Category: MIL-OSI

As part of the launch of the Western Cape Safer Festive Season 2026/2027 Operations, over 100 new vehicles are set to be handed over to the six districts within the province to bolster operational activities, thereby ensuring safer communities, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

Wednesday’s launch is expected to be led by Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia.

“Integrated law enforcement teams will, during the launch, showcase operational expertise through simulations depicting real-life crime situations. 

“Approximately 175 new vehicles will be handed over to the six districts within the province in order to bolster operational activities, thereby ensuring safer communities,” the police said in a statement.

The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, will also be in attendance.

The event will also provide an opportunity for community members to visit displays and exhibitions as well as access mobile service units from departments including the Department of Employment and Labour.

READ | Police step up festive season operations to combat crime

During the festive season, joint policing operations will be intensified, with increased police visibility and targeted interventions aimed at ensuring the safety and security of residents and visitors. –SAnews.gov.za 

 

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A total of 141 companies have committed to invest in various Special Economic Zones in South Africa, with a combined investment value of over R548 billion and will create over 60 000 permanent jobs once operational.

This was announced by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Parks Tau, in his address to investors and stakeholders at a ministerial engagement at the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone (FTSEZ) in Steelpoort, Limpopo on Tuesday.

“The Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is complementing the good South African SEZs story undertaken by democratic South Africa. Different SEZs across the country are host to 234 private companies, with a combined investment value of over R47 billion. The SEZs Programme has created 134 478 jobs, of which 32904 are permanent,” Tau said.

The objective of the ministerial engagement was to provide an opportunity for a face-to-face session between national government, provincial government, local stakeholders, industry representatives, and traditional leadership on the development and implementation of the FTSEZ.

The Minister added that the success of the SEZs Programme has not gone unnoticed by investors who have shown confidence in the programme, in particular, and in the country as a viable investment destination in general.

Tau stated that in line with enhancing South Africa’s role in deepening industrialisation on the continent as part of the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, new SEZs such as Nkomazi, Fetakgomo Tubatse and Musina Makhado, which are designated to drive cross-border initiatives and mineral processing, have already started with the bulk infrastructure to lay the groundwork for investments.

He described the designation of the Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ in May this year as an important milestone in the industrial development trajectory of Limpopo and South Africa. The SEZ boasts a R52.6 billion investment pipeline, which is projected to create around 8 000 jobs in the short to medium term and potentially 20 000 jobs over 10 years.

“The FTSEZ is strategically located in the Steelpoort industrial hub, and is positioned to support mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, renewable energy and related industrial activities. Few places make the case for beneficiation better than Steelpoort. 

“This zone sits between the Lion and Samancor ferrochrome smelters and is surrounded by some of the country’s major platinum and chrome operations.  It has been planned for exactly this purpose: mineral processing, metal fabrication, manufacturing, renewable energy, and the logistics and services that support them,” the Minister explained.

He further added that South Africa’s “industrial policy is clear that we must process more of what we mine, and we must manufacture more of what we use. We must also export more of what we manufacture.

READ | Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ: A game-changer for Limpopo mining and jobs

Speaking on behalf of Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba,  the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Limpopo, Dr Tshitereke Matibe said the Limpopo government remains steadfastly committed to the development of the FTSEZ as a strategic instrument for industrialisation, investment attraction, job creation and inclusive growth.

“Our provincial government has committed R445 million towards infrastructure development. This demonstrates our commitment to laying the foundations required to attract investors and support industrial operations. Our vision is to ensure that minerals extracted in Limpopo create greater economic value within our province. 

“We must increasingly move towards processing, manufacturing and producing goods that strengthen domestic supply chains, support industrial competitiveness, and create sustainable employment,” Matibe said.

He emphasised that the FTSEZ provided an opportunity to achieve the provincial government’s strategy of building an economy that creates jobs, develops skills, support local enterprises and expands opportunities to people who live where the SEZ is located and beyond.
– SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is strengthening regional disaster preparedness and early intervention measures ahead of the anticipated impacts of El Niño during the 2026/2027 rainfall season. 

The regional bloc opened its four-day 2026 Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Workshop in Johannesburg on Tuesday, bringing together Member States and humanitarian partners to assess potential risks, improve contingency planning and ensure that early warnings translate into timely action.

Held under the theme: “From Forecast to Consequence: Anticipating the Cascading Impacts of El Niño 2026/27 in Southern Africa”, the workshop seeks to strengthen coordination, mobilise resources and protect vulnerable communities and livelihoods from potential humanitarian consequences.

The workshop is convened by the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the European Union, through the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), and in partnership with the Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group (RAAWG).

The Director of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre, Pumeza Tyali, officially opened the workshop on behalf of the South African Government.

Tyali emphasised the need to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, improve forecasting and risk information, enhance contingency planning and ensure that vulnerable communities receive timely and actionable warnings.

She also highlighted the importance of inclusive disaster preparedness, particularly for women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and communities living in high-risk areas.

Tyali called on participants to share experiences and lessons, strengthen partnerships and develop practical preparedness measures, stressing that the workshop’s success would be measured by the actions arising from its deliberations. 

The discussions are guided by the question of whether existing systems are sufficiently prepared to respond to the anticipated risks before they develop into humanitarian crises.

Strengthening regional contingency planning

SADC Secretariat Head of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr Manuel Lutango, said the workshop would provide an opportunity to assess progress in disaster preparedness and anticipatory action since the previous regional workshop in 2024. 

He said the meeting would review measures being undertaken by Member States and partners in preparation for the projected El Niño conditions, while strengthening regional coordination and translating preparedness efforts into concrete action.

Key objectives include developing and validating the Regional Contingency Plan for the 2026/2027 season and reviewing the SADC Regional Multi-Hazard Anticipatory Action Framework, including provisions for drought triggers.

Participants will also work towards aligning regional contingency planning with the framework, strengthening sectoral preparedness, clarifying operational responsibilities and advancing discussions on pre-arranged financing to support early interventions.

Speaking on behalf of RAAWG, Dr Lewis Hove, Resilience Team Leader at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Subregional Office for Southern Africa, highlighted the challenges that can undermine disaster response despite accurate forecasts.

Hove noted that delays in funding, inadequate supplies and slow response mechanisms had constrained the effectiveness of interventions.

The representative called for stronger anticipatory action systems, timely financing, shared regional contingency planning and greater accountability to ensure that early warnings trigger practical interventions before hazards escalate into humanitarian crises.

Acting early and working together remain essential to saving lives, protecting livelihoods and strengthening disaster resilience across Southern Africa.

Moving from warnings to early action

Speaking on behalf of DG ECHO, the organisation’s Head of Office in Pretoria, Pablo Torrealba, said the region needed to move from reactive emergency response towards systematic, risk-informed anticipatory action.

He noted that early warnings were now arriving on time, but the challenge lay in translating them into pre-arranged financing, clear procedures, pre-positioned supplies and timely interventions.

Torrealba also stressed the need to prepare for multiple hazards rather than focusing on drought alone.

He encouraged participants to conclude the workshop with validated plans, clear sectoral mandates and an accountable roadmap for action, reaffirming DG ECHO’s commitment to supporting SADC and its Member States.

The workshop follows calls for action made at the recent Maputo International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, where Ministers emphasised the need to accelerate implementation of the African Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) and the Early Warnings for All initiative.

The conference also highlighted the importance of improving interoperability among national, regional and continental early warning platforms to ensure that warnings are accessible, actionable and effectively communicated to at-risk communities.

Other priorities include implementing National Adaptation Plans, restoring landscapes, transforming agriculture and pre-positioning contingency food and non-food supplies ahead of El Niño and other potential disasters.

The deliberations in Johannesburg are expected to contribute to a coordinated regional approach that links seasonal forecasts with risk-informed decision-making, resource mobilisation and clearly defined operational responsibilities.

The workshop concludes on 23 October 2026. – SAnews.gov.za

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Rhodes University is working with local public health authorities, following a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses reported among members of its community.

“On Tuesday, 20 October 2026, Rhodes University reported a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses among members of its community. Subsequent enquiries with local medical practitioners indicate that similar cases are being reported elsewhere in Makhanda, suggesting that the situation may extend beyond the University campus,” the university said in a statement.

In its statement, the university said it is working with health authorities and environmental health practitioners to establish the possible cause and scope of the illnesses.

“While investigations are ongoing, precautionary measures have been implemented on campus, including urgent water-quality testing at residences, the provision of safe drinking water in dining halls, and additional precautions in food preparation.”

The higher education institution based in the Eastern Cape said reported cases are being monitored and medical support has been coordinated for affected students.

“As a precaution, staff and students are urged to follow safe water, food-handling and hygiene practices both on and off campus. These include drinking boiled and cooled or bottled water, using safe water for food preparation and brushing teeth, avoiding ice and uncooked food washed in untreated water, and washing hands regularly with soap and water.”

It called on anyone experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps or fever to maintain hydration by drinking safe fluids and seek medical advice. Urgent medical attention should be sought if symptoms are severe.

“Rhodes University takes the health and well-being of its community seriously and remains committed to responding swiftly and responsibly as the investigation continues. Further updates will be shared as verified information becomes available,” the institution said.

Students requiring medical assistance can contact the Rhodes University Health Care Centre on 046 603 8523 or email healthcarecentre@ru.ac.za. After-hours emergencies can be reported to the RU ER24 emergency number on 010 205 3068. Students should also notify their warden or sub-warden.

Multi-pronged response team 

Meanwhile, at a media briefing on Monday, government announced the establishment of a multi-pronged response team to tackle an increase in gastrointestinal illness affecting children and communities at Bronkhorstspruit in the City of Tshwane (CoT) Municipality in Gauteng.

This comes after 408 cases of the illness were reported between 7 and 18 October 2026.

At the briefing, Water and Sanitation (DWS) Minister Pemmy Majodina explained that the source of the illness is believed to be contaminated water emanating from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works (BWTW).

READ | Coordinated response launched to tackle Bronkhorstspruit water illness surge

The CoT has for its part warned residents supplied by the Bronkhorstspruit water system not to use tap water for human consumption, following laboratory results that revealed serious bacterial contamination.

READ | Bronkhorstspruit residents warned against using tap water

According to the municipality, water samples collected from the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant and the Zithobeni and Ekandustria reservoirs on 14 October 2026 revealed serious bacterial contamination. –SAnews.gov.za 

 

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