Category: Africa

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has recalled specific batches of Citro-Soda Regular, following the discovery of potential contamination risks at the Adcock Ingram manufacturing facility in Clayville, Johannesburg. 

The recall affects Citro-Soda Regular 60g, 120g, and 4g sachets, with batch numbers starting with the letter “C,” all produced at the Clayville site. Products manufactured at other facilities, including those produced in India, are not affected.

SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, confirmed the recall during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, saying the move demonstrates the regulator’s commitment to public safety.

The CEO assured the public that the decision to recall the product followed a thorough inspection of the facility and a detailed assessment of its manufacturing practices. 

“As a regulator, our mandate is to ensure that every health product you consume is of good quality, safe and effective…when we become aware of any details that indicates that there is any compromise of the quality, safety or efficacy of health products, we will act and we will do so decisively,” she said.

The recall follows an inspection prompted by a whistleblower report, which uncovered serious non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards at the Clayville facility.

SAHPRA has urged consumers to alert them of any quality defects that they come across. 

“We would like to urge the public that as part of the country, as citizens of the country, and as those who consume these products, please do alert us of any quality defects that you encounter, with any health product available in the country,” Semete-Makokotlela said. 

SAHPRA Inspectorate and Regulatory Compliance Head, Lebohang Mazibuko, said critical deficiencies were identified, including contamination risks from metallic and black residues on equipment. 

“We found [the] presence of metal fragments from the manufacturer equipment and some unknown black particles from those manufacturing equipment. Those metal fragments were from the manufacturing vessels that are used to manufacture this product. Hence, we say you cannot consume a metal and be well after that,” Mazibuko said.

Other issues included inadequate cleaning procedures, damaged and rusted equipment, and the absence of proper air handling systems to control contamination.

SAHPRA emphasised that the recall is limited to affected batches of Citro-Soda Regular produced at the Clayville facility and does not extend to other products manufactured by Adcock Ingram.

Regulatory Compliance Manager, Mokgadi Daphney Fafudi, said the recall is being implemented across all distribution channels, including pharmacies, hospitals, clinics and retail outlets.

“The public needs to note that this is not a withdrawal of a product, but it’s a recall of batches that do not comply, and these can be returned to the nearest facilities, whether it’s a health facility or a retail facility. Otherwise, they can contact Adcock Ingram, the contact details are available on our website,” she said. 

The regulator further urged consumers to take note of the batch numbers when purchasing the product. 

“We have only recalled the batch numbers that start with C of the regular Citro-Soda, all regular Citro-Soda with batch that starts with C, which are also listed on the recall notice are the ones that are affected,” Fafudi emphasised.

The SAHPRA will closely monitor both the recall process and compliance at the facility until all affected batches have been removed. 

“We will monitor this recall up until all the batches have been recalled and they have been destroyed. And we will also monitor compliance of the site up until they have satisfactorily addressed the corrective actions and the preventative actions that are required that were also prescribed,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

Learners at Louwville High School in Vredenburg on the West Coast of the Western Cape are stepping into a more connected future, following the handover of a Mobile Digital Library by Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli. 

The handover forms part of ongoing efforts to expand access to digital learning resources, enhance teaching and learning outcomes, and promote digital inclusion, particularly in schools with limited connectivity and infrastructure. 

“As a government, we remain committed to building a capable, inclusive, and digitally enabled society. Initiatives such as this one are aligned with our broader vision of ensuring that no young person is left behind in the digital age. Through this Mobile Digital Library, we take a meaningful step toward ensuring that the right to education and access to information are realised in practice.

“Because when we invest in young people, we invest in the future of our economy, our democracy, and our nation,” Mhlauli said on Tuesday.

The Mobile Digital Library provides learners and educators with access to curriculum-aligned content through offline digital platforms, enabling interactive and technology-enabled education.

“This year also marks 30 years of our democratic Constitution, a living document that enshrines the rights to education, access to information, and human dignity. Today, we give practical expression to those rights.

“Because access to education, access to information, and access to opportunity are not abstract ideals. They are fundamental human rights. And in today’s world, those rights are deeply connected to digital access,” she said.

She expressed concern that South Africa continues to grapple with deep inequalities, especially within the education system. 

“Too many of our young people, particularly in underserved communities, remain excluded from the digital world that increasingly defines success in the 21st century. This Mobile Digital Library is a direct intervention in that reality.

“It says to every learner here that you matter. Your potential matters. And your access to the tools of the future matters. Because in today’s world, digital access is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. It is the foundation upon which education, innovation, and economic participation are built,” the Deputy Minister added.

She encouraged the learners at the school to explore subjects beyond textbooks, learn new skills and discover new careers. 

“Teach yourselves to code, to research, to think critically, and to innovate. Because the future economy will reward those who create, who solve problems, and who lead.

“To the teachers and the broader community. Support learners in navigating this digital space responsibly and productively.

“To parents and community members, protect it, support it, and take pride in it. This is a shared asset, and its success belongs to all of you,” Mhlauli said.

She stressed the importance of the government, communities and the private sector working together with a shared purpose.

“I would like to commend our partners Kumba Iron Ore, Transnet, and RuraTech for their commitment to investing in young people and in the future of this country.

“This is what meaningful partnership looks like. It is not only about corporate social responsibility. It is about co-creating solutions that have a lasting impact. When we align resources, expertise, and intent, we move faster and we move further,” Mhlauli said. –SAnews.gov.za

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has welcomed today’s outcome in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, which has affirmed the department’s lawful authority to regulate and manage South Africa’s response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

The application brought by Sakeliga and others sought urgent interim relief that would have effectively allowed for unregulated private procurement and administration of FMD vaccines, outside of the established national framework.

Steenhuisen noted that the court did not grant the urgent relief sought by the applicant, instead, the matter has been postponed to allow the department to finalise its vaccination scheme.

The department has been given a defined and reasonable timeframe within which to publish a vaccination scheme in terms of existing legislation.

The Minister said the outcome reinforces the principle that South Africa’s biosecurity response must be coordinated, science-based, and aligned with national and international standards.

“This matter was never simply about access to vaccines. It was about ensuring that South Africa’s response to FMD remains credible, coordinated, and compliant with the legal framework that protects both our national herd and our export markets,” the Minister said in a statement on Tuesday.

He added that the attempt to secure an urgent court intervention to bypass established regulatory processes, was both premature and misdirected.

“The court has recognised that there are no grounds for urgent intervention that would disrupt the State’s ongoing disease control strategy. This is an important affirmation of the role of government in managing animal health risks in a structured and responsible manner.”

The Minister confirmed that the department has already been working on the development of a formal vaccination scheme, and that the court’s directive provides clarity on the process and timeframe for its publication.

He said the scheme has already gone through extensive consultation with the Ministerial Task Team and industry stakeholders.

“This process is already well underway. The scheme will provide a structured mechanism for broader participation, while maintaining the necessary safeguards around traceability, vaccine integrity, and disease control,” Steenhuisen said.

The Minister further emphasised that South Africa’s FMD strategy is progressing, with vaccine procurement, distribution, and administration continuing under strict regulatory oversight, and with additional consignments of vaccines already secured.

“Our priority remains clear: to stabilise outbreaks, protect the national herd, and restore South Africa’s animal health status in line with international standards. That requires discipline, coordination, and adherence to the law, not fragmentation,” he said.

The Minister reiterated the department’s commitment to working with industry stakeholders within the framework of the law, and that “lawful mechanisms for participation already exist.”

“We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders. But we will not compromise on the principles that underpin an effective biosecurity system,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina has reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving services in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, following the handover of 22 refurbished wastewater infrastructure projects.

The handover, which coincided with International World Water Day on 22 March 2026, included the upgraded Thabong Wastewater Treatment Works and 22 pump stations across Welkom and Odendaalsrus. The initiative forms part of a broader intervention to address long-standing sanitation challenges in the municipality.

Majodina was joined by Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, alongside Deputy Minister in the Presidency responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Mohai. Also in attendance were Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Human Settlements Saki Mokoena, Lejweleputswa District Executive Mayor Veronica Ntakumbana, and Matjhabeng Executive Mayor Thanduxolo Khalipha.

The refurbishment programme follows a ministerial intervention aimed at reversing the collapse of wastewater systems that led to widespread sewer spillages, environmental degradation and contamination of water resources.

For years, Matjhabeng has faced severe sanitation challenges due to prolonged poor maintenance and infrastructure vandalism.

At the height of the crisis, nine of the municipality’s 11 wastewater treatment works, 42 pump stations and more than 400 kilometres of bulk sewer networks were either dysfunctional or blocked. This resulted in persistent sewage overflows affecting major towns including Welkom, Virginia, Allanridge, Ventersburg, Odendaalsrus and Hennenman.

In response, the Department of Water and Sanitation issued a directive in 2022 and committed R4.2 billion over five years through the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant to rehabilitate the system. Its implementing agent, Vaal Central Water, was tasked with executing the refurbishment and upgrade programme.

To date, R1.2 billion has been spent on the project, with overall progress reaching 46%. The intervention is being implemented concurrently with the municipal rehabilitation project of the internal sewer reticulation systems.

Speaking at the handover, Majodina said the project demonstrates a major step in restoring dignity to the people of Matjhabeng, particularly women and girls.

“Today’s handover is not a demonstration of pieces of engineering, but a reaffirmation of and restoration of dignity, responsibility over environment and protection of our water resources,” Majodina said.

She noted the significance of the event taking place during Human Rights Month and National Water Month, emphasising that access to water and sanitation remains a fundamental right.

Majodina also called on communities to safeguard the infrastructure, stressing that its long-term success depends on public cooperation.

“These assets belong to the people. This is a collective responsibility and social compact between us as government and all spheres of our society to ensure that public services indeed serve us,” she said.

Echoing this sentiment, Mohai warned against vandalism and infrastructure sabotage, announcing plans to strengthen protection measures through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.

“We have already asked the National Planning Commission to take this important task of ensuring that the work of government is protected and our communities become centres where services are delivered. We cannot, as government invest in infrastructure projects that cost billions but are mismanaged and manipulated by the syndicates that vandalise it,” Mohai said.

MEC Mokoena acknowledged the Ministerial intervention in making a huge impact on sanitation services in the municipality.

“We are quite happy the wastewater treatment plant has been brought back to life, and it will do its job of providing efficient treatment of raw sewage. As we are building new settlements, we need these refurbished wastewater facilities that will ensure that no longer see sewer continuously flowing in streets or in people’s houses,” Mokoena said.

Khalipha said the project had already begun to restore confidence among residents and investors.

“We have not only seen a commitment from both the national and provincial governments, but we have seen a huge investment to ensure that this rehabilitative work of the infrastructure is carried out, and already, we can see the improvement in solving the problem of sewer spillages in our communities. This intervention will assist in proving investor confidence to our municipality,” Khalipha said.

He also urged residents to pay for municipal services to ensure sustainability, particularly in meeting obligations to utilities such as Eskom. – SAnews.gov.za
 

With South Africa and the rest of the world at risk of not meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), government has emphasised that strengthening collaboration between public and private institutions is necessary for addressing environmental sustainability.

“Strong institutions, both public and private, are critical for ensuring that all people live in peaceful, just and inclusive societies,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh said on Tuesday, in Johannesburg.

He was addressing thought leaders, businesses, entrepreneurs, policy makers, and industry experts at the Future of Sustainability Conference, which aims to inspire businesses to take actionable steps towards implementing green, sustainable and ethically sound strategies. 

The conferences mobilises Africa towards becoming a zero-carbon emission, waste-free, fully sustainable and smart continent.

Singh said the primary focus should be anchored towards driving stronger coordination between institutions and public-private partnerships to ensure environmental policy alignment, necessary for addressing environmental sustainability and governance.

“The world is increasingly recognising that global challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable consumption and production practices and resource scarcity have a significant impact on economies, human health and well-being and can only be addressed collectively through international, national and local action.   

“We are confronted by the reality that some SDGs have made remarkable progress over the last 11 years, while the remaining SDGs have had mixed and uneven progress that are either progressing too slowly or regressing,” the Deputy Minister said.

SDGs call for action by all countries to improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve the oceans and forests.

“There are challenges in implementing the SDGs, including financing for their implementation, which South Africa has consistently called for, in partnership with the Global North, who have made commitments to financing for development that have not been met. 

“There is a risk that development financing will be redirected to other priorities, placing countries like South Africa behind in their SDG implementation and broader development targets,” he said.

The Deputy Minister stressed that clearer accountability and improved policy implementation can positively influence environmental governance.

“For 20 years, the People and Parks Programme has strengthened partnerships between conservation authorities and communities adjacent to protected areas.   

“Communities are no longer viewed merely as beneficiaries of conservation; as protection of our national heritage cannot succeed without the meaningful participation of the people who live closest to it,” he said.

Through co-management arrangements and representation in decision-making structures, communities are active partners shaping the future of protected areas. 

“The Biodiversity Economy initiative has ensured that the sustainable use of our wildlife and flora directly benefits the people.  Hence, our commitment to biodiversity conservation is being translated into action through ensuring that development does not come at the cost of our ecological integrity,” Singh explained.

He added that through increased industry participation, South Africa has increased investment in infrastructure for the collection, sorting, and recycling of waste.

These partnerships have driven job creation and local circular economy initiatives and support for Waste Pickers.

“The forging and strengthening of relationships and innovative partnerships between government, private sector, and civil society can potentially address challenges such as data availability, regulatory frameworks, and education, thereby fully unlocking the potential of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework and sustainability investing in South Africa. 

“Thus, we recognize the huge opportunity such partnerships present, serving as a catalyst for sustainable development, especially if we can strengthen capacity to engage in and lead such efforts,” Singh said. –SAnews.gov.za

By Thulani Mdakane 
Many decades later, the colonial and apartheid impact of land dispossession lingers on and continues to define the current skewed patterns of land ownership and access. Legislative measures, such as the Natives Land Act of 1913 and the Group Areas Act of 1950, facilitated the removal of many Black individuals from their ancestral lands, depriving them of their inherent rights to land ownership in their native country.

This system of discrimination perpetuated racial subjugation and social exclusion, manifesting through forced removals, evictions, and ongoing tenure insecurity in the land that Black people had previously owned. Some Black landowners, who effectively farmed their land for crops and livestock, had their properties unjustly confiscated. 

Consequently, many were compelled to become tenants and labourers for the new white landowners, to whom the government had allocated this land without just cause.  Homes of families who had lived in vibrant, multiracial neighbourhoods since time immemorial were destroyed, and people were expelled to underdeveloped, overcrowded, and remote townships. In some traditional communities under the jurisdiction of Amakhosi and Kings, productive land was lost to commercial agriculture, forestry, and biodiversity conservation.

All of these were brutish and brutal acts of injustice that decimated the dignity and self-worth of all those who were victims of land dispossession, alienating them from land, which is a critical productive asset that generates wealth and sustains livelihoods for their families and communities.

Invariably, the struggle for freedom and democracy had the question of land ownership and access at its core as part of a transformative national agenda to achieve restorative justice, equitable land access, and foster national cohesion. It was a national agenda grounded in the respect for the human rights of all those who suffered the indignity of an unjust system.

Since 1994, the democratic government has always understood the constitutional injunction of redress through the implementation of the land reform programme that foregrounds land restitution, land redistribution, and tenure reform. Land transformation and spatial justice are not acts of punitive vengeance against apartheid-era land beneficiaries but are key pillars of responsibly guided constitutional imperatives of redress, economic inclusion, and nation-building.

Over the years, the land reform programme has restituted and redistributed vast hectares of land to many beneficiaries across the country for productive use in agriculture, human settlements, and industrial development. While a great deal of progress has been made, there is still more work to be done to address the backlogs and ensure the optimisation of limited fiscal resources to accelerate and enhance the effective implementation of land reform programmes.

There is still more work needed in the provision of post-settlement support to beneficiaries to ensure that restituted farms are kept productive. Targeted support is also critical in enhancing the productive utilisation of communal land to advance the goals of rural development in partnership with traditional leaders.
Through the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture chaired by Deputy President Mashatile, Government continues to leverage a collaborative intergovernmental platform to provide leadership and oversight to ensure that various components of the government system help unblock challenges faced by claimants and beneficiaries who seek urgent support from Government, including the speedy finalisation of land transactions, post-settlement support packages, and handing over of title deeds.

At the level of the Presidency, the President and the Deputy President are working with relevant departments and government entities to speed up the processing and handover of title deeds to qualifying beneficiaries. The core leadership message is that those who have been given back the land must till the land, make it productive, and create sustainable employment, contributing to local economic development while ensuring that this asset generates wealth for households for generations to come.

On the 13th of March 2026, Deputy President Paul Mashatile, together with the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mr Mzwanele Nyhontso, handed over land and title deeds to the Mtsweni family, whose claim is registered as Schulk Marhiqa CPA, in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in Mpumalanga. The land comprised 18 households and 86 beneficiaries and measures more than 627 hectares, specifically Portions 24 and 26 of Grootvlei Farm.

The family had once owned a substantial portion of this land before it was taken under the Natives Land Act of 1913 and allocated to the Frans Herbs family. Deputy President Mashatile characterised this handover as evidence of government’s unwavering commitment to restorative justice and redress. 

When addressing the gathering, the Deputy President said: “This handover is a testament to the ongoing pursuit of justice, and each hectare restored is a meaningful step towards healing historical injustices and reaffirms our resolve to building a fairer and more equitable South Africa. It is also a fulfilment of a promise we made in 1994 that land would be returned to its rightful owners.”

The Deputy President and the leadership at the handover ceremony recognized the Schulk Marhiqa CPA as a commendable example of family cohesion and robust institutional governance that will facilitate productive use of restituted land. The CPA has commenced farming on 100 hectares of maize and 30 hectares of soya beans, and is actively engaged in livestock production, including cattle and goats.

To ensure its long-term viability, Government has provided R16,585,627.80 for support, specifically targeted at bolstering livestock farming, grain production, and essential skills development for the claimants. Government will continue to provide mentorship and market access support to ensure farm production is integrated into agricultural value chains locally and globally where opportunities exist.

This week, on 20th March 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa will also preside over the handover of approximately 17 020 hectares to three deserving communities in the Harry Gwala District Municipality, in KwaZulu-Natal. The ceremony will see these communities being presented with title deeds, namely the St. Paul Community Land Claim, measuring 7 611.2015 hectares; Ngunjini Community Land Claim, measuring 6 859.5246 hectares; and Nzimankulu/Vierkant Community Land Claim, measuring 2 550.9542 hectares.

As we observe Human Rights Month, government remains committed to correcting the injustices of the past in line with constitutional imperatives of equity and fairness. Land restitution is a critical instrument to achieve social cohesion and inclusive participation in land ownership and wealth creation.

*Mdakane is Special Adviser, Office of the Deputy President at the Presidency 
 

Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, has expressed deep shock and sadness following the fatal stabbings of two learners in separate incidents in Johannesburg and Ennerdale.

In a statement on Tuesday, the department said it is alleged that a 17-year-old Grade 8 learner from Forest High School was severely beaten and stabbed on Friday, 20 March 2026, at a park near the school after classes. The learner was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to another facility, where he succumbed to his injuries. 

In a separate incident, a Grade 12 learner from Daleview Secondary School was fatally stabbed on Monday in an open veld while walking home after school.

The circumstances surrounding both incidents are currently under investigation by police.

The Gauteng Department of Education has mobilised psycho-social support services to assist affected learners, educators and the bereaved families during this difficult time.

“This is a deeply painful loss for our education community. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and both school communities affected by these tragedies,” Chiloane said.

He added that violence against learners, whether within or outside school premises, is unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.

“We call on communities to work closely with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, and to stand united in protecting our children so that our schools remain safe spaces for teaching and learning,” Chiloane said. – SAnews.gov.za