Category: News

Safety warning amid Level 9 weather alert

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North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga Citizens have been urged to remain cautious as the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Level 9 weather warning.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (GoGTA) on Monday said while emergency services remain on high alert, the public must follow these safety measures:

- Stay informed by monitoring local news and updates from the SAWS for the latest weather forecasts.
- Evacuate if necessary, following instructions from authorities, and seek higher ground if you are in flood-prone areas.
- Secure your property by clearing debris, securing loose items, and reinforcing doors and windows.
- Stay connected by keeping in touch with loved ones and neighbours, especially those who may be vulnerable.
- Exercise caution and avoid crossing low-lying bridges or flooded roads, as these actions are among the leading causes of flood-related fatalities.

CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said following the outlined safety measures, although they seem simple, remains a powerful tool that saves lives and livelihoods, while preventing avoidable damage to property and infrastructure.

He said the department is implementing disaster response measures since the severe weather warning, which includes widespread flooding and heavy rainfall, especially in the North West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. 

Disaster Management Centres have been active in these affected areas, while other provinces remain on high alert. 

In addition, national departments, Provincial Disaster Management Centres, Municipal Disaster Management Centres, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the South African Police Service (SAPS) continue to remain vigilant.

“Emergency services are prepared for potential flash floods, mudslides, power outages, and so on.

“Lives cannot be replaced; as such, every precaution we take, every plan we implement, and every act of preparedness must be guided by the principle of safeguarding human life above all else.

“Through our joint efforts, across government, business, civil society, NGOs [non-government organisations] and communities, we can reduce the risk of disasters, strengthen our resilience, and ensure a safer South Africa for all.

“Remember to prioritise your safety and follow official instructions. Stay safe,” CoGTA said in a statement. 

The National Disaster Management Centre will continue to fulfil its responsibilities by promoting an integrated and coordinated approach to disaster management across national, provincial and local government levels, as well as among statutory bodies and other stakeholders involved in disaster response.

19 Garden Route Beaches Awarded Blue Flag Status for 2025 Holiday Season

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Nineteen beaches across the Garden Route coastline have been awarded Blue Flag Status for the upcoming holiday season by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) There are 50 Blue Flag Beaches in the country and 20 Pilot Status beaches.

GRDM Executive Mayor, Marais Kruger said: “The municipalities in our region who received  consistent Blue Flag Status and related awards, reflect their commitment to excellent water quality, safety, security, sound environmental management, and accessibility. Thank you for the local municipalities of Hessequa, Bitou, Mossel Bay and George, for once again helping us collectively secure our top spot on South Africa’s preferred tourism destination map.”

Lappiesbaai in the Hessequa Municipal area has maintained Blue Flag status for 20 consecutive years, while Witsand, also in Hessequa, celebrates its 10th consecutive year of accreditation.

More exciting statistics include the following:

*Four of the Garden Route beaches were awarded pilot Blue Flag status (South Africa has 20), these include Santos Beach, Suiderkruis, Tweekuilen and Leentjiesklip.
*Three out of 15 Green Coast sites (15 sites in South Africa), these include Nature’s Valley Beach, Swartvlei Beach and Gwaiing Beach.
*Two Blue Flag Marinas (5 Blue Flag Marinas in South Africa), these include Thesen Harbour Town Marina and Thesen Island Home Owners’ Marina.
*Two Sustainable Tourism Boats (7 in total in South Africa), these are from Offshore Adventures (Robberg Express and Oceanic).

Garden Route beaches with successful Blue Flag accreditation include the following:
Hessequa (6): Witsand Beach, Preekstoel Beach, Lappiesbaai Beach, Jongensfontein Beach, Gouritsmond Beach and Still Bay West Beach.
Plettenberg Bay (6): Robberg 5, The Waves, Nature’s Valley, Lookout Beach, The Dunes and Singing Kettle Beach.
Mossel Bay (4): De Bakke Beach, Hartenbos Beach, Little Brak Breach and Glentana Beach.
George (3): Herold’s Bay, Victoria Bay and Wilderness.
South Africa has proudly participated in the Blue Flag Programme for 24 years, since 2001.

G20 Leaders’ Summit ‘will go on’ despite absences – President Ramaphosa

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the G20 Leaders’ Summit will proceed as planned, despite the absence of representation from the United States (US) government.

The President was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the CEO-City Cleanup Partnership Programme held in Kliptown, Johannesburg, on Friday morning.

Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that neither he nor anyone representing that country would attend the global intergovernmental forum to be held in Johannesburg this week.

“[USA] President Trump has decided not to come and he’s pulled out all the US representatives. But we have said that boycott politics never work. If you boycott an event or a process, you... [lose] because the show will go on.

“The summit will go on. We are not going to stop because they are not here. We will continue and we will take fundamental decisions on matters that affect the people of the world,” President Ramaphosa said.

He noted that the G20 represents “up to 80% of the global economy” and that nearly 40 other Heads of State and Government, as well as heads of global organisations, will be at the Summit.

The President added that while South Africa would not want to handover the G20 Presidency gavel to “an empty chair” – the USA will be the next G20 President – there will be a symbolic handover.

“We will probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and then talk to President Trump and say: even though you are not here, I am now handing over to you the reins of being President of the G20,” he said.

The President emphasised that despite the boycott, the USA remains an “important market” for South Africa.

“We want to engage more with their businesses. Government facilitates the engagement at trade and economic level so we want to continue trading with the businesses of the United States, and with the people of the United States. We export products to that country. 

“The other issues are political and as normal, we will continue to dealing with the political issues.

Sometimes you have to talk to people who may not be very friendly to you to advance the interests of your own people. Sometimes you’ve got to do what people may think is unpalatable but I’m prepared to do it to advance the interests of South Africans,” he said. 

On news that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s will not attend the Summit, President Ramaphosa said this is due to scheduling challenges.

“[It is] because of prior commitments... but the Prime Minister [Li Qiang]... will be here.

“President Xi Jinping has been to South Africa six times and that continues to show his commitment to South Africa, and I have great understanding for his busy schedule in China,” he said. 

Drugs Seized in Oudtshoorn and George by Garden Route Police

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Mid-week operations in the Garden Route District resulted in the arrest of three suspects for drugs as part of ongoing Safer Festive Season operations in Oudtshoorn and George.  
 
On Wednesday, 12 November 2025 at about 09:30 Oudtshoorn Crime Prevention unit members acted on intelligence when they raided a house at Dahlia Court, Bridgton in Oudtshoorn. The team found 62 bankies tik, 10 grams tik, 13 full mandrax, one half mandrax and 71 grams dagga. Police confiscated the drugs, two scales and an undisclosed amount of cash. A 33 year old woman found at the premises was arrested on a charge of dealing in drugs.
Oudtshoorn
Meanwhile, later the same day, Dysselsdorp Crime Prevention unit members, armed with a search warrant, descended on a premises at Paradise View, Dysselsdorp outside Oudtshoorn. A search of the premises led to the confiscation of 40 Full Mandrax and 15 Bankies consisting of tik.
 
Furthermore, Conville police members arrested a 53 year old man on charges of dealing in drugs and possession of drugs on Tuesday, 11 November 2025 at Marakeni Street, Lawaaikamp in George. The members operationalised the information and conducted a search of the premises. The search led to an area on the premises where drugs were concealed under the topsoil in plastic bottles. The members confiscated 160 grams of tik, seven bankies of tik and seven mandrax tablets.
 
The suspects will appear in court once charged.
 
Substance abuse remain on of the contributors to serious and violent crime and these arrests and confiscations forms part of concerted efforts to close down illicit drug outlets.

Cape Town switches on pioneering gas-to-energy plant, powering over 4 000 households

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Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City’s new gas-to-energy plant will generate enough electricity to power 4 300 households by converting landfill gas to power at the Coastal Park Landfill.

The Mayor powered-up the new electricity generation plant on Wednesday, 12 November together with Mayoral Committee Members for Urban Waste Management, Alderman Grant Twigg, and for Energy, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

The City has invested R93 million in the Coastal Park Landfill gas-to-energy plant to date, and will invest a further R82m to expand this infrastructure at more landfill sites over the next three years.

These initiatives are set to pay for themselves in time thanks to reduced bulk electricity purchases from Eskom and the sale of carbon credits. A total of R36 m in carbon credits has already been generated by reducing gas emissions at City landfill sites.
 
‘It was exciting to power-up our landfill gas-to-power plant at Coastal Park Landfill today. We are just getting started with these win-win projects, which produce electricity, reduce emissions, and generate carbon credit revenue to pump back into infrastructure and waste management. In this way, Capetonians are getting plenty of public value from these gas-to-power operations, which we will keep expanding over the coming years at other landfills,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.


To convert landfill gas into electricity, the City has dug perforated pipes or 'wells' into landfill sites to extract methane gas. The gas is then channelled as fuel to produce electricity, also reducing methane emissions.
 
‘At Coastal Park Landfill, the City’s waste-to-energy project will generate 1,3 million kWh a month. Of this, 1,2 million kWh will be fed into the Cape Town grid. This is enough power to supply more than 4 000 households. The remaining power will be used to run operations at the landfill facility, generating further savings and efficiency for ratepayers,’ said Alderman Twigg.

Over 80 unroadworthy vehicles removed in Gauteng wide crackdown

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The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, through its enforcement unit, the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI), has taken 84 unroadworthy vehicles off the road during intensified stop-and-search operations conducted between 3 and 9 November 2025.

The high-impact operations form part of the Gauteng Provincial Government’s comprehensive road safety strategy aimed at tackling lawlessness, enhancing compliance with traffic regulations, and safeguarding the lives of road users across the province.

According to the department, the discontinued vehicles were found to be in serious violation of road safety standards, with many failing critical roadworthiness tests due to faulty brakes, worn-out tyres, and defective lighting systems.

The GTI’s swift action prevented these hazardous vehicles from continuing to operate on public roads, reducing the risk of crashes linked to mechanical defects.

In addition to the discontinued vehicles, GTI officers uncovered widespread levels of non-compliance among public transport operators.

Key offences recorded during the week-long blitz included:
•    54 minibuses operating without valid licence discs,
•    40 minibuses discontinued for mechanical and safety defects, and
•    72 drivers operating without valid driving licences.

A total of 1 539 infringement notices were also issued for various traffic and transport-related offences. Of these, 557 were handwritten and 982 were processed electronically using GTI’s e-Force enforcement gadgets, a demonstration of the department’s commitment to leveraging technology in promoting compliance and accountability.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, commended the GTI for its consistent and proactive enforcement approach, reaffirming the department’s zero-tolerance stance on non-compliance.

“The discontinuation of unroadworthy vehicles is a necessary step to protect lives on our roads. Public transport operators must understand that non-compliance will not be tolerated. We remain resolute in our mission to create safer roads and restore order within the public transport sector,” Diale-Tlabela said.

The GTI, comprising 96 highly trained officers from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), continues to roll out targeted enforcement operations across Gauteng to identify and remove unroadworthy vehicles, apprehend illegal operators, and ensure adherence to road safety standards.

Maintenance work underway on R24
Meanwhile, the Department of Roads and Transport has urged motorists to exercise caution along the R24, where milling and resurfacing work is currently underway.

The project is expected to be completed by Sunday, 16 November 2025.

“Motorists are urged to exercise caution, plan for possible delays, and use alternative routes where feasible.”

World Diabetes Day 2025 Focuses on Well-Being and Support in the Workplace

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World Diabetes Day will be observed on Friday, 14 November, with the global theme “Diabetes and Well-being,” focusing this year on “Diabetes in the Workplace.”

The aim is to remind people that diabetes is not only about controlling blood sugar levels but also about overall quality of life, including mental, emotional and social health. For millions of people living with diabetes, managing the condition while maintaining a job can be a daily challenge.

The International Diabetes Federation says that nearly seven out of ten people with diabetes are of working age, and many face stigma, stress and a lack of understanding from employers or colleagues.

This year’s campaign calls for more supportive and flexible workplaces, greater awareness and a stronger focus on well-being.

The World Health Organization warns that in Africa, the number of adults living with diabetes could double by 2050 if current trends continue. Early detection and consistent care remain vital, especially in low-resource settings. In South Africa, the disease continues to rise as urban lifestyles, poor diets and low physical activity levels contribute to higher risk.

Health services across the country are encouraging people to know their numbers, take part in screenings and adopt healthier habits.

Individuals are urged to understand their personal risk factors such as family history, weight, diet and activity level. Those already living with diabetes should stay engaged in their treatment and pay attention to mental well-being, as stress and anxiety often go hand-in-hand with the condition.

Employers can make a difference by offering healthier food options, flexible schedules and a culture of understanding rather than stigma. Employees should feel comfortable disclosing their condition if they choose to, and asking for reasonable support when necessary.

Local clinics and organisations are expected to highlight the importance of early detection and long-term management during this week’s awareness drives. Whether in offices, hospitality venues or agricultural workplaces, small efforts to support healthier living can have a lasting impact. Communities are also encouraged to participate in local health days, get tested and share information that helps others understand diabetes better.

World Diabetes Day 2025 serves as a reminder that managing diabetes is not just a medical issue but a human one. By working together – individuals, employers, families and communities – we can help reduce the burden of diabetes and ensure that people living with it can lead not only longer lives, but healthier and happier ones.

Western Cape Unemployment Drops to 19.7% – Lowest in South Africa

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Premier Alan Winde and provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, have welcomed the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey figures showing that the Western Cape’s unemployment rate has dropped to 19.7% in the third quarter of 2025.

This marks a decline from 21.1% in the previous quarter and keeps the province’s unemployment rate the lowest in South Africa.

According to Statistics South Africa, the Western Cape added 65 000 jobs year-on-year and created 70 000 jobs quarter-on-quarter — the highest number of new jobs in the country for Q3 2025.

Premier Winde said the improvement reflects the success of the province’s partnership with the private sector. “This is the result of the hard work this government undertakes in partnership with businesses and companies in the Western Cape, building confidence and trust in pursuit of our apex priority of economic growth and job creation,” he stated.

He added that the results come shortly after the Western Cape Investment Summit, held from 5 to 7 November, where six major investment declarations worth R50 billion were made. These projects are expected to create an estimated 45 000 jobs over the next few years.

Minister Meyer said the figures are a positive step toward the province’s target of creating 600 000 new jobs by 2035, as outlined in the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs (G4J) strategy.

Premier Winde emphasised that the province will continue working to attract investment and boost growth in key sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, agribusiness, and services to ensure job creation reaches every part of the Western Cape.

Interim measures introduced for municipal Eskom debt

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Despite the introduction of the municipal Eskom debt relief programme in 2023, municipalities are still battling to address ballooning debt to the power utility.

According to the department’s Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), the debt has grown to some R94 billion as of the end of March this year - up from some R55 billion.

“While 24 municipalities have qualified for the first one-third write-off after 12 consecutive months of payments and 21 have generally maintained payments, as of 7 May 2025, 47 municipalities remain in default. 

“This is the combined result of weak collections, excessive electricity and water losses due primarily to a lack of maintenance, and inadequate credit control. Measures are being taken to assist municipalities in raising revenue, including expanding smart prepaid metering,” Treasury said.

As an interim measure, struggling municipalities will “transition, where appropriate, to distribution agency agreements (DAAs)”.

“Under these agreements, Eskom will operate municipal electricity services for a defined period, support cost-reflective tariff setting and loss reduction, and assist with collections. 

“During this period, municipalities will be required to select the most appropriate service delivery mechanism, phase in cost-reflective tariffs and limit rebates,” the department said.

Municipalities are urged to direct funding from grants like the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to rehabilitating existing water and electricity infrastructure, which are conduits for revenue generation.

“Additional conditions include strict adherence to pro-poor policies to ensure that local governments are providing the required amounts, doing so within national limits and ring-fencing electricity revenues.

“The DAA pathway is intended to stabilise cash flows, improve payment discipline and create a bridge to longer-term structural reforms in the local government fiscal framework.

“The interim measure does not rule out stronger interventions where failures persist,” National Treasury said.

Municipal Infrastructure Grant

At the same time, National Treasury has announced reforms to the Municipal Infrastructure Grant in a bid to cut out underspending, misuse of funds and capacity constraints.

The reforms include a split delivery model aimed at assisting municipalities to accelerate service delivery infrastructure delivery.

“Where municipalities demonstrate proven capacity, funding will continue to be allocated directly.

However, in cases of persistent capacity and governance failures, delivery will shift to an indirect model through institutions such as the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent and the DBSA [Development Bank of South Africa]. 

“This will be accompanied by time-bound capability plans aimed at restoring municipalities to direct funding. The shift to a split-delivery model balances the urgent need to accelerate service delivery with building resilient, capable local government that can sustainably meet the infrastructure needs of their communities,” Treasury noted.

Added to that, a performance-linked incentive is also being introduced to “reward municipalities that deliver fit for purpose infrastructure on time and budget, at reasonable cost, with funded maintenance plans and climate-resilience measures”.

“The reform will be supported by clearer criteria for determining funding modalities, stronger oversight through annual delivery compacts and embedded technical support to build municipal planning, procurement and asset management capability.

“The necessary conditional grant framework amendments will be tabled in the 2026 Division of Revenue Bill, with pilot implementation commencing in 2026/27,” the department added.

Furthermore, a municipal utility reform programme will also be piloted at the Mbombela, Govan Mbeki, Lekwa and eMalahleni municipalities later this year.

“The National Treasury, working with the African Development Bank [AfDB] and donor partners, is implementing a pilot Municipal Utility Reform Programme, under a results-based AfDB concessional loan of up to US$400 million.

“It aims to stabilise and professionalise core municipal utilities [water and electricity] by reducing losses, introducing cost-reflective tariffs with protections for poor households, ringfencing revenues, improving asset care, and enhancing governance and reporting,” Treasury said.

Lessons drawn from the pilot will be used to expand the programme to “municipalities in other provinces facing severe delivery challenges”.

“The scale-up will align with conditional grant reforms and, where appropriate, will disburse grants linked to independently verified milestones to safeguard delivery and fiscal sustainability,” Treasury said.

Government revises inflation target to 3%

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In a landmark moment for South Africa’s monetary policy agenda, government has decided to reduce South Africa’s inflation target to 3%, with a 1 percentage point tolerance band.

This will reduce the cost of living and borrowing costs for households, businesses and government, supporting higher long-term economic growth and job creation. 

Presenting the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) at a sitting of the National Assembly at the Good Hope Chamber in Parliament, Minister Enoch Godongwana said the 1 percentage point band provides flexibility to accommodate any unexpected inflationary shocks.

“This decision follows agreement between the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank and my consultations with the President and Cabinet. This new target immediately replaces the previous target range of between 3% and 6% and will be implemented over the next two years,” Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said on Wednesday.

This is in line with South Africa’s approach to inflation targeting, which has always been a flexible one, looking beyond short-run deviations in inflation. 

“The Reserve Bank will pursue the target on a continuous basis and clearly communicate any deviations from the target. Over time, the lower target will decrease inflation expectations and inflation, creating room for lower interest rates.

“The short-term fiscal costs of a lower target, which include lower nominal Gross Domestic Product and revenue growth, will make achieving fiscal targets more challenging. 

“Yet the long-term benefits of taking this step far outweigh these costs. We remain committed to ensuring that our macroeconomic policies serve the best interests of all South Africans,” the Minister said.

A lower target aligns the country with international best practice and makes the cost of borrowing cheaper by reducing the inflation risk premium that investors demand to lend to South Africa.

The Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Reserve Bank will closely coordinate policy settings to maximise the economic benefits of the new target and enhance fiscal and monetary policy alignment.
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