MIL Africa Engine

South Africa continues to call for an urgent ceasefire and dialogue as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, warning that the conflict threatens global stability and humanitarian conditions. 

Speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Ronald Lamola said the worsening conflict has heightened anxiety across the region and beyond, while placing pressure on global food and energy systems.

“The escalation of tension in the Middle East heralds great anxiety and uncertainty in the region, the continent and the world,” Lamola said.

He said the destruction of civilian infrastructure across the region has already begun to trigger inflationary pressures, energy insecurity and food shortages, partly due to disruptions in fertiliser supply in the agriculture sector.

South Africa also reiterated its condemnation of actions that violate international law, warning that the continued escalation risks undermining global multilateral institutions.

Lamola stressed that the United Nations Security Council must prioritise humanitarian concerns over geopolitical interests in responding to the crisis.

“The United Nations Security Council, now more than ever, is called upon to prioritise humanity over geopolitical preferences. This is an existential moment for multilateralism, which must reverberate in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said. 

Lamola said he had been in contact with his counterparts in the Gulf region, who have expressed concern about the escalating conflict and its potential consequences.

“At this stage, there is no open discussion happening among the warring parties – the United States, Israel and Iran – which makes the likelihood of further escalation very real,” he said.

South Africa has maintained that dialogue remains the only viable path toward a sustainable solution, adding that no military intervention can deliver lasting peace.

“As South Africa, we have said that if called upon…we remain ready and available to support any process to a peaceful resolution and a ceasefire. 

“We have continued to call for opening of a dialogue amongst all the warring parties towards a peaceful resolution, because we always believe that no military solution can be found in this situation that can be sustainable. It is through dialogue that a sustainable solution can be concluded,” Lamola said.

South Africans abroad 

The department urged South African citizens currently in the Middle East to ensure they are registered with South African diplomatic missions so that their whereabouts are known should conditions worsen.

Citizens travelling abroad for business, education or leisure have also been encouraged to register with the nearest South African embassy or consulate.

Minister Lamola said South Africans should download the DIRCO Travel Smart App to and register their travel details, provide next-of-kin information and contact diplomatic missions in case of distress.

Government further warned citizens to carefully verify overseas job opportunities after reports of individuals being misled by fraudulent recruitment schemes and ending up in conflict-affected areas.

The Head of Public Diplomacy at DIRCO, Clayson Monyela, said government has called on South Africans in the region, particularly in Gulf states, to register their details with embassies to help officials identify those who may need assistance.

“We’ve been making a call for South Africans, firstly, to register with us so that we know who is there and what type of help they need,” Monyela said.

He said the department has been assisting citizens who wish to leave the region by facilitating evacuations through available commercial flights.

“In the first couple of days when the attacks were happening, the airspaces were closed in all of these countries, so it was impossible to move in or out. But in the last couple of days, airspaces have partially reopened and commercial airlines are beginning to operate again,” he said.

He added that some South Africans have already taken advantage of these flights to return home.

In cases where flights were not immediately available, government has assisted citizens to travel through land borders into neighbouring countries where flights could be accessed.

“We’ve been moving other people through land borders to cross into countries where flights are available, and South Africans have been coming home,” Monyela said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has confirmed that the United States Ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell has apologised and expressed regret over remarks that were viewed as undiplomatic following a meeting with government officials. 

Speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday evening, DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor said officials met with the Ambassador to discuss comments that had raised concern.

Dangor said the envoy expressed regret that his remarks created the impression that he was not committed to working constructively with the South African government. 

“He apologised and expressed regret, including for comments that appeared to undermine the judiciary,” Dangor said.

The United States mission has also issued a public apology on social media.

Dangor said during the meeting the Ambassador reaffirmed that South Africa’s history requires redress policies and acknowledged the role of measures aimed at addressing historical inequality.

The Ambassador had recently visited historical landmarks such as the Apartheid Museum and the District Six Museum, where he reflected on the country’s past.

Dangor also clarified that there has been no formal communication from Washington containing the reported “five demands” linked to negotiations between the two countries following unilateral tariffs imposed by the United States.

He further noted that there has been no formal request for South Africa to withdraw from the BRICS bloc, although the grouping is sometimes viewed with concern within sections of the US administration. 

Lamola reiterates importance of US-SA relations

Speaking during the briefing, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said government welcomed active public diplomacy but emphasised that engagements must remain consistent with diplomatic etiquette and international protocols.

“While South Africa welcomes active public diplomacy and the strengthening of bilateral ties, such engagements must remain consistent with established diplomatic etiquette and international protocols,” Lamola said.

He reiterated that the United States remains a key strategic partner for South Africa.

Around 500 American companies currently operate in South Africa, employing more than 250 000 people and complying with local legislation, including transformation policies.

Bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at about $15 billion, while South African companies also maintain significant investments in the United States, particularly in the energy and chemicals sectors.

Lamola stressed that policies such as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment are necessary to address structural inequalities created by apartheid.

“B-BBEE is not reverse racism. It is a fundamental instrument designed to address the structural imbalances of South Africa’s unique history,” he said.

SA maintains non-aligned foreign policy stance

Lamola reiterated that South Africa’s foreign policy remains anchored in constitutional principles, multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

He said the country’s non-aligned stance allows it to engage with all international partners based on international law rather than aligning with any geopolitical bloc.

“As a sovereign state and a significant middle power, South Africa remains steadfast in its resistance to being drawn into great-power rivalries. South Africa’s non-alignment does not entail a preference for any geopolitical bloc. 

“Rather, it represents our ability to engage all international partners and take positions on a case-by- case basis, guided by international law. 

“We remain steadfast in our resistance to being drawn into great-power rivalries, prioritising instead, a global governance system that is fair and inclusive,” Lamola said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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South African Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Germany’s Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, Alois Rainer, have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Agricultural Development aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on the control of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and trade in animal products.

The landmark agreement, signed Tuesday evening in Cape Town, marks a significant diplomatic milestone and signals a renewed cooperation between the two countries, focusing on the crucial challenges of biosecurity and agricultural trade.

The declaration comes as South Africa continues efforts to contain outbreaks of FMD affecting parts of the country’s livestock sector.

Steenhuisen welcomed the agreement, saying the partnership provides a vital lifeline of technical expertise and innovation.

“This is not just a document; it is a powerful tool that will help us safeguard our livestock industry and secure the livelihoods of our farmers,” the Minister said.

Under the declaration, the two countries have identified five key areas of cooperation. These include the exchange of knowledge and best practices on outbreak prevention and FMD containment, with a specific focus on strengthening biosecurity measures in animal husbandry and veterinary services.

The agreement also includes cooperation on wildlife monitoring systems to develop robust FMD monitoring systems, particularly for wildlife populations.

In addition, the two countries will explore advances in FMD immunisation, including the application of mRNA technologies.

Further areas of collaboration include collaborative research and development on diagnostic tools, specifically ‘differentiating infected from vaccinated animals’ (DIVA) tests, as well as research into managing FMD risk materials in controlled slaughter environments.

Steenhuisen said the signing of the Joint Declaration arrives at an imperative juncture for the South African agricultural sector, offering a structured pathway to modernising disease control.

“This collaboration goes beyond immediate crisis management. It paves the way for a long-term exchange of expertise, trade development, skills enhancement, and the integration of cutting-edge technology and innovation in agriculture,” Steenhuisen said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Over 94 000 cattle in the Eastern Cape have been vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), as part of the ongoing efforts to control and prevent the spread of the disease in affected and surrounding areas in the province.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture, a total of 94 000 cattle were vaccinated last week and a further 973 were vaccinated in three farms within the Walter Sisulu District on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The department said the vaccination drive follows the arrival of the first 150 000 doses from a one million-dose consignment of the Biogénesis Bagó foot-and-mouth vaccine from Argentina, which reached the province late last week.

The department confirmed that it has ordered 1.05 million vaccine doses through the state-owned designated supplier, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), after receiving R55 million in emergency funding from the provincial Treasury last month.

“The vaccination team made of veterinary officials, animal health technicians and extension officers are working around the clock to vaccinate an average of 12 000 cattle per day across the province,” the department said in a statement on Wednesday.

Officials are prioritising high-risk areas, particularly municipalities bordering affected zones, before moving inward to other identified hotspots.

The Eastern Cape has an estimated cattle herd of 3.5 million. The latest vaccine consignment adds to the 2 600 doses previously received from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in mid-February.

“The ARC vaccines covered the area of the communal farm at Kouga in order to protect the dairy farms and potential job losses.”

On Monday, vaccination teams visited the Oosthuizen Farm in Draaihoek, where 208 cattle were vaccinated. This was followed by Strydfontein Farm, where 219 cattle were vaccinated.

Both farms are located in Maletswai and fall within a 10km radius of Joe Gqabi Kraal, which previously tested positive for FMD.

“Vaccination at these farms was carried out as a preventative measure aimed at strengthening disease control and reducing the risk of the virus spreading to nearby livestock,” the department said.

The third farm visited was Vaalbank Farm in James Calata, where 546 cattle were vaccinated.

The farm had previously shown suspected signs of FMD, and on 25 February 2026, veterinary officials collected five serum blood samples and two swab samples for laboratory testing.

“The vaccination of cattle at this farm was important in helping to reduce the viral load within the herd, thereby limiting the potential spread of the FMD virus to surrounding farms and communities,” the department said.

The department reiterated that these vaccination activities form part of broader disease control measures aimed at protecting livestock, supporting farmers, and safeguarding the local agricultural economy. – SAnews.gov.za

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The implementation of the Statistics Amendment Act by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has opened a new era of data collection and strengthened the overall integrity of the national data ecosystem since it came into effect last October.

This is according to Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli, who led the presentation of Stats SA’s third quarterly report for the 2025/26 financial year before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation on Wednesday.

“This legislation strengthens the coordination of statistical production across government and provides an enhanced framework for collaboration among data producers. 

“Through this amendment, Statistics South Africa is better positioned to work with departments and other institutions to improve the quality, consistency, and credibility of statistics produced across the state.

“The goal is to enable more datasets to achieve official statistical status and to strengthen the overall integrity of the national data ecosystem,” Mhlauli explained.

Furthermore, the new amendment sets the foundation for the entity to “play an even stronger leadership role in shaping and coordinating South Africa’s statistical architecture”.

Resilience and discipline

Mhlauli praised the entity’s resilience and strong institutional performance in the face of “significant financial and human resource constraints”.

“Since the beginning of the financial year, the organisation has achieved over 90% of its planned targets. This performance reflects not only operational discipline but also the dedication of the professionals who ensure that South Africa continues to receive credible and timely official statistics.

“[It] is important to acknowledge the challenges that remain. Statistics South Africa continues to face financial pressures, particularly in relation to the cost of employment as well as goods and services.

“These pressures have had an impact on the institution’s vacancy rate and have also affected its ability to fully meet employment equity targets,” she said.

The Deputy Minister expressed concern that if these challenges remain unaddressed, “the sustainability of certain core statistical series may come under pressure”.

“Ensuring that South Africa maintains a robust and reliable statistical system is essential for both economic governance and democratic accountability,” Mhlauli emphasised.

Fiscal turning point

Turning to South Africa’s economic environment, Mhlauli noted that the “2025/26 financial year represents a pivotal moment in South Africa’s fiscal and developmental trajectory”.

Following a period of sluggish economic growth and strain, public finances are stabilising.

“The current fiscal framework reflects progress toward stabilising the national debt for the first time in more than a decade, while also narrowing the budget deficit through improved primary balances.

“At the same time, the 2025/26 Budget signals a renewed commitment to structural reforms and targeted investment in infrastructure and essential services. These include key sectors such as education, healthcare, and municipal development, which collectively account for a significant portion of national expenditure.

“These investments are aligned with our medium-term priorities of inclusive economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and the continued building of a capable and ethical developmental state,” she said.

Mhlauli noted that in navigating this “strategic turning point”, Stats SA’s role “becomes even more critical”.

She added that the organisation provides the evidence base that allows government and society to understand the country’s socio-economic realities, ensuring government takes data-informed decisions.

“Statistics South Africa, therefore plays a crucial, though often under-appreciated, role in measuring our developmental progress as a nation. Through the production of official statistics, the organisation enables government to monitor economic performance, track social conditions, and evaluate whether policy interventions are achieving their intended outcomes.

“Our national statistical agency provides the evidence base that allows government, Parliament, business, and society at large to understand the country’s socio-economic realities. It ensures that decisions are informed by credible data rather than anecdote,” Mhlauli said. – SAnews.gov.za

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