Category: English

The death toll from recent heavy rains and flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga has risen to 38, with the number of deaths reported in Limpopo increasing from 17 to 18, while six people remain missing in the province.

Giving an update on the recent disasters in Limpopo and Mpumalanga during a media briefing on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane announced that Mpumalanga has recorded 20 fatalities linked to the severe weather which has caused widespread damage to homes and displaced hundreds of families across the two provinces.

“Once again, we send our sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased,” the Minister said, noting that government remained committed to supporting affected communities during the recovery process.

According to the latest reports, a total of 1 942 houses have been damaged in Limpopo, while 1 808 houses were affected in Mpumalanga.

Simelane said adverse weather conditions in Limpopo have made relief and recovery efforts challenging.

The Emergency Housing Unit of the department has been dispatched to disaster-affected areas in both provinces.

Central to government’s work in providing the necessary interventions is the verification process, which determines the extent of damage to households and informs the department of the type of emergency housing intervention to be implemented.

She said significant progress has been made, despite difficult conditions on the ground.

“While the verification process is continuing, we have decided to proceed with assisting households that have [already] been verified. We are at an advanced stage of beginning to support these households,” the Minister said.

As part of the first phase of interventions, the Department of Human Settlements has started procuring Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) for people currently housed in mass care and evacuation centres.

The second phase will focus on the provision of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs). 

The Minister said procurement is under way for 39 units in the Mbaula area, 73 in Bushbuckridge, five in Blouberg and 13 in Makhado.

“We will continue to provide interventions as and when we conclude verification processes. Over the next two days, we will be on the ground with Limpopo and Mpumalanga MECs of Human Settlements to ensure the communities receive the necessary help.”

The Minister expressed gratitude to community members, including churches and non-governmental organisations for their role in assisting affected families.

“Everything you have done and continue to do is not in vain. Your support [during this difficult time] is highly appreciated,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa’s education system can only succeed if learners acquire strong literacy and numeracy skills in the early years of schooling.

The President was addressing the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday. 

He said the country’s commitment to a resilient and capable education system must begin in the early grades, where the foundations for all future learning are laid.

“As a country, our commitment to a resilient and capable education system must begin where it matters most: in the early grades, where the foundations for all future learning are laid,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The Lekgotla opened on a sombre note, with delegates observing a moment of silence for the 12 pupils who lost their lives in a scholar transport accident in the Vaal area.

“As we gather here, our nation is consumed by sorrow. We mourn this loss deeply and extend our condolences to the families, teachers and classmates of the children who lost their lives. We wish those who were injured in the crash a speedy recovery,” the President said.

Turning to education outcomes, the President emphasised that strengthening early grade reading and numeracy was both a national priority and a moral imperative.

“When children do not learn to read for meaning or to work confidently with numbers by the end of the Foundation Phase, the cost is borne by the entire education system,” the President said. 

He warned that weak foundations led to repetition, dropout and poor progression throughout the schooling system.

“Unless we get it right at the outset, learners spend the rest of their school careers trying to catch up. We see this in repetition, dropout, weak progression and the tragic loss of human potential,’” he said. 

President Ramaphosa said government was intensifying its focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy and numeracy, teacher training and access to quality learning materials.

“We are working to ensure that every classroom is supported by a coherent curriculum and well-trained teachers. And that every classroom has high-quality, age-appropriate, grade-specific and culturally relevant learning and teaching support materials,” he said. 

The President said investing in foundational learning would help build a resilient education system that can sustain learning, adapt to shocks and equip every child with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

The President highlighted South Africa’s participation in international collaboration platforms, including the Head of States Network on Foundational Learning formed during recent G20 Education meetings, as well as cooperation with BRICS partners.

President Ramaphosa noted the progress made in matric results, while cautioning that inequality resurfaces when early learning foundations are weak.

“The National Senior Certificate results of 2025 reinforce our view that without strong foundations in the early years, inequality re-emerges later in the schooling system,” the President said.  

He described the achievements of the Class of 2025 as a “silent revolution”, particularly the increased participation of learners from no-fee schools in higher education.

“Over 66 percent of learners who qualified for admission to bachelor studies came from no-fee schools. This means we are making great advances in our struggle against poverty,” he said. 

The President called for early learning to be firmly anchored at the core of the education system, from birth to the age of nine.

“While there is much focus on matric results, solid foundations in early learning – from birth to nine years – is essential. It provides the foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for successful onward learning and for lifelong development.” President Ramaphosa said. 

He urged all sectors of society to work together to place foundational learning at the heart of education reform.

“Let us make foundational learning the heartbeat of our education system. Together, we can ensure that every child in South Africa is ready for the future,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

As South Africa continues to grapple with a growing housing backlog and the continued existence of informal settlements, government is intensifying efforts to address these pressures through an innovation-driven approach to housing delivery.

In a bid to accelerate the provision of dignified, resilient and sustainable houses, the Department of Human Settlements will host the Innovative Building Technologies (IBT) Summit, positioning innovation as a central pillar in the state’s response to housing shortages, unsafe dwellings and disaster-related displacement.

The two-day summit, scheduled to take place from 3 to 4 February 2026, at Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, under the theme: “Mainstreaming Innovative Building Technologies for sustainable human settlements”, will serve as a national platform to showcase innovative, sustainable, and scalable construction solutions capable of transforming housing delivery across the country.

Briefing the media on the upcoming summit on Wednesday, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said technologies can assist government’s commitment to meeting the targets outlined in the 2024–2029 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).

She said the summit will be a national platform dedicated to advancing and showcasing innovative, sustainable, and scalable construction solutions that support the delivery of dignified housing, the eradication of informal settlements, and mud houses.

The innovation will also strengthen government’s capacity to respond to housing emergencies caused by disasters.

The Minister said the summit forms part of the department’s strategic interventions aimed at addressing South Africa’s persistent housing challenges, including housing backlog, the continued existence of informal settlements, and the prevalence of mud houses and structurally unsafe dwellings, particularly in rural and disaster-prone areas.

“These challenges are further compounded by climate change, which has increased the frequency and severity of floods and storms. Regrettably, these natural disasters displace communities and damage housing structures.

“Our country continues to experience rapid urbanisation and population growth. These dynamics require new and innovative approaches to housing delivery that are faster, more cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, climate resilient and capable of being deployed at scale,” Simelane said.

She said the summit seeks to provide a national platform where such solutions can be explored, assessed, and advanced through collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society.

It will bring together all three spheres of government, including industry leaders, developers, investors, built-environment professionals, and research institutions to engage on practical solutions that can support the development of safe, resilient, and integrated human settlements.

Key focus areas of the summit will include modular and prefabricated construction systems, alternative and locally produced building materials, climate-resilient designs, green and energy-efficient solutions, and smart construction methods that reduce both time and cost.

The Minister said the continued existence of mud houses, particularly in rural provinces, remains a critical concern for government.

These structures are highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rains and flooding, posing serious risks to the safety and well-being of the occupants.

Through the summit, she said the department aims to promote IBTs that offer durable and affordable alternatives that can be rolled out rapidly, while supporting local manufacturing, skills development and job creation.

“The growth and persistence of informal settlements reflect historical spatial inequalities and ongoing socio-economic pressures. Responding to this challenge requires integrated planning, serviced land, infrastructure investment, and innovative construction that offer faster delivery of permanent housing solutions.

“The summit will explore how IBTs can support in-situ upgrading, rapid construction, and the development of permanent, dignified housing that improves the quality of household life and reduces vulnerability to disasters,” the Minister said.

Disaster response will also feature prominently at the summit, with discussions on modular and rapidly deployable housing systems that can transition communities from temporary shelter to permanent housing solutions, reducing prolonged exposure to unsafe living conditions.

The summit will further examine how innovative solutions can be aligned with existing regulatory and policy frameworks, including building standards, safety requirements and environmental regulations, to enable wider adoption across the sector.

An exhibition platform will allow technology providers to showcase solutions applicable to different housing programmes, giving implementing agents and developers an opportunity to assess their suitability for large-scale use.

“As a department, we view the upcoming summit as a critical platform for strengthening public-private partnerships,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the fatal shooting outside the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The incident claimed the lives of at least two people while three others were left injured.

The committee called for accountability from security officials that were present at the court.

“The committee is deeply disturbed that armed suspects were able to approach and unleash gunfire at the entrance of a magistrate’s court, a national key point and a legally designated gun-free zone.

“Such a grave lapse raises urgent questions about security protocols and the performance of the contracted private security company responsible for safeguarding the premises.

“These failures are not minor oversights, they are costly and, in this case, they have cost lives. The committee insists that the security company be held fully accountable for its role in this breach,” a committee said in a statement.

This is the latest in several incidents at judicial facilities, with similar incidents occurring at the Athlone, Mitchells Plain and Wynberg Magistrate’s Courts in the Western Cape and another incident at Melmoth Court in KwaZulu-Natal – all in the span of last year.

“This reckless act of violence represents a direct attack on the rule of law and public safety, demonstrating a growing boldness among criminals who show no regard for human life or the authority of state institutions.

“The incident also reinforces the committee’s long-standing concern about the proliferation of illegal firearms in Gauteng.

“The ease with which firearms are accessed and used to commit violent crimes strengthens our call for decisive, coordinated action toward achieving a gun free Gauteng, supported by stronger intelligence-led policing and tighter firearm controls,” said the committee.

Law enforcement is called upon to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended.

“Those who terrorise communities and undermine the justice system must learn that the law will prevail.

“The committee further urges members of the public with any information that may assist in the investigation to come forward. Community cooperation remains essential in the fight against violent crime.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wish a full and speedy recovery to those injured in this senseless attack,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

Government is working on reviewing legislation governing scholar transport with a view to make the sector safer and more secure for learners.

This according to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi who held a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon in the wake of a horrific accident which claimed the lives of 12 children on Monday.

The taxi transporting the children were in crashed into an oncoming truck while they were on their way to school.

“An incident of this magnitude calls for a review of some of our legislation, regulations and the support system in this sector. The MEC responsible for transport and the MEC of education have been assigned to come with proposals that will assist us to ensure that we eliminate this kind of behaviour within the transport sector.

“Once more, our sincere condolences to the families and speedy recovery for those that are still within our hospitals,” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube – who was also at the media briefing – noted that daily, hundreds of thousands of children are transported to school by government sanctioned scholar transport.

She added that the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Transport have been working to “collaborate to see how best we can regulate this sector”.

“Over 700 000 children in the basic education sector are transported by scholar transport. So, while we may be able to do checks on the carriers of learners, the reality is that there are private arrangements that we don’t know about. That’s why it’s become important that we work not only with the provinces, but with the Department of Transport that has already come on board.

“It’s very important that we note that while we want to review a lot of some of the policy regulations around scholar transport, over 80% of the incidents that happen on our road are due to driver error.

“It is because of motorists who are not behaving well on the roads. Who are not adhering to the rules of the road. We can’t keep coming to families and sending condolences and saying we are deeply sorry,” the Minister said.

Government, the local community and private sector have come together to support the bereaved families.

“We are a sector in absolute mourning. We are mourning the loss of innocent lives of our young ones. I want to assure South Africans that government, from a local level, provincial level and national level, will ensure that all families are supported. Psycho-social support has already been activated so that we can make sure that families are supported.

“This psycho-social support is also extended to the schools, learners and educators of those children. That’s important to understand that even our schooling community is in mourning.

“This has been a community in mourning but this has also been a community that has rallied around these families,” Gwarube said.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old driver of the taxi which caused the accident has been arrested and was found to have been driving with an expired professional driving permit (PDP) at the time of the accident.

According to police, the suspect will appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court soon.

“He was arrested after he was discharged from hospital. He is…facing charges of 12 counts of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving.

“After the police visited the hospitals and the mortuary to verify the number of fatalities and injuries, it can be confirmed that 12 learners died at the accident scene and five were taken to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment, of which one has since been discharged.

“The driver of the truck that was involved in the accident escaped unharmed while the passenger sustained injuries and was receiving treatment in hospital,” a police statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

Eskom has moved to assure the public and stakeholders that Koeberg Nuclear Power Station continues to operate safely and securely.

This after the power utility reduced the station’s two units from full power to 100MW each following a fault on the 132kV transmission lines Pinotage transmission substation near Stellenbosch.

“Eskom confirms that this was an expected response under such circumstances, designed to protect the integrity of the power station and the national grid.

“Eskom further confirms that both nuclear reactors were not affected by this incident. The National Nuclear Regulator has been duly informed of the incident,” the power utility said.

The reduction did not impact the stability of the power system.

“Importantly, there is no risk of loadshedding due to adequate national generation reserves and the National Transmission Company South Africa has given approval for Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to begin increasing the power output of both units.

“Eskom assures the public and stakeholders that Koeberg Nuclear Power Station continues to operate safely and securely, and that all necessary regulatory and operational protocols are being followed,” Eskom said. – SAnews.gov.za

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says it is ramping up road safety interventions through stronger enforcement of existing legislation, adoption of technology and stricter compliance with the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) and National Land Transport Act (NLTA).

This comes after 12 learners died while they were being transported to school in a Toyota Quantum on Monday morning when the vehicle collided with a truck in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal, Gauteng.

“We will not compromise when it comes to the safety of our children. Any scholar transport operator who puts learners at risk will face serious consequences,” MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said on Tuesday. 

As Gauteng’s road traffic law and safety authority, the department is building its internal legal capacity and creating an updated online repository of road traffic regulations, so road users know their rights and responsibilities.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Government will enforce the laws; however parents, operators, drivers, and pedestrians must also play their part in ensuring that everyone is safe and arrives alive,” Diale-Tlabela said.

Government has encouraged parents, learners and motorists to report reckless driving, unsafe behaviour, and unroadworthy scholar transport vehicles through lawful channels (012 999 5407/086 140 0800). 

Where feasible and safe, video evidence may assist authorities identify non-compliant operators and drivers. 

The department further encouraged operators and parents to have dashboard cameras installed for real-time monitoring.

In line with the department’s road safety campaign, it will strictly enforce Section 49 of the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) which places a statutory duty on the operator of a motor vehicle to ensure:

• The vehicle is roadworthy and mechanically safe.
• The driver operates the vehicle lawfully and safely.
• Passengers are transported without endangerment.
• Safe loading and unloading of passengers.

The campaign forms part of the province’s contribution to the national department’s 365 Day Road Safety and Arrive Alive programmes.

Enforcement consequences are now correctly framed as:

• Enforcement actions under the NRTA.
• Potential suspension or loss of operator status based on NRTA non-compliance.

The department further reaffirms key NRTA regulations governing pedestrian behaviour:

• Regulation 323(2): Pedestrians are prohibited from entering or walking on freeways, except where permitted by law.
• Regulation 315: Pedestrians must cross at designated points and obey road traffic signs and signals. 
• Regulation 316(5): This regulation addresses unlawful and dangerous pedestrian behaviour, including jaywalking. – SAnews.gov.za