The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms. Bernice Swarts, will on Thursday, 15 October 2026, address the 2026 Circular Economy Summit at the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop Campus in Polokwane, Limpopo.
The three-day summit, taking place from 14 to 16 October 2026, under the theme, “Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: Advancing the Circular Economy Through Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Research and Collaboration”, will provide a platform for participants to exchange knowledge, share best practices and identify practical opportunities within the circular economy, with a particular focus on empowering students and young people to explore the links between policy, research, technology, entrepreneurship, investment and environmental sustainability.
The Summit is expected to bring together approximately 800 participants, including students, academics, government representatives, municipalities, industry stakeholders, entrepreneurs, investors, development finance institutions, civil society, non-governmental organisations and informal-sector representatives. Discussions will focus on transforming waste-related challenges into viable business opportunities through the development of innovative products, services, sustainable technologies and business models. The Summit will also promote collaboration between government, academia, the waste sector, communities, investors and civil society to advance the circular economy.
Furthermore, the Summit aims to empower students and communities to identify and pursue research, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities within the circular economy and waste sector, while strengthening partnerships among government departments, municipalities, industry, regulators, state-owned entities, academia and other stakeholders.
Members of the media are invited to attend the summit as follows:
Date: 14 – 16 October 2026
Time: 08h00
Venue: University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, Polokwane, Limpopo
To RSVP, please contact Evile Ntshangase on 072 211 6964 / entshangase@dffe.gov.za or Thato Mangwane on 068 563 7385 / TMangwane@dffe.gov.za
For media queries contact, Sello Molekwa on 082 745 4950
#GovZAUpdates
