Author: Agency

Innovative and environmentally conscious Limpopo businesswoman, Lufuno Nemakonde, the Managing Director of Limpopo-based Funocurls Green Beauty, is set to change the South African hair industry with an innovative development using banana pseudostem fibre to produce hairpieces, that she has aptly named EcoCurls.  “EcoCurls are plant-based and potentially more sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic hairpieces. The innovation is in the development and validation stage. We are happy that the project is currently progressing towards commercialisation. “The EcoCurls hairpiece has been submitted to the South African Bureau of Standards for independent testing,” said Nemakonde. Her innovative idea has also received a nod…

Government has proposed a set of measures aimed at reducing the high cost of electricity while ensuring that tariffs remain cost-reflective and that vulnerable households and strategic economic sectors are protected. The measures are reflected in South Africa’s Revised Electricity Pricing Policy, which Cabinet approved for public comment last month. The policy updates the 2008 Electricity Pricing Policy to reflect developments in the electricity supply industry, including ongoing market reforms linked to the unbundling of Eskom and the implementation of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act, 2024. It establishes national principles and tariff-path certainty, provides a framework for transparent, efficient and…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to use the region’s abundant mineral, agricultural, energy and human resources to drive its own industrial revolution and reduce dependence on external markets. Addressing a Public Lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Westville Campus, on Friday, President Ramaphosa said SADC has the resources, markets and institutions needed to build a prosperous and industrialised region but needs to work with greater urgency to turn this potential into reality. The Public Lecture, held on the eve of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, was convened under the theme:…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for greater investment in young people, women, health and social development as Southern Africa works towards the realisation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Vision 2050. Addressing a Public Lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Westville Campus, on Friday, President Ramaphosa said the region’s young and growing population represents its greatest strategic asset, but warned that this potential would only become a demographic dividend through deliberate and sustained investment. More than half of SADC’s population is under the age of 30, making the creation of economic opportunities for young people essential to the…

The state-owned freight transport and logistics company, Transnet,  is seeking private sector partners to refurbish, finance, operate and maintain South Africa’s B-Network railway lines as part of efforts to open the country’s rail network to greater private participation. Through the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM), government has published a Request for Information (RFI), inviting interested parties to submit proposals for partnership opportunities. The process aims to assess public and private sector interest in the refurbishment, financing, operation, maintenance and potential concessioning of low-density branch lines. “The introduction of Private Sector Participation (PSP) opportunities on the B-Network is a critical step…

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has referred the Digitisation Project at courts around the country to the Special Investigating Unit (SUI) and the Hawks for investigation. The project was rolled out five years ago to offices in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, including High Courts, Magistrates’ Courts, Labour Courts and Masters’ Offices to provide off-site records storage and digitisation. According to the department, during an unannounced visit to the Master of the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday, the Minister was informed that services had been disrupted due to “denial of access to the records by…

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is calling on aspirant economists who will be entering their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2027 academic year to apply for its external bursaries programme. “The SARB, as part of addressing the severe shortage of skills in South Africa, provides scholarships and bursaries to students in relevant fields of study who are from disadvantaged backgrounds,” the central bank said. The closing date for the submission of applications is Wednesday, 30 September 2026. In support of the corporate social initiatives of the SARB and its External Bursary Scheme, several external scholarships and bursaries…

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, on Monday launched a new online service that makes it easier for South Africans to find their nearest participating bank branch to apply for a Smart ID Card. Available at myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za, the new platform enables citizens to instantly locate participating bank branches across South Africa, the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement. As additional branches join the department’s digital partnership with the banking sector, they will automatically be added to the website in real time, ensuring South Africans always have access to the latest information. The launch comes as the department’s digital…

South Africa has reached 441 consecutive days without load shedding, as Eskom reports continued improvements in generation performance, reduced reliance on diesel and lower levels of unplanned outages. According to Eskom, the country has been without load shedding since 16 May 2025. Between 1 April and 30 July 2026, electricity demand was met 100% of the time, while the utility’s Winter Outlook for the period to 31 August continued to project no loadshedding. Eskom said the sustained period without load shedding forms part of a broader improvement in the performance of the power system, with stronger generation availability and additional…

The EThekwini Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate has welcomed a landmark conviction in a major electricity cable theft case, marking a decisive victory in the city’s fight against infrastructure crime.  This follows the sentencing of three suspects who were convicted for damaging critical electricity infrastructure and possessing stolen municipal property valued at approximately R1 million. The convictions stem from a 2022 incident when members of the Umkhomazi South African Police Service (SAPS) acted on intelligence regarding electricity cables being stripped and burnt at a homestead near the Umkhomazi Police Station. Investigators from eThekwini Municipality’s Electricity and Energy Directorate later confirmed…

The South African business delegation who participated in the largest international business and multi-sector exhibition in Angola are returning home with a strong pipeline of promising trade leads. The delegation showcased proudly South African products and services at the Feira Internacional de Angola (FILDA), held in Luanda from 21 to 26 July 2026, with support from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). The exporters represented the agro-processing, steel and metal fabrication, engineering and mining, and chemical sectors. Speaking on his experience, owner of La RicMal Wines, Malcolm Green, said he received positive responses from importers and distributors…

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has emphasised that South Africa must define its own just energy transition on its own terms, prioritising economic survival, energy security and poverty reduction. The Minister delivered an address at the 8th edition of the Coal and Energy Transition Day held in Johannesburg. “For many years, the global energy transition debate has been shaped by complex geopolitical considerations, where developed nations often seek to prescribe the pace and scale of transition for developing nations. Such a one-size-fits-all approach is neither practical nor equitable. “The conversation is too often reduced to a choice between…

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says the R326 million freezing order granted by the Gauteng High Court demonstrates government’s determination to ensure that criminals are stripped of their illegal gains. The order authorises the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize assets belonging to the alleged members of the Maumela syndicate implicated in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital looting scandal. Assets forfeited include high end residential property in affluent areas and luxury vehicles. “This significant outcome follows an extensive forensic investigation and a review of Tembisa Hospital’s Basic Accounting System by the Specialised Audit Services Unit of…

National Treasury has announced the launch of an investigation into allegations of improper conduct involving a former National Treasury employee. The investigation comes after testimony given at the Madlanga Commission and will be conducted by external forensic investigators. “It has been alleged at the Madlanga Commission that a former employee improperly influenced the awarding of various transversal contracts during his time at the National Treasury. In light of the seriousness of the allegations presented, the National Treasury has initiated an investigation into the awarding of transversal contracts concluded during this period. “The investigation will test the veracity of the allegations…

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has blacklisted seven companies implicated in serious unethical and unlawful conduct. This after the company, assisted by the Special Investigating Unit, conducted forensic investigations which uncovered financial misconduct, kickback schemes, bribery, theft of company assets, collusion and the submission of false information. Disciplinary action has also been taken against officials at the State-Owned Entity (SOE) who colluded with the companies. TPT Chief Executive, Jabu Mdaki said: “Transnet Port Terminals remains committed to upholding the principles of good governance and conducting its business with the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability. Unlawful conduct will not be…

The Department of Home Affairs says it is moving to strengthen immigration enforcement capacity through the recruitment of an additional 301 immigration officers. At present, the department has only 868 immigration officers. “This limited capacity is expected to support immigration enforcement across the entire country. Despite the severe resource constraints that the department continues to face, reprioritisation work has been done to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional Immigration Officers. “The increase from 868 to 1 169 officers will enhance enforcement capacity by 35%,” the department said in a statement on Monday. This is being done in conjunction…

An independent investigation into the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) by the Public Service Commission (PSC), covering the period 2020 to 2025, has found serious weaknesses in spending controls, contract management and governance. The findings have prompted a set of reforms aimed at stabilising the organisation and ensuring that SITA is fit for purpose in a modern digital state. The report found that SITA was flagged for irregular expenditure by the Auditor-General across four audited years. It also found weak accountability for officials responsible for irregular spending, a high number of tenders abandoned or cancelled before completion, and long delays…

The Department of Home Affairs has reached another historic milestone on its path-breaking journey of digital transformation, with 203 bank branches now live in the new digital partnership model with the banking sector. Additionally, over a quarter of a million people have already used this service to obtain a replacement Smart ID card since it was launched on 9 March. Given that, under the previous model, only 248 Home Affairs offices and 32 bank branches offered Smart ID replacement services, the addition of 203 bank branches means that access to this critical service has been expanded by 73% in a…

Transnet has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to two shortlisted bidders for the establishment of a rolling stock Leasing Company (LeaseCo), marking a key milestone in South Africa’s rail reform programme. This follows the successful conclusion of the Request for Qualification (RFQ) process, which was launched in April 2025 and received 14 submissions. In a statement on Monday, Transnet said the RFP marks another step towards a more competitive, inclusive and efficient rail ecosystem that supports growth and improves logistics performance. LeaseCo will acquire, manage and lease rolling stock to domestic and regional markets, helping address shortages in reliable…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has announced that board Chairperson, Deputy Minister of Finance Dr David Masondo, will refer the Acupulco investment transaction matter to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). This follows a legal review following of the findings of a PwC forensic investigation into the transaction. The PIC had provided funding to the company to acquire a stake in the Lanseria Airport. “After receiving legal advice on 20 June 2026 regarding the implications of the PwC findings, the chairperson concluded that the matter should be referred to the SIU for further investigation and any action within its statutory mandate.…

Government will establish an Intelligent Population Register containing biometric data for every person in South Africa and introduce new regulations to prevent the misuse of Traffic Registration Numbers (TRNs). This is part of a broader effort to strengthen migration management while upholding constitutional values and human dignity. Addressing the nation on migration and illegal immigration on Sunday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa said government was taking decisive steps to strengthen identity management systems, close loopholes in immigration controls and improve enforcement against undocumented migration. At the centre of the reforms is the creation of an Intelligent Population Register that will use…

Individuals whose identity documents (IDs) were blocked prior to November 2022, have until 10 July 2026 to submit representations to unblocking their documents, the Department of Home Affairs said. in a statement on Monday, the department said it was launching a nationwide campaign to assist individuals whose IDs were blocked prior to November 2022 and to ensure the integrity of the National Population Register. “In accordance with section 3 of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) of 2000, affected individuals are invited to submit representations explaining why their identity numbers should be unblocked,” it said. It added that it…

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will intensify efforts to grow the economy, create jobs and attract investment, despite growing global uncertainties that threaten South Africa’s economic recovery. Delivering the Presidency Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said the Presidency remains focused on driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and the cost of living, and building a capable and ethical State. The President said South Africa’s economic outlook has improved following years of challenges. “Following years of challenges, our economy is on the mend. The macroeconomic environment has improved, tax collection revenues remain strong, public…

The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (DMPR) has announced that petrol will increase by R1.43 this Wednesday, while the prices of diesel, paraffin and LP gas will decrease. The adjusted prices for this month are as follows: Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): R1.43 increase. Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): R1.43 increase. Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R3.24 decrease. Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R2.61 decrease. Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R5.96 decrease. Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin: R7.95 decrease. Maximum Retail Price of LP Gas: 17c per kg decrease and 20c per kg decrease in the Western Cape. “The average Brent Crude oil…

Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has outlined the government’s plans to combat misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, including proposals for a public fact-checking platform, restrictions on fake news broadcasts, and mandatory disclosure of AI-generated content on digital platforms. Tabling the Government Communication and Information System’s (GCIS) Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, the Minister warned that digital media and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasingly being used as tools to spread false information. “South Africa’s situation is exacerbated by the fact that South Africans are rated as the topmost people propagandised people in the world in the Ipsos Perils of Perception…