Category: Africa

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called on Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States to urgently accelerate regional cooperation on food security, fertiliser regulation, and animal disease control amid mounting economic and climate pressures across the region.

Addressing the SADC Joint Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on Friday, 29 May 2026, Steenhuisen warned that fragmented agricultural systems and delayed reforms were increasing the vulnerability of Southern African countries to global shocks.

The Minister noted that the meeting took place during a period of considerable geopolitical and economic volatility.

“Across the world, we are seeing disruptions to supply chains, rising input costs — particularly fertiliser prices — inflationary pressures, and growing competition over strategic resources. These global shocks are increasingly intersecting with climate-related disasters, including droughts, floods and disease outbreaks in ways that directly affect African agriculture and food systems,” Steenhuisen said.

Although regional assessments indicate some improvement in cereal production following last season’s severe drought, Steenhuisen said an estimated 58 million people across Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States still face acute food insecurity due to issues around access and affordability.

“This reality demands urgency from all of us,” he said.

The three-day meeting, which started on 27 May 2026, is aimed at discussing regional issues to advance food and nutrition security, and the blue economy in the SADC region.

Steenhuisen was chairing the meeting, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee of SADC Ministers of Agriculture and Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Steenhuisen emphasised that Harmonisation of the Fertiliser Regulatory Framework across SADC can no longer be delayed.

“We cannot continue entering each planting season fragmented by unharmonised standards, duplicative registration systems and regulatory bottlenecks that unnecessarily increase costs for farmers and slow regional trade,” he said.

Steenhuisen urged Member States to fast-track the proposed Memorandum of Understanding on the Harmonisation of Fertiliser Regulatory Frameworks.

“The proposed Memorandum of Understanding on the Harmonisation of Fertiliser Regulatory Frameworks is urgently needed and, in South Africa’s view, should be fast-tracked well before 2027. This is not simply a technical regulatory exercise, it is a food security imperative, a productivity imperative and increasingly a strategic resilience imperative for the entire region,” Steenhuisen said.

FMD posed major threat to livestock production

The Minister also warned that Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks across Southern Africa posed a major threat to livestock production, rural livelihoods, trade and regional food systems.

According to Steenhuisen, 11 SADC member states have reported outbreaks.

“The scale of the current FMD outbreaks across Southern Africa should concern every one of us. For many families across our region, livestock are not simply commercial assets. They are stores of wealth, sources of nutrition, draft power, school fees and household survival.

“When animal disease spreads unchecked, the impact reaches far beyond the farm gate. It affects food affordability, market access, export earnings and economic stability across the entire region,” the Minister said.

Steenhuisen said South Africa supported the development of a regional coordination framework for FMD control, including stronger surveillance systems, harmonised movement controls, improved information sharing and coordinated vaccination efforts.

He also supported proposals for the establishment of a SADC regional FMD vaccine bank, saying preparedness would be less costly than prolonged outbreaks and delayed responses.

“Animal diseases do not respect borders. A weakness in one part of the region quickly becomes a vulnerability for all of us,” he said.

The Minister further called for a stronger “One Health” approach that integrates animal health, human health, ecosystems and food systems into regional disease management strategies.

Steenhuisen said the broader transformation of African agriculture under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Kampala Declaration must move beyond “reporting exercises” and focus on practical delivery.

“For SADC, this means moving beyond fragmented implementation towards practical regional delivery,” he said, citing the need for expanded agricultural trade, climate resilience, modernised sanitary and phytosanitary systems, irrigation investment and greater opportunities for women and young people.”

Steenhuisen reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to working with SADC member states, regional institutions and international partners to strengthen agricultural resilience and food security across Southern Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

In a major stride towards correcting historical injustices, government has officially handed over title deeds to the Gaesegwe, Barolong ba ga Rapulana, Barolong ba ga Phoi and Barolong ba ga Seitshiro communities at the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in the North West province.

The day – billed as a “day of celebration” by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who presided over the ceremony – marks a milestone in government’s efforts to accelerate land reform.

“We are celebrating because the dignity of communities is restored. For many of you, this day has been a long time coming. Today is the culmination of a struggle for land that has become a reality.

“When Chief Gaesegwe Henry Phoi submitted his community’s land claim on 9 July 1996, he was acting on a constitutional promise this country had just made to itself,” the President said on Friday.

South Africa’s Constitution guarantees that any person or community dispossessed of land after 19 June 1913 is entitled to restitution or equitable redress.

The apartheid government’s 1913 Natives Land Act stripped millions of black South Africans of their land, assets, livelihoods and communities, with the effects of that brutal law still visible across the country today.

“Our Constitution, which was adopted 30 years ago, says that any person or community dispossessed of land after 19 June 1913 is entitled to restitution of that property or equitable redress.

“So, when I hand over these title deeds today, I am fulfilling a Constitutional responsibility,” President Ramaphosa said.

More than 368 title deeds were handed over to families, transitioning their occupational rights into secure, formal ownership.

Furthermore, some 20 local farmers who previously leased state land received full freehold titles, effectively elevating them from tenants to commercial landowners.

Additionally, the President handed over title deeds to three Communal Property Associations who represent communities who were brutally removed from their land by force and have “spent decades working through the legal and administrative processes to get it back”.

“A title deed in a drawer does not on its own transform a family or a community’s fortunes. A farm with no equipment, no water, no capital and no support will not meet people’s needs. It does not close the inequality gap and it does not build the rural economy we need. The title deed is the foundation on which we must build.

“That is why we are handing over productive assets and confirming that post-settlement support is in place. We are committed to making these farms work.

“We are committed to ensuring that the townships being established at Setlagole and Madibogo have the sites they need for businesses, community facilities and government services,” the President said.

The President assured those that are still waiting for their Constitutional promise to be fulfilled that “we have not forgotten you”.

“In 1913, the Natives Land Act took from our people what they had built over generations. In 1996, the democratic Constitution gave a clear instruction to return the land to individuals and communities.

“Today, we are using the laws and institutions of our democracy to restore what was taken.

“We are not only correcting a historical injustice. We are building a fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous future for these communities. And in doing so, we are building a better country for all,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Despite compliance challenges among applicants to the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund, government has approved R179.6 million in funding to support shop owners across all nine provinces. 

The fund, aimed at increasing the participation of South African-owned spaza shops in the townships and rural areas retail trade sector, was launched last year by the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). 

The Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) has approved 1,316 applications valued at R79.6 million, while the National Empowerment Fund has approved 1,053 enterprises valued at R99.9 million. 

The programme is being implemented through the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF).

“Since implementation, the Fund has continued to gain traction, reflecting the scale of demand for the fund. To date, 4,522 complete applications have been received nationally, of which 4,240 have been assessed,” Department of Small Business Development Director-General Thulisile Manzini said on Friday at a media briefing in Pretoria.

Manzini added that the assessment process continues to highlight a key structural constraint within the sector, with only 58% of applicants linked to valid business licences or temporary permits issued by municipalities. 

“As a result, a significant number of applications remain unable to progress until licensing and compliance requirements have been addressed.

“As part of ensuring the integrity of the programme, site visits and verification processes have identified 354 applications that could not proceed due to non-compliance, including non-existent businesses, ownership discrepancies, and inconsistencies between applicants and operators,” she said.

A total of 2 369 businesses have been approved for support through the Fund. 

“For applications that have completed the verification and compliance process and meet all programme requirements, approval rates remain at 100%, demonstrating government’s commitment to supporting qualifying South African-owned spaza shops,” she said.

The approved support includes stock purchases, point-of-sale devices, infrastructure upgrades, inventory support, business improvements, and non-financial business development support designed to improve sustainability and competitiveness within the township and rural retail sector.

“The Fund has also contributed meaningfully towards government’s transformation objectives, with 43% of approved enterprises being women-owned businesses, 18% youth-owned businesses, and 2% businesses owned by persons with disabilities. 

“This demonstrates the Fund’s contribution towards broadening economic participation and supporting greater inclusion within township and rural economies,” Manzini said.

Beyond financial support, the Fund is designed to drive long-term sustainability. 

SEDFA and the NEF continue to provide targeted business development support, including training and compliance assistance. 

This covers areas such as business and financial management, point-of-sale systems training, digital literacy, credit management, regulatory compliance, and business formalisation support.

In addition, the implementing agencies will once again embark on a nationwide outreach and awareness programme from June 2026 to encourage more qualifying spaza shop owners to apply and to assist enterprises requiring compliance support.

“The Spaza Shop Support Fund forms part of government’s broader commitment to strengthening township economies, supporting informal businesses, creating employment opportunities, and expanding economic participation within local communities. 

“Through targeted support for women, young entrepreneurs and other designated groups, the Fund contributes to building a more inclusive and representative economy while advancing the objectives of economic transformation and localisation,” she said.

Manzini stressed that the Fund supports South African-owned spaza shops, with strict verification measures in place to prevent fronting and abuse. 

“Only applicants who meet ownership, compliance and operational requirements, and who possess valid trading permits or licences, are approved. The due diligence processes applied to the programme are specifically designed to identify and mitigate risks such as fronting,” she added. –SAnews.gov.za

Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman says the provincial government will work closely with municipalities and national government to mobilise funding for the massive recovery and rebuilding effort following severe weather that devastated parts of the province earlier this month. 

Baartman was speaking after the conclusion of a four-day assessment of some of the Western Cape’s hardest-hit areas, where provincial MECs joined Premier Alan Winde to inspect damage to infrastructure and communities.

“The extent of the damage to infrastructure and communities is significant, and the recovery process will require a coordinated response across all spheres of government. It will require every stakeholder to come to the table,” Baartman said.

The assessment visits formed part of the provincial government’s ongoing response to widespread flooding, storm damage and infrastructure disruption, which affected several districts across the province.

More resilient infrastructure planning needed

Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC, Anton Bredell, said the recent storms underscored the growing impact of climate change and the need for more resilient infrastructure planning.

“While severe winter weather has always formed part of our regional climate, the growing intensity and frequency of these events are increasingly consistent with the global scientific consensus on climate change and the heightened risks associated with a warming planet. Witnessing the destruction across our province from these last storm events, the need for climate resilient planning and construction was made very clear,” Bredell said.

He added that municipalities needed adequate capacity and governance systems to respond effectively to climate-related disasters.

“It is also very clear that only well-run and well capacitated municipalities can rise to the occasion to address these challenges.”

Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger commended healthcare workers, non-governmental organisations, and local communities for ensuring critical services continued during the severe weather conditions.

“In times of crisis, the humanity of our communities shines through and puts on display the very best of the Western Cape. Healthcare workers, NGOs, community organisations, and residents all came together to help keep services running and support one another during the severe weather conditions.

“Healthcare is a team effort, and we truly could not have done it without the support, compassion and resilience shown by so many people across our province,” Wenger said.

Education MEC David Maynier commended school principals, including teachers, staff, and parents, for their excellent response to the severe storms.

“With teaching and learning back up and running, the focus will shift to ensuring that learners can catch up the work missed during school closures,” Maynier said. – SAnews.gov.za