News – Page 25 – eRadio SA – Live from the Garden Route

SA economy improves

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Government has welcomed the latest data released by Statistics South Africa showing that South Africa’s economy grew by 1.1% in 2025, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 0.4% in the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter performance, covering the period from October to December, marks the fifth consecutive quarter of economic growth, signalling continued resilience in the economy, despite a challenging global environment.

On the production side, growth was largely driven by key service-related sectors, including finance, real estate and business services, as well as trade, catering and accommodation and personal services.

Positive contributions were also recorded in agriculture and general government services, further supporting overall economic activity during the quarter.

On the expenditure side, economic expansion was supported by increased household spending, growth in gross fixed capital formation, and higher government consumption, which together contributed to the positive quarterly outcome.

The fourth quarter performance helped to lift annual GDP growth to 1.1% in 2025, the highest annual growth rate since 2022 when the economy expanded by 2.1%.

Government said the sustained growth reflects the impact of ongoing economic reforms and partnerships aimed at strengthening the country’s economic performance.

“Government believes that the reforms that are being implemented through Operation Vulindlela and the Government-Business partnership are enablers of this sustained growth,” government said in a statement.

Government said that it will continue working with social and economic partners to accelerate inclusive growth, support investment and build a resilient economy.

“Government will continue to work with all partners to accelerate inclusive growth, support investment and build a resilient economy that delivers sustainable development and job creation,” the statement read.

National voter registration weekend to be held in June

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The Electoral Commission has urged South Africans to prepare for the upcoming local government elections by ensuring they are registered to vote where they ordinarily reside.

At a media briefing on Tuesday, the Commission announced that a national voter registration weekend will take place on 20 and 21 June 2026, to maximise opportunities for citizens to register closer to where they live and to broaden electoral participation.

The Commission said it must be ready to administer elections whenever they are lawfully called.

Once the voter registration process is completed, the election date is expected to be proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Eligible voters will have until midnight on the day the election date is announced to register.

The proclamation will also trigger key processes, including the certification and publication of the voters’ roll, the inspection of the roll and lodging of objections, the adjudication of those objections and the submission of candidate nominations.

The Commission emphasised that an early announcement of an election date is important to allow voters to decide where they will be on Voting Day, as this determines where they should register.

It noted that in Local Government Elections, voters must cast their ballot at the voting station where they are registered, as ward councillors represent communities in which voters ordinarily live.

Preparations for the elections are already underway, including the ward delimitation process.

In December 2025, the Municipal Demarcation Board finalised and handed over 4 305 wards to the Commission, representing 95% of all wards nationally.

Outstanding wards are in four municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, namely eThekwini, Mkhambathini, Inkosi Langalibalele and Alfred Duma municipalities. According to the Board, court proceedings relating to the affected areas have concluded and the delimitation exercise has resumed.

Ward adjustments have also led to the subdivision of 1 865 voting districts, representing about 8% of the total nationally.

The provinces with the highest proportion of affected voting districts are KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, followed by Mpumalanga and North West. These adjustments, combined with population movement, require the Commission to revise voting district boundaries and update the network of voting stations ahead of each election.

The Commission reported steady growth in voter registrations through both digital and in-person platforms.

Between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260 205 new voters registered, with 128 113 registrations captured through voter management devices and 132 092 through the online self-service portal.

The Commission attributed the increase to its nationwide online registration campaign conducted during February 2026.

In preparation for voter registration activities, the Commission has begun recruiting registration staff based on approved criteria discussed with the National Political Liaison Committee.

Candidates must be South African citizens and registered voters; must not have held political office or campaigned for a political party in the past five years and must not have been convicted of serious criminal offences.

Municipal Political Liaison Committees will review the lists of designated presiding and deputy presiding officers to ensure compliance with these criteria.

The Commission is also conducting training programmes for electoral staff and journalists. A nationwide training initiative with the South African National Editors’ Forum aims to equip journalists with a better understanding of electoral laws and processes to promote accurate and ethical reporting during the election period.

Currently, there are 508 registered political parties in South Africa, including 20 that were registered between October 2025 and February 2026. Of these, 299 are registered nationally while 209 operate at provincial, district or metropolitan level.

The Commission warned that the growth of artificial intelligence and digital platforms has contributed to the spread of misinformation, including fake voter registration websites designed to capture personal information.

Members of the public have been urged not to share their personal details on suspicious websites and to use only the official online voter registration portals.

It also cautioned the public about a fraudulent recruitment notice circulating on social media, stressing that all legitimate vacancies are published only on the Commission’s official website and that no payment is required during its recruitment processes.

Applications for 2027 school admissions now open

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The Western Cape Education Department says the on-time admissions window for learners entering Grade R, Grade 1 and Grade 8 in 2027 opens today, and parents are urged to prepare the necessary documents before applying.

The application period runs from Tuesday, 10 March 2026, until Tuesday, 14 April 2026.

Parents are responsible for submitting applications on time. The department says applying during the official window ensures that learners are included in the first round of placements and helps officials plan for the 2027 school year.

Parents and caregivers will need to upload several supporting documents when submitting an online application. These include the learner’s most recent official school report, where applicable, and certified proof of identity such as a birth certificate, ID or passport.

Foreign learners must provide a passport, study permit, proof that a permit has been applied for, or a copy of a parent’s asylum seeker or refugee permit. If none of these documents are available, an affidavit from the South African Police Service will be accepted.

For primary school applications, parents must also submit the learner’s immunisation card, also known as the Road to Health certificate. Proof of residence, such as a municipal account, lease agreement or affidavit confirming the home address, must also be uploaded.

The department says that once parents have gathered and uploaded the required documents, completing the online application should be quick and straightforward.

The WCED’s online admissions system is also zero-rated, allowing parents to access the platform without using mobile data.

Parents can apply through the WCED admissions website, which also provides step-by-step guidance and video tutorials explaining the process.

To assist parents who may not have internet access or who need help completing the online form, the department will set up pop-up admissions sites across the province during the application period.

Information about these support sites will be published on the WCED website.

The department says late applications every year place significant strain on the system and delay school placements. Parents are therefore encouraged not to wait and to submit their applications between 10 March and 14 April.

Partnership with banks to cut queues at Home Affairs offices

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The Department of Home Affairs has launched a digital partnership model with banks, allowing people to apply for Smart ID cards directly at participating bank branches.

The initiative officially entered its live operational phase on Sunday, marking what the department described as a significant reform in its history.

Through the programme, South Africans can complete a secure Smart ID application at selected bank branches within minutes using integrated digital systems.

The partnership is part of the department’s broader reform programme, known as Home Affairs @ home, aimed at transforming how citizens access identity and civic services through digital platforms.

Instead of travelling long distances to one of the country’s 349 Home Affairs offices, applicants will be able to access services at bank branches in their communities.

The Department of Home Affairs said in a statement on Monday that the system allows banks to connect directly to the department’s systems through a secure digital gateway, enabling applications to be processed within 5 to ten minutes without completing paper forms or making prior bookings.

Nine bank branches began offering the service from Sunday, with the number expected to increase to 17 by the end of the week.

The first participating institutions include Capitec Bank and Standard Bank, while First National Bank is in the final phase of testing. Other banks that joined the partnership last year are also preparing to roll out the service.

The department explained that the new model replaces the previous arrangement in which banks hosted small Home Affairs offices inside their branches where clients had to complete applications on the eHomeAffairs platform and visit primarily for biometric capture.

Under the new system, applications are handled entirely through the banks’ own service environments, integrated directly with Home Affairs through an API-based digital gateway.

Initially, the service will allow South African citizens, qualifying naturalised citizens and permanent residents who still hold the green ID book to convert to the Smart ID card. Existing Smart ID holders will also be able to apply for re-issues.

The department estimates that about 16 million South Africans still use the green ID book, which has been widely identified as one of the most commonly defrauded documents on the continent. Officials say accelerating the shift to Smart IDs is critical for strengthening the country’s identity system and reducing identity fraud.

As the system stabilises during 2026, the department plans to expand services available through the banking partnership. These are expected to include first-time Smart ID applications, passport services, courier delivery of documents and the ability to apply through banking apps.

The rollout will be phased to ensure system stability, with more bank branches expected to join the programme throughout the year.

Government has set a target of expanding the digital partnership to 1,000 participating bank branches across South Africa by 2029 as part of its Medium-Term Development Plan.

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the launch represents a major milestone in the department’s reform drive.

“By embracing digital transformation, we are redefining what public service delivery looks like in the modern age,” he said.

“Instead of forcing people to go to Home Affairs to endure long queues and manual processes, we are using technological security and efficiency to bring Home Affairs to the people, delivering access, inclusion and dignity for all.”

The first participating branches include several Capitec branches such as Orange Farm’s Eyethu Mall, Howick, Swellendam, Sandton City, Kathu Village Mall, Matoks, Hermanus and Jeffreys Bay’s Fountains Mall, as well as selected Standard Bank branches including Maponya Mall in Soweto and Rosebank.

Additional branches are expected to be added as the programme expands nationwide.

Citizens can find participating branches through the Department of Home Affairs website: www.dfa.gov.za

Police Arrest 17 in Garden Route Drug Busts

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Seventeen people have been arrested in the Garden Route District during a police clampdown on suspected drug outlets. The operation formed part of ongoing crime-combating efforts across the region.

The coordinated operation started on Friday, 6 March, and concluded on Sunday morning, 8 March. Police units executed several search-and-seizure warrants at premises in Riversdale, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Dysselsdorp, Albertinia and Pacaltsdorp.

During the raids, officers confiscated drugs including mandrax, tik and dagga.

In Riversdale on Friday, police acted on information and raided a house in White Street. Officers found six occupants at the property and searched the premises. Police confiscated 30 sachets containing tik and 19 mandrax tablets. Six suspects, aged between 17 and 26, were arrested on charges of dealing in drugs.

Later the same day, police carried out a sting operation at a house in Rosebud Street in Kwanokuthula, Riversdale. A small quantity of mandrax was seized and two men, aged between 25 and 28, were arrested.

On Saturday, members of the Oudtshoorn Crime Prevention Unit conducted an intelligence-driven operation at a property in Thabo Mbeki Square in Oudtshoorn. During a search of the premises, officers found 298 mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of about R17 000. Police also confiscated eight cellular phones believed to be stolen.

A 42-year-old man was arrested on charges of dealing in drugs and possession of suspected stolen property.

Police say all 17 suspects remain in custody and will appear in their respective courts once they have been formally charged.

President Ramaphosa arrives in Brazil for a State Visit

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Brasília ahead of a State Visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between South Africa and Brazil.

The President arrived in the Brazilian capital on Sunday at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for the two-day visit taking place from 9 to 10 March 2026.

According to the Presidency, the visit provides an opportunity for the two leaders to engage on a range of bilateral and multilateral issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in trade, investment and key economic sectors.

South Africa and Brazil share longstanding diplomatic ties anchored in the Declaration of Strategic Partnership signed in 2010, which is implemented through the South Africa–Brazil Joint Commission.

The State Visit programme will begin on Monday with an official welcome ceremony in honour of President Ramaphosa at the Palácio do Planalto at 3pm (SAST).

This will be followed by a joint media briefing by Ramaphosa and Lula at the same venue at 5pm (SAST), where the two leaders are expected to outline areas of cooperation and the outcomes of their engagements.

Later in the evening, President Ramaphosa will address the South Africa–Brazil Business Forum at the Itamaraty Palace at 7pm (SAST).

The forum will bring together business leaders from both countries and is aimed at promoting greater commercial collaboration and investment opportunities.

The State Visit will focus on strengthening cooperation in sectors such as agribusiness, aerospace, creative industries, defence, energy, mining, science and technology, sport and tourism.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss shared geopolitical priorities as members of the Global South and cooperation in multilateral platforms including BRICS, the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum, the Group of 77, the Group of Twenty and the United Nations.

Brazil remains a key partner for South Africa’s engagement with the Latin American and Caribbean region and both countries are expected to explore ways to expand trade and investment.

Bilateral trade between South Africa and Brazil reached R32.5 billion in 2025, with South African exports amounting to R5.2 billion and imports from Brazil totalling about R27.3 billion.

President Ramaphosa is accompanied on the State Visit by several Cabinet ministers, including Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Bonginkosi Nzimande, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.

Heatwave warning for South-Western region

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says the Western and South-Western parts of South Africa can expect very hot to extremely hot temperatures this week, resulting in heatwave conditions.

This follows a brief period of cooler weather. Heatwave conditions are characterised by prolonged periods (at least three consecutive days or more) of temperatures exceeding the average of the hottest month by 5°C or more.

“The heatwave conditions are anticipated due to the presence of a strong, slow-moving high-pressure system in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The air in upper-air high-pressure systems sinks and warms as it descends, leading to higher temperatures at the surface,” SAWS said in a statement.

SAWS explained that the system will be accompanied by offshore wind flow along the western coastline of South Africa.

“Very hot to extremely hot temperatures (36°C to 42°C) are expected across the coastal areas and adjacent interior of the Northern Cape and the western parts of the Western Cape from Monday.

“The highest temperatures will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday over the western parts of both the Northern Cape and Western Cape. The heatwave will spread to parts of the Central and Little Karoo on Tuesday.

“Residents are advised to be aware of the prolonged period of hot weather, which may lead to health risks such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” SAWS said.

Stay safe with these measures:

• Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.
• Limit outdoor activities, especially during the hottest hours (12h00 - 15h00).
• Wear loose, light-coloured clothing.
• Stay in the shade or in well-ventilated areas as much as possible.
• Keep an eye on vulnerable individuals, especially the elderly and babies.
• Never leave children or animals in parked cars, even for a short time.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity during the hottest part of the day.

“SAWS will continue to monitor this system closely and will issue updates as new information becomes available. The public and relevant authorities are urged to follow official weather warnings and advisories from reliable sources,” the Weather Service said.

Garden Route Flamingos protected through power line OWL devices

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The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Drone Unit has pioneered the installation of Overhead Warning Lights on a municipal power line using a drone in a bid to reduce the risk of collisions to the local Flamingo population along the Garden Route.

Overhead Warning Lights, or ‘OWL’ devices, are a type of bird flight diverter. These have been placed on the municipal power line alongside the N2 bridge across the Swartvlei lagoon near Sedgefield to make the power lines more visible and thus safer for flamingos in the wetland system.

The Swartvlei Lagoon is not only a Ramsar Site, but also part of the Garden Route Biosphere, highlighting the importance of this part of the Cape Floristic Region as a biodiversity hotspot in South Africa. Among the threatened species living within the Ramsar Site are the African Grass Owl and the Greater and Lesser Flamingo.

Noting the impact of these lines on flamingos which fly across the bridge at night, local birders foresaw a need to find a way to stop the birds from colliding with the power line. The BirdLife SA Lakes Bird Club approached the EWT for assistance with mitigation measures. The EWT has been working with Eskom for over 30 years to reduce the impact of energy infrastructure on wildlife and a key aspect of this work has included the marking of thousands of kilometres of power lines across the country to prevent collisions by numerous bird species, including vultures and eagles.

Tim Carr, owner of the Reflections Eco-Reserve and member of the Lakes Bird Club, says once they learned that permission was required from the Knysna municipality to install the mitigating measures, the club approached the EWT, for assistance with project. The club’s members, together with Birdlife Plettenberg Bay, collected more than R100,000 to cover costs of the installation.

After getting all the necessary permissions, the EWT Drone Unit was sub-contracted and this week installed OWL devices on the section of the power line that crosses the lagoon. The installation was done on a live line with no electricity supply interruption to local communities, which is in itself a remarkable feat and a global first.

“If it wasn’t for the Knysna municipality agreeing to this installation, it would not have been possible and we would not have been able to play such a key role in ensuring that flamingos no longer fly into the power lines. Key to this operation was collaboration. The Knysna municipality, Sedgefield fire brigade, and Western Cape traffic control officials were all on hand to ensure our teams, working beside the N2, were safe.

The Garden Route National Park granted our team permission to fly our drone over the area, and SANParks staff were also on site” says Lourens Leeuwner, the EWT’s Head of Operations and Flight Operations Manager of the Drone Unit. “These bird flight diverters will also prevent other waterbirds and raptors in the area from colliding with the power line with the aim of reducing mortalities.”

“A phenomenal collaborative conservation success that Reflections Eco-Reserve and the Lakes Bird Club are privileged to have been part off. A massive thank you to all parties involved,” says Mr Carr.

Gibbons Reigns Supreme at the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour

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Ryan Gibbons sprinted to victory at the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour on Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point. Having spent the last decade racing in Europe, Gibbons’ homecoming to South Africa began with a team victory at the Double Century in November 2025 and culminated on Sunday, 8 March, with the most prestigious title in local cycling.

The Fly Cool Collective racer was a popular winner, and even the men he beat into second and third, Jaedon Terlouw and Ryno Schutte, were happy for the 31-year-old.

The elite men’s race in the 48th edition had been chaotic at times, with multiple crashes and gusting cross winds in the Southern Peninsula making positioning in the group vital. Gibbons was able to avoid any issues thanks to the strength of his team. While others were not as fortunate.

Marc Pritzen and Lood Goosen were two riders who got caught up in crashes. Pritzen’s chain dropped at an inopportune moment, while the peloton was chasing down a strong breakaway that included Daniel Loubser, Wynand Hofmeyr, and Herman Fouche. As the Honeycomb 226ers rider made it back to the group, he got caught behind a crash. Later, Goosen hit the deck hard but was able to continue.

“The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the closest to a European race we get in South Africa,” Schutte noted. “The group is so big, and positioning is really difficult. You have to fight to be in the front 10% all the time, or risk getting caught up in crashes.”

Such is the strength of depth in the elite men’s group currently that even Chapman's Peak Drive does little to thin the field. The last remaining member of the early breakaway, Hofmeyr, was caught near the summit of the famous climb, and on the descent to Hout Bay, Gibbons fired a warning shot. With 35 of the 109 kilometres left to race, he accelerated and tested his rivals’ nerve for a fast descent in gusting winds.

In Hout Bay Sascha Weber was the next to attack, but Callum Ormiston reeled in the German as the race crested Suikerbossie. Weber was spent, Gibbons, Terlouw, and Schutte were quick to jump onto Ormiston’s wheel. “Tyler [Lange] and I were just behind the four who got away, but he didn’t chase, and the group that formed behind never got a cohesive chase together,” Pritzen explained.

“It was a bit frustrating, because I felt good and we got close to bringing them back,” Alex Miller added. “I wasn’t sure we would stay away,” Gibbons confessed. “The group was only 10 seconds behind us, so I didn’t commit completely initially, but Callum [Ormiston] was so strong. He really drove that group clear.”

“The four of us then worked well together to keep the chasers at bay,” the champion stated. “Last year we were caught on the line, so while I knew I probably wasn’t going to outsprint any of the other three, I really didn’t want to get caught again,” Ormiston sighed. “Going all in was my best chance of a result.”

“In the finale, I knew I had the advantage, but the other guys knew it too, so I had to go early,” Gibbons smiled. “Ja, look, he’s Ryan Gibbons,” Terlouw laughed. “I knew he’d have to make a mistake for me to win, and he nearly did.”

“I may have celebrated a bit early, and Jaedon nearly came around me,” Gibbons allowed. “But taking the victory is so special. It’s great to be back here in South Africa, to be part of the local cycling community again. It has grown and strengthened so much in the last decade. Winning the Cape Town Cycle Tour is massive for any South African, and for me in particular, because it was the big South African race missing from my palmarès.”

Gibbons’s powerful sprint allowed him to sit up and celebrate the victory as he coasted across the line, just ahead of Terlouw. Schutte was third and was the first under-23 rider home. Ormiston had to settle for fourth. Behind the leading quartet, Miller claimed fifth with an intelligent attack 800 metres from the line, while the chase group was preparing to sprint for the final expanded podium place.

2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour Elite Men’s Results

1. Ryan Gibbons: Fly Cool Collective (2:33:06)
2. Jaedon Terlouw: Toyota Specialized Imbuko (ST)
3. Ryno Schutte: Nessa (2:33:07 | +1 | U23)
4. Callum Ormiston: Joyrun & Hurricane (2:33:08 |+2)
5. Alex Miller: Swatt Cycling (2:33:41 | +35)

For the full results from the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour, click here.

eRadio SA Investigates Malicious Attacks on Our Business

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A Public Statement issued by the Directors of eRadio SA:

We have recently become aware of a series of malicious actions directed at our business. These actions appear to be deliberate attempts to disrupt our operations and damage our reputation.

We take matters of this nature extremely seriously. An investigation is currently underway, and our main web developer is actively working to trace the origin of these activities in order to identify those responsible.

Should it be confirmed that individuals or competitors are behind these actions, we will not hesitate to pursue the appropriate legal and regulatory channels available to us.

We remain fully committed to serving our audience, clients, and partners with integrity and professionalism.

Attempts to undermine our work will not deter us from continuing to grow and deliver the quality service our community expects.

We believe in fair competition and ethical business practices, and we trust that those involved will reconsider their actions - or face the consequences.

Further updates will be provided if necessary.