Category: Africa

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for a broader assessment of provincial education performance, saying the matric pass rate should no longer be the sole measure of the quality of the basic education system. 

Gwarube said the focus on achieving the highest National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rate had created unintended consequences, including practices that could undermine learner progression and participation in key subjects.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on Sunday, the Minister said provinces, districts and schools had become increasingly focused on improving their pass rates, sometimes at the expense of developing the skills South Africa needs.

“This obsession has had unintended consequences and has incentivised the wrong kind of behaviour,” she said.

Gwarube said these practices included preventing weaker learners from progressing to Grade 12, keeping learners in Grade 11 when they should be progressed under the applicable rules, and encouraging learners to take Mathematical Literacy instead of Mathematics to improve the likelihood of passing.

She warned that an excessive focus on the overall pass rate could undermine the development of skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as Accounting and Economic Sciences.

“This obsession with the matric pass rate and its perverse incentives has been to the detriment of this country’s ability to produce skills in STEM professions, in Accounting and Economic Sciences. This must change; if our country is to be economically competitive, it needs deep and meaningful skills in STEM and other gateway subjects,” she said. 

Broader performance indicators

The department intends to increasingly assess provincial performance through a wider range of quality indicators.

These will include Bachelor passes, distinctions, learner retention, participation and performance in gateway subjects such as Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Accounting and Economics.

Gwarube said this approach would allow provinces to benchmark their performance more meaningfully and identify areas requiring intervention. 

“The question should not only be whether learners passed, but whether provinces are improving literacy, numeracy, retention and subject participation,” Gwarube said. 

The proposed approach places greater emphasis on what learners achieve and the subjects they take, rather than relying on the overall pass rate as the primary indicator of success.

Record matric cohort

The Minister’s remarks came as the department declared itself ready for the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations, with 962 832 candidates registered for the October/November examination period.

The cohort comprises 815 051 full-time candidates and 147 781 part-time candidates.

Gwarube said the increase in full-time registrations indicated that more learners were remaining in school and completing matric in good time. 

The department has also implemented learner support interventions across all 75 education districts, reaching 159 180 learners at 1 262 centres.

These interventions include additional revision opportunities, teacher support, mock examinations and access to learning materials to address gaps in learner performance. 

Gwarube said the department had also considered the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Class of 2026, whose schooling was disrupted during the transition from the Intermediate Phase to the Senior Phase.

The department has used previous examination diagnostic reports to identify persistent learning difficulties and guide teachers in strengthening curriculum delivery and learner preparation.

The Minister said a broader approach to measuring provincial performance would help the education system identify weaknesses and focus interventions where they are most needed.

The 2026 NSC examinations begin on Tuesday, with the department saying preparations are complete across the nine provinces. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Department of Basic Education has declared itself ready for the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with a record 962 832 candidates registered to sit the October/November examinations.

Of these, 815 051 are full-time candidates, an increase of 48 508 from last year, while 147 781 are part-time candidates, including those seeking to improve their previous results.

Announcing the state of readiness in Pretoria on Sunday, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the Class of 2026 was the largest full-time cohort to sit the NSC examinations to date.

“All candidates have been provided with all the support they would need to perform, and I am happy to declare that learners are ready for the 2026 NSC Exams,” the Minister said.

The examinations require coordination across all nine provinces, with approximately 7 100 examination centres established for candidates. 

Gwarube said the department had audited the examination centre network and implemented a risk-based monitoring approach to direct supervision and resources where they were most needed.

She confirmed that the setting, moderation and quality assurance of examination materials had been completed, with all question papers and examination instruments reviewed by the department and approved by Umalusi.

Security measures had also been strengthened across the production and distribution chain, including the vetting of examination officials and collaboration with national and provincial law enforcement structures.

The department has established 189 marking centres and recruited 51 104 qualified and experienced educators to mark examination scripts.

A standardised national marking approach, strict quality-control processes and strengthened moderation of school-based assessments will be applied to protect the credibility of the qualification.

Learner support and preparation

The department has implemented its 2026 Learner Support Programme across all 75 education districts, reaching 159 180 learners at 1 262 centres.

The programme provided additional learning and revision opportunities, particularly for progressed learners, those requiring extra support and schools experiencing performance challenges.

Learners also received support through revision guides, previous examination papers, online learning materials, digital notes and mock examinations.

The Second Chance Matric Programme continues to support part-time candidates through after-hours and weekend classes at 41 centres, learning materials distributed to 84 centres and 15 provincial learner workshops.

Candidates also have access to class monitoring, free online study resources and educational broadcasts on radio and television.

Gwarube acknowledged that the Class of 2026 experienced disruptions to schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly during the transition from the Intermediate Phase to the Senior Phase.

The department had responded by strengthening curriculum coverage, using assessment information to identify learning gaps and providing additional revision opportunities.

The Minister also urged parents and guardians to provide learners with a supportive home environment during the final preparation period.

“So, we appeal to parents, not to burden learners with a load of household chores nor expect them to run family errands. Please give them the space and support they need to perform at their very best in these exams,” the Minister said. 

Protecting the examinations

Gwarube said the department had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to examination irregularities and reinforced candidate and parent pledge agreements to promote integrity.

A 24-hour examination hotline is active for members of the public to report suspicious activity.

Contingency plans are also in place to respond to operational challenges, including severe weather and community disruptions. 

The Minister appealed to communities not to disrupt examinations to express dissatisfaction over service delivery or political and socioeconomic issues.

“I appeal to communities not to prejudice the Matric Class of 2026 by disrupting the NSC Exams for service delivery, political, or socio-economic dissatisfaction. The NSC candidates cannot resolve societal problems; it is Ministers, as elected representatives, who must account. Please do not go to schools; come to our offices in Pretoria and in parliament,” Gwarube said, 

She urged communities not to disrupt the examinations in any way, saying the responsibility for ensuring that candidates could write in a safe and secure environment rested with all South Africans.

Having considered the preparations reported by all nine provincial education departments, Gwarube formally declared the department and the Class of 2026 ready for the examinations. – SAnews.gov.za

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Home Affairs is developing a biometric online platform to speed up asylum applications, strengthen identity verification and prevent rejected applicants from repeatedly submitting claims to delay their removal. 

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the platform, expected to be operational by 10 November 2026, would help the department address longstanding inefficiencies in the asylum system while strengthening immigration law enforcement. 

Speaking during an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday, Schreiber said the reforms would draw on the department’s experience in using technology to improve other administrative processes, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation system.

The platform will require asylum applicants to submit biometric information, which Home Affairs will use to verify their identities and establish whether they have previously lodged applications that were rejected.

The system will also enable the department to verify the authenticity of passports and other travel documents and identify other infringements recorded against applicants.

Schreiber said the reforms were intended to improve the processing of applications while preventing abuse of the asylum system.

“The ConCourt did not remove our right as Home Affairs to adjudicate a refugee application. If someone doesn’t qualify, it is our job to say you don’t qualify and you must be deported,” he said.

The Minister emphasised that the Constitutional Court judgment of 7 July 2026 dealt with procedural aspects of processing asylum claims and did not grant refugee status or citizenship to any foreign national.

Addressing the appeals backlog

The planned digital system comes as Home Affairs grapples with a substantial backlog of asylum appeals.

Schreiber estimated the backlog at approximately 120 000 cases, although he said the department would provide a confirmed figure.

“I don’t have the exact figure on where the backlog stands as of today, but I think it is around 120,000, following that reduction of about 20% that I mentioned, but I would ask that we just get an opportunity to send through the actual figure,” he said.

He said the department had achieved turnaround times of approximately 30 days for initial asylum applications, with the main delays occurring during the appeals stage.

Home Affairs had reduced the appeals backlog by about 20% during the previous financial year, but Schreiber said further improvements were necessary to prevent new applications from creating another backlog. 

The department had also brought in 74 advocates to help strengthen its capacity to process appeals. 

Schreiber said the current administration had initially inherited a system in which only nine people were responsible for processing asylum appeals.

He said the combination of additional legal capacity and technological reforms would help accelerate the adjudication process.

Government seeks court guidance

Meanwhile, Government intends to approach the Constitutional Court for a supervisory order to obtain guidance on implementing its judgment and to address the administrative and operational challenges facing Home Affairs.

Schreiber said the department needed to establish how many people would come forward to apply for asylum before it could adequately plan its staffing and processing capacity.

The proposed online platform would help Government establish the scale of the applications it needed to manage and plan a phased implementation process.

The IMC has also directed relevant government departments and entities to participate in a 29 October 2026 hearing before a panel of judges of the Gauteng Division of the High Court. The panel will consider conflicting judgments on asylum seekers issued within the division. 

Schreiber said the department would continue to adjudicate asylum applications and enforce immigration law, including deporting those whose claims had been finally rejected, in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

The reforms are intended to improve the efficiency of the asylum system while enabling Government to implement the Constitutional Court judgment within the framework of the law. – SAnews.gov.za

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Denel recorded a 15.8% increase in revenue, from R1.272 billion to approximately R1.473 billion, while cash generated from operations also improved.

This is according to the company’s 2025/26 Annual Report, which also shows that Denel continues to build a substantial pipeline of business opportunities exceeding R30 billion.

Denel Group Chief Executive Officer Tsepo Monaheng said the state-owned aerospace and defence entity’s recovery must ultimately be measured by improved delivery, stronger financial management, sound governance and its ability to convert market opportunities into sustainable revenue and cash flows.

“Our focus is clear: execute our existing programmes, strengthen our financial and internal control environment, secure new business, invest in our critical technologies and people and ensure that Denel remains relevant to the defence and security needs of South Africa. Our mandate goes beyond financial performance – it is about safeguarding and strengthening the country’s sovereign defence capabilities,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Monaheng reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening its operational and financial sustainability while preserving the critical capabilities required to support South Africa’s sovereign defence mandate.

During his recent appearance before the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans to present Denel’s 2025/26 Annual Report, Monaheng acknowledged the significant challenges facing the organisation while highlighting progress made in stabilising the business and positioning it for sustainable recovery.

“Denel’s turnaround is a journey that requires discipline, accountability and sustained execution. We are under no illusion about the challenges that remain, particularly around liquidity, financial controls and operational sustainability. At the same time, we have made important progress in stabilising the organisation and rebuilding the foundations for a stronger Denel,” Monaheng said.

The company said closer alignment with the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Armscor and other stakeholders provides an important platform for strengthening Denel’s strategic role and preserving critical defence capabilities. –SAnews.gov.za

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Government will approach the courts for guidance on implementing the Constitutional Court judgment on the processing of asylum applications, while the Department of Home Affairs is expected to introduce a structured intention-registration and appointment system by 10 November 2026.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration announced the measures on Sunday in Pretoria during a media briefing, saying Government had considered the legal implications of the judgment handed down on 7 July 2026 and the administrative challenges arising from its implementation.  

The court declared sections of the Refugees Act, which allowed for immigration officials to deport an asylum seeker if they are in the country without a transit visa, unconstitutional. A transit visa is issued at a port of entry to allow a person to travel to a refugee reception centre and apply for asylum.

Following legal consultations, Government has been advised that it can approach the courts for a supervisory order to oversee the implementation process and seek guidance on the measures required to give effect to the judgment. 

“Accordingly, Government will request the Court to provide guidance on the nature and scope of the supervisory measures that may be required, as well as the appropriate duration of any suspension period necessary to build the operational capacity required for implementation. 

“The objective is not to delay compliance, but to ensure effective and sustainable compliance that serves both the administration of justice and the broader public interest,” the IMC Chair Mmamoloko Kubayi said. 

A supervisory order could allow the court to retain oversight of the implementation process and provide a suspension period for Home Affairs to strengthen its administrative, human resource, infrastructure and processing capacity. 

The IMC said Government remained committed to upholding the Constitution, the rule of law and South Africa’s national and international obligations towards refugees and asylum seekers.

It also emphasised that Government remained legally bound to comply with the existing court order while pursuing further legal guidance.

“We are in a situation where the IMC must find a balance between Compliance with the court order and listening to the concerns of many South Africans, and we believe we will be able to find that balance, though we need time and patience that we will request formally from the court and that we are requesting today from our citizens,” Kubayi said.

Structured asylum registration system

The Department of Home Affairs is expected to introduce a phased intention-registration and appointment model for asylum applications by 10 November 2026.

Under the proposed system, applicants will register their intention to seek asylum through an online platform and receive a receipt recording their personal particulars, biometric information, reference number and appointment at a Refugee Reception Office.

Assisted registration will be available at Refugee Reception Offices and, upon request, for people in police or immigration detention through officials, legal representatives and civil society partners, in the main languages.

The receipt will serve as proof that a person has declared an intention to seek asylum. It will not constitute a section 22 visa or recognition of refugee status.

According to the IMC, the system will operationalise the legal protection against refoulement — the forced return of a person to a place where they may face persecution or serious harm — that attaches by operation of law when a person declares an intention to seek asylum.

Home Affairs will instruct its officials and the Border Management Authority that holders of valid receipts must not be removed or refouled or arrested or detained solely for being in the country without a visa, pending the lodging and final determination of their applications.

The South African Police Service, Department of Correctional Services, National Prosecuting Authority and courts will also be informed of the arrangements.

The IMC clarified that the protection would apply to people who had registered an intention to make a first asylum application. 

People whose asylum claims have been finally rejected will not be able to reactivate protection simply by declaring a new intention to apply. However, where a rejected applicant raises a specific, genuinely new claim that removal would expose them to persecution or serious harm, the matter should be referred for legal advice before removal.

The system will also include confidentiality safeguards, protection of personal information, published service standards, a complaints mechanism and statistics available to the courts.

Applicants who fail to attend their appointments without seeking an extension will lose their appointments, while rejected applicants will be flagged to prevent abuse of the system.

Legislative reforms and refugee reception centres

In parallel, the Minister of Home Affairs is drafting legislation aligned with the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, which Cabinet has approved.

The proposed legislation is expected to be processed through Parliament in the next financial year and will, among other things, provide for remote lodging of asylum applications.

The IMC said it had requested the Minister to fast-track the process. The legislation will also address the first safe country principle, as outlined in the White Paper.

Home Affairs has further reported progress towards implementing the President’s announcement in June that refugee reception centres would be moved to ports of entry, beginning with Beitbridge in December.

The IMC said Government would consider public proposals for establishing refugee camps, particularly for people whose applications were still being processed, taking into account the legal and financial implications.

Meanwhile, relevant government departments and entities have been directed to participate in a High Court hearing scheduled for 29 October 2026.

A panel of judges appointed by the Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court will consider two conflicting directives on the same legal question concerning asylum seekers. The outcome will have a bearing on the administrative implementation of the Constitutional Court judgment.

The IMC urged South Africans and other stakeholders to allow the legal processes to run their course and to exercise restraint.

“South Africa remains a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law. Matters relating to asylum, migration, and border management must be addressed through lawful processes and not through misinformation, intimidation, incitement, or acts of violence,” Kubayi said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government has warned that individuals using social media to incite violence, intimidate foreign nationals or mobilise unlawful activities will face the consequences of their actions as tensions surrounding migration and asylum applications continue.  

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration on Sunday raised concern about the circulation of inflammatory and misleading content on digital platforms, saying such material could provoke hostility against foreign nationals, public officials and State institutions. 

“Freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution; however, the incitement of violence, intimidation, hate speech, and criminal conduct are not protected and will not be tolerated,” the IMC Chair Mmamoloko Kubayi said.  

The committee said law enforcement agencies were monitoring developments closely and would act against individuals or groups seeking to encourage, organise, facilitate or commit acts of violence and public disorder, whether online or offline. 

“Those who use digital platforms to incite criminal conduct should be reminded that such conduct may constitute a criminal offence and will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Kubayi said. 

The warning comes amid heightened public debate over migration and the implications of the Constitutional Court judgment on the processing of asylum applications, handed down on 7 July 2026.

The court declared sections of the Refugees Act, which allowed for immigration officials to deport an asylum seeker if they are in the country without a transit visa, unconstitutional. A transit visa is issued at a port of entry to allow a person to travel to a refugee reception centre and apply for asylum.

The IMC acknowledged that discussions surrounding the judgment had generated uncertainty, speculation and heightened tensions in some communities. 

It called on members of the public, civil society organisations, community formations and political stakeholders to exercise restraint while the legal processes underway are resolved. 

Peaceful protest must be upheld

The committee reiterated that South Africans have a constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate and present grievances peacefully.

However, it stressed that this right did not extend to intimidation, looting, malicious damage to property, public violence or the obstruction of lawful activities. 

“South Africa remains a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law. Matters relating to asylum, migration, and border management must be addressed through lawful processes and not through misinformation, intimidation, incitement, or acts of violence,” Kubayi said. 

The IMC also acknowledged engagements with representatives of civil society organisations, including Operation Dudula, March and March, the United Civic Movement, the South African Council of Churches, South Africa First and the Alexander Fiela Movement.

The representatives had presented their frustrations, feedback from their stakeholders and communities, as well as proposals on how Government should address migration-related concerns.

The committee said it welcomed engagements and feedback from South Africans as Government worked to address the challenges arising from the Constitutional Court judgment.

Deportations to continue

Meanwhile, the IMC reiterated that immigration law enforcement operations would continue while Government pursued legal guidance on implementing the Constitutional Court judgment.

“Our work on enforcing the law will continue; this therefore means deportations will continue,” Kubayi said.

The committee said protection under the asylum framework applied to people who had declared an intention to make a first asylum application.

People who were in the country unlawfully and had not sought asylum, as well as those whose asylum claims had been finally rejected following any review or appeal, would continue to be deported as required by law.

Government is seeking a supervisory order from the courts to provide guidance on implementing the judgment and to allow the Department of Home Affairs to strengthen the administrative and operational capacity required to manage asylum applications.

The IMC said it remained committed to keeping the public informed as the legal process unfolded and urged stakeholders to rely on official sources of information and reject misinformation that could create unnecessary panic or division. – SAnews.gov.za 

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