On 8 October 2025, the national Cannabis & Hemp Steering Committee convened under the leadership of the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC), uniting stakeholders from across government, provincial departments, and civil society. The session marked a significant step forward in aligning cannabis and hemp reform with economic development, smallholder participation, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
As Chair of CTAA, I presented a strategic intervention calling for a national Track & Trace system — not only for cannabis and hemp, but also for medicinal herbs cultivated under IKS protocols. The proposal was well received, and the DTIC has committed to a formal bilateral engagement with CTAA to explore the system further.
Key Developments from the Meeting
• The Cannabis for Private Purposes Act was signed into law in May 2024. Full implementation is pending accompanying regulations.
• South Africa’s hemp THC limit is proposed to increase from 0.2% to 2%, effective 1 December 2025.
• Over 1,825 hemp cultivation permits have been issued.
• Two hemp seed varieties (ARC-CAN-01 and ARC-CAN-03) have been listed for commercial use.
• A new Cannabis Commercialisation Policy is being finalised for Cabinet submission by April 2026.
• A consolidated Cannabis Bill is under development to harmonise fragmented legislation.
• A national progress dashboard will be created to track commitments and resolve implementation bottlenecks.
• DTIC is restructuring stakeholder engagement by creating sectors of interest, allowing for clearer industry representation.
CTAA’s Intervention: A Unified Track & Trace System
South Africa is at a crossroads. With over 6,000 unregulated cannabis outlets in operation and many legacy farmers excluded from formal frameworks, there is an urgent need for traceability, regulation, and inclusive participation.
The CTAA Track & Trace proposal is designed to:
• Cover cannabis, hemp, and medicinal herbs developed under IKS.
• Allow legacy and rural farmers to enter the legal market through structured compliance.
• Provide tools to trace plant origin, movement, and quality assurance across the value chain.
• Build an interoperable system capable of supporting national biosecurity, public health, and export compliance.
• Lay the groundwork for South Africa to become a trusted global supplier of African-origin plant medicine.
The DTIC acknowledged both the trade potential and national security implications of such a system and has agreed to a dedicated session with CTAA and SACHIDA to assess its implementation.
Looking Ahead
The committee concluded with several key decisions:
• Steering Committee meetings will continue quarterly, with the next session set for December 2025.
• A national dashboard reporting system will track agency performance and hold stakeholders accountable.
• Focused support for legacy growers and Indigenous practitioners will be intensified.
• Ongoing engagements at Director-General level will be pursued to fast-track regulatory alignment.
• The shift of cannabis from drug control legislation to economic, agricultural, and health frameworks remains a priority.
Final Reflection
This meeting reaffirms a shared commitment to inclusive and structured growth of the cannabis and medicinal herb sectors, grounded in the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Knowledge and the economic empowerment of rural communities.
CTAA will continue to:
• Advocate for fair inclusion of small-scale and traditional cultivators.
• Champion policy innovation that supports the full plant economy.
• Partner with government to build a compliant, export-ready ecosystem rooted in African knowledge and global standards.
Together, we can grow a future that is sustainable, just, and economically transformative.
Tebogo G. Tlhopane
Chair – Cannabis Trade Association Africa (CTAA)
Treasurer – SACHIDA
📧 tebogoG@ctaa.org.za
📱 +27 66 324 9083