Category: English

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned that South Africa is likely to experience below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures this spring as a strong El Niño event develops in the Pacific Ocean.

In a statement on Tuesday, SAWS said the latest predictions indicate that El Niño is likely to intensify further and could become the strongest event in living memory.

A strong El Niño refers to an event in which three-monthly averaged sea surface temperature anomalies over the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean exceed 1.5°C compared with climatology. During a very strong El Niño, this part of the ocean is 2°C warmer than normal.

The latest forecasts indicate that the current event is very likely to exceed the 3°C threshold.

SAWS said the latest weekly averaged sea surface temperature anomalies over the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean are already above the threshold that defines a very strong El Niño.

“Most El Niño events bring below-normal rainfall and above-normal temperatures to the southern African region. Two of the most impactful El Niño events for the region were those of 1982/83 and 2015/16, which brought widespread drought.

“The very strong El Niño event of 1997/98, however, was associated with slightly above-normal rainfall over parts of South Africa’s summer rainfall region. It should therefore be noted that, although below-normal rainfall is statistically the most likely outcome in southern Africa this summer, not every El Niño event is associated with drought,” the weather service said.

SAWS’ latest seasonal forecast for October to December 2026 indicates that below-normal rainfall is the most likely outcome over most of South Africa.

The period is also very likely to be marked by above-normal temperatures.

“The rainfall and temperature forecast for November 2026 to January 2027 is very similar to that for October to December 2026, with drier and warmer conditions over most of the country the most likely outcome.

“It should be noted that the expected very strong 2026/27 El Niño event, combined with global warming, will likely result in 2027 being the warmest year ever recorded. The 2015/16 very strong El Niño event brought unprecedented heatwaves to the southern African region,” the weather service said.

SAWS added that the southern African region has continued to warm up in the 11 years since then.

“If the 2026/27 El Niño event brings the expected below-normal rainfall to southern Africa, heatwaves are likely to occur more frequently.

“These heatwaves have the potential to be severe. However, as current forecasts indicate the potential for an exceptionally strong El Niño, uncertainty remains about its eventual strength and regional impacts.

“For this reason, the extent of expected heatwaves and water scarcity associated with the event will be closely monitored and communicated to disaster management structures, weather-sensitive industries, the media and the public,” SAWS said.

The weather service has advised the public and weather-sensitive industries to follow monthly seasonal forecast updates and daily short-term weather forecasts to prepare for heatwave conditions and other high-impact weather events. – SAnews.gov.za

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As part of the build-up to SAPS Commemoration Day, which will be held at the Union Buildings on Sunday, the SAPS will be honouring 12 police officers, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the people of South Africa.

On Monday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) remembered and paid tribute to fallen hero, the late Sergeant Sello Raymond Sema, who was stationed at Norkem Park Police Station, when he tragically lost his life in the line of duty on 29 October 2025.

Every year, on the 1st of September, the nation pays tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service and protection of its citizens.

Their names of the fallen police officers have been engraved on the SAPS memorial wall at the Union Buildings as a symbol of gratitude for the sacrifices made in serving and protecting the nation. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) CEO, Dr Keaobaka Seshoka, has called on all sectors of society to work together to address the communication barriers experienced by the deaf community. 

“We must, as a society, come together and ensure that access to quality information becomes a lived reality for the deaf community. We must also make sure that providing South African Sign Language interpretation is not treated as charity; it is a right,” Seshoka said on Tuesday.

She was addressing the virtual launch of Deaf Awareness Month, which is observed in September under the theme: “Declaring Deaf People’s Human Rights.” 

Seshoka said deaf people must be included when decisions about language accessibility and services are made.

“We cannot continue designing solutions for deaf people without working with deaf people. We need to work alongside the deaf community. We must support the development and increased use of South African Sign Language and create conditions in which it can flourish,” the CEO said.

In July 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the addition of South African Sign Language as one of the country’s official languages.

“A deaf person should not have constitutional rights in theory only; these rights should be realised in all the spaces in which they live. This means that when deaf people enter hospitals, they should be served.

“It means that when they enter police stations, they should be served. When they go to court, they should be served in a language they can understand. It must also mean that when they go to universities, they are served,” the CEO said.

She stressed that legislative recognition of the rights of the deaf community must translate into meaningful change.

“We urge all sectors of society to adopt the South African Sign Language Charter, which sets out key pledges that take into consideration the interconnected challenges faced by the deaf community,” Seshoka said.

The SASL Charter creates obligations to improve deaf communities’ access to quality information and to ensure effective and equitable protection of their linguistic human rights.

“Equally important, we are working with other departments to implement workshops for parents and families of deaf children, recognising that early language acquisition, family support and inclusive communication are fundamental to the education, social and emotional development of deaf children.

“These initiatives form part of PanSALB’s broader commitment to promoting linguistic human rights, advancing the use of South African Sign Language and fostering a more inclusive society in which deaf persons can participate fully and equally in all spheres of life,” she said.

It also highlights the role of South African Sign Language in advancing human rights and fostering social inclusion for deaf communities.

“We call on all sectors of society to work with us to address the communication barriers experienced by the deaf community, promote inclusion and encourage meaningful participation in our democracy,” Seshoka said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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The National Heritage Day celebrations on 24 September will this year be held at the King Zwelithini Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.

The celebrations will be held in partnership with the Zulu Kingdom and the Royal House under the theme: “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.”

South Africa celebrates Heritage Day and Month every September and this year’s theme seeks to recognise the diverse cultures, languages, traditions and histories that shape South Africa’s national identity.

This year’s celebration will be combined with the annual Zulu cultural commemoration uMkhosi weLembe, honouring the legacy of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona and celebrating the rich heritage of the Zulu nation. – SAnews.gov.za

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The North West province has recorded no new cases of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) over the past week for the first time since December 2025.

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said the development signals a positive shift in the province’s fight against the disease and provides encouragement that the intensified vaccination and disease-control interventions are beginning to yield results.

The province has been implementing a mass FMD vaccination programme across all four districts and 18 local municipalities, as part of broader national efforts to contain the disease and protect the provincial livestock sector.

To date, the province has received 1 570 100 doses of FMD vaccines, of which 1 413 859 animals have been vaccinated.

Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Madoda Sambatha welcomed the latest development but urged farmers and livestock owners to remain vigilant and continue implementing strict biosecurity measures.

“The fact that we have gone a full week without recording a new case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease is encouraging and demonstrates the progress we are making through our collective efforts. However, we must remain vigilant,” Sambatha said.

The MEC emphasised that while vaccination remains an important component of the province’s response, it needs to be complemented by responsible livestock management and adherence to disease-control measures.

The department is expected to begin booster vaccinations in September in areas where animals have already received their initial vaccinations.

This will be undertaken alongside continued efforts to identify and vaccinate animals in areas that have not yet been reached by the vaccination programme.

The department urged farmers and livestock owners to report suspected cases immediately to veterinary authorities to support early detection and containment.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to working with farmers, organised agriculture, municipalities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen disease surveillance, expand vaccination coverage and improve compliance with disease-control measures. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth says protection of women in sectors such as domestic work, agriculture, hospitality and retail must remain a departmental priority.

“The National Minimum Wage remains a critical protection for sectors where women are concentrated, domestic work, agriculture, hospitality, retail, and its enforcement, not merely its existence, must remain a departmental priority.

“Our national unemployment rate stood at 33.6% in the second quarter of this year, the highest in several years, with women and young people carrying the heaviest share of that burden. The cost of living continues to erode the value of every wage packet, and that pressure falls hardest on households headed by women,” Meth said.

The Minister was speaking on Monday evening during the Women’s Leadership Reception marking the closure of Women’s Month held at Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park. 

Held under the theme: “Connecting People. Inspiring Leaders. Transforming Generations”, the gathering brought together distinguished women leaders and emerging young leaders from government, academia, business, politics, civil society and the international community.

The event provided a platform for intergenerational dialogue on women’s participation in the labour market, employment creation, entrepreneurship, the future of work and workplace protection.

Meth said a significant proportion of economically active women in South Africa work in the informal economy, largely outside the reach of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), the Compensation Fund and other protections delivered by the Department of Employment and Labour.

“Bringing that economy into the fold of protection and support, rather than treating it as someone else’s problem, has to be part of how we measure progress. The just energy transition, digitisation and the green economy will create the jobs of the next decade, and government’s own procurement targets for women owned enterprises will only mean something if the pipeline of capable, financed women owned businesses exists to fill them”, Meth said.

The Minister said the 26th Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report confirmed that the country’s labour market remains hierarchical along race, gender and disability, with inequalities hardening at senior and top management levels where institutional power sits.

She said Black women remain concentrated in lower to middle levels of management, while persons with disabilities make up only 1,3% of the workforce overall.

“South Africa does not have a shortage of talented women; we have a conversion problem, one that plays out in promotion, succession planning, mentorship, remuneration, procurement and, ultimately, ownership,” she emphasised.

The event sought to foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration and mentorship, while creating pathways to opportunity for the next generation.

Meth’s remarks came as the National Minimum Wage Commission recently invited public comments to inform the 2027 adjustment.

The current National Minimum Wage is fixed at R30,23 per hour worked. – SAnews.gov.za

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