Category: News

Steenhuisen moves to allow introduction of avian influenza vaccinations

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Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has stepped in to amend the Animal Diseases Regulations (R.2026 of 1986) to allow the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccinations against the disease in the country.

The move is aimed at providing the poultry sector with a sustainable way forward in combating bird flu.

The decision follows a formal objection submitted by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) under Section 23 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984).

SAPA highlighted a breakdown in the department’s Directorate: Animal Health, reporting continuous failure to provide a practical or affordable solution to HPAI and prevent any potential crisis. Poultry producers argued that the department kept them stuck in an outdated system that forced the mass culling of birds, leaving them without any modern legal tools to protect their flocks.

After reviewing the findings of a Section 23 Investigation Committee, Steenhuisen said he had accepted recommendations aimed at breaking what he described as an administrative deadlock and modernising the country's disease-control strategy.

The Minister said the report provides an opportunity to move away from the traditional “stamping-out” model, which legally requires the destruction of both healthy and sick birds, towards a state-regulated vaccination defence plan designed to strengthen disease prevention and control.

“Our poultry farmers need direct support, and we are changing policy to give them a legal mechanism to protect their livelihoods. The old regulations forced the industry to destroy flocks unnecessarily, which harmed agricultural businesses and raised food prices for consumers.

“By changing this policy, we are giving producers the legal right to use verified scientific tools to protect their farms, protect agricultural jobs, and secure affordable food for the public,” the Minister said.

New Framework for disease management

The formalisation of an HPAI Vaccination Framework under the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984) will change how poultry operations run in South Africa:

•    Farmers will use a combination of vaccination, biosecurity, and testing, which stops the requirement for widespread bird culling and lowers financial losses;
•    The department will amend the Animal Diseases Regulations (R.2026) or issue a formal Section 9 control measure, to establish a clear legal framework on how poultry farming entities must manage an HPAI outbreak once identified on their farms. The objective of this measure is to eliminate mixed enforcement rules that created confusion and weakened the capacity to quickly eradicate the disease;
•    The new rules will balance disease control requirements so that both big commercial operations and smallholder farmers can have the space in line with the new regulations to efficiently and effectively deal with HPAI outbreaks on their farms;
•    The department’s role will be to set up and run national surveillance systems for HPAI, laboratory testing, and ensuring that farming entities adhere to regulations when there are outbreaks on their farms;
•    The department will also focus on maintaining international trade standards to ensure market access.

The Minister has instructed the department to immediately implement interim control measures in place while the policy shift is being formalised through the appropriate statutory instruments to ensure an orderly transition for the sector and provided a deadline for the publishing of the gazette.

Western Cape Government Prepares for Midweek Storm

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Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, said that the Provincial Disaster Management Centre had been briefed by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) on a cut-off low-pressure system expected to affect the Central Karoo and eastern parts of the Garden Route today (3 June) and tomorrow (4 June 2026).

“We are urging residents, businesses, farmers and municipalities to prepare for severe weather conditions expected across the province,” Minister Bredell said.

According to SAWS, the cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, very cold conditions and rough seas, with the Garden Route and parts of the Central Karoo likely to be most severely affected. The municipalities of Bitou, Knysna and George can expect accumulated rainfall of up to 200 mm. In the Karoo, the Beaufort West Municipality can anticipate between 60 mm and 80 mm of rainfall over the two-day period.

The expected heavy rainfall, combined with the impacts of the severe storms that affected the same regions during May, has contributed to the high Impact-Based Warnings issued by SAWS today. A Level 8 warning has been issued for the eastern parts of the Garden Route, while a Level 4 warning has been issued for the Central Karoo, including Laingsburg and Swellendam.

“Such significant rainfall on already saturated ground increases the risk of flooding in low-lying areas, informal settlements, roads and river catchments. Given the recent rainfall across the province and already saturated catchment areas, there is an elevated risk of rising river levels, dam spillages, infrastructure damage and disruptions to essential services. Rural and farming communities may become isolated if roads are flooded or damaged.

“Along the coast, rough sea conditions and wave heights of up to five metres are expected, posing a risk to small vessels and coastal activities.”

Provincial and municipal disaster management structures have been activated and are monitoring developments closely.

Emergency services remain on high alert, municipalities are implementing local readiness plans, humanitarian support partners have been mobilised, and health and rescue services stand ready to respond should the need arise.

Residents in affected areas are encouraged to take precautionary measures before the storm arrives. Farmers and rural communities are advised to prepare for possible isolation by ensuring sufficient supplies for people and livestock, securing equipment and infrastructure, and moving livestock away from flood-prone areas where necessary.

“Please avoid crossing flooded roads, bridges and rivers, remain indoors where it is safe to do so, keep emergency contact numbers readily available, and follow instructions issued by local authorities and emergency services,” Minister Bredell said.

All government facilities and services, including schools, will operate as normal. If this changes, updates will be communicated, based on ongoing assessments of local conditions and risks. Residents are encouraged to monitor updates through official Western Cape Government communication platforms, municipal communication channels and SAWS weather alerts.

Minister publishes National Elephant Heritage Strategy

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Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp has announced the publication of South Africa's National Elephant Heritage Strategy in the Government Gazette, paving the way for its implementation as a national framework for elephant conservation and management.

The strategy provides a coherent, evidence-based approach to the conservation and management of the African elephant in South Africa and is aligned with national biodiversity targets and policy mandates.

According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), African elephants are currently listed nationally as "least concern", reflecting a widespread and stable population that faces a low risk of extinction within South Africa.

The strategy was developed through a partnership between the DFFE, the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and South African National Parks (SANParks). 

The initiative was aimed at creating a unified framework to guide elephant conservation and management across the country.

In line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the strategy was developed using a whole-of-society approach that incorporated input from stakeholders across South Africa. 

As part of the process, a National Elephant Indaba was convened to discuss challenges related to human-elephant conflict and to develop a coordinated national response informed by scientific evidence.

The National Elephant Heritage Strategy is intended to guide the development, revision and implementation of several key mechanisms and tools, including the Elephant Norms and Standards, the National Elephant Research Strategy, the Non-Detrimental Finding for Elephants, the Elephant Red-list Assessment, reserve-level Elephant Management Plans and the National Elephant Meta-Population Plan.

The department said the strategy adopts an integrated socio-ecological framework aimed at strengthening adaptive management, improving stakeholder engagement and enhancing sustainable benefit-sharing opportunities associated with elephants and their habitats.

The strategy will also serve as South Africa's National Elephant Action Plan for the implementation of the African Elephant Action Plan (AEAP). 

Government said the framework aligns with the country's international obligations and will support engagement with other elephant range states while demonstrating South Africa's contribution to achieving the objectives of the AEAP.

Electronic copies of the Government Notice for the National Elephant Heritage Strategy are available here.

Schools in Eden and Central Karoo to Close Amid Severe Weather Warning

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Schools in the Eden and Central Karoo Education District will be closed on Wednesday (3 June) and Thursday (4 June) due to severe weather warnings in the area.

Western Cape Education Minister David Maynier says the decision was taken in consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre to protect learners and teachers as heavy rainfall is expected.

The closure affects all public ordinary and special needs schools in the district. Schools have been informed and asked to notify parents.

All other schools in the Western Cape are expected to remain open unless special approval for closure is granted on a case-by-case basis.

The department says schools are expected to reopen on Friday, while the situation will continue to be monitored. Parents will be informed directly if any additional school closures become necessary.

More stormy conditions this week

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says a cut-off low-pressure system is expected to bring cold, wet and windy weather to the central and southern parts of the country on Wednesday, with possible localised flooding in the Eastern and Western Cape.

"A cold front is expected to slip south of the country, with a cut-off low deepening west of the country, which is expected to propagate eastwards across South Africa from Wednesday and finally exit the country towards the weekend," the weather service said on Monday.

Showers and rain can be anticipated over the south-western parts, spreading along the south coast and adjacent interior. An influx of rainfall may lead to heavy downpours and possible flooding over the southern parts of the country on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Tuesday’s forecast indicates fine conditions in the east. Elsewhere, it will be partly cloudy and cold to cool, with isolated to scattered showers and rain along the coast and nearby interior of the Western Cape, as well as the western parts of the Eastern Cape. 

On Wednesday, conditions will be cloudy and cold to cool, with isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers. 
These are expected to become widespread over the southern parts of the country. Snowfall is also expected over the mountainous areas of the Eastern Cape.  

The weather service has issued the following warnings:

*Disruptive rain may endanger lives, flood roads and bridges, create fast-moving streams and rivers, and force the closure of major roads in the eastern parts of the Garden Route District in the Western Cape, as well as along the coast and adjacent interior between Plettenberg Bay and East London in the Eastern Cape, on Wednesday and Thursday.

*Disruptive rain is also expected to cause localised flooding in settlements, on roads, in low-lying areas, and over bridges in parts of the eastern Western Cape and southern Eastern Cape on Wednesday and Thursday.

*Damaging winds and waves may cause localised disruptions at small harbours or ports and make navigation difficult for small vessels and personal watercraft between Cape Point and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday.

*Very cold, wet and windy conditions are expected over the central and eastern interior of the Western Cape, the southern parts of the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape, and parts of the Eastern Cape from Wednesday to Thursday.

Petrol price increases, diesel on a downturn

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The Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (DMPR) has announced that petrol will increase by R1.43 this Wednesday, while the prices of diesel, paraffin and LP gas will decrease.

The adjusted prices for this month are as follows:

Petrol 93 (ULP & LRP): R1.43 increase.
Petrol 95 (ULP &LRP): R1.43 increase.
Diesel (0.05% sulphur): R3.24 decrease.
Diesel (0.005% sulphur): R2.61 decrease.
Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): R5.96 decrease.
Single Maximum National Retail Price for Illuminating Paraffin: R7.95 decrease.
Maximum Retail Price of LP Gas: 17c per kg decrease and 20c per kg decrease in the Western Cape.

“The average Brent Crude oil price increased from 101 US Dollars (USD) to 104.59 USD during the period under review. This is due to the continued tension between the US and Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The prices of middle distillates [diesel and paraffin] decreased more than petrol prices because of lower seasonal demand as the northern hemisphere moves into summer.

“The prices of Propane and Butane remained the same during the period under review, however, the freight costs decreased,” the DMPR explained.

During the period under review, the Rand strengthened against the USD from R16.65 to R16.52 per USD, leading to “slightly lower contributions to the Basic Fuel Prices of petrol, diesel and Illuminating Paraffin by 12.07 c/l, 14.81 c/l and 14.55 c/l, respectively”.

The general fuel levy has been reduced by some R1.50 per litre for petrol and R1.96 per litre for diesel, also effective from Wednesday. 

Kruger National Park celebrates 100 years

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Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, has called on South Africans to embrace their shared responsibility as custodians of the Kruger National Park (KNP).

The Minister delivered remarks at the KNP Centenary Commemoration held at the park’s Skukuza Rest Camp in Mpumalanga.

Aucamp reflected on the recent flooding that affected the park.

“What these floods taught us is the resilience of the Kruger family. Over 100 years, lots of successes, lots of failures, lots of hardships [and] lots of triumphs. But we’ve always come through and we will do that for 100s of years to come.

“Our responsibility is to raise this generation…so that they can accept this stewardship and can take this pattern and go forward. So that our grandchildren, our great grandchildren and theirs will still be able – in 100 to 200 years’ time from now – to sit alongside the Sabie River, to watch a herd of elephants going through this Sabie River, to listen to the roar of a lion at night, to play a game in the car [and] see who is the best of the siblings. I hope that that legacy can continue,” Aucamp said.

The Minister committed that the KNP will not only endure but also claim its place as the world’s leading conservation destination.

“This event calls not only for reflection and celebration but it also demands clarity. Clarity about where we come from and where we are going.

“The Kruger National Park stands today as one of the most recognised conservation landscapes in the world,” he urged.

Aucump acknowledged the park’s pioneers and workers for their contribution to its establishment and continued existence.

“The Kruger National Park reflects foresight at a time when such foresight was rare. It reflects decades of scientific progress, of institutional commitment and the sustained efforts of generations. We are clear that the future of conservation in South Africa lies with inclusive stewardship, a responsibility that we all have got to take on.

“I realise that we are walking in the footsteps of giants. We truly are. Their vision, their perseverance and their deeper abiding love for nature gave us the Kruger National Park.

“They dreamt beyond their time of a landscape where elephants roam, where lions rule, and where the ancient rhythms of the wild echo through the bush for generations to come. As a united people, that legacy now rests in our hands,” the Minister said.

Public warned not to eat wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay

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The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has warned the public not to collect or eat any wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay and nearby coastal areas until further notice.

According to a recent monitoring report, mussels and oysters from Saldanha Bay farms contained very high levels of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST) — more than 15 times the legal safety limit.

Officials also detected high levels of the toxin-producing phytoplankton Alexandrium catenella, a sign of a serious harmful algal bloom.

As a result, harvesting areas in Saldanha Bay have been closed for shellfish meant for human consumption.

It is not yet clear how far the risk extends along the West Coast, and toxin levels may differ from one area to another.
Eating contaminated shellfish, such as mussels, can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning — a serious illness that can be life-threatening.

The public is strongly advised not to harvest or eat any wild shellfish from Saldanha Bay and surrounding coastal areas until further notice.

Over 80% Western Cape storm-affected communities reconnected

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Electricity has been restored to 84% of communities affected by severe weather that damaged parts of the Western Cape last month.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde concluded a four-day assessment of some of the province’s hardest-hit areas this week.

The assessment covered extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges and farming communities across the West Coast, Cape Winelands, Overberg, and Garden Route Districts.

“The scale of the devastation is immense. Despite this, our officials are hard at work repairing damaged infrastructure as quickly as possible,” Winde reported on Thursday.

The Premier noted that steady progress has been made, highlighting the reopening of the Vredendal Bridge to one-way traffic ahead of schedule.

He commended those involved in this project, and the many others currently underway across the province, for their commitment and hard work.

During the assessment visits, Winde was joined by several provincial MECs, including disaster management officials, mayors, municipal managers, and representatives from NGOs.

The delegation visited Malmesbury, Klawer Bridge, Vredendal Bridge, Clanwilliam Dam, Citrusdal, Algeria, Piketberg, Gouda, Op-Die-Berg, Ceres, Rawsonville, Worcester, McGregor Bridge and Red Bridge.

The Premier said electricity restoration remains a key focus for the provincial government, noting that he chairs daily meetings with Eskom Western Cape leadership to monitor progress.

He reported that Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham-Maré has also attended the daily briefings and assured the province of regular public updates.

According to Eskom’s latest estimates released on 28 May 2026, several affected areas are expected to be reconnected over the coming weeks.

In the Cape Winelands, power restoration is expected by 29 May for Hexrivier and Villiersdorp, while Chavonnes farms and Badsberg farms are expected to be restored by 5 June. 

Boskloof and Romansrivier are expected to be restored by 26 June.

In the Garden Route, Gouna is expected to be restored by 31 May, while Herbertsdale and Jakkeslvlei are scheduled for 10 June. 

Areas including Askop, Buffelsnek, Brackenhill, Fisanthoek, Harkerville and Klein Bavaria are expected to be restored by 25 June, while Garden of Eden is expected to be restored by 25 July.

In the Overberg, the utility estimated that Hemel-en-Aarde, Riviersonderend farms, Papiesvlei and Stanford farms will be restored by 29 May, while Buffelsjagsrivier is expected by 5 June.

On the West Coast, Algeria, Citrusdal farms and Du Pont are expected to be restored by 5 June, while Noordhoek farms are estimated for 12 June.

"We fully appreciate and understand the frustrations of residents who have had to endure extended periods of power outages. We apologise for any inconvenience and will always endeavour to keep affected communities abreast of developments as we receive updates from Eskom and other stakeholders. We know that this is a frustrating and unbearable situation," Winde said.

While the devastation is vast, Winde said stories of hope and collaboration keep the provincial government moving forward.

"I met with several of our healthcare workers in the Op-Die-Berg area who were left stranded by the heavy rain and flooding. 

“Officials at a local school, Skurweberg Senior Secondary, thought nothing of giving them shelter and food, as they waited for the worst of the weather to pass.

“I am also blown away by how residents, business owners and farmers have stepped in to help. Whether it is offering equipment to assist Eskom teams or feeding disaster management officials and those most in need, this is what makes the Western Cape the extraordinary region that it is,” the Premier said.

Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said recovery teams are working around the clock to meet critical targets.

“Our absolute priority remains safely reconnecting communities, and we are pushing hard to meet critical targets. The McGregor Bridge will be repaired by early June as rock fill and asphalt layers wrap up,” Simmers said.

He added that structural assessments are underway at the Klawer Bridge to confirm a temporary pedestrian access date by 29 May, while slope stabilisation work on the Cango Caves Road is progressing well, with debris clearance targeted for 5 June, before final safety checks.

Tourism in the Garden Route & Klein Karoo remains resilient and continues efforts to achieve sustainable growth

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The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) through its regional tourism office hosted a two-day Garden Route and Klein Karoo Regional Tourism Industry Workshop in the towns of George and Oudtshoorn, on 26-27 May 2026. During these workshops, various stakeholders engaged in an information-sharing session about the status quo of the tourism sector.

This engagement was in partnerships with the National Department of Tourism, South African Tourism, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, and attended by various tourism businesses and industry stakeholder across the region such as SANPARKS, CapeNature, Wesgro, Local Tourism Offices, established and emerging business enterprises, and the hospitality industry.

The Executive Mayor, Alderman Marais Kruger welcomed everyone present under the theme “Unlocking Opportunities, Support & Benefits Across Key Tourism Institutions” reflecting our collective commitment to strengthening tourism growth, collaboration, and sustainable development across the Garden Route and Klein Karoo region.

These industry leading voices dissected a myriad of areas that requires improvement and highlighted opportunities across the entire tourism value chain. If this is realised, it could potentially open pathways for increased collaboration – a shared commitment to grow the region’s tourism industry.

South African Tourism representative responsible for stakeholder relations, Tony Nkadimeng, acknowledged that although the Garden Route had experienced natural disasters such as fires and the recent floods, the tourism industry remained resilient despite these challenges. “Regardless of these challenges, we are encouraged to see that the industry is still thriving,” he said.

Capitalising on its recognition as the best scenic route, the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism Regional Office, together with the stakeholders at workshops, explored existing opportunities for the region to entrench its brand equity among both domestic and international travellers.

Dealing with matters pertinent to the Sector, the discussions centred around strengthening tourism marketing initiatives, promoting sports tourism such as golfing, supporting small businesses, especially women-led enterprises and positioning the Garden Route and Klein Karoo as the preferred tourism destination.

Chief Director-Enterprise Development & Transformation from the National Department of Tourism, Sbonelo Nzimande, said: “We have made a concerted effort in supporting women-led businesses, digitising services offered by small businesses and enabling transactions for operators in the rural areas as well”. Nzimande added that Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises needed to embrace research, technology, innovation and creativity to move the needle in the trajectory of their entrepreneurship endeavours.

Smalls businesses were also encouraged to apply for grading through the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Hospitality businesses called for strategic coordination from the GRDM to ensure the sector becomes more attractive to investment. Funding and compliance were cited as the biggest stumbling blocks for entrepreneurs who emphasised the need to bridge the gap in the dissemination of information and mentorship.

Tourism, LED and EPWP Manager at the GRDM, Richard Dyantyi, recognised small businesses and various stakeholders for their contributions in the region and how these efforts made a tangible difference to the tourism landscape.

“This engagement will not be another talk-shop. I will ensure that the GRDM management and political leadership reflect on the issues raised at this platform so that when we meet again, I will be able to report back on what we have done from our side,” he said.

Photo: Presenters of the day representing the GRDM and various key stakeholders after an insightful engagement at the George leg of the Garden Route and Klein Karoo Tourism Industry Workshop held at the George Civic Centre.
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