Category: Africa

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed the successful amendment of the cold treatment requirements regulating the export of South African citrus to the People’s Republic of China, describing it as a big step forward in expanding trade opportunities and deepening an already strong partnership.

Steenhuisen said the amendment will cement South Africa’s position as the biggest exporter of citrus to China.

In a statement on Friday, the Minister highlighted that the new treatment options are expected to improve export efficiencies, reduce costs for producers and exporters, and ensure that even higher-quality fruit reaches Chinese consumers.

“In practical terms, this will help South African citrus continue to grow its presence in a market that is both dynamic and increasingly important to our agricultural sector,” the Minister said.

China remains one of South Africa’s most valued agricultural trading partners. In 2025, exports of citrus to China and Hong Kong accounted for approximately 11.5 million cartons, representing around 6% of total citrus exports, with clear potential for further growth as demand continues to expand.

Steenhuisen said the latest progress builds on a series of important trade gains, including the recent opening of the Chinese market to South African stone fruit, including apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes.

Together, he said, these developments reflect a relationship that is not only growing but delivering real opportunities for South African farmers and exporters.

“South Africa places a high value on its relationship with China, which continues to create meaningful opportunities across our agricultural sector. These agreements are the result of trust, respect and sustained cooperation, and they are helping open doors for our producers at a time when diversification has never been more important,” Steenhuisen said.

South Africa firmly supports China’s One China Policy, which recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate authority representing China. In practical terms, this provides a stable and trusted foundation for cooperation between our two countries.

“For the agricultural sector, this certainty translates into smoother negotiations on export protocols, faster resolution of phytosanitary issues, and expanded opportunities for South African products to enter and grow in the Chinese market.

“More broadly, it strengthens investor confidence, supports trade growth, and helps unlock logistics and infrastructure partnerships, all of which are critical to driving economic growth, job creation, and long-term food security in South Africa,” the Minister said.

The citrus industry remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s agricultural performance. In 2025, Southern Africa exported approximately 204 million cartons of citrus, with South Africa contributing approximately 193 million cartons. Export earnings exceeded US$2 billion for the first time, reaching an estimated US$2,47 billion.

The sector also supports approximately 140 000 direct jobs at farm and packhouse level, with significantly broader employment across logistics, export services and international distribution.

The continued expansion of citrus exports consequently plays a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods and driving inclusive economic growth.

The Minister emphasised that government will continue working closely with industry stakeholders, including the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA), to strengthen trade relationships, uphold phytosanitary standards, and support the long-term growth of the sector.

“This is the kind of progress we are working to replicate across the sector – strong partnerships, growing markets, and real opportunities flowing back to farmers and rural communities,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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After years of setbacks, South Africa’s energy security and its landscape have finally turned the corner with Eskom’s Kusile Power Station now able to operate at full commercial capacity.

This is the message by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered an address to Eskom workers at the power station on Friday.

The power station is located in the Nkangala District Municipality of Mpumalanga.

The President conducted a working visit to the power station to witness progress made in restoring South Africa’s energy security and later, following a tour of the facility, delivered remarks to the Eskom workforce and leadership.

In September last year, the power station’s Unit 6 reached commercial operation, adding some 800MW to the grid.

“It is a pleasure to be here to bear witness to the great strides Eskom has made towards restoring our country’s energy security.

“Kusile means ‘the dawn has come’, which speaks directly to this moment in our national journey. Kusile’s performance benchmarks are impressive. It is now one of the most reliable stations in the Eskom fleet, achieving an average Energy Availability Factor of 74%, increasing to 90% on occasion,” the President said in his written remarks.

The commercial operation of Kusile Unit 6 marked the end to the power utility’s Build Programme, which included the Medupi Power Station in Limpopo.

When at full operational capacity, the two power stations together generate some 9 600MW for the national grid.

The President described the massive power stations – designed to be among the biggest in Africa and the world – as the “backbone of South Africa’s energy supply”.

“When operating at full capacity, these two stations are capable of delivering 9 600 megawatts. Both of these stations are designed for an operational lifespan of 50 years and will remain key to South Africa’s electricity supply for many years to come.

“What has been achieved here at Kusile – and indeed across all Eskom’s power stations – is a testament to discipline, consistency and resilience,” President Ramaphosa said on Friday.

Light at the end of the tunnel

President Ramaphosa noted that when the Energy Action Plan was announced in 2022, South Africa was facing severe load shedding, which “disrupted peoples’ lives, constrained economic growth, and eroded business and investor confidence”.

However, today, the tide has turned, with South Africa on the cusp of reaching 365 days of no load shedding.

The Energy Availability Factor has also increased to 65%, some 4% higher than it was at the same time last year – further greasing the wheels that turn the economy.

“South Africa’s improved energy supply is a welcome relief for millions of households and businesses across the country.

“It is also part of a wider economic recovery that is bringing renewed confidence to investors, and part of our broader goal of achieving higher, inclusive growth that creates jobs.

“This restored capacity is now being put to productive use, supporting industry and safeguarding jobs,” President Ramaphosa stated.

He acknowledged that the road to completing Kusile has been a “difficult journey”.

“Kusile has been plagued by challenges nearly throughout the project lifespan, including overruns, massive cost escalations, technical problems and issues with contractor performance.

“The State Capture Commission uncovered widescale corruption and looting at Kusile that nearly brought Eskom to financial ruin.

“I wish to acknowledge Eskom’s leadership for supporting the efforts of our law enforcement authorities to recover stolen money and hold those found guilty accountable,” he noted.

President Ramaphosa assured, however, that the country has learned from the lessons of that period.

“This experience has sharpened our resolve to ensure that projects of this scale adhere to the highest standards of governance, due diligence, proper financial controls and accountability,” he said.

He called on the leadership of the power utility and its workers to ensure that “power stations and all our strategic assets are managed with integrity and foresight, so that they may serve the country”, as reforms start to bear fruit and the economy begins to grow.

“Energy security is vital to the security and well-being of our nation. It underpins economic growth, job creation and social stability. It shapes the prospects of families and communities across our country.

“That is why we are in the process of the most fundamental reform of our electricity sector in more than a century, which will modernise our energy system, enable significant new investment and lower the cost of electricity for all South Africans,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The private sector has been urged to play a more coordinated and active role in addressing South Africa’s water challenges, with the Strategic Water Partnership Network (SWPN) calling for greater mobilisation of business in support of water and sanitation reforms.

Delivering a message on behalf of the private sector during a national ministerial webinar on Friday, Professor Mike Muller of Wits University said while large water users are already involved through the Strategic Water Partnership Network, a far broader range of businesses depend on reliable water services and must be drawn into the reform process.

“It is very important for us to mobilise and organise the private sector more effectively,” Muller said, noting that water security is critical not only for industry, but also for the communities that businesses serve.

Muller said SWPN, despite being a relatively small organisation with limited resources, has prioritised key areas from the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba resolutions where it can have the greatest impact. These include improving delivery and implementation models, strengthening technical and operational capacity, and building partnerships to support water-sensitive and resilient communities.

While acknowledging the importance of investment, financing and efforts to combat corruption, he said the network has chosen to focus its efforts where it can drive practical outcomes.

“We need to be focused to be effective,” he said.

Muller noted that an institutional framework for water governance is already taking shape, including the establishment of catchment management agencies. He said businesses should be encouraged to engage more actively with these structures to address local water challenges, although many companies still require guidance on where and how to participate.

He added that SWPN’s water stewardship initiatives will play a role in facilitating this engagement, particularly for large national companies operating across multiple regions.

In the water services space, Muller highlighted the importance of utility reform models and pointed to existing partnerships in metros such as eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and Gauteng, where collaborative platforms for water security have already been established.

He said a key priority for SWPN is to extend similar support to smaller and more dispersed municipalities, where capacity constraints are often most severe.

“We need to find ways to extend that kind of support to other municipalities and levels of local government,” Muller said.

On technical capacity, Muller said SWPN would build on its work over the past decade in reducing non-revenue water, noting that such programmes are now widely adopted across municipalities. However, he stressed the need to ensure that these gains are sustained through systemic reforms and improved long-term management.

“We must ensure that the progress we make is embedded in broader systems of water services management,” he said.

Muller also underscored the importance of partnerships at community level, encouraging businesses to work alongside municipalities, civil society and local stakeholders to address specific water and sanitation challenges.

“There are lessons from existing models that can be built on, but the key is to mobilise and scale up business participation,” he said.

He emphasised that stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society and research institutions is essential to achieving the objectives of the Indaba resolutions.

“The core purpose of SWPN is to strengthen meaningful collaboration between the private sector and government in addressing water challenges,” Muller said.

Looking ahead, he said SWPN aims to expand its network of partners and improve coordination within the private sector to ensure greater impact.

“We believe we can achieve more coherence and more impact through a more organised and collaborative private sector response,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) remains committed to supporting reforms aimed at improving water and sanitation service delivery.

This is according to SALGA National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Nikiwe Num, who delivered a message of support during a National Ministerial Webinar held on Friday, to track progress on the implementation of the 2025 Water and Sanitation Indaba resolutions.

Num said SALGA supports key focus areas identified at the Indaba, including improving delivery models, strengthening financial viability, building technical capacity, fostering partnerships, and addressing criminality and corruption in the sector.

She emphasised that while municipalities are ready to transition from commitment to delivery, implementation must remain aligned with constitutional and legislative frameworks, noting that local government is constitutionally mandated as water services authorities and directly accountable to communities.

Num stressed the importance of strengthening intergovernmental relations, saying sustained political engagement and coordination across all spheres of government are critical to resolving water and sanitation challenges.

In the absence of sufficient coordination mechanisms, SALGA has initiated internal processes to support municipalities, including developing guidance frameworks that highlight risks and outline available support.

She said ongoing engagements with municipalities have revealed concerns about the pace and approach to implementing some resolutions, including tight timelines, limited consultation, and perceptions of compliance-driven implementation.

“These concerns are particularly acute in municipalities already facing financial constraints, ageing infrastructure, skills shortages and high levels of non-revenue water,” she said.

Num noted that persistent water service challenges are often rooted in structural issues such as under investment in infrastructure, operational constraints, and external pressures, including energy instability and climate-related impacts, rather than simply non-compliance.

She called for a more coordinated and supportive approach to reform, underpinned by flexibility and differentiation to accommodate the varying conditions of municipalities.

“A one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Reforms must respond to the diverse realities across municipalities,” she said.

SALGA reaffirmed key guiding principles for implementation, including the need for regulatory requirements to be matched with adequate support, the prioritisation of financial sustainability, and the strengthening of cooperative governance through established intergovernmental platforms.

Num reaffirmed SALGA’s committed to providing legal, fiscal, governance and technical advisory support to municipalities, with a focus on improving service delivery, strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring long-term sustainability.

She called for continued alignment between reform initiatives and municipal planning cycles, as well as sustained collaboration with the Department of Water and Sanitation, development partners and the private sector.

“SALGA remains committed to working constructively with national and provincial partners to improve water and sanitation outcomes for all communities,” she said.

Support for regulatory reforms

African Water and Sanitation Industry Association Chairperson, Ramateu Monyokolo, also expressed support for ongoing reforms in the sector.

Monyokolo said there was a need to advance regulatory reforms, including the establishment of an independent water regulator, and to continue efforts to professionalise the sector.

He noted that AWSISA will further assess progress on the implementation of water sector resolutions at its upcoming conference later this year, while continuing to engage global partners to support South Africa’s commitments to sustainable development and water security.

“We support all programmes aimed at stabilising the sector and ensuring water security in the country,” Monyokolo said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says typical autumn weather systems are expected to dominate across the country this weekend.

According to the forecast, this pattern consists of a surface trough over the western and central interior, while the Atlantic High extends a ridge over the southern and eastern parts of the country. 

This will result in isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers in several areas.

Partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions are expected on Saturday, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. Severe thunderstorms and damaging waves are also anticipated in some regions.

On Sunday, partly cloudy and cool to warm conditions will persist, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers forecast over parts of the Northern Cape and North West province. No severe weather warnings have been issued at this stage.

SAWS has urged members of the public and stakeholders to continuously monitor official forecasts and warnings, as these may be updated as the likelihood and severity of impacts become clearer.

The public is also advised to remain cautious of unauthorised or unverified information sources and to refrain from sharing such information. –SAnews.gov.za

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Deputy President Paul Mashatile says today’s handover of title deeds to the Sebilong community, situated near Thabazimbi in Limpopo, restores ownership and secure tenure to 1 071 verified beneficiaries from the 89 originally dispossessed households.

“The claim was settled through a combination of land restoration and financial compensation, and a Communal Property Association was established as the legal entity to hold and administer the restored land,” Mashatile said.

Speaking at an event to hand over title deeds to the Sebilong community on Friday, Mashatile said the title deeds provide legal certainty and form the basis for productive land use, economic participation and long-term development.

“Government remains clear that land restitution must contribute to sustainable livelihoods and local economic development,” Mashatile said.

He told the successful land claimants that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development is providing post settlement support, including funding for development initiatives and support in preparation for a comprehensive business plan.

“The aim of this support is to ensure the productive use of the restored land, adhering to sound governance and development principles.

“Effective governance of communal property is essential to safeguarding restored land and ensuring that it benefits both current and future generations,” the Deputy President said.

Mashatile said the restoration of Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ is a clear demonstration of government’s ongoing work to redress historical injustices, and to advance land reform as a key element of inclusive growth and rural development.

“Our government is reversing the 1913 Natives Land Act legacy through a comprehensive land reform programme focusing on restitution, redistribution and tenure reform. Key actions include returning land to dispossessed communities and implementing the Restitution of Land Rights Act.

“This Act, passed in 1994, was designed to restore land or provide equitable redress to persons and communities dispossessed under racially discriminatory laws. Its objectives are to foster reconciliation, to enable land ownership for victims of forced removals, and to promote development through restorative justice,” he said.

Mashatile said as the country marks Freedom Month, a time when people reflect on the sacrifices that brought democracy and the responsibilities that come with it, as a country we are reminded that true freedom must be lived in the soil beneath our feet.

“Without land, freedom remains incomplete. I have always maintained that the handing over of a title deed is far more than a legal transaction. 

“It is the restoration of justice for the people. It is the handing over of dignity, recognition, and justice to people who were once stripped of their land and identity. It is the return of identity, the restoration of belonging and the renewal of hope,” he said.

Mashatile told the beneficiaries that as a community, they have a huge responsibility to use the land productively.

“Let it be a source of food security, of jobs for the youth, of opportunities for your women and other vulnerable groups, and a source of wealth for your families,” he said.

Chairperson of the Communal Property Association (CPA), Boitshoko Tisane, said people must rejoice as the land has been brought back.

“Today is about restoration of justice. Our grandfathers were forcefully removed from their land. They were forced to work for white farmers,” he said.

Tisane thanked government for granting them the opportunity to reclaim their land, saying they are going to create jobs.

“Government alone cannot create jobs, we as the community must play our part and create jobs,” he said.

 Also speaking at the same event was the Thabazimbi Mayor Andries Tshukhudu who told guests that today was not just a ceremony but a moment of restoration for the community of Sebilong.

“Our land was forcefully taken from our people in a painful way, today we are thankful to the government for bringing our land back peacefully,” Tshukudu said.

Tshukudu said although it took long, they are now happy that their land has been brought back.

“As the people of Sebilong, we started the process of land claim with the hope that one day, our land will be brought back to us,” he said.

The Sebilong community successfully lodged their land claim with the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights more than a decade ago.

According to local community members, the Sebilong Land Claim was lodged by Lazasrus Nkale Tisane on behalf of 89 originally dispossessed households totaling 1 071 verified beneficiaries. 

The claimed land is Farm Zwartkop 369 KQ, which consists of 21 portions located within the Thabazimbi local municipality, which is located in the Waterberg District.

After the claim was approved, the CPA opted for both land restoration and financial compensation. – SAnews.gov.za

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