retrofitting legacy equipment with intelligent controls; delivering experiential, industry-aligned training; integrating MOM systems for real-time operational insight; deploying IIoT solutions across plant and supply chains; and ensuring executive-level commitment to sustained innovation.
In a time of global industrial acceleration, African manufacturers that fail to adopt digital tools risk being outpaced by more connected and agile competitors. Digitalisation is no longer optional, it is essential. It offers the tools to improve productivity, build resilience, drive sustainability, and unlock new economic opportunities for the country's industrial sector.
By partnering with manufacturers and suppliers on this journey, we remain committed to shaping the future of African manufacturing, supporting a shift from isolated to integrated systems, from reactive to predictive operations, and from traditional labour-driven methods to data-led intelligence.
REFERENCES:
Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in South Africa
The Socio-economic Impact of Gibela
A Winning Strategy for South African Businesses (https://apo-opa.co/4l6oOnh)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of RS South Africa.
PR Contact Person - RS South Africa:
Princess Tlou
Communications & Content Specialist
RS South Africa
Princess.Tlou@rsgroup.com
+27 11 691 9366
Media Contact Person – NGAGE:
Thobile Ndlovu
Senior PR Account Executive
thobile@ngage.co.za
+27 11 867 7763
Further information is available via these links:
RS South Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4le3jB6)
RS Africa Exports (https://Africa.RSDelivers.com)
DesignSpark (https://apo-opa.co/4l6wqWR)
RS Group plc (https://apo-opa.co/45RSWye)
About RS:
RS is a global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.
We operate in 36 markets, stock over 800,000 industrial and specialist products and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building, and maintaining equipment and operations.
We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it's our people that make the difference.
Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people planet and profit.
RS Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with stock ticker RS1 and in the year ended 31 March 2024 reported revenue of £2,942 million.
A mini-substation on the corner of Bloemkomdraai and Opsaal Streets in Kempton Park West was vandalised on Monday night (30 June), leaving many households without power. The substation will now be demolished and replaced with a new, modern substation. Kempton Park West is notorious for criminals targeting mini-substations and destroying infrastructure faster than it can […]
The post Criminals target mini-substation in Kempton Park again appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in Ekurhuleni notes the Ekurhuleni Metro’s admission that certain residents paid incorrect electricity charges on 1 July due to a technical error in the system. While the Metro has acknowledged the error and confirmed that corrections will take effect from 2 July 2025, the Freedom Front Plus remains concerned […]
The post Ekurhuleni should be held accountable for incorrect electricity charges appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Trains are late, slow and often empty
The EU has increased financial and technical support for Africa's mining sector in the first half of 2025, aligning its foreign investment strategy with the continent's agenda to shape the global energy transition. In June this year, the EU named four Africa-bsed projects as part of its 13 globally strategic initiatives under the Critical Raw Materials Act. The projects include Mkango Resources' 8,425-ton-per-annum Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in Malawi and Frontier Rare Earths' 4,000-ton-per-annum Zandkopsdrift magnet-grade rare earths project in South Africa. The Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar led by Evion Group and a 6,000-ton-per-annum cobalt refinery in Zambia are also among the projects set to receive EU financial support and technical assistance.
Amid increased EU support for African mining projects, the upcoming African Mining Week – Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders, taking place from October 1–3, 2025 in Cape Town – will showcase lucrative investment and cooperation opportunities for EU companies in Africa's burgeoning mining sector. The event will feature an EU-Africa Roundtable, showcasing the EU's contribution to Africa's mining sector sustainability.
EU-DRC Mining Partnership Strengthened
Two new programs announced by the EU this June have deepened the bloc's mining partnership with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – the world's top cobalt producer and Africa's largest copper producer. The programs include the Cobalt for Development project which aims to formalize and uplift small-scale mining operations in the DRC. Meanwhile, the upcoming Panafgeo+ geological mapping program – led by France's Bureau of Geological and Mining Research in collaboration with DRC's Ministry of Mines – will enhance the country's geological knowledge base. At AMW, a panel titled The Cobalt Opportunity: DRC's Strategic Position in the EV Revolution will unpack trends and opportunities within the DRC's cobalt sector value chain.
EU Backs African Mineral Logistics Expansion
The EU is also backing strategic infrastructure development to facilitate connectivity between mineral-rich African markets and EU buyers. The Africa Finance Corporation recently secured a €250 million, 10-year loan from Italy's development bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to advance the Lobito Corridor, bolstering connectivity between EU markets and Angola, Zambia and the DRC. Meanwhile, the European Investment Bank has also approved a €113 million loan to co-finance the expansion of Mauritania's iron ore rail line linking Zouérat to Nouadhibou – part of a broader €461 million investment aimed at boosting the country's iron ore export capacity.
EU-South Africa Partnership
The EU recently announced a €4.7 billion financing package announced to support mineral processing, green hydrogen and transport infrastructure in South Africa, the world's largest producer of platinum group metals. This financing package reflects a growing focus on securing diversified and sustainable mineral supply chains. At AMW, a dedicated panel exploring South Africa's PGMs market will showcase emerging prospects for EU firms within the country's value chain.
Growing Support for Formalized Artisanal Mining
The EU has also committed to the ACP-EU Technical Assistance Facility for Commodity Resource Management, which was launched in February to support artisanal and small-scale miners across Africa through formalization and training program. As part of growing efforts by African nations and international partners to uplift small-scale miners, AMW will host a panel discussion titled ASM Regulation: Balancing Formalization and Livelihood Protection. The panel will explore policies and initiatives aimed at integrating artisanal and small-scale mining into the formal mining sector.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
About African Mining Week:
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.
1 July 2025 – The ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs have kicked off at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve, Pretoria. The competition follows a group stage format, utilizing a point-based system to determine progression to another phase of the playoffs. Each day features three scheduled fixtures. But due to unforeseen delays on the opening day
The post ABC Motsepe League National Playoffs kick off appeared first on South African Football Association.
The Powers and Privileges Committee this afternoon resolved to refer the matter, at the request of the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), relating to the conduct of Mr Visvin Reddy during the sitting of the 4 March 2025, to Parliament's Disciplinary Committee.
The committee agreed that although Mr Reddy's actions do not constitute contempt of Parliament as per Section 12 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, his actions do constitute misconduct.
The matter was referred to the committee by the Speaker of the National Assembly in terms of rule 214 of the NA Rules. The committee will table its report to the NA for consideration.
The committee also considered another matter referred by the Speaker relating to the conduct of Mr Marlon Daniels on 2 April 2025. The committee resolved to proceed with a formal inquiry to determine, through oral evidence, whether Mr Daniels' actions constituted contempt of Parliament in terms of the Act and NA Rules.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Mbenenge was persistent in his requests for nude pictures, says Dr Lisa Vetten
Trump imposed a 31% tax on U.S. imports from South Africa in April as part of his global “reciprocal” tariffs, before pausing their application for 90 days to allow for negotiations. South Africa aims to secure a trade deal that would exempt some of its key exports from the tariffs, including autos, auto parts, steel, and …
By Lehlohonolo Lehana. The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved $474.6 million loan to support South Africa’s Infrastructure Governance and Green Growth Program (IGGGP), the bank said on Tuesday. This IGGGP is the second phase of the bank’s strategic support for South Africa’s just energy transition (JET). It builds on the previous $300-million Energy Governance and …
Encounters 2025 honoured powerful documentaries from Africa and beyond. Here’s who won, and why their stories matter. South Africa (01 July 2025) – For nearly three decades, the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival has stood as a powerful platform for truth-telling, curiosity, and creative excellence. This year, the 27th edition once again brought audiences …
PRETORIA – A delegation of Afrikaners recently concluded a visit to the United States. WATCH: SA delegation remains calm in ‘genocide ambush’ by Trump The group said it had a series of engagement with White House officials and other key stakeholders. The delegation was led by FF Plus leader, Dr Corne Mulder, Dr Theo de …