Cabinet

27 March 2025

SASSA gold card swop deadline extended to end of April 2025

Location: News

SASSA gold card swop deadline extended to end of April 2025

The deadline for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grant beneficiaries to swop their SASSA gold cards for the new Postbank cards has been extended to 30 April 2025.

“The deadline for SASSA beneficiaries to swop their SASSA gold card for the Postbank black card has been extended to 30th April 2025 to allow SASSA and the Department of Social Development to complete the migration of the outstanding beneficiaries,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said on Thursday.

The Minister was briefing media following Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday.

At the briefing in Pretoria, Ntshavheni said Cabinet received an update on the migration of SASSA grant beneficiaries to the new and secure Postbank black card.

“The Postbank has met eight of the nine requirements of the South African Reserve Bank for paying social grants, and the last outstanding item being the physical replacement of the cards,” she said.

Government had initially set the deadline for the transition to the new cards to 28 February after which a second extension was set for 20 March 2025.

The new Postbank black cards can be obtained at various retailers, including Checkers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Usave, and Boxer. To receive a new card, beneficiaries need to present a valid South African ID or a temporary ID.

Postbank has also made it easy for beneficiaries to locate the nearest place in every province where they can collect their Postbank Black Cards. Beneficiaries can use their cellphones to:

•    Dial: *120*355#
•    To continue, reply by pressing number: 1
•    Reply with the number representing the province you live in.

The new Postbank black cards offer several benefits, including improved security features, one free card replacement per year, three free withdrawals in stores per month, and one free monthly statement over the counter. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:02

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27 March 2025

Cabinet notes misinformation campaigns

Location: News

Cabinet notes misinformation campaigns

Cabinet has noted with concern “continuing misinformation campaigns by Solidariteit and AfriForum and their allies”.

This is after AfriForum and Solidarity were in the United States recently.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday that law enforcement agencies were investigating these violations of South African laws.

“To prevent further misinformation, the South African Police Service (SAPS) met with AfriForum to clarify the allegations of white genocide with reference to farm murders.

“At the meeting, AfriForum conceded that the crime statistics as released by the Minister of Police are accurate, including on farm murders.”

Ntshavheni said “it is common knowledge that some of the farm murders are committed by people known to the farmers including family members”.

The Minister was briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

“Cabinet is also aware of the false claim that there are approximately 72 000 white farmers who have signed up to relocate to the USA [United States of America] in response to the invitation by the US President.”

Citing data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Ntshavheni said South Africa has only 41 122 farming units, therefore the number of commercial white farmers does not exceed this figure. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:08
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27 March 2025

Cabinet welcomes strengthened ties between SA and Japan

Location: News

Cabinet welcomes strengthened ties between SA and Japan

Cabinet has expressed its support for the strengthened relationship between South Africa and Japan following Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s working visit to Japan earlier this month.

The visit, held from 17 to 19 March 2025, aimed to enhance cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.

“Engagements were also held with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to explore areas of economic collaboration, the Association for African Economic Development in Japan to discuss trade and investment opportunities, and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security to highlight investment opportunities in the mining sector,” said the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

She was addressing the media during at a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.

SAnews reported that Deputy President Mashatile successfully concluded his working visit to Japan last week.

The two nations commemorated 115 years of strong diplomatic relations, with 2025 marking a significant milestone as both countries chair key multilateral organisations.

South Africa currently holds the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20), while Japan will lead the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) Summit in August this year.

During the working visit, Mashatile met with Japanese government officials, including a courtesy call to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The country’s second-in-command also met with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League to strengthen bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation between South Africa and Japan.

During these engagements, the Deputy President highlighted South Africa’s favourable business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic location, making it an attractive destination for Japanese investment.

The Deputy President expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20, stating that he looks forward to collaborating with Japan to ensure the TICAD-9 Summit is successful. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 03/27/2025 - 11:10
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20 March 2025

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile Concludes Working Visit to Japan

Location: News

The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa
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Deputy President Sipokosa Paulus Mashatile has successfully concluded his working visit to Japan aimed at reaffirming the strong cooperation between South Africa and Japan in areas of mutual interest.

As the two countries mark 115 years of well established diplomatic relations, the year 2025 also marks a special milestone, with both countries chairing important multilateral organisations – South Africa's Presidency of the G20 and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) Summit led by Japan.

During the working visit, the Deputy President met with Japanese Government officials, including paying a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Mr Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The Deputy President expressed his appreciation for Japan's support for South Africa's Presidency of the G20 and looked forward to collaborating with Japan to ensure that TICAD-9 is a success.

“Since 1993, Japan has been hosting TICAD, which focuses on Japan's support of African development through public and private support of initiatives aimed at peace and stability, and growth in the private sector, infrastructure, human resources, climate change, and education. Indeed, South Africa and Africa have a reliable and respectable ally in Japan,” said the Deputy President.

The Deputy President also met with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Freindship League with the aim of strengthening bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation between South Africa and Japan.

The meeting emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in promoting mutual understanding and cooperation and highlighted the importance of the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League in fostering stronger ties between Japan and African countries.

The Deputy President also had an opportunity to engage with the representatives of the Japanese business community which included Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), Keidenran and the Association of the African Economy and Development in Japan Committee (AFRECO), with the objective of promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

During these engagements, the Deputy President highlighted South Africa's favourable business environment, skilled workforce and strategic location, making it an attractive destination for Japanese investment.

Addressing concerns raised by the Japanese business community, the Deputy President reported on progress made in reducing the backlog and fast racking visa applications, government's commitment to ending loadshedding and ensuring safety for citizens and investors.

The Deputy President is confident that these engagements will yield positive results, further strengthening the partnership between the two countries.

“As this delegation goes back to South Africa, we have a collective mandate to bring to life some of the discussions and agreements that we have had with our counterparts and other stakeholders here. We are motivated and will do everything it takes to make sure another 115 years, with sustainable economic, cultural and people-to-people benefits for the people of both our countries.” said Deputy President Mashatile.

The Deputy President was supported by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka; the Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie; the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; the Minister of Agriculture Mr John Steenhuisen; the Minister of Trade Industry and Competition, Mr Parks Tau; and the Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Nomalungelo Gina.

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

19 March 2025

Cooperation between SA and Japan to continue

Location: News

Cooperation between SA and Japan to continue

South Africa and Japan continue to enjoy well-established diplomatic relations, which are particularly strong in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology and education, skills transfer and capacity building through development assistance.

This is according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who was speaking during an interview with the Foreign Correspondence Club of Japan as part of a working visit to the East Asian nation.

Full diplomatic relations with Japan were established in 1992, while in 2010, relations between the two countries were upgraded to a Strategic Cooperation Partnership.

This year marks 115 years of relations between the two nations.

READ | South Africa strengthens ties with Japan

Mashatile told the attendees that South Africa and Japan cooperate within the framework of the Partnership Forum held at a ministerial level, which covers the entire spectrum of sectoral cooperation.

The 13th Partnership Forum was held in 2022 in Tokyo and South Africa is expected to host the next session.

“Over the years, we have witnessed enhanced cooperation to foster closer relations through high-level engagements between our two countries. Japan is one of South Africa’s major economic partners with a sizeable investment in the South African economy, and the potential for increased investment exists,“ Mashatile said.

He stated that Japan is the fourth largest economy in the world and total bilateral trade between the two countries in 2024 was at R132 billion, with South Africa recording a trade surplus of R52 billion.

Development cooperation between South Africa and Japan involves technical assistance, research partnerships, financial loans, supplementary budget support through international organisations, and grassroots projects in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In terms of multilateral cooperation, the Deputy President said Japan cooperates with Africa on the promotion of Africa’s developmental agenda, in line with Agenda 2063, through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) framework.

In addition, he said the two countries cooperate in the Group of 20 (G20) framework to strengthen efforts towards advancing international economic cooperation for the achievement of sustainable development.

The Deputy President reiterated the South African government’s key objectives, which include reducing poverty and the cost of living, driving economic growth and job creation, and building a capable and ethical State.

“We are committed to making sure that our country prospers, not only for us to attract investments, but also to ensure that South Africans, have an improved quality of life.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy President said South Africa continues to pursue strong bilateral relations with the United States, despite the recent withdrawal of South Africa’s ambassador to the United States of America (USA).

“Acknowledging the recent withdrawal of our Ambassador from the USA, as a country we maintain the position that South Africa should maintain strong bilateral relations with the USA. As a country, we are committed to improving mutually beneficial trade, political, and diplomatic relations with the USA,” the Deputy President said on Wednesday.

At the weekend, the Presidency stated that it remains committed to building a relationship with the USA, despite the “regrettable“ expulsion of the Ambassador.

Additionally, the Deputy President expressed gratitude to all Ministers, Deputy Ministers, senior government officials, the South African embassy, and all counterparts for contributing to the success of his brief visit.

In the past three days, the team has met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Chief Cabinet Secretary, members of business, academia, research and numerous other stakeholders.

The Deputy President’s visit which began on Sunday, will conclude on Wednesday, 19 March. -SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Wed, 03/19/2025 - 12:35
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18 March 2025

South Africa strengthens ties with Japan

Location: News

South Africa strengthens ties with Japan

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with Japan during a working visit marking 115 years of relations between the two nations.

Speaking at United Nations University in Tokyo, the Deputy President underscored South Africa’s ongoing collaboration with Japan, highlighting the Strategic Cooperation Partnership established in 2010.

“This year, the two countries celebrate a significant milestone of 115 years of relations,” he said.

He also praised Japan’s significant investment in South Africa, with 273 firms currently operating in the country and sustaining over 200,000 local jobs.

“These ties have particularly flourished in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, and education and skills development assistance. Japan is a significant investor in the South African economy, with 273 firms operating in the country, hence sustaining over 200 000 local employment opportunities for many South Africans,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Deputy President held fruitful engagements with the Prime Minister as well as with the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan. He said these meetings were a sign of the significant people, and trade relations between the two sister countries.

Beyond economic ties, cultural exchanges were also in focus. The Deputy President visited the historic Meiji Jingu forest, where he reflected on the importance of nature in fostering societal development, linking it to the African philosophy of Ubuntu.

“This visit served as a reminder of how the forest and nature more cements the importance of connecting with nature what has been appreciated as Kami.

“We have a lot in common as a people, hence we will continue to invest in people-to-people cultural exchange programmes. This is already happening through the number of rugby players that are playing in various teams here in Japan. We are emphasising the importance of people to people because it becomes easier to do business when you know each others' cultures,” the Deputy President said.

Strengthening economic cooperation

The visit comes at a time when South Africa is looking to bolster international partnerships in light of current geopolitical challenges confronting the nation and the global community.

The Deputy President emphasised that his delegation’s trip was aimed at fortifying economic collaborations, particularly in inclusive economic development and trade balance.

“We want our two nations to collaborate with a particular emphasis on promoting inclusive economic development and ensuring a balance and increase in trade between the two nations.

“This has also been one of the priorities of South Africa’s 7th Administration, popularly known as the Government of National Unity (GNU). The formation of the Government of National Unity is a momentous development in South Africa’s democracy,” he said.

South Africa’s leadership in the G20 was also highlighted, with the Deputy President reiterating the country’s vision for its presidency under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”

“We want to make a meaningful contribution to the expressions of the continent through Vision 2063 towards the Africa we want. Such an Africa is one that is more integrated into the global community and acts as a key player in the economy and the socio-political landscape more broadly.

“We believe that in an interconnected world, the challenges faced by one country have an impact at a global level,” he said.

Call for global cooperation

The Deputy President concluded his address by emphasising the importance of global cooperation in addressing challenges such as climate change, rising nationalism, and economic instability.

“As I conclude, let me emphasise that our challenges can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration, and partnership; no challenge and no triumph exist in isolation. Cooperation is our greatest strength and our most powerful weapon.

“Under the guiding principle of Ubuntu - the profound belief that ‘I am because you are’ – we are reminded of the interconnectedness of humanity. It is this principle of Ubuntu that underpins South Africa’s leadership and vision for our G20 Presidency, and our future,” the Deputy President said.

He further urged everyone to remember that true progress is achieved not through words alone but through meaningful action and collaboration.

“We should be deliberate in our conversation and find more meaningful ways to strengthen our relations, both in trade, and investment. Let us work hand in hand towards a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all,” he said.

The Deputy President arrived in Japan on Sunday and will conclude his visit on Wednesday, 19 March.
READ | Deputy President Mashatile arrives in Japan for a working visit

– SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Tue, 03/18/2025 - 14:33
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18 March 2025

Well wishes for former Minister Pandor as she takes up new academic role

Location: News

Well wishes for former Minister Pandor as she takes up new academic role

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has congratulated former Cabinet Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor on her recent appointment as an Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria (UP).

Nkabane said this achievement is a fitting recognition of Pandor’s extensive contributions to the South African higher education sector, having served admirably as the Minister of Education; Science and Technology; Higher Education and Training; and more recently, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Nkabane noted Pandor’s significant contribution to reconfiguring the South African higher education landscape in the post-apartheid era, by ensuring that the restructuring of the higher education sector serves South Africans, irrespective of race, gender, and other forms of exclusion.

The Minister also noted Pandor’s visionary leadership and a pivotal role she played in transforming the South African higher education system, promoting social justice and equality through progressive policies.

“South Africa has positioned itself at the forefront of science, technology, and innovation, thanks to the solid foundation laid by Dr Pandor. Her unwavering commitment to building an inclusive and coordinated higher education sector is commendable,” Nkabane said in a statement on Monday.

She said the University of Pretoria had made an excellent and befitting appointment, highlighting that Pandor’s knowledge and passion for transformation, will “undoubtedly enrich the university and the broader higher education community.”

“Her academic achievements, including her doctoral research on transformation in the South African higher education context, reflect her deep commitment to shaping a progressive and inclusive sector.”

Nkabane further expressed her personal admiration for Pandor, saying, “It is an honour to stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. Pandor, whose mentorship and guidance continue to inspire me.”

“I consider her a mentor, mother, and a constant source of wisdom as we navigate the challenges facing our higher education system. Her contribution to the sector is invaluable, and I wish her every success in this exciting new chapter.

“The Department of Higher Education and Training wishes Dr Pandor well in her new role and looks forward to the positive impact she will continue to make within the higher education space,” Nkabane said.

Contribution to development

Meanwhile, University Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Francis Petersen, said Pandor joins UP’s Centre for the Advancement of Sustainable Higher Education Futures, where she will contribute without remuneration to research, and student and staff development.

Speaking at a recent event held at UP’s Hatfield campus to welcome Pandor, Petersen said Pandor is a leader whose impact on education, policy and innovation, and whose unwavering commitment to advancing higher education and sustainable development, aligns perfectly with the mission of the centre.

“It is truly a privilege to have someone of her calibre joining our academic network in this esteemed role.”

Petersen highlighted that Pandor’s appointment followed an external peer-review process and was vetted by the Senior Appointments Committee of the UP Senate. The university’s Registrar issued a formal note confirming that Professor Pandor is permitted to use the title of “Professor.”

Pandor received a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education from UP in 2019, after completing her doctoral thesis, titled ‘The contested meaning of transformation in higher education in post-apartheid South Africa’.

“Her passion for education stems from her background as a teacher and a lifelong curiosity about the field. Through her research, Prof Pandor explored the vast and rewarding landscape in education, while acquiring academic and research skills,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

He added that the honorary professorship was a testament, not only to Pandor’s academic abilities and remarkable contributions to transformation, but also to her excellence as a leader with strong ethical values.

“Balancing the responsibilities of a Cabinet Minister and PhD student was no easy task. She meticulously planned her schedule and dedicated every available moment outside work and politics to her studies, even reducing her public engagements. Despite the challenges, she remained committed to her academic goals,” Petersen said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Tue, 03/18/2025 - 06:56
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17 March 2025

DPWI Minister to host Tanzanian Minister in the Presidency

Location: News

DPWI Minister to host Tanzanian Minister in the Presidency

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson will tomorrow host the Minister in the Presidency from the United Republic of Tanzania.

The Minister will be accompanied by his delegation on a collaboration engagement focused on South Africa’s largest poverty alleviation programme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

“This flagship programme which is currently being enhanced to make more meaningful impact is receiving more recognition on the continent of Africa and globally,” the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said in a statement.

According to the department, the Tanzanian delegation will include senior government officials, the private sector and academia, which will gather under the theme: “Transformative impact of the EPWP through entrepreneurship and skills development”.

The EPWP was established and mandated by Cabinet to create work opportunities according to the set targets and across all its four sectors, namely infrastructure, non-state, environment and culture and social sectors.

One of the prescripts of the EPWP is to use labour-intensive methods which allow the drawing of a significant number of participants into the programme to do the work.

The EPWP Unit in the department prepared a strategic review of the first phase of the EPWP which was presented to Cabinet in June 2008.

This review was based on extensive evaluations of the first phase of the programme and made a number of key recommendations for the second phase of the programme in order to increase the scale and impact in the second phase.

While the EPWP achieved its target of one million work opportunities one year ahead of time, some constraints were identified that limited its further expansion. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 03/17/2025 - 10:58
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13 March 2025

Cabinet condemns Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Location: News

Cabinet condemns Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Cabinet has condemned Israel's refusal to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and its closure of border crossings.

This at a time when " the people of Gaza are experiencing immeasurable suffering" and urgently need food, shelter, and medical supplies.

Speaking during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said this action is a continuation of Israel’s “use of starvation as a weapon of war as part of the ongoing campaign of what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled to be plausible genocide against the Palestinian people.”

“Cabinet reiterates our nation’s call on the international community to hold Israel accountable and ensure the safe, continuous, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip,” Ntshavheni said at the briefing held in Cape Town.

Earlier this month, South Africa condemned the refusal of Israel to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

READ | SA condemns Israel’s refusal to allow aid into Gaza

In a statement issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the department said: “South Africa concurs with Qatar, one of the guarantors of the ceasefire agreement, that halting the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip is a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement, international humanitarian law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the ICJ, saying it is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The ICJ issued a provisional ruling in January 2024, ordering Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and take measures to prevent genocide. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 13:22
474 views

13 March 2025

Government determined to tackle economic challenges

Location: News

Government determined to tackle economic challenges

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has stressed the urgent need to tackle the nation’s pressing challenges in light of sluggish economic growth and has called for a collective effort to improve the quality of life for all citizens.

“As we embark on this journey, we must have a full appreciation that the first 15 years of democracy were characterised by high economic growth. However, the last decade and a half has been characterised by stagnant growth,” he said on Thursday.

According to the Deputy President, the stagnant growth of the past decade and a half has led to calls for immediate action to initiate structural reforms that would bolster gross domestic product (GDP) growth and create job opportunities.

“I must state from the onset that the responsibility of guiding South Africa to greater prosperity is not solely on the shoulders of the government. It is a shared responsibility among the business community, NGOs [non-governmental organisations], civil society and all those who aspire to see our country prosper.”

The Deputy President was speaking at the 7th BizNews Conference (BNC#7) at the Hermanus Municipal Auditorium in the Western Cape.

The BizNews Conference is an annual event focused on investment, business, and political issues.

The country’s second-in-command opened the dialogue with a reflection on South Africa’s democratic journey.

Mashatile underscored the issues plaguing the nation, including poverty, inequality, unemployment and corruption, which he believes threaten the fabric of South Africa’s democracy.

“They keep us, and if I may say so myself, awake at night because if we do not swiftly overcome these systemic economic issues, we shall experience perpetual unrest.”

Commitment to cooperation

He said the recent Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance highlights a step toward addressing these dilemmas.

According to the Deputy President, yesterday’s Budget was the product of a consensus reached within the Government of National Unity (GNU) following last month’s postponement.

“As I have indicated on several occasions, having a GNU Cabinet does not imply that we will agree on everything. There will be times when we do not view things the same way, but this does not spell the end of the GNU.”

However, Mashatile stressed GNU’s commitment to prioritising the needs of its citizens.

He also took the time to reinforce the credibility of the GNU amid scepticism about its longevity and effectiveness.

“Several coalition governments around the world have collapsed as a consequence of misunderstandings about the country’s Budget; this is but a reflection of democracy at work.”

The Deputy President assured attendees that the focus was on inclusive growth, job creation and addressing the high cost of living, while striving to build a capable and ethical State.

“We must do this to find solutions to the challenges that confront our nation,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 13:30
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13 March 2025

Cabinet welcomes Bushiri extradition ruling

Location: News

Cabinet welcomes Bushiri extradition ruling

Cabinet has welcomed the ruling by the Republic of Malawi’s Chief Resident Magistrate Court that Shepherd and Mary Bushiri be extradited to South Africa to stand trial on multiple criminal charges.

The charges include rape, contravening the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, the Banking Act, Immigration Act, as well as violating their bail conditions.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said this decision underscores the principle that no one is above the law.

“This ruling shows that no one can run away from the rule of law, and also reaffirms the judicial independence, international cooperation, and mutual trust between the South African and Malawian legal institutions.

“We are aware that that the Bushiris have indicated their intention to appeal. However, we are confident that we have a strong case against them,” Ntshavheni said at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday.

The Minister said South Africa stands ready to collaborate with the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to coordinate the transfer arrangements and logistics to ensure that they are brought to South Africa to stand trial.

Shepherd Bushiri, a self-proclaimed prophet, and his wife, Mary, were arrested in South Africa in 2019 on charges of fraud and money laundering. In October 2020, they faced additional charges, including violations of immigration laws.

While out on bail, the couple fled to Malawi in November 2020, leading South African authorities to initiate extradition proceedings. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 14:09
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13 March 2025

South Africa successfully hosts key G20 Working Groups and Task Force Meetings

Location: News

South Africa successfully hosts key G20 Working Groups and Task Force Meetings

As part of its G20 Presidency, South Africa has successfully hosted a series of high-level G20 working groups and task force meetings during this month, focusing on global challenges such as corruption, food security, disaster risk reduction, agriculture, and tourism.

The first Anti-Corruption Working Group Meeting, held in Cape Town from 3 to 5 March 2025, focused on mechanisms to enhance the implementation of legal instruments to fight corruption.

Cabinet said in a statement that this meeting was an opportunity for participants to establish the agenda and lay the groundwork for future discussions, encouraging dialogue and collaboration to strengthen anti-corruption strategies.

“During this meeting, participants discussed and agreed on these several key priorities which are strengthening Public Sector Integrity; Increasing Asset Recovery Efficiency; Inclusive Participation; and Whistle-Blower Protection,” Cabinet said.

Agriculture Working Group

The First Agriculture Working Group Meeting, held virtually on 3 and 4 March, discussed critical issues that affect agricultural stakeholders worldwide and agreed on priorities for the year ahead.

The group established four key priorities:

Promoting inclusive market participation and food security;
Empowering youth and women in agrifood systems;
Fostering innovation and technology transfer and
Building climate resilience for sustainable agriculture

Tourism Working Group

On 5 March, the First Tourism Working Group Meeting, also held virtually, deliberated on how tourism can be used to change people’s lives, communities and the world.

The group also identified four focus areas for the year ahead namely:

Leveraging People-Centered Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Innovation to support travel and tourism start-ups and SMMEs,
Enhancing tourism financing and investment to promote equality and sustainability,
Improving air connectivity for seamless travel, and
Boosting resilience for inclusive, sustainable tourism development.

Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group

First Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group Meeting also held virtually on 5 March, discussed the acceleration of early warnings for all initiatives which is a key global target set by the United Nations and reinforced the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

“South Africa sees this meeting as a key international forum to drive the agenda of a shared responsibility to build resilience, strengthen our cooperation, and drive meaningful action that is needed to prevent an escalation or exacerbation of risk,” Cabinet said.

Key priorities included:

addressing Inequalities and Reducing Vulnerabilities
Global Coverage of Early Warning Systems
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction
Disaster Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; and
Ecosystems-Based Approaches for DRR/Nature-Based Solutions.

Food Security Task Force

The First Task Force Meeting on Food Security, held virtually on 5 March, discussed policies and programs to improve food security.

“Participants agreed to build a stronger, fairer, and more sustainable food system. They also committed to address key challenges like trade barriers, funding for food production, and the impact of climate change on food supply chains,” Cabinet said.

Some of the priorities outcomes discussed are the following:

Stronger food security policies
Stable food prices
Clear regulations & standards
G20 Action Plan for Food Security; and
Ministerial approval & implementation

G20 Outreach Programme

On 7 March 2025, the G20 Outreach Programme was held at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, to encourage public engagement in South Africa’s G20 presidency.

Citizens were urged to welcome international delegates, promote South Africa’s cultural heritage, and share positive narratives about the country.

“The gathering was used to encourage the people of this country to get involved in welcoming our guests to the country as we continue to host meetings in various parts of the country and to promote their culture and heritage. South Africans were also encouraged to tell a good story about their country,” Cabinet said.

The following G20 Working Groups and Task Forces meetings are scheduled to take place until the end of March 2025:

First Task Force Meeting: Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment, and Reduce Inequality: 17 March 2025 – virtual.
First Trade and Investment Working Group Meeting: 18-20 March 2025 – virtual.
Second Health Working Group: 26-28 March 2025 – Durban.
First Climate and Environment Sustainability Working Group Meeting: 25-28 March 2025 – virtual.

For more information on these various G20 meetings and their outcomes can be accessed on www.g20.org OR www.g20.org.za– SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 15:15
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13 March 2025

Cabinet considers National Minimum Wage report

Location: News

Cabinet considers National Minimum Wage report

Cabinet has received and considered a report by the Department of Employment and Labour on the progress made to protect and enhance the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

The National Minimum Wage Act, which was enacted in November 2018, laid the foundation for reducing income inequality and wage gaps, and continues to safeguard low-income workers in the country.

“From 1 March 2025, the National Minimum Wage increased by 4% from R27.58 to R28.79 per hour. This increase aims to provide essential economic support and much-needed relief to the six million workers earning within the National Minimum Wage bracket,” Cabinet said in a statement on Thursday.

READ | National Minimum Wage increases

The wage is the minimum amount of pay that an employer is legally required to remunerate employees for work done. No employee should be paid below the NMW.

Foundation learning

Meanwhile, Cabinet has also expressed its support for the strategic reorientation of the basic education sector towards foundation learning.

In January 2025, the Department of Basic Education announced and celebrated a record high matric pass rate of 87.4%.

However, just a month earlier the department had released systematic evaluation results from three different studies showing that nearly 80% of South African children cannot read for meaning, in any language by the age of 10.

To resolve this challenge the department has initiated a strategic reorientation that will have the following initiatives:

•    Universal access to quality early childhood development through the mass registration of ECD centre, ensure each child in ECD receives a subsidy, support ECD centre with Learning and Teaching materials, offer support to practitioners to obtain teaching qualifications. The funding of this has been allocated in the 2025 National Budget.
•    Review the norms and standards to increase teacher posts in foundation phase teaching
•    Funza Lushaka Bursary will be re-oriented to prioritise bursaries to students who wish to teach in the foundation phase.

“This strategic reorientation will strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills of learners and ensure that they later be able to table on more complex subjects such as Maths, Science, Accounting and Economics amongst others,” Cabinet said. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 14:32
44 views

13 March 2025

Government steps in to assist citizens affected by severe weather

Location: News

Government steps in to assist citizens affected by severe weather

Government has called on all citizens to exercise caution in parts of the country that experience severe weather conditions.

This after a national state of disaster was declared in KwaZulu-Natal, where heavy downpours have battered the coastal province – leaving at least nine dead, infrastructure and housing destroyed and people displaced.

During a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday in Cape Town, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni urged residents to exercise caution.

“Cabinet calls on all South Africans to exercise extreme caution whenever there is inclement weather. Heavy rain poses a risk of localised flooding, particularly in low-lying areas, bridges and roads.

“In cases of heavy rains, communities are urged to avoid flooded roads and to monitor news broadcasts, radio bulletins, and government official social media pages for real-time updates and alerts,” she said.

The Minister also assured those impacted by the severe weather that government is stepping in to assist.

“The impact of severe weather conditions in KwaZulu-Natal has led to a national state of disaster being declared - to allow the provincial Department of Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to mobilise all organs of State to augment support measures, limiting the impact of the disaster on communities.

“Government continues to provide flood victims with assistance and the Department of Human Settlements has allocated R100 million to KwaZulu-Natal to assist managing the flood aftermath,” Ntshavheni said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 11:42
224 views

13 March 2025

Cabinet welcomes GDP growth in fourth quarter of 2024

Location: News

Cabinet welcomes GDP growth in fourth quarter of 2024

The 0.6% increase in South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2024 signals a recovery across the economy, says Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

“Cabinet is confident that the increased focus and pace of delivery on economic structural reforms, improved service delivery and State capacity, and increased participation of the private sector will spur further growth of the economy in 2025 and beyond,” the Minister said during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South Africa’s GDP increased by 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024, following a decrease of 0.1% in the third quarter of 2024.

“The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry increased by 17.2%, contributing 0.4 of a percentage point to the positive GDP growth. This was primarily due to increased economic activities reported for field crops and animal products.

“The finance, real estate and business services industry increased by 1.1%, contributing 0.3 of a percentage point. Increased economic activities were reported for financial intermediation, real estate activities and other business services,” Stats SA said earlier this month.

The trade, catering and accommodation industry increased by 1.4%, contributing 0.2 of a percentage point. Increased economic activities were reported for wholesale trade, retail trade and motor trade.

Investments

Meanwhile, Cabinet welcomed the announcement by Microsoft South Africa that it will invest R5.5 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the country.

“This investment will strengthen South Africa’s position as a leading Artificial Intelligence hub on the African continent and builds Microsoft South Africa’s R20.4 billion investment over the past three years.

“Microsoft South Africa also announced their contribution to developing South Africa’s digital literacy by paying for technical certification for 50 000 individuals in high-demand digital skills.

“In further uplifting our investment profile, Indian car manufacturer, Mahindra, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to explore the possibility of setting up a full-scale vehicle assembly plant in the country,” the Minister said.

Mahindra already has an assembly plant of Pik Up range of vehicles in Durban operated by AIH Logistics.

The company recently celebrated the production of their 25 000th locally assembled Pik Up vehicles [range of bakkies].

“Cabinet reminded every South African as direct shareholder in South Africa Incorporated (SA Inc.) of their vested interest in promoting our country as an investment destination in a globally competitive environment. We must continue to speak with one voice in defence of our national interest, our sovereignty and our constitutional democracy,” the Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 12:12
94 views

13 March 2025

Cabinet welcomes 2025 National Budget

Location: News

Cabinet welcomes 2025 National Budget

Cabinet has welcomed the 2025 National Budget as it seeks to maintain a balance between South Africa’s fiscal framework, fund the priorities of the seventh administration while mitigating negative impact on poor and middle-income households.

The budget was tabled by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, in the National Assembly, on Wednesday.

He outlined all the financial, economic and social commitments the government will prioritise in its planned expenditure and provided a detailed plan for 2025 spending. This includes proposals for revenue collection to help fund the government’s planned interventions and commitments.

“The allocation of over R1 trillion to infrastructure development over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), the establishment of alternative infrastructure financing through a credit guarantee vehicle and the introduction of multiple bid windows on the Budget Facility for infrastructure is a demonstration of commitment to grow the economy through a strong infrastructure-build programme, whilst simultaneously improving service delivery.

“Mechanisms for private sector participation as announced with the Budget, which are part of Operation Vulindlela driven reforms, in the energy, transport and freight logistics sectors indicate government’s commitment to fast-tracking private sector investment and inclusive economic growth,” Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said on Thursday.

Minister Ntshavheni was briefing the media in Cape Town, following Cabinet’s meeting on Wednesday.

Operation Vulindlela is aimed at stabilising the supply of electricity; creating a competitive and efficient freight logistics system; reducing the cost and improving the quality of digital communication; ensuring a stable, quality supply of water; and reforming the visa regime to facilitate skilled immigration and support tourism.

READ | Operation Vulindlela records notable progress

Since its establishment in 2020, Operation Vulindlela has made real progress in achieving these objectives.

In light of new and persistent spending pressures in health, education, transport and security, government decided to raise value-added tax (VAT) by 0.5 percentage points in each of the next two years, which will bring VAT to 16% in the 2026/27 financial year.

READ | Government proposes VAT increase over two years

The first 0.5 percentage point increase in the VAT rate will take effect on 1 May 2025 and the second 0.5 percentage point increase will take effect on 1 April 2026.

“Acknowledging the impact of the tax increases, the Budget provides for mitigation measures against the increases such as no increase in the fuel levy, above inflation increases to social grants, with old age and disability grants increasing by R130 to R2315 in 2025 and significant funding allocation to PRASA [ Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] to improve passenger rail transport which will reduce household income spend on transport costs.

“Most significantly, the tax increases are going to finance sustainability of this country, by maintaining 11,000 teachers in the classrooms, 9300 health-workers in their jobs, the employment of 800 post-community service doctors and allow an additional 700, 000 children (4-years of age) access to early childhood development which is the necessary foundation education they need for a successful education journey,” Ntshavheni explained. –SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 11:49
58 views

12 March 2025

Finance Minister to deliver Budget Speech 2025

Location: News

Finance Minister to deliver Budget Speech 2025

Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, is expected to deliver the 2025 Budget Speech in Parliament today.

The Budget Speech seeks to strike a balance between fostering economic growth and providing support for the most vulnerable in society, even with constrained resources.

Additionally, the Minister will present the Appropriation Bill and submit the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill, both of which Parliament will review and process in the coming months.

“Minister Godongwana will also introduce the Appropriation Bill and table the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill, which Parliament is expected to process in the following months. During the Budget Speech, the Finance Minister indicates the allocation of financial resources to the national government’s priorities outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the State of the Nation Address.

“Mr Godongwana will outline all the financial, economic and social commitments the government will prioritise in its planned expenditure. He will provide a detailed plan for 2025 spending, including proposals for revenue collection to help fund the government’s planned interventions and commitments,” Parliament said in a statement.

The speech was initially scheduled for 19 February but was postponed to allow Cabinet to further deliberate on the best possible ways to fund the budget.

In a weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the concerns raised following the postponement,

“The last-minute postponement was unfortunate. It gave rise to concern and uncertainty among South Africans, investors and the financial markets, who look to the budget for important signals about the state and direction of our economy.

“Decisions on how to spend public funds have implications for every South African. It is therefore essential that the concerns raised by different parties around the budget are properly addressed, in the interests of accountability, transparency and consensus-building,” the President said.

Members of the public are encouraged to follow the proceedings on Parliament TV (DSTV Channel 408), through a live stream on Parliament’s website, Parliament’s YouTube channel, and X page on following links:

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ParliamentofRSA
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ParliamentofRSA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ParliamentofRSA

A day after the Minister delivers the speech, the Deputy Director-General of the National Treasury Budget Office, Edgar Sishi, with National Treasury officials, are expected to visit Athlone High School in Cape Town to engage learners on the 2025 National Budget.

“The aim of this outreach programme is to raise awareness and educate the learners about national budget information. It will also outline the budget process and encourage engagement.

“Public participation in the budget process is essential for promoting transparency and accountability in governance. In February each year, the Minister of Finance tables the National Budget, which outlines budget allocations for national and provincial departments.

“By engaging the public, particularly the youth, this initiative promotes inclusive development, fosters trust in resource allocation and ensures the budget information is accessible to broader members of society,” National Treasury said in a statement. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Wed, 03/12/2025 - 07:00
87 views

7 March 2025

SA to champion women’s leadership on International Women’s Day

Location: News

SA to champion women’s leadership on International Women’s Day

As South Africa continues to make significant strides in women’s representation in government, greater efforts are urgently needed to ensure women’s leadership extends to corporate and economic sectors.

The Department of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities made the remarks ahead of the global commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) on Saturday, 8 March 2025.

International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration of women’s achievements, as well as a powerful call to action for gender equality.

The day serves as a reminder of the invaluable contributions women make to society, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges they continue to face in various spheres of life.

This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action” encourages the global community to intensify efforts to implement strategies, allocate resources, and initiate activities that will positively impact the advancement of women everywhere.

The WID 2025 coincides with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) (“Beijing +30”).

The year also marks the final five years of the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring the urgency of advancing gender equality globally.

The department emphasised that with the right action and support, positive progress can be made for women across the globe.

“South Africa continues to make strides in women’s representation in government, with women making up 46% of Parliament and 43% of the Cabinet. However, greater efforts are needed to ensure women’s leadership in corporate and economic sectors.

“More work should be done to accelerate equal representation, as women remain underrepresented in high-income sectors and continue to face significant wage gaps. To bridge the gap, there is a need to demonstrate actions to stronger policies on financial inclusion, access to credit, and workplace protections for women,” the department said on Friday.

The department highlighted the importance of equipping women with the necessary tools and resources to start and grow businesses, manage household finances, and invest in their futures.

These efforts will strengthen their voices in decisions affecting them, and also help narrow gender gaps in financial access, while endorsing broader social and economic equality.

In alignment with the Government of National Unity's (GNU) priorities for the 7th administration, which has identified rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth for all South Africans, the department emphasised that these priorities align closely with the World Economic Forum's (WEF) agenda for women’s rights.

The WEF focuses on closing gender gaps in economic participation, pay, and leadership.

“The South African Constitution champions the achievement of equality, including gender equality, throughout its provisions, particularly section 9 of the Constitution, which creates a basis for the obligation of the public sector, the private sector and civil society to eliminate and remedy gender, race and social inequalities,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

GabiK
Fri, 03/07/2025 - 12:57
171 views

6 March 2025

Dept seeks declaratory order for irregular tender for Driving Licence Card Machine

Location: News

Dept seeks declaratory order for irregular tender for Driving Licence Card Machine

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has instructed her department to lodge a high court application for a declaratory order regarding the Driving Licence Card Machine (DLCM) tender found to have been irregular by the Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA).

The department on Wednesday said the declaratory order is being sought to get guidance on how to proceed, given the findings of the AGSA audit report.

In September last year, the Minister requested the AGSA, who at the time was undertaking an audit of the procurement process for the new DLCM, to widen the scope of the audit process to include whether Supply Chain Management (SCM) prescripts were followed to the letter, and if the specs of the project included adequate measure to protect the safety of personal data, given the sensitivity of information and security features involved in this project.

The AGSA identified instances of non-compliance with the required procurement processes.

“The non-compliances emanated from transgressions of SCM prescripts (Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Treasury Regulations and Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA) SCM policies, rendering the procurement process irregular,” the Department of Transport said on Wednesday.

The AGSA audit of the DLCA SCM processes revealed irregularities in the tender evaluation.

IDEMIA, the winning bidder, failed to meet key bid technical requirements. Additionally, the AGSA review confirmed that the other bidders were not unfairly disqualified, as they also did not meet the bid technical specifications.

All bids submitted exceeded the R486 385 million budget set by the DLCA, indicating inadequate market analysis and budgeting.

The AGSA found that the DLCA used outdated pre-COVID-19 prices, and the budget they submitted to Cabinet for approval did not include all the costs for the contract, leading to Cabinet approving a memo that was not a true reflection of the cost of the contract.

"This poses the risk of the project being delayed or cancelled due to insufficient funds," the AGSA said in its report.

The AGSA also noted that the bid specifications included an adequate assessment of the ability of the system to protect personal data. All bidders were evaluated on this criterion, and some were responsive.

According to the AGSA, the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) deviated from assessing the bids using the exact criteria set out in the bid specifications when evaluating documents provided by bidders.

“The BEC members had to use their judgement and make executive decisions on how to assess the bids due to ambiguous bid specifications, which did not clearly address the DLCA requirements. This ambiguity led to discrepancies identified by the AGSA, resulting in an unfair and non-transparent procurement process.

“The inconsistencies extended beyond technical evaluation to site visits conducted by the DLCA. During these visits, the DLCA was supposed to confirm that the MX8100 machine proposed by the bidder, IDEMIA, had the required capacity and capability to deliver on the requirements. The DLCA chose to inspect an unrelated machine”.

The AGSA said the deviation from the bid specifications and the use of ambiguous criteria undermined the fairness and transparency of the procurement process.

“It is on the basis of the above that the department is in no position to turn a blind eye on the findings of the AGSA that points to irregularities in the tender process and the transgressions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

“In terms of section 81 (1) of the PFMA, an accounting officer for a department or a constitutional institution commits an act of financial misconduct if that accounting officer wilfully or negligently... makes or permits an unauthorised expenditure, an irregular expenditure, or a fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

“Consequently, Minister Creecy has instructed the department to lodge a high court application for a declaratory order for guidance on how to proceed, given the AGSA audit report,” the department said. - SAnews.gov.za

nosihle
Thu, 03/06/2025 - 09:21
9 views

3 March 2025

Government activities for the week 03 – 07 March 2025

Location: News

Government activities for the week 03 – 07 March 2025

On Monday, 03 March, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in strategic partnership with the North West University’s Mahikeng Campus, is set to officially launch the Agri-Hub.

On Tuesday, 04 March, the Commission for Gender Equality in KwaZulu-Natal will hold a men’s engagement conference in collaboration with the men’s sector and other stakeholders to address gender-based violence and promote collaborative solutions across communities.

Also on Tuesday, the Department of Social Development will host a multi-stakeholder engagement on implementation of Recommendation 8 of the Financial Action Task Force (3-5 March).

On Wednesday, 05 March, Minister Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi and Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana lead the 1 st Technical Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Working Group (3-5 March).

On Thursday, 06 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Cabinet will visit the Gauteng Executive Council and the City of Johannesburg (6-7 March).

Friday, 07 March, no confirmed events.

Neo
Mon, 03/03/2025 - 11:29
62 views

2 March 2025

President Ramaphosa to engage Gauteng on developmental priorities

Location: News

President Ramaphosa to engage Gauteng on developmental priorities

President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Cabinet will on Thursday visit the Gauteng Executive Council and the City of Johannesburg, said the Gauteng Provincial Government.

The two-day visit beginning on Thursday is aimed at engaging with the province on its strategic development priorities.

“This meeting is part of the President’s engagement with all provinces to ensure alignment on the 7th Administration’s Medium Term Development Plan.

“The Premier and Members of the Executive Council (MECs) will use the visit to update the President and Ministers on the plans of the Gauteng Provincial Government to improve service delivery in the province,” the provincial government said on Sunday.

To date, the President and his Cabinet Ministers have visited KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. -SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Sun, 03/02/2025 - 15:24
371 views

28 February 2025

Minister Creecy outlines plans to reinvigorate logistics sector

Location: News

Minister Creecy outlines plans to reinvigorate logistics sector

The South African government is committed to reinvigorating the country’s logistics sector as an enabler of economic prosperity.

This is according to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy who delivered remarks at the launch of a new World Bank report titled: “Driving Inclusive Growth in South Africa: Quick Wins with Competitive Markets and Efficient Institutions".

“[Government has] established the National Logistics Crisis Committee [NLCC]…comprised of representatives from the Presidency, various government departments and the private sector.

“Its work includes securing strategic logistics corridors handling commodities that are essential to the export market and economic growth; addressing backlogs and congestion at strategic border crossings; combatting congestion in key national highway corridors such as the N1 and N3, as well as interventions to combat cable theft and maintenance backlogs at Transnet.

“This collaboration has seen modest improvements in our logistics performance,” she said on Friday.

The department and Transnet have set a target of moving at least 250 million tonnes of freight on the Transnet network by the year 2030 up from 150 million tonnes in the 2023/24 financial year.

Investment

Creecy highlighted that to achieve this, the rejuvenation of the rail sector is a key objective, which began with the Cabinet’s approval of the White Paper on National Rail Policy in March 2022.

“The Rail Policy introduces structural reforms in the sectors that are intended to enable private sector investment, optimal utilisation of the rail network, and effective economic regulation of rail that will facilitate equitable access to the rail network and ensure that it is properly managed.

“As part of this process a Private Sector Participation [PSP] Unit is being established by the department in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Once established, this unit will help direct and coordinate private sector investments in priority rail projects requiring capital investment.”

The Minister revealed that the department is currently in the process of issuing Requests for Information “regarding potential investment in the rail and port sector”.

“This serves to share information with the public regarding possible PSP projects, but also to allow the department, and by extension Transnet, to gather information on projects with the potential for third party involvement.

“I want to emphasise again that throughout this process all rail and port infrastructure will remain under the government’s ownership. We are also in the process of consulting with organised labour regarding the details of our freight logistics roadmap.

“We cannot continue with the status quo, where derailments and port blockages cost our economy billions of rands, and thousands of jobs in all sectors of our economy are at risk,” Creecy said.

Port efficiency

Turning to inefficiencies at South African ports, the Minister said Transnet has launched a recovery plan aimed at “increasing and stabilising port and rail volumes”.

“The establishment of various war rooms for specific corridors and commodities has allowed Transnet and the private sector to collaborate and share expertise and address challenges such as derailments and unplanned maintenance.

“As part of Transnet’s Recovery Plan, replacement and refurbishment of crucial ports infrastructure such as cranes, gantries and straddles is planned in the short, medium and long term, and continued collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has ensured that spare parts for essential machinery can be secured when necessary.

“This has resulted in improvements we are seeing in our ports which have cut down on ship waiting times and queuing times for trucks,” she said.

Creecy told stakeholders at the launch that collaborations have also assisted to address bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

She insisted that all the measures set out by government will “enable us to meet the targets that we set for the logistics sector, based on pre-pandemic figures”.

“Transnet and the department have set the goal of 250 million tonnes of freight per year, moving on the Transnet network by 2030. Transnet achieved 150 million tonnes of freight per year during the 2023/ 2024 financial year. At our ports, the target is to improve gross crane moves per hour from the 2024 average of 16 to 30 by 2030.

“These ambitious targets cannot be achieved within the existing Transnet system and will require significant private and public investments in infrastructure, rolling stock and digital systems.

“This can only be achieved through a partnership between government and the private sector, where technical knowledge, experience, [the] world’s best practice and funding can be shared,” Creecy concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Fri, 02/28/2025 - 13:44
147 views

27 February 2025

SA welcomes EU support on geopolitics

Location: News

SA welcomes EU support on geopolitics

The Cabinet has welcomed the support of the European Union (EU) for South Africa’s positions on global geopolitics and the priorities of its Group of 20 (G20) Presidency.

This follows the successful 16th Ministerial Political Dialogue between South Africa and the EU, which took place on 19 February 2025 in Cape Town.

“The dialogue presented an opportunity for the EU and South Africa to reiterate their common commitment to multilateralism, rules-based international order, and the centrality of the United Nations (UN) Charter,” said Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday.

The Minister was addressing a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town after Wednesday's meeting.

According to Ntshavheni, the parties at the ministerial dialogue also agreed on the need to reform the UN Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, democratic and accountable.

The EU and South Africa discussed their cooperation in multilateral and regional fora, highlighting their joint efforts to promote human rights, sustainable development and address climate change.

“They also reviewed opportunities to step up cooperation on sustainable value chains, including critical raw materials to further their respective competitiveness, economic security and decarbonisation efforts,” Ntshavheni said.

She explained that the meeting also acted as a preparatory platform for the upcoming EU-South Africa Summit, scheduled for 13 March 2025 in South Africa.

The summit will focus on improving economic relations, ensuring a just energy transition, addressing security and defence issues, promoting sustainable value chains and enhancing multilateral cooperation.

The EU is South Africa’s top source of foreign direct investment and South Africa is the EU’s largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Moreover, Ntshavheni said the meeting also underscored the importance of holding the EU-African Union (AU) Ministerial Meeting and Summit in 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Thu, 02/27/2025 - 13:09
254 views

27 February 2025

More than 716 900 SASSA beneficiaries transition to Black Cards

Location: News

More than 716 900 SASSA beneficiaries transition to Black Cards

Over 716 900 South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) beneficiaries have transitioned to the Postbank Black Cards from the previous SASSA Gold Cards, Cabinet said on Thursday.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said card distribution sites have been increased around the country to ensure that beneficiaries are assisted before the 20 March 2025 deadline.

“More than 716 900 beneficiaries have transitioned to the Postbank black cards and card distribution sites have been increased around the country to mitigate the queues so that every beneficiary receives the new card near where they live.

“Postbank has also increased the number of tellers in the card replacement sites from 2 tellers to up to 5 tellers depending on the business of the site,” the Minister said at a post-Cabinet briefing in Cape Town.

Cabinet also encouraged beneficiaries to visit their nearest Checkers, Shoprite, Pick ‘n Pay, Usave, or Boxer stores to collect their new Postbank Black Card.

READ | Grant beneficiaries urged to replace expiring SASSA Gold Cards

Steps to take

A valid South African identity document (ID) or temporary ID is required. Mobile offices will also be available in rural areas to assist beneficiaries.

Additionally, Postbank has partnered with the Spar Group, which will designate 200 of its stores as service sites across the country.

“Cabinet reminds beneficiaries that the old SASSA Gold Card will stop working on 20 March 2025 and beneficiaries who have not exchanged their cards by then will need to visit their nearest Post Office branch to access their funds,” the Minister said.

SASSA had previously said that Postbank has also made it easy for beneficiaries to locate the nearest place in every province where they can collect their Postbank Black Cards.

All they need to do from the comfort of their homes is to use their cellphone and:
•    Dial: *120*218*3#
•    To continue, reply by pressing number: 1; and
•    reply with the number representing the province they live in.

To get the new Postbank Black Cards, beneficiaries are required to have a valid South African ID, or a temporary ID. Beneficiaries are urged to be aware that no card will be issued without these documents.

Ensuring that minimum documentation is required to get the new Postbank Black Cards is in line with SASSA and Postbank's ongoing commitment to continuously improve the customer experience of all social grant beneficiaries.

The Postbank Black Cards will be issued free of charge. For further enquiries, beneficiaries can contact Postbank on 0800 53 54 55 or SASSA on 0800 60 10 11.

Government previously moved the initial deadline from 28 February deadline to 20 March 2025. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Thu, 02/27/2025 - 13:14
838 views