Springbok Women captain Nolusindiso Booi said her team will enter Loftus Versfeld with excitement and determination when they face Canada at 13h30 on Saturday, in the first Test between the two countries on South African soil.

The visitors are ranked number two in the world and the hosts 12th, something Booi said will make them even more determined to deliver a good performance, their first at home in 2025.

“We certainly are well aware of how good Canada have been playing in recent months, in fact, over the last couple of years,” said Booi on Friday.

“They are skilful and a hard team to stop once they get into their stride. So, we know it is going to be a tough challenge, but we want nothing else than that.

Municipalities across South Africa have been urged to adopt innovative technologies and foster a culture of innovation as an essential step towards enhancing service delivery and building a more responsive local government in the country.

Delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Municipal Innovation Recognition Awards (MIRA) in Durban yesterday, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina emphasised that adopting innovative technologies was not optional, but essential, especially for rural municipalities that continue to face deep-rooted development challenges.

She pointed to recent reports by the Auditor-General, highlighting persistent underperformance in municipalities, and said that repeating outdated methods will not yield different results.

“Innovation allows us to leapfrog to better outcomes,” she said. “New technologies disrupt the status quo, reduce costs, and streamline processes, ultimately empowering citizens and restoring public trust in local government.”

The MIRA awards are an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). The awards recognise municipalities that demonstrate leadership in applying innovative solutions to improve essential services such as water provision, waste management, and citizen engagement.

Ms Gina urged municipalities to embed innovation as a standard way of working. “We must transform the culture of our municipalities to embrace new ideas, smarter tools, and evidence-based approaches to delivering services. Innovation is not a luxury reserved for metros; it is a necessity for every municipality, including those in rural areas,” she said.

The awards are informed by the Municipal Innovation Maturity Index (MIMI), which was introduced in 2021 as a decision-support tool to assess the innovation capacity of municipalities. In 2025, a total of 57 towns participated in the rollout of MIMI and all received awards at the ceremony.

Among trailblazers were the City of Cape Town which received the Trailblazing Innovation Award for its Digital Wayleave Management System, which consolidates and streamlines development-related permissions into a single, web-based platform.

The City of Tshwane, Emalahleni, eThekwini, and Waterberg District Municipality received Special Recognition Awards for achieving Innovation Maturity Level 4, indicating that their innovation processes are consistent, well-managed, and embedded within their respective municipalities.

Municipalities such as Vhembe, Waterberg, Modimolle-Mookgopong, and uMgungundlovu were also honoured for successfully applying innovation within specific departments. Although not yet institutionalised across the entire municipality, their innovation efforts are considered promising and repeatable.

The Deputy Minister congratulated all the winners of MIRA 2025 and encouraged more municipalities to follow suit. “This recognition should inspire others to embark on their innovation journeys. In the future, we want to see all municipalities reaching the required innovation threshold, and I believe we are getting closer to that reality.”

A key milestone at the event was the official launch of the Municipal Innovation Fund (MIF), a dedicated funding instrument designed to support municipalities in developing and implementing innovative projects that enhance basic service delivery.

The Fund, managed by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), will provide up to R3 million per project for qualifying municipalities to develop and scale up technologies that deliver measurable community impact.

Funding will be prioritised for municipalities that have reached Level 4 or higher on the MIMI scale and that have demonstrated sound governance and clean audits. Approved projects must be implemented through dedicated accounts with regular reporting on progress, financial management, and community benefits.

The ceremony also featured addresses by representatives of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, SALGA President Councillor Bheke Stofile, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba, and Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Namane Dickson Masemola.



ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Media enquiries, Ms Veronica Mohapeloa, Tel: 083 400 5750
Email: veronica.mohapeloa@dst.gov.za

The Director-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Dr Mlungisi Cele, and the CEO of the CSIR, Dr Thulani Dlamini, will lead discussions with the German delegation during Ms Reem Alabali-Radovan's official visit to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on 23 July 2025.

Germany and South Africa have a strategic partnership to strengthen biomanufacturing skills and expand local vaccine production to address the health insecurity revealed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

South Africa's Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Decadal Plan (2022-2032), which includes a focus on health innovation and the development of a sustainable pharmaceutical sector, is central to this partnership, as are key initiatives such as the CSIR's African Biomanufacturing Workforce Training and Skills Development Programme, which is designed to train 400 professionals in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) annually.

Support from partners like BMZ (the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), GIZ (the German agency for international cooperation), KfW (a development bank owned by the German government) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is crucial for advancing local health innovation and biomanufacturing, and to meet the African Union's goal for local vaccine production – that 60% of local needs be met locally by 2040.

Dr Cele will share South Africa's vision for advancing local health technologies, fostering South-South partnerships and leveraging German cooperation to accelerate the continent's journey toward self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing. Opportunities for German-South African cooperation will be discussed.

Representatives of South African startups, established companies, research institutions, and CSIR training programmes will be present to showcase the impressive breadth of expertise and teamwork in this vital sector.

A tour of the CSIR's GMP training facilities is also planned, with representatives from Biovac, Afrigen, CapeBio, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and graduates of DSTI-supported biomanufacturing programmes providing more information on their respective fields of action and the impact of supported interventions.



Members of the media are invited as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025

Time: 12:30 to 14:00

Venue: CSIR Pretoria Campus, Building 18B

For enquiries and to RSVP, contact Zama Mthethwa at zama.mthethwa@dsti.gov.za or 082 808 3956.

As South Africa celebrates Youth Month 2025 under the theme "Skills for the changing world: Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation", the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation supported the 2025 Green Youth Career Expo, which took place at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville campus on 17 June 2025.

In partnership with the Green Youth Network, the expo highlighted the pivotal role of young people in building a greener, more inclusive South Africa. The event explored how green careers can fuel long-term economic growth and offered practical pathways for the participants to acquire the skills they need to thrive in this evolving sector.

The campus was a hive of activity as young learners participated in an event designed to empower them with knowledge, inspiration and skills for careers in the green economy and sustainable development.

The expo was a precursor to the 10th Annual Green Youth Indaba (GYI), scheduled for 19 and 20 June 2025 at the Durban Exhibition Centre. Under the theme "A decade of action: Driving sustainable innovation," this year's GYI reflects a strong commitment to developing local solutions to global environmental challenges, anchored by youth leadership.

Mr Linda Mthembu, Umkhomazi Circuit Manager from the Department of Basic Education, encouraged learners to embrace education, innovation and active citizenship in the face of climate change and high youth unemployment levels.

"Green Youth has stood the test of time. While many youth initiatives have faded, this movement has endured, delivering real opportunities, real skills and real hope," he said.

He reminded learners to remain committed to their goals.

"Be fully engaged. Understand what you're doing, avoid distractions, and remember –there are no shortcuts to success. It takes passion, persistence and patience."

Learners were encouraged to view the green economy not merely as a career path, but as a calling to become part of the solution to environmental degradation, unemployment and inequality.

Ms Celiwe Khanyile, Deputy Chief Education Specialist from the Pinetown Circuit, called the expo "South Africa's foremost platform for youth empowerment in sustainability". She highlighted the critical pillars that guided the discussions – water conservation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings and climate adaptation.

"These pillars promote responsible resource management and are central to a sustainable future," she noted.

Mr Phathutshedzo Raphalalani, Senior Manager for Pollution Control at eThekwini Municipality, shared his journey from rural Venda to his current leadership role, attributing his success to attending career expos and having mentors.

"Set clear goals, and actively seek out bursary and support opportunities," he advised.

Ms Bongiwe Beja-Ntsiko, Regional Programme Manager of Africa's beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship, invited learners to explore the global fellowship. Open to innovators aged 16 to 28, the three-year programme supports young environmental leaders with training, mentorship and resources to bring their ideas to life.

"We amplify impact through a growing community of fellows, mentors and experts, helping to shape the environmental leaders of tomorrow," she said.

In a panel discussion, Mr Sanele Vilakazi, Project Manager at uMngeni-uThukela Water, encouraged learners to focus on mathematics, science, and geography if they want to pursue careers in water engineering and environmental management.

"South Africa needs problem solvers, especially to address our water quality and waste management challenges," he said.

Grade 10 learner, Alwande Mthembu, from Intakemazolo Combined School in Hammarsdale said the expo opened her eyes to careers aligned with her passions for sustainability, conservation and environmental science.