Category: Africa

Posted on

Chikunga leads national Press Club distinction dialogue on 1956 Women’s March

Source: Government of South Africa

Chikunga leads national Press Club distinction dialogue on 1956 Women’s March

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, will on Wednesday lead a National Press Club Women’s Month Distinction Dialogue, commemorating 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March.

The dialogue, held in partnership with the University of South Africa’s School of Business and Leadership, will bring together representatives from government, the media, civil society, business, academia and other stakeholders.

Held under the theme: “Empowered Women Empower the Nations”, the engagement will reflect on South Africa’s journey since the historic Women’s March and explore what more needs to be done to advance gender equality, women’s leadership, economic empowerment and social inclusion.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities emphasised that the legacy of the women of 1956 must not only be commemorated but translated into tangible action that improves the lives of women and girls, particularly those who continue to experience poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, discrimination and exclusion.

“The event will also provide an opportunity to recognise the historic contribution of South African women and reaffirm the responsibility of the present generation to ensure that the sacrifices and courage of the women of 1956 continue to shape the future of the nation,” the department said.

This year marks 70 years since thousands of women from across South Africa marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria on 9 August 1956, to protest against apartheid pass laws.

The march, which brought together women across racial and social lines, became one of the defining acts of resistance against apartheid and remains a powerful symbol of women’s courage, unity and resilience.

Women marched under the banner of the Federation of South African Women and delivered petitions opposing the extension of pass laws to African women.

Their historic protest gave rise to the enduring rallying cry, “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo”, meaning, “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”.

In recognition of the historic march, 9 August is annually commemorated as National Women’s Day, while the entire month is observed as Women’s Month.

This year’s commemoration carries added significance as South Africa marks the 70th anniversary, or Platinum Jubilee of the historic march under the theme: “Empowered Women, Empower Nations.”

Throughout Women’s Month, government and various sectors have been hosting activities and engagements aimed at celebrating the contribution of women to South Africa’s development while drawing attention to the persistent challenges affecting women and girls.

The commemorations have also provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made in advancing women’s rights and participation in political, social and economic life, while renewing calls for accelerated action to address inequality, gender-based violence, unemployment and economic exclusion.

Wednesday’s dialogue is expected to build on these discussions and reaffirm the importance of women’s empowerment as a central pillar of national development.

The dialogue will be held at the UNISA School of Business and Leadership in Midrand, Gauteng. – SAnews.gov.za
 

GabiK

0

Posted on

Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions over Red Sea port have turned the Tigray peace deal into a political weapon

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hafte Gebreselassie Gebrihet, Research fellow, University of Oslo; University of Cape Town

The large-scale war between the Ethiopian federal government and Tigray regional government forces ended in November 2022 with the signing of the Pretoria Agreement. The two sides agreed that the Tigrayan forces would disarm, and that foreign forces and other troops outside the federal army would withdraw from Tigray. They also agreed to restore constitutional order in Tigray and resolve disputes over contested areas in accordance with the constitution.

I study armed conflict, governance and political communication in Ethiopia. I recently analysed the Pretoria Agreement and its implementation. I examined official statements from Ethiopian, Eritrean and Tigrayan authorities, reports by international organisations and conflict monitors, and news reports published between November 2022 and June 2026. This enabled me to trace how disputes over disarmament, territory and political representation became connected to the rivalry between landlocked Ethiopia and Eritrea over access to the Red Sea.

I found that while the Pretoria Agreement remains accepted by the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), its main commitments have been applied selectively.

The peace agreement has formally survived, but the conflict it was meant to end continues in other forms. I call this conflict consolidation. Large-scale fighting stopped, federal services resumed, and an interim regional administration was established. But Western Tigray has not been returned to Tigrayan administration, foreign and non-federal forces have not fully withdrawn, and Tigray has not been fully reintegrated into federal politics. Disarmament remains incomplete, and displacement, political exclusion and local fighting continue.

At the centre of it all are tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have been sharpened by Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea. These tensions have made incomplete implementation of the November 2022 peace agreement more useful to the Ethiopian federal government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Eritrea than full implementation would be. This is the case even though Eritrea is not a signatory to the agreement.

Red Sea tension complicated the Pretoria Agreement

Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea became independent in 1993. It currently relies on the port of Djibouti for most of its international trade in goods. Previously, Assab – a port in Eritrea’s southern Red Sea region – was Ethiopia’s main entry point until the 1998 to 2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

This history has made Assab the subject of a dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Within Ethiopia, the TPLF has been blamed for leaving the country without access to the sea. This is because a transitional government dominated by the TPLF accepted the 1993 referendum that established Eritrea as an independent state.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed argues that a population of 150 million cannot live in a geographic prison. Ethiopian rhetoric moves between seeking commercial access to the sea and asserting a historical claim to Assab. It portrays the acceptance of Eritrean independence without securing Ethiopian control of a port as the mistake that left Ethiopia without a coastline.

For Eritrea, Assab is not simply a port. Control of the coastline is part of the independence secured after 30 years of war against Ethiopia. When Ethiopian politicians present sea access as a historical right, Eritrea hears a possible claim to its territory.

Over time, port access, border control and armed opposition inside Ethiopia have become parts of the same confrontation.

Tigray is where these issues meet. It borders Eritrea. Western Tigray, a large part of Tigrayan territory, remains under Amhara administration and military control. Furthermore, Tigrayan forces have not fully disarmed. For the federal government, securing the border and disarming Tigrayan forces would reduce the risk of Eritrean support reaching Tigray or of Ethiopia facing two connected northern fronts.

The wartime alliance between Addis Ababa and Asmara during the Tigray war broke down after the Pretoria Agreement was signed in November 2022. One consequence is that Eritrea and the TPLF have found common ground against the federal government. No formal alliance has been announced. But reports of contacts and possible coordination, together with federal accusations of joint military preparations, suggest an informal tactical alignment. The TPLF has rejected claims that it is coordinating with Eritrea.

For Eritrea, continued conflict inside Ethiopia reduces the threat to Assab. A federal government fighting in the Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions has fewer troops, less money and less political space to pressure Eritrea. Eritrea does not need a permanent alliance with the TPLF. Even limited cooperation can force Addis Ababa to focus on several internal fronts.

My analysis suggests that the Ethiopian government has made the opposite calculation. This is supported by federal government warnings that the TPLF is siding with Eritrea in a possible proxy war, an accusation the TPLF denies. But by presenting the TPLF as an Eritrean partner, the federal government can portray resistance to disarmament as a foreign-backed threat. This helps Addis Ababa defend its failure to fully implement the Pretoria Agreement and rally domestic support around national unity and sovereignty.

The federal accusation also creates a political logic for weakening the Tigray People’s Liberation Front before increasing pressure on Eritrea over the Assab port. I interpret this as a two-part sovereignty argument. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front can first be treated as an internal partner of a foreign enemy. The same defence of sovereignty can then support pressure on Eritrea over Assab.

Claims that Assab historically belongs to Ethiopia can make that pressure appear as recovery of national territory. This does not prove that the federal government has adopted such a military plan. It shows how the same sovereignty argument can be directed against both the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and Eritrea.

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front can make its own calculation. Hostility between Ethiopia and Eritrea gives the TPLF an opportunity to use possible Eritrean support as leverage to press Addis Ababa to implement the Pretoria Agreement. For Eritrea, supporting pressure from Tigray can weaken the Ethiopian government as it presses its claim to the Assab port.

Local observers in Tigray and Eritrea use the Tigrigna term Tsimdo for the reported cooperation between Eritrea and the TPLF. Its extent remains contested. But Addis Ababa treats the possibility as a security threat.

Red Sea rivalry keeps Pretoria on hold

The rivalry blocks the Pretoria Agreement at its most important point. The military implementation plan linked Tigrayan disarmament to the withdrawal of foreign forces and forces outside the federal army. Tigrayan forces were expected to surrender their weapons as the forces that threatened Tigray withdrew.

That exchange has been interrupted. Tigrayan actors ask why they should disarm while Western Tigray has not returned to Tigrayan administration. Keeping their weapons also provides protection if the tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea develops into war.

My analysis suggests that federal authorities may be reluctant to restore a strategically important area to a divided Tigrayan leadership. Restoring the area could also bring the federal government into confrontation with Amhara political and military actors and cost it Amhara political support.

Each side treats its own obligation as a loss of security and demands that the other move first.

And Western Tigray bears the heaviest cost of the impasse. More than 760,000 Tigrayans remain displaced. The dispute concerns not only where displaced people can live, but which regional authority will govern the area. Displaced people are therefore trapped inside a security contest they did not create.

Political exclusion makes armed power more valuable. Tigray did not take part in the 1 June 2026 election. Tigray People’s Liberation Front leaders who cannot bargain through parliament have stronger reasons to retain military leverage. Federal authorities can then cite that military power as evidence that Tigray is not ready for political reintegration.

Protect peace in Tigray from regional rivalry

Preventing another war requires two connected processes.

Ethiopia and Eritrea must address the Assab dispute peacefully, including access to the port, sovereignty and alleged support for armed groups. The Pretoria Agreement cannot carry the burden of a dispute that was not part of the peace deal.

In Tigray, the implementation of the peace deal needs a verifiable order: withdrawal of foreign forces and forces outside the federal army, restoration of Tigrayan administration in Western Tigray, safe return of displaced people, disarmament of Tigrayan forces and political reintegration.

These steps would narrow the opportunities created by Red Sea tension. Eritrea would have less room to use conflict in Tigray to constrain Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s federal government would have less reason to treat Tigrayan demands as foreign threats. Tigrayan forces would have less reason to seek Eritrean support as protection. Peace in Tigray depends on making implementation more valuable than continued uncertainty.

– Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions over Red Sea port have turned the Tigray peace deal into a political weapon
– https://theconversation.com/ethiopia-eritrea-tensions-over-red-sea-port-have-turned-the-tigray-peace-deal-into-a-political-weapon-290096

Posted on

Rwanda’s national pension fund has helped power the economy, but it faces new challenges

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Pritish Behuria, Reader in Politics, Governance and Development, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester

Rwanda is routinely celebrated as a growth miracle on the African continent. The country’s GDP growth averaged 7.4% annually between 2000 and 2023, one of the fastest in Africa.

Three decades after the 1994 genocide, Kigali has been transformed. It is a services hub, with a gleaming convention centre, a growing airline and a skyline of new hotels. Most scholarship has argued that this has either been driven by party-affiliated firms or through foreign investment.

However, the most significant driver is Rwandan workers’ retirement savings through the country’s pension fund. The Rwanda Social Security Board manages assets of roughly 2 trillion Rwandan francs (about US$1.4 billion to US$1.5 billion). This makes it one of Rwanda’s largest institutional investors. Its portfolio spans government securities, bank deposits, equities, real estate and other investments.

My research examines the politics of economic transformation under contemporary globalisation in eastern and southern Africa. In a new paper, I describe how the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front has used the country’s pension fund as an instrument of what political economists describe as the new state capitalism. The state capitalism literature refers to how some governments have used state-controlled institutional investments (including pension funds) to invest in strategic assets in their own economies and not just act as regulators from the sidelines.

My paper shows how the Rwandan case demonstrates potential to use pension fund assets for strategic investments in the national economy. However, it suggests that the potential gains of such investments will not be sustained unless they focus on employment-generating sectors. Sustaining structural transformation, as per the arguments of developmental state scholars like Alice Amsden, also requires the support of domestic firms to invest in technological capabilities and become competitive in global markets.

How Rwanda did it

At independence in 1962, the Rwandan government created the Caisse Sociale du Rwanda (Social Security Fund of Rwanda). It was a public institution charged with managing pension and occupational hazard schemes. Since the early 2000s, the Rwandan government has focused on increasing pension fund contributions, as well as mobilising pension fund resources to invest in strategic priorities. Between 2003 and 2020, the number of Rwandans contributing to the scheme nearly tripled from 200,000 to 691,756. As a way to streamline the management of public pension funds, the Rwanda Social Security Board was established in 2010. This was a merger of the Social Security Fund of Rwanda and Rwandaise d’Assurance Maladie, Rwanda’s health insurance system.

The Rwanda Social Security Board’s assets under management have grown from US$212 million in 2012 to US$2.07 billion in 2025.

The fund owns shares in domestic commercial banks and holds significant deposits in several banks. It invests in local and foreign fixed-income investments in government securities, fixed deposits and corporate bonds. There are also local and foreign non-fixed income investments in publicly listed equity, private equity and real estate.

The Rwandan government uses the Rwanda Social Security Board – alongside its party- and military-owned firms – to steer investments in line with its services-first development strategy. In this way, Rwanda’s approach is partially modelled on Singapore. Singapore has used government-linked companies, pension funds and government-owned holdings in Temasek, a multinational investment firm, to steer investment to strategic sectors.

Where the model runs into limits

The Rwandan government’s use of the Rwanda Social Security Board has delivered in many ways. It has provided the government with significant funds, which it directly controls and can use for strategic priorities. The board has also been the key financial driver of the transformation of Kigali into a tourism and services hub.

But my research also shows where pension fund activism may be more fragile than it seems. North American, European and east Asian developmental states all employed pension funds to direct investment into employment-generating sectors, particularly manufacturing. Crucially also, pension fund investment encouraged and worked alongside the growth of domestic firms.

The Rwandan case has differed in two fundamental ways.

First, the Rwanda Social Security Board has directed its investments into bolstering Rwanda’s services-first model, which has not yielded substantial formal sector employment.

Second, the board has done very little to support the growth of domestic firms to invest in technological capabilities. This has reinforced the economy’s reliance on state-affiliated firms and foreign firms.

Rwanda’s youth dominate its demographics but east Asia may show a picture of its future and the possible vulnerabilities a reliance on pension fund investments may lead to. The histories of Japan and South Korea show how ageing demographics place increasing pressures on pension systems. It narrows the once longer-term horizons through which pension fund managers could make investments.

This is because, as societies get older, there are more demands to pay out pensions. There may also be reduced contributions to the pension system if the working-age population shrinks. Rwanda is not yet facing these challenges.

Rwanda is currently experiencing a “youth bulge”: more than 60% of the population is under 25.

The Rwanda Social Security Board estimates that it has a 25-year time span to receive a return on its investments. Most pension contributors are currently in their mid-30s and will only retire in three decades.

While time may be on the side of Rwanda’s pension fund managers, the economy is not. Rwanda’s services-based strategy has not yielded sufficient employment generation. In 2025, unemployment was at 12.4%, far above the government target of 7%.

The employment rate also masks the number of workers who work fewer hours than they wish to. This has resulted in Rwandans working several precarious jobs. Based on the government’s own labour market data, the combined rate of workers who work fewer hours than they want to and unemployed workers was estimated at more than 50% in 2025.

Another source of vulnerability is that the government is reliant on either state-affiliated firms or foreign investors as lead investors in nearly every sector of the economy. The government has failed to use pension funds to invest in supporting domestic private sector firms. One reason is that the government has not developed effective relationships built on reciprocity with domestic private firms. This is partly because some formerly prominent Rwandan business people funded opposition movements outside the country once they had fallen out with the government.

Relying on a single state-owned pension fund has its benefits. It enables the ruling party to concentrate control. However, the pension fund’s investments have not been used to support investments in manufacturing or agro-processing, key sectors that could not only diversify exports but also create employment.

A model for the rest of Africa?

Rwanda is often presented, by the Rwandan Patriotic Front and outside observers, as a template for other African states to follow. However, its economic model is still poorly understood. Its pension fund – perhaps the key institutional investor in the economy – is rarely discussed. However, it is perhaps the most innovative example of state intervention in Rwanda.

The Rwanda Social Security Board has driven the growth of Rwanda’s services-first model. But whether it can sustain economic momentum depends on employment generation, the growth of domestic firms and ensuring that investments are in line with long-term goals rather than short-term profit-making.

– Rwanda’s national pension fund has helped power the economy, but it faces new challenges
– https://theconversation.com/rwandas-national-pension-fund-has-helped-power-the-economy-but-it-faces-new-challenges-289633

Posted on

eThekwini reclaims inner-city spaces in weekly clean-up drive

Source: Government of South Africa

eThekwini reclaims inner-city spaces in weekly clean-up drive

The eThekwini Municipality is stepping up efforts to reclaim Durban’s inner-city public spaces through weekly, multi-disciplinary operations targeting illegal structures, illegal dumping and the unlawful occupation and use of open spaces.

The latest clean-up operation was conducted at King Dinuzulu Park, where a multi-disciplinary team removed illegal structures, cleared accumulated waste, completed extensive tree trimming to improve visibility, and fumigated the site.

Following safety concerns raised by residents and businesses, the park has now been restored for public use.

A similar operation was undertaken at The Workshop precinct, where teams tackled illegal dumping, flushed drains, trimmed trees, and swept surrounding streets.

The interventions form part of the city’s commitment to sustained weekly maintenance of public spaces rather than once-off clean-up campaigns.

Director of Supply Side and Area-Based Operations Linda Mbonambi said the operations are aimed at addressing recurring challenges across the inner city.

“Open spaces that fall into disrepair get invaded, and the disruption that follows spills over onto surrounding businesses—in some cases to the point where those businesses cannot trade. Restoring these spaces is not only about cleanliness and safety, but also about protecting economic activity and rebuilding business confidence,” Mbonambi said.

Mbonambi said the city will not allow public spaces to be misused to the detriment of communities.

“We are committed to restoring these spaces to their proper use. This forms part of a broader goal of ensuring the inner city restores a culture of preservation and attracts investment.”

The municipality said it remains committed to collaborating with precinct users and property owners to coordinate safety, cleanliness, and infrastructure maintenance, while protecting property values and preventing urban decay.

The operations will continue on a weekly basis.  They will be expanded to additional public spaces across the inner city, as part of efforts to create a cleaner, safer, more liveable and workable environment. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK

0

Posted on

SIU commended for recovering R2 billion

Source: Government of South Africa

SIU commended for recovering R2 billion

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi says the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has recovered about R2 billion that is due to be repaid to the State following investigations emanating from Presidential proclamations.

The Minister appeared virtually before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday to answer questions for oral reply.

She said that, as of 7 August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa had gazetted 84 proclamations since 1 April 2024.

Kubayi explained that the SIU’s recovery model is based on legal reviews and the “consideration of a just and equitable remedy and the no-loss, no-profit principle.”

“Legality reviews are based on impugning a decision made based on irregular and/or unlawful conduct. It is intended to have the impugned decision reviewed and set aside. Thereafter, declare the subsequent action on contracts unlawful and invalid from the date of inception.

“In most instances where favourable judgments are granted, a debasement process is undertaken to determine expenditure incurred and the profit margins earned by the beneficiary of a reviewed decision.

“In most, but not all cases, the beneficiaries of the impugned decision are ordered by the court or a special tribunal to repay the amount determined as profit back to the State institution,” she said.

The Minister praised the corruption-busting unit for its work in recovering money for the public purse.

“We do believe that the public sees the good work that is being done by the SIU. [It] remains one of the exemplary [institutions]. 

“People want to be part of the SIU because of the brand, the image, the ethics…[and] the ability to deliver results, and that’s what we want to see in many of our organisations, especially within the justice and criminal sector,” Kubayi said.

Turning to criminal referrals made by the SIU to the National Prosecuting Authority, Kubayi revealed that 1 949 referrals had been made, with some 1 794 cases pending.

“We have raised concerns about the number of referrals that lead to individuals ending up appearing before court. You find that in one case, you have several referrals. 

“So, you can have one matter investigated by SIU, but in the referral… you have five people that must be referred for prosecution, then those individuals become multiple cases. But we still want to see successful prosecutions,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB

2

Posted on

Protecting South Africa’s economic gains: the fight against illicit trade

Source: Government of South Africa

Protecting South Africa’s economic gains: the fight against illicit trade

By Josias Pila

Building an inclusive economy that creates jobs, expands business opportunities and improves the lives of all South Africans remains a central priority of the Seventh Administration. Government is pursuing a range of policies and programmes to accelerate economic growth, attract investment and unlock greater opportunities for businesses. Among these is Operation Vulindlela, a programme focused on removing barriers to economic growth and improving the performance of key sectors of the economy.

The Operation Vulindlela Phase II Q1 Progress Report, released in July 2026, demonstrates that steady progress is being made in implementing reforms aimed at improving South Africa’s competitiveness, easing constraints to growth and creating the conditions for greater private-sector investment. Important reforms are underway in priority areas including water and sanitation, digital public infrastructure, electricity, freight logistics, visa reform and local government.

These reforms matter because a growing economy creates the foundation for investment, enterprise development and, most importantly, jobs. But the gains we are making are at risk of being undermined by another economy operating alongside the legitimate one: ‘the illicit economy’.

The illicit economy is estimated to cost South Africa R84.6 billion a year. Illicit trade is a major driver of this harmful economy and includes the unauthorised production, smuggling, counterfeiting and unlawful sale of goods, as well as the distribution of products that are unregulated or falsely declared.

This is not a victimless crime. Every counterfeit or illegally traded product that enters the market has consequences beyond the transaction between a buyer and a seller.

Illicit trade undermines legitimate businesses that comply with tax, labour, safety and regulatory requirements. It deprives the state of revenue that could otherwise be invested in healthcare, education, infrastructure, community safety and other essential public services. It also threatens jobs by placing law-abiding businesses under unfair competitive pressure and weakening the markets in which they operate.

The consequences are particularly serious when illicit goods pose risks to public health and consumer safety. Counterfeit medicines and cosmetics may contain unverified or harmful ingredients. Non-compliant electrical products can create fire and safety hazards. Illicit alcohol and tobacco products evade the regulatory and safety controls designed to protect consumers. At the same time, illicit markets provide fertile ground for organised criminal networks to generate income and expand their activities.

The fight against illicit trade must therefore be understood as an important part of the broader effort to build a fair, inclusive and growing economy.

When consumers choose legitimate products and support compliant businesses, they are doing more than protecting themselves. They are helping to protect jobs, support local manufacturers and producers, strengthen township and rural economies, and reduce the demand that sustains criminal markets.

Buying local is equally important to strengthening our economy. When South Africans choose locally produced goods and services, they help keep money circulating within the domestic economy, support local manufacturers, farmers, small businesses and entrepreneurs, and contribute to the preservation and creation of jobs. Supporting local production also strengthens domestic supply chains, encourages investment in productive capacity and helps build a more resilient and competitive economy.

Buying local does not mean compromising on quality. It means making conscious choices to support products and services that are lawfully produced, compliant with our standards and contribute to South Africa’s economic development. It is a practical way for consumers to participate in building the economy we want. Every time consumers choose locally produced, genuine and compliant products, they support businesses that employ South Africans, contribute to the tax base and invest in their communities.

This is particularly important as government works to create an environment in which small businesses, manufacturers, farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs can grow and contribute meaningfully to the economy. These businesses cannot compete on a level playing field if unlawful operators are allowed to sell goods without meeting the same tax, safety, quality and regulatory obligations.

A developmental state cannot realise its economic ambitions while unlawful markets are allowed to erode legitimate enterprise, compromise consumer safety and siphon resources from the public purse.

Government’s response is underpinned by a comprehensive legislative and enforcement framework. The Counterfeit Goods Act provides measures to combat the trade in counterfeit products, while the Customs and Excise Act gives authorities powers to control prohibited and restricted goods and to detain suspected counterfeit goods at the border. The Consumer Protection Act further provides protections against unsafe, substandard and unfairly marketed products. These measures are being strengthened through the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme, which brings together key state agencies and other stakeholders to disrupt illicit markets through coordinated enforcement, better information sharing and the use of data and technology.

These policy measures are being reinforced by intensified action on the ground. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies, the Border Management Authority and the National Consumer Commission is helping to strengthen inspections, identify non-compliant products and prevent unsafe and illicit goods from entering or circulating in the South African market.

Recent enforcement operations demonstrate both the scale of the challenge and the importance of coordinated action. In March this year, police reported seizures worth more than R160 million across several parts of the country, including a major operation in Bellville, City of Cape Town that resulted in the seizure of more than 130 000 counterfeit items. In July 2026, law enforcement agencies seized more than R27 million worth of counterfeit and illicit goods during major multidisciplinary operations.

These interventions are important not only because they remove unlawful and potentially dangerous goods from circulation, but because they demonstrate that South Africa will not allow criminal markets to operate with impunity.

Yet enforcement alone will not win this fight.

The private sector has an equally important role to play. Businesses must strengthen their supply chains, verify the authenticity and origin of products, maintain appropriate compliance measures and avoid suppliers who cannot account for the quality, provenance and legality of their goods.

Consumers, too, have agency. We should buy from reputable outlets, check packaging and relevant safety or authenticity markings, and be cautious of products offered at prices that appear too good to be true.  

The public also has a role in disrupting these markets by reporting the sale and distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods. Report suspected criminal activity at their nearest police station, through Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or anonymously through the MySAPS App. By making informed purchasing choices and reporting illicit activity, consumers can become active partners in protecting South Africa’s legitimate economy.

Ultimately, the fight against illicit trade and the call to buy local are part of the same economic project. We cannot build a strong domestic economy if legitimate South African businesses are undermined by counterfeit and illegally traded goods.

Pila is Director: Cluster Support at the Government Communication and Information System

 

 

Neo

0

Posted on

South Africa: Portfolio Committee on Agriculture Elects Ms Nomasonto Motaung as Chairperson

Source: APO


.

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture has elected Ms Nomasonto Motaung as its Chairperson during a virtual meeting held this morning. The election was conducted in accordance with National Assembly Rule 158, which requires a committee to elect one of its members as Chairperson.

The vacancy arose following the appointment of the former Chairperson, Ms Dina Pule, as Minister of Social Development on 30 June 2026. Dr Nobuhle Nkabane subsequently served as Acting Chairperson from 08 July 2026.

Ms Motaung is a Member of Parliament representing the African National Congress and a former Deputy Minister in the Presidency. Her parliamentary and executive experience includes constituency work, committee oversight and policy evaluation.

In her acceptance remarks, Ms Motaung said: “Chairperson and Honourable Members of the Portfolio Committee, thank you sincerely for a vote of confidence in putting your trust in me to serve as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee. I accept this responsibility with humility and a commitment to serve selflessly. I look forward to working together with all members of the committee in bringing about tangible contributions to the lives of our fellow South Africans who are in the space of our responsibility, I vow to respect my duties and take accountability to my fellow members of the portfolio committee.”

Ms Motaung added that: “Agriculture is a critical vehicle to food security, economic growth, job creation, and central to development of rural communities. I, therefore, commit myself to leading this committee fairly and diligently, and to ensure that we remain focused on information and production needs of our farmers, agricultural workers and communities.

Following the election, the committee proceeded with its scheduled quarterly performance assessments of departmental entities, National Agricultural Marketing Council and Perishable Products Export Control Board.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Posted on

New packhouse to improve market access in Lekwa Teemane

Source: Government of South Africa

New packhouse to improve market access in Lekwa Teemane

A newly opened vegetable packhouse in Bloemhof is set to unlock growth opportunities for farmers, improve access to formal markets and strengthen the agricultural value chain in the North West.

North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha officially opened and handed over the facility at Mor Farming’s Matlabane Stad Farm, just outside Bloemhof in the Lekwa Teemane Local Municipality, on Monday.

The state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to strengthen agricultural production, improve market access for emerging farmers, and stimulate local economic growth.

As part of its commitment to farmer development and agricultural transformation, the department invested in the construction of the packhouse to enhance Mor Farming’s operational capacity.

The facility will serve as a critical hub where harvested produce is cleaned, graded, sorted, and packaged to meet food quality, safety, and market standards before reaching consumers.

Mor Farming has grown into a successful horticultural enterprise producing a range of vegetables, including butternut, pumpkin, beetroot, watermelon, green beans, and green peppers.

The farm currently supplies produce to markets across the North West, as well as neighbouring provinces, including Gauteng, the Free State and the Northern Cape, while also serving local and informal markets in Bloemhof.

In addition to the packhouse, the department has supported the enterprise through the provision of essential agricultural inputs and equipment, including seeds, packaging materials, harvest bins, baskets, a forklift, food processors, and vegetable cutters.

These interventions have improved productivity and strengthened the farm’s readiness to access formal markets.

To support the sustainability of the project, farm owner Moroeng also participated in the South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA-GAP) training programme, which focuses on food safety, quality assurance, good agricultural practices, and the proper handling of produce.

Moroeng expressed gratitude for the department’s support, noting that the training has equipped him with valuable knowledge and practical skills.

“I am grateful for the support and guidance i have received from the department. Through the SA-GAP programme, I have gained valuable knowledge and practical skills in food safety, soil management, chemical handling, post-harvest management, quality control, traceability, record-keeping, and compliance with agricultural standards.

“Most importantly, SA-GAP has shown me how to maintain high-quality standards and ensure that the produce leaving my farm is safe for consumers. This has improved the marketability of my products and opened opportunities to access more profitable local and potential export markets,” Moroeng said.

The development of packhouses across the province forms part of the department’s broader strategy to strengthen the agricultural value chain, improve post-harvest handling, reduce losses, and increase farmers’ competitiveness in formal markets.

Addressing stakeholders during the launch on Monday, Sambatha said the Mor Farming Packhouse is among seven packhouses constructed by the department across the province, with the remaining facilities set to be officially launched in the coming months.

“Several packhouses have already been completed across the province, and we will be launching them soon. We are deliberately investing in infrastructure that enables farmers to grow and expand their businesses.

“When farmers grow, they create jobs, strengthen local economies, and contribute meaningfully to provincial economic development. Through investments such as these, we are creating opportunities for current and future generations of farmers, while building a more inclusive and competitive agricultural sector in the North West Province,” Sambatha said.

Sambatha emphasised that the department’s investment is aligned with its objective of growing the number of successful farmers in the province while encouraging more young people to enter the agricultural sector.

The Bloemhof facility forms part of a broader provincial initiative aimed at supporting farmers, increasing agricultural production, and unlocking new market opportunities. – SAnews.gov.za

 

GabiK

0

Posted on

Infrastructure investment key to economic growth, regional intergration: Ramaphosa

Source: Government of South Africa

Infrastructure investment key to economic growth, regional intergration: Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says infrastructure investment is central to South Africa’s economic growth, job creation and regional integration.

Addressing the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2026, President Ramaphosa said infrastructure is fundamental to integrating the Southern African region and the African continent. 

“We need roads, bridges, rail lines, ports, power lines, data cables and gas pipelines that cross our region and continent,” President Ramaphosa said.

He said these networks must link mines to factories, farms to markets, gas fields to industrial plants, wind farms to homes and businesses, mobile phones to data centres, and businesses to customers.

“It is for this reason that South Africa has placed infrastructure investment at the centre of our drive for inclusive growth and job creation,” President Ramaphosa said. 

Ramaphosa said the country’s ability to grow the economy depends on reliable energy, sufficient water, efficient ports and railways, functioning roads, digital connectivity, and cities and towns that work.

“Infrastructure affects the daily lives of South Africans. It determines whether a household has clean water, whether a community has functioning sanitation, whether a learner has a safe and suitable school, whether a commuter can travel safely and affordably, and whether a business can rely on the basic services it needs to operate.

“When we embarked on the infrastructure investment drive, we were clear that South Africa needed to fundamentally change the way infrastructure is planned, prepared, financed and delivered. We recognised that our infrastructure system was too fragmented,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said South Africa has strengthened coordination through the Infrastructure Development Act and the work of Infrastructure South Africa in preparing and advancing the country’s strategic infrastructure pipeline.

“We expect Infrastructure South Africa to ensure that the country’s infrastructure pipeline is progressing, that projects are properly prepared, that funding is secured, and that procurement takes place when it is supposed to.

“South Africa’s level of investment remains far below what is required to achieve faster and more sustained economic growth,” the President said.

He said the estimated capital value of the portfolio of Strategic Integrated Projects has grown from approximately R340 billion in 2020 to more than R1.67 trillion today.

“There are 195 public- and private-led infrastructure projects across priority sectors in the current portfolio. Over the last several years, 32 projects with an estimated value of approximately R48 billion have been completed. At present, 55 projects with an estimated value of more than R407 billion are in construction,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said the country must convert plans into prepared projects, prepared projects into investment, investment into construction, and construction into infrastructure that supports economic activity and improves people’s lives.

“One of the most important lessons we have learned is that South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of infrastructure proposals. Our constraint is that too many of these projects are not adequately prepared.

“The role of Infrastructure South Africa is vital to this. Drawing its mandate from the Infrastructure Development Act, Infrastructure SA plays a critical role in coordinating and facilitating Strategic Integrated Projects across government,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said that through Infrastructure South Africa’s R600 million project preparation facility, 26 projects have received, or are receiving, project development support.

“This kind of support is particularly important as we shift our focus towards municipal infrastructure delivery. Municipal infrastructure is not only where the effectiveness of the state is most directly tested; it is also the foundation of inclusive economic growth,” the President said.

The SIDSSA 2026 programme has been designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue, strengthen partnerships and create opportunities for collaboration among leaders shaping the future of infrastructure development.

More than 1 000 guests, including delegates from neighbouring countries, are attending the summit, which ends today. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

5

Posted on

ISA commits R131 million to support local government infrastructure

Source: Government of South Africa

ISA commits R131 million to support local government infrastructure

Over the past 18 months, Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) has committed R131 million to supporting local government infrastructure, says Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson.

“This includes R9.39 million to package strategic water projects in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, with a combined estimated investment value of approximately R7.3 billion,” Macpherson said.

The Minister was speaking at the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2026, which is underway in Cape Town. Macpherson cited developments in Matjhabeng Local Municipality in the Free State, where approximately R1.8 million was invested in preparing a nonrevenue water programme, which helped to unlock an R800 million debt-financing facility from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

“Through the Presidential Adopt-a-Municipality pilot programme, Infrastructure South Africa is supporting four municipalities across four provinces. The programme is preparing projects that seek to unlock approximately R7 billion in water, sanitation, energy and waste management investment,” Macpherson said.

He said a relatively small investment in technical preparation can unlock hundreds of millions and sometimes billions of rands in infrastructure investment.

“Progress is also being made across the wider Public Works and Infrastructure portfolio. During the first 22 years of the Construction Industry Development Board, only two contractors were removed from its register for fraudulent conduct. 

“In the last 22 months, 52 contractors have been removed, with more on the way.  These achievements show the direction in which we are moving towards stronger institutions, better prepared projects, greater accountability and a relentless focus on delivery.

“The approval to formalise Infrastructure South Africa as a public entity is central to the next phase of this work,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said government is building a permanent institution capable of serving as the central point for major infrastructure projects, maintaining a credible national pipeline, coordinating approvals, mobilising finance and supporting implementation. 

“Our responsibility is now to translate that commitment into properly prepared projects, credible procurement processes, active construction sites and functioning infrastructure. Our infrastructure programme must be judged not by the value of its announcements, but by what is financed and built, and delivered to communities,” the Minister said.

Macpherson said SIDSSA 2026 must take government from stronger preparation to faster implementation, and from national ambition to visible local delivery.

“We have strengthened the pipeline. We have expanded project preparation support. We have brought credible projects together with financiers. We must now convert that progress into financial close, procurement, construction and finally, functioning infrastructure.”

Municipalities as enablers of stable infrastructure

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa said infrastructure challenges and opportunities facing municipalities require government, businesses, investors, development finance institutions, technical experts, and communities to work together around a common objective.

“Our discussion on reimagining municipal trading services and building financially sustainable cities through infrastructure investment speaks directly to that challenge.

“It calls on us to look beyond the traditional understanding of municipal water, electricity, sanitation, waste management and related services as simply functions that municipalities must perform. 

“We must understand these services as economic foundations upon which our cities and towns are built.” 

Hlabisa said when municipal services are consistently reliable, businesses can operate with greater certainty, industries can expand, investors can make long-term decisions and communities can participate more meaningfully in the economy.

“When municipal services are unreliable, the consequences extend far beyond the municipal balance sheet. They affect investment decisions, business confidence, productivity, employment, property values and the overall competitiveness of a city or region.

“This is why reimagining municipal trading services is ultimately about reimagining the economic future of our municipalities.” 

He said since the advent of democracy, South Africa has made significant progress in expanding access to basic services for the majority of citizens.

“Millions of households have gained access to water, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal. These achievements, which represent some of the most important gains of our democratic era, must be protected. 

“We must move from simply asking whether infrastructure exists, to asking whether it is reliable, resilient, financially sustainable and capable of supporting economic growth,” Hlabisa said.

SIDSSA 2026 is in full swing, attracting more than 1 000 guests, including those from neighbouring countries.  

The SIDSSA 2026 programme has been designed to facilitate meaningful dialogue, strengthen partnerships and create opportunities for collaboration among leaders shaping the future of infrastructure development. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin

1