Category: South Africa Government

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has highlighted the need to safeguard the biodiversity economy through stronger collaboration with communities and traditional authorities.

“Communities are no longer viewed merely as beneficiaries of conservation. Through co-management arrangements and representation in decision-making structures, they are active partners shaping the future of protected areas,” the Minister said on Monday in Kimberly. 

Addressing 10th People and Parks National Conference, he emphasised that the government has advanced land reform and restitution within protected areas, restoring land rights while ensuring biodiversity remains protected for future generations.

“We have expanded socio-economic opportunities linked to conservation by creating jobs, supporting enterprise development in eco-tourism and biodiversity stewardship, investing in infrastructure, and equipping young people with skills to participate in the biodiversity economy.

“We have strengthened partnerships across spheres of government, conservation agencies, traditional leadership, civil society and the private sector, who all play their part.

“And through biodiversity stewardship and conservation expansion initiatives, communities and private landowners are contributing to the growth of our conservation estate. These achievements affirm a simple truth: when communities benefit from conservation, they become its strongest champions,” Aucamp said.

He said around the world, there is growing recognition that nature is not a luxury; it is the foundation of economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability.

“South Africa is globally recognised for its extraordinary biodiversity, and this natural heritage is one of our greatest national assets. But its protection cannot succeed without the meaningful participation of the people who live closest to it,” the Minister said.

For 20 years, the People and Parks Programme has strengthened partnerships between conservation authorities and communities adjacent to protected areas. 

“Over time, it has become a cornerstone of inclusive conservation in our country. Communities are no longer viewed merely as beneficiaries of conservation. 

“Through co-management arrangements and representation in decision-making structures, they are active partners shaping the future of protected areas.

“We have expanded socio-economic opportunities linked to conservation by creating jobs, supporting enterprise development in eco-tourism and biodiversity stewardship, investing in infrastructure, and equipping young people with skills to participate in the biodiversity economy,” the Minister said.

In addition, partnerships have been strengthened across spheres of government, conservation agencies, traditional leadership, civil society and the private sector, who all play their part.

“And through biodiversity stewardship and conservation expansion initiatives, communities and private landowners are contributing to the growth of our conservation estate.

“These achievements affirm a simple truth: when communities benefit from conservation, they become its strongest champions,” the Minister said.

While the partnerships between the conservation authorities and communities have been strengthened, human-wildlife conflict remains a serious concern in areas surrounding protected areas such as the Kruger National Park, Mthethomusha Game Reserve, Songimvelo Game Reserve and Mawana Game Reserve, and so many others.

“Inadequate fencing, increasing wildlife pressures and insufficient compensation mechanisms place strain on already vulnerable communities.

“Budgetary pressures constrain management authorities and slow the implementation of co-management agreements. Infrastructure projects linked to the biodiversity economy are not moving at the pace our communities expect and deserve.

“These realities demand innovative and sustainable financing models, stronger mitigation measures, and closer collaboration between all stakeholders,” the Minister said.

At the global level, South Africa remains firmly committed to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls on all countries to ensure that by 2030, at least 30 percent of land, freshwater and marine areas are conserved through effectively managed and equitably governed systems that recognise community lands and traditional territories.

“Inclusive conservation is therefore not optional; it is a global obligation. Without community support, protected areas face resistance, enforcement becomes costly and unsustainable, and ultimately conservation outcomes weaken.

“The People and Parks Programme is central to ensuring that community lands contribute meaningfully to achieving this target, in a way that respects rights, restores dignity and creates opportunity,” the Minister stressed. –SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the decision to hold the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eThekwini in August 2026, is an encouraging acknowledgement of the progress the city has made.

“This is a worthy recognition of the progress that has been made, together with all social partners, in restoring confidence in the city and encouragement to complete the work,” the President said.

The President said tangible progress had been made over the past two years since the establishment of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group.

Established in April 2024, the working group is a collaborative initiative between The Presidency, the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to address service delivery challenges, improve infrastructure, stabilise governance, and enhance economic growth in the municipality.

He said eThekwini has moved from the brink of decline to early recovery but warned that stabilisation must now give way to structural economic reform if the metro is to achieve catalytic growth. 

“When we first met in early 2024, we were navigating uncertainty. Confidence was fragile. Service delivery challenges were acute. Today, there are tangible signs that the decline has been arrested, that stability has taken root and that recovery is underway,” the President said. 

He met with the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), following the unveiling of landmark statues of struggle icons President Nelson Mandela and former African National Congress President Oliver Reginald Tambo, in the city on Tuesday.

The President said he looked forward, as the chair of SADC, to invite leaders from across the region to gather in eThekwini – where the African Union was launched – to deliberate on issues that are critical to the growth and development of Southern Africa.

It comes as South Africa assumes the interim leadership of the regional bloc.

President Ramaphosa was elected interim Chairperson of SADC during a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government held on 7 November 2025.

The decision followed the Republic of Madagascar’s move to relinquish its role as SADC Chair due to recent political developments that affected its capacity to fulfil the responsibilities of the position.

In line with provisions of the SADC Treaty, South Africa, as Deputy Chair, has assumed interim leadership of the regional body until August 2026, when the Summit is expected to make a formal determination.

SADC leaders had originally appointed South Africa as the incoming 46th Chair during the 45th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in August 2025. The Summit is the highest policy-making structure of the regional bloc.

Due to developments in Madagascar, however, South Africa has taken over earlier than anticipated and, as interim Chair, hosted SADC meetings from November 2025.

According to the Summit communiqué, South Africa will steer SADC under the theme adopted in August 2025: “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”

The hosting of the 46th SADC Summit in eThekwini is therefore expected to cement South Africa’s leadership role within the bloc, while positioning the coastal city as a centre for regional diplomacy and economic cooperation in the year ahead. – SAnews.gov.za 

Rio Tinto’s announcement to restart the Richards Bay Minerals’ $473 million Zulti South project has been described as a vote of confidence in South Africa’s mining industry. 

This week, the mining company announced the restart with the aim of extending the mine’s life to 2050.

“This significant capital commitment signals renewed investor confidence in South Africa’s mineral resources sector and enhances collaboration between industry, government, and host communities.

“Richards Bay Minerals [RBM], which is 74%-owned by Rio Tinto, mines mineral-rich sands in KwaZulu-Natal and produces zircon, rutile, ilmenite and titanium dioxide. These minerals are essential inputs in the manufacturing of a wide range of products, including paints, medical applications, sunscreen and smartphones – underscoring South Africa’s role in global value chains,” the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) said on Tuesday.

The project was halted in 2020 due to unrest in the area but, with the help of government, Amakhosi and the host community, the project will now forge ahead.

“Through partnerships of this nature, the mining sector can leverage private-sector investment to unlock inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. 

“The department reiterates the importance of sustained collaboration between mining companies, government, traditional leadership structures, organised labour and communities.

“Stability, social compacting, and responsible mining practices remain fundamental to unlocking long-term value from South Africa’s mineral endowment while ensuring that the benefits of mineral development are broadly shared,” the department noted.

In its announcement on Monday, the company said construction is anticipated to commence in the first quarter of 2026 and will take 30 months to be completed. 

“In keeping with our regulatory frameworks, the Zulti South project is expected to generate employment opportunities, support skills development initiatives, and contribute to the socio-economic advancement of mining-affected communities,” the DMPR added. – SAnews.gov.za

Motorists who intend to travel over the Easter long weekend are advised to ensure the validity of their vehicle licence discs and driving licence cards, as the Natis system indicates that 700 399 vehicle licence discs will be expiring at the end of March.

The renewal for vehicle licence discs affects 259 563 vehicles in Gauteng, 116 633 vehicles in the Western Cape, 98 735 vehicles in KwaZulu-Natal, 51 198 vehicles in Mpumalanga and 45 240 vehicles in Limpopo.

In the Eastern Cape, 44 840 vehicles are affected, 36 335 in the North West, 31 964 vehicles in the Free State, and 15 891 vehicles in the Northern Cape.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has encouraged motorists to renew their vehicle licence discs in the comfort of their home or office by using the online.natis.gov.za

“The disc will be delivered within three to five working days. More than six million vehicle licence discs have been processed through this platform since it became available in 2022.

“Drivers based in Gauteng, Gqeberha and Karigan in the Eastern Cape can use the same platform to prebook a slot to renew driving licence cards. Drivers in other provinces can use the services at their driving licence centres,” RTMC said on Tuesday.

A total of 128 080 driving licence cards will be expiring in the same period and need to be renewed. 

This will affect 44 142 drivers in Gauteng, 20 188 drivers in KwaZulu-Natal, 17 108 in the Western Cape, 12 515 in Mpumalanga, 11 831 in Limpopo, 8 404 in the Eastern Cape, 6 187 in North West, 5 471 in Free State, and 2 234 in Northern Cape. –SAnews.gov.za

South Africa and the European Union have held the inaugural Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP) business to government dialogue on Tuesday.

Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Alexandra Abrahams opened the Business-to-Government Dialogue.

“The Clean Trade and Investment Partnership marks a strategic evolution in the South Africa–EU economic relationship. The EU [European Union] remains one of South Africa’s largest trading partners with total trade growing by 56% since 2016 and, through this mutually beneficial partnership, we will continue to deepen our relationship,” she said.

The CTIP is a partnership between the EU and South Africa aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investment in clean supply chains.

It was endorsed on 20 November 2025 by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and President Ramaphosa.

Through strengthened cooperation between the EU and SA industries and governments, the CTIP aims to improve the trade and investment climate to unlock EU public and private investment, including maximising the impact of Global Gateway financing.

The Deputy Minister said the partnership will expand trade volumes while reshaping value chains.

“It will align decarbonisation with industrialisation, and investment with local economic development, ensuring that South Africa participates as an industrial partner in clean supply chains rather than as a supplier of raw materials. As we move into implementation, our focus is to mobilise bankable investment, address regulatory and market access constraints, and ensure that clean trade translates into economic growth and sustainable job creation,” she explained.

Deputy Director General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, Maria Martin-Prat said that there are enormous mutual trade and investment opportunities in “our clean supply chains.”

“Look at South Africa’s ambition to reform its electricity sector and construct approximately 14,500 km of new transmission lines in the next decade – the scale of opportunity is immense. To turn ambitions into reality, we will need three things. Firstly, we need companies ready to invest in these supply chains.

“European firms, with their cutting-edge technology and expertise in clean solutions, have a clear comparative advantage in supporting South Africa’s green transition. Secondly, while private investment will drive this transformation, Global Gateway funding can play a catalytic role by reducing risk and crowding in capital. 

“Thirdly, we need a conducive regulatory business environment for these investments to scale and reach their full potential.  This is what the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership is all about, and where we need your input,” she said.

The dtic said the first CTIP Business-to-Government Dialogue which was organised in the context of the Africa Energy Indaba, was well-attended by over 150 representatives from industry, financial institutions and policymakers.

The Business-to-Government dialogue showcased the demand-driven nature of the Clean Trade and Investment Partnership.

Industry representatives shared their views on the concrete regulatory, financing and risk-mitigation measures that would most effectively facilitate trade and investments in South African and EU clean supply chains. These recommendations will be discussed by South African and the EU government representatives, including at the CTIP Government to Government dialogue later this year.

At a trilateral meeting held ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November last year, President Ramaphosa, together with President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed the deepening of the South Africa–European Union partnership.

The leaders welcomed the signature of the CTIP, noting that it will create new trade and investment opportunities while supporting decarbonisation objectives through a tailored, flexible and targeted approach that reflects shared priorities. –SAnews.gov.za 
 

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Dean Macpherson, has expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to those injured, following the partial collapse of a building in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, where nine people have tragically died. 

Visiting the site on Tuesday afternoon alongside emergency services, the Minister said the building collapse raises serious questions around systemic weaknesses.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and with all those who have been injured during this incredibly difficult time, as well as the workers and families affected by this tragedy.

“We furthermore thank the brave men and women in our emergency services, who worked tirelessly to rescue survivors and recover bodies. 

“As the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, together with our entity, the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), we will continue working with all stakeholders to support affected families and to ensure accountability where wrongdoing has occurred.

“We should never normalise the collapse of any building. Buildings are not meant to collapse and therefore, there must have been serious failures that led to the tragedy we witnessed. We are determined to get to the bottom of this and will release the findings publicly once the investigation has concluded. We will not hesitate to take action against any individual found to be complicit,” the Minister said.

The Minister said that in the days ahead, the CBE, which regulates professionals within the built environment sector, will investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse to determine whether professional negligence, contravention of mandatory standards, or any misconduct took place.

Macpherson said he will be expediting a meeting with the Minister of Human Settlements to review the regulation and enforcement of building standards in South Africa, with the aim of preventing similar tragedies in future.

“We need to be frank in acknowledging that repeated building collapses point to deeper structural issues that must be urgently reviewed to improve building safety and construction oversight. 

“As we work to turn South Africa into a construction site, it is critical that we do so in an environment where building construction can be trusted and the loss of life avoided. By working together to find solutions, I have no doubt that we can strengthen the regulatory environment and build a better South Africa,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

Members of the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) has seized chemicals and manufactured detergents worth millions of rands at the Windmill Park informal settlement in Boksburg.

The operation was conducted following information received from a brand holder regarding a suspected makeshift manufacturing facility producing detergents and foam bath products.

Upon arrival at the premises, officers discovered large quantities of chemicals and finished products, including thick bleach, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid, foam bath and ammonia-based cream cleaner. 

“It is alleged that the chemicals are mixed in 200-litre barrels and subsequently repackaged into recycled containers bearing labels of well-known brands manufactured by Unilever and Colgate-Palmolive,” said the DPCI on Tuesday.

Chemicals recovered at the scene include caustic soda, Kulubrite, soda ash light, sodium hypochlorite and sodium chloride, which are commonly used in the manufacturing of detergents and soaps. 

The members also confiscated containers that were yet to be cleaned and reused for further repackaging.
“All seized finished products and chemicals will be subjected to forensic chemical analysis to determine their composition and to establish whether they are counterfeit and in contravention of applicable legislation,” the DPCI said.

The DPCI remains resolute in protecting consumers and legitimate businesses from the proliferation of counterfeit and illicitly manufactured goods. The police investigation is ongoing. – SAnews.gov.za