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Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has maintained that there will never be any compromise on the question of land, describing it as central to the ongoing struggle for genuine social and economic development, and the restoration of dignity to millions of people.

Addressing delegates at the International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), currently underway in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, Nyhontso said land remains at the core of South Africa’s democratic project and its unfinished liberation struggle.

“There can simply be no compromise on the question of redress for the atrocious legacies of the colonial and past regimes which continue to linger. If we do not resolve the land question, we will never resolve the climate question, let alone the hunger question,” the Minister said.

The conference attended by global stakeholders, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is taking place as South Africa prepares to mark the 49th anniversary of the death of a leader of the liberation struggle Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe on 27 February 2026.

Nyhontso invoked Sobukwe’s legacy, saying land dispossession is central to the oppression of the African majority and national self-determination.

He placed South Africa’s experience within a broader Global South struggle, warning that two decades after the original ICARRD conference in Porto Alegre affirmed that equitable access to land is a prerequisite for peace and food security, land concentration has intensified and marginalisation persists.

“We are here in Cartagena to declare that land should not be allowed to be hoarded by a few as it is the foundation of life, the cradle of societies, and the ultimate guarantor of the collective survival of humankind,” the Minister said.

Nyhontso also used the platform to criticise “distortions” surrounding South Africa’s land reform and state-led land-related developments, particularly narratives alleging a so-called “white genocide.”

He disputed the claims as deliberate misinformation aimed at undermining legitimate redress measures, including expropriation in the public interest.

In Africa, Asia and Latin America, he said, forests are being enclosed and, in some instances, literally alienated for private use, and water sources are being privatised, while small-scale food producers and fishers are being pushed further to the margins of society.

“There can be no ‘just transition’ if it is associated with the displacement of small-scale producers. There can be no ‘food security’ if land and agriculture continue to be controlled by a handful of multinational corporations,” the Minister said.

Nyhontso highlighted more than three centuries of dispossession, culminating in the 1913 Natives Land Act and the aggressive institutionalisation of the oppressive machinery of apartheid from 1948 to 1993, which confined the African majority to just 13 % of the land.

“The quality of this land remains marginal, and the territories that today we refer to as communal areas, which constitute much of this land, remain overcrowded and underdeveloped.”

The ICARRD+20 conference, taking place from 24 to 28 February 2026, provides a strategic platform for governments, social movements, and international organisations to deliberate on pressing global challenges, including land and water grabbing, climate change vulnerabilities, and the need for redistributive land reform. – SAnews.gov.za
 

A 52-year-old suspect linked to rhino poaching will today appear before the Bellville Magistrate Court.

The suspect, who was about to board a flight to Singapore with his family, was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Western Cape, which assisted in executing the arrest warrant, as issued by the Kempton Park Magistrate Court. 

“The suspect has been linked to a Kempton Park case of possession of rhino horns and predator bones, which were discovered to have been from Haartebeesfontein in the North West. This is in contravention of sections of the National Environmental Management and Biodiversity Act. [The suspect’s arrest follows] the arrest of two Nigerian nationals on 1 December 2025,” the police said in a statement.

The rhino horns are alleged to have been from a staged robbery reported on 8 December 2025 at Voi Farm, Hartbeesfontein, where 98 rhino horns were allegedly stolen. 

Upon further investigation, it was found that 17 of the recovered rhino horns on 1 December 2025 were part of the 98 rhino horns stolen on 8 December 2025. 

“It was further established that the owner of the rhino horns was a Vietnamese national, who was suspiciously not present at the time of the robbery. 

“The vehicle which was suspected to have been used as an instrument to commit the crime was traced to Woodhill Golf Estate in Pretoria, wherein search warrants were applied for and approved. 

“The warrants were executed in joint operation by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation’s Wildlife Trafficking section headquarters (HQ), with the assistance of the Tactical Operations Management Section, SAPS K9 Pretoria, Forensic Science Laboratories and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment HQ,” the police said. 

The operation resulted in the seizure of a Toyota Prado, which is suspected to have been used in a commission of a crime. 

The acting National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Lieutenant General Patrick Mbotho, reiterated that the DPCI will remain steadfast in stamping out wildlife trafficking and related serious organised crime. – SAnews.gov.za

Transformation will not succeed unless all key stakeholders embrace it, defend it and implement it with conviction. 

This is according to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau.

He was speaking during the historic engagement session between the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and all 11 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Sector Charter Councils in Pretoria on Tuesday.

The session marked the first time that all Sector Charter Councils convened collectively with the custodian of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act to assess progress, confront weaknesses, and chart a strengthened, outcomes-focused path for economic transformation in South Africa.

Opening the session, the Minister described the engagement as a landmark moment for B-BBEE, noting that while progress has been recorded, the next phase of transformation must place sharper emphasis on impact, accountability and scale.

Recent B-BBEE data presented during the session showed black ownership at approximately 29%, JSE-listed companies at 31% black ownership, black women ownership at around 12%, management control between 39% and 51%, and transaction values reaching approximately R600 billion.

“These numbers reflect a policy that has made a significant impact in undoing the injustice of the apartheid economy. But transformation works when it is implemented. It fails when it is ignored or circumvented,” said Tau.

He underscored that South Africa is at a decisive moment.

“Crossroads are not places of collapse; they are places of choice. And now, choices must be made,” he said.

A key outcome of the engagement was agreement on the need to move from a compliance-driven approach to an outcomes-based transformation framework. There was also a call to move beyond ticking boxes and focusing only on numbers.

“We must ask what has actually changed in ownership, management, skills, enterprise growth and industrial capability,” said Tau.

Discussions also focused on the effectiveness of skills development spending, with the Minister noting that over R100 billion had reportedly been spent on skills development over three years.

“With that level of investment, we should not be facing the skills crises we see today. Sectors must demonstrate tangible skills outcomes rather than expenditure alone,” he said.

The engagement concluded with consensus on a three-point action approach: addressing funding mechanisms, optimising implementation within the current legal framework, and reviewing institutional architecture where systems are not functioning effectively.

“We are not here to create conflict. We are here to fix what is not working, strengthen what is working, and ensure that transformation remains central to South Africa’s economic trajectory,” he said.

Tau confirmed that feedback from the engagement will be consolidated and presented to Cabinet as part of the ongoing review of the B-BBEE framework. Delegates further agreed that this engagement marked the beginning of a more structured and continuous platform between the government and Sector Charter Councils.

“This is not the last engagement; it is the first in this format. If this country does not transform, none of us will succeed,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister, Dr Nomalungelo Gina, is today leading a strategic dialogue on advancing women’s leadership in South Africa’s energy transition at an event held in Johannesburg. 

Taking place on the sidelines of the South African National Energy Development Institute’s (SANEDI) Annual Energy Conference, which began on Tuesday, today’s breakfast session is themed: “Elevating Women in Energy: Driving Innovation, Inclusion, and Leadership in South Africa’s Energy Sector.”

Gina is joined by key women leaders in the sector, including Morwesi Thonga, the chairperson of the EWSETA Board and Bertha Dlamini, the head of African Women in Energy and Power.

Following the breakfast session, the spotlight will be on projects funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), to examine how science, technology, skills development, and policy can drive an inclusive, innovation-led energy future.

The Department’s Director-General, Dr Mlungisi Cele, will engage stakeholders on DSTI-funded energy projects, including outputs from the Hydrogen and Energy RDI Flagship Programmes.

The broader conference is themed: “Catalysing Just, Sustainable and Digital Energy Transition for Africa and Beyond”. – SAnews.gov.za

A multi-disciplinary team under Operation Shanela and local farm watch members conducted an intelligence-driven and crime prevention operation, concentrating on crime prevention, tracing of wanted suspects and compliance inspections at the weekend.

The operation, conducted from 23 February 2026 to 24 February 2026, within the Ehlazeni District, focusing on Calcutta, Acornhoek and Bushbuckridge, saw members visiting liquor outlets and conducting stop-and-searches as well as patrols at identified places, including Saselani and Dwarsloop in Bushbuckridge.

It was during this operation that a 30-year-old male suspect was arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. Two 9mm pistols, two magazines and about 16 live rounds were seized.

Further operations led to the recovery of two firearms, with one suspected of being state-issued. 

Further information from Crime Intelligence resulted in the team recovering another 9 mm pistol with ammunition.

The two suspects, aged 25 and 30, are expected to appear at the Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek Magistrate’s Courts respectively, on Wednesday.

The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi commended members for their swift response and effective coordination, emphasising that integrated intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with community structures such as farm patrols remain critical in removing illegal firearms from communities.

“These coordinated efforts enhance operational quality, strengthen cohesion among law enforcement partners, and significantly contribute to proactive policing and safer communities,” said Mkhwanazi. – SAnews.gov.za