South Africa's ECIC Unlocks R1.06 Trillion in Capital Over 25 Years; Over 90% of National Cattle Herd Vaccinated Against FMD
South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, said on November 15 that the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) has unlocked R1.06 trillion in capital over its 25 years, directed to sectors including rail, mining, power, manufacturing and telecommunications. On the same day, the Department of Agriculture announced that more than 90% of the national cattle herd has been vaccinated against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), ahead of the government's self-imposed year-end target; the Tourism Ministry launched a new Tourism Hackathon Challenge; Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga will represent South Africa at a gender equality summit in Copenhagen; and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety launched an investigation into a circulating video allegedly showing a traffic officer accepting a bribe.
Established in 2001 under the Export Credit and Foreign Investments Insurance Act, ECIC provides political and commercial risk insurance to South African exporters of goods and related services and operates as a self-sustained, state-owned export credit agency. Speaking at the ECIC 25-year legacy celebration in Sandton, Gauteng, on Saturday, Tau said the Corporation has created over 87,000 jobs, contributed R21.7 billion to GDP and generated approximately R7.9 billion in tax revenue. Its current portfolio is valued at R33.2 billion, with supported projects including MTN in Nigeria, Vodacom in Tanzania, the Konkola copper mines in Zambia, gold mines in Tanzania, Sasol's natural gas pipeline from Mozambique, the Cenpower project in Ghana, the Maputo Port expansion and the Nacala Rail Corridor. To navigate shifting global trade patterns, ECIC is implementing a butterfly trade strategy to diversify beyond a concentration in which 88% of exposure sits in just three countries, expanding trade finance through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its Class A membership of Afreximbank, while government advances work towards a South African Export-Import Bank that would crowd in commercial lending through credit lines and guarantees rather than replace it.
On FMD, Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp announced at the Agricultural Writers SA National Awards in Muldersdrift, Johannesburg, on Friday that over 90% of the national cattle herd has now been vaccinated. Government had set a target of vaccinating 80% of cattle well before its self-imposed deadline of the end of December 2026; all provinces have now moved rapidly into the booster-dose phase to sustain immunity. The Department of Agriculture confirmed that over 22 million doses of FMD vaccine have been purchased and distributed, with the private sector vaccinating approximately four million cattle and the state just short of 11 million. New outbreaks have declined drastically, and farmers can continue to register online to vaccinate their own cattle, with vaccines delivered within 24 hours of ordering.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has launched the 2026/27 Tourism Hackathon Challenge, bringing together 50 students at the University of Cape Town for a two-day event themed “Community-Based Tourism and Rural Inclusion,” building on the inaugural 2025 G20 Tourism Hackathon. Teams are developing online booking tools for local guides, homestays and village experiences, virtual tours showcasing lesser-known destinations, and digital payment solutions for small operators. Working prototypes will be presented at a final pitching and awards event planned for the first quarter of 2027, and the top three finalists may receive support through innovation and entrepreneurship development programmes.
Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, will represent South Africa at the Copenhagen Summit on Gender Equality and Women's and Girls' Rights, taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 16 to 17 November 2026. Her department said South Africa's priorities include ending gender-based violence and femicide, advancing women's economic empowerment and financial inclusion, strengthening access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, increasing women's representation in leadership and decision-making, and promoting gender-responsive budgeting. Chikunga said gender equality cannot remain an aspiration expressed in international declarations and must translate into tangible improvements in the everyday lives of women and girls.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety said on November 15 that it has launched a full investigation into a video circulating on social media which allegedly shows a Gauteng Traffic Police officer accepting a bribe from a motorist. Preliminary investigations established that the incident was not recent; the officer is stationed in the Freeway Patrol Unit and has been on maternity leave for the past few months. The department reiterated its zero-tolerance stance towards corruption and misconduct, noted that bodycams have recently been rolled out to Gauteng Traffic Police officers to strengthen accountability, and said the public can report suspected corruption through the Anti-Corruption Hotline on 0800 701 071 or the Gauteng Provincial Hotline on 0800 228 827.
The edition's features section also carried three articles on why every vote matters in local government elections, the link between service delivery and the ballot box, and the gap between food availability and access in food security.
(Source: South African Government News Agency)
Source: South African Government News Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：南非贸工部部长 Parks Tau 在 ECIC 25周年庆典上讲话。南非政府新闻署（SAnews）供图，该署明示媒体可免费使用其图片并注明出处。 / Photo: Minister Parks Tau speaking at the ECIC 25-year legacy celebration. Photo by SAnews (South African Government News Agency); SAnews states media may use its pictures at no cost provided SAnews is credited.
