Months of uncertainty surrounding the controversial Bodulo Mothong housing project could come to an end today when the Free State High Court delivers judgment in a closely watched legal battle that could determine the future of hundreds of vulnerable families awaiting relocation to safer living cond...
South Africa has called on G20 member states to exercise maximum flexibility and solidarity as the Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) enters the final phase of negotiations on the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on the Empowerment of Women.
Delivering her welcoming remarks at the 4th Empowerment of Women Technical Meeting, currently underway in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Director-General, Advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke, expressed optimism that the declaration, if adopted, would mark a historic milestone for the G20’s gender equality agenda.
“If we can reach agreement amongst ourselves, this would indeed be a momentous occasion — for the G20 Forum to adopt, for the first time, the Empowerment of Women Ministerial Declaration,” Maluleke said.
The meeting, which takes place from 27 – 29 October 2025, is attended by representatives from G20 member states, including guest countries and international organisations. It is the final meeting under South Africa’s Presidency of the Working Group.
The delegates are negotiating the Ministerial Declaration, to be adopted during the EWWG Ministerial Meeting on 31 October 2025.
Maluleke commended the “robust engagement” of delegations over the past three and a half months, noting that 29 paragraphs of the draft declaration have been finalised, with 18 still under negotiation.
She also reflected on the evolution of the text since South Africa introduced the initial draft, emphasising efforts to balance diverse perspectives. These include references to gender issues, which have increased significantly, from 13 mentions in the Zero Draft to 44 in the latest revision (REV3), showing the growing recognition of women’s empowerment as a core development priority.
However, she acknowledged that some contentious issues, such as references to comprehensive sexuality education, patriarchy, and harmful practices, had been removed through successive revisions to reach consensus.
“This is an indication that the issues under discussion are vibrant and relevant under the gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls’ agenda for all delegation,” Maluleke said.
She also appealed for the use of “agreed UN language” in remaining discussions, stressing that the goal was to produce a declaration that is balanced, ambitious, bold, and action-oriented, ensuring that “all women and girls in our countries will be able to confirm that their human rights are also promoted and protected in the G20.”
The EWWG, first established under India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, has since evolved under Brazil in 2024 and now South Africa in 2025. The Johannesburg meeting marks the culmination of this three-year process, setting the stage for a potential global commitment to women’s empowerment within the G20 framework.
As the delegates gather for their final week of negotiations in Gauteng, Maluleke expressed confidence that collective determination would lead to success.
“We rely on all delegations to exercise their maximum flexibility in this last leg of the negotiations. When the negotiation session resumes, I want us all to reflect, take cognisance that we have spent 55 hours in each other’s company engaging in this text over three and a half months.
“This has not been an easy process, and we cannot allow all this hard work to turn into nothing,” the Director-General said.
*This article was first published by Sa Government
In a landmark moment for South Africa’s tourism and heritage rail sector, Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Company have signed a 25-year concession agreement to operate and manage the iconic Outeniqua Choo Tjoe heritage railway line.
This long-term concession marks a significant milestone in the revival of the much-loved steam train service, which last operated in 2006 and has remained a symbol of South Africa’s rich railway history.
The agreement enables the restoration, operation, and development of the line between George and Knysna, creating a new era of heritage tourism along the world-renowned Garden Route.
“The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is more than just a railway; it is a national treasure. This partnership ensures its return as a world-class heritage experience that will bring significant social, cultural, and economic value to the region,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Monday.
She made these remarks during the signing ceremony for the agreement in George, Western Cape.
Phillips hailed the agreement as “a model for public-private collaboration in the preservation and activation of strategic heritage infrastructure”.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is South Africa’s last remaining full-sized, narrow-gauge steam train to have operated a regular service and is fondly remembered by local and international passengers for its spectacular route along the Garden Route coastline.
This concession forms part of Transnet’s broader strategy to unlock value from non-core assets through partnerships that preserve heritage, boost regional tourism, and promote inclusive economic growth.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Company Chief Executive Officer, Alan McVitty, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential.
“We are honoured to partner with Transnet on this visionary journey. Our goal is to breathe new life into the Choo Tjoe, preserving its charm while delivering a safe, memorable, and economically impactful rail experience for locals and visitors alike,” McVitty said.
*This article was first published by Sa Government
South Africa’s major metros, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, are tackling water repair and maintenance operations this month as they try to keep its ageing infrastructure afloat while balancing supply disruptions, illegal connections, and financial instability.
While challenges differ from city to city, underinvestment, water losses and increasing demand have pushed municipalities into a constant state of crisis management.
Cape Town
From Tuesday until November 5, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department will start its planned maintenance. It is expected to affect neighbourhoods from Kuils River to Fish Hoek, Delft, and Woodstock.
Residents have been warned to store water in advance, as scheduled shut-offs could last up to ten hours in some areas. The city’s water team will conduct pipe and valve installations, replacements, and leak repairs.
In a statement, the City of Cape Town said: "The aim is to ensure the future continuity of water supply by addressing the issue of unaccounted-for water.”
Maintenance work will include zero-pressure tests and conditional assessments, which temporarily disrupt supply but aimed at identifying weak points in the network and prevent future bursts.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg seeks to solve its water crisis believed to be a result of illegal connections, non-payment, and decaying infrastructure. These issues have sparked protests in areas such as Westbury and Coronationville.
In a recent media briefing, City of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero unveiled a turnaround strategy aimed at restoring reliability and financial sustainability to the city’s water utility.
“One of the most significant developments,” Morero said, “is the ringfencing of Johannesburg Water as a trading entity, ensuring greater accountability and efficiency.”
The move, supported by the Presidency and National Treasury, allows the utility to manage its own finances and revenue collection.
As part of enforcement efforts, three informal settlements have already been disconnected from illegal water networks. The city is also partnering with the private sector to drill boreholes in high-demand areas and rehabilitate reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants.
Durban
Meanwhile, Durban’s eThekwini Municipality is also waging what it calls a “war on leaks.” Earlier this month, the city’s Water and Sanitation Department isolated the Northern Aqueduct, one of its main supply pipelines, to repair a major leak near Piesang River and three smaller leaks further down the line.
The shutdown, which lasted 27 hours, affected thousands of residents and businesses in areas such as Phoenix, KwaMashu, Umhlanga, and Durban North.
Municipal spokespersons described the repair operation as essential to reduce water losses
The city has allocated R40 million in its 2025/26 budget to fix 22 pipelines prone to frequent bursts.
Municipal statistics show that in just over a year, more than 1,000 bursts and leaks were repaired across three wards — a sign of both progress and deep-rooted decay.
City officials across all metros have urged residents to store water in advance of planned shut-offs, use clean sealed containers, and report leaks promptly.
The search for three-year-old Katleho Leeuw from Glen outside of Bloemfontein ended in tragedy when her lifeless body was found in the bushes on Saturday afternoon.
Little Katleho went missing on Thursday. She was last seen alive by her mother, Joyce Leeuw, while playing with other children in the backyard of her home, but later on realised that her daughter was overly quiet and immediately reported the little Katleho missing at the Glen Police station.
Captain Jerry Motaung from the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit led the search for two days and at 11:20 am on Saturday, Katleho’s fragile body was found dumped in the thick bushes, a distance from Glen Location
“Preliminary investigation indicates that Katleho was sexually assaulted and murdered.
“Crime scene experts are currently looking for clues that will help the investigation further. A case of Murder is opened at Glen Police Station,” confirmed Free State spokesperson for SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane.
Covane urges public members with information to assist the investigation and arrest of Leeuw’s suspect(s) to contact Sergeant Lebogang Dikgacoi on 083 585 1951 or 051 407 3600.
Mangaung Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi has dismissed claims that political interference led to the dissolution of the Centlec board, stating that the decision was based solely on governance and performance issues, rather than politics.
This follows the recent resignation of four board members who alleged political meddling in the power utility’s operations. They claimed that their request for CEO Molefane Sekoboto’s qualifications prompted Nthatisi to dissolve the board.
However, Nthatisi rejected these assertions, stating that the board had failed to fulfil its mandate and instead became entangled in internal conflicts with Centlec’s management.
“Centlec would have done well if it had been disbanded a while ago. I must confess that mistakes were made when we established the board. We underrated the importance of induction. If we had properly inducted the board, perhaps it would not have been disbanded,” said Nthatisi.
He explained that tensions between the board and management created a working crisis that could have been avoided through a structured induction process. The mayor added that divisions within Centlec’s staff further contributed to instability within the institution.
Nthatisi also noted that some former board members may have resigned out of concern for their professional reputations, fearing they might be labelled unfit to hold office.
“There’s a thin line between the administration and the board. One deals with policy, the other with implementation, and the two must complement each other. Unfortunately, that balance broke down, and I had to decide whether to deal with the administration or the board’s disorganisation,” he said.
The mayor confirmed that an interim board has been appointed in line with Centlec’s Memorandum of Incorporation, which requires such a structure in the absence of a permanent board.
“The matter has gone to the council, which resolved that we advertise for a new board. The advert has been placed, and we’ve been given three months to establish a new structure. We are now nearing the end of the second month, and by next month, a fully-fledged board will be in place to take over from the interim structure,” Nthatisi concluded.
This is a developing story. More details will appear in the Journal News on Friday.
