"The national conversation about land, always simmering in South Africa, has come to  the boil again . What's often missing is a voice for the unrepresented party - the land. I'd like to be that voice," writes Robert Scholes, Distinguished Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand - Read article»

This article was published on The Conversation

ENSO-neutral conditions continued during February, with near-average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the central equatorial Pacific and above-average SSTs in the eastern Pacific. The latest weekly Niño index values were near zero in the Niño-4 and Niño-3.4 regions, and +0.4 and +2.2°C farther east in the Niño-3 and Niño-1+2 regions, respectively. The upper-ocean heat content anomaly increased during February and was slightly positive when averaged across the central and eastern Pacific, a reflection of generally above-average temperatures at depth. Overall, the ocean and atmosphere system is consistent with ENSO-neutral conditions. In summary, ENSO-neutral conditions are favo u red to continue through at least the Northern Hemisphere spring 2017, with increasing chances for El Niño development into the fall . Please click on Enso Advisory to peruse full El Nino/ENSO statement by the Climate Prediction Center/NCEP/NWS and the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.

A recent High Court decision has likely set a new precedent that could allow for private citizens and bodies to perform basic service delivery functions with taxpayers' money.  In the  judgement , the Eastern Cape High Court ordered the provincial Roads Department to reimburse farmers who carry out maintenance themselves, subject to strict conditions including giving the department 30 days notice of the repairs and obtaining at least two independent quotes - Read more»

On 14 - 16 February 2017, FAO, in collaboration with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the International Red Locust Control Organization for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) held a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe. The main focus of the meeting was on preparedness and response to a number of emerging and emerging high impact transboundary crop and livestock pests and diseases, particularly Fall Armyworm (FAW), African Armyworm, Tomato Leaf Miner and the Maize Lethal Necrosis Diseases and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), which are currently affecting or threatening the Southern African region, with potentially devastating impacts on livelihoods and food security. The linked report provides a summary of the outcome of the meeting, the current status of the fall armyworm, HPAI and other high impact transboundary pests and diseases in the region, and the actions agreed to strengthen the preparedness and response capacities of countries.