Category: South Africa Government

The Electoral Commission will on Wednesday give details of its state of readiness for the second and final national voter registration weekend scheduled for 1–2 August 2026, as preparations for the Local Government Elections intensify.

“Eligible South Africans will have the final opportunity to register to vote, verify their voter registration status, and update their registration details, including their residential addresses where necessary,” the Electoral Commission said in a statement.

South Africans will head to the polls in the Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026.

According to the Commission, the final voter registration weekend builds on the success of the first registration weekend, during which the Commission processed about 2.9 million voter registration transactions. 

The previous voter registration weekend was held on 20 and 21 June 2026.

READ | Almost 3 million voters heed the call to register or update their details

“It also marks an important milestone in the Commission’s electoral programme, signalling the transition from election preparation to election implementation as the country moves closer to the day of elections,” it said.

The Commission further urged eligible voters to register or update their voter registration details online, reminding the public that its Online Voter Registration Portal is zero-rated across major mobile networks.

Zero-rating means users can access the registration portal without paying for mobile data, making it possible to register to vote or update registration details even when they have no available data.

The commission encourages voters not to wait until the last minute to check their registration information and to ensure that their details are up-to-date ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Voters can access the Online Voter Registration Portal at registertovote.elections.org.za.

The IEC is encouraging citizens to participate in the electoral process under the message: “Your vote is your voice. Make your mark.” –SAnews.gov.za 

 

 

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted the request by the Independent Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, to resign with immediate effect.

The President acceded to the request in terms of section 12(8)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998.

Johnson has come under scrutiny for her role in certain prosecutorial matters arising from her evidence at the Madlanga Commission.

“The President’s agreement follows a recommendation by [the] Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, and supported by National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi that Advocate Johnson’s request be granted.

“Advocate Johnson directed her request for an immediate release from office to the National Director of Public Prosecutions and President Ramaphosa.

“President Ramaphosa thanked Adv Johnson for her years of service in the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] and as the head of IDAC. The President assures the leadership and staff of the NPA of government’s unwavering support for its work in the fight against crime and corruption,” the Presidency said in a short statement on Monday.

Johnson continues to give evidence at the Madlanga Commission today. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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South Africa has won nine medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Pieter Coetze leading the charge after claiming his second gold medal in the pool on Sunday night.

According to the Team South Africa website, Coetze’s impressive campaign gathered even more momentum when he added the 200m backstroke gold to his 50m backstroke title at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

With two gold medals already in the bag, the 22-year-old is now the favourite to complete a golden treble in the 100m backstroke.

Coetze reached the halfway mark of the 200m backstroke in 54.47 seconds, under world-record pace, before producing a gutsy second half to win in a Games-record time of 1:54.22.

He finished 2.22 seconds ahead of silver medallist Oliver Morgan of England.

Coetze’s gold was one of three medals won by Team SA on the night, taking the country’s overall medal tally to nine.

Aimee Canny stormed to silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:06.19, while Kaylene Corbett (1:07.61) and Rebecca Meder (1:07.68) finished sixth and seventh, respectively.

Olivia Nel fought back tears after claiming bronze from lane two in the women’s 100m backstroke in 1:00.09.

“I’m so excited, I feel quite emotional. That race was challenging for me, but I am so proud of myself; it feels good. My goal was to go out with enough to come back with. I paced things pretty well going out and had enough to speed up at the end,” Nel said. –SAnews.gov.za

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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has launched the Ayihlale Phansi Ibambe Umthetho Programme, an initiative aimed at promoting peace, safety, stability and social cohesion within hostel communities.

The programme was officially unveiled during a Hostel Cleansing Ceremony held at Buyafuthi Hostel in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, on Saturday.

Ntuli was accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Director-General Nokuthula Khanyile and Acting Head of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison Funi Makhanya.

The ceremony was a joint initiative between the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng Provincial Governments, aimed at fostering peace, stability and stronger community relations in hostels.

The Ayihlale Phansi Ibambe Umthetho Programme seeks to restore the values of ubuntu, reconciliation, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, while strengthening partnerships between government, traditional leaders, law enforcement agencies, community safety structures and residents.

During the launch, Ntuli announced the appointment of uMtwan’ uKinobho as the programme’s coordinator and said the initiative would be commemorated annually in July.

Addressing attendees, the Premier described the programme as a call for communities to reject criminality, uphold the rule of law and work together to create safer and more united communities.

He stressed that hostels must be reclaimed as safe living spaces where residents can coexist peacefully and contribute to the development of their communities.

“The fight against crime and instability cannot be won by government alone, but requires active participation from communities, traditional leaders, law enforcement and all social partners.

“The launch of Ayihlale Phansi Ibambe Umthetho forms part of broader efforts to strengthen crime prevention, restore dignity, promote social cohesion and ensure that communities work collectively towards peace and stability,” Ntuli said.

The Premier reaffirmed the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government’s commitment to working with the Gauteng Provincial Government and other stakeholders in advancing programmes that promote the rule of law, unity, safety and responsible citizenship.

The Hostel Cleansing Ceremony served as both a symbolic and practical intervention aimed at fostering healing, reconciliation and a renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence among hostel residents. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says typical winter conditions are expected across the country this week as a cold front moves through.

These conditions will be followed by a ridging high, which is expected to bring an onshore flow of moisture over the southern and south-eastern coast.

“This will result in scattered to widespread showers and rain associated with snowfall on mountain peaks from Monday to Wednesday. Fine weather conditions will dominate from Thursday into the weekend across the country,” SAWS said.

Monday’s forecast indicates partly cloudy and cold to cool conditions, although it will be warm in places, with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the south and south-east.

On Tuesday, conditions are expected to be partly cloudy and cold to cool, but warm in places, with isolated to scattered showers and rain in the south and widespread rain in the south-east.

Snowfall is expected over mountain peaks in the Eastern Cape, southern Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

“Very cold and wet conditions with snowfall expected over the high-lying areas of the Eastern Cape, especially over the Drakensberg area and the southern parts of the Free State and the Lesotho border. Farmers are advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the negative impact due to the adverse weather conditions,” the weather service said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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South Africa has welcomed ongoing discussions at the African Union (AU) on migration, saying the continent needs a comprehensive and coordinated response that addresses the root causes of irregular migration rather than singling out individual countries.

Speaking during a media briefing on government’s comprehensive approach to migration management on Sunday, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa supports engagement on migration at the highest level of the AU, provided the discussions focus on orderly, regular and legal migration, as envisaged by existing continental frameworks.

“The AU has a Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Rights of Residence and Rights of Establishment… aimed at having a common and regulated approach on Africans’ ability to travel, work and live across the continent,” he said. 

Lamola explained that the protocol, adopted by the African Union in 2018 as a flagship project under Agenda 2063, promotes coordinated migration management, stronger border systems and enhanced efforts to combat human trafficking.

He noted that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) also has a Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons, of which South Africa is a signatory, although more member states are still required before it can be operationalised.

“But both protocols call for regular and orderly migration, which is a point of emphasis that migration must be orderly, must be regular, and must also be legal,” the minister said. 

He said South Africa’s approach to migration is fully aligned with these regional and continental frameworks.

“So, migration must be orderly, must be regular, and must be legal, which is what the South African government has to do to ensure that migration is within the parameters of the law…it must be within what our laws prescribe,” the Minister said.

Lamola said African countries have consistently recognised the sovereign right of every state to enforce its immigration laws.

However, he stressed that concerns raised by many countries relate not to the enforcement of immigration laws, but to incidents where private individuals or groups take the law into their own hands.

“The only issue that all of them do raise… is that where there is a challenge of irregular and illegal, including undocumented immigrants, it must be dealt with in a human way. It must be dealt with by law enforcement, not private individuals and groups that are not mandated by the laws of that country,” Lamola said. 

He said government would continue engaging with countries across the continent to reinforce this principle.

Migration debate must address root causes

Lamola said discussions at the AU should move beyond focusing exclusively on South Africa and instead examine the broader drivers of migration across the continent.

He noted that South Africa receives the highest number of migrants in Africa, both regular and irregular, while North African countries also experience significant migration pressures as destinations and transit routes to Europe.

“South Africa is one of the highest receiving countries of migrants, both regular and irregular. On irregular migration, I believe we are the number one country on the continent,” he said. 

According to Lamola, migration cannot be addressed without confronting the underlying factors that compel people to leave their countries.

“So, this debate that is being called by Ghana should not be a debate of finger pointing, cheap political scoring against South Africa, labelling South Africa as this and that, because it will not be helpful,” he said. 

Instead, he said the discussion should focus on economic challenges, unemployment, governance, peace and security, as well as the impact of climate change across the continent.

“Framing the debate in that context will lead to a positive and a constructive engagement,” the minister said. 

He added that South Africa remains willing to engage with the African Union on migration and would welcome a fact-finding mission by the continental body.

“We welcome any discussion that will be comprehensive on migration to deal with all issues, including the root causes of illegal migration,” the Minister said. 

Lamola said the issue is expected to feature in engagements during the African Union Executive Council meeting, which begins this week.

Ghana engagement reaffirmed strong bilateral ties

Responding to questions about his recent visit to Ghana as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy, Lamola dismissed suggestions that the South African delegation had been rejected.

“I went to Accra, Ghana, as the Special Envoy of the President, and I was well received by President Mahama with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana and his delegation,” he said. 

He said discussions reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between the two countries, which dates back to the struggle against apartheid.

“The meeting reaffirmed South Africa-Ghana relations that this matter on the table is not going to impact or affect South Africa-Ghana relations because the relationship between Ghana and South Africa is enduring,” he said. 

Lamola said Ghana acknowledged South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws but raised concerns about violence associated with protests over migration and incidents where individuals impersonate law enforcement and Home Affairs officials.

He said South Africa assured Ghana that law enforcement agencies were taking action against those responsible, including arrests linked to impersonation, looting and housebreaking.

The Minister also said specific criminal cases involving Ghanaian nationals, including a murder under investigation by the South African Police Service, remain active matters before law enforcement.

“There is action and there is work. It is not a situation of impunity,” the minister said. 

Lamola reiterated that while South Africa will continue enforcing its immigration laws, it remains committed to working with African partners to ensure migration across the continent is managed in an orderly, humane and lawful manner. – SAnews.gov.za

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Southern African leaders in Durban next month when South Africa assumes the chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.

The summit, scheduled for 17 August 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre, will bring together Heads of State and Government from the 16-member regional bloc to deliberate on key issues affecting the region’s economic growth, security and integration.

President Ramaphosa will chair the summit under the theme: “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.” 

According to the SADC Secretariat, the theme underscores the importance of infrastructure development, agriculture and critical minerals in advancing industrialisation while building a region that is competitive, climate resilient, socially inclusive and capable of delivering a prosperous future for its citizens. 

Among the key issues expected to dominate discussions are the state of the SADC region, including global, continental and regional economic trends, progress in implementing decisions adopted at previous summits, and the implementation of commitments made at the 45th SADC Summit held in Madagascar last year.

Leaders are also expected to consider the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which is aimed at financing regional development projects and programmes, as well as regional food and nutrition security, disaster preparedness and the strengthening of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre.

The impact of global geopolitical developments on the SADC region is also expected to feature prominently on the summit agenda.

The summit will be preceded by a series of meetings and side events beginning with the Annual SADC Industrialisation Week from 27 to 31 July.

Other meetings include the Standing Committee of Senior Officials, the Finance Committee, the SADC Council of Ministers, a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as meetings of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

The annual summit is the highest decision-making body of SADC and sets the strategic direction for regional cooperation, integration and development. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government has issued a stern warning against individuals impersonating Home Affairs officials conducting unlawful identity searches on foreign nationals, saying those involved in intimidation, extortion and other illegal activities will face the full might of the law.

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said this on Sunday as the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration provided an update on the implementation of government’s Five-Point Plan on Migration Management. 

Kubayi said government has become increasingly concerned about incidents involving individuals conducting unauthorised identity checks on foreign nationals and businesses, while falsely claiming to be officials from the Department of Home Affairs.

“We have observed that there are still individuals who impersonate Home Affairs officials and target foreign nationals and some businesses for these illegal identity searches and sometimes extortion.

“We want to urge whoever is involved in this wrong practice to desist from it or face the might of the law,” the Minister said. 

She said the South African Police Service (SAPS) had already been requested to investigate incidents brought to the attention of the IMC and confirmed that law enforcement authorities had arrested seven suspects in Polokwane.

“We are glad to report that our law enforcement authorities acted swiftly in arresting about seven of these individuals in Polokwane and we would like to issue a stern warning to everyone who is involved in this to stop,” she said. 

The Minister also warned against attempts to obstruct lawful law enforcement operations, citing a recent confrontation between officers and foreign nationals during an operation in Bellville in the Western Cape. 

“We have also noted that some groups tend to confront and seek to resist lawful operations by our law enforcement authorities. A case in point is the confrontation between law enforcement officers and some foreign nationals who were resisting law enforcement operations in Bellville a few days ago,” Kubayi said. 

She stressed that those who undermine the work of law enforcement agencies would face legal consequences.

“Again, we would like to issue a strong warning against those who undermine the work of our law enforcement officers or otherwise face the consequences,” she said. 

Kubayi confirmed that the reported death of an individual during the Bellville operation is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), with the findings to be made public once investigations have been concluded.

The Minister also briefed the media on progress made in implementing government’s Five-Point Plan on Migration Management, which seeks to strengthen migration management, uphold the rule of law, secure South Africa’s borders and maintain the country’s constitutional commitment to human dignity, social cohesion and human rights. 

Kubayi said the implementation of the plan is beginning to produce measurable results through stronger law enforcement, enhanced border security, closer cooperation with neighbouring countries and ongoing policy reforms.

“The implementation of the Five-Point Plan is yielding tangible progress.

“We are strengthening law enforcement. We are securing our borders. We are working closely with partner countries. We are improving policy and legislation, and we are ensuring that humanitarian considerations remain central to our response,” the minister said. 

Law enforcement crackdown

Kubayi said integrated operations involving the South African Police Service, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Department of Home Affairs, the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies continue to target criminal networks that exploit migration vulnerabilities. 

The operations focus on illegal border crossings, human trafficking networks, labour exploitation, fraudulent documentation syndicates, illegal mining operations and criminal enterprises facilitating unlawful migration.

“To date, law enforcement authorities have registered 354 cases of arrests and prosecutions against individuals who are in contravention of the law related to the issue of migration,” she said. 

She added that a further 69 people were arrested in Jeffrey’s Bay last weekend and appeared in court on Monday.

“Government is making it clear that migration management is fundamentally a rule-of-law matter. Criminality will not be tolerated, regardless of who is involved,” she said. 

Kubayi also highlighted a major breakthrough against organised crime after the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority secured a High Court preservation order against a R100 million property in Rietfontein linked to a crystal meth laboratory.

The order authorises the seizure and sale of the property, together with R27 800 in cash confiscated during a police operation in November 2024.

“A Mexican national was arrested in connection with the operation, making a significant strike against international drug syndicates,” she said. 

Border security strengthened 

On the second pillar of the Five-Point Plan, Kubayi said the Border Management Authority continues to strengthen surveillance, improve border control measures and enhance coordination with security agencies.

Since April, authorities have conducted 93 joint borderline operations targeting the illegal movement of illicit goods, human trafficking and drug syndicates.

Government has also strengthened border operations during peak periods to improve the management of movement across ports of entry and reduce opportunities for illegal entry and transnational crime.

Kubayi announced that a memorandum will be tabled before Cabinet this week seeking approval to commence critical borderline infrastructure projects.

The phased projects will include the deployment of technological infrastructure to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal syndicates exploiting weaknesses along the country’s borders.

She said redevelopment of six of South Africa’s busiest ports of entry, Lebombo, Beit Bridge, Oshoek, Ficksburg, Maseru and Kopfontein is moving towards contractual and financial close, paving the way for construction to begin at the start of 2027.

“While more work remains to be done, South Africa is steadily building a modern, integrated border management system capable of protecting national sovereignty while facilitating legitimate travel and trade,” she said. 

Working with neighbouring countries 

Kubayi emphasised that migration is a regional, continental and global challenge requiring collective solutions rather than unilateral action.

She said government has intensified engagements with neighbouring countries and countries of origin to strengthen cooperation on migration management, documentation, repatriation processes and information sharing.

Current engagements include continued cooperation with Malawi and Zimbabwe regarding migration management and repatriation arrangements.

The Minister also welcomed moves to place migration and allegations of Afrophobia in South Africa on the agenda of the next African Union Heads of State Summit.

She echoed the sentiments of International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola that the discussion presents an opportunity to ensure migration across the continent becomes “a choice rather than a necessity”.

Government believes that addressing the root causes of irregular migration, including governance, democracy and economic stability, will help develop a pragmatic and comprehensive continental response.

“The solution lies in collaboration, not confrontation,” Kubayi said. 

Kubayi also addressed the petition submitted to the International Criminal Court by two Ghanaian civilians, saying government had received legal advice that the filing does not satisfy the statutory legal triggers or jurisdictional requirements necessary for action by the court.

She further confirmed that government has responded to correspondence from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding concerns over xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals and a request to undertake a promotional mission to South Africa.

Legislative reforms under review

Kubayi said government is reviewing several pieces of legislation to strengthen migration management over the long term.

Among these are the Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection Bill, the Employment Services Amendment Bill and the Business Licensing Bill, which seeks to reserve certain business activities and sectors wholly or partly for South African citizens.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition [dtic] will also hold discussions over the next two weeks with the hospitality, agriculture and tourism sectors on the employment of locals and broader economic issues.

In addition, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the dtic will engage South African businesses operating elsewhere on the continent to better understand the impact of current migration challenges.

Coordinating with municipalities

Kubayi said the IMC recently met the leadership of the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to discuss interventions relating to hijacked and abandoned buildings, land invasions, illegal mining and illegal trading.

The three metros outlined the work already underway, challenges experienced and areas where support is required from national government.

The IMC has directed the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to finalise a framework and operational plan to tackle these issues, which pose public safety risks and contribute to revenue losses.

Concluding the briefing, Kubayi said government remains committed to implementing a migration system that protects national interests while remaining firmly rooted in constitutional values.

“The IMC will continue to provide regular updates as implementation progresses and remains committed to ensuring that South Africans receive factual, balanced and accurate information on migration management.

“Together, we can build a migration system that protects our national interest, promotes social cohesion and upholds the rule of law,” she said. –  SAnews.gov.za

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Government has announced that it will scale down operations at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre (TRPC) from 20 000 to 1 500 capacity from 1 August, as the implementation of its Five-Point Plan on Migration Management continues to yield results.

The decision follows a sustained decline in the number of undocumented foreign nationals requiring processing at the facility, which was established in June to manage increased migration pressures and facilitate orderly repatriations.

Delivering a progress report on the implementation of the Five-Point Plan on Sunday, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said government remains committed to strengthening migration management, while ensuring that humanitarian support and constitutional obligations remain central to its approach. 

“The IMC has taken a decision at its regular meeting on Friday, 24 July 2026, that as of the 1st of August 2026, operations at the TRPC will be scaled down from 20 000 capacity to 1 500 capacity, after analysis of data trends for the past three weeks,” Kubayi said. 

The Minister said the phased reduction in operations will not compromise government’s ability to process undocumented foreign nationals or carry out deportations and repatriations.

“We envisage that the phased scaling down of the centre will not negatively impact or compromise both the deportation and repatriation processes we are undertaking.

“The State remains with the legal obligation to continuously manage the issue of migration in the country and will continue to do so guided by the Five-Point Plan and immigration laws of our country, and the work being monitored by Cabinet,” she said. 

Thousands processed

Kubayi said government has made significant progress in processing undocumented foreign nationals since migration pressures intensified in June.

“Regarding deportations and repatriations, we can confirm that since Malawian nationals assembled at Sherwood in KwaZulu-Natal between the 14th of June 2026 to 24 July 2026, a total of 68 138 foreign nationals have been processed, with the majority repatriated following processing at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre,” she said. 

The Border Management Authority (BMA) has also processed 72 906 repatriations through all ports of entry between 7 June and 14 July for various nationalities, including those processed through the TRPC.

“The majority of nationals processed at the TRPC centre were Malawian nationals, followed by Zimbabwean and Mozambican nationals,” the Minister said. 

Kubayi said South Africa’s dedicated immigration courts have also been processing migration-related matters at an accelerated pace.

She said between 1 April and the end of June, immigration courts finalised 28 736 immigration-related cases, mainly dealing with deportations.

Of these, Gauteng accounted for 13 312 cases, representing 46% of the total, while KwaZulu-Natal finalised 4 973 cases, most of them through the dedicated courts in Durban Central and Sherwood. The Western Cape completed 3 334 cases and the Eastern Cape finalised 2 019 cases.

Government is now working to establish a dedicated immigration court at OR Tambo International Airport on a site identified by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), while upgrades to the Lindela Court at the deportation facility are also expected to commence.

Humanitarian response

Kubayi said while government has intensified migration enforcement, it has remained committed to protecting vulnerable people requiring humanitarian assistance.

She noted concerns raised by some sectors regarding conditions at the Musina Temporary Repatriation Processing Centre and stressed that government had worked closely with social partners to provide assistance.

These interventions include healthcare services and medical screening, access to food, water, sanitation and other basic relief support, child protection measures, support services for women and vulnerable groups, as well as coordination with embassies, consulates, faith-based organisations, non-governmental organisations and international partners.

Government also identified and referred individuals requiring emergency social support and protection services.

“We have undertaken all these interventions because we recognise the plight of those affected by this situation.

“But we also want to emphasise that South Africa has, in many instances, provided humanitarian and logistical support beyond what is ordinarily required under international repatriation arrangements, particularly where vulnerable individuals are involved or where receiving-country logistical arrangements are still being finalised,” kubayi said. 

Benefits of the temporary centre

Kubayi said the establishment of the TRPC has enabled government to manage migration pressures in a coordinated and humane manner.

The facility facilitated orderly and dignified departures through a centralised processing system that provided transportation, documentation and humanitarian assistance to those being repatriated.

It also reduced immediate safety risks by creating a centralised processing site and improved coordination among government departments, municipalities, embassies and humanitarian organisations.

The centre enabled humanitarian relief to be monitored by organisations including United Nations agencies — the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the South African Council for Churches, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and the Limpopo Provincial Legislature Committee on Transport and Safety.

Kubayi said the facility also reinforced South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations by ensuring protection and assistance for vulnerable groups, including asylum seekers and refugees.

Government thanks partners

The Minister expressed appreciation to the many institutions that supported the operation of the centre, saying it became operational within four days after the IMC resolved to establish it on 26 June.

She thanked officials from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority, South African National Defence Force, Department of Social Development, South African Police Service, Department of Health, Musina Municipality and Limpopo Provincial Government for operating the facility seven days a week.

Kubayi also acknowledged the cooperation of embassies that assisted in repatriating their nationals.

She thanked the business community, particularly MTN, for donating R15 million to support Gift of the Givers in providing essential services at the centre, while MTN and Vodacom also provided network connectivity.

Government further expressed appreciation to humanitarian organisations and community groups, including Gift of the Givers, the Al-Imdaad Foundation, Africa Muslim Agency, Musina Reformed Church and Mahlasedi Foundation, which provided food parcels, water, infant formula, nappies, sanitary products and other essential supplies to vulnerable people.

Migration management continues

Although operations at Musina will be significantly reduced, Kubayi said government has already identified assembly points across municipalities – through the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – to ensure it can respond quickly, should migration pressures increase again.

She urged all stakeholders to continue supporting designated assembly points, in partnership with municipalities.

Kubayi reiterated that migration management is a long-term national programme involving all spheres of government, law enforcement agencies, border authorities, municipalities and social partners.

“The implementation of the Five-Point Plan is yielding tangible progress. We are strengthening law enforcement. We are securing our borders. We are working closely with partner countries. We are improving policy and legislation, and we are ensuring that humanitarian considerations remain central to our response.

“While challenges remain, government is firmly committed to implementing a migration system that is secure, humane, lawful and aligned with the values of our Constitution,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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