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06/09/2026

Mpumalanga Premier Opens R350-million Destiny Exclusive Hotel, Calls it a "Worker-led Development"

Middelburg – Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu officially opened the R350-million Destiny Exclusive Hotel and International Convention Centre in Middelburg on Friday, 4 September 2026 hailing the development as a landmark investment that will create jobs, stimulate local economic activity and position the province as a premier destination for business and leisure tourism.

The five-star facility, located in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, features 150 hotel rooms and a 1,000-seat convention centre, together with a spa and wellness centre, gym, restaurant and bar. It was developed by Akani Properties on behalf of the Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF).

Addressing dignitaries including MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Jesta Sidell, Nkangala District Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr Thomas Diphepheng Ngwenya and business leaders, Ndlovu said the investment comes at a critical time for the region. He noted that unemployment in Steve Tshwete Local Municipality stands at 19%, with youth unemployment at 27% and 16% of households classified as indigent.

"We are celebrating an investment in the future of Mpumalanga, an investment that creates jobs, stimulates local economic activity, strengthens our tourism offering and positions our province as a destination of choice for visitors and investors alike," the Premier said.

The project created up to 300 permanent jobs during construction, and 70% of newly created operational roles will be reserved for local residents in line with municipal hiring guidelines.

In a powerful address, the Premier praised the MEPF for what he called "revolutionary foresight" in backing the mega-project.

"For far too long, the retirement savings of African workers have been used to develop massive buildings in Sandton or foreign financial markets, leaving the communities where those workers live and work without infrastructure development," he said.

"Today, we salute the revolutionary foresight of the MEPF that backed this mega-project. The MEPF has demonstrated the true definition of 'capital with a conscience'," he added.

The Premier described the development as a "worker-led development", noting that municipal employees, clerks, technicians and administrative staff, are, through their pension fund, the physical owners of the five-star hospitality holding.

The hotel is strategically positioned in Mpumalanga's mining and energy economic hub, with Steve Tshwete being the third major contributor to provincial GDP. It sits on the N4 economic corridor and is well-placed to serve as a convenient base for visitors to the nearby Kruger National Park and the Loskop Nature Reserve, which the provincial government is working to revive as a key tourism attraction.

Ndlovu said the convention centre would help Mpumalanga capture a larger share of corporate travel, conferences and events, linking business tourism with leisure tourism.

"Every conference delegate, tourist and visitor who comes to Middelburg creates opportunities for local restaurants, transport operators, retailers, tourism establishments, informal traders and other small businesses. The economic benefits therefore extend far beyond the hotel itself," he said.

The development aligns with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government's 7th Administration goal of achieving R50 billion in investment.

"We cannot achieve our R50-billion investment target if we do not possess the infrastructure to host the investors and innovators who will bring that capital to life," the Premier said.

The venue demonstrated its operational readiness in July by hosting the Middelburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry's annual investment summit and gala dinner. The property will be managed independently by Carnation Hotels under its existing 'Destiny' brand.

Declaring the facility officially open, Premier Ndlovu issued a clarion call to institutional investors, state-owned enterprises and private sector partners: "Mpumalanga is officially open for business".

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03/09/2026

MPUMALANGA LAUNCHES REAL ESTATE LEARNERSHIP TO EMPOWER YOUTH

Mpumalanga has launched a bold new chapter in empowering its youth, with the Mpumalanga Real Estate Learnership Programme officially launched on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality, placing 200 young people from Ehlanzeni, Gert Sibande and Nkangala on a path towards a property management qualification and a foothold in one of South Africa's most influential economic sectors. The initiative is a landmark partnership between the Office of the Premier, Services SETA and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

MEC Thulasizwe Thomo, on behalf of the Premier, emphasised the strategic significance of the programme in his remarks. "Today's launch is far more than the commencement of another learnership programme, it is a strategic intervention that seeks to reposition young people of this province as active participants in one of the country's most significant economic sectors," he said.

He challenged the selected learners to see their selection as a vote of confidence from government. "Your selection represents not only confidence in your potential, but also government's confidence that you possess the determination to become ambassadors of professionalism, integrity and excellence within the property industry."

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Human Settlements Ms Thembi Simelane linked the programme to the broader transformation agenda of the property sector. "We are trying to create an African face in the property industry, to ensure the entire property sector is representative of the transformation agenda our country seeks," she said.

The Minister further said, "we want previously disadvantaged individuals from every walk of life to be represented."

Learners will be placed with established property companies for practical workplace experience as they work towards an NQF4 qualification, with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, Services SETA and the PPRA supporting the process throughout.

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01/09/2026

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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01/09/2026

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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28/08/2026

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

27/08/2026

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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27/08/2026

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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26/08/2026

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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23/08/2026

[Listen] Mduduzi "Mswati" ka Nkosi unpacking the chaos, political landscape, the controversies, and the reality of his life today. He alleges that in one of the previous regional conferences in Nkangala, a nomination letter was fraudulently submitted as the nominee was outside of the country when the letter was submitted and accepted.

Recap

Presented by: ACO Radio | 013 Golden Circle | Humble Media Group | 100 Spartans Media | Witbank News

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