Category: South Africa Government

Source: Government of South Africa

The leaders of the ten political parties leading the Government of National Unity (GNU) have reaffirmed their commitment to the seventh administration and serving the people of South Africa.

The leaders held a two-day retreat at the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng over the weekend.

According to a joint statement of the parties, the retreat provided a platform for reflection on progress in implementation of the GNU statement of intent priorities, discussion on “contemporary national and international issues” and to address “critical issues facing the country”.

“The leaders were unanimous that the GNU is united and strong. The meeting agreed that this forum of party leaders would meet regularly to provide strategic political direction to the work of the GNU.

“The leaders recognised difficulties at times in the functioning of the GNU, most notably around the 2025 budget process. However, it has drawn important lessons from these experiences and will ensure more effective consultation in developing fiscal priorities and frameworks.

“All parties reaffirmed their full commitment to the GNU as a reflection of the will of voters as an instrument to advance the interests of all South Africans,” the statement read.

The GNU was formed following the 2024 General Elections and, 16 months on, has “provided stability and leadership to the country”.

“It remains focused on resolving the concerns of the South African people: unemployment, poverty, the cost of living, crime, corruption and delivery of services.

“The GNU has successfully brought together parties from different political traditions and perspectives to undertake a common programme to drive inclusive growth and job creation, tackle poverty and the cost of living, and build a capable developmental state.

“Guided by the basic minimum programme of priorities contained in the Statement of Intent, the GNU has adopted the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) as a transformative vision and programme for the five years of this administration,” the statement continued.

Achievements since the formation of the GNU include:

• Establishing a platform for inclusive growth through far-reaching reforms in energy logistics, telecommunications, water and visas;
• Embarked on a massive infrastructure build and maintenance drive;
• As part of the response to tariff increases, worked to diversify exports and expand into new and existing markets;
• Prioritised the expansion of early childhood development and strengthening the foundational years of learning;
• Provided work and livelihood opportunities to young people on an unprecedented scale through public employment programmes; and
• Sustained spending to support poor households even amid severe financial constraints.

The leaders have agreed that while much has been done during the last 16 months, “work underway needs to be accelerated and its impact needs to be felt by all South Africans”.

Urgent attention will be directed to:

• Ensuring greater urgency and action in the implementation of government programmes, the streamlining of processes and structures and the further professionalisation and depoliticisation of the public service;
• Developing a food security plan to address the dire situation of hunger affecting many households and communities across the country;
• A comprehensive and far-reaching strategy for skills development and the creation of work experience and livelihood opportunities for young people;
• Mobilising law enforcement and security services and key stakeholders to intensify the fight against the rise in gangsterism and organised crime;
• The appointment of capable, ethical leadership in the criminal justice system;
• Equipping national and provincial government to intervene more effectively where municipalities fail to fulfil their mandates;
• Undertaking a comprehensive response to illegal immigration, including strengthening border management and expanding economic opportunities for South Africans; and
• Improving oversight and coordination of state-owned enterprises and setting minimum standards for board appointments.

“The leaders were clear that the GNU is now more cohesive, determined and focused than ever before.

“The GNU is focused on urgency and action and remains true to its fundamental purpose: to serve the interests and meet the needs of all South Africans,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, November 3, 2025

Source: Government of South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of diversifying South Africa’s trade relations as economic turbulence continues on a global scale.

This as the President travelled to Southeast Asia last week, in a bid to deepen trade and relations with the nations of Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia.

“In the midst of global economic uncertainty, it has become more important than ever for South Africa to diversify its trade and investment relations.

“As we continue to expand trade with traditional partners, we see great value in strengthening links with other countries of the Global South,” the President said in the weekly newsletter.

South Africa has a footprint in agricultural exports to the three countries.

“During our visits, we discussed how to expand the range and the quantity of agricultural products we supply these countries, ranging from beef to soybeans to fruit. Among other things, we agreed to look at some of the regulatory barriers to market access,” he said.

Now, more exports are being eyed for the mining sector.

“Over time, each of these countries has expanded their advanced manufacturing capacity, with some taking the lead in semiconductors, batteries and electric vehicles.

“South Africa, with its substantial reserves of critical minerals, is well placed to supply the products that these industries need. We are keen to develop partnerships with these countries to ensure that we add value to these minerals before exporting them.

“This is part of our ambition to move away from being an exporter of raw material to producing finished goods,” President Ramaphosa explained.

During the visit to Southeast Asia, many companies expressed their interest in investing in South Africa.

“Some of these companies already have a presence in our country. All of them recognised the great potential of our economy, our well-developed infrastructure, our world-class financial sector, our independent judiciary and stable institutions.

“A number of companies told us about their plans to build new manufacturing plants in South Africa to serve both our domestic market and markets in the Southern African region and on the African continent. They want to locate their operations in South Africa so that they can take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.

In solidarity

The President noted that beyond the trade and investment talks that dominated the visit to the region, South Africa and the three nations share a “common approach to international matters”. 

“We are all firm advocates of multilateralism and international law, the reform of the United Nations and cooperation between the countries of the Global South. We therefore agreed to work together to promote peace and security, climate action and sustainable development.

“Our common approach was evident also at the 47th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which we attended at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The theme for the ASEAN summit: ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability’, mirrors the theme for our G20 Presidency: ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’.

“This underlines the alignment between our vision of the world and that of the countries of Southeast Asia,” he said.

Historical ties also bind the three countries to South Africa, having supported the fight against apartheid.

The Indonesian and Malaysian ties go back even further as South Africa is home to the descendants of peoples of the two nations who were brought to the country by the colonialist Dutch as forced labourers – a community of South Africans now known as the Cape Malay.

“As we recognise these strong historical ties, these visits have been firmly focused on the future. There is enormous potential for greater trade and investment between South Africa and each of these countries.

“Although we are separated by the Indian Ocean, South Africa and Southeast Asia are closer now than we have been before. We share a determination to build a common future of development and inclusive growth from which all our people benefit,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

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