Tshwane is SA's safest metro
The Tshwane metro has welcomed an independent study naming it the safest metropolitan city in South Africa.
The 2024 State of Urban Safety in SA report, published by the South African Cities Network (SACN), claims to use rigorous, data-driven methodology to assess the safety levels of SA's major cities.
The findings place Tshwane at the top of the list, declaring it the country's safest major metro.
MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, welcomed the findings, saying it relies on more than 'internal data or wishful thinking'.
'We welcome the confirmation that Tshwane is South Africa's safest city. The Tshwane Tourism Association's safety figures are verified by this fully independent national report.'
According to Mabotsa, the report is based on a range of indicators, most notably homicide rates, and draws on public data from sources including the police and Statistics South Africa.
She said it has been designed to offer cities and their residents a clear, comparative view of urban safety and be free from political spin.
'Importantly, the SACN does not operate under municipal or political structures, ensuring the report's independence. Its findings are widely regarded as a reliable benchmark across the public and private sectors.'
Supporting the findings of the SACN report, surveys by StatsSA also indicate that residents of Tshwane feel safer walking their neighbourhoods at night than residents of other major South African cities.
In April, the metro and the Tshwane Tourism Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to boost tourism collaboration.
A key part of this agreement is focused on promoting safety, visitor confidence and economic opportunities, especially in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sector.
'The tourism sector, and specifically the MICE component, has been identified as a sector that can create much more employment in Tshwane,' said Mabotsa.
She said the metro has a lot to offer, and now, safety is something it can confidently promote.
Based on international data from the United States in 2021, Tshwane is statistically as safe as cities like Newark or Chicago and safer than Cincinnati, Atlanta, Washington DC and New Orleans.
'Tshwane has its challenges like any other city, but we must tell the full, data-backed story,' said Mabotsa.
She added that visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions, from the 90 000-hectare Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve in the north to township and city tours, local nature reserves, cultural landmarks, and historic sites like the Voortrekker Monument, Freedom Park, and the Union Buildings.
The multiparty coalition government in Tshwane also committed to a far-reaching economic revitalisation strategy.
'We're aiming to add at least 80 000 jobs to the city's economy by 2029,' Mabotsa said.
Mabotsa said tourism is one of the top priority sectors. 'To our local and international visitors, we say: Welcome to South Africa's safest city.
'Not only do we have a lot to offer you, but your visit helps create jobs and opportunities. Thank you. Baie dankie. Kea leboga. Inkomu, Nkosi.'
Chairperson of the Tshwane Tourism Association, Susan Marais, welcomed the report as validation of what many in the local tourism industry already knew.
'Tshwane offers not just an abundance of attractions, but also a comparatively safer experience for visitors.'
Marais said it is a vibrant, globally relevant destination.
She added it represents over 200 members, from tour operators and accommodation providers to event venues and culinary experiences.
'Safety is a critical part of what makes a destination attractive, and this report confirms what our visitors are already experiencing.'
To see the independent report, click on the following link:
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Illicit financial flows are derailing Africa's future
Illicit financial flows (IFFs) continue to undermine the future of Africa, hampering the ability of governments to adequately fund education, healthcare and development projects essential for lifting people out of poverty and fostering sustainable economic growth. As business leaders, politicians, academics and citizens, we cannot sit back. We must help curb the illegal flow of money out of our country through a cohesive effort by all stakeholders, both local and international, to ensure safeguards are put in place, laws are harmonised, and all enforcement agencies work together to address the problem. At the same time, we must not do anything that will deter investment. Ahead of G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, as well precursor meetings — such as the G20 finance ministers' and central bank governors' meeting and the T20 midterm conference held this month — we must formulate proposals that integrate the perspectives of public and private sector institutions, nonprofit organisations, think-tanks and universities. Together we can make valuable policy recommendations, such as using AI to turn vast amounts of data into information for developing strategic interventions. Working alongside each other, we can identify gaps in current legal frameworks and areas where greater co-operation is required. We must seek ways to stem illicit money flows. When individuals or companies evade their tax obligations, deliberately falsify import or export documents, or misappropriate funds intended for development projects, they are not committing victimless crimes. These outflows not only weaken our reputation in the eyes of the international markets, but also make it harder for the government to raise capital at manageable interest rates. We already owe too much: the National Treasury predicts that debt on our national balance sheet will be 77% of GDP this year. IFFs directly undermine economic growth, costing the South African economy the equivalent of almost 5% of annual collected tax revenue — losses of about R92.5bn. On the African continent, the numbers are more alarming, with between $50bn (about R889bn) and $90bn stolen annually, according to the UN. A 2020 report from a UN conference on trade and development states that IFFs represent as much as 3.7% of Africa's GDP. This figure has almost certainly grown since then, given that those who break laws will keep doing so if they are not held accountable. We recently convened a G20 multi-stakeholder dialogue to better understand this challenge, quantify its impact, assess current solutions, and identify new ones . One of our speakers, deputy minister of international relations and co-operation Alvin Botes, spelt out what this theft means: countries with high IFFs spend at least 25% less on healthcare and 50% less on education compared with their peers. IFFs wipe out any good the $65bn in aid Africa receives each year might do. They reduce progress made in making people's lives better. There are initiatives under way to address IFFs. For example, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) collaborates with the UN to strengthen countries' financial systems and prevent illicit outflows. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. While South Africa's inclusion on the FATF's grey list is viewed by some as an embarrassment, it enables us to strengthen our legal and regulatory frameworks, as well as enhance our anti-money-laundering capabilities. We are also seeing prosecutions of high-level fraudsters, especially those who use dubious accounting methods to move money around and avoid paying their fair share of taxes. It is gratifying to see that action has been taken in this regard. Other UN entities have developed discussion platforms and measurement systems. There are 10 asset-recovery inter-agency networks that have 178 member countries, allowing illicit money flows to be traced across borders. In addition, Interpol supports national and international law enforcement agencies to investigate, trace and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. We must all strive towards expanding such interventions, as well as advocate for and enable closer alignment between government departments and between local law enforcement agencies and their international counterparts. However, our solutions must not cause more harm than good by discouraging legitimate investment. We should not, for example, implement unfair tax regimes that could result in capital flight. We must also not inhibit international investment inflows by making it nearly impossible to comply with legislation and regulations. Such a state of affairs would merely encourage companies to operate businesses in sectors such as import and export under the radar. Through working together by sharing data, harmonising laws and holding those responsible for IFFs accountable, we can strengthen the economy by plugging the holes through which money leaks and encouraging investment. Our people deserve nothing less.
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
KZN Treasury banking on Comrades Marathon to give local tourism a boost
DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal's Treasury Department has described Comrades Marathon as a major boost for the province's economy. Thousands have booked accommodation in Pietermaritzburg and Durban ahead of the marathon. The race will start in Pietermaritzburg and end at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Finance MEC Francious Rodgers said the province always gets excited to host this event. 'It's obviously one of those really big events that we are proud of. It has a history in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, and it's not a South African event, it's an international event.' He said the hospitality industry will do business this weekend. 'And if you try and to get accommodation in Durban and Pietermaritzburg over the weekend, it's fully covered, booked, and that's exactly what we want.'
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
The urgent need to reskill South Africa's youth for the AI future
If India can aggressively reposition its education system to meet the demands of AI and automation, surely we can join this race. Image: Sizwe Dlamini/Ron AI From: The Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought Date: 06 June 2025 Dear Chairperson, Honourable Tebogo Letsie India, a fellow BRICS nation with socio-economic challenges comparable (if not greater) to South Africa, is expected to reach its 1 million demand for its artificial intelligence (AI) professionals by 2026. If India can aggressively reposition its education system to meet the demands of AI and automation, surely we can join this race. This recent development from India, compounded by a global demand for Indian AI professionals, presents a critical avenue for South Africa. South Africa faces similar inequality; the country's Gini coefficient is forecast to amount to 0.60 in 2025, while India's Gini coefficient is forecast to be 0.35. (Statista, Global data and business intelligence platform). What is evident is that India's trajectory proves that technological transformation can occur alongside, and even help mitigate, deep structural inequality. Now the world's fifth-largest economy in the world and projected to take over Japan and Germany in 2030, India still contends with extreme disparity, yet over the past decade, it has achieved remarkable 4IR progress by deliberately targeting inequality as a developmental lever. India proves that inequality need not delay 4IR readiness, it can actually drive more inclusive innovation when made a policy priority. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Consequently, as South Africa commemorates 'Youth Month under the theme Skilling and Empowering Youth for the Future' we are compelled to sound the alarm on an existential crisis facing South Africa's young people. 4.9 million South African youth aged 15-34 are currently unemployed according to The Quarterly Labour Force Survey. 58% of unemployed graduates are under 35 according to StatsSA. Over 45% of existing jobs face high risk of AI displacement. A 2024 report by Investec also reveals a critical disconnect between industry and curricula stating that; while South African private sector firms scramble to compete in the AI race, with a majority reporting severe shortages of AI and data science skills, our education system produces fewer qualified graduates annually to meet this demand. Basic and higher education institutions remain dangerously misaligned with industry needs, forcing companies to either import foreign talent or lose ground technologically. Surely, without urgent curriculum reforms, expanded technical training, credible and competent deployees at our SETA's and public-private partnerships to bridge the AI skills revolution, South Africa faces a crisis of monumental structural unemployment. Systemic failures in education, skills development, and economic policy would leave millions permanently excluded from meaningful participation in the modern workforce. Especially young people who are already unemployed and unemployable. The latest reports from Goldman Sachs predict that: 'AI could displace 300 million jobs globally by 2030, while McKinsey warns that 375 million workers worldwide will need to switch careers entirely due to automation.' These staggering figures take on terrifying significance, as Paul Colmer, starkly warned in his recent TechCentral article (2 June 2025): 'The question isn't whether AI will transform our world, it's whether we will build the infrastructure and social frameworks necessary to navigate this transformation successfully.' Facing similar challenges of youth unemployment and inequality, India has engineered one of the most remarkable transformations in modern education history. As we submit this report to your committee, there is currently a Global Scramble for Indian AI Talent. Microsoft has just announced its plans to invest over $3 billion in India as it affirms it's interest to acquire Indian Tech and talent. The critical importance of India's AI strategy becomes evident when examining how global tech giants are competing for Indian engineering talent. A January 2025 investigation by 'The Ken', a respected Asian tech business analysis publication, titled 'Microsoft targets Nvidia's AI-chip empire with an army of Indian engineers', revealed how Microsoft is recruiting entire teams of Indian AI engineers from companies like Nvidia to build competitive AI chip architectures. This mirrors similar talent raids by Google, Amazon, and Meta, who have collectively hired over 15 000 Indian AI specialists in the past three years alone. For perspective, Nvidia stands as the preeminent global supplier of advanced processing units specifically engineered for artificial intelligence applications across industries. At the same time, the Top 500 Fin/tech Fortune companies are spearheaded by Indians. This global demand underscores a painful paradox for South Africa: our own tech sector remains critically dependent on Indian expertise, while the country is failing to develop homegrown talent. The Indian government has, however, moved decisively to counter its own brain drain. Through initiatives like the $1 billion IndiaAI Mission and tax incentives for returning diaspora experts, India is transforming from being the world's tech back office to becoming a self-sufficient AI innovator. Where Indian engineers once powered America's Silicon Valley's growth, they now develop cutting-edge AI solutions for India's economy in India. Under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, the country is projected to produce over 1 million AI professionals by 2026 through: Complete overhaul of technical education at the Indian Institutes of Technology According to a report by Gartner, the year 2025 will see 2 million new jobs generated by AI and Machine learning in India A joint study conducted by Microsoft and the Internet and Mobile Association of India revealed that India's AI market is expected to witness a growth of 20% over the next five years, the second fastest rate globally behind only China. The 'FutureSkills Prime' platform to reskill over 50% of the Indian professional workforce annually. Startup incubators focused on healthcare, agriculture and climate tech 40% of seats reserved for rural students in top programs, including an affirmative action reservation policy that proactively reserves seats for disadvantaged castes to study technology and related studies The National AI Marketplace which is a Government-funded platform connecting 50,000 AI startups with industry. And projected to add over $500 billion to GDP by 2030 The Semiconductor Mission with $10 billion investment to make India self-reliant in chip design • A 2024 report by American software company, ServiceNow, predicts that India would have created close to 3 million new tech jobs by 2028. While India surges ahead despite its challenges, we face painful contradictions as articulated by various experts and academics: Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) is embroiled in SIU investigations, with the current and former board chairs embroiled in various scandals, while seemingly those deployed to lead this SETA are not appropriately qualified to lead South Africa's AI Race. Our universities produce fewer AI and tech graduates annually than industry demand. A 2024 information and communication technology (ICT) skills survey reveals a shortfall of around 77 000 high-value digital jobs in South Africa, with an additional 300 000 technology positions being outsourced abroad. Despite having 24 public higher education institutions, South Africa's education system is struggling to keep up with the demands of an expanding technology ecosystem. African Business Quarterly, Tania Griffin 2024. South Africa's ICT skills gap is further exacerbated by 'skills recycling' and the shortage of teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa's (IITPSA's) ICT Skills Survey 2024. The SETA deployment system also exacerbates our crisis. Of course, all political parties practice Cadre Deployment. The ANC, which is leading the GNU, has produced enough capable, progressive experts, black, coloured, Indian and white. The ANC must ensure that its cadre deployment policy prioritises truly committed professionals and experts who understand and can implement the party's vision of 'People's Education for People's Power'. This Youth Month, we therefore implore the committee to: Declare AI/tech Education Emergency Convene a National Indaba on AI Readiness to assess our education system's capacity for 4IR and jobs of the future, and audit government support for tech research and R&D Declare 2026 as the year of Youth Skilling and partner with BRICS Plus countries like India, China and Saudi Arabia, including countries in the Global North and Advanced Asia Collaborate with Unions to ensure their members are reskilled to mitigate against a job blood bath. Honourable chair, India, with its own challenges similar to ours, proves that sustainable transformation is possible if there is Political will. Their youth unemployment rate has dropped 12 percentage points since launching these AI reforms across the board. As we celebrate Youth Month, we must remember the words of Isithwalandwe /Seaparankwe Oliver Tambo, who opined there follows: 'The children of any nation are its future. A country, a movement, a person that does not value its youth and children does not deserve its future.' We encourage the committee to remember these profound words by OR Tambo this Youth Month. Yours in urgent solidarity, Phapano Phasha, Executive Director, Centre for Alternative Political and Economic Thought. * The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Indepedent, IOL, or Independent Media.
