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The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is reviewing the local fuel price mechanism with the process to be completed in March next year.

This according to the department’s Director of Fuel Pricing Mechanism, Robert Maake, who spoke to SAnews.gov.za in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Maake explained that the price of fuel is the end result of a multitude of global and domestic forces ranging from the fluctuating price of crude oil and the strength of the Rand to the intricate costs of shipping, storage, and a series of government levies and taxes.

“Our pricing formula is based on two components. One of them is the import part where all the costs associated with importing petroleum products into South Africa is accounted for.

“The second part is the local factor. What changes on a monthly basis is the international component driven mainly by the oil price and the Rand/Dollar exchange rate. What is happening now is the very high oil price due to the war in the Middle East which is driving the [escalating] fuel prices and the weaker Rand,” he said.

While the international factors, including the price Brent Crude Oil, demurrage rates and freight costs, are set internationally, the local factors are under consideration.

“The main one for us in the department is the review of the fuel price mechanism. What we are going to be doing now is to review how the industry margins are calculated in South Africa. The wholesale margins, retail margins, secondary storage [and] secondary distribution.

“That process has started. We have already signed a service level agreement with a service provider and we expect that work to be concluded by March 2027,” Maake revealed.

In the immediate term, government has already announced the temporary reduction of the general fuel levy by R3 to cushion consumers.

“In the short term it means that consumers are actually paying R3 less for petrol and diesel at the service stations which is useful for households and motorists. It is difficult at the moment to say how government will intervene [in the long term] and what the next step will be,” Maake said.

Paraffin pricing

Turning to the price of paraffin, Maake explained the influences which paved way for the fuel source to increase by R11.67 for wholesale and some R15.60 for the Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin.

“Paraffin is not taxed so the relief measure was to reduce the fuel levy and there’s no fuel levy on paraffin. It is already zero rated so the same cannot be applied to paraffin. We need a different mechanism for paraffin.

“The reason why paraffin has almost doubled in price is because from a refinery production point of view, paraffin and jet fuel, when they come from the refinery, they are known as dual purpose kerosene so it depends on the final use at the end of the day.

“The challenge we had was that there was a demand for air travel last month globally, particularly in Europe where they were coming from their winter season to…where they wanted to travel.

“Unfortunately, because of the winter, some of the major refineries had closed down due to the very cold winter season where they could not operate. So there was a shortage of jet fuel and as a result, both the price of jet fuel and paraffin shot up,” Maake explained.

He added that despite these factors, the department is having “sleepless nights” on how to bring relief to consumers of paraffin.

“We are looking at what other mechanisms we can propose. The first one of zero rating it is fine because there are no taxes on paraffin but what is the next one? Maybe we can look at the indigent framework where paraffin users register and get direct support from government?

“[Also] the bulk of paraffin is used in mixing with diesel by some businesspeople. So, it’s very important that whatever form of support that government comes up with is targeted to the beneficiaries,” he said.

Stable supply

Ahead of the fuel price increase last week, there were reports of fuel shortages at some service stations.

“What we have seen…is something that we have never seen before. Particularly the magnitude of the fuel price increase. So what likely happened is that some of the commercial customers were trying to buy in bulk in anticipation of the high fuel prices. So, they were placing additional orders on top of the orders they had with the suppliers.

“But also, there were complaints that some service stations were running out of fuel and people were thinking that they were hoarding fuel until the new price kicks in. That was a big challenge for us.

“However, we just came from the long weekend and from the reports that we are getting, there was not a lot of reports from provinces that they were running out of fuel,” he said. 

Maake reiterated assurances that supply to South Africa remains stable despite reports to the contrary.

“In as far as supply is concerned, we are safe and secure. In the meetings that we are having with the oil companies…they have indicated the number of vessels that they have secured and confirmed that will be coming to the country even up to the end of May. And, from time to time, when the vessels come then they will place additional orders.

“We have daily meetings with the oil companies and people who are responsible for supply in the oil companies. That’s where they give us assurance in terms of the supply that they are bringing to the country.

“The Director-General [Jacob Mbele] himself has got meetings with the CEOs of oil companies once a week. So that’s the assurance to say that the department, together with the industry, are taking the issue of supply seriously and monitoring it regularly,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the provision of housing to victims of apartheid-era violence as a “moral obligation” and a crucial step towards restoring dignity and advancing reconciliation.

The President was speaking at the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Housing Assistance Reparations programme in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, on Tuesday. 

“The provision of reparations is not just an act of goodwill. It is a moral obligation and a vital part of restoring people’s dignity,” the President said. 

President Ramaphosa said the initiative marks a key milestone in South Africa’s journey towards justice.

“Today, we are marking the implementation of regulations that allow victims of apartheid, identified through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process, to receive housing assistance from the State.

“This reflects our commitment as a country to recognising and healing the divisions of our past, and to honouring all those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land.”

The President emphasised that while truth-telling was central to the TRC process, it was not sufficient on its own.

“As a country, we understand that truth alone is not sufficient to repair the harm that was done. We know that reconciliation cannot be enduring without reparations.”

President Ramaphosa said Ndwedwe was one of the communities deeply affected by political violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“People were forced to flee their homes. Homes were burned and property was destroyed. Many innocent lives were lost. Families were rendered homeless and broken up. Many people lost their livelihoods and access to their land. The effects of the violence lasted for many years and some still persist to this day.” 

He noted that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had documented hundreds of cases of violence in the area, formally recognising residents as victims of gross human rights violations.

“Ndwedwe stands as a powerful site of memory and survival, representing rural communities whose suffering often received less public attention but was no less devastating,” President Ramaphosa said.

The newly implemented housing assistance regulations, published in January 2026, flow directly from TRC recommendations and set out how verified beneficiaries will receive support.

“The confirmed beneficiaries are eligible to receive a once-off grant for housing assistance or the construction of a new home,” he said.

The President revealed that 220 beneficiaries have been approved in Ndwedwe, with symbolic cheques representing R40 million in cumulative assistance handed over during the launch.

“The handover of these symbolic cheques today affirms our belief that reconciliation and reparations must be concrete and tangible,” he said.

Linking the programme to broader constitutional commitments, the President said housing remains central to human dignity.

“Our Constitution places a clear obligation on the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within available resources, to progressively realise everyone’s right of access to adequate housing.

“Our Constitution places housing as a fundamental pillar of human dignity, safety and security.”

As South Africa marks 30 years of its democratic Constitution, President Ramaphosa said the country must remain committed to addressing historical injustices. 

“As we commemorate 30 years of our Constitution this year, we affirm that our future is built on remembering our past and correcting the injustices that were committed.

“United by one Constitution, inspired by one shared destiny, we recommit to completing the work of nation-building that was begun in 1994.”

He added that government would continue working to ensure that victims of apartheid-era injustices receive support and recognition.

“The task of building a truly united, just and equal society continues. We will not rest until all our people can live in peace, security and comfort,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says government’s housing reparations programme is not only about rebuilding homes, but about healing the deep divisions left by apartheid.

Kubayi was speaking at the launch of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Housing Assistance Reparations programme in Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal, where President Cyril Ramaphosa is officiating the event.

The launch coincides with the 30-year commemoration of South Africa’s Constitution, held under the theme: “Renew, Reflect and Recommit”.

“We are here to rebuild homes but more importantly, to restore dignity and help communities heal,” Kubayi said.

She explained that the programme targets families whose homes were destroyed during apartheid, often because they were suspected of harbouring activists or supporting liberation movements such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

“In many instances, entire communities were targeted and wiped out, leaving families homeless simply because they were seen as supporting the struggle for freedom,” she said.

Kubayi highlighted Ndwedwe as one of the affected communities, where about 220 houses were destroyed, leaving families displaced and without assistance for decades.

“These families never returned to their homes. Today, through the TRC recommendations, we are correcting that injustice,” she said.

The Minister noted that the programme forms part of the implementation of recommendations contained in the seven volumes of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report, which identified victims eligible for reparations.

Through the newly finalised regulations, affected families will receive support to rebuild or extend their homes, depending on their needs.

Kubayi said the initiative sends a deliberate message about the importance of acknowledging the past in order to build a united future.

“For us to be able to rebuild South Africa, we have to heal the divisions of the past. We have to recognise what has happened. Reparations are a critical part of that process.”

She also stressed that the impact of apartheid-era violence was not limited to urban areas.

“The pain was not only felt in townships and cities. Rural communities were affected. That’s why the rebuilding of this nation must [be] across [the board] as we celebrate 30 years of our Constitution under the theme of ’30 Years of the Constitution: Renew, Reflect and Recommit,” she said. 

Kubayi said the moment serves as an opportunity for the country to recommit to the values of democracy and nation-building.

“We do believe that this moment, coming here to Ndwedwe, helps us to reflect and renew our commitment to the principles and values of our democracy, and also to recommit to rebuilding our nation and healing the divisions of our past.”

The programme includes a symbolic handover of housing assistance to selected beneficiaries and forms part of government’s broader efforts to advance restorative justice and redress for victims of apartheid-era human rights violations. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, has called for greater global fairness in the sharing of benefits derived from biodiversity.

The Deputy Minister made the call as he opened the third meeting of the Steering Committee on the multilateral mechanism for Digital Sequence Information (DSI) at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens on Tuesday.

Addressing delegates from across the world, Singh described the setting, located within the Cape Floristic Region, as a reminder of both the value of biodiversity and the shared responsibility to conserve it and ensure its benefits are distributed equitably.

He emphasised that the work of the Steering Committee comes at a critical time, noting that issues of fairness, equity and justice are central to how benefits from biodiversity are shared globally. 

In Africa, biodiversity is closely tied to livelihoods, cultures and identities, the Deputy Minister said, adding that decisions taken during the meeting would have real implications for Indigenous people and local communities who have protected these resources for generations.

He pointed to South Africa’s advanced Access and Benefit-Sharing system, which is aligned with international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, as an example of how equitable engagement between researchers, companies and communities can be achieved. 

Singh said this made South Africa a fitting host for discussions on the multilateral mechanism and the Cali Fund.

Reflecting on progress made at the 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16), Singh noted that countries had agreed to establish a multilateral mechanism to address the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including the creation of the Cali Fund. 

He described the decision as a milestone aimed at ensuring that benefits arising from genetic data used in research and innovation are shared more fairly, while strengthening corporate responsibility.

He traced the development of the issue back to 2016, when digital sequence information first gained prominence under the Convention, and outlined how ongoing discussions, including global dialogues initiated by South Africa and Norway in 2019, helped build consensus. 

He highlighted South Africa’s role in convening these engagements, including key meetings in Pretoria, which contributed to the eventual agreement reached in Cali.

Singh stressed that in the African context, benefit-sharing is not only a technical issue but also a historical one, noting that Indigenous knowledge has long contributed to sectors such as medicine and agriculture without adequate recognition or compensation. 

He said the work of the Steering Committee and the development of the Cali Fund present an opportunity to address these imbalances and ensure that both monetary and non-monetary benefits reach the communities that have safeguarded biodiversity.

The Deputy Minister added that South Africa’s own experience demonstrates how the use of genetic resources can deliver tangible benefits for both communities and conservation efforts, and expressed hope that this experience could inform broader discussions on shaping a fair, inclusive and effective mechanism. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says the helicopter that went missing on Monday with four occupants, including the pilot, has been successfully located this morning with all individuals found alive and unharmed. 

The group, which includes two SAPS investigators, along with an Environmental Crime Investigator, had safely landed in a remote area on Monday. However, as they attempted to navigate through the thick bush, they could not find the chopper. 

Following their rescue, it has been confirmed that all the occupants are safe. 

“The chopper disappeared on Monday during an investigation after a report was brought to the attention of law enforcers that there was a carcass discovered in the Kruger National Park, hence the probe to find out circumstances thereof,” the police said in a statement.

A report indicates that the team departed in the morning around 09h00 and did not return as anticipated. 

Some efforts to establish communication with the helicopter crew yielded no results due to poor signal and it is suspected that the chopper could have been flying low. 

“All attempts to reach them via their mobile phones and other means were unsuccessful. It was only in the evening that it was realised that something was wrong, prompting immediate action to locate them.

“In response to the situation, another helicopter equipped with night vision capabilities, alongside drones, was swiftly deployed to assist in the search efforts. Unfortunately, due to poor weather conditions, the helicopter had to be withdrawn. However, the drones continued their search throughout the night,” the police said.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, remarked that the committed members were carrying out their duties even on a day that is recognized as a holiday in the country. – SAnews.gov.za