ZF Mgcawu District Municipality

27/10/2026

𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓

𝐙𝐅 𝐌𝐆𝐂𝐀𝐖𝐔 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓 𝐄𝐅𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐓 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑-𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐄

𝟐𝟕 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality hosted a stakeholder engagement on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, bringing together various government departments, the South African Police Service (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Office of the Premier, Non-Government Organisations other key stakeholders.

The meeting follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for urgent and coordinated action against GBVF through his Four-Point Action Plan, which focuses on strengthening the criminal justice system, improving community safety, ensuring greater accountability and strengthening joint efforts to protect women, children and vulnerable members of society.

GBVF remains a serious challenge affecting families and communities across South Africa. The purpose of the engagement was to bring stakeholders together to strengthen existing programmes, identify gaps and agree on practical ways to improve the district's response to GBVF. Discussions also focused on coordinating activities for the upcoming 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, World AIDS Day and strengthening cooperation between government, law enforcement and community organisations.

The ZF Mgcawu District Municipality extends its sincere appreciation to all departments, organisations and stakeholders who attended the engagement and continue to support efforts to address GBVF. By heeding the call of the President and bringing together the work already being done by different role players, the district aims to avoid duplication, strengthen cooperation and ensure that our collective efforts make a greater and lasting impact in our communities.

ISSUED BY THE ZF MGCAWU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Martha Clarke
Head of Communications
0726964758
[email protected]

12/10/2026

07/10/2026

𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟗 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Grade 9 learners at Paballelo High School were given an opportunity to explore the diverse world of Environmental Health careers during an Environmental Health Career Day aimed at exposing young people to career opportunities that contribute directly to healthier, cleaner and safer communities. The programme, organised as part of an environmental health awareness and career-development initiative, brought together professionals from various fields of Environmental Health to engage with learners, explain their roles and demonstrate how their work contributes to the wellbeing of communities.

Under the theme “Healthy People • Safe Environment • Stronger Communities,” the Career Day highlighted that Environmental Health extends far beyond waste collection and cleanliness. Learners were introduced to a range of professional career paths, including Municipal Environmental Health Practitioners, Border Management Environmental Health Practitioners, Hospital Environmental Health Practitioners, Laboratory Technicians, Water Quality Specialists and Waste Management Officers.

The programme encouraged learners to see Environmental Health as a diverse and meaningful career field where science, public health, environmental protection and community service intersect. A major component of the programme focused on the relationship between environmental cleanliness and public health. Educational material displayed during the event emphasised the dangers associated with illegal dumping, including pests, pollution, contamination and the spread of disease.

The campaign encouraged community members to take responsibility for their surroundings through simple actions such as refusing unnecessary waste, reducing consumption, reusing materials, repairing items where possible and recycling. The message was clear: a clean community is a healthy community, and maintaining that environment is everyone's responsibility.

Learners were encouraged to understand that environmental health is not only the responsibility of government officials or environmental professionals. Individual choices, responsible waste disposal and community participation all contribute to creating safer and healthier neighbourhoods. The Career Day also placed strong emphasis on helping learners think about their own futures. Through interactive activities and discussions with professionals, learners were encouraged to identify careers that match their interests and strengths.

The programme's career message was particularly relevant to Grade 9 learners, who are beginning to make important decisions about their subject choices and future career paths. The event encouraged learners to ask questions such as: What am I interested in? What subjects do I enjoy? What kind of contribution do I want to make to my community?

By connecting learners directly with professionals, the Career Day provided practical insight into careers that they may not previously have considered. The Environmental Health Career Day demonstrated the important connection between education, career development, environmental awareness and public health.

For learners, the programme was not simply about learning what Environmental Health Practitioners do. It was an opportunity to see how different careers can make a tangible difference in people's lives, from ensuring safe water and healthcare environments to preventing disease, managing waste and protecting communities from environmental health risks.

The initiative also reinforced the importance of investing in young people and exposing them to career opportunities at an early stage. As the programme's message aptly captured: “Different careers. Same goal – healthier people and a cleaner, safer community.” Through initiatives such as the Environmental Health Career Day, learners were reminded that their career choices could extend beyond personal success. They can also become a powerful means of serving, protecting and improving the communities in which they live.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒚 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆. 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔. 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚'𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔.

02/10/2026

𝒀𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑭𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝑳𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒁𝑭 𝑴𝒈𝒄𝒂𝒘𝒖 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑹𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆

Today the MEC of the Department of Roads and Public Works, MEC Bentley Vass and the MEC of the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, MEC Limakatso Koloi, were joined by the Executive Mayor of the Z.F. Mgcawu District Municipality, Cllr Maryna Basson, and the Local Mayor of Dawid Kruiper Municipality, Cllr David Kazi, for the official handover of Yellow Fleet machinery to strengthen road maintenance capacity in the district.

The programme concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, key handover, fleet walkabout and a live demonstration of the machinery.

Addressing the gathering, MEC Bentley Vass emphasised that the newly acquired machinery must translate into visible service delivery and improved road maintenance. He stressed that the equipment should not simply remain parked in the Department’s yards, but must be deployed and operated to address road infrastructure challenges across the district.

MEC Vass called for more women to be employed and trained as operators of heavy machinery, ensuring that the benefits of the Yellow Fleet extend beyond infrastructure maintenance to creating opportunities for greater participation and representation within the sector.

The call for gender balance was also echoed by the MEC of Transport, Safety and Liaison, MEC Limakatso Koloi, who emphasised the importance of ensuring that women are adequately represented in operational and technical environments.

The launch also reinforced the importance of collaboration between the provincial government and municipalities.

The Yellow Fleet launch is expected to strengthen the Department's operational capacity and support more responsive maintenance of provincial roads in communities across the ZF Mgcawu District.

The event ended with a fleet walkabout and live demonstration, providing attendees with an opportunity to view the newly procured machinery and its operational capabilities firsthand.

29/09/2026

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐓𝐘 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐁𝐀 | 𝐔𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍

Today the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, LA Koloi led the District Community Safety Indaba in Upington, bringing together government, law enforcement, community representatives and key stakeholders to strengthen collective efforts in addressing crime and community safety.

The MEC was joined by the Executive Mayor of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality, Councillor Maryna Basson, Speaker of the District Municipality Councillor Stanley Peterson, Mayors and Speakers from Local Municipalities, senior SAPS officials and representatives from various sectors.

The Indaba provided an important platform for communities to raise the safety challenges they experience, while stakeholders considered practical solutions and ways to strengthen cooperation across the District.

Crime affects more than individual victims. It affects families, businesses, schools and the wellbeing and development of entire communities. We therefore have a collective responsibility to build communities where our children can grow up safely, where women and vulnerable persons are protected, where businesses can operate without fear and where residents feel secure in their homes and neighbourhoods.

Building safer communities is a shared responsibility.

11/09/2026

𝐙𝐅 𝐌𝐆𝐂𝐀𝐖𝐔 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌 𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄

Road infrastructure and the ongoing maintenance of roads across the ZF Mgcawu District took centre stage during an engagement between the district’s newly established Roads Forum and the Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works, Mr Bentley Vass.

The forum, chaired by ZF Mgcawu District Municipality Executive Mayor, Cllr Maryna Basson, provided an opportunity for municipalities and other stakeholders to raise concerns relating to the state of roads and the impact of deteriorating infrastructure on communities and road users.

Among the key issues discussed was the province’s extensive gravel road network, which places considerable pressure on available maintenance resources. MEC Vass acknowledged the scale of the challenge, noting that although the Department has increased its Yellow Fleet capacity, the machinery currently available remains inadequate when measured against the size of the provincial road network.

The availability of suitably qualified technical personnel was also identified as an area requiring attention, particularly given the demands associated with planning, monitoring and maintaining road infrastructure across the province.

In response to concerns raised by the Forum, MEC Vass committed to undertaking oversight visits to a number of roads identified as problematic. The visits will allow the Department to assess the conditions on the ground and gain a clearer understanding of the challenges experienced by communities and motorists.

The meeting further considered the role of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL), with the MEC explaining that the transfer of selected provincial roads to SANRAL is part of broader efforts to improve the management and maintenance of the road network.

Another concern raised by the Forum was the performance of contractors appointed to undertake road projects. Members highlighted instances where contractors allegedly abandon projects before completion or fail to deliver work to the required standards.

MEC Vass stressed the importance of holding non-performing contractors accountable and ensuring that public resources are protected. He further encouraged members of the Forum to maintain close cooperation with the Department so that challenges can be escalated and addressed more effectively.

The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts to establish a stronger collaborative approach to road infrastructure management in the Northern Cape. Further engagements with the ZF Mgcawu District Roads Forum are expected, while MEC Vass has also expressed support for the establishment of similar structures in other parts of the province.

The establishment of these forums is expected to strengthen communication between government, municipalities, stakeholders and road users, while creating a platform through which road infrastructure concerns can be identified, monitored and addressed.