South Africa Dissolves Community Schemes Ombud Board and Names Administrator: Gauteng Malaria Cases Up 38.6%, SARS Urges Free Official Traveller Declarations

South Africa's Government News Agency, SAnews, rounded up several official developments in its November 12 afternoon edition. Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has dissolved the Board of the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) and appointed Leshabe Rampedi as administrator of the body that handles disputes in community schemes such as sectional-title developments and homeowners' associations.

The Board was dissolved on November 6 under Section 28(1) of the CSOS Act. After allegations of prolonged leadership instability, lack of cohesion, dysfunction and serious mismanagement, the Minister commissioned an independent investigation whose report pointed to numerous governance failures and risks to the financial sustainability of CSOS, and recommended that she consider dissolving the Board. She wrote to the Board on October 24 setting out the findings and inviting representations; the Board's November 3 response did not adequately address the shortcomings, and she proceeded with the dissolution. Rampedi brings more than 25 years of senior public-sector executive experience, including as head of the Limpopo department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs, and currently serves on the board of the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority, where he chairs the finance committee. His responsibilities include finalising outstanding investigations, developing a turnaround plan and accelerating the filling of critical vacancies while a new board is appointed.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) appealed to travellers entering or leaving South Africa to submit their Traveller Declaration free of charge through official channels, saying independent third-party providers that charge for help with declarations are not affiliated with SARS and their charges are not SARS fees. Travellers can submit directly through the SARS website, the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) App, or the Traveller Declaration function on the SARS MobiApp. Since July 1, 2026, travellers through air, land, sea and rail ports of entry have generally been required to submit an online declaration before travelling.

The Gauteng Department of Health reported a marked rise in malaria: 768 cases and 17 deaths between January and September 2026, a 38.6% increase in cases over the same period in 2025 (554 cases and six deaths). Gauteng is a non-endemic province, but residents are at risk when travelling to endemic areas; 15 of the 17 people who died had travelled to countries in the Southern African Development Community region, with Mozambique accounting for about 59% of the deaths. The department urged residents to visit travel clinics and take preventive measures before travelling to malaria-endemic areas.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also warned the public against impersonation of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). In Limpopo, a 32-year-old man was sentenced on November 6 by the Seshego court to two life terms for repeatedly raping his 26-year-old former girlfriend, including an attack in front of her two young children; Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Jan Scheepers welcomed the outcome.

Source: South African Government News Agency (SAnews

Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)

Photo: 图：比勒陀利亚联合大厦，南非总统府与政府中枢所在地。GSM 固定图库照片。 / Photo: The Union Buildings in Pretoria, seat of the South African presidency. GSM file photo.

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