Category: South Africa Government

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Dr Dion George, has praised the rapid and coordinated efforts of the department’s Fishery Control Officers, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town Marine Unit, which resulted in the successful arrest of a fisherman using drone technology.

On Friday, 24 October 2025, during a sting operation, law enforcement officers joined forces and swiftly apprehended a recreational angler at the Strandfontein pavilion, who was caught making use of a drone to cast his bait behind the surf zone.

“It is encouraging to note that the arrest followed reports from concerned members of the public regarding the illegal drone fishing activities in False Bay. 

“This is the kind of zero-tolerance approach that will enhance our enforcement efforts,” said George.

The Minister said the accused holds a valid permit endorsed for recreational angling, which only authorises manually operating a rod, reel and line as defined in the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998.

“However, the use of a drone is not authorised, as stipulated in the conditions of the permit. Officers confiscated the drone, which will be used as evidence in court proceedings.”

According to the department, the enforcement action follows the Supreme Court of Appeal’s ruling on 16 July 2024, upholding the ban on the use of drones, bait-carrying remote-controlled boats and other remotely operated devices in fishing operations.

The department explained that the use of these drones for fishing has been illegal since 2005, and recreational anglers and members of the public have previously been warned that they could face enforcement action should they be caught using such devices.

The department stated that it remains committed to the conservation and sustainable management of South Africa’s marine resources.

“We believe that the ban on drones and remote-controlled devices in marine environments is crucial in preserving the delicate balance of our oceans and protecting vulnerable species.”

The Minister has emphasised that enforcement capabilities and partnerships will continue to be strengthened to ensure that those who exploit natural resources face the full consequences of the law.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to every officer and partner involved in these operations. Their hard work and sacrifices are crucial in safeguarding South Africa’s marine biodiversity,“ added George. – SAnews.gov.za

106 views

The Gauteng Department of Social Development has reminded all non-profit organisations (NPOs) to submit their funding applications for the 2026/27 financial year before the closing date on Thursday, 30 October 2025.

The deadline extension announced by Gauteng MEC for Social Development Faith Mazibuko was moved from the original cut-off date of 15 October to give organisations more time to finalise their applications.

Mazibuko urged organisations that have not yet applied to make use of the extended period to submit their applications to avoid disqualification.

“We extended the application period to 30 October to give all NPOs a fair chance to complete their submissions. This is the final opportunity, and we urge organisations to respect the deadline. Late applications will unfortunately not be considered,” the MEC said.

Mazibuko said the department appreciated the critical role NPOs play in supporting communities and delivering essential social services to the people of Gauteng.

“By working together, we can ensure that services reach those most in need across our province,” she said.

The department encouraged NPOs to submit their applications through the approved channels, including the dedicated email address: NPOApplications.Socdev@gauteng.gov.za. 

All submissions must include the required supporting documentation as outlined in the 2026/27 Call for Proposals. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units continue to make significant inroads in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), between 13 and 19 October 2025, the specialised units collectively arrested 534 suspects across the country for various sexual crimes, including rape, sexual assault, attempted rape, and other related offences.

“During the same period, FCS investigators secured 13 life imprisonment sentences and an additional 448 years’ imprisonment against convicted sexual offenders. These sentences were handed down in various courts following thorough investigations and meticulous case preparation by dedicated detectives,” the SAPS said.

Recent notable convictions include:

• Free State: On 17 October 2025, the Bloemfontein High Court sentenced a 58-year-old lawyer from Welkom to three life terms and an addition 61 years’ imprisonment for the sexual abuse of five minor children.

  The youngest victim was seven years old at the time of the offences. The victims’ stepfather was found guilty on charges of rape, indecent assault, sexual grooming, exposure to pornography to a minor, sexual exploitation of a child, production of child sexual abuse material, sexual assault, and compelled sexual assault.

•  Limpopo: The Limpopo Division of High Court Polokwane sentenced a 38-year-old serial rapist to 151 years’ imprisonment on 22 October 2025 for multiple counts of rape, attempted rape, and robbery. 

  The convicted serial rapist targeted women in and around Hlogotlou, Rakgadi and Nebo. The youngest victim was nine years old at the time of her attack. 

The SAPS commends all men and women in blue for their continued dedication and commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of sexual violence are brought to justice and that survivors receive the justice and dignity they deserve. – SAnews.gov.za

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, is leading a higher education delegation to the Going Global Conference, currently underway in London, in the United Kingdom (UK).

The conference, hosted by the British Council from 28–30 October 2025, brings together international education leaders to network, discuss global policy issues, share best practices, and shape the future of higher education.

“I am honoured that the British Council invited me to represent South Africa and our department on a global platform, participating in panel discussions and workshops on global education, collaboration, and sharing best practices. Discussions on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as skills development centres are crucial for gaining insights to take back home,” Gondwe said.

The Deputy Minister is scheduled to participate in two high-level panel discussions. The first panel, taking place on Wednesday, focuses on “Opportunity-driven TVET: The Future of Skills Development”, and will feature experts from the United Kingdom, European Union, Malawi, and Ghana.

Her second engagement, scheduled for Thursday, will be held under the theme: “Building Resilience for a Volatile Future”.

The session will emphasise the need for academic institutions to adapt and demonstrate resilience amidst geopolitical instability, budget constraints, and technological disruptions such as Artificial Intelligence.

The second panel will include international experts from Türkiye, India, and the UK.

The Deputy Minister will also use her working visit to explore opportunities for international collaboration, particularly in youth skills development, and potential scholarships programmes to benefit South African students. – SAnews.gov.za
 

By William Baloyi 

When President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all foreign aid to South Africa, in January this year, we immediately set about finding solutions. Among the most pressing was to ensure that our life saving HIV and AIDS programme continued to function.

 

The United States. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR as it is known, has been a vital part of our HIV/AIDS arsenal and has saved countless lives in Africa and South Africa. Initially a temporary waiver was granted for the 90-day suspension, however once this passed funding was frozen, leading to job losses and service disruptions.

 

This was a hammer blow to our efforts to save lives, as the United States contributed over $400 million a year to South Africa’s HIV programme and to the work of nongovernmental organisations.

 

This all occurred against the backdrop of strained relations between South Africa and the United States. However, we always viewed this as an opportunity to better strengthen relations and to arrive at solutions to the benefit of both nations.

 

While talks continue, the announcement of a United States bridging plan worth $115 million that would continue funding HIV treatment and prevention programme for a period of six months from 1 October 2025 until the end of March 2026, is a positive sign of good bilateral relations despite recent tensions.

 

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, welcomed the announcement at a post-Cabinet media briefing on 16 October 2025, noting it as a positive indication of the strong and enduring partnership between South Africa and the United States. She said the U.S. government’s $115 million bridging plan will ensure continued funding for HIV treatment and prevention programmes until March 2026 reflecting a shared commitment to cooperation, even amid ongoing discussions. “It’s a confirmation of the good bilateral relations between South Africa and the U.S. so that when we have complaints, they intervene and we find an amicable solution to the problem,” Minister Ntshavheni added.

 

This news came at an exciting time in our efforts to fight HIV. By early next year, possibly as early as March or April, South Africa will roll out Lenacapavir, as part of our comprehensive HIV response. 

 

Lenacapavir, is a new long-acting antiretroviral drug, which is delivered via injection only twice a year, offering six months of continuous protection per dose. Just two injections a year could protect an individual from HIV, in contrast to the daily pills or the bi-monthly injections currently in use. 

 

Clinical trials of Lenacapavir have showed remarkable efficacy in preventing HIV. In one trial among women, it showed 100% efficacy within the study period – and in another trial amongst men who have sex with men and transgender women, efficacy was around 96%.

 

This treatment could truly be a game changer as despite our many treatment options, South Africa, continues to carry the highest burden of HIV globally, with an estimated 8 million People Living with HIV in our country. 

 

A large part of our arsenal is in preventing future infections, and to date, over 2 million people have been initiated on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis. This goes hand in hand with comprehensive education, HIV testing, condom distribution, male medical circumcision and other behavioural interventions as part of a combination prevention approach. 

 

However, despite all these efforts approximately 149,000 South Africans acquired HIV in 2023. Worryingly adolescent girls and young women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of new infections, along with other key populations. 

 

The reasons for this include low use of condoms and inconsistent use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis. Getting people to adhere to treatment or prevention options has often been the biggest problem. Lenacapavir, could help to overcome this burden and has the potential to

dramatically reduce new infections. 

 

Mathematical modelling shows that if 2 to 4 million people use Lenacapavir over 12 to 24 months, South Africa could reduce new HIV infections to below 0.1% by 2032, achieving epidemic control ten years earlier than the expected.

 

It can begin to unlock a future where HIV is no longer a public health threat and bring to life our goal of reaching an AIDS free generation by 2030. 

 

*William Baloyi is a Deputy Government Spokesperson.

28 views

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will respond to oral questions regarding his delegated responsibilities in the National Assembly on Thursday.

As part of the constitutional requirement for members of Cabinet to account to Parliament for their powers and performance, Deputy President Mashatile will address questions concerning the government’s efforts to implement rapid response interventions for service delivery and to troubleshoot service delivery issues in various municipalities across the country. 

The aim is to enhance governance and improve service delivery in these areas.

In January 2025, the Competition Commission conducted a market inquiry into the fresh produce market. 

Following this inquiry, the Deputy President will update Members of Parliament (MPs) on the government’s initiatives to boost annual sales for small-scale and historically disadvantaged farmers through the National Fresh Produce Markets.

“On the question of bolstering crime intelligence in the South African Police Service to stem gangsterism and other forms of violent crimes, the Members of Parliament will be updated on the multisectoral coordination and intelligence-driven strategies undertaken by government to curb the scourge of gangsterism,” the advisory read. 

The Deputy President will address questions regarding land reform and agricultural development in rural areas to promote the growth of the agricultural sector. 

In addition, he will discuss the repayment of debts owed by municipalities to Eskom, as well as the government’s strategies for tackling the disproportionate prevalence of HIV among women and girls.

The proceedings will be livestreamed on the DStv parliamentary channel 408 and YouTube. – SAnews.gov.za
 

A crime intelligence driven operation by the police resulted in the discovery of R20 million worth of cocaine at a small holding in Midrand, Gauteng on Tuesday evening. 

“A multidisciplinary team led by Crime Intelligence Head Office, inclusive of the Gauteng Organised Crime unit, SAPS Johannesburg K9 unit and members of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were following up on information of drugs that were being stored at a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand,” the South African Police Service said in a statement. 

On further investigation it was discovered that the drugs were brought into South Africa from a neighbouring country and were destined for Cape Town. 

“The cocaine was found hidden in a storage room on the identified plot. A 56-year-old man who is believed to be the owner of the plot has been arrested and the cocaine weighing about 80kg has been seized,” the police said. 

The suspect is expected to appear before the Midrand Magistrate’s Court later this week on a possible charge of possession of drugs as well as dealing in drugs. – SAnews.gov.za