President Cyril Ramaphosa will today officiate the annual Armed Forces Day, which will be held in Limpopo.
He will officiate the commemoration in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
“The President will commence the ceremony by laying a wreath at the Thohoyandou Memorial Site. He will then observe a multi-aircraft fly-past by the South African Air Force before delivering the keynote address.
“Armed Forces Day seeks to deepen public understanding of the role of the SANDF in the life of the nation and to demonstrate, through live military simulations, the capabilities of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the South African Military Health Service,” the Presidency said.
The day is observed in commemoration of the sinking of the SS Mendi on 21 February 1917.
“The sinking of the SS Mendi remains one of South Africa’s greatest tragedies of the First World War [1914–1918]. A total of 616 black South African troops lost their lives when the vessel sank en route to France,” the Presidency explained. – SAnews.gov.za
EBITDA increased by an impressive 184% to AED 458.5 million in 2025, up from AED 161.4 million in 2024 – marking the company’s highest EBITDA performance since ADX listing in 2022
Revenue rose to an all-time high of AED 13.3 billion in 2025 from AED 8.9 billion in 2024
Net profit reached AED 227.6 million in 2025, up 37% year-on-year
Commodity transaction volumes increased by 73% year-on-year to 14.2 million metric tonnes
Total equity reached AED 1.4 billion in 2025, compared with AED 1.2 billion the previous year
The Board recommended a cash dividend of AED 40 million for 2025
Invictus Investment Company PLC (http://InvictusInvestment.ae/) (ADX: INVICTUS), a leading agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa, today published its audited financial results for the 12 months ended December 31, 2025. The company delivered its strongest EBITDA performance since listing on ADX, soaring by a record 184% year-on-year to AED 458.5 million – an increase driven by the integration of recent acquisitions, enhanced supply chain capabilities and improved operational efficiencies across the business.
Revenue meanwhile grew by 49% to AED 13.3 billion in 2025, compared with AED 8.9 billion the previous year. This strong top-line performance helped underpin a 37% increase in net profit to AED 227.6 million, up from AED 166.3 million in 2024, while return on equity reached 18%, underscoring the company’s success in enhancing profitability while continuing to expand its operations across key markets. The Board has in turn recommended a cash dividend of AED 40 million.
Commodity transaction volumes also reached record levels, expanding 73% to 14.2 million metric tonnes in 2025, up from 8.2 million metric tonnes in 2024. At the same time, total equity increased 17% year-on-year to AED 1.4 billion in 2025 – a reflection of the company’s improving financial position as it continues to scale.
The year also saw a significant milestone in IHC’s increasing of its shareholding in Invictus Investment to 40% – highlighting continued confidence in the company’s strategic direction and growth trajectory. The deal involved the purchase of 196 million shares in a major block trade valued at 419.83 million. In parallel, Invictus Investment has progressed both equity and debt financing structures as part of a diversified and disciplined financial strategy. It most recently secured a financing package from the Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited (MCB) structured as an acquisition finance and revolving credit facility to fund growth across new African markets.
The company continued to deliver on its growth strategy in 2025 through a number of strategic investments. This included the acquisition of Merec Industries, Mozambique’s largest flour milling company, and the integration of its operations, as well as an agreement to acquire a 65.25% stake in Angata Limitada, a fertiliser blending company based in Angola, with the transaction being completed in January 2026. These developments, along with the operational consolidation of Moroccan agro-trading leader Graderco, in which Invictus Investment acquired a 60% stake in 2024, have further enhanced the company’s sourcing and processing capabilities across Africa. The Board has also approved the issuance of a binding offer to acquire a majority shareholding interest in an agro-food manufacturing company with its primary business in North Africa.
In addition, Invictus Investment entered 10 new markets during the year, including Iraq, Lithuania, Cameroon, Ghana, Madagascar, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe, bringing its global presence to 65 countries. This was supported by strong organic growth across core markets, particularly in Africa, where demand for staple agro-food commodities continues to be strong. The company’s product portfolio was also expanded to more than 30 categories to meet the evolving needs of its global client base.
Commenting on the results, Amir Daoud Abdellatif, CEO of Invictus Investment, said: “2025 was a defining year for Invictus Investment as we delivered significant growth across our key metrics while making strategic acquisitions that have fundamentally strengthened our business. The biggest vote of confidence for us during the year came with IHC’s increasing of its stake in the company to 40% – a major development that both validates our growth journey to date and sets the tone for the strategic trajectory before us. Our priorities are clear, and we have a strong pipeline of investment opportunities in midstream and downstream assets across our core markets. All of this places us in a strong position to continue expanding the business and delivering added value for our shareholders as we work towards our goal of becoming a fully integrated agro-food enterprise and reaching AED 25 billion in revenue by 2028.”
In terms of its sustainability commitments, Invictus Investment continues to build upon the progress set out in the 2024 ESG report published in May 2025 across three core pillars: Environmental Stewardship; Social Empowerment; and Ethical Governance and Partnerships – priorities that are only on track to become more embedded across the business, including within the company’s newly acquired entities.
Looking ahead, Invictus Investment remains focused on furthering its long-term growth strategy through targeted investments in key African markets, with an emphasis on North Africa and coastal hubs, while advancing its goal of becoming a fully integrated agro-food enterprise that contributes to food security in the region.
About Invictus Investment:
Invictus Investment Company PLC (ADX: INVICTUS), established in March 2022 and headquartered in Dubai, is a leading holding entity specialised in agro-food commodities. Through its main subsidiary, Invictus Trading – founded in 2014 – the company initially offered procurement services that supplied raw materials and finished goods across the MENA region. It has since expanded its business model to include grain trading and commodity exports with a portfolio that now spans over 30 product categories, among them barley, corn, sesame, soya bean, sugar and wheat. Today, Invictus Investment operates across 65 countries with a broad sourcing network and a focus on midstream and downstream acquisitions in the value chain, with the aim of becoming a fully integrated agro-food enterprise in the Middle East and Africa.
Africa’s Green Economy Summit (24–27 February 2026) will present a curated, deal‑ready pipeline of climate projects from more than 25 African countries. Since 2023 our mission has been unchanged: connect global capital with Africa’s ventures. This year’s portfolio spans early‑stage SMMEs and bankable expansion and infrastructure opportunities, together seeking approximately USD 3.09 billion in funding – roughly USD 90 million for SMME-stage pitches and nearly USD 3 billion for expansion and infrastructure.
The projects cover energy, waste, e-mobility and circular economy, food and agriculture, blue economy, built environment and nature‑based solutions, offering investors a rare, investable cross‑section of climate solutions across the continent.
Deal‑ready, technically validated pipeline
AGES is designed to accelerate transactions through focused pitch sessions, curated 1:1 matchmaking and investor briefings that align founders, DFIs, commercial banks, venture funds and specialist partners. The projects on stage are beyond concept: most have pilots, offtake LOIs or bankable feasibility studies. That technical validation, combined with near‑term market demand, creates investable opportunities – provided the right mix of catalytic capital, blended finance and structured risk mitigation.
Elodie Ashdown, Investment Project Lead at VUKA Group, adds: “AGES presents curated deal flow where catalytic investors can unlock both impact and return – from decentralised hydrogen manufacturing to circular industrial solutions and resilient food systems. Now is the moment to mobilise blended capital and turn validated pilots into regional industries.”
Strategic verticals
Alternative energy: Projects include electrolyser BoP manufacturing, battery assembly, decentralised solar mini‑grids and AI‑driven energy management. These investments address decarbonisation, energy stability and domestic manufacturing, accelerating access to reliable, low‑carbon power and reducing diesel dependence.
Waste management & circular economy: Initiatives range from pyrolysis and advanced battery recycling to medical‑waste sterilisation and composite manufacturing. These solutions turn waste into traded products and feedstock, reduce landfill pressure and generate measurable carbon outcomes – attractive to impact‑focused and risk‑adjusted investors.
Sustainable agriculture & blue economy: Proposals include vertical farming, organic‑waste‑to‑bioproduct systems, traceable small‑scale fisheries, seaweed‑to‑fuel pathways and insect‑based feed platforms. Combined with nature‑based investments – catchment restoration, urban composting, market infrastructure, these projects strengthen food security, livelihoods and carbon finance potential.
Investor ecosystem & financing approaches
Expected investor participants are well matched to the pipeline’s needs:
Multilaterals and climate funds: concessional finance and guarantees for large infrastructure and nature‑capital projects.
Commercial banks and asset managers: project finance and structured lending for revenue‑backed ventures.
Impact VCs and growth funds: equity to scale SME platforms and technology businesses.
Specialist investors and sector partners: technical expertise that reduces execution risk and accelerates market access.
Credit enhancement and local‑currency intermediaries: bridge foreign capital with on‑the‑ground lending.
Strategically pairing instruments to project maturity – from pilot funding and blended concessional finance to commercial debt and equity – will be critical to convert validated opportunities into industrial capacity and jobs.
Market context and readiness
Several market trends support investability: declining renewable and storage costs; stronger corporate carbon commitments and regulation; and policy and SEZ approvals enabling on‑shoring of green manufacturing. For higher‑risk technologies (e.g., some power‑to‑liquid pathways), staged financing that blends demonstration and commercial capital will be essential.
“African ecosystems are maturing and investor interest is translating into tangible manufacturing prospects and skilled jobs across the Western Cape and beyond,” says Amanda Ganca, Head of Investment at WESGRO.
Africa’s Green Economy Summit is a practical convening for investors ready to move from commitment to deployment. Founders will deliver concise five‑minute pitches followed by five minutes of Q&A, with curated matchmaking and targeted 1:1 meetings. Institutional and strategic investors are invited to attend pitch sessions, join investor briefings and consider catalytic commitments that accelerate manufacturing, job creation and resilient systems across Africa.
The Africa Green Economy Summit brings together an influential coalition of leaders and partners shaping the continent’s sustainable future — led by the Host Organisation, the African Union, with Sanlam Investments as Title Sponsor, Standard Bank as Gold Sponsor, and Silver Sponsors FSD Africa, Gautrain and UNOPS. Proudly hosted in partnership with the City of Cape Town, and supported by Government Partners including the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Gauteng Department of Economic Development and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the Summit creates a powerful platform for collaboration, investment and action — join them and many more as we accelerate Africa’s green growth journey.
SAPS committed to stabilising, reducing serious and violent crimes
The National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola says the management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) remains steadfast in their commitment to stabilising and reducing serious and violent crime across the country.
“While numbers remain high, it is quite encouraging that we are noting a reduction in the number of murders, rape and sexual offences reported,” Masemola said.
He was speaking at the release of the 3rd Quarterly Crime Statistics in Pretoria earlier today.
Over the past two years, the numbers of murders for the quarter three period (1 October to 31 December) have dropped by 17.6% or 1 359 fewer murders.
He said 1 906 suspects were arrested for murder; 1 725 suspects for attempted murder and 2 382 suspects for rape.
“This is indeed a clear demonstration that we are turning the tide, intentionally and aggressively by heightening police visibility and successfully implementing solution driven crime combatting strategies, with a view of ultimately dismantling organised crime syndicates,” he said.
Masemola said through targeted intelligence driven operations, they have also noted the 14 percent reduction in trio crimes which is carjacking, house and business robberies.
“While we are not out of the woods yet, these small victories and wins must serve as motivation to intensify our fight against crime,” he said.
With regard to the illegal firearms, the SAPS yesterday witnessed the destruction of 13 859 firearms that were confiscated during intelligence driven police operations which brings the total number of firearms destroyed over the past seven years to 305 934.
“As we all know firearms remain a challenge in our communities as most violent crime including murders and robberies are used with the commission of firearms.
“Some of the firearms destroyed were linked to finalised criminal cases such as farm attacks, cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and crimes against women and children. Others were voluntarily surrendered or handed in during firearm amnesty periods. By destroying these firearms, the men and women in blue prevent them from further circulation,” he said.
Masemola said on a weekly basis, the SAPS seizes no less than 100 illegal firearms during tracing operations, stop-and-searches and other targeted crime combating activities.
“Just last week, nationwide operations led to the recovery of 147 illegal firearms. The previous week was 142 illegal firearms and the week before that was another 119 illegal firearms,” he said.
Masemola pointed out that in an effort to ensure compliance of the Firearms Controls Act, the men and women in blue conducted compliance inspections at more than 3700 licensed firearm dealers and private security company premises across the country.
“In one operation in Middleburg in the province of Mpumalanga, police seized 537 licensed firearms after the owner failed to comply accordingly.
“Legal firearm owners are reminded to urgently comply with the Firearms Control Act and ensure safe storage, authorisation and to account for each and every firearms that they own,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Yohannes Gedamu, Senior Lecturer of Political Science, Georgia Gwinnett College
The histories of Eritrea and Ethiopia have long been closely intertwined. Once part of Ethiopia, Eritrea launched an armed struggle for independence in 1961 that resulted in its secession in 1993 following a referendum. But since Eritrea’s independence, relations between the two countries have evolved through many ups and downs, which include a devastating war from 1998 to 2000, followed by two decades of mutual isolationism.
What’s the history of conflict between the two countries?
A border dispute in 1998 ignited a deadly war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which share a border of over 1,000km. The war started when Eritrean troops invaded Badme, a contested town in Tigray, the northernmost region of Ethiopia. It became one of the deadliest conflicts of contemporary Africa as tens of thousands lost their lives.
The war ended in June 2000 with the Algiers Agreement. It established a ceasefire, mandated the deployment of UN peacekeepers, and created a boundary commission to legally demarcate the disputed border. However, the fact that borders are yet to be demarcated means tensions could persist.
At the time, Ethiopia was ruled under a four-party political coalition created and dominated by Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The coalition, known as Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, ruled the country between 1991 and 2018.
Eritrea’s ruling party was historically an ally of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. That changed because the ally was in charge of Ethiopia when it won the war.
The resentment has never gone away.
Tensions have flared from time to time. The border is heavily militarised, with a no man’s land between the two armies serving as a security corridor.
Abiy Ahmed’s peace overtures to Eritrea in 2018 and the resulting peace agreement were lauded by many in the global community and locally. Most recognise that the countries have more in common than what sets them apart.
Eritrean-Ethiopian post-war map.Wikimedia Commons
But the agreement did not lead to increased political and economic cooperation. It created only a short-lived marriage of convenience. Here is why.
After Abiy came to power in April 2018, the Tigrayan grip on Ethiopia ended. In November 2020, the Tigray war started. Eritrea blamed the Tigray People’s Liberation Front for its own economic and political fragility and isolation, and supported Abiy against the Tigrayans.
The Tigray war became a devastating conflict with allegations of war crimes committed by all parties – but most were attributed to the Eritrean troops.
The prospect of a new war in the ever volatile Horn of Africa would threaten a region already ravaged by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
What’s driving the present tensions?
Despite the peace agreement in 2018 between the countries, fault lines persist. The biggest is access to the sea.
Eritrea’s independence in 2000 gave it control of a long coastline across the Red Sea, but left populous Ethiopia a landlocked nation. Addis Ababa now depends on the goodwill of its neighbours like Djibouti for port access.
In recent years, especially since the Tigray war ended in 2022, Abiy has brought up the topic of access to the sea, naming Eritrea and Somaliland as potential avenues. He argues that Ethiopia has a historical claim to Eritrea’s port of Assab, which is a mere 60km from the Ethiopian border.
Indeed, many Ethiopians consider the loss of access to the sea as a national tragedy. Abiy’s plea for a diplomatic solution that would give Ethiopia access to the sea has galvanised support at home.
This has angered Eritrea, which doesn’t accept Ethiopia’s claim to Assab.
The second fault line is Eritrea’s documented support to various Ethiopian rebel organisations and movements in recent periods. This support was evident before the peace deal in 2018. There are also new allegations of Eritrean military support for Tigrayan and other rebellions in Amhara and Oromia, especially since 2022.
The most important fault line, however, has developed in the aftermath of the Tigray War. Eritrea fought on Ethiopia’s side during the war. When the war ended, Eritrea complained that it was not consulted or invited by Ethiopia to be a party to the peace accord.
Ethiopia now claims that Eritrea has switched alliances. After the Tigray war concluded and a provisional administration was installed in Mekelle, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the government of Ethiopia failed to address their differences. And Eritrea extended its hand to its historic foe, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
This has angered Ethiopia and stoked cross-border animosities.
Is war inevitable?
In October 2025, Ethiopia’s foreign minister Gedion Timothewos wrote to the United Nations accusing Eritrea of making new incursions into Ethiopia’s territories and movement of its troops into Tigray.
He claimed that Eritrea’s collusion with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had become “more evident over the past few months”. He also accused Eritrea of “funding, mobilising and directing armed groups” in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where militiamen known as Fano have been battling the federal government.
In February 2026, Ethiopia also wrote to Eritrea demanding the withdrawal of troops from its territory. Eritrea fired back that the allegations were “patently false and fabricated”.
The danger of a return to war is real. And time is running out for diplomatic and political efforts to defuse tensions. In its letter to Eritrea, Ethiopia said it remained open to dialogue. Addis also indicated willingness to engage in broader negotiations, including maritime affairs and potential access to the sea through the port of Assab.
A dialogue could address Ethiopia’s desire for reliable sea access and Eritrea’s fears of an attack on its sovereignty.
Diplomacy now could prevent the onset of conflict. Just three years after the Tigray war – and with the Sudan war soon dragging into its fourth year – the region can ill afford another. Headquartered in Addis Ababa, the African Union especially needs to invite both countries to the negotiating table before time runs out.
– Ethiopia and Eritrea are on edge again: what’s behind the growing risk of war – https://theconversation.com/ethiopia-and-eritrea-are-on-edge-again-whats-behind-the-growing-risk-of-war-276424
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia says he is deeply concerned about the notable increase in the murder of police officials.
“Almost 80% of the 23 police officials who lost their lives were off duty,” he said on Friday at the release of the Third Quarterly Crime Statistics in Pretoria.
Cachalia said this was an issue he would ask the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to look into so that they can prevent these deaths from happening.
“Again, firearms remain the single largest weapon driving murder, robbery and organised crime in our country,” he said.
Cachalia said they would be taking additional measures to address the scourge with a focus on removing illegal firearms and preventing legal firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
Speaking about gender -based violence and femicide (GBVF), which has been declared as a national disaster, Cachalia said it demanded that government intensify its efforts to deal with it.
“Much inter-personal, domestic and gender-based violence takes place between people who live with each other or know each other. We are taking steps to strengthen the policing approach to addressing GBVF and other forms of violence,” he said.
The SAPS allocated an additional 999 police members to the Detective Services over the past year.
“While we work to improve law-enforcement, we also need to give attention to implementing the Integrated Crime and Violence Strategy (ICVPS.)
“This requires that different social departments such as Health, Education and Social Development to align their services across levels of government to mitigate the factors that drive crime and violence so that it can be prevented from happening,” the Minister said.
Regarding other crime categories, Cachalia said most violent crime categories, including murder, rape, robbery and most property related crimes like theft and burglary continued to decrease in the period, but remain at unacceptably high levels.
“After more than a decade of annual increases, murder, our most accurate crime statistic started decreasing on the first quarter of 2023-24,” Cachalia said.
He said the trend has continued throughout this year with this quarter showing a 8.7% decrease, or 602 fewer lives lost.
“This means that over the past two years, the numbers of murders for the quarter three period (1 October to 31 December) had dropped by 17.6% or 1 359 fewer murders,” Cachalia said.
The Minister said total contact crime made up of all categories of violent crime started to decrease in the 3rd quarter of 2024-25.
“During this quarter, total violent crime decreased again by 6.7% or 12 682 fewer cases reported to the SAPS when compared to the same quarter last year. Over the past two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8.3% or 15 763 fewer cases. This trend may well be attributable to enhanced policing operations.
“The crime situation also varies substantially across the country. Remember that these are statistical patterns. This does not necessarily translate into a felt sense of security by individuals, families and communities,” the Minister said.
While the country has seen double digit reductions in murder in five provinces, namely KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and the North West, much smaller decreases were recorded in the Western and Eastern Cape, with slight increases recorded in Limpopo and the Northern Cape.
“And out of the 30 highest murder precincts, decreases were recorded in only 15 of them. The killings relating to gang violence in the Eastern and Western Cape in particular, remain worrisomely high,” he said.
During this quarter, total violent crime decreased again by 6.7% or 12 682 fewer cases reported to the SAPS when compared to the same quarter last year.
Over the past two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8.3% or 15 763 fewer cases. – SAnews.gov.za
Police minister expresses concern on the increase of police murders
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia says he is deeply concerned about the notable increase in the murder of police officials.
“Almost 80% of the 23 police officials who lost their lives were off duty,” he said on Friday at the release of the Third Quarterly Crime Statistics in Pretoria.
Cachalia said this was an issue that he would ask the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to look into so that they can try and prevent these deaths from happening.
“Again, firearms remain the single largest weapon driving murder, robbery and organised crime in our country,” he said.
Cachalia said they would be taking additional measures to address the scourge with a focus on removing illegal firearms and preventing legal firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
Speaking about Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), which has been declared as a national disaster, Cachalia said it demanded that government intensify its efforts to deal with it.
“Much inter-personal, domestic and gender-based violence takes place between people who live with each other or know each other. We are taking steps to strengthen the policing approach to addressing GBVF and other forms of violence,” he said.
The SAPS has allocated an additional 999 police members to the Detective Services over the past year.
“While we work to improve law-enforcement, we also need to give attention to implementing the Integrated Crime and Violence Strategy (ICVPS.)
“This requires that different social departments such as Health, Education and Social Development to align their services across levels of government to mitigate the factors that drive crime and violence so that it can be prevented from happening,” the minister said.
With regard to other crime categories, Cachalia said most violent crime categories, including murder, rape, robbery and most property related crimes like theft and burglary continued to decrease,Lenin the period, but remain at unacceptably high levels.
“After more than a decade of annual increases, murder, our most accurate crime statistic started decreasing on the first quarter of 2023-24,” Cachalia said.
He said the trend has continued throughout this year with this quarter showing a 8.7 decrease or 602 fewer lives lost.
“This means that over the past two years, the numbers of murders for the quarter three period (1 October to 31 December) had dropped by 17.6% or 1 359 fewer murders,” Cachalia said.
The Minister said total contact crime made up of all categories of violent crime started to decrease in the 3rd quarter of 2024-25.
“During this quarter, total violent crime decreased again by 6.7% or 12 682 fewer cases reported to the SAPS when compared to the same quarter last year. Over the past two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8.3% or 15 763 fewer cases. This trend may well be attributable to enhanced policing operations.
“The crime situation also varies substantially across the country. Remember that these are statistical patterns. This does not necessarily translate into a felt sense of security by individuals, families and communities,” the Minister said.
The Minister said while the country has seen double digit reductions in murder in five provinces, namely KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and the North West, much smaller decreases were recorded in the Western and Eastern Cape, with slight increases recorded in Limpopo and the Northern Cape.
“And out of the 30 highest murder precincts, decreases were recorded in only 15 of them. The killings relating to gang violence in the Eastern and Western Cape in particular, remain worrisomely high,” he said.
During this quarter, total violent crime decreased again by 6,7% or 12 682 fewer cases reported to the SAPS when compared to the same quarter last year.
Over the past two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8,3% or 15 763 fewer cases. – SAnews.gov.za
North West reports 138 FMD cases as vaccination rollout begins
The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is intensifying efforts to contain the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) across the province, with 138 confirmed cases recorded as of 19 February 2026.
Providing an update on Friday, North West Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha said the department is working closely with veterinarians, animal health technicians and law enforcement agencies to curb the outbreak.
Of the confirmed cases, 135 were detected in cattle, two in pigs and one in a goat. Sixteen of the province’s 18 municipalities have been affected.
The highest number recorded in JB Marks/Ventersdorp with 26 cases, followed by Potchefstroom/Tlokwe with 24, while 16 cases have been confirmed in Rustenburg.
To strengthen disease control measures, Sambatha announced that the province received 1 400 doses of FMD vaccine on 9 February 2026. The doses were administered to a dairy herd in the Bojanala District and recorded on the Livestock Identification Traceability System (LITS).
Sambatha said a further batch of vaccines is expected later this month and will be distributed based on a risk assessment. Farmers will be notified by animal health technicians when to bring their animals for vaccination.
The MEC emphasised that uncontrolled animal movement of animals remains the single biggest threat to containment efforts. He said a Movement Protocol was issued on 12 February 2026, and all stakeholders have been urged to comply and to share the information widely within farming communities.
“The outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the province is a matter of great concern, not only for our farmers but for the entire agricultural economy. Vaccination, strict movement control and community vigilance are our strongest weapons against this disease.
“I urge every farmer and stakeholder to cooperate fully with the protocols in place, report any suspected cases immediately, and support our collective effort to protect livelihoods. Together, we will overcome this challenge and safeguard the future of livestock farming in the North West,” Sambatha said.
The department reiterated its call for farmers and communities to immediately report any suspected cases of FMD to their local state or private veterinarians, animal health technicians, or extension officers without delay.
“Prompt reporting will enable swift investigation and control measures, helping to curb the spread and prevent further losses in the livestock industry,” Sambatha said.
The provincial department said it will continue to monitor the situation and implement measures aimed at safeguarding the province’s livestock sector.
One million FMD vaccine to arrive in South Africa
This week, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced that the first consignment of one million high-potency Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine doses from Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina will be arriving in South Africa on Saturday, bringing much-needed relief to the most affected provinces and regions.
Steenhuisen said the shipment marks the first phase of a broader agreement, with a further five million doses scheduled for delivery in March this year.
The Minister said the vaccines form part of the Department of Agriculture’s new strategy to combat FMD, which includes the proactive vaccination of South Africa’s national herd of more than 14 million cattle. The goal is to transition the country to “FMD-Free Status with Vaccination.”
In addition to the supply from Argentina, Steenhuisen said the Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) remains a key partner, noting that since the recent FMD outbreak, BVI has delivered two million doses and is expected to continue supplying FMD vaccines every month.
Steenhuisen further announced that vaccines will also be supplied by Dollvet in Turkey through its local agent, Dunevax. – SAnews.gov.za
SANRAL urged to fix dangerous N1 Makhado curve for safety
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa have directed the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) to find a road engineering solution to the persistent rise in the number of road crashes on the road curve just after Makhado, involving buses and trucks.
This directive follows yet another tragic loss of five lives in a bus crash on the same N1 road curve northbound, between Makhado and Musina on Thursday. The bus crash involved over 30 passengers.
Creecy and Hlengwa have also directed the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to provide an update report on the directive issued last October to intensify roadworthy inspections of buses crossing the Beit Bridge border.
“Both the RTMC and SANRAL are expected to provide reports as a matter of priority. Creecy and Hlengwa have extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones, and [have wished for] a speedy recovery for those who were admitted in hospitals,” the Department of Transport said. – SAnews.gov.za
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced an adjustment to the toll tariffs effective from 01 March 2026.
“The annual toll tariffs will increase by 3.12%, as published in the Government Gazette of 5 February 2026. This rate is less than last year’s 4.85% adjustment,” the road agency said.
The tariffs are adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as obtained from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA).
SANRAL’s General Manager for Communications and Marketing, Vusi Mona, explained that toll revenue is necessary to maintain, operate, and improve toll roads, as well as to service debt incurred to implement a toll road project.
“The funds go a long way towards ensuring that SANRAL fulfils its mandate of delivering quality road infrastructure that adds value to the lives of South African citizens,” Mona said.
He said that key economic infrastructure, such as the national road network, is a precondition for providing basic services such as electricity, water, sanitation, telecommunications, and public transport, and this road network therefore needs to meet industrial, commercial, and household needs.
“SANRAL is empathetic to the South African public, considering the current state of the economy. However, it is equally important to introduce the adjustments to ensure that the agency continues to deliver safe and quality roads to the benefit of all road users,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za
