WESTERN CAPE OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

WESTERN CAPE OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME

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CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE – Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, has officially opened applications for the provincial Export Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (ECEP).

The targeted funding and technical support initiative is designed to assist both existing and aspiring exporters to break into international markets, overcome technical trade barriers, and scale up local production capacity.

Key Areas of Business Support

The ECEP provides practical co-funding and technical interventions aimed at making Western Cape enterprises export-ready:

• Standards & Certification Compliance: Guidance and support to satisfy strict foreign market standards, international certifications, and regulatory mandates (e.g., ISO, FSSC, Halal, Kosher, and GlobalG.A.P.).

• Product & Packaging Adaptation: Support for product testing, reformulation, specialized labeling, multi-language packaging, and international nutritional analysis.

• Operational & Tech Upgrades: Financial assistance for acquiring specialized machinery, equipment, and technology that directly enhance production throughput and export readiness.

• Digital & Market Access: Support to register products with foreign regulatory bodies, list on global e-commerce platforms, and secure specialized export permits.

Eligibility and Application Process

"Growing exports is one of the most effective ways to create jobs, attract investment and stimulate economic growth. Through the Export Competitiveness Enhancement Programme, we are investing directly in the competitiveness of Western Cape businesses and unlocking new opportunities for them to succeed in international markets." — Dr Ivan Meyer, Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism

Applications are being accepted strictly online through the Western Cape Government portal. Applicants must be legally registered entities based within the geographical boundaries of the Western Cape, hold a valid Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN, and provide supporting financial documentation.

The department noted that the programme excludes operational working capital, raw inventory purchases, and physical building infrastructure, with priority given to sectors showing high export growth potential.

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MAYOR NKOSINDIPHILE XHAKAZA TO HAND OVER 56 NEW SERVICE DELIVERY VEHICLES IN GERMISTON

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MAYOR NKOSINDIPHILE XHAKAZA TO HAND OVER 56 NEW SERVICE DELIVERY VEHICLES IN GERMISTON

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​EKURHULENI, GAUTENG – City of Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, alongside Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Roads and Transport Management, Cllr Lindiwe Mnguni, will officially hand over 56 new service delivery vehicles on Thursday, 23 July 2026.

​The official handover ceremony will take place at the City's Fleet Workshop in Primrose, Germiston.

​Part of the "Fixing the Frontline" Initiative

​The vehicle procurement forms part of the City’s broader Fixing the Frontline program—an operational drive aimed at equipping municipal staff with the necessary physical tools to improve response times, address backlogs, and meet community service demands.

​The expanded fleet is designed to boost internal operational capacity and reduce reliance on third-party service providers.

​Affected Municipal Departments

​The 56 new vehicles will be distributed across key Metro Trading Services and operational divisions, including:

• ​Solid Waste Management Business Unit: Enhancing refuse collection and waste management capacity.
• ​Energy Business Unit: Supporting maintenance crews dealing with power outages and electrical grid infrastructure.
• ​Water and Sanitation Business Unit: Speeding up response teams attending to pipe bursts, leaks, and sewage blockages.
• ​Community Services Department: Providing transport for social development, maintenance, and community support teams.

​The municipality stated that the investment will lead to faster response times, greater operational efficiency, and more dependable service delivery for residents across Ekurhuleni.

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MINISTER DEAN MACPHERSON ORDERS 30-DAY PROBE AND DISPOSAL STRATEGY FOR 6,200+ STATE-OWNED HOUSES

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

MINISTER DEAN MACPHERSON ORDERS 30-DAY PROBE AND DISPOSAL STRATEGY FOR 6,200+ STATE-OWNED HOUSES

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​PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Dean Macpherson, has instructed Department Director-General Sifiso Mdakane to launch a comprehensive 30-day investigation into 6,238 state-owned residential properties allocated to government officials across the country, setting the stage for a major disposal of redundant assets.

​The directive aims to identify unneeded state residences, eliminate double-subsidisation of public servants, and curb millions in unaccounted maintenance costs on the public fiscus.

​Portfolio Breakdown & Accounting Deficits

​Department records reveal a significant geographical concentration of state residences, alongside glaring gaps in financial reporting:

​KwaZulu-Natal Bottleneck: Over 58% (3,626) of the total 6,238 allocated residences are located in KZN, compared to 566 in the Western Cape and 407 in Gauteng.

​Maintenance Expenditure Gaps: An estimated R39.6 million was spent from the Department's Day-to-Day Maintenance budget in the 2025/26 financial year—yet available expenditure records account for only 108 of the 6,238 properties.

​Key Priorities of the 30-Day Audit Mandate

​Director-General Mdakane must deliver a full report covering six core areas:

​KZN Inventory Assessment: Map all 3,626 KZN properties by user department, intended purpose, occupant status, and determine whether each should be retained, repurposed, or sold.

​Internal DPWI Scrutiny: Audit DPWI-occupied residences to ensure no preferential treatment, exemptions, or governance deviations were granted to DPWI staff compared to other government departments.

​Regulatory & Statutory Compliance: Verify full compliance with the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA), the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), and Treasury regulations.

​Market-Related Rentals: Assess whether charged rentals reflect fair market value and verify that formal approvals exist for any pricing deviations.

​Fringe Benefit Tax & Qualification: Confirm that occupants qualify for state housing under their employment terms and ensure fringe benefit tax is properly applied.

​Surplus Asset Rationalisation: Identify unneeded properties surrendered by departments to prepare them for redevelopment or transparent public sale.

​Policy Shift: Default to Disposal

​Minister Macpherson emphasized that the state should not be carrying the financial burden of over 6,000 houses, especially when many public servants already receive housing allowances or subsidies in their remuneration packages.

​"Unless there is a clear and compelling operational reason for the State to retain a residential property, it should be sold. The default position cannot be that the State indefinitely carries the maintenance, rates and other costs of thousands of residential properties while the public fiscus remains under immense pressure... Selling properties that the State does not need will reduce unnecessary expenditure, generate value for the public and ensure that government focuses its limited resources on infrastructure and assets that directly support service delivery." — Minister Dean Macpherson

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DA APPROVES KZN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, URGES DEEP PARTNERSHIPS AND RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

DA APPROVES KZN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, URGES DEEP PARTNERSHIPS AND RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT

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​PIETERMARITZBURG, KWAZULU-NATAL – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally supported the Department of Social Development's 2026/2027 Budget and Annual Performance Plan (APP) in the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature.

​Emphasizing that a budget must serve as a direct tool to empower vulnerable communities rather than foster generational dependency, the party welcomed the department's ongoing strategic transition toward a developmental social welfare model.

​Praise for Financial Discipline and NGO Support

​The DA commended the leadership of Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, her Head of Department, and the Chief Financial Officer for driving improved financial administration and governance standards.

​Key achievements highlighted during the portfolio committee's budget interrogation include:

• ​Strict 30-Day Payment Compliance: The department’s adherence to paying supplier and service provider invoices within 30 days, protecting small businesses and Non-Profit Organisations (NGOs) from cash-flow strain.
• ​Audit Acknowledgment: Positive recognition from the Auditor-General regarding strengthened internal financial controls.
• ​NGO Sector Reforms: Enhancements to the Sector Funding Policy to ensure transparent allocation of public funds to first-responder civil society organisations.

​Demands for Fair Distribution and Political Neutrality

​Despite praising the department's fiscal management, the DA raised serious concerns regarding resource allocation across districts.

​"Government resources belong to KZN’s people – not political parties, friends or family members. Corruption, maladministration or political interference undermines public confidence and diverts resources away from those who need them most." — DA KwaZulu-Natal Portfolio Caucus

​The party instructed District Directors to act as strict custodians of public resources, demanding that funding allocations be based strictly on community need rather than political affiliation or personal relationships.

​Call for Multi-Sectoral Partnerships

​Addressing KZN’s severe social challenges—including high youth unemployment, substance abuse, and gender-based violence—the DA stressed that the state cannot succeed in isolation. Effective relief requires structured collaboration between provincial departments, municipalities, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, and civil society.

​Concluding its address, the DA dismissed criticisms from opposition parties like uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), arguing that populist rhetoric offers no practical solutions for budget management or public delivery. As a partner in the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA pledged to maintain rigorous oversight over expenditure and ensure every allocated rand translates into tangible community development.  

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SENTENCING POSTPONED IN CAIPHUS NYOKA MURDER CASE AS FORMER APARTHEID POLICE OFFICERS AWAIT FINAL ORDERS

KASiBC AFRiCA©®™ BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR 

SENTENCING POSTPONED IN CAIPHUS NYOKA MURDER CASE AS FORMER APARTHEID POLICE OFFICERS AWAIT FINAL ORDERS

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​BENONI, GAUTENG – The sentencing proceedings for two former apartheid-era police officers convicted of the premeditated murder of student activist Caiphus Nyoka have been postponed by the Pretoria High Court sitting in Benoni.

​Former police Sergeants Abraham Hercules Engelbrecht (61) and Pieter Stander (60) appeared in court following their conviction on 2 December 2025 for the 1987 murder of Nyoka, who was a prominent leader in the Congress of South African Students (COSAS).

​Ill Health and Pre-Sentence Reports Force Postponement

​During the court appearance, Engelbrecht’s legal team submitted a formal application to delay the sentencing proceedings, citing his deteriorating health.

​The defense argued that Engelbrecht requires consultation with a medical specialist before proceedings can continue, alongside the preparation of an official pre-sentence report by the Department of Correctional Services.

​Presiding over the matter, the judge granted the postponement request, scheduling the sentencing trial to run from 9 to 13 November 2026.

​State Files Leave to Appeal Former Commander's Acquittal

​Concurrently, the prosecution launched a legal bid seeking leave to appeal the acquittal of the former commanding officer, Major Leon Louis Van Den Berg (75).

​The state is challenging the court's earlier decision to clear Van Den Berg of charges linked to the fatal shooting. The judge reserved judgment on the state's application, indicating that a written decision will be delivered to both the prosecution and defense teams in due course.

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