Category: English

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to food sovereignty as a pillar of national resilience and development.

Steenhuisen made the commitment at the second United Nations Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4), held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The three-day conference, which began on Sunday, brought together Heads of State, Ministers, scientists, producers, indigenous leaders, youth and civil society to assess progress on transforming food systems worldwide.

In his address, the Minister outlined a series of strategic initiatives designed to strengthen local food production and empower communities to define their own food policies.

He said the South African government is promoting localised food production, with a clear focus on leveraging indigenous crops and livestock, which have both nutritional value and resilience to climate change.

“Current government programmes are mapping these crops nationwide and investing in research to identify underutilised plants and their agro-processing potential to develop products that will facilitate the upscaling and uptake of these foods for nutrition security,” the Minister said.

To further bolster self-sufficiency, Steenhuisen announced the development of community seed banks, ensuring reliable access to quality seeds, and supporting agricultural self-sufficiency.

“Breeding for resilience is the buzzword in promoting livestock, with a focus on indigenous livestock for genetic material. Strengthening biosecurity with the development of modern diagnostic tools that will aid tracking and tracing outbreaks, and research and development of vaccines to support prevention programmes, are prioritised,” he said.

The Minister underscored government’s continued support for smallholder farmers, noting the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), which provides financial assistance, training, and infrastructure to enhance productivity and sustainability.

With global food inflation on the rise, Steenhuisen highlighted initiatives like Ilima/Letsema’s (One Household, One Garden) model designed to help households mitigate rising food costs, especially for vulnerable populations.

He highlighted that South Africa is also advancing sustainable and regenerative production systems.

“We are actively encouraging our farmers to embrace regenerative agriculture, agroecology and conservation practices. These approaches are designed to restore land, improve biodiversity, and future-proof local food systems in the face of climate volatility,” the Minister said.

“Food safety and quality assurance are non-negotiable priorities. The South African Good Agricultural Practices (SA GAP) programme is helping farmers – especially smallholders – adopt responsible, market-friendly production methods that meet both domestic and international standards.”

Reflecting on international collaboration, the Minister noted South Africa’s engagement with global partners, such as the G20 Food Security Task Force and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to address food price inflation and its impact on low-income households.

“The aim is to develop policy “baskets” that support effective interventions, both at home and across the African continent. Key elements include smallholder farmer support, sustainable agriculture aligned with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, and country-led planning—all in support of the African Agenda 2063,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, has emphasised the urgent need for the international community to take concrete action toward achieving a two-State solution in resolving the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

The Minister was speaking during his address at the United Nations’ High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine in New York, amid escalating violence in Gaza.

Lamola emphasised the context of his call to action by referencing the tragic events of 7 October 2023, when innocent Israeli citizens were killed. However, he stressed that even in the face of such violence, the pursuit of a meaningful resolution must prevail.

“Despite this challenging context in which the international legal and multilateral system has been paralysed and turned into a blunt tool, the focus today on a real path to lasting peace must prevail,” he said on Tuesday. 

Highlighting the importance of international action, the Minister denounced the prevailing “might is right” doctrine, which he argued justifies the ongoing violence and attempts to eradicate the Palestinian people. 

“This doctrine can no longer be justified. It has led to perpetual insecurity, and it justifies an attempt to eradicate the Palestinian people through killing and starvation,” he asserted.

He also spoke about South Africa’s position, which is that the establishment of a Palestinian state, existing peacefully alongside Israel within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, is paramount. 

The Minister reflected on the historical context, citing Resolution 181 from 1947, which provided for the creation of two states amidst a backdrop of colonialism. 

“However, the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, guaranteed under international law, has remained elusive for close to 80 years.”

The urgency of the situation was further highlighted by a recent motion passed by the Israeli Knesset, calling for the application of Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. 

Lamola expressed concern that such moves “could effectively bury the two-State solution” and continue to violate international law.

He further outlined fundamental principles necessary for restoring credibility to the peace process. He stressed that recognising Palestinian statehood and ensuring the territorial integrity of Palestine are crucial first steps. 

Lamola also took the time to praise France’s intentions to recognise the state of Palestine as “an important step towards achieving a two-state solution.”

In addition, he Lamola called for an end to Israeli actions that threaten the very existence of the Palestinian people, describing these as part of a “systematic pattern of injustices and oppression.” 

He urged the UN Security Council to act, stating, “These actions must be condemned, and the UN Security Council must act to protect the Palestinian people in whole and in part.”

Emphasising the role of international law, he called on all states to comply with their collective obligations. 

“We all have a duty to preserve the sanctity of international law and ensure accountability.” 

He highlighted recent initiatives, such as the Hague Group and the Madrid Group, aimed at promoting international law and accountability.

To facilitate the two-State solution, Lamola outlined several critical steps, including an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and political prisoners, the halt of illegal Israeli settlement expansion, the removal of the illegal separation wall, and the resumption of humanitarian efforts.

“Global attention is on this conference. There is an expectation that we will deliver an effective response to the destruction of an entire population and a peaceful path for preserving the prospect of a viable Palestinian State existing side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.” – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala has expressed concern over what she described as dwindling support for multilateral institutions dedicated to workers’ rights. 

Delivering the keynote address during the opening of the 4th G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting, Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said the “retreat from collective responsibility strikes at the heart of global labour governance”.

“The International Labour Organisation, our indispensable beacon for decent work standards, has been forced to silence the voices of 225 dedicated guardians of social justice through job losses.

“This erosion of capacity within the ILO is not an isolated budgetary concern, but it is also a direct blow to the protective shield for workers everywhere, weakening our shared ability to navigate the complex future of work and undermining the very foundation of fair globalisation. This retreat from funding multilateral pillars signals a dangerous indifference to the architecture of social justice we have built together,” the Deputy Minister said. 

The two-day EWG meeting of technical experts ended on Tuesday, and will be followed by a two-day Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting from 30 – 31 July 2024. 

The double header meetings are being held at Fancourt Hotel in George, in the Western Cape. The theme of the G20 EWG stream is: “Living and Working in an Unequal World: Ensuring Decent Work and Decent Lives”. It is aligned to South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme — “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.

Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said the meeting starts amidst profound transitions, including geopolitical division and escalating trade tensions threatening to unravel decades of carefully woven economic interdependence.

“The harsh reality is that these tensions are not limited to diplomatic chambers or trading floors; they hit hardest on the shop floors, in the fields, and within workers’ homes all around the world. When the delicate threads of international cooperation break, it is the world of work that suffers the most. We see this in the breakdown of supply chains, the weaponisation of market access and the weakening of the very institutions meant to support social justice.

“Consider the tremors felt here in Southern Africa. A sudden, severe tariff imposition by a major trading partner has cast a long shadow over our economic landscape. Industries vital to our national livelihood, including automotive manufacturing, agriculture, steel and aluminium, now face an existential challenge,” Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said.

She said that this is not merely an economic statistic, but a “quiet panic in communities where entire towns, ecosystems built on decades of trade, now hang precariously in the balance”. 

The EWG meeting is expected to lay the foundation for the crafting of the Labour and Employment Ministers Meeting (LEMM) declaration.

Deputy Minister told EWG delegates that equality means ensuring that all nations, especially those in the developing world that bear disproportionate burdens from global disruptions, have a fair stake and a powerful voice in shaping the economic rules that govern their destinies. 

“Trade policies that devastate developing economies stand in direct contradiction to this principle,” she said. 

She further said true sustainability was impossible without stable and predictable international cooperation. 

According to the Deputy Minister, when geopolitical rivalry stifles dialogue, the space for vital social dialogue contracts. 

She called on the EWG to develop a bold declaration that confronts the full spectrum of the polycrisis – the environmental, technological and social challenges, alongside the insidious geopolitical and trade headwinds that actively undermine global economic stability and workers’ security. 

The Deputy Minister further said a concrete blueprint advances measurable, actionable commitments.

“Let the Fancourt Declaration be a beacon, demonstrating the G20’s unwavering resolve to uphold and strengthen the rules-based international order, explicitly recognising the fundamental link between predictable, fair-trade rules, and stable and dignified employment for all. Trade policy is jobs policy, and its destabilisation is a direct threat to global peace and social cohesion,” she said.

Department of Employment and Labour Acting Director General, Jacky Molisane said the theme of the gathering calls on all to deliver targeted and inclusive implementation of policy responses. 

She said the journey travelled so far started with the first EWG meeting under South Africa’s G20 Presidency in Gqeberha, and by the time the third meeting was held in Geneva in May, the task had become more focused – initiating the document of the ministerial declaration, advancing negotiations on the gender targets and finalising deliverables for ministerial considerations.

“Our task is clear and urgent. We must conclude negotiations on ministerial declarations, finalise agreement on our deliverables, especially the new targets and the Brisbane-eThekwini gender commitment, and ensure the document is ready,” Molisane said.

The G20 EWG’s mandate is to address labour, employment and social issues for strong, sustainable, balanced and job-rich growth for all. – SAnews.gov.za 

Source: Government of South Africa

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, is attending two high-level global parliamentary events in Geneva, the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament and the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament.

The parliamentary events are both convened under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament brings together the highest parliamentary decision-making positions to shape the parliamentary agenda based on emerging political, economic, environmental, and social changes that require united and gender-responsive global governance solutions. 

The summit which began on Monday, is set to conclude Thursday, 30 July 2025.

It also offers a platform for women leaders to network and exchange views and experiences.

This year’s summit coincides with significant global milestones for women and girls, including the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 10-year milestone of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

“The women, peace and security agenda is marking 25 years of existence and is needed even more today than when it was established. The summit will focus on the role of women speakers in leading for inclusive and lasting peace,” the Speaker’s spokesperson, Reggie Ngcobo said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament 2025 kicked off at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office in Geneva on Tuesday.

Organised by the IPU in collaboration with the United Nations, the conference offers a unique global forum for parliamentary leaders to engage in high-level dialogue on strengthening the role of parliaments in global governance.

The 2025 edition of the conference that will conclude on Thursday, marks the culmination of two years of preparatory work by a committee of approximately 20 parliamentary speakers representing all regions of the world.

In keeping with the IPU’s inclusive approach, the conference will also feature contributions from prominent leaders from other international organisations, academia, and civil society. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to a conclusion on the US trade deal.

“South Africa took the decision not to retaliate to the reciprocal tariffs announced by the United States. We also want to reiterate that we have no intention of decoupling from the United States either. Our view is that negotiations remain the best tool to deal with the issues that are on the table,” said the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic).

In a statement on Wednesday, the dtic said the intersection of geopolitical, domestic and trade issues best defines the current impasse between South Africa and the United States, and that a reset is “unavoidable”.

Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted the correspondence from the United States (US) President Donald Trump on the unilateral imposition of a 30% trade tariff against South Africa.

READ | President notes US tariff announcement

In a letter addressed to President Ramaphosa, President Trump announced that he would subject imports from South Africa to new 30% tariffs, that would take effect from 1 August 2025.

At the time, the Presidency said the 30% tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade between South Africa and the United States, and that the contested interpretation forms part of the issues under consideration by the negotiating teams from South Africa and the United States. 

On Wednesday, the dtic said South Africa is not in a unique position, as the United States attempts to finalise negotiations with some 185 countries around the world by 1 August 2025.

“We remain committed to the cause as we await substantive feedback from our US counterparts on the final status on our Framework deal,” said the department.

The deal featured a number of areas, including but not limited to:
•    Importing 75 -100 petajoules of Liquified Natural Gas for a 10-year period, unlocking $12 billion.
•    Agricultural Market Access by simplifying of US poultry exports under the 2016 tariff rate quota and unlock approximately $91m million in trade. In addition, readiness to open market access for blueberries, subject to necessary protocols. 
•    South African firms committed to invest $3.3 billion in US industries, such as mining and metals recycling, while both governments agreed to pursue joint investment in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and agri-machinery.
•    Exemption of specific sectors from reciprocal tariffs to preserve supply chains e.g. ship building, counter-seasonal agriculture trade, exports from MSMEs of less than $1 million per annum.

“As the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, we have been in a period of intense negotiations with the United States. We have signed a condition precedent document and have readied our inputs for entry into the template, which is to follow from the US.

“Despite the challenges that have been presented by this period, we have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks, who have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios. We have planned for these scenarios and have not sat idle,” the department said.

Support desk

In addition, the department is working with other government departments on a response plan, which includes a support desk within the dtic.

“Our response package also focuses on demand side interventions in the impacted industries. The way forward is clear. President Ramaphosa has expressed our willingness to reset the trade relationship with the US and develop a solution that is mutually beneficial.

“The dtic has made this issue an apex priority since well before 2 April 2025, and we have centred South Africa and her people as our non-negotiable,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za