Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has hailed South Africa’s grain producers for delivering a record-breaking harvest this season, despite the economic pressures facing farmers due to rising input costs and falling commodity prices.

Speaking at the Grain SA Grain Producer of the Year Awards held at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng on Friday night, Steenhuisen described the 2025 season as “an incredible achievement,” with the country’s total grain and oilseed harvest exceeding 23 million tonnes, a 30% increase compared to last year.

“With our maize harvest alone, at a staggering 16,33 million tons, we are well over our national need of 12 million tons. This success secures our food supply and positions us strongly as a key regional supplier. Well done! You are truly an asset to our nation,” the Minister said.

He commended the resilience and contribution of grain producers, noting that they not only feed the nation, but also bring in crucial foreign currency, stabilise our trade balance, and create tens of thousands of jobs.

“You are the vanguard of South African agriculture, and your resilience in the face of immense challenges is deeply appreciated.”

While celebrating the bumper crop, Steenhuisen cautioned that the current abundance has also brought serious financial strain to producers.

He said farmers are facing immense “financial squeeze” that is hitting their bottom line from two opposing directions, including lower output prices caused by the oversupply of grain, and rising operational costs driven by higher prices for fertiliser, fuel, equipment, and labour.

“When the money you get from selling your crop is low, but the cost of growing it is high, the financial consequence is immediate: your profit margins are severely squeezed or worse, wiped out,” Steenhuisen said.

He highlighted that producers, especially wheat producers are being under pressure, citing ridged policy environment that is not focused on long term sustainability.

According to the Minister, losing domestic wheat producers due to current circumstances, could cost South African consumers an additional R643 million just to maintain the current quality bread on the table.

Drawing parallels with the situation in the United States, he said the plight of South African farmers reflects a global challenge of rising production costs and falling grain prices.

“The example from Minnesota shows clearly that high production volume is worthless if prices are too low to cover the cost of production. We feel your pain because it’s a global problem,” Steenhuisen said.

Measures to boost competitiveness

Steenhuisen outlined government priorities aimed at supporting farmers and protecting the sector’s competitiveness.

Among the key interventions include access to the best and safest new breeding technologies and creating an environment that encourages investment in innovation, both from local and international partners, such as the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and Syngenta.

“It also means improving logistics at every level: local, provincial and national, and continuing to open up new international markets. Over the past year, the Department of Agriculture has been engaging with many countries to prioritise our exporting farmers.

“Above all, we must focus on regulatory efficiency, so that progress in agriculture is not held back by unnecessary red tape. These priorities align strongly with the goals of the Agriculture and Agro–Processing Master Plan, which remains our shared roadmap for growth and competitiveness in the sector,” the Minister said.

Protecting a strategic national asset

Steenhuisen described agriculture as one of South Africa’s most strategic national assets, reaffirming government’s commitment to stand with producers in addressing rising costs, collapsing margins, and unnecessary red tape.

“We will work with you, not above you, to ensure that South African grain remains among the most respected in the world. Let us keep the spirit of partnership alive, because together we can weather any storm and secure a future that is both profitable and proudly South African,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, November 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration at the Siyathemba Local Municipality, situated in the Northern Cape.

The investigation will aim to recover any losses the state suffered.

Proclamation 295 of 2025 authorises the SIU to investigate serious maladministration in connection with the procurement of printers, photocopy machines and other related equipment.

“The SIU will probe any related unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality or the state, and the contracting of goods and services was made in a manner that was not fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, or cost-effective or in violation of applicable legislation, guidelines, or instructions from the National or Provincial Treasury,” the Special Investigating Unit said in a statement.

According to the SIU, the probe will also look at any irregular, unlawful, or improper conduct by officials or employees of the municipality, its suppliers or service providers, or any other person or entity implicated.

“The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that occurred between 1 January 2016 and 31 October 2025, as well as any related activities before 1 January 2016 and after the date of the Proclamation that are pertinent to the matters under investigation or involve the same persons, entities, or contracts.

“Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU is committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending measures to prevent future losses,” the SIU said.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud or maladministration. – SAnews.gov.za 

Source: Government of South Africa

Transnet says it is ready to handle increased fruit export volumes at the Cape Town Container Terminal, which serves as a key link between Western Cape producers and international markets. 

This as the deciduous fruit season has been forecasted to increase by 3% in export table grapes, pomegranates, stone fruits, berries, apples, and pears from November 2025 until the end of March 2026. 

“We are approaching this season with confidence following recent investments in new equipment which we look forward to using this deciduous season. These newer machines are more resistant to wind which has been a challenge for us over the years,” Western Cape Terminals Managing Executive, Oscar Borchards said. 

The terminal’s heightened state of readiness is a direct result of strategic investment in state-of-the-art equipment, focused maintenance, continuous process improvement and effective people management across Transnet Port Terminals’ (TPT’s) terminals, the operating division of Transnet.

In the 2025/2026 financial year, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) plans to spend R4 billion in five terminals across KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape. 

To enhance efficiency, the Cape Town Container Terminal has received 28 brand new rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), with nine of the RTGs already operational. 

The second set of nine machines is currently nearing the end of the commissioning stage, while the last batch of 10 is being assembled.

The new equipment boasts both anti-sway technology and diesel-electric hybrid engines.

The Cape Town Container Terminal has put mitigation measures in place to better manage operations during windy periods. 

These include closely monitoring of the truck booking system when the terminal is windbound, which entails cancelling all appointments should operations be halted for longer than four hours. 

The terminal will also follow a staggering approach on imports/exports stack dates, segregating reefers, empties and full containers to create fluidity. 

The Cape Town Container Terminal will work synergistically with the Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal to manage peak periods during the season. 

Smaller vessels will be redirected to the multi-purpose terminal to reduce congestion at the container terminal. 

Export deciduous fruits are predominantly grown in the Western Cape, with minimal Northern Cape volumes handled through the Cape Terminals. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

 The National Department of Transport (DOT) has reminded all stakeholders in the airfreight sector that the date for comments on the gazetted Airfreight Strategy of South Africa is fast approaching.

The strategy has identified 11 priority areas with one of them being on the usage of drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the provision of seamless services and movement of goods in the airfreight sub-sector. 

Drones or AUVs are included not as a simple technical innovation in the envisaged Airfreight Strategy for South Africa but as a critical enabler designed to significantly multiply the efficiency, inclusivity, and resilience of the entire national airfreight system.

“Drones or UAVs offer a powerful solution for the ‘first and last mile’ of delivery. They will complement the conventional road-based transportation by rapidly moving smaller, time-sensitive, and high-value shipments. For businesses, this means lower operational costs, faster delivery times, and a significant boost to e-commerce growth,” the department said on Sunday.

This technology is expected to extend the reach of airfreight to rural and hard- to-reach areas where traditional modes of transport are hugely challenged. 

“By offering an agile, alternative transport option, drones or UAVs add a crucial layer of resilience to supply chains, ensuring continuity during disasters like floods or infrastructure failures. Furthermore, drones or UAVs stand to foster alignment with global sustainability goals by providing a greener, low-emission delivery method.

“Given the public conversation on drones or UAVs that has sparked in the wake of publication of the draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa, it is essential for the DOT to implore the public, once more, to submit their comments into the gazetted draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa,” the department said.

The draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa aims to unlock the full economic potential of the airfreight sub-sector by addressing systemic challenges such as fragmented cargo corridors, market barriers, and weak regional connectivity.

It is a product of a rigorous, future-focused assessment that was initiated by the DOT on its national transport policies in relation the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) of 2017.

The findings of the assessments indicated that while passenger and commercial aviation have advanced, the airfreight sub-sector has remained relatively underdeveloped and fragmented. 

“This situation limits the country’s trade and logistical capabilities, thus emphasising the need for a more integrated and efficient airfreight network to unlock its full potential,” the department said.

The window period for the public to submit comments on the draft document was set from 26 September 2025 to 07 November 2025. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, November 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

South Africa and Switzerland have signed a Joint Declaration of Cooperation on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), reaffirming their shared intention to elevate the quality and impact of vocational education through stronger public-private collaboration.

The declaration was signed by Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit to Switzerland, held from 29 to 30 October 2025.

The State Visit, described as highly successful, deepened bilateral relations between the two countries, focusing on enhancing vocational education, advancing research collaboration, and affirming South Africa’s commitment to cultural restitution and educational transformation.

Supporting young researchers in Switzerland

During the visit, Manamela met with a group of South African doctoral and postdoctoral students, currently based in Switzerland through the Department of Higher Education and Training’s International Scholarship Programme.

The engagement provided a space for students to reflect on their experiences and offer proposals on improving the scholarship platform, particularly in the areas of accessibility, mentorship, and long-term academic support.

The students also had the opportunity to engage with President Ramaphosa, expressing their hopes to contribute meaningfully to South Africa’s scientific and intellectual development.

Manamela reaffirmed government’s commitment to building a globally competitive, research-intensive post-school education system, noting that the scholarships form part of the Presidential PhD Programme, supported by the National Skills Fund and the Department of Science and Innovation.

According to the department, Switzerland is fast becoming an increasingly important partner in this programme. Over time, the number of South African scholars supported in Swiss institutions is expected to increase, as government works to expand postgraduate training opportunities and build stronger international research networks that benefit both individual scholars and their home institutions in South Africa.

Manamela highlighted that the new agreement aims to expand Swiss private-sector participation in South Africa’s dual apprenticeship model, combining structured work-based learning with theoretical instruction.

“This aligns closely with South Africa’s own TVET transformation agenda and efforts to strengthen industry alignment across priority sectors. There is room for many more companies, especially in manufacturing, agri-processing, engineering, and pharmaceuticals, to play a bigger role in skills development, both through direct training and curriculum support,” the Minister said.

President Ramaphosa and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter endorsed the initiative with a joint visit to the Vocational and Further Education Training Centre in Wil-Uzwil, where they witnessed the effectiveness of the Swiss model in bridging the gap between education and the labour market.

Expanding research cooperation and promoting knowledge sovereignty

Manamela also visited the University of Bern, where he held high-level discussions with university leadership and researchers.

The meeting highlighted ongoing partnerships in public health, environmental science, big data ethics, and doctoral training. Special emphasis was placed on strengthening cooperation with South African universities, particularly those that have historically lacked access to global networks of research funding and infrastructure.

The Minister stressed the importance of research sovereignty in a world where knowledge is increasingly commodified and concentrated.

Both South Africa and Switzerland acknowledged the need to defend and grow public research capacity in the face of rising commercial pressures. This includes investing in local innovation ecosystems, building joint doctoral programmes, and co-developing knowledge that responds to social needs, rather than just market demand.

Progress was also made on the proposal to establish a South Africa–Switzerland University Forum, which will serve as a long-term platform for faculty exchange, joint research, and institutional partnerships across disciplines.

Cultural restitution and return of the Shiluvana artefacts

Meanwhile, in his capacity as Acting Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Manamela officiated at the historic return of ancestral spiritual artefacts to the Shiluvana Royal Family from the Neuchâtel Museum of Ethnography.

The artefacts — a walking staff, a set of divining bones in a woven basket, and a bull’s foot bone, were taken more than a century ago by Swiss missionary Pastor Henry-Alexandre Junod from Prince Mugevisa Shiluvana.

The handover ceremony, attended by descendants of both the Shiluvana and Junod families, as well as Swiss cultural leaders, was described as a deeply symbolic act of restitution. It affirms South Africa’s call for museums and collecting institutions around the world to return dispossessed heritage to rightful custodians.

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed to expand cultural cooperation and promote joint research on heritage and memory.

“This restitution offers us a glimpse of what a decolonised future might look like, one where museums return what was taken, and history is written with dignity and justice… we carry with us hope for a future where heritage is not commodified, but cherished, and where restitution is not exceptional, but expected,” Manamela said.

Throughout the state visit, South Africa and Switzerland recommitted themselves to an ambitious partnership rooted in mutual respect, innovation, and people-to-people exchange.

From strengthening TVET cooperation to building new research ecosystems and the return of dispossessed cultural artefacts, the visit underscored the power of education, science, and heritage in shaping a more just and sovereign future.

Manamela concluded the visit by reaffirming his department’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships, leveraging global academic and vocational expertise, and expanding opportunities for young South Africans to succeed in a rapidly changing world. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Source: Government of South Africa

Several suspects are due to appear in court for various crimes, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has said, due to the 
Nelson Mandela Bay District in the Eastern Cape’s continued  relentless fight against crime over the weekend through, Operation Shanela II.

The operation yielded significant successes, including the recovery of stolen property, firearms, and ammunition.
“These results reflect the South African Police Service’s ongoing commitment to restoring safety, maintaining order and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice,” said the police in a statement.

On Thursday 30 October 2025, stop-and-search operations in Wells Estate, resulted in the arrest of four suspects. This as a complainant identified his stolen VW Polo, two Samsung cell phones (A30 and A31) and an undisclosed amount of cash which were found in the suspects’ possession. 

Upon further inspection, police also discovered three firearms in the vehicle, however, it was later established that the rifle and both 9mm pistols were blank firearms. 

“Following information provided by the arrested suspects, police were led to a shop in NU29 in Motherwell where they had allegedly left the real firearm used during the crime. 

“Members proceeded to the Motherwell and found an Ethiopian male (32) unlawfully in possession of the firearm. The four suspects were detained on possession of dangerous weapons, possession of suspected stolen property,” the police said.

In another unrelated success, on Friday 31 October 2025, the Nelson Mandela Bay District Crime combatting unit followed up on information related to an abduction and hijacking case that occurred in the Gelvandale policing precinct.

A white VW Polo linked to the incident was stopped in Avenue C, New Brighton, and the driver was escorted to Swartkops SAPS for a search. The suspect was found in possession of 20 live rounds of ammunition and a black Nasty Vape, matching the items stolen during the Gelvandale hijacking. 

The suspect was arrested, and further investigation led to the recovery of stolen stock valued at approximately R150,000, which had been hidden by the suspect in New Brighton. The suspect was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of suspected stolen property.

On Saturday 01 November 2025, the Nelson Mandela Bay District Crime combatting unit received information about a kidnapping in Somerset East involving two vehicles, a silver/grey VW Polo and a white Mazda CX5 belonging to the victim travelling at high speed toward Uitenhage via the R75. 

Acting swiftly, members set up a roadblock at the entrance to Kariega. The grey Polo later crashed, and its occupant was arrested. 
The Mazda, carrying the kidnapped victim, evaded the initial road block, but police pursued it along the R75 until it overturned near the Daniel Pienaar off-ramp. 

Three suspects exited the vehicle, and two opened fire at the SAPS members. During the exchange, one suspect was fatally shot, one was arrested and the third fled into nearby bushes, evading capture despite an extensive search with the assistance of Kariega K9 Unit. 

The victim, a 40-year-old Ethiopian male, was rescued unharmed, and the scene was secured for further investigation. 

The suspects were arrested on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder of police officials, unlawful possession of firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and reckless or negligent driving.

“During all these arrests the following was confiscated, one 9mm Norinco, one magazine with 5 live rounds, three blank firearms, cash, cell phones, VW Polo, 20 live rounds of ammunition, 120 loose vapes, 18 boxes of Nasty Vapes containing 5 each and two big boxes of Nasty Vapes containing 10 each, VW Polo Vivo, 9mm glock Gen with 10 live rounds and a white Mazda CX5.

Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, commended the Crime Combatting Units for their dedication and bravery.

He praised their professionalism and teamwork, emphasising that the successes reflect SAPS’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all communities and sending a clear message that criminals have no place to hide in Nelson Mandela Bay. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, November 3, 2025