Category: South Africa Government

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has formally appointed the Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) Industry Coordination Council to support the implementation of South Africa’s national strategy to contain and control the disease.

The appointment follows last week’s announcement of the national FMD strategy to contain and control foot-and-mouth disease.

The council aims to ensure that the industry plays an active and coordinated role in supporting the phased rollout of the FMD strategy, including vaccine distribution, traceability systems and disease-control readiness.

Steenhuisen said the council will engage directly with him and its input will be taken seriously.

“Government cannot do this alone. We need the full strength of the private sector, farmers and veterinarians collaborating with us. We now have a roadmap and I am accountable for its delivery. If we stay focused and work together, I believe we can restore FMD-free status in less than 10 years,” the Minister said in a statement.

The council will form one part of a triangular partnership comprising the:
•    Department of Agriculture – responsible for policy, regulatory support and resourcing;
•    Technical and Scientific Task Team – offering scientific, veterinary and epidemiological expertise, and
•    FMD Industry Coordination Council – providing operational insight, strategic guidance and unified industry input.

To ensure a coordinated approach with industry, Steenhuisen has issued a directive assigning the council the role of aligning industry efforts with national FMD control measures.

This includes establishing and operating an industry coordination mechanism to mobilise sector actions; consolidating industry situational information; coordinating industry communication, and supporting implementation readiness for traceability and audit-ready record-keeping required for animal movement compliance and compartmentalised operations.

The council will also facilitate non-statutory logistical support, including training, awareness initiatives and implementation monitoring, and will engage regularly with both the department and the Technical and Scientific Task Team to ensure alignment between policy, implementation and veterinary oversight.

The council’s members have committed to a collective outcome that serves both the industry and national interests.

The members are Johann Kotzé, Bennie van Zyl, Theo Boshoff, Frikkie Maré, Fanie Ferreira, Marlene Louw, Bongani Msimang, Kobus Bester and Dewald Olivier.

The council has begun its work this week, with its first formal meeting focused on aligning priorities and consolidating industry input. Weekly engagements will follow to maintain momentum, support structured monitoring and ensure consistent progress.

Steenhuisen said the regular meetings will strengthen the council’s ability to present coherent, unified recommendations to government and the Technical and Scientific Task Team.

The council has also requested an urgent meeting with the Technical and Scientific Task Team to review the national plan and ensure operational alignment across industry and government structures, a step seen as critical to refining the roadmap ahead of intensified implementation.

“With aligned structures, consistent communication and disciplined collaboration, South Africa is better positioned to restore its FMD-free status and strengthen the resilience of the livestock sector,” the Minister said.

The council has welcomed the Minister’s commitment and willingness to work closely with industry, noting this engagement reflects a coordinated, accountable and technically informed approach to implementation. – SAnews.gov.za

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Two more learners have succumbed to injuries in hospital in the early hours of Thursday following the tragic scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark on Monday. 

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed the additional deaths this morning, bringing the total number of learners who lost their lives in the crash to 14.

The department has also confirmed and made public the identities of the 12 children who died at the accident scene from various schools in and around the Vaal. 

The 22-year-old scholar transport driver involved in the accident now faces 14 counts of culpable homicide, as well as charges of reckless and negligent driving. He is expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today.

According to a media statement from the office of the Provincial Commissioner of the Gauteng Police, the driver was arrested after being discharged from hospital. 

“After the police visited the hospitals and the mortuary to verify the number of fatalities and injuries, it can be confirmed that 12 learners died at the accident scene and five were taken to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment. One [learner] has since been discharged,” the statement read.

The driver of the truck involved in the crash was unharmed, while the passenger in the truck sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in hospital. Police investigations are ongoing, with witness statements being obtained to establish the full circumstances of the accident.

The police have urged members of the public and the community to allow the authorities to complete their investigations and refrain from speculation. – SAnews.gov.za 

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has provided an update on the current developments at Kruger National Park following the floods that have caused extensive damage to the infrastructure.

Last week’s persistent heavy rainfall across Limpopo and Mpumalanga caused river levels to rise significantly, with overflows reported in the Crocodile, Sabie, Letaba, Sand, Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers.

“In the Kruger National Park alone, the damage to critical infrastructure is so widespread that SANParks is estimating that the damage possibly runs into hundreds of millions. Despite this devastation to infrastructure and operations, the most important highlight is that no lives were lost,” the Minister said on Thursday.

He was addressing a media briefing in Cape Town on the latest developments following the flooding at the park, as well as on the recently established Kruger Recovery Fund by SANParks.

The Minister indicated that substantial financing is required to rebuild the damaged infrastructure that includes tourism facilities, bridges, roads as well as water and electrical systems and services.

“In the northern part (Nxanatseni Region) of the Kruger National Park, various roads are currently not accessible due to damage from flooding, including S57 Shisha low-level bridge, providing access to Sirheni Bush Camp; H14 Phalaborwa to Mopani, and the Tsendzeleka low-level bridge approach. 

“The H1-4 Letaba to Mopani approach at the high-level bridge has also been washed away, which means Tshokwane Picnic Site, Satara Rest Camp and the Northern Regions of the Park are not accessible at this stage,” he said.

In the southern part (Marula Region), the road closures are at the H4-1 Skukuza to Lower Sabie, as the three temporary bypasses have been washed away. 

S1 Skukuza to Phabeni is not accessible, as the L5 drainage structure has been washed away.

“The H2-2 Pretoriuskop to Afsaal (gravel road) is also not accessible due to drift structures being washed away. A final assessment of all the gravel roads will be done only once the roads become accessible to determine their condition.

“All tourism camps and related facilities in the northern part (Nxanatseni Region) have been closed — namely Pafuri Border Camp, Punda Maria Rest Camp, Sirheni Bush Camp, Shingwedzi Rest Camp, Bateleur Bush Camp, Mopani Rest Camp, Tsendzeleka Rustic Camp, Shimuwini Bush Camp, Letaba and Olifants Rest Camps, and Balule Satellite Camp — for all operations due to the flood damages,” the Minister said.

The following tourism camps and related facilities in the Southern part (Marula Region) have been closed: Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp and Gate, Lower Sabie, Mbiyamiti, Satara Rest Camp, and Talamati Bush Camp. 

The southern and northern areas of the park remain cut off from each other.

Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate and Paul Kruger Gate remain open with an entry quota system still in place. –SAnews.gov.za

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Government has established the South African National Parks (SANParks) Kruger Recovery Fund to expedite recovery and restoration efforts at the park following the damage that was caused by recent floods. 

According to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, substantial financing is required to rebuild the damaged infrastructure that includes tourism facilities, bridges, roads as well as water and electrical systems and services.

“The Kruger Recovery Fund is intended to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Kruger National Park as a national heritage asset, economic driver, and symbol of South Africa’s commitment to conservation amid climate risks. 

“It will be administered with strong fiduciary oversight and credibility to attract national and international donors. The Kruger Recovery Fund will be administered through three audit firms on SANParks’ panel, providing independent governance, assurance, transparent reporting, and donor confidence in the utilisation of funds for resilience-enhancing infrastructure reconstruction programmes at the Kruger,” the Minister said on Thursday. 

The Minister was addressing a media briefing on the latest developments regarding the flooding that took place at the park, as a result of last week’s persistent heavy rainfall across Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

The rains caused river levels to rise significantly, with overflows reported in the Crocodile, Sabie, Letaba, Sand, Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers. 

The incident has placed extraordinary pressure on park management and disaster response systems due to the floods that were experienced in the park in 2023, which the park was still recovering from when the most recent floods hit. 

“The combined scale of infrastructure damage and operational disruption in the recent flooding has exceeded the park’s existing contingency and maintenance budgets. 

“Prolonged recovery delays risk not only environmental degradation and loss of tourism revenue, but also adverse socio-economic consequences for surrounding communities and the broader conservation sector,” Aucamp said.

He stressed that the road to recovery will be very long as there is a lot of restoration work needed. 

“The Kruger National Park is not just a conservation landscape – it is an economic lifeline for the region, a symbol of our national heritage, and a globally recognised conservation asset. SANParks remains committed to a resilient and adaptive management approach as we navigate these climate-related challenges,” Aucamp said.

He indicated that the park faces immediate to medium term revenue loss as a result of the floods.

“I must also indicate that SANParks is an entity that generates close to 80% of its operating budget, therefore the destruction of its tourism flagship puts the sustainability of the entire network of parks at risk. 

“Upon announcing the intention to establish the Kruger Recovery Fund, we have received an overwhelming influx of support of various kinds from different spheres of society. 

“I am pleased to announce that everyone from pensioners and young people to local and international entities and figures, has expressed support for the Fund,” he said.

One of those organisations at the forefront of that support is the Honorary Rangers, a long-term strategic and trusted partner of SANParks, who will assist with funding conducted through their normal fundraising channels under the funding campaign: the Kruger Flood 2026 Fund. 

The Minister has welcomed this initiative as it works towards the common goal of resource mobilisation to address the inevitable financial pressure that has arisen at the park. 

“The Honorary Rangers have a long-standing track record of trusted community support and in addition to their flood-relief-fundraising efforts, they are also supporting the Kruger Recovery Fund as one of the patrons,” the Minister said.

Aucamp emphasised that the SANParks’ Kruger Recovery Fund and Honorary Rangers’ Kruger Flood 2026 Fund are the only two legitimate funds authorised to receive donations for the recovery efforts. 

“During crises of this nature, the risk of fraudulent fundraising schemes increases significantly. I urge the public, partners, and donors – local and international – to verify information and donate only through these sanctioned channels.

“Specific details on how and where contributions can be made will be provided by both SANParks and SANParks Honorary Rangers,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

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In an effort to address the challenge of drivers transporting schoolchildren being involved in fatal traffic accidents, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has advocated for strengthening legislation to guarantee that scholar transport drivers are certified in advanced and defensive driving.

Addressing members of the media on Thursday during a scholar transport operation in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, the Minister said driver behaviour plays a significant role road in road crashes. Furthermore, she proposed that all scholar transport vehicles be clearly marked. She said the Department of Education and the Department of Transport must keep a separate database of scholar transport vehicles. 

The operation in Lenasia was also meant to validate the required permits for scholar transport drivers and assess the roadworthiness of vehicles.

This comes after 13 schoolchildren died in an accident while travelling to school in the Vaal on Monday.

“In terms of the National Land Transport Regulations, every private vehicle must have a contract between the operator and the school. They must carry a certified copy of the contract, which recognises that the transport is transporting learners to a particular school. That contract must be kept in the vehicle.

“The second requirement of the existing law is that the driver must have a special identity document that identifies him or her as a scholar transport service provider and that document must have the name of the driver, the identity number of the driver, the name of the operator and a code indicating the type of vehicle that is being used,” Creecy said.

Furthermore, a teacher must supervise a transport vehicle that provides services to pre-primary children or primary school children.

“We need to do more in terms of operations to enforce the existing regulations. Today’s operation, carried out by the National Traffic Department, is intended to target what we call private scholar transport vehicles. 

“These are not vehicles that are procured by the Department of Education for Scholar Transport, but they are vehicles that parents themselves have procured so that their children can reach different schools,”  the Minister said.

According to Creecy, the Department of Transport is in discussion with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) on the introduction of tracking devices in vehicles and in due course, the introduction of dashcams. 

“Clearly, this is an issue that can be implemented over time, since it has economic implications for the operators themselves, but it is something that we would like to work toward as we govern driver behaviour in the trucking business. We should be able to control driver behaviour not only in the taxi sector as a whole, but also in the student transportation industry,” she said.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, encouraged the public to report reckless driving on the road by using the National Traffic Call Centre (NTCC) – 0861 400 800.

“Please help us save lives. We have a hotline to report reckless driving and overloading of children in scholar transport. You can also assist us by taking videos, taking registration numbers and putting them on our social media platforms, the Facebook, Twitter and the Department of Road and Transport.

“We are working closely with municipalities and law enforcement agencies to ensure that we eradicate lawlessness but we also, importantly, save lives,” Diale-Tlabela said. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has dispatched a team of dam safety engineers to assess and closely monitor Senteeko Dam near Barberton in Mpumalanga, within the City of Mbombela Local Municipality, following reports that the dam is at risk of failure.

The intervention follows notification received by the department regarding the condition of the privately owned dam.

The department said the dam, officially registered as My Own Dam (publicly referred to as Senteeko Dam), is registered with the Department’s Dam Safety Office as a medium-sized dam, standing 26 metres high with a storage capacity of 1.8 million cubic metres. The dam is owned by the Shamile Communal Property Association (CPA) and is used for irrigation purposes.

According to the department, a team of dam safety engineers, working with the owner’s previously appointed Approved Professional Person (APP) for the dam, has been dispatched to site to conduct a technical assessment of reported damage and to continue monitoring the dam closely.

“The dam is an earthfall embarkment dam with a concrete spillway. Assessments and observations by the department’s Dam Safety Specialists indicate that undercutting of the spillway channel is continuing, eroding and posing a threat to the stability of the structure.

“The spillway channel slab is currently slightly suspended or cantilevered. There is currently no overtopping of the dam wall, and no excessive seepage has been observed on the earthfill embankment wall,” the department said in a statement.

The department confirmed that the dam’s outlet valve has been fully opened in accordance with the dam operating rules. However, due to increased inflows from the Die Kaap River, which is a tributary feeding the dam, the lowering of the dam water level has been minimal.

“This side-channel spillway is intended to lower the water level in the dam, thereby reducing undercutting of the spillway channel and preventing catastrophic failure of the dam. It is anticipated that this exercise will proceed even if additional rainfall is experienced.

“The areas most likely to be affected have been identified as those in close proximity to the dam, particularly Barberton Valley. Relevant communications, warnings and evacuation processes are being implemented by the relevant authorities,” the department said.

Meanwhile, observations by the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) indicate that flows in the upper reaches of the Die Kaap River have decreased since 19 January 2026.

The Crocodile River, located about 60 kilometres from Senteeko Dam, is currently flowing within normal recent peak levels.

The department said that any additional flows that may result from an unforeseen dam failure, should current interventions prove insufficient, are expected to have minimal impact on transboundary flows to Mozambique, which are currently elevated due to the recent flooding.

“The Department of Water and Sanitation takes dam safety seriously and urges communities to comply with all evacuation orders issued along the Die Kaap River. The public is also advised to avoid low-water bridges, unnecessary travel, and activities near rivers,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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As severe weather conditions have eased down across parts of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, including areas in the Kruger National Park (KNP), the Crocodile Bridge Gate will re-open for day visitors from today. 

“Visitors are advised that the situation, however, remains dynamic. A dam wall outside the park has been reported to be compromised, and this may change operational conditions at short notice, including access through Crocodile Bridge Gate,” the South African National Parks (SANParks) said.

All gravel roads remain closed until further notice and visitors are strongly urged not to remove barricades placed at closed gates or on restricted roads, as these are in place for public safety and infrastructure protection.

Guests are requested to consider taking their waste with them when leaving the park, as operations remain under pressure following recent flooding.

The Malelane Gate, Numbi Gate and Paul Kruger Gate remain open, with an entry quota system still in place. Phabeni Gate remains closed.

“The southern and northern sections of the park remain cut off from each other, which means that Tshokwane Picnic Site, Satara Rest Camp, and the northern regions of the park are not accessible at this stage.

“SANParks continues to monitor conditions closely and will communicate any changes as they occur. Visitors are urged to adhere strictly to all instructions and signage for their own safety. Further updates will be communicated as the situation evolves,” SANParks said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Keurbooms–Soetkraal fire, which affected parts of the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park, has been successfully contained. 

The fire burned an estimated 22 500 hectares in total.

“Following continuous monitoring and coordinated suppression efforts, the fire is now fully under control, with no further spread anticipated. The fire was closely monitored using both aerial and ground resources throughout the operation,” the South African National Parks (SANParks) said on Thursday.

From an ecological perspective, the fire is regarded as highly beneficial. 

It contributed positively to fynbos regeneration and assisted in controlling alien plants.

“Estimates indicate that achieving similar alien vegetation control through conventional methods would have cost between R60 million and R80 million. 

“By comparison, the total cost of managing the fire amounted to approximately R4.5 million, representing a considerable ecological return relative to expenditure.

“SANParks thanks all partners, firefighting teams and stakeholders for their cooperation and commitment throughout the incident.” –SAnews.gov.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Dinkie Portia Dube as the Deputy Public Protector of the Republic of South Africa for a term of seven years, effective from 1 February 2026.

In a statement on Thursday, The Presidency said the appointment was made in terms of section 2A(1) of the Public Protector Act, 1994 (Act No. 23 of 1994), following a recommendation by the National Assembly.

Adv Dube brings more than 20 years of experience in the public sector, with extensive expertise in oversight, complaints management and investigations.

She currently serves as the Director-General of the Public Service Commission. Prior to this role, she was the Chief Director: Operations in the Office of the Military Ombud.

Between 2011 and 2014, Dube served as the Provincial Director of the Gauteng Office of the Public Protector South Africa.

Her professional background also includes work in complaints resolution at the former Department of Trade and Industry’s Office of Consumer Protection, as well as a tenure as a legal officer at the South African Human Rights Commission.

“President Ramaphosa wishes Adv Dube well in her new role in the Public Protector as a supreme administrative oversight body with the power to investigate, report on and remedy improper conduct in all matters of the state,” the Presidency said. – SAnews.gov.za 

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KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers has committed to working with the eMadlangeni Local Municipality (ELM) to review its proposal for reclassification from an urban municipality to a rural one.

The move is aimed at strengthening its case for increased equitable share funding from National Treasury.

Rodgers made the commitment during a meeting with an ELM delegation led by Mayor Mzwakhe Buthelezi at the KwaZulu-Natal Treasury offices in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, 20 January 2025.

The MEC was accompanied by senior officials from the provincial Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).

The engagement followed discussions held earlier this month, where the municipality indicated its intention to seek reclassification in order to better reflect its service delivery needs and socio-economic profile.

Reclassification could potentially result in an increased equitable share allocation, which refers to the distribution of revenue from national government to provinces, municipalities and public entities for service delivery needs.

During the meeting, ELM also requested provincial support for infrastructure rehabilitation after severe storms in December 2025 caused damage estimated at more than R140 million.

The storms led to the destruction of both commercial and residential properties and significantly disrupted service delivery, with some areas reportedly still without electricity supply.

The ELM delegation was informed that National Treasury is currently reviewing the equitable share formula to improve the effectiveness of funding allocations to government institutions.

The review process is expected to impact all 257 municipalities across the country.

Rodgers assured the delegation that their concerns would be taken forward through both provincial and national political channels.

“The Provincial Treasury would work with the ELM in reviewing their proposal to the National Treasury with respect to the equitable share allocation, as well as engage with the MEC for CoGTA to expedite the process with respect to Disaster Relief funding and engagement with the Municipal Demarcation Board on the matter of reclassification,” Rodgers said.

Rodgers also commended the improvements in eMadlangeni’s financial management and audit outcomes over the past three years, describing them as encouraging.

He said KwaZulu-Natal Treasury will continue to support the municipality in strengthening its financial position and ensuring sustainable service delivery. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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