Team eRadio – Page 29 – eRadio SA – Live from the Garden Route

CapeNature rangers praised for heroic rescue of stranded UK tourist

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A visit to the iconic Robberg Nature Reserve and Marine Protected Area - one of the Garden Route’s most celebrated gems — turned into a life-threatening ordeal for a London tourist, and a powerful reminder of humanity of CapeNature’s field rangers.

For Ms Rosalind Innes, Robberg had been a long-awaited addition to her South African travel itinerary. But as she navigated one of the narrow, rocky sections near the Point of Robberg, her adventure took a sudden and frightening turn. A slip on the rugged terrain left her with a broken ankle, stranded in a secluded area under rapidly worsening weather conditions.

Injured, and unable to move without assistance, Ms Innes accompanied by her husband faced a daunting reality. The two of them struggled to walk, as she was in pain and she required assistance especially over the uneven terrain.

CapeNature EPWP general worker Vuyani Charlie, who was doing trail maintenance on the boardwalk nearby was alerted of the incident by the injured Rosalind Iness’s husband. Realising the gravity of the situation, he reassured them that he would return with help. Once he reached higher ground in search of a cell phone signal, he managed to get hold of the Field Rangers on duty, namely Charles Minnaar and Petrus Lamini.

It took Petrus Lamini and Charles Minnaar some time to get to the injured as they were at The Point at Robberg and the Field Rangers were on the Island doing trail maintenance. Together, the three men worked with calm precision and compassionate care, navigating slippery rocks, supporting Ms Innes’ injured leg, and shielding her from the harsh elements. What followed was a gruelling four-hour rescue effort, requiring physical endurance, teamwork, and unrelenting determination to bring her to safety.

Ms Rosalind Innes flanked by her rescuers Vuyani Charlie (l) and Petrus Lamini (r).

Ms Rosalind Innes being assisted by staff from Robberg Nature Reserve.

Ms Innes is still emotional when recalling the experience.

"I truly do not know what I would have done without them. I owe them my life, particularly Vuyani Charlie, as I was simply not strong enough to get out on my own. They kept me calm and safe, and supported me both physically and mentally through a horrendous ordeal".

Once out of danger, she was transported to a local hospital, where she received the medical attention, she needed.

CapeNature CEO, Dr Ashley Naidoo, commended the swift and professional action of the staff members.

"Our field rangers are more than custodians of our natural heritage — they are protectors, guides, and often the first responders when things go wrong. Their rapid assessment, coordinated response, and sustained effort over several hours ensured the safe recovery and evacuation of a stranded hiker under challenging conditions. They turned a potentially devastating situation into a story of hope, resilience, and teamwork. These continue to be our South African themes".

For Ms Innes, her South African journey will forever be remembered — not for the fall, but for the extraordinary kindness of the strangers who became her heroes.

Home Affairs implements reforms to root out corruption

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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has assured citizens that the government is rolling out targeted interventions to curb corruption and hold officials accountable for manipulating systems to issue documents irregularly.

“I can today announce that disciplinary processes against all implicated individuals are ongoing. A total of 20 officials have already been dismissed since April last year,” the Minister said on Monday in Pretoria.

His remarks are a response to the release of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report on the investigation into allegations of serious maladministration within the Department of Home Affairs.

The investigation focused on recurring schemes involving document fraud, visa and work-permit manipulation, and facilitation networks enabling unauthorised entry into South Africa.

“I have also requested the Director-General to write to the Department of Public Service and Administration, as well as to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to ensure that these former officials are not reemployed elsewhere in the State while they undergo criminal proceedings.

“Over the past two financial years, a total of 75 disciplinary cases were completed, resulting in an additional 16 suspensions without pay and 22 written warnings,” the Minister said.

This work has also led to several referrals for criminal prosecution.

“I would encourage the National Prosecuting Authority to prioritise these cases as part of our collective efforts to restore the rule of law,” he said.

Furthermore, the department has also identified over 2 000 study visas that were fraudulently issued through the syndicates that were operating at Home Affairs.

“Administrative processes are now underway to cancel these visas, and we will also ringfence any subsequent visas obtained by these same individuals to ensure that all irregularly obtained documents are cancelled and that perpetrators are deported or prosecuted as required,” the Minister said.

The department is moving to shut down manual processes and replace them with new cutting-edge digital systems that leave no space for manipulation.

“As confirmed by the SIU, it is paper-based and manual processes that have long created space for crooked officials to overlook fraudulent documents or approve applications that do not meet the relevant regulatory requirements,” Schreiber said.

Last year, Home Affairs launched the first phase of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which enables visa applicants to apply online, capture biometrics, and receive approvals in real-time, eliminating lengthy processing times and cumbersome documentation.

“To date, this new system has declined over 30 000 applications that did not meet the relevant requirements for tourist visas. It does so by using machine learning to verify the authenticity of documents like passports.

“The ETA also uses biometric technology to match an applicant’s face to their passport photo, which means that they cannot enter South Africa using fraudulent documents.

“The ETA does all of this through rules-based decision-making that is overseen by the Department, but that cannot be manipulated by any official,” the Minister said.

Working together with the Border Management Authority and the South African Revenue Service, the department is currently expanding facial recognition capabilities to all international airports and to the busiest land ports of entry.

“Once this work is complete, we will scale up the ETA to become the central entry point for all tourist visas to South Africa. This means that we will shut down all other tourist visa processing, including at South African missions abroad.

“Once this is complete, we will further expand the ETA to additional visa categories, including study visas. By moving all visa processing to the ETA, we are closing loopholes that were previously exploited to grant non-qualifying or fraudulent applications,” he said.

Through the ETA, Home Affairs will ensure that a handful of officials can't manipulate processes.

“The rollout of the ETA also links to our work to build an Intelligent Population Register to anchor a new Digital ID system, which will ensure that biometrics are recorded for every person in South Africa, and that biometric verification is used to protect our citizenship and identity system.

“This is how we eliminate the scourge of identity theft by illegal immigrants, which is concentrated around the continued use of the green bar-coded identity book,” the Minister said.

Eskom generation recovery continues

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Eskom has recorded some 280 days without the implementation of load shedding, continuing the power utility’s generation recovery.

At the same time, the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) continues to hold steady, rising to some 65.11% for the financial year to date.

“Eskom’s generation performance continues to show steady and measurable improvement, reinforcing the reliability of South Africa’s power system and supporting confidence in the wider economy. Improvements in plant availability, together with reduced unplanned outages, have strengthened the stability of the national grid.

“These gains, enabled by the Generation Recovery Plan, are contributing to long-term energy security and helping sustain uninterrupted supply, an essential foundation for economic activity and growth,” the power utility said.

Last week, average unplanned outages measured at some 9980MW – an improvement of 2784MW from the same period last year.

“Over the same period, the Unplanned Capacity Loss Factor [UCLF], reflecting unplanned outages, was at 20.77%, representing a reduction of 4.53% compared to the 25.30% recorded during the same period last year.

“During the same period, Eskom’s Planned Capacity Loss Factor [PCLF] – reflecting planned maintenance – was at an average of 10.49%, down from 15.71% in the previous financial year.

“In addition, 9 897MW is currently in cold reserve due to excess capacity,” Eskom said.

The power utility noted that diesel usage last week saw “2.48GWh of energy being sent into the grid at a cost of R14.89 million, equating to a 0.433% load factor”.

“The use of diesel resulted from the dispatching of the independent power producers [IPP] Open Cycle Gas Turbine [OCGT] units in line with existing take‑or‑pay contractual obligations with the two IPPs.

“These agreements were concluded during a period of severe supply constraints to secure guaranteed minimum average usage levels every six months. Under these contracts, Eskom is required to pay for the committed capacity whether it is utilised or not. Accordingly, diesel usage over the next few weeks, may primarily reflect the fulfilment of these contractual obligations.

“As system performance continues to improve and the EAF strengthens, Eskom’s operational focus remains on utilising the most cost-effective primary energy sources, while responsibly managing legacy contractual commitments and maintaining grid stability,” Eskom explained.

Despite this, year to date expenditure on diesel remains low – coming in below budget.

“Year-to-date (1 April 2025 until 19 February 2026), total diesel expenditure is now R5.49 billion lower than at the same time last year, reflecting substantial cost savings and continued imp

Shanela nets more than 900 suspects over the weekend

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The Gauteng multidisciplinary integrated teams of Operation Shanela conducted successful high-density operations over the weekend that resulted in the arrest of more than 900 suspects for various offences.

The suspects included 700 suspects wanted for serious and violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and sexual assault.

According to the police, the operations conducted simultaneously throughout the five districts in the province also aimed at enhancing police visibility and assist local police stations with crime reduction.

The teams further seized dangerous weapons, various drugs, liquor and a stolen vehicle. With liquor flagged as a contributor of crime in the province, the teams closed down 21 liquor outlets for non-compliance, and the owners were given fines as per the Gauteng Liquor Act.

“Through Operation Shanela, SAPS [the South African Police Service] in Gauteng continue demonstrate its commitment to promoting safety while maximizing police visibility and stamping authority of the State,” the police said in a statement.

Weather outlook: 23 February 2026 – 01 March 2026

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of severe thunderstorms over the central interior, accompanied by heavy rain on Monday.

A cut-off low is expected to approach the Eastern Cape from the northwestern interior, leading to significant cloud development with a chance for heavy downpours in places.

“As the cut-off low-pressure systems approaches the country from the west, it will lead to conditions favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, resulting in heavy downpours, strong winds and hail over most parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, except the north-eastern parts today, as well as western parts of North West and central Free State tomorrow afternoon,” the weather service said.

These weather conditions are likely to cause flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas, along with strong, damaging winds.

The weather forecast for Tuesday shows cloudy weather over the central and eastern parts, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm, but hot in some places.

Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers expected.

“A Yellow Level 4 for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours and flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas over the western parts of the Eastern Cape and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

“A Yellow Level 2 warning remains for the central and eastern interior for localised flooding due to heavy downpours,” SAWS Meteorologist Tokelo Chiloane said.

Possible flooding due to heavy downpours:

Wednesday: No significant weather expected.
Thursday: Low to medium 40% - 60% chance - Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment)
Friday: Low to medium 40% - 60% chance - North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts)
Saturday: Low to medium 40% - 60% chance - North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
Sunday: Low to medium 40% - 60% chance - North West, Free State, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape.

Possible severe thunderstorms:

Monday: Low 40% chance - Northern Cape (eastern and central parts), Western Cape (except the coastal areas), Eastern Cape (western and central parts), Free State (western parts).
Tuesday: Low 40% chance- Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape (eastern parts).
Wednesday: No significant weather.
Thursday: Low to Medium 40% – 60%chance - Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), Eastern Cape (along the escarpment).
Friday: Medium 60% chance- North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal (north-western parts), Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
Saturday: Medium to High 60% - 80% chance: North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
Sunday: Medium to High 60% - 80% chance: North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Winds (not associated with thunderstorms):

Monday: Moderate to High 60% - 80% chance - East and South-east coast.
Tuesday: Moderate to High 60% - 80% chance - South-east coast.
Wednesday: Moderate to High 60% - 80% chance - South-west coast.
Thursday: Low 40% chance - West coast.
Friday: Low 40% chance - East and South-east coast, West coast.
Saturday: Low 40% chance - West coast.
Sunday: Moderate to High 60% - 80% chance - South and South-west coast.

Minister Mackenzie announces 500 free entries for learners in the Cape Town Cycle Tour

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Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, has announced an exciting opportunity for school learners across the province to participate in the Cape Town Cycle Tour free of charge.

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, in partnership with the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, will make 500 free entries available to learners to take part in the 42km race in the Cape Town Cycle Tour, which will take place on Sunday, 8 March.

Learners aged 11 (or in the year of reaching 11) up until 18 are encouraged to apply.

Minister Mackenzie, who will also participate in this year’s race, said: “This initiative is aimed at expanding access to sport and creating meaningful opportunities for young people across the Western Cape.”

He added: “This is your chance to be part of something big, to challenge yourself and represent your school with pride in one of the world’s most iconic cycling races.”

Parents and schools are required to submit learner entries directly to the Department by emailing [email protected] by Wednesday 25 February. The first 500 entries received will be allocated free entries.

The Minister has called on principals and teachers to identify promising young cyclists and ensure their entries are submitted timeously.

“We can’t wait to see our young people on that start line. Let’s ride, Western Cape!”

FMD vaccine arrives in SA, signals turning point for Agriculture

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The Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen has described the arrival of the first batch of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines as a victory for the country’s agricultural sector and a major step towards reopening global red meat markets.

Steenhuisen officially received the first shipment of one million high-potency FMD vaccine doses at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday.

“This is a victory for everybody in South Africa who wants to see agriculture playing an even more important role than it currently does in terms of the economy,” the Minister said.

He noted that agricultural exports were up 7% quarter-on-quarter and 10% year-on-year, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to economic growth and job creation.

“Agriculture provides an opportunity for us to employ more people, but also to grow our economy. And as we've seen with our fruit exports, the real value in that lies in being able to get our excellent products around the world.

“This small vial will be the beginning of us getting our red meat into markets around the world, and I'm very excited about that,” he said.

The vaccines, sourced from Argentine pharmaceutical company Biogénesis Bagó, are seen as a critical tool in South Africa’s fight against recurring FMD outbreaks, which have severely affected the red meat industry and led to the closure of key export markets.

For years, South Africa has grappled with FMD outbreaks that have restricted exports and placed strain on farmers. The Minister said the new vaccines will allow the country to move from reacting to outbreaks to proactively managing and ultimately eradicating the disease.

“These vaccines will give us an opportunity to get ahead of it. For far too long, far too many important markets have been closed to us because of our FMD status. This begins the pathway towards prosperity, opportunity and expansion and inclusion for many, many more people in the red meat sector in South Africa,” he said.

The shipment forms part of the Department of Agriculture’s new 10-Year Eradication Strategy aimed at securing “FMD-free status with vaccination” a critical requirement for regaining access to lucrative global markets.

The one million doses received mark the first phase of a broader rollout, with an additional five million doses expected to arrive in March.

South Africa has a national herd of over 14 million cattle, and government aims to vaccinate at least 80% by December.

“This is the first million batch. Now this is nowhere near as much as we need to be able to vaccinate 80% of the national herd by December, but there’s more on the way from Argentina and, of course, from other suppliers around the world,” Steenhuisen said.

He thanked the Argentinian government and industry partners for their support in reaching what he described as a milestone moment, highlighting collaboration between the state and private sector.

“At every sector and every step of the way, we have brought the private sector industry players and organisations along with us,” he said.

Steenhuisen also acknowledged the work of Department of Agriculture officials, including Director-General Mooketsa Ramasodi and senior veterinary and biosecurity experts including Dr Emily Mogajane and Dr Botlhe Modisane for their scientific and technical contributions.

Addressing farmers directly, the Minister said government understands the hardship many have endured due to recent outbreaks.

“To the farmers of South Africa, I want to say very clearly that help is on the way. We know that many of you have suffered tremendously over the last weeks and months, but we now have the tools that we need.”

The Minister expressed confidence that the vaccination programme will not only help curb the current outbreak but firmly place the country on a new trajectory for the red meat sector.

DA welcomes first 20,000 carton plum export to China

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The Democratic Alliance has welcomed what it describes as a milestone for the agricultural sector following the first export of South African plums to China under a new trade agreement.

Minister of Agriculture and DA leader John Steenhuisen this week saw off the first shipment of African Delight and Ruby Star plums destined for China. The consignment follows the signing of a stone fruit protocol between South Africa and China in October last year.

The agreement opens the Chinese market to a range of South African stone fruit, including plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots and prunes. According to the DA, the initial shipment demonstrates that the protocol is already yielding results for farmers, exporters and agricultural workers.

The party said additional export protocols for cherries and blueberries to China are expected to be finalised soon.

It also commended what it described as the swift processing and preparation of the first consignment, noting that rapid implementation of new trade agreements is critical in the agricultural sector, where timing and logistics directly affect farm income and competitiveness.

The DA said expanding into new markets such as China will help diversify South Africa’s export base, reduce reliance on traditional buyers and strengthen the sector’s resilience amid shifting global trade conditions.

The party added that the agreement has the potential to generate significant export revenue in the coming years, support job creation on farms and stimulate growth across the agricultural value chain, including transport, packaging and logistics.

The DA said it would continue to support measures aimed at opening new markets, reducing red tape and promoting growth in the agricultural economy.

SAPS destroys 13 859 illegal firearms

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In an effort to remove illegal firearms from circulation, the South African Police Service (SAPS) destroyed a total of 13 859 firearms during its second firearm destruction process for the 2025/26 financial year.

This brings the total number of firearms destroyed over the past seven years to 305 934.

The District Commissioner of Sedibeng in Gauteng, Major General Adelaide Mukhwevho presided over the official firearm destruction process that took place in Vanderbijlpark.

Majority of the destroyed firearms were confiscated during various policing operations, including OPERATION SHANELA, and were forfeited to the State.

Some of the firearms are linked to finalised criminal cases such as farm attacks, cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and crimes against women and children. Others were voluntarily surrendered or handed in during firearm amnesty periods.

By destroying forfeited firearms, the SAPS prevents them from re-entering circulation. The provincial breakdown of firearms destroyed is as follows:

▶️ Gauteng: 5 193
▶️ KwaZulu-Natal: 2 752
▶️ Western Cape: 2 155
▶️ Eastern Cape: 1 300
▶️ Mpumalanga: 605
▶️ Limpopo: 535
▶️ Free State: 499
▶️ Northern Cape: 411
▶️ North West: 354
▶️ Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI): 55

Type of firearms destroyed:
▶️ Handguns: 11 183
▶️ Rifles: 1302
▶️ Shotguns: 1004
▶️ Combination: 34
▶️ Firearm parts: 336

Also amongst the destroyed firearms is a total of 7 708 blank guns, airguns and homemade firearms which were also destroyed during the destruction process. Although these weapons are often perceived as less lethal than conventional firearms, they are often used in the commission of crimes.

On a weekly basis, the SAPS seizes no less than 100 illegal firearms during tracing operations, stop-and-searches, and other targeted crime combating activities.

Just last week, nationwide SHANELA II operations led to the recovery of 147 illegal firearms and 4 465 rounds of ammunition of different calibres.

All seized firearms with working mechanisms undergo testing through the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) to determine whether they were used in the commission of other crimes, including those handed in during amnesty periods.

Government welcomes easing of inflation

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Government has noted the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, which show that headline inflation eased in January.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), headline inflation eased from 3.6% in December 2025 to 3.5% in January 2026.

“The easing in inflation reflects a combination of stable food prices and lower fuel costs. This contributes to a generally contained price environment at the start of the year,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Wednesday.

Food price inflation remained steady overall, with several staple items recording slower increases or price declines. Products such as cereals, rice, dairy and eggs showed signs of moderation, providing some relief to households.

Furthermore, fuel prices declined on both a monthly and annual basis, supporting the broader moderation in inflation. The decline of fuel prices also contributed positively to easing transport-related costs.

“Overall, the January outcome indicates that inflation remains relatively stable. Government continues to implement measures to support food security, enhance market monitoring, strengthen competition, and protect vulnerable households from rising costs.

“Government will continue to monitor price developments closely and act, where necessary, to safeguard consumer welfare and support economic growth,” the GCIS said.