Dr Glenda Gray Appointed to SAHPRA as Member of New Board Headed by Dr Thapelo Motshudi
The Minister of Health has appointed a new board for the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority with Dr Thapelo Motshudi becoming the new chair and Dr Glenda Gray (both pictured here) as his vice. CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela remains in her position.
Cannabis Commercialization: ‘Select’ Stakeholder Talks Raise Eyebrows Over DTIC Transparency
The DTIC says it has begun “preliminary consultations” with a few unnamed industry stakeholders over its draft cannabis commercialization policy. Yet it has not yet officially released the policy for public comment, raising concerns about who exactly is the DTIC talking to, and why isn’t it being more transparent about the consultation process.”
KZN Police Use Drug Trafficking Act Against Man Arrested at Cannabis Storage Facility on the Bluff
Technically, no-one should be charged under the Drug Trafficking Act for cannabis offences as the Cannabis Act of 2024 specifies this. However, KwaZulu Natal SAPS have charged a man under the Act after arresting him during a raid on a ‘cannabis and magic mushroom’ storage facility on the Bluff in Durban.
KZN Police Arrest 14 After Raiding 5 ha Illegal Cannabis Farm Near Babanango
A large contingent of KZN law enforcement officers descended on a ‘vegetable farm’ on Wednesday and discovered a five hectare field of cannabis. They seized a large amount of cannabis, and arrested 14 people linked to the farm, among them foreign nationals.
Commercializing Cannabis: CDH Suggests Tiered Tax System Based on THC Potency
Leading law firm CDH has published its own road map towards cannabis commercialisation and one of its suggestions is that high THC products should be taxed at a higher rate than other cannabis products. It says this would incentivize the development of the CBD market and discourage consumers from buying potent – and potentially dangerous – products.
Correctional Services in Crisis: Jailed Gangsters Run Criminal Networks from the Safety of Their Cells
It’s not only SAPS that’s in crisis. Correctional Services is also facing its own major dilemma: that criminal networks have turned South Africa’s jails into their branch offices. This has emerged after a week of surprise prison raids in the Pretoria area recently, in which its clear that a lot of crime in the outside world is being masterminded from behind bars.
Zambia Persecutes Legacy Cannabis Growers Instead of Adapting its Legalization Law to Their Needs
Cannabis production is technically legal in Zambia but the prohibitive licensing regime makes legalization an expensive exercise for traditional growers. A recent clampdown by authorities has sparked fresh calls for a new approach to mainstreaming farmers with Zambia’s Harm Reduction Network calling for authorities to bridge the gap between law enforcement and economic opportunity.
Harambe: ‘Private Clubs Are Here to Stay, Even When Commercial Trade in Cannabis is Allowed’
Do private cannabis clubs (PCC’s) have a role in a regulatory framework that allows for commercial trade? Most definitely, say Harambe Solutions founders founders Brett Pollack and Marleen Theunissen (pictured here). They have been grappling with the issues surrounding PCC’s and are convinced they will play an even more important role in the future. Here they take an existential deep dive into the club zone in this Q&A with Cannabiz Africa publisher, Brett Hilton- Barber.
Chatsworth Community Mobilizes Against Cannabis ‘Grey Zone’ Operators
Community leaders in Chatsworth, KwaZulu Natal, are urging authorities to take action against the proliferation of illegal cannabis stores, highlighting concerns about public safety and the impact on local youth. They said outlets are “freely selling” cannabis products close to schools and religious organisations.
Time Over for Half Measures and Confused Cops, Just Legalize Private Clubs
South African cannabis policy ambitions are undermined by its incompatibility with existing laws. This is creating confusion for law enforcement and risk for legitimate entrepreneurs, and nowhere is this more evident than in the legal status of private clubs. Legal strategist Charl Botha (pictured here) has written to the DTIC pointing out that the writes that the club model is already there, it just needs to be implemented. This is an excerpt from the letter sent on 17 July 2025.