To read the Ubuntu News Flash, please click HERE. Highlights include:
STATEMENT ON SOUTH AFRICA’S FOREIGN POLICY ENGAGEMENTS AND DIPLOMATIC ACHIEVEMENTS
DIRCO WARNS YOUTH OF UNVERIFIED FOREIGN JOB OFFERS PROMOTED BY INFLUENCERS
AUSTRALIAN FIRM TO LAUNCH GOLD MINING OPERATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Let the dialogue begin. Let all voices be heard.
Dear Fellow South African,
The first National Convention of the much-anticipated National Dialogue concluded on Saturday afternoon with a resounding call for the conversation among South Africans to begin.
The convention, which was attended by just over 1,000 delegates from organisations drawn from all sectors of society, was the kick-off for thousands of public dialogues that will take place for the next few months and into the beginning of next year.
The public dialogues will take place at a local level in wards and at a sectoral level. Citizens will also be encouraged to organise their own dialogues, bringing people together to discuss the issues that concern them and to look for solutions to the challenges they face.
The outcomes of each of these dialogues will be recorded and collated through a special digital platform. There will also be mechanisms in place to enable those without access to the technology to submit the outcomes of their dialogues.
All of these discussions will culminate in a second National Convention to be held during the first half of 2026. It is anticipated that this convention will produce a clear vision for the country and adopt a social compact that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all sections of society, from citizens to the arms of the state, from business, labour, traditional leaders, religious bodies to civil society, activist and civic organisations. The form and content of these outcomes will ultimately be determined by the South African people through their discussions.
The first National Convention reflected the great diversity of our country’s people and their enthusiasm to get involved in the debate. Delegates were clear that citizens themselves must determine the issues discussed and must use whatever approaches and methods that suit them and their circumstances. They noted that what might work in a densely-populated city may not work in a rural area where villages are far apart. What might work in a sector that is well organised may not work among people who may not be part of organised formations.
There was a strong emphasis at the convention on inclusion and participation, with some delegates expressing concern that important voices were missing from the gathering. There was a firm view that special efforts should be made to reach and include groups and people who were often left out or marginalised.
Preparations for the National Dialogue have been underway for many months, drawing together foundations of struggle stalwarts, civil society bodies and the Presidency. They were given the responsibility to organise the first National Convention and lay the basis for the public dialogues that would follow it.
The convention was the moment at which the people of South Africa would take over the National Dialogue. Delegates discussed the formation of a Steering Committee, consisting of nominees from all sectors of society, to take the process forward. Each of the sectors held discussions at the convention on how they would select their respective nominee for the Steering Committee by the end of August 2025. They agreed that these processes need to be inclusive and that the Steering Committee needs to be representative.
In taking the National Dialogue forward, the Steering Committee would be supported and guided by the Eminent Persons Group, prominent South Africans tasked with championing the dialogue and providing advice. The Eminent Persons Group will also advise the Head of State as the convenor of the National Dialogue to ensure that it is inclusive and credible.
There should be no person, no part of society and no institution – either public or private – that is excluded from the conversation. The dialogue should break down the barriers between ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ and challenge notions of ‘us’ and ‘them’. At the same time, we should not seek a form of unity that is based only on sentiment, but a unity that is forged through constructive and honest discussion on the difficult questions our country faces – and an agreed programme of action.
We should not be afraid to disagree. Disagreeing is part of engaging in a meaningful and robust dialogue. It is through the expression of different views that we will be able to give full legitimacy and credence to the dialogue. We should therefore make a determined effort to air our differences with a view to finding agreement on the actions we need to take together to build a better society, in which every person has an equal opportunity to prosper.
We are about to embark on one of the most important undertakings in the history of our democracy. We all have a responsibility to make it work. Let the dialogue begin and let every voice be heard.
With best regards,
The National Dialogue must be a place for women to raise their voices
Dear Fellow South African,
On 9 August each year, we celebrate Women’s Day, where we commemorate the 1956 Women’s March on the Union Buildings. The march was a political protest against the apartheid-era pass laws, but it was also a powerful assertion of women’s agency.
It signalled that the women of South Africa, who were at that time relegated to the status of perpetual minors by the apartheid regime, would not be passive bystanders as their lives were profoundly affected by policies made about them, without them.
On Friday this week, organisations from across South Africa will gather at the National Convention in Pretoria to kickstart the National Dialogue process.
Given the history of women’s struggles in our country, it is therefore to be expected that at this critical moment in our history, women will once again come to the fore and participate actively National Dialogue process.
When we announced the National Dialogue we said that it will bring together individuals and organisations from across society to find common ground and new solutions for our country’s many challenges.
Women make up more than half of our country’s population. Women are affected by every political, social and economic issue in the country. Likewise, every crisis, whether it is unemployment, crime or climate change, affects women equally and, in some instances, more than men.
Recognising that the lives of women are bound up with the future of the nation as a whole, we are counting on women’s groups and organisations to mobilise around the National Dialogue process.
As government, working in partnership with the various stakeholders, we have committed to ensuring women are equally represented across the structures supporting and guiding the process.
If we are to remain true to our objective of giving all sectors of society a voice as we build the South Africa we want, we have to ensure that all women are represented. This means a concerted effort to mobilise young and old, urban and rural dwellers, women from different ethnic and linguistic communities, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people.
The reality is that women’s struggles are not all the same and we should not assume they are. Although they may be similar in certain respects, the issues and challenges facing rural women and women in traditional communities differ vastly from those of women in urban areas with access to education, resources and public services.
This was one of the points made at last year’s South African Women’s Pre-National Dialogue convened by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation. It emphasised that the National Dialogue process should focus on all issues affecting and impacting women, and that diverse perspectives and priorities of all South African women must be reflected.
As the Government of National Unity we seek to drive the strategic priorities of inclusive growth and job creation, tackling the effects of poverty and the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental state.
We remain committed to ensuring that gender is mainstreamed in all government policy and that a gendered lens is consistently applied to every challenge when developing and implementing solutions. No government decision should be made without due consideration of how it impacts women specifically.
Throughout periods of profound change in the history of South Africa, women have organised to ensure that their voices, consent and participation remained central to all decisions affecting them either directly or indirectly.
The inclusion of the gender equality clauses in the Freedom Charter was heavily influenced by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) formed in 1954. More than three decades later, the Women’s National Coalition, which was formed in 1992, played a formative role in ensuring that these passages were reflected in South Africa’s democratic constitution.
From the protests against the pass laws, to the so-called beer-hall protests of 1959, to the rent boycotts of the 1980s, to the contemporary protest movements against gender-based violence, South African women have a proud history of standing up and being counted.
With the first National Convention taking place during Women’s Month, we call on all sectors of society to come together to ensure the full participation of all women in the National Dialogue. This would be the most fitting and powerful tribute to the legacy of the pioneers of 1956.
With best regards,
Happy Women’s Month!
Every year in August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Day, paying homage to the more than 20 000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956, to protest against the extension of Pass Laws and the Urban Areas Act.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of the historic march and the 30th anniversary of the first official National Women’s Day. This year’s celebration will be held under the theme: “Building Resilient Economies for All”. The overarching purpose of this commemoration is to promote women’s participation and representation in leadership and the economy.
As we commemorate Women’s Day and Women’s Month, we salute the achievements of women over the years, including their pivotal role in transforming the nation, and contributions to socio-economic development. This celebration is also a clarion call to accelerate the role of women in the economy and empower them as well as tackle the complex barriers, such as poverty, inequality and unemployment, that hinder their development.
South Africa must adapt quickly in a turbulent trade environment
Dear Fellow South African,
The decision by the United States to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports highlights the urgency with which we have to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade.
The US is South Africa’s second largest trading partner by country and these measures will have a considerable impact on industries that rely heavily on exports to that country and on the workers they employ, as well as on our fiscus.
Domestic sectors such as agriculture, automotive and textiles have historically benefited from duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Our trade relations have historically been complementary in nature. South African exports do not compete with US producers and do not pose a threat to US industry. It remains our aspiration that this should continue. Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States’ industrial base. South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African Continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain.
South African imports ultimately benefit US consumers in terms of both choice and cost. By way of example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production. Furthermore, production by US companies has been on the decline for a number of years as the US sector grapples with low yields, a citrus greening disease and other factors unrelated to competition from imports. Imports from South Africa, the world’s second largest citrus exporter, have filled a gap and contributed to stable supply and prices for US consumers.
As government, we have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US.
Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. We will continue to engage the US in an attempt to preserve market access for our products. We must also accelerate the diversification of our export markets, particularly by deepening intra-African trade.
With a view to helping our producers and exporters aggressively explore alternative markets, we have established an Export Support Desk to assist affected producers. We will in due course be announcing the modalities of a support package for companies, producers and workers that have been rendered vulnerable by the US tariffs. This intervention will also play a key role in guiding industries looking to expand into new markets in the rest of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and markets we already have trade agreements with.
Strengthening regional value chains will be key to building resilience for our export markets in the longer term. Much as strengthening and establishing alternative value chains will take time, this moment presents us with an opportunity to push forward with the implementation and expansion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Reducing over-dependence on certain markets is a strategic imperative to build the resilience of our economy. It will also enable us to expand the frontiers of opportunity for South African businesses, goods and services.
In the coming months we will be scaling up our trade missions into new markets in Africa and beyond, as well as the National Exporter Development Programme whose aim is to grow the pool of export-ready companies.
It is important to understand that South Africa is not alone in facing high tariffs from the US. A number of export-reliant developed and developing economies, including several on the continent, are also grappling with these measures.
The international trading system is changing. Complacency will not serve us, and building resilience is imperative. As government we remain committed to ongoing engagement with the US and building trade resilience.
With best regards,
Sun City, 26 June 2025
Honourable Premier of the North West Province, Mr Lazarus Mokgosi
Mr Zane Dangor, G20 Sherpa and Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa.
Sherpas from G20 Members, Invited Guests and International Organisations
Members of the Economic Committee, North West Provincial Government, the Free State Provincial Government and the Northern Cape Provincial Government
Senior Officials from National Departments and the North West Province
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentleman
On this day, 70 years ago, 26 June 1955, the people of South Africa from all walks of life congregated under the hawkish eyes of the Apartheid government and declared the following:
We, the People of South Africa, declare for all our country and the world to know:
that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people;
that our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality;
that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities;
that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthright without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief;
And therefore, we, the people of South Africa, black and white together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Freedom Charter;
And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until the democratic changes here set out have been won.
With regards to International Relations they declared that:
There Shall Be Peace And Friendship!
South Africa shall be a fully independent state which respects the rights and sovereignty of all nations;
South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation – not war;
Peace and friendship amongst all our people shall be secured by upholding the equal rights, opportunities and status of all;
The freedom charter became the foundational document of our Constitution it informs our constitutional and international outlook. It is the bedrock of our human rights outlook domestically and internationally. So, when you hear us anchoring our international relations policy on human rights, it has a 70-year-old foundation, it will never change.
We’re glad you’re here in our country on this important day to find solutions to the people of the world. I hope your colleagues from the other tracks, Finance, and other working groups who’ve been meeting since the beginning of this year have told you about the scenic beauty of our country from Cape Town, Durban, the Pilanesberg National Park and here in Sun City the North West Province.
(If I have to boast, we’re very good hosts and yes, our wine is the best.)
We meet today at a time of profound geoeconomic tensions that continue to weigh on the global economy. Across the world we have seen various institutions such as the World Bank and IMF, amongst others revising down the global growth prospects in the wake of the geoeconomic tensions.
The African economies, and indeed here at home, we also face various headwinds. This moment makes the current engagements even more important in revitalising the world economies, and indeed, exploring opportunities for Africa, and South Africa.
In the very Province we are in today, the North West, lies many opportunities and resources. The province is not just rich in minerals it’s the heartbeat of the global energy and tech revolution. Beneath this soil lies the world’s platinum, gold, uranium, copper for wires, vanadium for batteries, fluorspar for medical tech. These are not just rocks they are the DNA of electric vehicles, renewable grids, and life-saving isotopes. They are at the heart of global commerce.
Yet there’s a stark paradox: while the world runs on our resources, the value does not stay here. The minerals leave raw. The batteries, the solar panels, the cancer treatments are made elsewhere. We export wealth but import back its transformed value. This is a phenomenon we see across Africa. In an award winning book Cobalt Red Siddharth Kara argues that : it is the blood of the Congo that powers our lives.
This is why South Africa’s G20 Presidency puts forward a Critical Minerals Framework that will rewrite this anomaly and revitalise our industrial strategies and manufacturing capabilities. Today’s system is unsustainable: As mineral-rich nations our path of development must be on equitable terms and importantly empower the citizens of our countries through job opportunities, and economic development.
Ladies and gentlemen, our mission is clear: we must turn these buried treasures into local jobs, factories, and sovereignty. Equally, the value we will create will still empower the world as we will seek to continuously export and strengthen global commerce, and our role in it. This is not just economics; it is Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability – the theme of our Presidency. And without doubt the G20, is a platform that can ensure: the era of extraction without equity ends, and we begin an era of true partnership and collaboration for the good of sustainable development across countries.
Your Excellences,
This important meeting which comes at the midpoint of South Africa’s historic G20 Presidency, also coincides with unprecedented global turmoil both geopolitically and geoeconomically.
Aristotle’s observation is proving itself once again:
“It is more difficult to organise a peace than to win a war; but the fruits of victory will be lost if the peace is not organised.”
According to the OECD’s States of Fragility 2025 Assessment, the number of armed conflicts is at its highest level since the Cold War, with state-based conflicts including proxy wars, civil wars, coups, ranking as the top global risk for 2025.
State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability. These international competition dynamics are exacerbating fragility in vulnerable regions while also weakening multilateral institutions that underpin the rules-based international order.
These are not just words here on our continent we have seen humanitarian crisis that is on a scale that the world has never seen with the conflict in Sudan. I venture to say this is no longer a crisis, but a moral emergency that demands our collective consciousness and humanity. Over 30 million people need lifesaving aid in Sudan, and more than 12 million have been displaced Africa’s gravest displacement crisis in modern history.
State sovereignty and the right to development and security are fundamental to a functioning international order. Now we see violation of these fundamental principles of territorial sovereignty and political independence enshrined in article 2(4) of the UN Charter, as some stretch self-defence into speculation.
Following last week’s US military strikes in the Iran, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said “At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos,”
We understood the United Nation’s promise 80 years ago: collective security over coercion, the extinguishing of the law of the jungle! Alas we find ourselves in an evolving global disorder that brings with it many perils for the weak and vulnerable.
As South Africa, we have adopted an anti-war stance. This is because we know too well that war offers no victors, only victims. Double standards in diplomacy and the paralysis at the UN Security Council have crippled conflict resolution, mediation and peace efforts. These systemic challenges must be addressed to reclaim a global rationality that builds on stability, peace, certainty and sustainability.
The world needs more diplomacy and peace with the UN at its pinnacle.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Economic and technological pressures are immense and place further strain on a fatigued international system. The ever-worrying debt crises, supply-chain disruptions, and geoeconomic confrontation including tariffs only intensify instability and cause immeasurable pain particularly on countries of the global south.
The current and troubling global economic environment signifies a major trend towards economic nationalism; some states are distancing themselves from the globalised trade framework that has prevailed for many decades and underpinned this rules-based system of non-discrimination and shared values.
We must avoid this path, as we all know well that—trade is an engine for economic development and improvement in the standards of living across nations.
Your Excellences,
The digital economy undoubtedly continues to develop at a rapid pace, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and deepening inequalities across the globe. We must act with purpose to support digital transformation, equitable access to data and infrastructure and support innovation with a human-centric focus.
That said, cyber and hybrid warfare coupled with AI-driven threats create asymmetric risks, accelerating conflict escalation and reducing diplomatic windows of opportunity to act.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The OECD report that I quoted earlier, further identifies and unpacks other very troubling trends. It estimates that 2 billion people live in fragile context , accounting for 72% of the world’s extreme poor. They face climate-driven disasters such as adverse and dangerous natural phenomena including severe heatwaves, devastating floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires which exacerbate human insecurity.
Food security is of particular concern to us all as its causes are both climate driven and geopolitically imposed. These systemic challenges additionally extend to other key of human security concerns which are amplified by transnational threats including the forced migration crises, pandemics, and resource scarcity.
Sadly, sustainable development remains an aspirational goal not only for the G20 but the world at large. We are now only five years from the Agenda 2030 deadline, yet only 17% of the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) are on track, while 35% are stagnating or regressing.
Honourable delegates, it is more than apparent that in the absence of sustained and continuous multilateral cooperation coupled with much needed reform to the existing global governance architecture these systemic challenges and highly probable risks will continue to undermine the rules-based international system entrenching inequality, unravelling global solidarity and creating the potential for irreversible fragmentation.
Transformational and peace-oriented diplomacy has become more relevant than ever before. Revitalising diplomacy and honest transparent engagements are critical to mitigating these challenges and creating conditions for credibility, peace, stability and equitable shared economic prosperity. Diplomacy’s role in peace, security, and human rights, must be underscored by fundamental international norms, values and principles that underpin humanity.
The G20 can lead in a moment of crisis. The G20 can help address the weaknesses of the multilateral system. The G20 can ensure that our collective humanity is not abandoned. Our deliberations can no longer be hollow; our shared prosperity now more than ever demands collaboration that pursues solutions that address some of the most pressing global challenges confronting humanity and impacting on global growth and development.
The G20 is persuasive body which holds great influence in the world.
I wish you well in your deliberations.
I thank you.
Auto industry continues to drive investment, jobs and innovation
Dear Fellow South African,
South Africa has a well-established auto manufacturing industry that is more than a century old. It has proven to be one of the most resilient sectors of our economy.
Since the first assembly plants were established in the Eastern Cape in the 1920s, the auto industry has grown to become the largest manufacturing sector in the country. South Africa’s role in global vehicle manufacturing has expanded and grown.
Auto companies like Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have plants here in our country that produce vehicles for the local market and for export to many other countries in the world.
A number of these companies continue to expand their investments in our country. The sector currently supports more than 115,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than 500,000 across the value chain. It contributes approximately 5.3% to GDP.
However, the industry is under growing pressure. The introduction of stricter vehicle emissions regulations in leading export destinations such as the European Union, as well as new tariffs from the United States, are expected to have a significant impact on the sector.
With exports currently accounting for approximately two-thirds of local vehicle production, it is critical that we strengthen the sector to not only overcome current headwinds, but to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Last week, I attended the launch of BMW’s new X3 plug-in hybrid at the company’s Rosslyn plant in Tshwane. South Africa is the exclusive global production site for this model. The shift from internal combustion engines (ICE) towards hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) in a number of markets means that green mobility is becoming increasingly important for automotive manufacturers.
The latest investment by BMW following their pledge at our South Africa Investment Conference in 2023 is a welcome signal to investors that South Africa remains a favourable place to do business. As Government, we are working to ensure there is an enabling regulatory and policy environment to support the growth of this burgeoning industrial activity.
Our five South Africa Investment Conferences, where we invited companies to make investment pledges that are translated into actual investments, is an important platform for companies to declare their investment intention to South Africa and demonstrate that South Africa is an investable market.
Government support to the car manufacturing industry through the Automotive Production and Development Programme will position South Africa as a key global manufacturing base for vehicles of the future.
This isn’t just critical to the sustainability of the sector, but to growing the workforce and skills of the future.
BMW, for example, has a training academy that focuses on competencies like EV assembly and robotics. The company is also a founding partner of the Youth Employment Service (YES), which was established between Government and the private sector to create work experience opportunities for young people.
This initiative introduces young people into the world of work for a year of experience and training. Often if they meet the standards of the participating company they stand a good chance of being absorbed as employees of the company. BMW’s participation in this programme has supported more than 3,500 young people with training and work placements across all nine provinces.
We have invited more companies to participate in the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme as broadly as BMW has done.
We are working to ensure that more production takes place locally, creating more employment. To do this, we must upskill our workforce and facilitate the creation of new companies across the value chain.
As such, we welcome initiatives by the sector to support skills development through initiatives such as the Centre of Excellence at the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone. This centre has an artisan training academy, an incubation hub and a science, technology, engineering and mathematics programme for high school learners.
There are also a number of industry-driven training initiatives focusing on technical and artisanal skills, and deepening collaboration between Government departments, vocational colleges and companies to grow a new skills pipeline.
Protecting existing jobs in the sector is paramount, particularly in the light of the looming US tariffs. The need to diversify our export base has become all the greater. We are committed to working with the sector to expand its continental footprint, building on the already strong growth of exports to the SADC region and leveraging the trade relationships that exist.
Amid these challenges, South Africa’s auto industry is making the investments needed to build resilience, protect jobs and lead the way into a new era of green mobility.
With best regards,
We are making steady progress on economic reform
Dear Fellow South African,
Last week, we released a progress report on Operation Vulindlela, a Government-wide initiative to accelerate progress on economic reform.
This report shows that the economic reform programme is making steady progress, opening the way to more rapid, inclusive and sustainable growth and job creation.
We established Operation Vulindlela in the Sixth Administration to remove the binding constraints that have long held back our economy’s growth: an unreliable energy supply, inefficient rail and ports, high data costs, and a visa system that had deterred investors and tourists.
We have made significant progress since then in clearing these obstacles with a clear view to enhance economic growth. The reduction in load shedding over the past year was supported by the reforms that we introduced to unlock private investment in electricity generation, while reforms in the telecommunications sector have brought down the cost of mobile data. We have reduced the turnaround times for approval processes for water use licences and energy projects, made great progress in clearing the visa application backlog, and expanding the eVisa scheme.
In April this year, we commenced the next phase of Operation Vulindlela to build on these successes and initiate a second wave of reform.
We are moving quickly towards a competitive electricity market, which will introduce greater competition in electricity generation and reduce the chances of experiencing load shedding again.
The reform underway in the energy sector will introduce greater choice for consumers and drive down costs. As part of this process, work is underway to establish an independent Transmission System Operator within the next five years, in line with the Electricity Regulation Act.
We have also made significant progress towards enabling greater investment in our transmission network, including from the private sector, with regulations to govern these investments.
In April, the Rail Infrastructure Manager was established as a separate operating division of Transnet with its own management and reporting structure. It has made capacity available across the freight rail network to private train operating companies and has received 98 requests for access to date.
A revised Network Statement will soon be published and capacity allocated in response to these requests, marking the start of open competition in freight rail. A Private Sector Participation Unit has been established within the Development Bank of Southern Africa to facilitate and fast-track private sector participation in logistics.
A request for information for private sector participation projects in the rail system and ports has received a strong response from the market, and will enable us to mobilise new investment to modernise and expand our logistics infrastructure.
The reform of our visa system is making it much easier for people to visit South Africa and bring much-needed skills and investment while enhancing border security through the Border Management Authority, which we established in the Sixth Administration as part of the reform process. An Electronic Travel Authorisation system has been developed by the Department of Home Affairs and is being prepared to go live in September 2025.
As part of Operation Vulindlela Phase II, we are also reforming the local government system to ensure that basic services such as water and electricity – which are essential for economic growth – are delivered efficiently and reliably.
Several metros have submitted plans for the turnaround of their water and electricity utilities that outline a clear pathway for the ring-fencing of water and electricity services. Progress against these action plans will enable these municipalities to access a new performance-based incentive from National Treasury to drive much greater investment in water and electricity infrastructure.
All of these reforms are designed to boost economic growth and create jobs for South Africans.
The claims by some opposition parties that these reforms represent a form of privatisation are baseless and misguided. The measures we are taking are common sense reforms that will preserve public ownership of key infrastructure while introducing greater competition, dynamism and investment. A number of our peer countries introduced similar reforms, which have powered their economies to higher levels of growth.
Even as the world faces difficult economic headwinds, our economic reform agenda will create the conditions for higher growth and investment, while renewing our infrastructure for generations to come.
With best regards,
We are acting to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of our police service
Dear Fellow South African,
Just over a week ago, SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a media briefing at which he made serious allegations that the Minister of Police and other individuals had colluded to interfere with police investigations.
Last night, I announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry headed by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to investigate these allegations.
We have taken this decisive step because we are determined that the important work that has been done to rebuild our law enforcement agencies and security services should not be compromised.
It is necessary that we establish the facts through an independent, credible and thorough process so that we can safeguard public confidence in the police service. This is particularly important as we seek to put the era of state capture behind us.
As I announced last night, the Commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.
Among the allegations that the Commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials resisting criminal influence.
The Commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate's operations.
These institutions are the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
The Commission will also investigate whether any members of the National Executive responsible for the criminal justice system, were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above.
The Commission will be asked to report on the effectiveness or failure of oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing such infiltration.
It will make findings and recommendations for criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions and institutional reform.
Once established, the Commission shall consider prima facie evidence relating to the involvement of individuals currently employed within law enforcement or intelligence agencies.
Where appropriate, the Commission must make recommendations on the employment status of such officials, including whether they should be suspended pending the outcome of further investigations.
The Commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and evidence the Commission will uncover.
In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work.
I have decided to appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police. Professor Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as an MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng.
This Commission is being established against the backdrop of significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening our country’s law enforcement agencies and security services.
In recent years, the South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other bodies have been making important inroads in the fight against organised crime and corruption.
It is essential that we maintain this momentum and that we intensify this work.
We will ensure that the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies continue to function without hindrance as the commission undertakes its work.
I call on all members of our law enforcement agencies and security services to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and adhering to their code of conduct.
I call on all South Africans to support the commission in its work and, where appropriate, to provide any information or assistance the commission may require.
In establishing this Commission of Inquiry, we are affirming our commitment to the rule of law, to transparency and accountability, and to building a South Africa in which all people are safe and secure.
With best regards,