Sithembiso Soyaya

01/09/2026

An informed resident is an empowered resident.

Today’s engagement with the SABC News Team formed part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen communication between the Municipality and the communities we serve.

In a democracy, residents can participate meaningfully when they have access to accurate, timely and reliable information about the issues affecting their lives and neighbourhoods.

Working with the media is not only about sharing news. It is also about providing clear context, promoting understanding and supporting informed participation in community affairs.

The media plays an important role in connecting public institutions with residents. Building strong and professional relationships with media organisations is therefore essential, particularly in a municipal environment where service delivery, governance and development directly affect people’s daily lives.

Public communication must always serve residents. Information should be accessible, credible and relevant, enabling people to understand what is happening in their communities and participate in discussions about the issues that matter to them.

This is the standard by which effective public communication should be measured.

21/08/2026

South Africa’s unemployment challenge demands that we move beyond simply waiting for jobs and start actively building pathways into the economy. Young people must explore government programmes that provide access to skills, enterprise development, mentorship, market opportunities and industry networks, because these interventions can turn knowledge and ambition into sustainable livelihoods and businesses that create opportunities for others.

The Department of Tourism’s Business and Enterprise Development Training for Tourist Guides is a practical example of this opportunity. Funded by government in the 2026/27 financial year, the programme can help registered tourist guides strengthen their business capabilities and position themselves to participate more meaningfully in the tourism value chain. Tourism has enormous potential to create income and employment across guiding, culture, heritage, events, hospitality, transport, creative industries and destination experiences.

Young South Africans must not only ask where the next job is. We must also ask where the next opportunity to build, innovate and create jobs is. Government, business and communities must work together to unlock these opportunities, while young people must seize them with determination and entrepreneurial ambition.

Registered tourist guides are encouraged to apply before Monday, 7 September 2026 at 17:00: https://tinyurl.com/54n5erab

20/08/2026

WE ARE LIVE!

Day 2 is underway at the 7th Eastern Cape Export Symposium & Exhibition 2026.

Today’s programme explores market access, export opportunities, digital trade and the future of the export industry, with a strong focus on connecting Eastern Cape businesses to new markets.

🔴 WATCH LIVE: https://www.youtube.com/live/7AAJAU6MK4E?si=3IVXcnEsgVX1rhPW

EASTERN CAPE EXPORT SYMPOSIUM AND EXHIBITION19-21 August 2026 | Ea...

30/07/2026

This weekend, I’m asking you to do something that takes just a few minutes, but has the power to shape the next five years.

Too often, we hear people say, “Nothing ever changes.” Yet, when voter registration and election day arrive, millions of eligible South Africans choose not to participate.

However, if we don’t use our voice, someone else will make decisions on our behalf.

Democracy isn’t built by politicians alone. It’s built by ordinary people who refuse to be indifferent. Parents thinking about the future of their children. Young people dreaming of opportunities. Entrepreneurs wanting safer, cleaner and more prosperous communities. Every registered voter strengthens the foundation of our democracy.

If you’re already registered, encourage someone who isn’t. Take a friend. Take your parents. Take your children who are eligible to vote. One conversation can inspire an entire household to participate.

Our country has given us the right to choose. Previous generations sacrificed for that right. The least we can do is honour that legacy by ensuring our names are on the voters’ roll.

Let’s not be remembered as the generation that stayed home. Let’s be remembered as the generation that showed up.

Because democracy is not something we watch.

It is something we participate in. I have updated my personal details and am eligible to make my mark 🗳️on 4 November 2026.

29/07/2026

It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality.” – Nelson Mandela Day 2026

Today was a reminder that changing lives doesn’t always require grand gestures. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a fresh haircut that restores a learner’s confidence, dignity and sense of belonging.

My sincere appreciation to UMhlobo Wenene FM 88 - 106, Vodacom, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, our local barbers and every partner who made this initiative possible. This is what purposeful collaboration looks like.

What stood out for me is that this initiative delivered far more than a community service. It demonstrated how Corporate Social Investment can become a catalyst for growing the township economy. By placing local barbers and township entrepreneurs at the centre of the initiative, we are supporting small businesses, creating opportunities, showcasing local talent and ensuring that economic value reaches the communities where it is needed most.

This is the kind of partnership that advances the priorities of the 7th Administration, driving inclusive growth and job creation, reducing poverty and inequality, and building a capable developmental state through collaboration between government, business, media and communities.

As communicators, we often say that brands are built through trust. Trust is earned when organisations invest in people, create opportunities and leave a lasting impact beyond the event itself.

If we are serious about transforming South Africa, then growing the township economy must be at the heart of our efforts. Every local entrepreneur empowered, every small business supported and every young person whose dignity is restored contributes to a stronger, more inclusive economy.

It is still in our hands. Together, we can build communities where dignity, opportunity and economic participation go hand in hand.

28/07/2026

Today I had the privilege of engaging with the publishing and editorial team of the PE Express, one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s longest-serving and most trusted community newspapers. For four decades, the publication has remained a cornerstone of local journalism, telling the stories that matter most and connecting communities across the metro.

With a weekly distribution of more than 150 000 free copies, the PE Express continues to make quality, community-focused journalism accessible to thousands of readers, keeping residents informed and engaged.

Thank you to the publishing and editorial team for the insightful discussion and for creating a platform that values constructive dialogue.

Strong relationships between the media and government institutions are essential in strengthening transparency, democracy, accountability and an informed society.

I appreciate the opportunity to exchange ideas and look forward to continued collaboration in telling the stories that shape and inspire Nelson Mandela Bay.

28/07/2026

Rest well Mr Fix it 🇿🇦

Ugqatso ulufezile 🕯️

28/07/2026

Great to be back on the road at last Saturday’s Madibaz race.

Sometimes you don’t realise how much you’ve missed running until you’re back on the start line. No pressure, no expectations, just enjoying every kilometre again.

Looking forward to the races ahead

24/07/2026

Meaningful public participation is not merely a constitutional requirement, it is the foundation of responsive, democratic governance.

Today, I had the privilege of facilitating a constructive engagement between Nelson Mandela Bay’s Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe and the Nelson Mandela Bay Religious Fraternity on the CRL Rights Commission’s proposed regulation of churches. The discussion provided an important platform for faith leaders to share their perspectives while reaffirming government’s commitment to listening, dialogue and cooperative governance.

The partnership between government and the church remains essential to building stronger, safer and more resilient communities.

Faith-based organisations continue to play a vital role in promoting social cohesion, moral leadership, community development, poverty alleviation and support for vulnerable residents. By working together in a spirit of mutual respect and shared responsibility, we can develop solutions that strengthen constitutional democracy, foster social stability and improve the lives of our people.

Grateful to the Nelson Mandela Bay Religious Fraternity, Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe and all stakeholders for demonstrating that constructive dialogue remains the most effective path towards addressing complex societal challenges and building a nation that leaves no one behind.

23/07/2026

Today the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Mabuyane, officially opened and handed over the state of the art, multi-million Livingstone Secondary School in Schauderville to the Northern Areas community in Gqeberha as a demonstration of this government and Administration’s vision and commitment to transform the Province’s education system for a thriving Eastern Cape 🇿🇦