Category: English

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has rejected claims that government has been reactive to misinformation and irregular migration, saying authorities have been working on the issues for months despite not publicly announcing every step. 

Ntshavheni was responding to questions at a briefing by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration in Pretoria on Thursday, amid widespread misinformation surrounding the Constitutional Court judgment on asylum applications and the subsequent influx of people at Refugee Reception Offices. 

“The judgment was handed down on the 7th of July 2026, and the uproar started two days ago, which was on the 7th of October 2026, which is literally three months after the judgment, because there was no issue,” the Minister said. 

The IMC said the Constitutional Court judgment, 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.

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

Ntshavheni said the immediate problem arose from a misunderstanding of directives issued by the Department of Home Affairs to Refugee Reception Offices in implementing the Constitutional Court judgment.

She said government would therefore review the directives to ensure there was no further confusion.

“The second allegation is that there are people who are using broadcasting platforms to spread misinformation,” she said, adding that complaints about broadcasters or presenters allegedly spreading misinformation could be lodged through the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa.

She also reminded the public that the public broadcaster is not a state institution and therefore operates independently of government. 

Ntshavheni said an important part of the misinformation surrounding the asylum issue was the suggestion that the current situation resulted from a government decision.

“The first piece of misinformation is that this is a government decision. We must be clear, it is the Constitutional Court decision of the 7th of July 2026,” the Minister said. 

She also stressed the constitutional separation of powers among the legislature, executive and judiciary. 

Parliament, she explained, is responsible for making and amending legislation; the executive is responsible for the day-to-day running of government and policy direction, while the judiciary adjudicates matters before the courts. 

She said the Constitutional Court is the apex court in the judiciary and that its decisions must be respected.

Ntshavheni said government nevertheless has a responsibility to protect the interests of South Africans while complying with the Constitution and the country’s legal obligations.

She said the IMC had recognised unintended consequences arising from the judgment and was obtaining legal advice on the options available to government.

“We can’t just jump out and…say this is what we will do; we need to be guided. We have met, we continue to meet to process this issue so that we are guided by the law because, as the chairperson has said in the statement, the constitution of the country is supreme and therefore we need to be guided,” the Minister said. 

Economic hardship not grounds for refugee status

Ntshavheni also sought to draw a distinction between people fleeing persecution or war and those who enter South Africa for economic reasons, adding that South African law and international refugee conventions did not recognise economic hardship as a basis for refugee status.

“There is no economic refugee that is provided for in our Constitution, in our laws and in the international conventions of the United Nations,” the Minister said. 

Ntshavheni said people qualifying for refugee protection were generally those fleeing persecution or war and referred to the principle of seeking protection in the first country of safety.

She cited Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Namibia, Lesotho and Botswana in discussing the principle and said Government would have to consider the implications of this within South Africa’s legal framework and international obligations.

Government moves against fraudulent refugee status.

Ntshavheni said government is also addressing allegations of fraudulent asylum and refugee statuses.

She confirmed that work arising from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigations had already resulted in Home Affairs beginning the process of revoking statuses granted fraudulently.

The Minister said the revocations were being done in batches as cases were processed and that Home Affairs would eventually provide figures on the number of statuses revoked.

She reiterated that the IMC would support extending the SIU’s existing mandate to cover the asylum seeker and refugee system.

Ntshavheni also warned people against deliberately abusing the asylum system.

“And we are also sending a clear message: if you are going to try to defraud the system and apply for refugee status as an asylum seeker in the country and you know you do not qualify, the law will deal with you decisively, and we are going to deport you,” she said. 

Ntshavheni pushed back against suggestions that government had spent the three months since the Constitutional Court judgment doing nothing.

She said government had approached the Gauteng Judge President regarding contradictory High Court judgments and had made submissions ahead of court proceedings later this month.

She said the Judge President had instituted a panel to deal with the matter.

“We have not been sitting on our thumbs. We have been doing work. There is a full submission that was done,” she said. 

Ntshavheni said government had not considered it necessary to announce every step it was taking.

She said the State was also considering the broader legal and policy implications of the migration challenges.

Constitution

Ntshavheni further rejected the notion that government should simply move to amend the Constitution whenever there were difficult policy or legal consequences.

She said the first step was to determine whether existing legislation and regulations could address the problem within the current constitutional framework.

She said any amendment should be a last resort and that South Africans themselves have a role to play in raising concerns about legislation and constitutional provisions through Parliament.

Ntshavheni said citizens could also approach Parliament through mechanisms such as the Petitions Committee.

“You must play your part and play your part in a constructive manner. Within the provisions of the laws and the Constitution of this Republic,” she said.

As government faces mounting public pressure over migration and misinformation, Ntshavheni maintained that the State’s response should not be measured only by the announcements it makes publicly. 

The Minister said government would continue to act within the Constitution while pursuing measures to protect South Africa’s national interests, territorial integrity, safety and security. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

8

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong says South Africa should use its position in regional and global affairs to strengthen investor confidence, expand economic opportunity and deepen social cohesion.

Speaking at the Nation Brand Forum held in Johannesburg, the Deputy Minister said South Africa occupies an important place in regional and global affairs through the G20 and its leadership responsibilities within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“These platforms give us an opportunity to advance a coherent and authentic country proposition: South Africa as a constitutional democracy, a reforming economy, an African gateway, a creative and innovative society, and a nation committed to inclusive growth, multilateralism and human dignity,” the Deputy Minister said on Thursday.

Morolong said the nation brand has become a strategic economic asset for nations across the globe.

“Investors assess the credibility of institutions before committing capital. Businesses assess certainty before expanding.

“Tourists assess safety, hospitality and value before choosing a destination. Skilled professionals, students and international partners look for countries whose institutions they trust and whose future, they believe, offers opportunity,” the Deputy Minister said.

He said the seventh democratic government understands that the continuation and success of the economic reform project are important nation branding touchpoints.

“Just as fighting corruption is nation branding, so too are efforts to improve logistics, energy security, public safety and service delivery. Creating jobs and widening opportunity is nation branding. Each strengthens or weakens the credibility of the story we tell about South Africa.

“South Africa’s challenge is not a lack of potential. Our challenge is to convert potential into visible, measurable progress. Implementation matters more than intention; trust, credibility and confidence must be earned through delivery,” Morolong said.

He stressed that the Government of National Unity has demonstrated that cooperation across differences is possible.

“The optimism generated by this new political moment in our history must now be converted into inclusive growth, jobs, stronger institutions and tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.

“South Africans do not need to be convinced to support South Africa. They already want a better South Africa. Therefore, the next phase should not be another conversation about alignment.

“The next phase should be about implementation. The next phase is about registering measurable progress on the milestones in the nation brand compact. If we succeed, we will do more than improve perceptions.

“We will strengthen investor confidence, expand economic opportunity, deepen social cohesion, reinforce trust in our institutions and enhance South Africa’s global competitiveness,” the Deputy Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

6

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the expansion of successful agricultural enterprises, such as Redlands Dairy Farm, to accelerate land reform, create jobs and drive inclusive growth in South Africa’s rural economy. 

Speaking during a visit to the black and youth-owned commercial dairy farm in Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, on Thursday, the President said the Redlands experience demonstrates what can be achieved when access to land is combined with finance, skills, mentorship and strong partnerships.

“We need many more Redlands across South Africa. We must take what works and scale it up,” President Ramaphosa said. 

Redlands Dairy Farm has benefited from the Land Bank’s Blended Finance Scheme, implemented in partnership with the Department of Agriculture. The scheme combines government grant funding with loan finance to support viable agricultural investments and enable farmers to build commercially sustainable businesses.

The President identified three key lessons from the Redlands experience, beginning with the need to provide aspiring farmers with more than access to land.

“Too many projects under government’s land reform and redistribution programme have been beset by challenges,” he said.

He said established commercial farmers also have an important role to play in mentoring emerging farmers and transferring practical knowledge. 

“Farming, however, is different. It is more of a calling than a profession. In farming, the land is the classroom,” the President said.

President Ramaphosa said farmers gain much of their knowledge through practical experience, including dealing with crop yields and failures, weather and climate change, animal disease and advances in farming technology. 

“That is why mentorship and the transfer of practical knowledge are so important,” he said.

The President also highlighted access to finance as a critical bridge between subsistence and commercial farming.

“Yet, many emerging farmers struggle to secure loans. Without assets, collateral or an established track record in farming, they are regarded by major banks as too risky to lend to. 

“This keeps them trapped at subsistence level, unable to finance the inputs, infrastructure and additional land they need to expand their operations.

“As government, we recognise this challenge and the need for better ways of financing the crucial step that moves a farming operation from potential to scale,” the President said.

He said blended finance could play a catalytic role in addressing this challenge.

“The real power of blended finance is not simply the amount of grant funding government provides. It is the amount of productive investment that every rand of public funding can ultimately unlock,” he said.  

The Blended Finance Scheme was launched in 2022 as a 10-year intervention to support black producers and advance agricultural transformation.

President Ramaphosa said the strong demand for the scheme requires government, National Treasury and the Land Bank to develop sustainable funding solutions to enable more black producers to access affordable finance.

The Land Bank, he said, also needs to be financially sustainable and developmentally effective.

“We will continue to support the rebuilding of the Bank so that it has the financial strength and funding capacity to mobilise capital for agriculture.”

Unlocking agricultural growth

The President said government has identified agriculture as a sector with significant potential to create jobs and boost economic growth. 

He reiterated that government is releasing land acquired through its land reform programme to black farmers, with about 2.5 million hectares to be released across the country.

“As the land release process continues, the demand for affordable and patient capital by new era commercial farmers will be even greater in the coming months and years,” he said.

President Ramaphosa acknowledged that public resources alone are not enough to finance the scale of agricultural development required, calling on development finance institutions to leverage government support to mobilise additional capital from financial markets, commercial banks, development partners and the private sector.

He also emphasised the importance of opening domestic and international markets to emerging farmers.

“About half of what South Africa produces goes to export markets. In 2025, the value of these exports was around R266 billion.”

He said South Africa is exploring additional markets in BRICS countries, the Middle East and Asia, following progress in accessing the Chinese market.

Agriculture as a driver of rural development

The President said agricultural transformation should extend beyond primary production to processing, distribution and participation in value chains.

“We need developing farmers to progress from primary production into processing, distribution and markets,” he said.

Agriculture and its value chain currently employ around 1.3 million people, with President Ramaphosa saying these numbers needed to grow.

He said expanding productive economic activity is particularly important in provinces such as the Eastern Cape, where agriculture can help address poverty and unemployment.

“This is an opportunity to overcome the challenge of a country and a province with ‘two agricultures’, where we see progress in one part of the farming sector, while the other remains on the periphery of development.” 

The President also stressed the importance of strengthening plant and animal health, citing the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, as well as investing in seed breeding.

President Ramaphosa congratulated Redlands owner Tshilidzi Matshidzula, his family and the farm team, while thanking the Land Bank, government departments, National Treasury, the Eastern Cape government and other partners supporting agricultural transformation.

“We want a transformed agricultural sector that is productive, competitive, inclusive and increasingly able to contribute to South Africa’s food security and economic prosperity,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

9

Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi has confirmed the broad readiness of the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) to administer the 2026 year-end examinations.

Rakometsi led a media briefing on the state of readiness in Pretoria on Thursday.

A total of 1 079 879 candidates will sit for the General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training (GETC: ABET), National Certificate (Vocational) [NC(V)] Level 4 and National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Umalusi conducted its state of readiness audit from 24 August to 30 September 2026, with exams slated to commence on 13 October.

“The audit covered candidate registration; staffing at examination and marking centres; external moderation of internal assessments and question papers; security measures for printing, packaging, storage and distribution of question papers; mark-capturing systems, and structures for managing examination irregularities.

“On the evidence presented, Umalusi is satisfied that the system is broadly ready to conduct, administer and manage the 2026 year-end national examinations, which will involve approximately 1.08 million candidates at 9 183 examination centres,” Rakometsi explained.

Additionally, where concerns remain, “corrective measures are being implemented by assessment bodies and closely monitored”.

“The areas of concern identified are not systemic and do not threaten the overall credibility or integrity of the 2026 examinations. The responsible assessment bodies have been instructed to implement corrective measures before the examinations begin.

“Umalusi will continue to monitor the DBE’s measures to address marker capacity in Afrikaans Home Language, English Home Language and History,” Rakometsi said.

Moderation

In its assessment of readiness, Umalusi conducted external moderation on “all institution-based assessment tasks and question papers to be administered” during the examination period.

“Moderation is a critical safeguard for fair, reliable and valid examinations. Umalusi externally moderated and approved 283 subject question papers across three qualifications and four assessment bodies, confirming their validity, fairness and reliability.

“Umalusi has received final subject entries from the assessment bodies. The registration data received shows that approximately 1.08 million candidates are registered for the 2026 year-end examinations, with the largest share of about 92% of the total candidature being accounted for by the NSC. All candidates have received their examination admission letters and timetables,” Rakometsi stated.

Concessions and accommodations, such as extra time, adaptation of question papers into Braille and large prints, have been granted to “eligible candidates in accordance with applicable policies and regulations,” Rakometsi said.

Candidates will write at 9 183 examination centres, which have also been evaluated.

“While a desktop evaluation method was employed for all the existing centres, a physical audit was conducted for new examination centres.

“All the centres have been profiled according to their risk levels from low, medium and high risk centres. Resident monitors will be deployed to high risk centres, supported by regular Umalusi monitoring. This will complement the measures to be implemented by each assessment body,” Rakometsi stated.

The logistics

The CEO confirmed that examination material is currently in printing, according to approved plans.

“Security protocols for the printing, packaging, storage and distribution of question papers and related materials are the aspects of Umalusi’s quality assurance work, which are not discussed publicly due to their confidential nature.

“Umalusi is satisfied that adequate plans are in place to secure the entire value chain. Regular visits will be made to all assessment bodies,” Rakometsi said.

All submitted question papers and institution-based assessment tasks have been approved after confirmation that they have been designed “in accordance with the standards for each qualification and complied with the relevant quality-assurance requirements”.

“The papers will be distributed to the approved examination centres in accordance with the approved plans.

“Candidates have been registered in line with the relevant regulations, and eligible candidates have received concessions and accommodations in accordance with applicable policies,” Rakometsi assured.

Invigilation staff have been adequately trained to execute duties related to “conduct, administration and management” of the exams.

“Concerning marking personnel, Umalusi is satisfied that the assessment bodies have sufficient marking capacity. Although the DBE reported marker shortages in Afrikaans Home Language, English Home Language and History, Umalusi is confident that the DBE’s plan to start marking early and phase the process will adequately mitigate the risk. 

“Because the DHET will finalise its marker appointment process later in this month, Umalusi will be able to pronounce on the marking capacity of the DHET on or before 19 October,” Rakometsi noted.
The mark-capturing systems used by all four assessment bodies are also in compliance with Umalusi’s requirements. 

Each body will use a double-entry process with one official capturing the marks and another verifying them. All mark capturers will be trained before the process begins. 

Looking ahead

As examinations are written, Umalusi will monitor the writing process itself, as well the marking of sampled scripts and “verify marking in sampled subjects to ensure accuracy and reliability”.

Following the exams, the quality assurance body will standardise the exam results.

“The final quality assurance phase is approval of the results by the Executive Committee (EXCO) of Council.

“Under section 17A(5)(b) of the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, EXCO must satisfy itself that assessment bodies have: (i) conducted the assessment, free from any irregularity that may jeopardise the integrity of the assessment or its outcomes, and (ii) complied with the requirements prescribed by the Council for conducting assessments.

“The foregoing quality assurance processes are intended to ensure that assessments and examinations comply with the governing regulations and that Umalusi-issued certificates retain the highest levels of credibility and integrity,” Rakometsi stated.

The CEO wished the candidates well ahead of the start of exams on 13 October.

“Umalusi wishes the Class of 2026 strength and determination as candidates enter the final stage of their journey through the general and further education and training system.

“Our advice to you: approach these examinations with confidence, discipline and integrity. This is the final stage of an important journey, and the country wishes you every success,” Rakometsi concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

3

Twenty-four undocumented persons were arrested in Reitz, in the Free State, on Thursday.

Their arrest follows a joint crime prevention operation conducted in the early hours of this morning, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

The arrested persons comprise five females and 15 males from Malawi, as well as four males from Lesotho. 

The crime prevention operation targeted contact and property-related crimes which were identified as priority concerns during the previous quarter within the Reitz policing precinct.

The police operation targeted crimes such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, murder, residential and business burglaries, damage to essential infrastructure, theft of copper cables and stock theft. 

“As part of proactive measures to address these challenges and prevent further criminal activities, members of the Reitz police, Nketoana Local Municipality and the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Unit conducted a joint operation, which yielded positive results,” the police said in a statement.

“The South African Police Service remains committed to working together with relevant stakeholders to prevent and combat crime. Through collaborative efforts, we can create safer communities and save lives,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

47

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on South African universities to strengthen their financial sustainability and governance, while ensuring that they remain focused on their public purpose.

Addressing the 4th Universities South Africa (USAf) Higher Education Conference at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Convention Centre on Wednesday, Manamela said universities cannot fulfil their purpose if they are financially unstable, warning that financial sustainability must not come at the expense of their responsibility to society.

“A university that cannot pay its bills cannot fulfil its purpose, but a university that balances its books, while losing its public purpose, has also failed,” Manamela said.

Held under the theme: “Co-creating a Resilient Future”, the conference brought together university leaders, academics, researchers, professional staff, students, labour representatives and international guests.

Manamela said the future of higher education must be considered through three interconnected issues: how universities are financed, how they are governed, and the kind of knowledge and human capability they develop in a rapidly changing world.

“Public trust connects all three. It depends on the choices we make about resources, power and knowledge.”

On university funding, the Minister stressed the need to distinguish between student and institutional financing.

“They are connected but they are not interchangeable. Getting NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] to work reliably is essential. It does not, on its own, repair a laboratory, renew a library, support a research programme or reverse years of deferred maintenance.

“A funded student needs a functioning institution. A functioning institution needs students who can afford to learn. Our financing debate must hold both obligations together,” the Minister said.

He also warned universities against waste, saying every rand lost through poor procurement, unmanaged projects or decisions taken for private advantage reduces the resources available for teaching and research.

“We need an honest account of the full cost of student success. We need to know which costs are necessary for academic quality, which activities can be shared, and which arrangements persist because nobody has been willing to change them. 

“The measure of success cannot be enrolment alone. We should ask whether students learn, complete their studies and acquire the capacity to contribute to society and build livelihoods,” he explained.

On governance, Manamela reaffirmed the importance of university autonomy and academic freedom, saying universities must be able to produce evidence and arguments that government may find inconvenient.

He said councils, senates, executives, students and staff each have distinct responsibilities that need clear boundaries and effective working relationships.

“When councils drift into daily management, executives evade oversight, or institutional disputes become contests over access to resources, the university loses time, money and credibility.”

Manamela also called for stronger accountability, noting this should extend beyond the submission of documents, to whether decisions are lawful, conflicts of interest are managed, concerns are heard, and consequences follow misconduct.

Manamela further called for closer collaboration between government, universities, industry, communities, students and labour to build a resilient higher education system.

This can include exploring shared infrastructure and services, strengthening research and student development partnerships, improving governance arrangements, and expanding collaboration in areas such as shared computing resources, research networks and African language technologies.

“Co-creation becomes meaningful when each participant accepts obligations, as well as making demands,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za

5