'Most Notably' (23 February 2026)

The fourth edition of 'Most Notably' begins by drawing attention to flaws in a Business Day article on recent developments affecting South Africa's troubled sugar industry. The article and others like it preceded several media reports on Tongaat's liquidation court process – in turn triggering separate press releases from Trade, Industry & Competition Minister Parks Tau and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen that could (and probably should) have been combined. At the very least, this would have reassured industry stakeholders that Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet members close to the issue are on the same page.

sugar industry crisis

A 13 February 2026 Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC) Government Gazette notice announcing ministerial approval of the South African Sugar Association's (Sasa's) amended constitution came just three weeks after a call for input into the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa's (ITAC's) self-initiated sugar-related dollar-based reference price (DBRP) investigation. Yet a Business Day article on the amended constitution made no mention of this.

As Policy Watch SA reported for SA Legal Academy at the time, the ITAC investigation was prompted by "divergent applications from ... Sasa and the Beverage Association of South Africa respectively applying for an increase and decrease in the DBRP".

"Sasa's application seeks to 'protect the local sugar industry and ensure its sustainability', while the Beverage Association of South Africa's application seeks to counter 'the adverse impact of current duties on beverage producers, bottlers, consumers' and other downstream sugar industry stakeholders."

"The purpose of ITAC's investigation is to determine the 'most appropriate course of action' in the context of the Sugar Industry Value Chain Masterplan 2030 – to which both applicants are apparently signatory."

It isn't clear how (or if) Sasa's amended constitution will affect the ITAC investigation. Gazetted with the 2020 iteration of a sugar industry agreement developed under the 1978 Sugar Act, Sasa's obligations now include determining "the quantity of sugar required for the local market, the quantity of carry-over stocks, and the quantity of sugar to be exported each year" – at least, according to Business Day. Yet, in terms of section 179 of the 2000 agreement, this has been part of Sasa's role for at least six years.

The article also refers to the South African Farmers Development Association's (Safda's) participation in the decision-making process as a "major change". In fact, their involvement has been mandatory since April 2018, as confirmed in pre-2020 agreement transition arrangements gazetted later that year during the course of developing a sugar industry masterplan eventually finalised sometime during 2020.

A DTIC media statement issued in June that year included a link to a Government Gazette notice:

• outlining:

  • what was then envisaged for the plan's implementation, and

  • the process of amending the Sasa constitution and industry agreement, as well as

• providing an explanatory memorandum on the amendments concerned with all changes clearly indicated.

Staying with the sugar industry, recent media reports on Tongaat's ongoing liquidation court process triggered two departmental press releases – neither of which mentions the industry masterplan, the agreement or Sasa's amended constitution.

In a Department of Agriculture statement, Minister John Steenhuisen was quoted as having called for "urgent resolutions to secure sugar mills and protect livelihoods".

A DTIC statement issued the following day assured South Africans that Minister Parks Tau is "acutely aware" of pressures being brought to bear upon the broader sugar industry by "difficult trading conditions, both domestically and internationally".

It would have been reassuring if, as GNU Cabinet members, the ministers had presented a united front. This is especially given that, in his response to issues raised during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate, President Cyril Ramaphosa underscored the importance of "commitment to the principle of partnership and shared responsibility" as the GNU continues its work.

child welfare and development

The President's 2026 State of the Nation Address included a long list of interventions under way to address myriad issues negatively affecting South Africa's children. One involves "end(ing) child stunting" within the next four years by "tackl(ing) malnutrition ... in line with the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children".

Exploring how this might be accomplished, the author of a recent Daily Maverick article chose not to ask when the strategy will be published. Approved by Cabinet on 5 May 2025 and the focus of 'From the Desk of the President' ten days later, there's no sign of it on the Department of Social Development website – which still features the 2019-24 version.

According to a media statement on the Cabinet meeting at which the revised strategy was approved, it draws attention to the importance of "collaboration and shared responsibility" in providing "every child ... (the) opportunity to thrive", focusing on:

• "closing the food gap"

• "stimulating language and learning" in young children

• ensuring "timeous screening" for "hearing and visual disabilities" and facilitating the necessary referrals, and

• "building ... identity and agency" among teenagers (among other things by reducing substance abuse).

Elaborating on this, the President's 15 December 2025 letter to fellow South Africans described the strategy as "a comprehensive roadmap" for government and other stakeholders in their efforts to promote children's rights, "holistic development" and "social inclusion" – nevertheless acknowledging the "persistent challenges" faced. Underpinned by principles enshrined not only in the Constitution and the 2005 Children's Act but also in the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the strategy's "key focus areas" include "empowering every child as a rights-bearing, active citizen".

The letter also noted that "nearly half" South Africa's children "live in poverty" – "disadvantaged before ... even born, with maternal undernutrition contributing to low-birth weights". "Because it is difficult for malnourished mothers to breastfeed, babies are being weaned onto low-protein diets ... mak(ing) them susceptible to infections" and impacting negatively on their development.

In that context, government's decision to continue the social relief of distress grant for a further year pending its "redesign" assumes even greater significance. We unpacked this in last week's 'Most Notably', since when the Department of Social Development has issued a media statement reiterating its call for public comments on the grant's continuation – which was initially made nearly a week earlier in the Government Gazette.

Meanwhile, a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) press release has urged grant beneficiaries "not to ignore SMS notifications" reminding them to visit their nearest SASSA office to "do ... (their) reviews". In terms of the 2004 Social Assistance Act, every recipient of a social grant is "required to undergo a grant review process to verify their continued eligibility ..., prevent fraud or duplicate claims" and avoid non-payment.

According to a SASSA website page on the social relief of distress grant, only in "exceptional cases" is it made available for more than three months.

the Nieuwmeester dome

Despite having been formally handed over to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on 6 February 2026, the dome was subjected to at least two "follow-up visits" from the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament. Conducted eight days after the handover, the first visit identified "several" issues requiring attention before the then upcoming SONA debate. This was the gist of a brief committee statement elaborated upon the next day in another more detailed press release.

Apparently completed "well below" the R31m budgeted, the second phase of the dome's installation entailed "electrical works ... based on generator power", fire detection and firefighting equipment – and improvements to ablution facilities, the Speaker’s podium, the public gallery and "VIP holding rooms". It remains to be seen if concerns expressed about power generator and air conditioning system noise were warranted and can be addressed.

Whatever the case, the dome was used for this year's SONA debate as planned. Screenshots of the interior as it was during the April 2025 Budget debate and during this year's SONA debate tend to suggest that – on the surface – nothing but the colour of the dome's interior walls has changed.

Until next Monday ...

Policy Watch SA

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