Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

The Refugee Appeals Authority (RAA) has called on all asylum seekers with pending appeals, who are currently gathered outside the Durban Refugee Reception Office, to report to the Authority’s offices as a matter of urgency to receive and acknowledge notices relating to their appeals.

These appellants form part of the RAA’s priority backlog programme aimed at expediting the finalisation of outstanding appeals.

“In terms of Rule 10 of the Refugee Appeals Authority Rules, appellants are ordinarily entitled to receive at least 30 days’ notice of a hearing,” the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement. 

However, given the urgent circumstances and the need to address pending appeals as swiftly as possible, the Authority invites affected appellants to consent to a reduced notice period of 10 days.

Consent to the reduced notice period will enable the Authority to schedule and finalise hearings on an expedited basis, thereby providing appellants with an opportunity to obtain a final determination of their asylum status without further delay.

“Failure to report for service of notices may result in an appeal being determined on the documents before the Authority, as provided for in law. Such determinations will constitute the final determination of the appeal,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Revenue Service (SARS), working with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), has secured the seizure of 30 bricks of cocaine at the Port of Durban.

Tuesday’s interception at the KwaZulu-Natal coast follows closely on the heels of another major seizure just three days earlier, during which approximately 90 kg of cocaine concealed in trucks arriving from Brazil was intercepted at the same port. 

READ | Crackdown on drugs continues as SARS intercepts Durban port consignment 

These operations point to intensified efforts by organised crime syndicates to move narcotics through South Africa’s trade gateways, matched by a coordinated and robust response from law enforcement agencies.

The interception forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts between SARS and both local and international law enforcement partners to combat illicit trade and transnational organised crime. 

Through intelligence-led risk profiling and targeting methodologies, a container vessel originating from South America was identified for inspection upon arrival at the Port of Durban.

The Durban Customs team boarded the vessel and located the targeted container, which was positioned below the waterline. 

During the inspection process, customs officials identified signs that parts of the container apparatus had been tampered with. This prompted a more intrusive inspection, which led to the discovery of concealed narcotics. A mobile testing kit subsequently confirmed the substance to be 30 bricks of pure cocaine.

The consignment was identified through intelligence-led profiling and risk assessment conducted by SARS Customs officers. Targeted inspections, supported by detector dogs and on-site verification, resulted in the detection and recovery of the concealed drugs.

SARS Commissioner, Dr Johnstone Makhubu and Acting National Head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Sphesihle Nkosi, highlighted the strength of coordinated enforcement efforts across government agencies.

“This is what it means to act as one government. SARS and the Hawks are cooperating seamlessly, with one agency acting on intelligence and handing over to the other as part of a single value chain. 

“These interceptions demonstrate that we are disrupting and closing down the space for criminal networks to operate. 

“We are strengthening monitoring at our ports through improved cargo profiling and targeted inspections. Our message is clear: South Africa’s borders are not open to illicit trade,” Dr Makhubu said.

“Drugs are destroying families, communities and the country as a whole. This is not a localised problem; it cuts across every sector of society. We will continue to work with our partners to dismantle these networks and protect our economy and our people,” he said.

Lieutenant General Nkosi said the results underscore the value of focused cooperation between agencies.

“These successes are the result of disciplined cooperation. When we pool our capabilities, we are better able to detect, intercept and investigate complex criminal operations. Drug trafficking is not only a law enforcement issue; it is a national threat. It fuels violence, weakens communities and harms our children.

“We will pursue those responsible wherever they operate, both locally and across borders, and hold them accountable. Law enforcement is working as a united front to strengthen our response. Those who traffic drugs into this country will be identified, tracked and brought to book,” Nkosi said.

SARS and law enforcement partners will continue to strengthen controls at all ports of entry. These recent seizures form part of a broader effort to dismantle organised criminal networks, protect legitimate trade and safeguard South African communities. – SAnews.gov.za

Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration, while warning that vigilantism and violence against foreign nationals have no place in South Africa.

Delivering his department’s Budget Vote speech in Parliament on Tuesday, Cachalia said government agrees that illegal immigration is unacceptable and that stronger measures are needed to improve border security and enforce immigration laws.

“Our country’s sovereignty and the rule of law are not negotiable. But I must make myself absolutely clear: we condemn any violent protest action targeting people from other countries,” he said.

Cachalia warned that attacks on foreign nationals damage South Africa’s standing in the region and globally, undermining efforts to attract investment and grow the economy.

“[It] limits foreign investment and undermines our chances to grow our economy and create jobs. It also could harm the cooperation we need with our regional neighbours to address organised criminal networks that bring drugs into our country and that traffic people across our borders,” he said.

He stressed that only the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Border Management Authority (BMA) are authorised to arrest people for immigration offences.

“You cannot build a country that effectively implements the rule of law by breaking those laws,” Cachalia said, adding that police will continue to act against both illegal immigration and those who resort to violence during protests.

The Minister noted that police officers are already under immense pressure as they confront crime under often difficult and dangerous conditions.

Bringing back accountability

Turning to the recent suspension of senior SAPS officials, Cachalia said accountability remains a key pillar of the Police Reset Agenda.

“The most recent suspensions announced by the Acting National Commissioner on Tuesday are pursuant [to the] terms of an internal SAPS investigation. The Acting National Commissioner and I are fully aligned in pursuing consequence management,” he said.

READ | SAPS suspends additional five senior police officers

At the same time, Cachalia praised the vast majority of police officers, who continue to serve communities with dedication and professionalism.

“Your contribution is highly appreciated, and I stand with you,” he said, while also paying tribute to officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.

Cachalia described attacks on police officers as unacceptable, citing the deaths of Captain Louis Nel and Sergeant Mandla Khuzwayo of Crime Intelligence in KwaZulu-Natal. The officers were attacked by armed men while on duty in Verulam. Captain Nel died at the scene, while Sergeant Khuzwayo succumbed to his injuries 25 days later.

On the police budget, Cachalia said the allocation is about more than funding.

“It is about whether a child in Lusikisiki can walk to school safely, whether a woman in Thohoyandou can return home from work without fear, and whether a business in eThekwini or Ekurhuleni can invest and create jobs with the confidence that the State will protect its people,” he said.

As the largest institution in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, SAPS has been allocated R127.072 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, increasing to R135.8 billion by 2028/29. – SAnews.gov.za

The Employment Services Amendment Bill has been introduced to Parliament, proposing significant changes to South Africa’s labour market framework, including new measures to regulate the employment of foreign nationals and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.

The Bill aims to amend the Employment Services Act of 2014 by updating and clarifying several definitions within the legislation, while extending its application to include foreign nationals, workers, and private employment agencies that do not operate for profit.

A key feature of the proposed legislation is the introduction of a more comprehensive framework governing the employment of foreign nationals in South Africa.

The Bill seeks to align labour migration policies with the objectives of the Employment Services Act, as well as existing provisions contained in the Immigration Act and the Refugees Act.

It introduces substantially tougher penalties for employers who fail to comply with the new rules governing the employment of foreign nationals.

Before recruiting a foreign worker, employers will be required to satisfy themselves, in a manner prescribed by regulation, that there are no suitably qualified South African citizens, permanent residents, refugees or asylum seekers available to fill the position.

Employers who breach these requirements could face escalating fines imposed by the Labour Court, ranging from up to R100 000 for a first offence, R200 000 for a repeat offence within three years, and up to R1 million or 10% of annual turnover for employers found guilty of multiple contraventions.

The proposed measures are aimed at ensuring that foreign recruitment takes place only where genuine skills shortages exist, while strengthening deterrents against the unlawful employment of foreign nationals.

Under the proposed amendments, the Minister of Employment and Labour will be granted additional powers to develop regulations relating to labour migration and the employment of foreign workers.

The Bill also proposes expanding the responsibilities of the Employment Services Board to strengthen oversight and policy implementation.

The legislation further provides for the establishment and governance of Supported Employment Enterprises, which are intended to create and support employment opportunities for designated groups of workers.

Authorities are expected to receive stronger powers to investigate and act against non-compliant employers and employment agencies.

The proposed amendments also make provision for exemptions from certain requirements of the Act and empower the Minister to issue further regulations where necessary.

Government says the changes are intended to improve labour market governance, promote fair employment practices, and ensure that the employment of foreign nationals is managed in a manner that supports South Africa’s economic and social objectives.

The Bill is currently before Parliament and will undergo the legislative process, including committee scrutiny and opportunities for public participation, before any amendments can be enacted into law.

This comes after government has announced plans to intensify action against employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals, with President Cyril Ramaphosa warning that businesses found flouting immigration and labour laws will face tougher penalties and stricter enforcement.

President Ramaphosa said illegal immigration continues to undermine efforts to create decent jobs, protect labour standards and expand employment opportunities for South Africans.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, the President said some employers deliberately hire undocumented migrants because their vulnerable legal status makes it difficult for them to challenge unfair treatment in the workplace.

Investigations have uncovered workplaces where undocumented foreign nationals are subjected to poor working conditions, low wages and excessive working hours without proper compensation.

He warned that employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers are not only breaking the law but are also undermining fair competition and weakening labour protections for all workers.

As part of government’s Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, authorities will step up inspections at companies suspected of employing undocumented foreign nationals.

The inspections will involve joint operations by the South African Police Service, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour.

In a move aimed at strengthening enforcement capacity, the Department of Employment and Labour has begun the phased recruitment of 10 000 labour inspectors during the current financial year.

President Ramaphosa said authorities can no longer allow employers found guilty of exploiting undocumented workers to simply pay fines and continue operating without consequence.

The latest measures signal government’s intention to tighten oversight of labour migration while tackling worker exploitation and promoting compliance with South Africa’s employment and immigration legislation.

The Bill can be accessed at https://www.labour.gov.za/DocumentCenter/Bills/Employment%20Services%20Amendment%20Bill.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences following the passing of His Majesty King Makhosonke II of the AmaNdebele nation.

“It is with deep sadness that I mourn the passing away today, Tuesday, 9 June 2026, of His Majesty King Makhosonke II – Enock Makhosonke Mabhena – reigning King of the AmaNdebele nation,” the President in a statement on Tuesday.

His Majesty, the traditional leader of the AmaNdebele akwaManala, passed away at the age of 65 after 40 years on the throne.

“My thoughts and prayers – and I know those of the nation – go out today to the Royal Household, Her Majesty Queen Sekhothali, AmaNdebele and the Basotho nation from whom Her Majesty is descended.

“We will in due course pay tribute to the King as a pillar of national unity in diversity and as a champion of development, with education and land restitution as part of his vision,” said the President.

He added that the nation stands alongside AmaNdebele in this moment of grief.

“We offer our deep condolences to the Royal Household once more,” said President Ramaphosa. –SAnews.gov.za

Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, will today visit the scene of a crime where 12 people were killed in Cleveland.

The provincial Commissioner’s visit on Wednesday follows the deadly shooting, which also left several others injured at Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland on Tuesday evening, 9 June 2026.

“It is reported that at approximately 11:10pm, SAPS members responded to a complaint of a shooting in progress at the informal settlement. Upon arrival, police found numerous victims, who had sustained gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Services were immediately summoned to the scene to assist the injured,” said the police on Wednesday.

Preliminary investigations reveal that eight adult males and three adult females were declared dead at the scene, while one additional male victim later succumbed to his injuries in hospital. At least nine other victims were transported to various medical facilities for treatment of gunshot wounds.

It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland. 

The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.

Provincial and district detectives, supported by crime intelligence and forensic experts, have been mobilised to investigate the incident and track down the suspects.

“The motive for the attack is currently unknown and forms part of the ongoing investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage,” said police.

Meanwhile, SAPS is calling on anyone with information that may assist with the investigation to contact the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. –SAnews.gov.za