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The Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, officially resumed work at the start of the week after fully recovering.

The Office of the Deputy President thanks all South Africans and various stakeholders for their messages of goodwill and support.

“Your thoughts, prayers and calls have been greatly appreciated. They have all made a positive impact on the journey towards recovery. For that, I am most grateful,” the Deputy President said in a statement on Thursday.

The Office of the Deputy President also commends members of the media for their continued enquiries and communication, as well as for monitoring the Deputy President’s recovery progress.

Over the coming days, Deputy President Mashatile will, among other things, chair Cabinet Committees, attend the Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement, engage with interfaith communities, respond to Oral Questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and resume his political programme. – SAnews.gov.za

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Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane has issued a stern warning to those involved in violent protests that led to the torching of cars in Soweto and Durban.

“The South African Police Service [SAPS] will not tolerate lawlessness. We will not allow violence, the torching of vehicles, destruction of property or attacks on people to continue. Anyone who chooses to break the law will be dealt with decisively, without fear or favour,” she said on Thursday.

This follows the torching of 10 cars in Soweto, Gauteng, and 14 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal during protests outside Home Affairs offices assisting asylum seekers. 

The Commissioner said three foreign nationals were arrested, while shops belonging to foreign nationals have also been looted amid the unrest.

The protests are linked to claims that a recent Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications gives undocumented foreign nationals a blanket amnesty.

“Those behind the torching of vehicles will be pursued. Those responsible for acts of violence and destruction will be identified, investigated and, where sufficient evidence exists, arrested and brought to book. There will be consequences for criminality.

“The right to raise concerns and to protest does not give anyone the right to commit crime. Legitimate grievances must be pursued through lawful and constitutional processes,” said Dimpane.

This comes as th Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration moved to quell widespread confusion and misinformation surrounding the Constitutional Court judgment on asylum applications, stressing that the ruling does not automatically grant refugee status or permanent residence to people entering South Africa.   

The clarification follows an urgent IMC meeting on Wednesday night after the implementation of the judgment led to an influx of people seeking access to Refugee Reception Offices, with long queues reported outside Home Affairs facilities.

Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, the IMC said the Constitutional Court judgment, handed down in July in the matter of Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town and Another v Minister of Home Affairs and Others, must not be interpreted as legalising unlawful migration or giving people an automatic right to remain in the country.  

The Court declared certain provisions of the Refugees Act unconstitutional because they prevented some people from accessing the asylum system solely on procedural grounds. These included people, who had entered South Africa irregularly, did not possess an asylum transit visa or failed to report to a Refugee Reception Office within the prescribed period.

The Court found that such procedural barriers could result in people being excluded from the asylum process before their claims were properly assessed.

The IMC said the judgment, therefore, restores access to the asylum determination process, rather than automatically conferring refugee status. –SAnews.gov.za 

 

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Government has reiterated that it is opposed to illegal immigration and wants people entering South Africa to do so through lawful migration channels, while genuine asylum seekers must use the established refugee determination process. 

Answering questions during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said government’s position is clear, that people should enter and remain in South Africa lawfully. 

“As government, we are anti-illegal immigration. Let’s be very clear. We want people to come into the country legally. For those who come in irregularly because they want to seek refuge in South Africa … there is a process to facilitate that. We are not, as government, in a different position,” Ntshavheni said.

The Minister reiterated that government wants to prevent illegal immigration and is rebuilding systems to improve the management of migration.

Ntshavheni pointed to the establishment of the Border Management Authority (BMA) and plans to rebuild and strengthen border infrastructure, as part of government’s efforts to tighten border management.

Government is also continuing with the documentation and deportation of people who have no lawful basis to remain in South Africa.

‘First country of safety’ principle

Ntshavheni also highlighted the principle that people seeking international protection should generally seek asylum in the first safe country they reach, particularly in the context of South Africa’s neighbouring countries.

She said South Africa is surrounded by countries that are generally considered safe, and referred to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana.

The principle, the Minister said, is relevant to government’s position that South Africa’s asylum system should provide protection to people who genuinely meet the legal requirements for refugee status, rather than becoming a pathway for people who do not qualify for international protection.

Ntshavheni stressed that South Africa does not recognise economic migration as a basis for refugee status.

“There is no economic refugee under our Constitution, our laws and under the United Nations conventions. A refugee is somebody who is running away from war and persecution,” the Minister explained. 

Directives 

Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration Chairperson, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, acknowledged that the directives issued by the Department of Home Affairs following the Constitutional Court judgment had not been shared with the committee before implementation.

READ | ConCourt asylum ruling does not automatically grant refugee status – IMC

She said the IMC is a coordinating structure that became involved when matters required cross-government intervention. 

Kubayi said the committee had therefore agreed that decisions affecting the work of the IMC should in future be brought before it, so that their broader implications can be considered.

She said the issue also highlighted the need for stronger coordination across government in dealing with migration. 

Government targets corruption in migration system 

Kubayi reiterated government’s work to tackle corruption and abuse within the migration system.

She said the IMC supports the request to extend the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) mandate, which will enable its investigations to cover the asylum system and Refugee Reception Offices.

The SIU’s work has already resulted in cases being investigated, officials being dismissed and some facing criminal proceedings. 

Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode said the SIU’s existing proclamation allows it to investigate maladministration, unlawful conduct and fraud within the department, including matters relating to permits and citizenship.

The investigations have since been extended to Refugee Reception Offices, with the SIU examining patterns that can indicate that people who did not qualify had obtained immigration or refugee-related status.

Makhode said data analysis has identified trends involving people who have received permits, despite allegedly not qualifying for them, and Home Affairs has started processes to revoke or withdraw those statuses.

He said the department is required to follow due process by notifying affected individuals and allowing them to make representations.

Investigations have also resulted in referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

The White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, now adopted as government policy, is intended to address gaps and loopholes in the existing legislative framework, Makhode said.

On the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit, Makhode said public consultations on its future have been completed following court directives and government will follow due process before reaching a conclusion.

The IMC, the DG said, is engaging the broader regional dimension of migration, including the push and pull factors affecting migration within the Southern African Development Community.

On asylum appeals, Makhode said the existing system allows rejected asylum applicants to pursue appeals through the relevant refugee appeals authorities.

This is further supported by the White Paper and subsequent legislative drafting meant to address some of the challenges associated with the current system.

Legislative reform

Kubayi said government is also reviewing the legislative framework governing migration, citizenship and refugee protection, following concerns that the existing framework is fragmented.

The White Paper has been adopted as policy, with legislative drafting now underway to address gaps and inconsistencies between the country’s migration-related laws.

Kubayi said legislative reform is necessary but acknowledged that public participation and the legislative process could take considerable time.

Government’s broader migration response includes strengthening border management, tackling human smuggling and trafficking, addressing document fraud, improving migration and asylum systems, and ensuring that people, who have exhausted legal remedies and have no lawful basis to remain in the country, are removed. – SAnews.gov.za

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As part of ongoing efforts to clear the backlog and strengthen regulatory compliance in the public transport sector, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has handed over 526 operating licences to compliant scholar transport and minibus taxi operators. 

The handover ceremonies formed part of a broader provincial strategy to strengthen regulatory oversight, clear processing backlogs and establish an orderly and legally compliant public transport industry in Gauteng.

The licences were issued to public transport operators affiliated with various scholar transport and taxi associations across Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Sedibeng and the West Rand at ceremonies held in Johannesburg and Tshwane on 5 and 7 October 2026, respectively.

Since November last year, the department has processed, issued and handed over more than 8 000 operating licences to compliant minibus taxi and scholar transport operators across the province.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela reiterated the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport operators, including those in the scholar transport and minibus taxi sectors, operate strictly within the law.

“We are committed to ensuring public transport operators do so legally. We have started issuing operating licences to minibus taxi and other operators across the province, and we will continue with these regular handover ceremonies covering all the regions of the province,” said the MEC.

Addressing the backlog, the MEC urged non-compliant operators awaiting their operating licences to engage directly with the department rather than rely on unverified channels.

“We are appealing to taxi operators who are not yet legal: kindly visit our offices, the Transport Operating Licensing Administrative Board (TOLABs), to either apply or verify your status. We want to assist so you become compliant and operate legally,” the MEC added.

She also encouraged operators who had not received their operating licences to check the status of their applications with the department.

“To those in possession of operating licences, kindly ensure you always carry the necessary documentation in your vehicle. As GDRT, we are in constant engagement with various traffic authorities to ensure that vehicles with valid documentation are not impounded for that reason, unless there are other contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA),” MEC Diale-Tlabela explained. 

The department appealed to operators to collect their licences promptly from regional TOLAB offices once notified. It is estimated that more than 300 operating licences remain uncollected. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has started construction of 153 houses in Joe Slovo and KwaNobuhle, with the two developments valued at more than R33.3 million. 

The construction started on 1 October 2026 and is scheduled for completion on 26 February 2027.
The projects comprise 83 houses in Joe Slovo and 70 houses in KwaNobuhle Area 11.

The developments come as the metro, located in the Eastern Cape, grapples with a housing backlog of about 100 000 units. About 150 informal settlements accommodate thousands of residents who live without secure tenure, dignified shelter or access to basic services.

The municipality said the projects are part of efforts to progressively realise the constitutional right of access to adequate housing, while prioritising residents in the greatest need.

Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the municipality understands the plight of residents and the difficult conditions in which many people continue to live.

“This number might sound like a small number, but it means a lot to an elderly woman who stays in a shack with her grandchildren, who by the Easter season will spend time in a formal house for the first time.

“As we build houses, we have to understand the disparities. As we deliver houses, we focus on the elderly, households headed by children, people with disabilities, the unemployed and those who are earning between R0 and R3,500, who are eligible for subsidised housing in terms of the Human Settlements policy,” Lobishe said. 

The municipality said the city had applied to the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements for funding to construct 500 houses in Joe Slovo and a further 300 in KwaNobuhle Area 11.

However, funding was approved for 83 houses in Joe Slovo and 70 in KwaNobuhle, amounting to 153 of the 800 houses requested.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the Joe Slovo project has a budget of R18 066 693, while R15 236 970 has been allocated to the KwaNobuhle Area 11 development.

“Together they represent an average public investment of approximately R217 671 per home,” the municipality stated.

The municipality noted that housing delivery is a shared responsibility between national, provincial and local government, with the metro also responsible for providing bulk infrastructure and other municipal services. 

Lobishe said the municipality is working with provincial and national government to increase funding allocations for housing and accelerate delivery.

“We have built our internal capacity, and we are now capable of delivering much bigger developments so that we can make a difference in the 100 000 housing backlog that we have,” she said.

The projects are also expected to provide economic opportunities, with seven small, medium, and micro Enterprise (SMME) contractors appointed across the two sites, including three in Joe Slovo and four in KwaNobuhle Area 11.

The municipality said the developments will contribute to enterprise development, skills transfer and income generation within the metro.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to prioritise vulnerable residents in beneficiary allocations, while accelerating the upgrading of informal settlements and advocating for increased funding to address the housing backlog.

“Beneficiary allocation will remain transparent and aligned with national housing policy, with the most vulnerable residents kept firmly at the front of the queue,” the municipality said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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South Africa has significantly exceeded key investment targets, with industrial investment reaching more than R31 billion against a R10 billion target and local procurement totalling R86 billion against a R50 billion target.

This is according to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, who presented the department’s Annual Report for the 2025/2026 financial year to the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition on Wednesday.

The report highlighted South Africa’s strong performance against investment and export targets, while also identifying operational bottlenecks and audit challenges.

During the reporting period, global exports reached R142 billion against a R120 billion target, while continental exports reached R146 billion and small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) exports reached R764 billion.

“While facing significant headwinds, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) is shifting from crisis management to implementing a focused industrial development strategy. 

“The goal is to move away from merely producing paper documents toward measuring actual outcomes for the South African economy. The revised industrial strategy that mainly focuses on Special Economic Zones and industry-specific Industrial Parks is an example of such,” Tau said.

Tau said the dtic is working to diversify markets through trade preferences with the European Union (EU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), BRICS Plus, the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK) and the rest of the continent.

“Efforts are being made to strengthen export promotion for manufacturing, including small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and black-owned enterprises. The dtic Group aims to achieve targets despite global uncertainty, amid conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, and attacks on rule-based trade structures,” Tau said.

The report highlighted sectoral and operational challenges, noting that manufacturing growth was slightly below the 0.5% target, at 0.4%.

Progress on Industrial Parks was also delayed by funding constraints, with only 10 of the 45 targeted parks receiving funding.

The Minister attributed the reduction in imports of rail and transport components to logistics challenges that require concessions to maintain operations in the short term.

Tau added that electric vehicle negotiations with the UK are ongoing because of concerns about domestic capacity and future investment interest.

“Significant progress is being made in sectors like automotive through the Automotive Master Plan, but other industries face external pressure. Poultry is facing increased US demand and quota issues related to five asks from the US. 

“The steel sector is dealing with increased tariffs that match those of the EU, constraining market access,” Tau said.

The department’s expenditure was concentrated in several high-value categories. These included R9.1 billion for industrial incentives, of which R5 billion was successfully disbursed, and external programmes such as the Social Employment Fund, which received R1.3 billion. Spending also included R41 million in membership fees and various transfers to non-profit organisations.

The dtic further noted challenges relating to unqualified audits and the need to strengthen coordination with other government departments to align programmes. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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