As part of Minister Nzimande’s extensive official visit to the Republic of Tunisia, earlier today, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) signed a partnership to scale up science, technology and innovation cooperation with Tunisia.

The partnership referred to as the Scaling up Tunisia - South Africa Strategy, includes a Plan of Action and Joint Research Call Meeting Minutes.

The focus areas of the Action Plan include an Exchange Programme, Networking and inter-institutional cooperation, a Joint Research Programme, Intellectual Property Rights, Knowledge and Skills Transfer in Innovation, Participation in International Programs and Governance.

The signing ceremony was preceded by an opening ceremony, where His Excellency, Mr. Mondher Belaid, Tunisia’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and His Excellency, Prof. Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, delivered their keynote remarks.

Speaking ahead of the signing ceremony, Minister Nzimande stated that "even though our visit is primarily aimed at strengthening science, technology and innovation relations between the Republic of Tunisia and the Republic of South Africa- the truth is that the bond between our countries was forged in the heat of the anti-colonial struggle.”

Emphasing the strategic importance of South Africa-Tunisia STI cooperation, Minister Nzimande further stated that “I wish to express our appreciation for the cordial relations between South Africa and Tunisia and thank the Tunisian Embassy in South Africa for the excellent work they have done in keeping our partnership alive. To express our appreciation for this work done by your Embassy in South Africa, through our Science Forum South Africa, we awarded Ms. Hasna Tizaoui, Economic and Cultural Counsellor of the Embassy of Tunisia with the prestigious Science Diplomacy award.”

“The emerging geopolitical environment presents us with a number of complex challenges, including a growing push towards unipolarity by some countries, through bully tactics. We therefore hold the view that African countries must intensify sub-regional science, technology and innovation cooperation and through this, mobilise more coherent support for the implementation of the African Union’s Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa or (STISA)."

The signing of this partnership builds on existing STI cooperation between South Africa and Tunisa and further enables the two countries to intensify the development of sustainable solutions to address old and emerging continental challenges such as youth unemployment and skills development, health care, food sovereignty, water and energy security, climate change and biodiversity loss and digital transformation.

The delegation accompanying Minister Nzimande includes senior officials from the Ministry, the Department and the Entities of the Department such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the National Research Foundation (NRF), as well as experts from the Council for Mineral Technology (Mintek).

Enquiries: Veli Mbele (Media Liaison Officer and Spokesperson to the Minister) @ 064 615 0644 or Veli.Mbele@dsti.gov.za

​On December 14, 2024, the Paterson Park Multipurpose Centre was abuzz with excitement of the grand finale of the Arts Alive Clash of the Regions Performing Arts Talent Showcase. The highly anticipated event hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in collaboration with City of Joburg, brought together talented performers from various Joburg regions, showcasing the rich cultural diversity and artistic excellence of the communities.

The showcase featured an impressive lineup of acts, including music, dance and theatre performances. The audience was left astonished by the sheer talent display as each region presented its unique flavour and flair.

The event was a testament to the power of arts and culture in bringing people together and fostering community spirit, and has undoubtedly become a highlight of the arts and culture developmental calendar in Joburg.

Below are the performers who topped the list in their respective categories.

Hip-Hop

1. Bheki Bila

2. Karabo Mellowood

3. Thuso Kekana

Kwaito/Amapiano

1. Musa Zunguze

2. Kabelo Molefe

3. Luthando Pupu

Dance

1. Gomora Future Stars

2. The Blaq Spider

3. Inkunzi Ezimdaka

Congratulations to the winners and well done to all the finalists, we look ahead to future editions of this remarkable event which continues to shine as a beacon of artistic excellence and cultural pride for our communities.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament (MP) Sihle Lonzi is championing transformative change in South Africa’s education and employment sectors through the proposed Student Debt Cancellation Bill.


This legislation seeks to address the plight of over 300,000 students who have completed their studies but are unable to graduate or obtain their qualifications due to outstanding student debt.


Lonzi highlighted the harsh reality faced by many South African students:


"Young people in South Africa were promised that the doors of learning would be open to them. They pursued their education and completed their studies, yet they cannot graduate due to their financial circumstances and the burden of student debt."


He further stressed that, despite meeting all academic requirements, these students remain trapped in unemployment and poverty, unable to access job opportunities.


"They are stuck at home, struggling in townships and villages across South Africa, with no hope of securing employment," Lonzi stated, underlining the urgency of the crisis.


The Student Debt Cancellation Bill, introduced by the EFF, seeks to eliminate the financial barriers preventing students from graduating, offering them a chance to build a future free from the constraints of debt.

The Gauteng City-Region, South Africa's economic hub contributing 35% of the national output and housing over 15 million people, is facing significant challenges. Long seen as a land of opportunity, the region now contends with deteriorating infrastructure, unreliable service delivery, increasing crime, and governance struggles.

New findings from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) highlight a concerning decline in development outcomes. The GCRO, a collaboration between government and universities, produces the Quality of Life Index, combining 33 variables such as health, safety, and socio-economic factors. The 2023/24 index reveals the lowest recorded quality of life since 2009, signaling the severe impact of global and local crises, or "polycrises," compounded by governance failures.

The survey, covering nearly 14,000 respondents across Gauteng, illustrates declining satisfaction with public services, rising dissatisfaction with government, and persistent poverty. Safety concerns have also surged, with crime and feelings of insecurity worsening. Despite these issues, the data serves as a critical resource for informing policy and strategic planning.

The findings call for urgent collaboration among public, private, and civil society leaders to address these intertwined challenges and improve the wellbeing of Gauteng's residents.

The Hydrocarbons and Energy Planning Branch of the Department of Energy in South Africa oversees the management and regulation of coal, gas, liquid fuels, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy planning, including maintaining the national energy database. This branch plays a pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape and ensuring the country’s energy needs are met in a sustainable and efficient manner.


The liquid fuels industry was formally licensed for the first time in 2005 under the Petroleum Products Amendment Act (2003), Act 58 of 2003. The primary goals of the licensing framework outlined in the Act are to promote an efficient and competitive petroleum industry, foster a favorable investment climate for commercial growth, encourage the advancement of historically disadvantaged individuals, and create employment opportunities and support small businesses within the petroleum sector.


In 2005, South Africa produced approximately 23,571 million liters of liquid fuels, according to the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA). Of this, around 36% of the demand was met by synthetic fuels (synfuels), produced domestically primarily from coal and natural gas. The remaining 64% was satisfied through locally refined products made from imported crude oil.


The price of petrol in South Africa is closely tied to the global market price of crude oil, quoted in US dollars (US$) per barrel. Global supply and demand dynamics for petroleum products directly influence international petrol prices. However, two major factors play a significant role in determining petrol prices locally: international crude oil prices and the exchange rate between the South African Rand (ZAR) and the US Dollar (USD).


As crude oil prices rise, the cost of producing petrol increases, and refineries must adjust their prices accordingly to cover their operational costs. Since crude oil constitutes the largest input cost for refineries, an increase in crude oil prices—especially when accompanied by a weaker Rand—results in higher petrol prices for consumers. This dynamic underline the importance of monitoring global oil price trends and currency exchange rates in managing South Africa’s petrol pricing structure.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities Steve Letsike says the scourge of teenage pregnancy is not only a health concern but a threat to the nation’s social and moral fibre and future prosperity.

“Teenage pregnancy is robbing too many of our girls of their childhood and their future, and it will take all of us working together to turn the tide,” Letsike said.

Addressing a stakeholder engagement in Pretoria earlier today aimed at addressing the persistent ongoing scourge of teenage pregnancy in South Africa, Letsike said in 2024 alone, over 90 000 pregnancies were recorded among girls aged 10 to 19 and 2 328 of those pregnancies were in girls between 10 and 14 years old.

“To call this alarming would be an understatement. These are children, some barely in their teens, some not even teenagers, now forced into motherhood,” Letsike said.

Letsike said a child as young as 10 becoming pregnant was not just a statistic but evidence of a profound societal failure and a horrific crime because a girl that young cannot legally give consent.

“This crisis threatens the very foundation of our social and economic development as teenage pregnancy poses a serious threat to the health, rights, education and socio-economic well-being of girls.

“When a young girl becomes a mother, her chances of finishing school plummet, her job prospects diminish and she often becomes trapped in a cycle of poverty.

“In other words, today’s teen pregnancy is tomorrow’s poverty and inequality. We must recognise this as not only a public health issue but a social justice emergency,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike said the high incidence of adolescent pregnancy in the country was interlinked with other scourges of HIV and other STI infection rates, child sexual abuse, statutory rape, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), poverty, educational exclusion, substance abuse and even toxic elements of popular culture.

“To craft effective solutions, we must honestly confront how and why so many young girls are getting pregnant,” Letsike said.

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli said teenage pregnancy in South Africa has reached deeply concerning levels with more than 90 000 births recorded among girls aged 10 to 19.

“These are not just numbers, they are a stark reflection of our socio-economic challenges and a call to action. Teenage pregnancy is more than a health crisis,” she said.

Mhlauli said the response to teenage pregnancy must be urgent, coordinated and compassionate.

“Government cannot do this work alone. We need the support of all pillars of society, parents, faith leaders, educators, civil society, the media and the private sector.

“As the Presidency, we are committed to supporting this cause through improved coordination, targeted interventions and policy coherence because the future of our country depends on the safety, empowerment and well-being of our children,” she said.

Chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board Asanda Luwaca said “young girls are our sisters, our classmates, our cousins, our peers and children”.

“It is an indictment of our inability, as a collective, to fully protect the bodies, rights and dreams of girls, especially those from poor, rural and marginalised communities, especially differently abled.

“We know that teenage pregnancy is not a standalone issue. It is deeply interwoven with child sexual abuse, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), educational exclusion, toxic gender norms, substance abuse, and the predatory dynamics of poverty,” she said.

Luwaca said teenage pregnancy was not just about health, but injustice.

“It is about gender inequality, poverty, exploitation, broken family systems, absent accountability and a dangerous silence that protects perpetrators more than it protects girls.

“And until we confront these intersecting issues head-on with honesty, bravery and unflinching determination, we will continue to fail the young women of this nation. South Africa has the policies. We have the frameworks. What we need now is unapologetic implementation across every level of society,” Luwaca said.

The engagement with stakeholders is part of an initiative to establish a Roadmap to South Africa’s Teenage Pregnancy Prevention and Management Response. –