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The Virtual Priority Court, which deals with immigration matters, has processed approximately 80 deportation orders as government intensifies efforts to enforce immigration laws and ensure the orderly deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.

“On 16 June, the Virtual Priority Court processed approximately 80 cases in which deportation orders were granted. All affected persons appearing before the Court were afforded their constitutional rights, including the right to legal representation, as provided by Legal Aid SA,” the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DoJCD) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Justice and Constitutional Development Deputy Minister Andries Nel visited the court, which is sitting at the Durban Magistrates’ Court.

“As from today,17 June, five more in-person courts will be made available at the Durban Magistrates’ Court to hear immigration matters and the Virtual Priority Court will continue [linked to Court 9 at Durban Magistrates’ Court]. The eThekwini Municipality has undertaken to provide transport for persons between Sherwood Park and the Court,” the department said.

The Deputy Minister also visited the Sherwood Park Hall  – where a reported 7000 Malawians have been gathering – to meet with the Consul-General of Malawi, Maxwell Biwi.

“Deputy Minister Nel reiterated President Cyril Ramaphosa’s message that South Africa will continue to engage other countries on the African continent to forge a broader response to migration challenges across the region and the continent.

“Deputy Minister Nel also commended the partnerships between the DoJCD, the DHA [Department of Home Affairs], eThekwini Municipality, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government, the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development which have all contributed to providing humanitarian support to persons at Sherwood Park,” the statement read.

Speeding up the wheels

The Virtual Priority Court forms part of government’s comprehensive response to the migration challenge.

“Following announcements in the State of the Nation Address in February and Cabinet’s adoption of a Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, President Ramaphosa announced measures to ensure that immigration laws are respected and enforced and every person who enters the country does so lawfully.

“The establishment of the Virtual Priority Court was in response to a commitment made by the President that dedicated courts would be established to deal with immigration and to speedily support the deportation of undocumented migrants,” the department explained.

The court is a collaborative effort involving the DoJCD, the DHA, the judiciary and Legal Aid SA.

“The Virtual Priority Court makes use of advanced technology such as audio-visual linkages to Sherwood Park Hall, where a large number of Malawian foreign nationals are currently being sheltered.

“Use was also made of Integrated Justice System devices, such as the IJS’ Integrated Person Management solution, which manages and tracks a person across the entire justice system and enables a seamless collaboration between government departments.

“By making use of these devices, a person’s biometric data, identity verification and status checks against various databases [such as those of DHA and the SAPS] could be done in real-time, thus eliminating the need for manual checks and ensuring faster and more accurate processing of persons,” the statement explained. – SAnews.gov.za

Bernice Swarts
As South Africa continues to face the challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, pollution and biodiversity loss, our 2026/27 Budget is about more than financial allocations. Our 2026/27 Budget Vote – tabled recently in Parliament – is about improving people’s lives, creating opportunities, protecting livelihoods and building a more sustainable future for all South Africans.

Economic opportunities for women through forestry transformation 
The transformation of the forestry sector remains one of the department’s strategic priorities. Through the Forestry Sector Master Plan and the Community Forestry Agreement Model, we are expanding access to forestry resources and unlocking meaningful socio-economic opportunities, particularly for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

In the 2025/26 financial year, eight Community Forestry Agreements were concluded in the Eastern Cape, covering Hamburg, Manina Blocks H and J, Manina Block K, Mthintloni, Ngcobo, Nkobongo, Xhorana and Zikhova. During the 2026/27 financial year, a further eight plantations will be transferred to communities.

We are confident that these community-owned plantations will create jobs, stimulate small businesses and strengthen rural livelihoods, especially for women and young people. We remain committed to ensuring broad participation and inclusivity throughout the programme.

The department is also engaging private sector partners to provide financial support for this important initiative. Through our outreach programmes, we will continue to raise awareness of these opportunities and encourage more young women to pursue careers in forestry.

Presidential One Billion Trees programme 
Government plans to plant 10 million trees on Heritage Day, 24 September 2026, as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Presidential One Billion Trees Programme. Led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the programme seeks to mobilise all South Africans, including government, business, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders, diplomatic missions, NGOs, youth formations and communities, to participate in the fight against climate change.

Trees will be planted in safe spaces across all nine provinces, including schools, clinics, hospitals, colleges, police stations, churches, parks and residential areas. We also encourage households to plant trees in their own yards.

This ambitious target builds on the success of the 2025 One Million Trees Campaign. On 24 September 2025, South Africans planted 1.3 million trees in a single day, exceeding the target of one million trees. Importantly, this achievement came at no cost to government, as citizens, businesses and organisations donated and planted the trees themselves.

This achievement demonstrated the power of collective action and the willingness of South Africans to contribute to environmental protection and climate action. I dedicate this achievement to all those who contributed their resources, time and effort to make it possible.

Tackling veld fires 
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of veld fires across South Africa. To address this challenge, we are strengthening integrated fire management systems and supporting Forestry Protection Associations with the resources and capacity they need.

Improved collaboration between Forestry Protection Associations, Working on Fire teams and disaster management centres is helping to build a more coordinated national response to wildfire risks.

The Working on Fire Programme will also create more than 4 000 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) job opportunities during the current financial year. This demonstrates how environmental programmes can create employment while strengthening climate resilience.

Improving waste management 
The fight against pollution remains a key priority. Waste management challenges continue to affect communities across the country, impacting public health, environmental quality and economic development.

Through stronger partnerships with municipalities and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), we are supporting local government to improve waste management services, reduce pollution and expand recycling initiatives.

Particular attention is being given to electronic waste (e-waste), one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally. South Africa generates more than 360 000 tonnes of e-waste annually, yet only a small portion is recycled through formal systems. The prohibition of e-waste disposal to landfill, together with the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations, reflects government’s commitment to diverting this waste stream towards reuse, recycling and recovery.

Over the past two financial years, the department has implemented an e-waste programme and hosted community izimbizo to raise awareness about the health and environmental risks associated with electronic waste. These initiatives were undertaken in partnership with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), which purchased e-waste items directly from community members.

These efforts are already showing positive results. More than 86 tonnes of electronic waste have been collected through community initiatives, with financial incentives paid directly to participating residents. This demonstrates that environmental protection and economic empowerment can go hand in hand.
At the same time, we continue to advance the circular economy through Extended Producer Responsibility measures, ensuring that producers take greater responsibility for the environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle. The principle that the polluter must pay is becoming a practical reality.

Combating land degradation and desertification
Land degradation and desertification continue to threaten food security, biodiversity and rural livelihoods. Climate change, droughts, floods and unsustainable land-use practices place increasing pressure on productive landscapes and agricultural activities.

Through the National Action Programme to Combat Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought, we are bringing together government, scientists, farmers, communities and the private sector to restore degraded land and improve resilience.

During this financial year, we will strengthen these efforts through the development of an Integrated Restoration Programme that will coordinate restoration activities across government and maximise both environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Strengthening our environmental entities

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) continues to play a critical role in protecting lives, property and economic activity through its early warning systems. South Africa’s leadership in launching a National Early Warning Roadmap under the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative reflects our commitment to ensuring that communities receive timely information that can save lives and reduce disaster risks.
The South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) also remains an important partner in advancing sustainable development. Through sound governance, responsible forest management and investments in technology and infrastructure, SAFCOL continues to support job creation, enterprise development and community upliftment.
While challenges such as ageing infrastructure and timber theft remain, the company is implementing practical measures to improve efficiency and ensure the long-term sustainability of the forestry sector.

Conclusion 
Our 2026/27 Budget reflects our department’s contribution to building a greener, more inclusive and more resilient South Africa. It recognises the link between environmental sustainability, economic growth and social wellbeing.

Through this Budget, our Department calls on all South Africans to work with us to restore our ecosystems, create green jobs, strengthen climate resilience and ensure that future generations inherit a healthier, greener and more sustainable country.  

*Swarts is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on faith-based organisations to play a central role in calming rising tensions over migration and strengthening South Africa’s National Dialogue process.

Addressing religious leaders at a special meeting at the Union Buildings on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa said South Africa is facing real and pressing concerns about migration and illegal immigration. He cautioned against blaming foreign nationals for the country’s broader economic and social challenges.

The President warned that frustration over economic hardship must not be allowed to fuel xenophobia or social division.

“These concerns are real. They need to be heard and to be addressed. These concerns arise in conditions of persistently high unemployment, poverty and hardship. They arise in communities that are plagued by crime, violence and corruption and where there is increasing pressure on public services,” the President said.

The President emphasised that illegal immigration was not the cause of the country’s structural problems. 

To tackle the challenges faced by the country, the President said there is a need for faster and more inclusive growth, investment and the creation of jobs. 

“We need to strengthen our efforts to tackle poverty and hunger,” he said. 

The meeting brought together Ministers and faith leaders from across the country, with President Ramaphosa framing religious institutions as key moral anchors in a society under strain.

“The faith community in our country has always been more than a place of worship. It has provided moral guidance and spiritual sustenance.”

President Ramaphosa’s remarks come days after he outlined a Comprehensive Approach to Migration Management, which includes stricter enforcement of immigration and labour laws, tighter border controls, anti-corruption measures in the immigration system, legal reforms, and increased cooperation with Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union partners.

He emphasised that while South Africa must enforce its laws and ensure that “every person within our borders must be here lawfully,” this must be done in a manner consistent with constitutional values and human dignity.

“I said that responsibility for enforcing our laws rests with the state, and that no individual may stop another to demand documentation or proof of nationality. I said that no matter how frustrated people may be, there is no place for racism, sexism, xenophobia, Afrophobia or any other form of intolerance.”

President Ramaphosa urged faith leaders to help prevent community anger from turning into violence or discrimination.

“When fear and anger rise, it is so often the voice of the pulpit, the mosque, the temple and the synagogue that can call our people back to compassion,” he said.

National Dialogue

Beyond migration, the President also used the platform to advance the upcoming National Dialogue initiative, describing it as a “people-led process” designed to unite South Africans in defining a shared vision for the country’s future.

He said the process would begin at local level before moving to national gatherings and stressed that its credibility depended on broad participation and inclusion.

“It must be a place where every voice is heard and real solutions are found. Faith communities are vital to this endeavour, for you reach into every village, township and suburb,” he said. 

The President invited religious leaders to become “partners, participants and guarantors” of the process, saying they would play a key role in helping to heal national divisions.

He concluded by urging collective action to build a secure, lawful, compassionate and prosperous South Africa, saying the country’s challenges could only be resolved through unity.

“There are many challenges facing our nation. But we can address them together. Together, we can build a South Africa that is secure, lawful, compassionate and prosperous, one that upholds the dignity of every person and fulfils the promise of our democracy,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa’s manufacturing sector must become more productive, innovative and globally competitive if it is to drive sustainable growth and job creation, Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams said on Wednesday.

Abrahams delivered the keynote address at the 20th Anniversary Annual General Meeting of the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster (KZNCTC), held at the Toyota Wessels Institute of Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) in Kloof, Durban.

The KZNCTC is an industry-led public-private partnership focused on strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of KwaZulu-Natal’s clothing, textile, footwear and leather manufacturing sector.

Addressing industry leaders, Abrahams said government remains committed to improving productivity across the manufacturing value chain while positioning South African manufacturers to access new regional and global markets.

She stressed that the future of local manufacturing hinges on clear policy direction and a shift away from overreliance on protectionist measures.

“We must move decisively away from approaches that rely excessively on protectionist policy instruments. The long-term success of domestic industry will depend on our ability to build businesses that are productive, innovative and capable of competing globally.

“Our objective must be simple. We must create conditions where South African manufacturers succeed because they are competitive, efficient and world-class. That is how we build sustainable industrial growth. That is how we create lasting jobs,” she said.

The engagement forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to boost economic growth, attract investment and create jobs through a stronger, more competitive manufacturing sector.

It also reflects government’s emphasis on partnering with industry to unlock opportunities for local businesses, strengthen value chains and expand employment.

Abrahams also raised concerns over illegal and non-compliant manufacturing practices in parts of the clothing and textile sector, warning that such activities threaten the integrity and long-term sustainability of the industry.

“Reports of labour exploitation, unsafe working conditions, immigration violations and non-compliance with bargaining council agreements raise serious concerns for the future integrity of this industry.

“Businesses that follow the law should never be forced to compete against businesses that ignore the law. When illegal manufacturing practices are allowed to continue unchecked, the damage extends across the entire value chain. Workers are exploited.

“Ethical manufacturers are undercut. Retailers face reputational risk. Consumer confidence is weakened. And compliant businesses face commercial pressure that ultimately threatens jobs and livelihoods,” she said.

She assured stakeholders that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) is working closely with the Department of Employment and Labour, the South African Revenue Service, Home Affairs, bargaining councils and law enforcement agencies to strengthen enforcement and clamp down on unlawful practices in the sector. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is implementing land restoration projects in Limpopo and the Northern Cape to combat land degradation while improving livelihoods in rural communities.

The projects are already delivering tangible benefits, including improved access to water, job creation and skills development, while promoting sustainable land management and environmental stewardship.

As part of the initiative, two boreholes were officially handed over to the communities of Rietfontein and Philandersbron, improving water availability in these drought-stricken areas.

In addition, 84 beneficiaries – comprising women, young people and persons with disabilities – received training and employment through an invasive plant species removal programme covering 700 hectares. 

The project focuses particularly on eradicating the highly problematic alien Prosopis species.

An accompanying small grant project, running from April 2026 to April 2027, is also being implemented to support sustainable land management and food security, creating 10 temporary jobs.

Speaking on Wednesday in commemoration of Desertification and Drought Day (DDD) 2026, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, underscored the importance of protecting and restoring land resources through sustainable land management.

“Together we need to work towards ensuring sustainable land management and environmental stewardship to ensure healthier ecosystems and strengthened socio-economic conditions of rural communities,” Swarts said.

Observed globally on 17 June each year, Desertification and Drought Day raises awareness of the need to restore degraded ecosystems and promote sustainable land-use practices.

The 2026 theme, “Rangelands: Recognise. Respect. Restore,” highlights the critical role of rangelands as biodiversity hotspots and providers of food security, clean drinking water, jobs and socio-economic opportunities.

Healthy rangelands contribute significantly to food security, climate change adaptation and water resource management, while also creating opportunities for employment and the development of green businesses.

Rangelands cover vast areas of the world’s surface and provide essential ecosystem services, including livestock grazing, carbon sequestration, water regulation and biodiversity conservation. However, they remain among the most vulnerable and degraded ecosystems globally.

According to the department, continued degradation of these landscapes threatens agricultural production, undermines climate change adaptation efforts and places increasing pressure on the livelihoods of communities that depend on them.

This year’s commemoration aims to raise awareness of the multiple benefits of sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration. –SAnews.gov.za