Environmental Affairs Minister

Rhino poaching is expected to top the agenda when Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa meets with Mozambican Minister of Tourism Carvalho Muaria in Maputo on Friday.

South Africa's plans for a water-secure future are in place, says Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, but will require all South Africans to play their part in conserving water.

South Africa and Vietnam have signed an action plan to set in motion the biodiversity conservation and protection agreement signed by the two countries in December, aimed at curbing wildlife crimes, in particular rhino poaching.

South Africa has declared its first offshore marine protected area, over the Prince Edward Islands, as part of an effort to protect the country's offshore and deep ocean areas, as well as foster the recovery of the islands' toothfish populations.

President Jacob Zuma has expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the five soldiers who died in a helicopter crash at the Kruger National Park on the weekend.

South Africa, Angola and Namibia have signed an agreement to protect the Benguela Current marine ecosystem, which stretches from Port Elizabeth on South Africa's coast to Cabinda in the north of Angola and is one of the richest ecosystems on earth.

The award-winning interpretation centre at South Africa's Mapungubwe National Park, which celebrates the site of an ancient trading civilization within a stunning natural setting, has been officially opened.

As the country marks Arbor Week, the government has called on South Africans to plant more trees, and for public-private partnerships and cross-sectoral cooperation to help conserve the environment.

A strong South African business delegation attended the Botswana-South Africa business seminar in Gaborone on Wednesday as President Jacob Zuma began a two-day state visit geared to boosting trade and investment between the two countries.

The government has awarded bioprospecting permits to seven community organisations, opening up huge opportunities for the Komaggas community in South Africa's Northern Cape province.