Category: MIL-OSI

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has called on South Africans to embrace their shared responsibility as custodians of the Kruger National Park (KNP).

The Minister delivered remarks at the KNP Centenary Commemoration held at the park’s Skukuza Rest Camp in Mpumalanga.

The Minister reflected on the recent flooding that affected the park.

“What these floods taught us is the resilience of the Kruger family. Over 100 years, lots of successes, lots of failures, lots of hardships [and] lots of triumphs. But we’ve always come through and we will do that for 100s of years to come.

“Our responsibility is to raise this generation…so that they can accept this stewardship and can take this pattern and go forward. So that our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and theirs will still be able – in 100 to 200 years’ time from now – to sit alongside the Sabie River, to watch a herd of elephants going through this Sabie River, to listen to the roar of a lion at night, to play a game in the car [and] see who is the best of the siblings. I hope that that legacy can continue,” Aucamp said.

The Minister committed that the KNP will not only endure but also claim its place as the world’s leading conservation destination.

“This…event calls not only for reflection and celebration but it also demands clarity. Clarity about where we come from and where we are going.

“The Kruger National Park stands today as one of the most recognised conservation landscapes in the world,” he urged.

Aucump acknowledged the park’s pioneers and workers for their contribution to its establishment and continued existence.

“The Kruger National Park reflects foresight at a time when such foresight was rare. It reflects decades of scientific progress, of institutional commitment and the sustained efforts of generations. We are clear that the future of conservation in South Africa lies with inclusive stewardship, a responsibility that we all have got to take on.

“I realise that we are walking in the footsteps of giants. We truly are. Their vision, their perseverance and their deeper abiding love for nature gave us the Kruger National Park.

“They dreamt beyond their time of a landscape where elephants roam, where lions rule, and where the ancient rhythms of the wild echo through the bush for generations to come. As a united people, that legacy now rests in our hands,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has urged the leadership of the Ditsobotla Municipality to fully embrace the national intervention to strengthen the municipality.

The Minister visited the North West municipality on Friday to officially hand over the revised Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) and outline its implementation.

The municipality was placed under administration in terms of section 139(7) of the Constitution in a bid to stabilise it.

“I can only surmise that part of the reason for eight failures is that we have not fully embraced what it means to be under an intervention. When a municipality is under intervention, it is not operating under normal conditions.

“The municipality is operating under constrained conditions with fewer financial resources. Therefore, it cannot be ‘business as usual’ in the way the day-to-day activities are run and managed. Habits, attitudes and mindsets must shift in this process.

“An intervention mindset must be adopted to kickstart recovery. I believe that officials from the Municipal Financial Recovery Services unit are already assisting the municipality with change management,” Godongwana said.

He noted that strained finances meant that it would be unlikely for the municipality to receive financial assistance.

“Neither national nor provincial interventions are accompanied by financial bailouts. However, this does not mean that other forms of support will not be provided to get you moving.

“The National Treasury will provide you with fuel by exploring options to assist the municipality with smart metering and metering for bulk supply and will investigate further opportunities for assistance,” Godongwana explained.

The municipality has already completed the Section 78 process required to sign the Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) with Eskom where the power utility will take over revenue collection while sector departments have also committed to supporting the municipality.

Furthermore, in terms of Section 147 of the Municipal Finance Management Act, the Minister will ensure that progress reports are presented on a quarterly basis to Cabinet.

“The National Treasury will continue with oversight visits and closely monitor the implementation of the financial recovery plan through the monthly progress reporting by the municipality and through War Room meetings which will take place quarterly,” Godongwana said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that both the legal and operational frameworks required to administer China’s temporary zero-tariff scheme have been finalised.

The Asian country announced in February this year that it would implement the zero-tariff policy with African countries which it has diplomatic ties with.

SARS Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu explained that from June, it would be issuing Rules of Origin certificates for qualifying exports in this regard.

“Beginning 1 June, we are introducing a simple, printable certificate format, allowing exporters to prove origin and claim the tariff preference straight away.

“We understand that exporters have questions about how this scheme works, especially for shipments already on the way. I want to assure our traders that no qualifying exporter will be left behind.

“From 1 June, SARS is issuing origin certificates retrospectively to cater for qualifying goods that were shipped or cleared after 1 May 2026, so they can still benefit fully from the zero tariffs,” Makhubu said.

This measure, the revenue collector said in a statement, confirms its commitment to “providing clarity and certainty while making the movement of goods easy and seamless [and]…to facilitate legitimate trade and protect South Africa’s customs system”.

“As an interim measure, exporters can lodge security with China’s customs administration in the absence of a certificate of origin. This security will be released upon the lodging of a valid certificate of origin obtained from SARS in respect of qualifying goods.

“Exporters are reminded that not all goods qualify for China’s zero-tariff arrangement: some remain subject to tariff‑rates or quotas and specific conditions. Zero-tariff treatment depends strictly on meeting the Rules of Origin and presenting a valid SARS Certificate of Origin.

“Exporters must confirm eligibility with their trading partners in China, maintain proper origin documentation, and stay up to date with SARS processes. Only fully compliant shipments will qualify, making careful preparation essential to avoid delays or disqualification,” SARS further stated.

For purposes of the verification of the issued certificates, contact rulesoforigin@sars.gov.za.

Exporters requiring assistance can also contact SARS at rulesoforigin@sars.gov.za for guidance on the new arrangement. – SAnews.gov.za

Director-General of the National Treasury, Duncan Pieterse, says global rating agency Standard and Poor’s (S&P) decision to affirm South Africa’s global rating is a sign that government is meeting its commitment to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio over the medium term while steadying public finances.

S&P affirmed South Africa’s long-term foreign currency sovereign credit rating at ‘BB’ and local currency rating at ‘BB+’ and to maintain the positive outlook.

“The affirmation from S&P that government is on track to deliver on its commitment to reduce the debt to GDP ratio over the medium term reflects the progress we have made towards restoring the health of South Africa’s public finances, and our ability to continue to do so despite geopolitical upheavals.

“Two of the major rating agencies, S&P and Moody’s, now have South Africa on a positive outlook, which is an encouraging signal that we have the potential to lift our economic growth rate higher and reduce our public debt faster. We are determined to do so,” Pieterse said.

National Treasury said the outlook reflects “scope for further fiscal improvement and debt stabilisation, conditional on continued consolidation and an easing of the current energy-price shock”.

“The rating decision also recognises stronger revenue performance, which has enabled the government to maintain fiscal discipline while implementing targeted measures to protect vulnerable households, including the temporary fuel levy relief in response to elevated global energy prices.

“These interventions have been implemented in a manner that remains consistent with the existing fiscal framework and does not compromise the medium-term consolidation path,” the department said.

The global ratings agency also noted the acceleration of Operation Vulindlela, government’s structural reform path aimed addressing constraints in electricity, infrastructure delivery and logistics.

It also noted that South Africa’s economic growth remains moderate in the near term in conditions of global headwinds and tight financial conditions.

“The retention of a positive outlook comes in a context in which 23 sovereigns’ S&P ratings have been negatively impacted since the start of the current Middle East conflict in late February, including 14 investment-grade sovereigns. South Africa is currently one of only two G20 nations, alongside Italy, on a positive outlook from S&P.

“The government remains committed to maintaining prudent fiscal policy, strengthening the credibility of the fiscal framework, and accelerating reforms that support higher growth, job creation, and improved service delivery.

“The government is developing a principles-based fiscal anchor to reinforce the credibility and durability of the fiscal framework,” National Treasury said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has dismissed reports that it has deployed soldiers in anticipation of protest action at the end of June.

“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has noted with concern misleading reports on social media suggesting that the SANDF will be deployed in anticipation of planned marches and protest action on 30 June 2026 by various civil society groups calling for the repatriation of illegal nationals. 

“The SANDF dismisses these claims as false, unfounded, and deliberately misleading. At no stage has the SANDF issued any directive or made preparations for deployment in relation to these activities. The SANDF appreciates that the constitution of the Republic allows peaceful protest marches.

“The SANDF distances itself entirely from these claims and cautions against the dissemination of unverified information that undermines public trust and creates unnecessary alarm,” an SANDF statement read.

On Monday last week government, through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster, confirmed that members of the public are free to march but called on leaders to do so responsibly.

“The SANDF reiterates that it operates strictly within its constitutional mandate,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za