Bank Limited. This agreement encompasses the acquisition of Eskom Finance Company SOC Limiteds (EFC) staff home loan portfolio, along with related assets and Eskoms stake in Nqaba Finance 1 (RF) Limited.
This landmark transaction, first announced in December last year, via the Stock Exchange News Service (SENS), marks a significant milestone for both entities involved.

The signing of the sale agreements does not only complete a critical step in Eskoms strategy to streamline its operations but also aligns with the directives set forth by the National Treasury.

The Treasury has mandated that Eskom dispose of non-core assets as a condition of its debt relief programme, reinforcing the financial utility of this transaction.

Calib Cassim, Eskoms Chief Financial Officer, expressed optimism regarding the deal: “Finalising the sale agreements marks a significant step in Eskoms journey to streamline operations and focus on its core mandate.

"This transaction not only supports our strategic goals but also fulfils one of the conditions set by the National Treasury under the debt relief programme, which requires the disposal of non-core assets.

Paris, France – 20 June 2025
South African middle-distance runner Tshepo Tshite delivered a composed and noteworthy performance at the Paris Diamond League on Friday night, setting a new national 1500m record with a time of 3:31.35.

The 28-year-old, already the holder of South Africas indoor records in both the 1500m and the mile, improved on the longstanding outdoor mark of 3:31.93 set by Johan Cronje in 2013. Tshites run placed him ninth overall in a highly competitive field, but the result marked a significant personal milestone and a new benchmark in South African middle-distance athletics.

The race itself was among the fastest in recent seasons. Frances Azeddine Habz took the win in 3:27.49, the quickest time recorded globally this year, with five other athletes also finishing under the 3:30 barrier.

While Tshite didnt feature at the front of the race, his time represents clear progress and underlines his consistency and continuous improvement in his time. The performance also adds an outdoor national title to his growing list of achievements, complementing his indoor bests of 3:35.06 (1500m) and 3:54.10 (mile).

Athletics South Africa (ASA) president James Moloi welcomed the result, noting its significance for both the athlete and the broader athletics community.

“A national record is always an important achievement, and we congratulate Tshite, his coach, and his team,” said Moloi.
“At the same time, we encourage all our athletes to continue improving their performances as we prepare for major international competitions, including the upcoming World Championships.”

Fellow South African Adriaan Wildschutt was also in action in Paris, finishing 14th in the mens 5,000m with a time of 13:28.67. The race was won by Ethiopias Yomif Kejelcha in a commanding 12:47.84.

The next leg of the Diamond League series takes place on 5 July in Eugene, Oregon, where South Africas top athletes will look to build on current form heading into the latter half of the season.

Tshites achievement in Paris may not have come with a podium finish, but it represents steady progress and reaffirms his position among South Africas leading middle-distance runners.

The new Minister of Home Affairs is Leon Schreiber, who was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 30 June 2024. The position includes responsibility for immigration, refugee and asylum policy, for the civil registry, and for the issuing of identity documents and passports. A member of the Democratic Alliance (DA), he is the first member of his party to serve as the Minister of Home Affairs.[1]. He previously served as the Shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration from May 2019 to June 2024 as part of the shadow cabinet.

Will the new Minister extend the travel directive and push the new Digital Nomad Visa?

Many foreigners in South Africa have been anxious as the latest travel directive was expiring, allowing those waiting on visa results to leave without a travel ban. Should they leave before 30 June or stay put and trust in the new government? During the inter-regnum phase following the elections, no action or communication was provided. As of 1 July, bans will be issued, but there are indications of an extension coming.

The new Digital Nomad Visa also needs action. Although signed into law, it still requires updated forms and training for South African missions abroad.

The new Minister of Home Affairs, set to be sworn in on 2 July, should have an eye on both issues. A young (35 years old) and outspoken member of the (former opposition) Democratic Alliance (DA), he should be more business-friendly than his predecessor. His task will be building trust and authority in a department fraught with challenges and led by officials closely aligned with the ANC. We wish him thick skin and diplomatic wisdom.

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