'Most Notably' (9 March 2026)

This week's 'Most Notably' begins with an update on progress in implementing the National Cannabis Masterplan. Developed by the previous administration's Department of Agriculture Land Reform & Rural Development, the plan now resides with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC). Although this was confirmed in a September 2025 DTIC media statement, the document has yet to join other masterplans on a departmental website page dedicated to them. In fact, a fifth draft of the National Cannabis Masterplan appears to be the only publicly available version, having been published by Qure – an independent cannabis testing laboratory that recently closed its doors.

During last week's meeting of the National Assembly's Trade, Industry & Competition Committee, members were told that a "hemp and cannabis commercialisation policy" could be released as early as April 2026 for public comment – subject to Cabinet approval. A DTIC presentation document also referred to the preparation of an "overarching Cannabis Bill" to "replace all existing legislation dealing with cannabis", including "commercial cultivation, private use, research, and manufacturing".

Meanwhile, the prevailing regulatory environment is "not at all desirable" and "quite confusing" – words used by former Justice & Constitutional Development Deputy Minister, John Jeffery, who was introduced to committee members as the DTIC's "hemp and cannabis masterplan project manager". Describing the process of developing framework legislation as "complicated", Jeffery said this "could take some time". His remarks do tend to suggest that expectations of tabling the Bill in Parliament "by mid-2027" (as the presentation document states) may be unrealistic.

gender-based violence

Policy Minister Firoz Cachalia has provided insightful information on the extent to which measures intended to curb gender-based violence and femicide may be strengthened under the scourge's status as a national disaster. Responding to questions from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, the Minister said a "disaster management-aligned approach" is likely to entail:

• "risk assessments conducted at community level, identifying hotspots and specific vulnerabilities"

• 'early warning mechanisms based on patterns in policing, protection orders and community reporting"

• "preparedness plans for high-risk periods ... (such as) pay days, or during holidays, load shedding, and major events", and

• "integrated municipal plans linking shelters, (the South African Police Service) SAPS, clinics, social workers and community structures".

Under the ambit of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), interventions are expected to extend beyond an "emergency response" to "recovery and rehabilitation for survivors, families and communities".

Referring to "tracked" and quarterly published "performance indicators", the Minister described NATJOINTS as "a co-ordinating structure for effective and efficient responses to threats" that:

• combines "operational and intelligence resources across multiple agencies"

• "monitors safety risks"

• "manages situational awareness at a national level", and

• "operates under the broader Justice, Crime Prevention & Security Cluster.

spaza shops

"Of the 81 039 spaza shops registered nationally, only 18 722 are licensed or permitted to operate", according to a 5 March 2026 National Assembly Small Business Development Committee media statement on briefings from the Departments of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs and Small Business Development. Expressing concern about the obstacle this poses to accessing government's spaza shop support programme, the statement referred to moves apparently afoot in which "municipalities are being encouraged to issue conditional or temporary trading permits, provided that health requirements are met".

Launched in May 2025, the support programme followed a November 2024 registration campaign prompted by the spiralling number of deaths from foodborne illnesses linked to the illegal sale of lethal pesticides at many spaza shops.

B-BBEE

A 4 March 2026 National Assembly Communications & Digital Technologies media statement on Dell Technologies’ equity equivalent investment programme (EEIP) renewal application has drawn attention to a draft policy direction on EEIPs in the ICT sector gazetted in May 2025 for public comment. Proposed by Communications & Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi, the policy direction envisaged at the time was intended to serve as "a mechanism to accelerate broadband access".

This was the gist of a May 2025 Communications & Digital Technologies Department press release on the draft – also referring to a mismatch between the ICT Sector Code under the amended 2013 Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, and the Independent Communications Authority of SA's (ICASA’s) "ownership regulations".

The proposed new policy direction sought to address this but appears not to have been finalised.

In place since 2016, the Dell Technologies EEIP is about to expire – hence the renewal application now being considered by the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition, as the final arbiter for all EEIPs. In that context, the Department of Communications & Digital Technologies recently issued a media statement in which Minister Malatsi was said to have "recommended" the application's approval.

According to the statement, the Minister's recommendation was underpinned by the results of an "assessment" of the application conducted by his department.

Against that backdrop, National Assembly Communications & Digital Technologies Committee chair Khusela Sangoni-Diko has approached the Minister for "detailed clarity" on the "demonstrable outcomes" of the Dell Technologies current EEIP.

In Sangoni-Diko's view:

• "the integrity of the EEIP instrument depends on a rigorous approval process grounded in evidence, compliance and measurable impact", and

• "renewal cannot be a routine administrative exercise ... (but) must be justified by demonstrated performance and clear developmental value.”

protected areas

A ministerial task team appointed in August 2023 to investigate factors "hindering" provincial management authorities in "fulfilling their conservation mandates" is "still in the process of investigating and providing recommendations". Confirming this in a written reply to Freedom Front Plus provincial delegate in the NCOP, Tammy Breedt, Forestry, Fisheries & Environment Minister Willie Aucamp conceded that "the failure of provincial reserves" could well affect the implementation of a revised national strategy for the optimal development of South Africa's biodiversity economy. Released in draft form in February 2024 for public comment, the strategy emerging from that process "is yet to be considered by Cabinet" and may not even have been finalised.

Referring to a ministerial task team interim "report on financial challenges experienced by provincial conservation authorities" and provincial nature reserves "in particular", the Minister acknowledged that these have led to "a decline in potential revenue generation, investment opportunities, private-public partnerships, and loss of relevant critical skills".

Apparently, nothing can be done to address these issues until the task team has completed its work and submitted an "official report" to Cabinet for adoption.

Until next Monday ...

Policy Watch SA

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