MIL Africa Engine

South Africa will on Sunday commemorate one of the most defining chapters in its military history when President Cyril Ramaphosa leads the country’s delegation at the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, northern France. 

The annual commemoration honours the courage and sacrifice of South African soldiers who fought during the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916, one of the most significant battles involving South African forces during the First World War.

President Ramaphosa is expected to attend the commemorative ceremony at the South African National Memorial, where wreaths will be laid in remembrance of those who lost their lives in service of their country. The programme will also include the unveiling of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) commemorative plaque recognising the historical significance of the memorial and its contribution to preserving shared global heritage.

The Battle of Delville Wood, fought between 15 and 20 July 1916, during the Somme Offensive, is remembered for the extraordinary courage displayed by the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. Despite suffering devastating casualties under relentless enemy attack, the brigade held its position in what has become one of South Africa’s most enduring symbols of bravery, resilience and sacrifice.

The Delville Wood Memorial stands as the country’s national memorial dedicated to all South Africans who served in all theatres of war. It remains the only memorial dedicated to the participation of South African forces on the Western Front during the First World War and serves as a place of remembrance for all South Africans who lost their lives in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

More than 229 000 officers and men served with the South African Forces during the First World War, with approximately 10 000 losing their lives in action or dying of wounds sustained during the conflict. Their names are recorded in a Book of Remembrance housed at the Delville Wood Museum, adjacent to the memorial.

The original memorial was unveiled in 1926, while the museum was officially opened in November 1986 to preserve the history and legacy of South Africa’s involvement in the First World War. Beyond the museum lies Delville Wood itself, now fully regenerated, while across the road is Delville Wood Cemetery, established after the Armistice by concentrating graves recovered from surrounding battlefields.

According to the Presidency, President Ramaphosa’s participation demonstrates South Africa’s continued commitment to honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the country.

Beyond remembering the fallen, the commemoration also reflects on the values of courage, duty, sacrifice and remembrance while reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to peace, reconciliation and international cooperation.

The event also serves to strengthen the longstanding friendship between South Africa and France through shared remembrance of a defining chapter in history. By acknowledging the devastating human cost of war, the commemoration reaffirms a collective commitment to preventing future conflicts.

The 110th anniversary also presents an opportunity to educate younger generations about South Africa’s military heritage, ensuring that the legacy of those who served continues to inspire future generations.

President Ramaphosa’s participation in the commemorative event forms part of his Official Visit to France, during which he will also hold bilateral engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and participate in high-level discussions at UNESCO on advancing global education. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) systems largely trained on foreign datasets risk perpetuating racial bias and undermining South Africa’s transformative constitutional vision if they are not infused with local historical context.

The Minister delivered remarks at the University of Johannesburg’s “AI and the Law” conference.

She explained that while AI-powered solutions could drastically reduce legal costs and delays, the same technology could just as easily increase access to injustice if deployed without transparency, accountability and data that reflects the country’s apartheid past.

“African Data which carry our archives, African languages and cultural nuance, do not find expression in the AI machines that are currently used in the various fields, including law. Most AI is trained on datasets from North America and Asia.

“This exclusion perpetuates data poverty and algorithmic bias, leading to real-world consequences such as poor language translation machines, especially for African languages.

“The bigger risk for our country in respect of the law is the use of AI machines which are totally devoid of our historical context as a country,” Kubayi said on Thursday.

She acknowledged that despite the challenges presented, AI systems stand to increase justice for all.

“Among the factors that have been a barrier to the achievement of universal access to justice are prohibitive legal costs, geographic remoteness from courts and legal services, lengthy delays in case resolution, and a shortage of legal practitioners willing or able to serve lower-income communities.

“Undoubtedly, by automating repetitive processes, advancing legal research, drafting, increasing dispute resolution, and encouraging predictive legal analytics, the introduction of AI-powered solutions has drastically transformed the delivery of legal services.
“The effect of AI-powered tools does not only reduce the time it takes to perform these tasks, but they also do these tasks at a fraction of the traditional cost. The effect of these developments is the rapid increase of access to justice,” the Minister noted.

Probing questions

She noted that South Africa’s Constitution is transformative and was drafted to “heal the divisions of the past” and lay a foundation for social justice.

“As a country we have seen and experienced the horrific consequences of a nation organised through racial segregation. We need to ask ourselves: what is it that we need to do [so] that technological progress is not concomitant with the growth of digitised racial segregation?

“The data that carries our history and our social context has been excluded in the development of the AI machines that are currently in the market. How then should we expect that the machines which are, in all likelihood, biased against us will be able to help us build a just society? Are we not, in our quest to increase access to justice through AI, at the risk of increasing access to injustice?” Kubayi enquired.

She encouraged leaders of the universities to “help to answer this question and many other questions that have arisen with the development” of AI.

“I have no doubt this conference will attend to all these very important issues so that we can be able to utilise AI to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through Law, Governance and Practice.

“I look forward to the outcomes of this conference. I wish you all the best with your deliberations,” Kubayi concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture has recognised outstanding women farmers and extension practitioners in the OR Tambo District for their contribution to agricultural development, food security and rural livelihoods.

The department on Thursday hosted the district leg of the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) and the Extension and Advisory Services Awards (EASA), making OR Tambo the fifth district to host the combined awards programme.

The Women Entrepreneur Awards recognise excellence among women in agricultural production and agribusiness, while the Extension and Advisory Services Awards honour extension officers, who have demonstrated excellence in providing technical support and advisory services to farming communities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director: District Coordination, Andiswa Matinise, commended farmers for their contribution to the province’s agricultural sector and efforts to combat poverty and food insecurity.

“We would not achieve our mandate without our farmers. By 2030, we have a mandate to eradicate poverty, and this cannot be achieved without your continued commitment. Your contribution ensures that the Eastern Cape remains one of the country’s food baskets,” she said.

Matinise also praised extension and advisory services officials, describing them as the department’s “ground heroes”, who work tirelessly to provide technical guidance and support to farmers across the district.

Giving words of encouragement, local farmer Andile Ndzendze encouraged both farmers and extension practitioners to explore agro-processing opportunities to increase the value of agricultural products and unlock new markets.

Ndzendze also called for the preservation of indigenous agricultural knowledge, while encouraging the commercial development of traditional products through appropriate intellectual property protection.

“We must preserve our indigenous knowledge and ensure that the products we develop are protected through appropriate intellectual property mechanisms so that future generations can benefit from them,” he said.

Director for Extension and Advisory Services Noluvuyo Nqeno challenged farmers to remain focused on their purpose and embrace their uniqueness.

“You must focus on what you are doing, why you are doing it and who you are doing it for. Nothing limits people more than trying to fit in with the crowd. Be proud of your uniqueness and build something that future generations will recognise and continue,” she said,” Nqeno said.

She encouraged established women farmers to mentor young people by involving them in farm management, administration and the use of modern agricultural technologies.

“Leave a legacy. Even if your children are not yet interested, remain patient because what we have built should not be lost. Allow young people to participate in bookkeeping, administration, and the use of modern technologies within farming enterprises. This is how we will spark their interest and attract them into agriculture.”

She also highlighted the province’s food security challenges, noting that about 27% of households experience food insecurity, and called for greater collaboration to strengthen agricultural production and improve livelihoods.

The district awards form part of the department’s programme to recognise excellence, promote women’s participation in agriculture and strengthen extension services that support sustainable agricultural development across the Eastern Cape.

Women entrepreneur awards winners

Best Smallholder Producer: Sofika and Van Zyl Trading Enterprise
Best Commercial Producer: Tyhopho Trading Enterprise
Best Agro-Processing Producer: Cberkie Projects and Innovations
Overall Winner: Tyhopho Trading Enterprise

Extension and advisory services awards winners

Best Extension Practitioner (Candidate Natural Scientist): Winner – Yongama Zantsi; Runner-up – Bavuyise Sondzaba
Best Extension Practitioner (Certificated Natural Scientist): Winner – Thanduxolo Paliso; Runner-up – Nosihle Mfunduka
Legend/Lifetime Achievement Award: Dumisa Mlanjeni, who joined the department in 1990. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Police in Witbank, Mpumalanga, have opened two inquest dockets for investigation after a 43-year-old man and his four-year-old nephew died allegedly after consuming biscuits from a local spaza shop on Wednesday.

“It is reported that the owner of the tuck shop, who is a foreign national, had arranged with the landlord to store his stock in the main house. This was after he heard that there was looting of tuck shops belonging to foreign nationals in the area. The landlord allegedly consumed some of the biscuits and shared them with his nephew.

“Shortly afterwards, both of them started feeling dizzy and vomiting. They were taken to a local medical facility where they were certified dead on arrival,” the police said in a statement on Thursday.

The source of the biscuits and the cause of death will be determined through post-mortem examinations.
 – SAnews.gov.za

Health regulators have warned against the use or dispensing of recalled drugs Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.

The two medications are aimed at treating diabetes but are being used for weight loss purposes.

“The South African Pharmacy Council, Health Professions Council of South Africa and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority hereby warn the public, pharmacies and dispensing medical practitioners against any continued use, prescription and/or dispensing of iDEXIS Semaglutide, iDEXIS Tirzepatide, and iDEXIS Semaglutide/Tirzepatide recalled by SAHPRA in June 2026.

“The continued use, prescription and dispensing of these products pose a severe risk to patients’ safety and/or users. Any healthcare professional found to have dispensed, prescribed or kept stock of the recalled products will face disciplinary action in accordance with applicable legislation, including the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965,” the authorities warned in a statement.

The authorities added that any professional prescribing or dispensing the medications will “knowingly be endangering the health of the public”. – SAnews.gov.za