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Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has dissolved the Ingonyama Trust Board following a series of resignations of several board members before the expiry of their terms of office.

The move comes after the Minister consulted with the Ingonyama and the KwaZulu-Natal Premier due to concerns about the resignations of several board members.

This reduced composition has raised serious questions about governance and operational stability.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Minister said due to the resignations, the board now has only four serving members alongside the Ingonyama, King Misuzulu Zulu, who serves as Chairperson in terms of the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act.

“The administrative regulations issued under the KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Act provide that five members of the accounting authority constitute a quorum for a meeting of the board.

“The regulations further provide that where a quorum is not present at the first meeting, a further meeting may be convened, and the members present at that later meeting may form a quorum for that meeting,” Nyhontso said.

Nyhontso has, however, concluded that the present circumstances have created a governance position that is no longer sustainable for the effective administration of the trust.

The Minister has taken this view, having regard for the current composition of the board, the practical difficulty of ensuring stable and effective governance under the present arrangements, and the need to secure continuity in the lawful administration of the trust and the management of trust land for the benefit of the communities for whom such land is held in trust.

In terms of this arrangement, the Minister said an administrator will be designated in terms of section 49(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).

“The administrator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the trust, ensuring administrative stability and continuity during the transition period,” the Minister explained.

The department confirmed that the process to reconstitute the Board will proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the applicable consultation requirements.

Additionally, the Minister is satisfied that this course of action is necessary to protect the continuity of the lawful administration of the trust and to safeguard the interests of the communities for whose benefit the trust land is held.

Further details regarding the implementation of the transitional administrative arrangement and the process to reconstitute the board will be communicated in due course. – SAnews.gov.za

The Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Andries Nel, has described the Constitution as a path altering legal document that has “profoundly transformed” South Africa.

The Deputy Minister addressed the National Council of Province’s debate on Human Rights Day on Wednesday afternoon.

This year, South Africa commemorates the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution as the country’s superior legal authority.

“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, the basis for the transformation of our society into a united, non-racial, non-sexist democratic state founded on the values of human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancements of human rights and freedoms.

“The Constitution has, over the past three decades, profoundly transformed South Africa’s political and legal landscape into a constitutional democracy. [It’s] progressive because it not only recognises the injustices and the inequalities of the past, but it places an obligation on government and citizens, women and men, young and old to work to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights,” he said.

The Deputy Minister described the Constitution as “both revolutionary and transformative”.

“It advances the objective of building a South African nation united in its diversity, of building a democratic and developmental state which meets the needs of the people, of building a transformed, inclusive and thriving economy that works for all South Africans and of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society based on the best of human values,” Nel said.

Furthermore, he called on members of the House to consider reciting the Preamble of the Constitution every time they gather.

“We appeal to you, the Chairperson and the members here present, to consider making the reciting to the Preamble of the Constitution a standard practice when we meet as the freely elected representatives of the people of South Africa to discharge our duties and responsibilities in terms of the Constitution which we have all sworn an oath to uphold.

“It is a powerful reminder of where we come from, who we are and the values that inform what we seek to become as a nation,” the Deputy Minister explained.

This year also ushers in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 student uprisings and the 70th anniversary of the 1956 women’s march where more than 20 000 women marched against the apartheid state’s laws.

“As we celebrate the rights that have been enshrined in our Constitution, we also recall the events at Sharpeville on that day in 1960 when the apartheid police opened fire on unarmed protestors, killing 69 people and injuring many more.

“Human Rights Day reminds us of the sacrifices of our past, the struggles of our present and the hopes of our future,” Nel said. – SAnews.gov.za

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Dr Nomalungelo Gina says innovation is the lifeblood of any forward-looking country and industrialisation. 

“…All fast-growing economies are driven by strong investments in research and development (R&D) and a robust system for commercialising prototypes,” Gina said at the opening of the South African Innovation Week (SAIW) 2026 held at Nasrec, Johannesburg.

Further, the Deputy Minister said all countries that innovate, rather than import technology solutions, are “the strongest”.

“The department’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Decadal Plan (2022-2032), a government strategic roadmap to place innovation at the heart of the country’s socio-economic development, sets an ambitious target to increase funding for research and innovation to a Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) of 1.5% of the GDP, an improvement from the current 1%,” Gina said. 

Gina said R&D has been under-funded and industries have not been investing enough in R&D to develop new technologies.

“Another hurdle we face is that agencies like the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and universities host many technology demonstrators as prototypes that have not been translated into the economy. 

“In other words, the private sector is not taking up these technologies, which are ready for diffusion into the economy. It is these innovation gaps that we seek to address through industry partnership engagements as the DSTI. The Decadal Plan further defines key priority areas as grand challenges to be addressed through our efforts,” she said.

Gina said another challenge the country faces is that the future economy, driven mainly by new technologies, including AI, is confronted with a skills deficit.

“We have a skills mismatch as a country. More graduates are unemployed because they have skills that this gig economy doesn’t really need, yet we need to develop these skills and capabilities very quickly to be critical players in this emerging economy. 

“At the heart of our efforts is building the new pipeline of STEM-related professionals, who will be key players in the new economy, including future innovators.”

Gina told delegates that innovation is an engine of industrialisation and development, and that government is making a call for a coordinated approach, instead of different players functioning in silos.

“Part of this coordination is pooling funding instruments to support research, development, and commercialisation, including the registration of Intellectual Property (IP). Ecosystem-wide coordination is fundamental to the system’s success. 

“Our adopted mantra is ‘Placing Science, Technology and Innovation at the Centre of Government, Education, Industry and Science’.” 

The SAIW26 brings together the energy, talent and capital of the innovation ecosystem into one shared showcase, networking and dialogue platform. It is designed as a week-long national programme to feature provincial innovation engagements across South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has welcomed a further easing of the annual consumer price inflation (CPI) to 3.0% in February 2026, down from 3.5% in January 2026, indicating sustained progress in stabilising prices. 

The monthly change in the CPI was 0.4%, reflecting contained price pressures across the economy.

The lower inflation outcome was supported by several key factors, including a notable decline in fuel prices, which recorded a month-on-month decrease of 3.1% and contributed to a significant annual drop of 10.1% in the fuel index.

“Encouragingly, food inflation slowed for the first time in four months, easing to 3.7% from 4.4% in January. Consumers benefited from lower prices across a range of essential food items, including cereals, meat products, and cooking oils, providing some relief to household budgets.

“Government notes that while certain categories, such as alcoholic beverages, recorded moderate increases, the overall inflation outlook remains contained and within a manageable range,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Wednesday.

Government will continue to monitor price developments closely and remains committed to implementing measures that support economic stability, protect consumers, and promote inclusive growth. –SAnews.gov.za

Government has called on the Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and their members to significantly increase the rate of waste diversion, especially of plastics and composite packaging. 

“The PROs and their members are well-positioned to drive this shift — not only through recycling targets, but by closing material loops and designing products with end-of-life in mind,” Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts said on Wednesday.

South African cities are facing a significant landfill capacity challenge, with some expected to run out of landfill space within the next six years if drastic measures are not taken to significantly reduce waste generation and accelerate recycling efforts.

“Our country still sends over 60% of its waste to landfills, a figure we cannot afford if we are serious about achieving our climate and development goals.

“Through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, we aim to significantly increase the rate of waste diversion, especially of plastics and composite packaging. But this requires bold action,” Swarts made these remarks during the department’s Waste Khoro Conference held in Bloemfontein, Free State.

She urged PROs to support Buy-Back Centres, increase materials recovery facilities (MRFs) across all provinces, invest in post-consumer recycling technologies, market development for secondary materials, and better integration of the informal and formal waste sectors.

“The department strongly encourages PROs and industry to actively integrate waste pickers into their value chains. 

“This includes offering fair compensation, formalised working conditions, access to equipment and protective gear, and training opportunities. Inclusive EPR is not a favour — it is an imperative for justice, efficiency, and long-term sustainability,” the Deputy Minister said.

She emphasised that waste pickers are not beneficiaries — they are central players in the waste economy. 

“For decades, they have recovered materials and diverted waste from landfills without formal recognition or support. We also expect producers and PROs to meet their responsibilities fully and with urgency. Waste picker integration is key.

“We urge all producers and PROs to embed education into their programmes — to help consumers understand separation-at-source, responsible disposal, and the value of recyclable materials. 

“Awareness drives should be localised, multilingual, and responsive to community dynamics. An informed public is not only a better participant in recycling schemes — it becomes a driving force for innovation and accountability,” Swarts said.

She reaffirmed that the government remains committed to enabling conditions that support innovation, transparency, and inclusive growth within the waste sector to recognise waste as a resource and waste as an input material to manufacturing other products and job creation in the process. 

The Waste Khoro Conference is an annual event organised and coordinated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), attended by waste management officers from the three spheres of government, as well as representatives from the private sector.

They convene for three days to discuss key issues relating to waste management in South Africa, focusing on several waste management priorities, including addressing the growing crisis of landfill space in the country. –SAnews.gov.za

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has activated and is implementing a comprehensive Drought Mitigation Plan as dam levels supplying the metro approach critical levels, following the declaration of a national disaster in the Eastern Cape.

In February 2026, the National Disaster Management Centre classified the drought affecting the province, including Nelson Mandela Bay, as a national disaster in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act (Act 57 of 2002).

The declaration underscores the severity of the water crisis and enables coordinated national support measures.

Against this backdrop, the combined dam levels supplying Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are now on the brink of dropping below the critical 40% threshold.

According to the municipality, as of 16 March 2026, the metro’s combined dam levels stood at 40.29%, dangerously close to levels where water security becomes severely constrained.

Approximately 10% of total dam capacity is classified as dead storage and cannot be accessed through conventional abstraction systems.

This marks a sharp decline compared to the same period in 2025, when combined dam levels were at 73.85%.

The metro’s largest dam, Impofu Dam, has dropped from 55.86% last year to approximately 39%, a direct consequence of below average rainfall amidst the prolonged drought conditions plaguing the region.

Water consumption remains significantly above sustainable levels, further compounding the challenge.

“The city is currently consuming 373 million litres per day, approximately 93 million litres above the allocated limit, placing additional strain on already depleted water resources,” the municipality said.

Municipal officials warned that if consumption patterns are not urgently reduced, the city could face severe supply constraints less than three years after the devastating drought that nearly brought the metro to day zero.

In response, the municipality’s Drought Mitigation Plan outlines a series of emergency interventions aimed at stabilising supply while reducing consumption.

Key measures include upgrades to infrastructure to maximise available water from existing sources, improvements to pump stations, and expansion of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works to reduce pressure on western dam systems.

The plan also includes the development of additional groundwater sources through strategic wellfields, implementing treated effluent reuse and alternative supply options, and accelerating pipeline rehabilitation and system upgrades to improve efficiency across the metro.

Efforts to improve system efficiency are being accelerated through pipeline rehabilitation and upgrades, while water conservation and demand management initiatives are being intensified.

These include pressure management, leak detection and repairs, bulk metering, and expanded public awareness campaigns to curb consumption.

The municipality has already invested more than R80 million in the current financial year to refurbish pipelines, rehabilitate pump stations, and appoint plumbing contractors to repair leaks and improve system performance.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, said the drought declaration reinforces the urgency of the situation and the need for collective action.

“Water security remains one of the most critical priorities for our metro. The investment we are making in infrastructure upgrades and drought mitigation interventions demonstrates the seriousness with which we are addressing this challenge. However, infrastructure alone will not resolve the crisis if water consumption remains this high,” Lobishe said.

She called on residents, businesses and institutions to drastically reduce water usage.

The mayor also called for collective action across society, including political parties and civil society, to work together with the municipality in responding to the water crisis.

“Water security is a shared responsibility. By adopting a water saving lifestyle and reducing unnecessary consumption, we can collectively protect this critical resource and ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay continues to function during this difficult period,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za