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The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has assured the public that it is attending to reports of a strong sulphurous odour detected in various parts of Gauteng, particularly in Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.

The department has confirmed that the stench experienced by residents in these areas is likely caused by hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). 

“DFFE wishes to assure the public that the matter is receiving attention.”

The department received reports of the strong sulphurous odour in Gauteng on 10 March 2026. 

Air quality monitoring information from the South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS https://saaqis.environment.gov.za/ ) showed that levels of sulphur dioxide, while elevated, remained in compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards during this period. 

“For hydrogen sulphide, monitoring data also showed elevated peaks, especially in Secunda, Springs, Irene (Pretoria), Midstream and Buccleuch air quality monitoring stations. 

“Although there are no National Ambient Air Quality Standards for hydrogen sulphide for now, these pollution levels were all significantly higher than the World Health Organisation recommended threshold for ambient nuisance odour of 5.02 parts per billion. 

“Based on these observations, it is highly likely that complaints raised by the public were prompted by elevated levels of hydrogen sulphide,” the department explained. 

Meteorological conditions show prevailing south-easterly winds that allowed for the transportation of air pollution from Mpumalanga into Gauteng, particularly over the cities of Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Health effects of Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S)

Exposure to hydrogen sulphide may irritate the eyes and respiratory system. 

Other possible health effects include dizziness, headaches, nausea and stomach upset, weakness, irritability, and breathing difficulties.

In severe cases, high exposure may lead to convulsions, loss of consciousness, or respiratory complications.

Children may be particularly vulnerable because they breathe more rapidly, relative to their body size, and may therefore receive higher exposure levels than adults in the same environment.

The department, therefore, urges members of the public in affected areas to report persistent strong odours to local environmental health authorities or health authorities. 

“Avoid prolonged exposure if strong odours are present. Seek medical attention if experiencing persistent respiratory discomfort or irritation.

“The department will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with provincial and municipal authorities to identify the sources of emissions and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.”

Legislative improvements

Following a similar sulphurous odour episode experienced in 2022 across Mpumalanga and Gauteng, the government identified and is currently implementing two key legislative measures.

They are aimed at tightening minimum emission standards and introducing hydrogen sulphide as a criteria pollutant.

“Government is tightening the minimum emission standards for hydrogen sulphide in coal gasification processes to significantly reduce emissions.

“The department is also in the process of introducing hydrogen sulphide as a criteria pollutant under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act.”

This will allow South Africa to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards for hydrogen sulphide, aligned with international health protection guidelines.

Consultations with provinces and municipalities on these standards are currently underway. –SAnews.gov.za

South Africa’s current account balance switched from a deficit of R72.0 billion in the third quarter of 2025 to a surplus of R50.2 billion in the fourth quarter – the first surplus in two years.

This is according to data on the current account of the balance of payments for the fourth quarter of 2025 released on Thursday by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

The current account provides a summary of transactions between South African residents and the rest of the world, including trade in goods and services, income and current transfers.

The SARB attributed the improvement in the current account in the fourth quarter of 2025 to higher rand prices for exports and lower import prices.

“Similarly, the current account balance as a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) switched to a surplus of 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a deficit of 0.9% in the third quarter. On an annual basis, the deficit on the current account narrowed to R35.2 billion (0.5% of GDP) in 2025 from R48.0 billion (0.7% of GDP) in 2024.

“South Africa’s trade surplus widened substantially from R169.0 billion in the third quarter of 2025 to R282.2 billion in the fourth quarter as the value of merchandise and net gold exports increased while that of merchandise imports decreased,” SARB said.

The value of exports of goods and services in the fourth quarter of 2025 increased by R51.1 billion, reflecting higher prices, while the value of imports of goods and services decreased by R54.4 billion due to lower prices.

For 2025, the trade surplus narrowed slightly to R212.1 billion (2.8% of GDP) from R214.3 billion (2.9% of GDP) in 2024.

“The deficit on the services, income and current transfer account narrowed from R241.0 billion in the third quarter of 2025 to R232.1 billion in the fourth quarter. The narrower deficit stemmed from a smaller shortfall on the primary income account while the deficits on the services and current transfer accounts widened. 

“As a percentage of GDP, the deficit on the services, income and current transfer account narrowed from 3.1% in the third quarter of 2025 to 3.0% in the fourth quarter and similarly narrowed on an annual basis from 3.6% in 2024 to 3.2% in 2025,” SARB said. –SAnews.gov.za

After decades of waiting, members of the Mtshoeni/Mtsweni family in Mpumalanga, are set to receive land and title deeds to property their ancestors once occupied, in a move government says represents a step toward restoring dignity and addressing historical injustices.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Friday hand over the land and title deeds to the family, also known as the Schulk Marhiqa Communal Property Association (CPA). 

The claim involves 18 households and 86 beneficiaries and covers more than 627 hectares within the jurisdiction of Govan Mbeki Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.

According to the Presidency, the claimant family lived on the properties as far back as the early 1700s. The claim was submitted before the old-order deadline of 31 December 1998 under the Restitution of Land Rights Act by Schulk Ngazimbi Marhiqa Mtshoeni on behalf of the affected families.

The land parcels to be handed over include two properties on the Grootvlei 293 IS Farm, specifically Portions 24 and 26. Ownership will rest with the claimant families through the Schulk Marhiqa CPA.

The Presidency said the process forms part of the broader work carried out over the past three decades by the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, which focuses on addressing dispossession by restoring land to rightful claimants.

Government has described each resolved claim and transferred title deed as a concrete step toward justice and national transformation, emphasising that land restitution is not only about compensation but also about restoring identity, belonging and opportunities for communities affected by past injustices.

Deputy President Mashatile will be joined during the handover in Secunda by the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso. The ceremony will take place in the Gert Sibande District of Mpumalanga. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has welcomed the swift and coordinated action by law enforcement to intercept four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels that entered South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and territorial waters without the required authorisation.

“South Africa will not tolerate the unlawful use of its maritime zones. We remain resolute in safeguarding our marine resources and ensuring that our ports are not perceived as ports of convenience. Compliance with our laws is non-negotiable,” the Minister said on Thursday.

The vessels – Zhong Yang 231, Zhong Yang 232, Zhong Yang 233, and Zhong Yang 239 – were placed under guard by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Team members and Fishery Control Officers at the Port of Cape Town anchorage. 

At the same time, compliance processes were finalised between the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and the vessel owner, Shenzhen Shuiwan Pelagic Fisheries Co. Ltd.

The vessels initially requested permission on 23 February 2026 to pass through South Africa’s EEZ under “innocent passage” – indicating they would exit by 3 March. 

On 27 February, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported that the vessels had also applied for Off-Port Limits (OPL) authorisation without the required justification or documentation, and the request was rejected.

Further investigations by the department revealed that the vessels had already entered South African territorial waters while the OPL request was under consideration. 

They were detected within 12 nautical miles of the KwaZulu-Natal coast and later tracked along the Eastern Cape coastline.

“During this time, the vessels repeatedly switched their Automatic Identification System (AIS) on and off. This is a violation of South African regulations requiring foreign vessels to keep AIS active while transiting national waters. 

“AIS is a critical safety system used to ensure navigational awareness and prevent collisions at sea. Based on the available evidence, there were reasonable grounds to suspect non-compliance with the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998,” the department said.

The Masters of the vessels were charged, and an administrative penalty of R400 000 was imposed. 

The vessel owner subsequently paid the fine, after which the vessels were released and departed South African waters. –SAnews.gov.za

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called for predictable policies, improved infrastructure and reduced regulatory barriers to support South Africa’s grain producers.

Addressing the Grain SA Congress at NampoPark in Bothaville, in the Free State, on Wednesday, Steenhuisen said grain farmers remain central to the country’s food security and agricultural economy, despite facing mounting structural challenges.

“Very little in South Africa’s food system happens without the work done by grain producers,” he said, noting that staples such as bread, maize meal and livestock feed all begin with decisions made on farms across the country.

Steenhuisen said the agricultural sector employs close to 950 000 South Africans and contributes roughly 6% to 7% of South Africa’s economy when the broader agro-processing value chain is included.

The sector also remains a major foreign revenue source for the country, with agricultural exports worth more than US$15 billion last year, generating a trade surplus of over US$7 billion.

Within the broader agricultural system, the Minister said maize production remains one of the country’s most strategic pillars. South African farmers produce between 10 million and 16 million tonnes of maize annually, depending on rainfall conditions, supplying both domestic consumption and regional export markets.

However, the country remains structurally dependent on wheat imports. South Africa consumes more than 3.5 million tonnes of wheat each year, but local production typically reaches only around two million tonnes, leaving the country reliant on imports for 40% to 50% of its wheat needs.

Steenhuisen said the widening gap between production costs and farm returns has become a major concern across the grain sector.

“That gap reflects a convergence of pressures that producers are being forced to manage simultaneously, including rising input costs, climate variability, infrastructure inefficiencies and global market volatility,” Steenhuisen said.

Input costs remain one of the biggest drivers of financial pressure on farmers, particularly fertiliser and fuel. Fertiliser alone accounts for 35% to 50% of production costs, while South Africa imports more than 80% of its fertiliser requirements, leaving farmers exposed to global supply disruptions and currency fluctuations.

Steenhuisen said recent geopolitical tensions affecting shipping routes in the Middle East could further raise fertiliser transport costs, while diesel prices are projected to increase by about R4.40 per litre from April, adding further pressure on farm budgets.

Fuel already accounts for between 12% and 18% of a farmer’s production costs, meaning incresing prices will affect both winter grain planting and summer harvest operations.

Beyond input costs, Steenhuisen highlighted infrastructure failures as a major constraint on the sector. Freight rail currently carries only 3% of South Africa’s grain and oilseed transport, down from about 20% in 2011, forcing producers to rely increasingly on road transport.

In many farming regions, deteriorating rural roads have become a significant cost burden, increasing fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance, and transport delays.

Steenhuisen said a recent cooperation agreement between government, business and agricultural organisations aims to identify critical agricultural road corridors for targeted infrastructure investment, beginning with a pilot project in the Free State.

Predictable policy implementation was also essential, he said, particularly regarding the wheat import tariff system, which is designed to balance domestic production with the country’s reliance on imported wheat.

He said administrative delays in publishing tariff adjustments can create volatility in the value chain and expose importers, millers and farmers to significant financial risks.

Steenhuisen said government is exploring options for a more automated tariff adjustment system to improve predictability and reduce administrative delays.

Looking ahead, the Minister said innovation and research will be critical to the long-term sustainability of grain production, particularly as climate change increases weather-related risks.

Advances in plant breeding technologies, including gene-editing techniques, such as CRISPR [a revolutionary gene-editing technology derived from bacterial immune systems that allows scientists to precisely add, remove, or alter DNA sequences], could help improve crop resilience and yield stability under changing climatic conditions.

Steenhuisen also highlighted the potential for expanding domestic demand for maize through industries such as biofuels and agro-processing, which could reduce the sector’s dependence on volatile export markets.

“Food security ultimately rests on farm profitability. If farmers cannot operate viable businesses, the entire food system becomes fragile.” – SAnews.gov.za