Category: Africa

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has raised serious concern over the escalating crisis facing the sugar industry following the liquidation of Tongaat Hulett.

Steenhuisen said urgent intervention is needed to secure the operation of key sugar mills ahead of the April crushing season.

According to the Department of Agriculture, industry stakeholders have indicated that unless the current funding impasse is resolved swiftly, growers will be unable to deliver sugar cane and processing could come to a halt.

The Minister warned that the consequences of such an outcome would be severe, affecting approximately 15 500 delivering growers and between 35 000 and 40 000 people whose livelihoods depend directly on the supply chain linked to the mills.

“This is not a theoretical risk; it is an immediate economic threat to rural communities. If the mills do not open, farmers cannot harvest, workers cannot earn an income, and entire local economies will stall. The longer the uncertainty persists, the greater the damage,” Steenhuisen said.

The Minister stressed that agriculture operates within strict biological timelines and warned that delays in resolving financial and legal matters could result in irreversible losses.

“The crop cannot wait. Agricultural production works on biological timelines, not legal or financial ones. An intervention that unlocks funding and restores operational certainty is urgently required to protect both production and jobs,” the Minister said.

He said the Department of Agriculture is engaging with relevant government departments and financial stakeholders to support a practical solution that will preserve production capacity and prevent long-term damage to the sector.

Steenhuisen emphasised that the sugar industry remained a strategic contributor to rural economies and national food value chains. 

Allowing milling operations to collapse, he said, would have far-reaching economic and social consequences beyond the farm gate.

“Our objective is not to intervene in commercial negotiations, but to ensure that a viable path forward exists so that growers can deliver cane, mills can operate, and workers can earn an income. The immediate priority must be keeping the season alive.”

The Minister said the Ministry will continue to monitor developments closely and stands ready to facilitate engagement aimed at securing continuity in production and safeguarding livelihoods. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have met to finalise the deployment plan of the defence force in Gauteng and the Western Cape, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said.

“I can confirm that the SAPS National Commissioner General [Fannie] Masemola and the Chief of the SANDF General [Rudzani] Maphwanya, met [on Monday] to finalise the deployment plan which will begin next ten days,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 12 February 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the SANDF to the two provinces. The deployment is aimed at helping the two provinces to tackle gang violence and illegal mining.

On the first of the two-day debate on the SONA, Cachalia said: “We have agreed that the method of deployment should learn from past experiences in South Africa, as well as experiences elsewhere.”

The Minister said the deployment must respect the legal mandates of the South African Police Service, the SANDF and the Constitution, having regard to the obligation to restore calm and stop the killings. 

In addition, Cachalia has asked the National Commissioner to take further steps to strengthen the Anti-Gang Units and to deploy further specialised units. 

“It is also going to be critical in this period to implement steps to strengthen the capabilities that are required for intelligence driven approaches to dismantle the networks behind organised crime.”

Multi-disciplinary task teams, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) under the leadership of its newly appointed head Advocate Andy Mothibi, skilled and experienced detectives, officials from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the South African Revenue Service, among others, will be targeting the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks. 

“I will be setting up a multi-stakeholder Organised Crime Advisory Council which will be overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated strategy to combat organised crime. It will rely on open-source information and analysis to support the monitoring and oversight responsibility of the Ministry [of Police],” said the Minister.

On the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), Cachalia said an all-of-government approach and all-of-society approach in the fight against crime, including organised crime, as provided for in the ICVPS is needed.

He said that this was necessary because crime also has socio-economic roots, adding that the social cluster departments of government including provincial and local government have a critical role to play to improve safety and security of our people across the country.  

“The Provincial Governments of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, most effected by gang violence and various forms of organised crime such extortion, and illegal mining, have a critical role to play in ensuring that service delivery and the development needs of our most affected communities.

“We cannot fight gang violence and criminality by relying on law enforcement alone. Young people in these communities need opportunity and the prospect of a meaningful dignified future. In this regard I am in full agreement with the Cape Crime Crises Coalition (C4) that has emerged in response to the gang violence and with which I have kept close contact,” he said.

Gender-based violence and femicide

In his address the Minister also spoke about the levels of gender-based violence, rape and feminicide, saying the scourge was “unconscionable”.

“By declaring this a national disaster, the President has provided us with the impetus to tackle this issue with renewed vigour.”

He said that in his visits to communities in many parts of the country, particularly in the Eastern Cape, he had been shaken to the core by this kind of violence within families, and in the most intimate spaces between husbands and wives, adults and children. 

“I have therefore asked the Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo to lead a process supported by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Services (CSPS) to make an assessment of the gaps in the current response of the SAPS and to propose remedies.”

The approach will include expanding and strengthening the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units within SAPS, to improve docket quality, DNA evidence, and victim support at police stations.  

It will also require working with the Departments of Social Development, Health and Justice to ensure shelters, psychosocial support, and survivor centred services.

Community policing

Fighting crime and improving safety also requires an all-of-society approach, he said, adding that a renewed effort has to be made to involve communities.

“A renewed effort has to be made to involve communities across the country through Community Policing Forums, patroller programs, and neighbourhood watches. We do not have to impose a one size fits all approach.   

“Let me say however, I am particularly interested in the role that an expanded and incentivised patroller programme can play in involving communities in the fight against crime. 

“One option is for funding to be sourced by Provincial Governments from Presidential Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Community Works Programme (CWP). I see this programme as having social benefits because it has the potential to provide additional income support to families, together with old age pensions, disability grants, and child grants.”

Accountability, reform

In the SONA, the President also announced steps to improve accountability which include subjecting senior management of the SAPS to vetting and lifestyle audits by the State Security Agency (SSA). 

Cachalia said he will be expecting a report on the implementation of the Presidential directives from the National Commissioner. 

“I have made it clear that the establishment of the Madlanga Commission is a moment for the country to reset policing on a positive trajectory. I have already started implementing the interim recommendations through dedicated task team,” he remarked.

He said public trust in the police is crucial for success and that this can be achieved through enhanced accountability, professionalism and constitutionalism. 

The Minister said he was considering implementing the recommendations of the National Planning Commission to establish a National Police Board to provide advice to the National Commissioner and the Minister on the police reform agenda.

The Civilian Secretariate has already prepared legislation on the establishment of the board. – SAnews.gov.za

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Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says he remains committed to investigating issues related to governance and malfeasance as they relate to the Film and Television Production Incentive.

The Minister led a delegation of senior officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), including Deputy Ministers Alexandra Abrahams and Zuko Godlimpi, and Director General Simphiwe Hamilton, during a briefing to Parliament following recent protests by industry players.

The Minister told members of the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition that the department was actively working towards solutions to the challenges faced by the industry.

Godlimpi took the Portfolio Committee through the responses to the demands made by industry and provided a way forward to resolve their demands.

He said to resolve some of the challenges, the department will:

• Raise and secure urgent interim funding to address the current claims and applications, while introducing measures to disburse any additional funding that may be received. In this regard, the department is trying to find ways to reprioritise the allocation and there are ongoing engagements with National Treasury to increase the allocation going forward.
• A national industry working group with key stakeholders (both private and public) to address the industry challenges.
• Consider other types of incentive structures for the film industry, which will address sustainability, such as tax incentives for foreign productions.
• Collaborate with the Industrial Development Corporation and National Empowerment Fund for blended financing options for local productions.
• Implement an automated system to reduce processing time and improve effectiveness. Moving from a manual to online portal to reduce administrative burden.
• Provide additional human resource in order to cope with an influx of applications and claims.
• Provinces such as the Western Cape will be encouraged to offer incentives to reduce the burden on the national fiscus.

Presenting on behalf of the department, Hamilton said the contingent liability of the programme stood at approximately R2 billion, as disclosed in the Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for the year ended March 2021, adding that following the suspension of adjudication meetings, the department has continued to process and pay valid claims with the objective of reducing the contingent liability.

“From September 2025 to date, the contingent liability has shown a consistent downward trend, from R679 million to R473 million, which is the amount owed to approved projects. This amount will be further reduced by the end of the current financial year, leading to further strengthening of the financial position of the incentive scheme,” Hamilton said.

The Minister added that the department remains focused on co-creating solutions and interventions with industry that will result in the growth of the sector and its increased contribution in the country’s economy through job creation. – SAnews.gov.za

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The eThekwini Municipality has reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive, accessible, and people-centred city.

During a recent public consultation with the disability sector on the city’s Draft Annual Report 2024/25, the municipality underscored its focus on ensuring that service delivery responds meaningfully to the needs of residents lwith disabilities.

The session, held recently at the Amanzimtoti Civic Centre, forms part of broader city-wide consultations on the draft report. 

During the engagement, participants were presented with an overview of the sector’s achievements over the past financial year and identified key areas requiring improvement.

Among the concerns raised included infrastructure accessibility, employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and the need for improved communication equipment.

The municipality confirmed that building audits were underway across all municipal facilities to assess accessibility levels and implement necessary upgrades. The initiative aims to ensure that residents can access municipal services with dignity and ease.

Speaking on behalf of the eThekwini Speaker, Thamsanqa Mthethwa underscored the importance of the annual report in promoting accountability, transparency, and improved service delivery. He also emphasised the importance of engaging directly with the disability sector.

“People with disabilities play a critical role as residents of this municipality. Their inputs ensure that disability-specific needs are addressed in planning, budgeting and service delivery, directly influencing quality of life, economic participation, and social inclusion,” Mthethwa said.

He added that inclusive consultation processes help shape an inclusive, accommodative, and responsive city for all residents.

He encouraged people with disabilities to disclose their status when applying for employment or municipal services to enable the provision of appropriate support and assistive equipment.

Attendees commended the municipality’s efforts to include people with disabilities in programmes and decision-making processes, while stressing the need to accelerate progress towards full accessibility across services and infrastructure.

Secretary of the eThekwini Disability Forum, Siyabonga Sosibo, described the engagement as a positive step.

“We are happy about this engagement, which allows people with disabilities to have a voice. We have seen improvements in areas addressing our needs, although more work is required to ensure full representation in all municipal programmes,” he said.

Sosibo emphasised that people with disabilities are equal and capable citizens who have the right to participate in decisions affecting their lives and the municipality’s development agenda.

The Draft Annual Report outlines the municipality’s performance and sets out future plans aimed at strengthening organisational excellence and enhancing service delivery.

Through the consultation process, the city intends to develop programmes that respond to community needs, promote social cohesion and collectively drive economic growth.

Public consultations remain ongoing, with residents invited to submit comments and inputs by 6 March 2026. The municipality has encouraged broad public participation to help shape the future of the city and improve service delivery for all. – SAnews.gov.za

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The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have met to finalise the deployment plan of the defence force in Gauteng and the Western Cape, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said.

“I can confirm that the SAPS National Commissioner General [Fannie] Masemola and the Chief of the SANDF General [Rudzani] Maphwanya, met [on Monday] to finalise the deployment plan which will begin next ten days,” the Minister said on Tuesday.

In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 12 February 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the SANDF to the two provinces. The deployment is aimed at helping the two provinces to tackle gang violence and illegal mining.

On the first of the two-day debate on the SONA, Cachalia said: “We have agreed that the method of deployment should learn from past experiences in South Africa, as well as experiences elsewhere.”

The Minister said the deployment must respect the legal mandates of the South African Police Service, the SANDF and the Constitution, having regard to the obligation to restore calm and stop the killings. 

In addition, Cachalia has asked the National Commissioner to take further steps to strengthen the Anti-Gang Units and to deploy further specialised units. 

“It is also going to be critical in this period to implement steps to strengthen the capabilities that are required for intelligence driven approaches to dismantle the networks behind organised crime.”

Multi-disciplinary task teams, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) under the leadership of its newly appointed head Advocate Andy Mothibi, skilled and experienced detectives, officials from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the South African Revenue Service, among others, will be targeting the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks. 

“I will be setting up a multi-stakeholder Organised Crime Advisory Council which will be overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive and integrated strategy to combat organised crime. It will rely on open-source information and analysis to support the monitoring and oversight responsibility of the Ministry [of Police],” said the Minister.

On the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), Cachalia said an all-of-government approach and all-of-society approach in the fight against crime, including organised crime, as provided for in the ICVPS is needed.

He said that this was necessary because crime also has socio-economic roots, adding that the social cluster departments of government including provincial and local government have a critical role to play to improve safety and security of our people across the country.  

“The Provincial Governments of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, most effected by gang violence and various forms of organised crime such extortion, and illegal mining, have a critical role to play in ensuring that service delivery and the development needs of our most affected communities.

“We cannot fight gang violence and criminality by relying on law enforcement alone. Young people in these communities need opportunity and the prospect of a meaningful dignified future. In this regard I am in full agreement with the Cape Crime Crises Coalition (C4) that has emerged in response to the gang violence and with which I have kept close contact,” he said.

Gender-based violence and femicide

In his address the Minister also spoke about the levels of gender-based violence, rape and feminicide, saying the scourge was “unconscionable”.

“By declaring this a national disaster, the President has provided us with the impetus to tackle this issue with renewed vigour.”

He said that in his visits to communities in many parts of the country, particularly in the Eastern Cape, he had been shaken to the core by this kind of violence within families, and in the most intimate spaces between husbands and wives, adults and children. 

“I have therefore asked the Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo to lead a process supported by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Services (CSPS) to make an assessment of the gaps in the current response of the SAPS and to propose remedies.”

The approach will include expanding and strengthening the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units within SAPS, to improve docket quality, DNA evidence, and victim support at police stations.  

It will also require working with the Departments of Social Development, Health and Justice to ensure shelters, psychosocial support, and survivor centred services.

Community policing

Fighting crime and improving safety also requires an all-of-society approach, he said, adding that a renewed effort has to be made to involve communities.

“A renewed effort has to be made to involve communities across the country through Community Policing Forums, patroller programs, and neighbourhood watches. We do not have to impose a one size fits all approach.   

“Let me say however, I am particularly interested in the role that an expanded and incentivised patroller programme can play in involving communities in the fight against crime. 

“One option is for funding to be sourced by Provincial Governments from Presidential Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and the Community Works Programme (CWP). I see this programme as having social benefits because it has the potential to provide additional income support to families, together with old age pensions, disability grants, and child grants.”

Accountability, reform

In the SONA, the President also announced steps to improve accountability which include subjecting senior management of the SAPS to vetting and lifestyle audits by the State Security Agency (SSA). 

Cachalia said he will be expecting a report on the implementation of the Presidential directives from the National Commissioner. 

“I have made it clear that the establishment of the Madlanga Commission is a moment for the country to reset policing on a positive trajectory. I have already started implementing the interim recommendations through dedicated task team,” he remarked.

He said public trust in the police is crucial for success and that this can be achieved through enhanced accountability, professionalism and constitutionalism. 

The Minister said he was considering implementing the recommendations of the National Planning Commission to establish a National Police Board to provide advice to the National Commissioner and the Minister on the police reform agenda.

The Civilian Secretariate has already prepared legislation on the establishment of the board. – SAnews.gov.za

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