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ICRC President meets Ramaphosa as global push to uphold rules of war gains momentum

PRETORIA – The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, to discuss efforts to make respect for the rules of war a political priority as the number of armed conflicts continues to rise worldwide.

The meeting, which also included Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, comes as the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) – launched in September 2024 – continues to attract broad international support.

"Today we see the horrific humanitarian consequences resulting from the rules of war being bent, broken or outright ignored," said President Spoljaric. "As one of the six founding states of the Global IHL Initiative, South Africa is playing a critical role in reviving respect for these life-saving rules globally. With over one-third of armed conflicts taking place in Africa, I hope more countries across the continent will join this exceptional effort to unite states around a shared commitment to preserve humanity in war."

South Africa, together with Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan and the ICRC, launched the Global Initiative in September 2024 to galvanise political commitment to international humanitarian law. To date, 118 states, including 27 African countries, have officially joined the initiative.

These efforts will culminate in a high-level conference hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein in Jordan on 7 December 2026, where states will reaffirm their commitment to upholding the rules of war. The conference will bring together Heads of State and Government to send a unified message reaffirming that the rules of war are fundamental to preserving our shared humanity.

While in Pretoria, President Spoljaric also met with Advocate Mothibedi Panyane, president of the South African Red Cross Society, about their humanitarian work across the country.

The ICRC has been active in South Africa since 1963, beginning with visits to prisoners, including the late President Nelson Mandela on Robben Island. Today, the ICRC works with the South African government, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and partners across the region to address humanitarian challenges and promote respect for the laws of war.

The Global Initiative, which does not aim to create new norms but to strengthen respect for and implementation of existing IHL, has seen more than 150 States participate in its technical consultations. The six co-leaders have invited leaders of all States to come together at this pivotal moment and unite around their shared responsibility to prevent atrocities, preserve human dignity and safeguard the foundations for sustainable peace.

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Mpumalanga to Launch Major Real Estate Learnership Programme

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu will officially launch the Real Estate Training and Placement Programme on 02 September 2026. The event, set to take place at the Banquet Hall in Middelburg, aims to boost skills development and job placement in the property sector. Partners include the Department of Human Settlements, the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (DPRA), and Services SETA.

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DEPUTY MINISTER SOTYU TO HEADLINE NORTH WEST WOMEN IN TOURISM BREAKFAST

In celebration of Women’s Month, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ms. Makhotso Sotyu will deliver the keynote address at the North West Women in Tourism Business Breakfast. The event, scheduled for Saturday at the Tusk Rio Casino in Klerksdorp, aims to highlight the vital role of women in driving entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth within the tourism sector.

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TourismForInclusiveGrowth

The South African Reserve Bank has on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, officially launched two new commemorative circulation coins, celebrating the legacies of Charlotte Maxeke as well as the women of the 1956 Women’s March.

The R2 coin featuring Charlotte Maxeke’s profile celebrates her becoming the first black South African woman to obtain a university degree 125 years ago. The design was inspired by the beads she wore in her early years.

Addressing the launch, Governor Lesetja Kganyago reflected: “For a black woman at that time, access to higher education was not simply limited; it was almost unimaginable. The barriers before her were legal, social, economic and cultural. That is why her graduation in 1901 … was so extraordinary. It was not only a personal milestone; it was a direct act of defiance against the limits that the authorities and society of her time had placed on black people, and on black women in particular.”

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𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙙𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙪 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙥𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧

Premier Mandla Ndlovu on Wednesday, 26 August 2026 formally welcomed the newly appointed Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Nkankoane Apaphia Modise, during a meeting held at the Government Complex.

The meeting was attended by Members of the Executive Council (EXCO) and the Director-General Ms Maggie Skosana.

During the engagement, the Premier outlined key priorities for the province to strengthen policing and ensure safer communities. These include addressing political killings, killing of police officers and civilians, through thorough investigations and Crime Intelligence. He further urged her to tackle gangsterism, dismantle construction mafias and related criminal activities, and intensify the fight against illegal mining.

The Premier emphasised the importance of strengthened collaboration between the provincial government, the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, and SAPS in combating crime and safeguarding communities across the province.

In her remarks, Lieutenant General Modise reaffirmed her commitment to serving the people of Mpumalanga and indicated that work is already underway to address several of the criminal activities. She committed to working closely with the provincial government and other relevant stakeholders to combat crime and strengthen safety and security across the province.

She highlighted Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), as a major concern, committing to give it close attention in order to protecting vulnerable members of society.

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Tourism and Public Works & Infrastructure collaborate to accelerate investment in tourism infrastructure

The Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille and the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, have formalised a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement aimed at strengthening the preparation of priority tourism infrastructure projects and unlocking greater private sector investment into South Africa's tourism economy.

Under this 3-year agreement, DPWI’s Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) will support the Department of Tourism with specialist resources, including investment expertise and transaction advisory services required to strengthen the pipeline of projects and improve their readiness for investment.

"Tourism Policy is Economic Policy. If we want tourism to make an even greater contribution to economic growth and job creation, we must build the infrastructure that makes investment and new tourism experiences possible. This partnership will also facilitate the transfer of skills, knowledge and technical competencies to strengthen the Department of Tourism's long-term capacity to prepare and facilitate tourism infrastructure investment. We must turn tourism potential into bankable projects, investment and ultimately jobs," said the Minister.

The agreement comes just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa launched Phase Three of the Government-Business Partnership, with tourism identified as one of the key sectors capable of accelerating inclusive economic growth and employment.

The Department of Tourism will retain overall accountability and ownership of its Investment Facilitation Service while Infrastructure South Africa will provide the specialist technical and transaction support required under the agreement.

Infrastructure South Africa is a programme established within DPWI that provides services for infrastructure planning, management and delivery.

“Through this partnership, we can help move priority tourism infrastructure projects from plans on paper to shovels in the ground, while crowding in private sector investment and creating new economic opportunities across the country. This is another practical step towards our goal of turning South Africa into a construction site and using infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation,” said Minister Macpherson.

The timing of the partnership is also significant as the Department of Tourism prepares to host the second Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit on 30 September 2026 and 1 October 2026 in Gauteng.

The Summit builds on the inaugural event held in 2025, which created a dedicated platform to connect tourism infrastructure projects with potential investors and financiers. The second instalment will continue building a pipeline of credible and bankable tourism projects from both the public and private sector.

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TWO ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN ELUKWATINI

Nelspruit - The Police in Elukwatini, Mpumalanga, have arrested two alleged gang members in connection with the murder of a man in Nhlazatshe, Elukwatini, on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

Police responded to a complaint of a murder at Nhlazatshe Number 3. Upon arrival, members found a man with multiple stab wounds. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were summoned to the scene, and the victim was declared dead at the scene.

An intensive investigation was immediately launched, leading to the arrest of two suspects, aged 19 and 20. Investigators are also probing whether this incident could be related to another murder incident that occurred in the same area on 20 August 2026, which is also suspected to be gang-related.

The two suspects are expected to appear at the Chief Albert Luthuli Magistrate’s Court in Elukwatini on Monday, 25 August 2026, facing charges of murder.

In a separate incident, Police in Witbank arrested a 35-year-old man for alleged drunk driving, reckless driving, and negligent driving after he collided with a Police vehicle on Friday, 21 August 2026, at about 21:20.

It is reported that Police were pursuing a VW Polo observed being driven recklessly. The vehicle swerved and collided with a Police vehicle. Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

This man too is expected to appear at the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 25 August 2026.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Apaphia Modise, commended the Police for their swift action in both incidents.

“We will continue to act decisively against gangsterism and the senseless killings in our province. Those who believe they can terrorize our communities through gang-related activities will face the full might of the law. I commend our members for their swift response, which led to these arrests, and we will intensify our operations to root out gangsterism in Elukwatini and other parts of Mpumalanga. At the same time, drunk and reckless driving remains a serious threat to the safety of all road users, including our members. We will not tolerate such lawlessness on our roads.”

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Mpumalanga SAPS Station Contact Numbers

Keep this list handy for quick reference. It includes direct contact details for police stations across the province, correct as of 21 August 2026.

Save this post or screenshot it for emergencies. Stay safe, Mpumalanga!

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Education