South Africa - Keep Informed Africa

Anglo American-Teck appoints South African Duncan Wanblad as the new CEO

Staff Reporter — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:49:48 +0000

Mining giant, Anglo American-Teck Resources has announced that South African Duncan Wanblad is their new CEO. Anglo American and Teck Resources Limited reached an agreement to combine the two companies in a merger of equals to form the Anglo Teck group, a global critical minerals champion and top five global copper producer, headquartered in Canada and expected to offer investors more than 70% exposure to copper. The merged entity will be headquartered in Canada, in Teck’s hometown of Vancouver. This will move Anglo further away from South Africa and its adopted home of London. In a statement released on Tuesday, 25 August the companies revealed that Wanblad will be CEO of the merged entity, putting the South African at the helm of the mining giant. This will only come into effect following the completion of the merger, which is set for between September 2026 and March 2027. The companies said the future executive leadership team brings together a highly experienced and complementary set of leaders from both companies. Teck CEO Jonathan Price will become deputy CEO of the merged entity and its chief strategy officer, while Anglo chair Nolitha Fakude will retain her position in South Africa. Kumba Iron Ore CEO Mpumi Zikalala will retain her position and, with other operational heads, report to COO Ruben Fernandes. "As the incoming CEO of Anglo Teck, I have utmost confidence in the highly capable executive and regional leadership teams that I have set out today. I look forward to working with the team over the coming years, from our headquarters in Canada, as we establish Anglo Teck and deliver the significant value from this formidable combination," Wanblad said. Who is Duncan Wanblad? Born in Randfontein, Gauteng, mining formed the bedrock of Wanblad’s understanding of the economy. However, he never dreamed of working in the sector. Wanblad initially desired to become a car mechanic but he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in mining by studying engineering at the University of Witwatersrand. Wanblad graduated from Wits with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering. Wanblad began his career at Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company in 1990 before joining Anglo American, where he rapidly rose through the ranks. The advantage of working at a giant like Anglo was the exposure it gave Wanblad to different minerals and parts of the business early in his career. Wanblad initially worked at Anglo’s platinum business in the early 2000s, where he became interim CEO in 2007 before heading up its copper operations from London. This gave him early insight into a metal of the future, with copper demand ramping up steadily as China’s economy boomed and investments in data centres took off. Wanblad has been an ‘Anglo for lifer’, with his success in the platinum business and in starting the copper operations, which made him CEO of its Base Metals division in 2013. Simultaneously, he served as the head of Anglo’s strategy and business development team, which put him on the boards of De Beers and Kumba. Since 2022, Wanblad has been Anglo’s CEO and has led its transformation into a “miner for the future” focused primarily on copper. To reinvent Anglo and stave off BHP’s takeover bid, Wanblad has overseen the unbundling of Amplats into Valterra, the sale of its steelmaking coal business, and is close to selling De Beers.

South African citrus exporters set to benefit from India after 10 years of negotiations

siteadmin — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:43:09 +0000

India has approved an additional treatment option for fresh citrus exports from South Africa. South African citrus exporters are set to benefit from improved market access to India, following the approval of additional treatment options for fresh citrus fruit after nearly a decade of negotiations. The Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and the Department of Agriculture announced that India has approved additional fruit fly cold treatment options, which will allow the quality of the fruit in the market to improve and add important logistical flexibility. South Africa already exports citrus to India using various fruit-fly treatment protocols. Additional fruit fly cold treatment options will now allow for the quality of the fruit in the market to improve, adding important logisticaAdl flexibility. South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp welcomed the development and said, “This is not only good news, but also indicates how advanced technology enables our farmers to push barriers to have other countries enjoy our high-quality produce." With a population of approximately 1.47bn and one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, India represents significant potential for South African citrus. South Africa also exports various other categories of fruit to India, with apple and pear exports showing considerable growth in recent times. The CGA statement noted that India is itself one of the world’s largest citrus producers, and consumers are already familiar with the product category. South Africa’s counter-seasonal production provides an opportunity to complement domestic supply, particularly as the Indian middle class expands, health-conscious consumption grows and demand for mandarin-type citrus increases. “Special recognition is given to the Department of Agriculture and Citrus Research International for their continued technical engagement with Indian authorities that have made the new treatment options possible,” said Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive of the CGA. ”This demonstrates the importance of sustained public-private partnership in improving technical conditions for accessing markets.” Ntshabele said that attention should now shift towards improving the commercial conditions under which South African citrus enters the Indian market. “Most favoured nation tariffs of approximately 25-30 per cent continue to place South African citrus at a disadvantage compared with Southern Hemisphere competitors benefiting from preferential tariff arrangements." “We look forward to working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the critical task of addressing these tariff barriers and improving the competitiveness of South African citrus in the Indian market going forward." “With positive developments in the SACU–India Preferential Trade Agreement process, continued momentum towards improved preferential access will help unlock India’s great market potential and support the long-term sustainability and diversification of the South African citrus industry,” Ntshabele added. ” The CGA sees combining improved phytosanitary market access with more competitive tariff conditions as being key to growing South Africa’s presence in India and supporting the long-term sustainability, growth and diversification of the South African citrus industry.”

SA secures a new soybean trade deal with China

siteadmin — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:34:49 +0000

A global trading member of the South Africa Cereals and Oilseeds Trade Association (SACOTA) has successfully signed a deal to supply 200 000 tons of soybeans to China - one of the world's largest importers of oilseeds. The deal is only the second of its kind between the two countries, the first being in 2023, when 147,000 tons were exported. SACOTA has called the agreement 'a much-needed boost for the local industry', and one that will help secure future market opportunities.

“The first confirmation of an expected record production came on 23 April 2026 when the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) forecast a maize crop of 16.8 million tons and a soybean crop of 2.8 million tons. These expectations of record production were accompanied by expectations of a decline in prices and subsequent exports," said SACOTA.

“Early expectations for maize were around 3.6 million tons, and for soybeans 600 000 tons. The South African soybean industry, being relatively new on the export market, faced an additional challenge because the yellow maize export program historically receives preference at the Port of Durban export terminals, for various reasons, potentially limiting soybean exports."

Agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo said the deal came at a good time, with South Africa producing a record soybean crop of about three million tons.

“China is the biggest buyer of soybeans in the world. They buy over 60% of globally traded soybeans. This year saw a record soyabean harvest in South Africa of around 3 million tons. South Africa currently crushes about 2.3 million tons locally, leaving a surplus that could be sold into export markets." "We have plenty that we will put in the market, and this development is very positive for us," said Sihlobo. "Just as early as 2014, South Africa was importing over a million tonnes of soybean oil cake and some soybeans. Now we are at a most fortunate position where we are talking about the exports. We can only just grow from the position that we are in," he added. "China buys roughly 11% of globally traded agricultural products. That is around $200 billion US dollars a year. To just get a sense of that, compared to the US, we send to the world market about $15 billion of agricultural products. So we are a tiny market," said Sihlobo.

Cancer Alliance urges women to protect their health

Staff Reporter — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 10:48:53 +0000

The Director at the Cancer Alliance of South Africa, Salome Meyer is urging the country to turn its commitment to women's rights into meaningful action by accelerating efforts to eliminate cervical cancer this Women's Month. Cervical cancer remains the second-most common cancer among South African women between the ages of 15 and 44, and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in this age group. Nearly 6,000 women lose their lives to the disease annually, even though more than 95% of cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can be prevented through vaccination and detected early through regular screening. "Women's Month is not only a time to celebrate women, it is a time to protect their health and their future. No woman should lose her life to a disease that is both preventable and treatable," Meyer said. South Africa has committed to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 90-70-90 targets, which aim to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. These goals include ensuring that 90% of girls are fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70% of women are screened at least twice in their lifetime, and 90% of women diagnosed with pre-cancer or cervical cancer receive appropriate treatment. Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has previously described cervical cancer elimination as "a matter of social justice and gender equality", reinforcing the country's commitment to improving women's health outcomes. Recent progress includes the Department of Health's decision to expand its school-based HPV vaccination programme to independent and private schools, as well as adopting single-dose vaccination guidelines to increase access. However, public health advocates argue that policy alone is not enough. "One woman dies from cervical cancer every 67 minutes in South Africa. These are not just statistics; they are mothers, daughters, sisters, colleagues and friends. We cannot afford to delay action," Meyer said. The burden of the disease is particularly severe for women living with HIV, who are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women without HIV. With sub-Saharan Africa carrying the overwhelming majority of cases involving both HIV and cervical cancer, experts say prevention efforts must be better integrated into existing HIV care services. Countries such as Botswana and Eswatini have already strengthened their cervical cancer prevention strategies by incorporating higher-valency HPV vaccines and dedicated prevention pathways into their healthcare guidelines, providing examples of how integrated care can improve outcomes. While vaccination and screening remain the cornerstones of prevention, advocates say misinformation, stigma and unequal access to healthcare continue to prevent many women from receiving potentially life-saving services. Meyer believes civil society organisations play a crucial role in reaching communities that formal healthcare systems often struggle to access.

Team SA achieves 4th place at the World Spelling Bee World Cup in Shanghai

Staff Reporter — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 09:36:51 +0000

The Department of Basic Education has officially welcomed Team South Africa after achieving fourth place at the Spelling Bee Championships in Shanghai, China which makes the country the highest-ranked African nation at the global competition. According to the department, the achievement is being celebrated as more than just a spelling success, but as a victory for literacy, education and the determination of young South Africans to compete with the best in the world. Team South Africa finished fourth overall, behind the United States, China, and India. The Department of Basic Education says the learners’ achievement proves that South African talent can compete on any global stage when it is nurtured and supported. Minister Siviwe Gwarube praised the learners, their families and teachers for helping South Africa make history at the inaugural championships. “The achievements of these young people have proven to us that talent doesn’t reside in particular parts of the country and that if you’ve got the requisite support, if you’ve got the talent and if you’ve got the backing of your parents, of your guardians, of the department, you really can soar high and really represent your country on the world stage.” "Behind every learner’s achievement is a family that has encouraged, supported and believed in their dreams e world stage, adding that reading remains one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children. Expanding opportunities through the National Spelling Bee Programme The Department of Basic Education will continue working with its partners to strengthen and expand the National Spelling Bee Programme across all nine provinces. The goal is to ensure that more learners have access to opportunities that promote reading, literacy and academic excellence.

The programme creates clear pathways for talented young spellers to move from school-level competitions through provincial and national events to continental and world championships. Minister Gwarube congratulated Team South Africa once again on this historic achievement and looked forward to building on this success as the country continues to showcase the strength and competitiveness of its basic education system on the global stage.

IDAC boss Andrea Johnson resigns with immediate effect

Staff Reporter — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 05:04:02 +0000

South Africa - President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the request by Investigative Director Against Corruption (IDAC) Advocate Andrea Johnson to vacate the office with immediate effect. This comes after Johnson directed her request for an immediate release from the office to the National Director of Public Prosecutions and President Ramaphosa. According to Johnson, the past five months have been challenging and the attacks on both her personal, and official capacity have been unprecedented. She added that the attacks against her arise out of the cases IDAC has conducted against officials of Crime Intelligence. These, she says, have brought an extreme amount of negative attention to her, IDAC and the NPA. The President’s agreement follows a recommendation by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, and supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions Adv Andy Mothibi, that Adv Johnson’s request be granted. President Ramaphosa thanked Adv Johnson for her years of service in the NPA and as the head of IDAC. The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption. In 2004 she was appointed a deputy director of public prosecutions at the Directorate of Special Operations, the Scorpions, where she served until the unit was disbanded in 2009. In 2022 she succeeded advocate Hermione Cronje as head of the Investigating Directorate, which was later given permanence and renamed IDAC. She was also a contender for the position of national director of public prosecutions. Her exit follows a bruising stretch at the Madlanga Commission, she continues to give evidence at the Inquiry today.

Hluhluwe-iMfololozi Park records a 52% drop in rhino poaching

Staff Reporter — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:56:30 +0000

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) has reported a major success in its ongoing battle against rhino poaching, recording a 52% year-to-date reduction in poaching mortalities for the first five months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Despite the decline, authorities have warned that the threat to the animals remains. KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) MEC, Reverend Musa Zondi revealed the progress and outlined the multi-faceted strategy driving these improvements. Zondi highlighted that the May shootout between police and suspected rhino poachers, where firearms were recovered, highlights the persistent threat facing HiP and its field rangers. “Despite ongoing conservation efforts, poaching pressure on the park remains significant,” Zondi said. Multi-pronged strategy “Dehorning has formed part of a broader suite of interventions that have contributed to a substantial reduction in rhino poaching at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Comparative data on rhino poaching mortalities illustrates this positive trend,” the MEC said. “Dehorning operations commenced on April 1, 2024. Year-to-date mortalities for January 1 to May 31, 2026, show a 52% reduction compared to the same period in 2025.” He added that the Ezemvelo Rhino Guardianship Strategy monitors outcomes through a multi-faceted approach that integrates intelligence-led policing, ranger deployment, and technology. Through collaboration with key stakeholders, notably the SAPS via various joint forums, the strategy ensures coordinated, intelligence-driven investigations, targeted prevention operations, and special investigation projects. “Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo/EKZNW) would appreciate dedicated budgetary support to implement proven anti-poaching interventions, including rhino dehorning, integrity testing, and the utilisation of drone technology." Community-based interventions The MEC explained that Edtea and Ezemvelo’s community-based programmes aim to prevent poaching recruitment by raising awareness, promoting alternative livelihoods, and building partnerships. Key initiatives, including environmental education, skills training, and sustainable resource support, highlight the socio-economic benefits of conservation. The projects aim to reduce human-wildlife conflict and deter illegal activity, with success monitored via data-driven tracking. Zondi stated that all rhino poaching incidents and associated poaching-effort data are systematically logged in the national CMORE database (a platform that facilitates interagency, interdepartmental, and community awareness). This enables detailed tracking of trends and the correlation between community interventions and changes in poaching pressure. It also offers education, jobs, and conservation benefits, and establishes intelligence networks that provide early warnings of potential incursions. Zondi explained that the substantial reductions in poaching mortalities observed at HiP reflect the positive contribution of this holistic strategy, of which community engagement forms a critical component. Staff, contractor and service provider testing A recent audit revealed a total of 166 tests conducted, resulting in 24 indications of deception — a 15% rate of concern. Zondi noted that Ezemvelo works closely with the SAPS to investigate any potential internal leaks or security breaches.

World Bank loans SA $1.5 billion to boost infrastructure

Staff Reporter — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:45:53 +0000

South Africa secured a $1.5 billion (R25 billion) World Bank loan to assist the country’s infrastructure and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the continent’s largest economy. The facility is the fourth in a series of stand-alone development policy loans to South Africa since 2022, aimed at easing infrastructure bottlenecks that have contributed to a decade of meagre economic growth. The Washington-based lender said that reform of the electricity and transport sectors, supported by the financing, could create almost 600,000 new jobs by 2032, including 280,000 next year. In a statement, World Bank explained that the operation builds on reforms that are already showing results. “Load shedding has been virtually eliminated for a year and a half, private investment in renewable energy has increased sixfold, and rail and port freight volumes have risen by more than 50% since 2023." Scheduled power outages have become increasingly infrequent after years of being an almost daily occurrence, thanks to efforts to fix the state-owned power utility under a reform programme launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to a reform tracker compiled by Business Leadership South Africa, a lobby group, almost 70% of the projects identified as priorities are either on schedule or completed. “This programme reflects our government’s determination to remove the infrastructure constraints that have held back growth and job creation for too long,” Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said in the statement. “Working with the World Bank Group, we are deepening reforms already delivering results in energy and transport, while for the first time tackling the governance and investment gaps in our water sector that affect millions of households, particularly the poorest.”

Padayachee rejects Mkhwanazi claims at the Madlanga Commission

siteadmin — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:31:28 +0000

Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) Senior Investigator, Colonel Brian Padayachee has dismissed Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s claims that he influenced investigations which include the criminal charges against Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo. On Tuesday, 14 July Padayachee testified before the Madlanga Commission, and he described the allegations as baseless and he insisted he was not involved in any alleged faction accused of manipulating cases. "I deny these allegations. They are baseless and devoid of merit. The IDAC has sufficient evidence to sustain the charges in the criminal case against Khumalo and other officials at Crime Intelligence," Padayachee said. He told the commission the matter remains before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court and said suggestions that the investigation was driven by hidden agendas or political motives were false. "I deny as baseless any allegations of political interference or hidden agendas in respect of the investigations conducted by the IDAC against these senior officers within Crime Intelligence and SAPS," he said. Khumalo was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on June 26, 2025, on fraud and corruption charges linked to the alleged appointment of 30-year-old civilian Dineo Mokwele to a senior brigadier position in the SAPS Technical Support Services unit. Khumalo clarified at the commission that the unit was not looking for a traditional career cop but rather someone fit for the role. He argued Mokwele was highly qualified in mechatronics and industrial engineering (skills she used as an engineer at BMW), which made her uniquely suited to handle covert technological operations. The state alleged Khumalo and six co-accused ignored mandatory vetting and background checks to fast-track the appointment. Khumalo is currently out of bail and arrest warrants have been put on hold pending an independent review by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)

Home Affairs to recruit 301 immigration officers

Staff Reporter — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:51:59 +0000

In a bid to strengthen immigration enforcement capacity, the Department of Home Affairs aims to recruit an additional 301 immigration officers. Currently, the department has only 868 immigration officers. In a statement released on Monday, the Department said, “This limited capacity is expected to support immigration enforcement across the entire country." "Despite the severe resource constraints that the department continues to face, reprioritisation work has been done to enable the recruitment of this cohort of additional Immigration Officers." "The increase from 868 to 1 169 officers will enhance enforcement capacity by 35%." The department explained that this is being done in conjunction with other initiatives alongside National Treasury to secure additional resources to further boost digital transformation and capacity-building initiatives. The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the recruitment drive forms part of the department's broader reforms to build a secure, digital and fit-for-purpose immigration system that serves the national interest. “By appointing 301 additional immigration officers, we are now making one of the biggest investments in immigration enforcement capacity in years, strengthening our ability to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of South Africa’s immigration system."