Category: Africa

The City of Cape Town has advised members of the public and motorists of planned road closures ahead of the annual State of the Nation Address (SONA).

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver SONA on Thursday, 12 February 2026 at 7pm, before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament.

“Traffic flow in and around the Central Business District (CBD) will be affected by road closures before, during and after the event. Some of these closures are already in place and will be until 28 February 2026. Available parking space in some areas will also be affected.

“Although signage will be installed in the affected areas, motorists are requested to familiarise themselves with the list of road closures and plan their routes accordingly,” the city said in a statement.

A list of road closures can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/4qiZGve  

Motorists are requested to:

• Limit non-essential travel in the CBD area over the period in question.
• Factor in additional travelling time if they must move in/out or around the CBD and surrounds, as traffic volumes will likely be elevated.
• Plan routes accordingly.
• Keep intersections free between light changes as blocking interchanges causes further delays.
• Be patient and courteous.

– SAnews.gov.za

South Africa’s anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have yielded a 16% overall decline in rhino poaching last year when compared to 2024. 

This is according to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, who attributes the decline to dedication and tactical, swift coordination. 

“From January to December 2025, 352 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 266 being killed on State property and 86 on privately owned parks, reserves or farms. This was a decrease of 68 in comparison to 420 rhinos poached in 2024,” the Minister said on Tuesday in a statement. 

Mpumalanga was the hardest hit province, with 178 rhinos lost during the reporting period. This was a notable increase from the 92 that were lost in 2024. 

Most of the rhinos lost in Mpumalanga were in the Kruger National Park, which reported a total of 175 poached rhino last year. 

This is an increase of 87 animals, which is more than the 88 reported in the Kruger National Park in 2024. 

Rhino poaching numbers in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) dropped from 198 in 2024 to 63 in 2025.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife attributed a significant reduction in poaching due to closer collaboration with rhino owners through the Integrated Wildlife Zones (IWZ) Programme, as well as sustained support from key conservation partners, including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Save the Rhino International, Wildlife ACT, and Peace Parks Foundation (PPF). 

“While Ezemvelo recognises that the strategic dehorning programme implemented in 2024 served as a critical catalyst in stabilising rhino poaching pressures and enabled urgent, targeted interventions, analysis of the 2025 outcomes confirms that multiple complementary interventions were central to the reduction in poaching incidents,” Aucamp said.

Key among these were enhanced detection and early-warning capability, achieved through the deployment and integration of advanced camera technologies and sensors.

The decline in rhino poaching has also been attributed to the implementation of the Integrity Implementation Plan, which included the successful polygraphing of all park law-enforcement personnel, reinforcing organisational integrity and public confidence.

“As we closely monitor implementation of the National Integrated Strategy to Combat Wildlife Trafficking (NISCWT), we continue to see some very good convictions in relation to rhino-related cases, with lengthy direct imprisonment terms, in respect of cases related to rhino crimes,” the Minister said.

The key efforts of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Environmental Working Group, which includes key prosecutors from around the country, are leading to more cases being handled together. 

This means that those accused are being prosecuted for multiple cases at once, giving the court a complete picture of the criminal activities carried out by the groups involved, and allowing for a focus on organised crime and money laundering aspects of these cases. 

“South Africa continues to strengthen its international collaboration to curbing rhino poaching and wildlife trafficking. These efforts led to the country receiving the Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence Award late last year, which celebrates excellence in enforcement by government officials, institutions and teams combatting transboundary environmental crimes. 

“Working together with the South African anti-poaching and anti-trafficking organisations, we remain committed to a balanced, intelligence-driven, and partnership-based approach to rhino protection, recognising that sustained success requires constant adaptation, integrity, and cooperation across all sectors,” Aucamp said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the “escalating activities of illegal mining” in Bekkersdal.

“The [committee] expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the escalating activities of illegal mining in the Bekkersdal community, which have plunged the area into lawlessness, violence and fear.

“The committee is gravely disturbed by the unacceptable and violent nature of crimes linked to illegal mining. In December last year, a mass shooting at an illegal tavern in Bekkersdal left 21 people shot, with nine lives tragically lost,” the committee said in a statement.

The committee added that it was briefed about another shooting incident “in which an alleged zama zama was shot and wounded during night-time gunfire in the area”.

“Illegal mining has also fuelled a surge in kidnappings in Bekkersdal. Following illegal mineral transactions, victims are reportedly followed to their homes, where family members are abducted and ransoms demanded.

“In cases where ransoms are not paid, victims are brutally murdered, further entrenching fear and contributing to the alarming escalation of violent crime in the community,” the statement read.

The committee embarked on an oversight visit to the Bekkersdal Police Station on Friday in a bid to assess the challenges it faces.

“The committee identified serious shortcomings that undermine effective policing, including critical resource shortages and poor, inadequate infrastructure.

“Of particular concern is that a facility initially intended to function as a satellite police station is currently being used as a fully-fledged station.

“The facility is small, overcrowded and wholly unsuitable for the scale and severity of criminality in the area, negatively impacting both the morale of police officers and their ability to fight crime effectively,” the statement continued.

The committee will engage relevant authorities to address the challenges with particular focus on “infrastructure upgrades, resource allocation and strengthened operational capacity”.

“The committee remains committed to contributing to decisive action that will restore safety, uphold the rule of law and ensure a significant reduction in crime in Bekkersdal.

“The people of Bekkersdal deserve to live without fear. The committee will continue to exercise robust oversight to ensure that law enforcement agencies are adequately equipped and supported to decisively dismantle illegal mining networks and protect the community,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

More than 100 minibuses were discontinued for failing to meet the basic roadworthiness requirements during stop and search operations carried out by the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).

“We will not allow profit to be placed above people’s lives. Any vehicle that threatens the safety of our commuters or road users has no place on Gauteng roads. Our message is clear: comply or face the full might of the law,” Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said on Monday.

The intensified law enforcement operations were conducted between 01 and 07 February 2026 across key public and scholar transport corridors in Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. 

“Inspections revealed major mechanical defects that posed a direct threat to passenger safety and other road users. These included faulty braking systems, worn tyres, non-functioning headlights, brake lights and indicators, as well as cracked windscreens,” the provincial Department of Roads and Transport said.

In addition to the discontinuations, the officers focused on non-compliant operators. 

This resulted in more than 500 manual infringement notices issued, while a further 667 electronic infringement notices were processed using GTI’s advanced e-Force enforcement devices. 

They further issued 151 discontinue notices to motorists found operating in violation of traffic regulations.

Non-compliance offences identified during the operations included 108 minibus taxi operators driving without valid driving licences and 52 minibuses operating without valid licence discs.

Beyond traffic-related offences, the operations also addressed broader criminal activity, resulting in 11 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). –SAnews.gov.za

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) is closely monitoring a moderate tropical storm named Gezani, currently located over the south-west Indian Ocean to the east of Madagascar.

At present, there is no indication of any direct threat to South Africa.

“Gezani is currently moving westward under favourable environmental conditions, and forecast guidance indicates that landfall over eastern Madagascar is likely on Tuesday. 

“As the system approaches Madagascar, environmental conditions may support further intensification, and Gezani could strengthen into a tropical cyclone, or possibly an intense tropical cyclone, before landfall,” SAWS said.

Following landfall, the system is expected to weaken while tracking south-westward across Madagascar.

“Gezani is then forecast to enter the Mozambique Channel late on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, where environmental conditions may once again become favourable for re-intensification.

“Some forecast scenarios suggest a possible approach toward the Mozambique coast later in the week; however, uncertainty remains regarding the exact track and intensity during this phase,” the weather service said.

The SAWS advises vessels operating in or transiting through the south-west Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, as well as offshore marine operations to exercise caution, as rough seas, strong winds, and hazardous marine conditions are expected in the vicinity of the storm.

The name Gezani, contributed by South Africa, marks the seventh named system of the 2025/26 south-west Indian Ocean cyclone season. 

The SAWS will continue to monitor the system closely and will issue updates as new information becomes available. 

The public and relevant authorities are urged to follow official weather warnings and advisories from reliable sources. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has condemned the sharing of images and videos of individuals without their consent, underscoring the importance of protecting personal dignity and constitutional rights.

The call was made during the Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Youth Dialogue held on Monday at the Desmond Tutu Hall in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, in the Western Cape.

Hosted by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Western Cape under the theme: “Amplifying hidden voices: Media access for every young person”, the dialogue brought together young people, government departments, public entities, Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), higher education institutions and civil society.

The engagement focused on youth development, skills pathways, and opportunities in media, communications and digital technologies.

In his address, Acting Deputy Director-General for Content Processing and Dissemination at GCIS, Sandile Nene, urged people to discourage the taking and sharing of images without consent, including within families, and warned against non-consensual intimate image sharing.

“The day you take an image of somebody, whether it is your own sister or your child, and post it on social media without their consent, that is a criminal offence. Yes, it is your child, but the Constitution is very clear – you must act in the best interests of the child,” Nene said.

Nene also warned that individuals can be charged for storing and distributing images without consent.

“The fact that you have my image on your phone without my knowledge means you can be charged for storage, and if you send it to somebody else, you are charged for distribution,” he said.

Nene highlighted the Brand South Africa Ambassador Programme, encouraging young people to play an active role in promoting a positive image of the country. He further emphasised the need for an inclusive and responsive government that recognises the needs of persons with disabilities, and ensures that all government programmes and information are accessible to everyone.

Spotlight on Constitutional gains

GCIS Deputy Director-General: Intergovernmental Coordination and Stakeholder Management, Michael Currin, reflected on the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s Constitution, highlighting its origins and the values it represents.

Currin also paid tribute to those who suffered for justice and reaffirmed the principle that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it.”

Engaging directly with the youth, Currin explained the importance of understanding the Constitution and acknowledged the real challenges facing young people today, including a slow-growing economy, rising taxi fares, and increasing despondency.

He spoke about the legacy of exclusion, noting that past systems were deliberately designed to deny black children opportunity and potential.

“Despite these challenges, opportunities do exist.”

Currin outlined the role of GCIS in providing access to information and connecting communities with opportunities through, for example, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA).

He also cited the Community Public Works (CPW) Programme, established in 2003, which helps connect young people to work opportunities and skills development initiatives.

Currin urged young people to take information back to their communities, reminding them that GCIS exists to connect citizens with opportunities and institutions.

“You are the generation that can change our country for the better. Trust that government has placed young people at the centre of development, have faith – there are many opportunities available – and stay inspired, stay connected, and let us build the future together,” he said.

He concluded by encouraging South Africans to remain actively engaged in shaping the country’s future and also watch the State of the Nation Address, which will be delivered on Thursday, 12 February 2026, at 7pm. – SAnews.gov.za

Safety and infrastructure challenges affecting schools, police stations and victim support facilities were pointed out as areas of concern during a Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Directors-General-led oversight visit in Athlone, Heideveld and Mitchells Plain on Monday.

The visit in the Western Cape conducted as part of the Directors-General Programme, included inspections of Belgravia Secondary School, Athlone Police Station, Athlone Magistrates’ Court, Thuthuzela Care Centres in Heideveld and Mitchells Plain, and a walkabout in the Marikana informal settlement.

At Belgravia Secondary School, officials were briefed on crime-related challenges linked to inadequate perimeter fencing and the school’s proximity to a nearby informal settlement. The lack of a secure fence has rendered the school’s sports ground unusable, with learners reportedly accessing drugs through breaches in the perimeter fence.

“We went to visit the Belgravia school. Then they identified the challenges there – the crimes, the holes in the fences. They actually don’t have their own fence and they’re situated next to [an] informal settlement,” Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Els from the National Operations Command Centre (NOCC) in Pretoria told SAnews. 

She said the absence of proper infrastructure was having a direct impact on learner safety and school activities.

“At this stage, they cannot utilise the sports ground, because the kids go through the fence [to access] drugs,” Els said, adding that intervention from relevant departments was required.

An oversight visit to Athlone Police Station highlighted space constraints at the Community Service Centre, including the lack of private areas for victims to report cases and the need to upgrade the victim-friendly room.

Officials also visited the Athlone Magistrates’ Court to assess court operations, followed by inspections of Thuthuzela Care Centres in Heideveld and Mitchells Plain. The delegation is expected to focus further attention on Mitchells Plain during follow-up engagements.

The programme concluded with a walkabout at the Marikana informal settlement and a media workshop on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) sensitivity reporting, ahead of a radio panel discussion involving members of the JCPS Cluster.

The Director-General-led oversight forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to identify service delivery gaps and strengthen coordinated responses across departments at community level ahead of the State of the Nation Address on Thursday. – SAnews.gov.za