Category: South Africa Government

The Department of Home Affairs says reforms at the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa (RAASA) have reduced the country’s active refugee appeals caseload by more than 12%.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said the number of active appeals fell from 79 870 at the end of 2024 to 70 976 at the end of 2025, a reduction of 8 894 cases.

The department said 19 064 cases were removed from a ringfenced backlog of 133 582 appeals during the 2025/26 financial year, representing a 14.2% reduction.

Cases were removed through appeal determinations, withdrawals, case finalisations and paper determinations where appellants failed to attend scheduled hearings.

According to the department, the refugee appeals backlog accumulated over more than two decades, with some unresolved cases dating back to 2008.

The department attributed the reduction to a series of operational reforms at RAASA, including the appointment of 40 additional advocate members, an increase in the number of appeal hearings scheduled each day, targeted adjudication strategies for high-volume and less complex appeals, and strengthened performance management.

It also said RAASA had expanded its collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the quality and consistency of decisions.

Additional advocates from the Cape Bar are also being onboarded to increase adjudication capacity in the Western Cape, which has the country’s second-largest refugee appeals caseload.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department expected further progress following the appointment of additional advocates and a recent Constitutional Court judgment concerning repeat asylum applications.

“While we still have a way to go, efficiency gains have already produced the biggest reduction in the refugee appeals backlog in years,” Schreiber said.

He said the reforms were intended to improve the efficiency of the asylum system and reduce waiting times for applicants while maintaining South Africa’s constitutional and international obligations. – SAnews.gov.za

Delays in issuing certificates to graduates of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges will soon become a thing of the past, as the Department of Higher Education and Training rolls out digitised systems to accelerate certification and workplace placements.

This assurance was given by Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, during Esayidi TVET College graduation ceremony, held at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre on Thursday.

Delivering the keynote address, Dube-Ncube acknowledged the frustration experienced by many TVET graduates, who have had to wait extended periods to receive their certificates and secure workplace-based learning opportunities.

“I know this and the department knows this. I want to say to you today, that must be and is becoming a thing of the past.

“We are actively developing and rolling out digitised, fast-tracked systems for both certification and placement — systems designed to close the gap between the day you complete your final assessment and the day that certificate is in your hand, and a workplace opportunity is within your reach,” Dube-Ncube said.

She said the reforms form part of a programme to modernise administrative systems within the department and improve the transition from college to employment.

“A delayed certificate is a delayed livelihood, and a delayed placement is a delayed future. Young people cannot be asked to wait indefinitely for a system to catch up with their qualifications. We are fixing that because our graduates deserve nothing less.”

She said quicker certification will not only improve graduates’ access to employment, but also enable aspiring entrepreneurs to register businesses, apply for funding and participate in procurement opportunities without unnecessary administrative delays.

She encouraged graduates to view their qualifications as “start-up capital” that could be used to establish businesses in sectors such as electrical contracting, welding, bakery, agriculture and construction.

Dube-Ncube reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the TVET sector, describing colleges as central to South Africa’s economic growth agenda.

“There is no credible pathway to inclusive economic growth in South Africa that does not run directly through colleges like Esayidi,” she said.

She noted that South Africa continues to face shortages of artisans, technicians and other mid-level technical skills needed to build infrastructure, support industrialisation and expand economic opportunities.

Calling for stronger partnerships between colleges and industry, Dube-Ncube said employers should play a greater role in shaping curricula, providing workplace-based learning opportunities and ensuring graduates possess skills that respond to current and future labour market demands.

At the same time, she challenged TVET colleges to become centres of applied innovation rather than institutions that merely respond to industry needs.

” A TVET college that only follows industry will always be one step behind. A TVET college that also leads on applied research and problem-solving becomes a genuine partner in South Africa’s innovation economy. That is the standard I am setting for our colleges going forward,” Dube-Ncube said.

The Deputy Minister urged graduates to embrace lifelong learning, saying artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies are reshaping virtually every occupation.

“The qualification you receive today is a strong foundation — it is not a finish line. The world of work is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, big data and advanced automated technologies at a pace none of us can fully predict.”

Dube-Ncube also rejected perceptions that rural TVET colleges produce graduates with limited opportunities.

She said institutions such as Esayidi TVET College are producing highly skilled graduates whose qualifications carry the same national recognition as those obtained anywhere else in the country.

“Rural does not mean limited. It means resourceful. It means graduates who understand community, who know how to make a plan, who carry the discipline of this region into whatever workplace or enterprise they enter. Do not let geography shrink your ambition,” she told graduates. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for greater global investment in education, warning that quality learning must never become a privilege reserved for a few, as world leaders met in Paris to accelerate progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

Addressing the SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee Leaders Group Meeting at UNESCO Headquarters in France on Friday, President Ramaphosa said education remains the foundation for achieving all other Sustainable Development Goals and is essential to building resilient and sustainable societies.

“It is indeed an honour for South Africa to co-chair this Leaders Group meeting alongside the Director-General,” the President said.

“SDG 4 occupies a unique position in that it is the bedrock and the enabler of the other SDGs. It is a catalyst for expanding human capability, unlocking opportunity, and delivering progress across the full ambition of Agenda 2030.”

President Ramaphosa said the world faces mounting challenges, including conflict, pandemics, poverty, inequality and climate change, making the global education agenda more important than ever.

“Inclusive and equitable quality education is the key to building resilience and to fostering sustainable societies,” he said.

The President said the committee’s work is centred on three priorities: foundational and lifelong learning, strengthening the teaching profession, and promoting inclusive digital transformation.

“Strong literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills are the scaffolding that holds up the educational journey. The learning environment thrives and outcomes vastly improve when teachers are capacitated, given the necessary resources, and supported in their work.

“Digital transformation in education is a non-negotiable if we are to adequately prepare today’s learners for the workplaces, economies and societies of the future,” the President said.

He stressed that education is both a universal human right and a public good that must be protected from becoming inaccessible to vulnerable communities.

“As such, it must be safeguarded against commodification, and from becoming a privilege that excludes millions of people on account of geography, age, income, gender or personal circumstances. This is what leaving no-one behind means,” President Ramaphosa said.

The President said for education to deliver on its “universal and timeless promise, we have to fix the way it is financed”.

He welcomed the Sustainable Financing Pathways endorsed earlier this year by the Global Partnership for Education, UNESCO, UNICEF, the World Bank and G7 partners, describing it as “a country-owned blueprint that moves us away from fragmented aid to credible, long-term fiscal frameworks”.

President Ramaphosa said leveraging domestic resources, aligning concessional finance and private capital with national priorities and innovative financing instruments such as debt-for-education swaps will be key to closing the education funding gap.

He also warned that corruption, poor planning and financial mismanagement continue to deprive education systems of much-needed resources.

“We know that in far too many instances globally, scarce financial resources that could be invested in education are being lost or whittled away due to mismanagement, corruption and poor planning,” the President said.

Turning to the future of global education, President Ramaphosa said preparations for the post-2030 agenda are already under way, with thousands of young people and education experts helping to shape the next phase of global education policy.

He said consultations involving 20 000 young people from 95 countries revealed growing calls for improved access to education, greater attention to mental health, flexible learning pathways and meaningful youth participation in decision-making.

“Resilience, financing and the post-2030 agenda are streams travelling towards one destination, namely; resilient education systems that anticipate disruption, that adapt with equity, and that are ultimately transformative,” he said.

President Ramaphosa urged governments, development partners and international organisations to translate commitments into action.

“The responsibility now falls to each of us. Member States must embed risk-informed policies into every sectoral strategy, partners must align with country-led investment plans rather than creating new projects, young people must be treated as co-creators and not only beneficiaries, and gender-responsive planning must become the norm,” the President said.

The meeting forms part of President Ramaphosa’s official visit to France, during which he is co-chairing high-level UNESCO engagements and holding bilateral discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Health regulators have warned against the use or dispensing of recalled drugs Semaglutide and Tirzepatide.

The two medications are aimed at treating diabetes but are being used for weight loss purposes.

“The South African Pharmacy Council, Health Professions Council of South Africa and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority hereby warn the public, pharmacies and dispensing medical practitioners against any continued use, prescription and/or dispensing of iDEXIS Semaglutide, iDEXIS Tirzepatide, and iDEXIS Semaglutide/Tirzepatide recalled by SAHPRA in June 2026.

“The continued use, prescription and dispensing of these products pose a severe risk to patients’ safety and/or users. Any healthcare professional found to have dispensed, prescribed or kept stock of the recalled products will face disciplinary action in accordance with applicable legislation, including the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 101 of 1965,” the authorities warned in a statement.

The authorities added that any professional prescribing or dispensing the medications will “knowingly be endangering the health of the public”. – SAnews.gov.za

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has sought to reassure residents, businesses and investors that National Treasury’s decision to temporarily withhold its July 2026 equitable share allocation does not constitute a declaration that the metro is financially insolvent or incapable of delivering services.

The assurance follows National Treasury’s announcement that it is temporarily withholding the July 2026 equitable share transfers to several municipalities, including Nelson Mandela Bay, to enforce compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and strengthen financial governance.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Treasury said the intervention was prompted by what it described as “persistent and serious non-compliance” with the MFMA.

Responding to the decision, the municipality acknowledged the temporary withholding of the allocation, saying it is currently implementing corrective measures to address Treasury’s concerns.

“The municipality respects the constitutional and legislative oversight role of National Treasury and remains fully committed to working collaboratively with both National Treasury and the Provincial Treasury to satisfy all conditions required for the release of the temporarily withheld allocation,” the municipality said.

The metro said it has already commenced a comprehensive programme of financial governance reforms aimed at strengthening compliance with the MFMA, improving financial oversight, enhancing consequence management, and ensuring that all matters relating to unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure are dealt with in accordance with applicable legislation.

Efforts are also underway to improve the municipality’s long-term financial sustainability through strengthened revenue management, tighter expenditure controls, enhanced governance systems and improved oversight by the Municipal Council and its oversight structures.

The municipality stressed that the temporary withholding of the equitable share would not disrupt the delivery of essential municipal services.

“Every effort is being made to minimise any potential impact on municipal operations and service delivery. Essential services, including water, sanitation, electricity, waste management, emergency services and other frontline municipal services, remain the municipality’s highest priority.

“Residents should be assured that the municipality has activated the necessary internal governance processes to address the matters raised by National Treasury. A dedicated multidisciplinary team is engaging directly with National Treasury to ensure that all outstanding requirements are addressed as expeditiously as possible,” the municipality said.

The municipality said the Executive Mayor, together with the Municipal Council and administration, remains committed to restoring full compliance with the applicable legislative framework, strengthening institutional governance and ensuring prudent stewardship of public resources.

The municipality also described the intervention as an opportunity to further strengthen its financial management systems and reinforce public confidence in the institution.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, good governance, and responsible financial management in the interests of all residents. – SAnews.gov.za

Government has called for a united, society-wide response to crime, saying law enforcement alone cannot overcome the country’s safety challenges.

This, as the uMgungundlovu District Multi-Stakeholder Anti-Crime Council was officially launched in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong said the newly established council represents a great advancement in the shared commitment to strengthening safer and more secure communities.

The council brings together government, law enforcement, business, traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society, private security, youth formations and community structures to coordinate efforts aimed at preventing crime and addressing its root causes. 

Morolong said the launch, taking place during Mandela Month, gives practical effect to former President Nelson Mandela’s call for every sector of society to play a role in fighting crime.

Quoting Mandela’s 1999 Crime Prevention Campaign address, Morolong said crime should not be viewed solely as a policing issue.

“President Mandela warned us not to perceive crime simply as a challenge for law enforcement,” he said. 

Morolong said Mandela had stressed that “our battle against the rising tide of crime must be ‘many-sided’, requiring the active participation of every corner of society”.

Morolong acknowledged that crime continues to place a heavy burden on communities despite improvements in some crime categories.

“Many citizens live in fear of various crimes such as violence, robbery, gender-based violence, and substance abuse, which collectively compromise community wellbeing,” he said. 

He noted that Pietermaritzburg faces significant safety challenges, citing the 2026 Numbeo Crime Index, which ranks the city as the world’s most dangerous with a crime index of 82.8 and a safety index of 17.2. 

Morolong also pointed to recent South African Police Service crime statistics, which show that while murder cases declined nationally during the first quarter of 2026, KwaZulu-Natal remains a major contributor to the country’s high levels of contact crime. 

Addressing concerns around organised crime and migration, Morolong said government remains committed to strengthening border management and law enforcement, while ensuring that immigration laws are applied fairly and in line with the Constitution.

“Our fight is not against migrants, but against criminality in all its forms. We must work together to secure our borders, protect vulnerable communities, combat organised crime, and uphold the safety and security of everyone living in South Africa,” Morolong said. 

Morolong emphasised that tackling crime also requires addressing its underlying causes, including unemployment, inequality, substance abuse, family disintegration and limited opportunities for young people.

He said the council will not duplicate existing structures but will improve coordination, accountability, resource mobilisation and community participation to address both crime and violence. 

Government’s approach, he said, is guided by the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy and the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which promote a whole-of-government and whole-of-society model focused on prevention, victim support, effective service delivery and active community participation. 

Morolong also highlighted government’s efforts to tackle unemployment through initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention, the Expanded Public Works Programme, the Social Employment Fund and skills development programmes.

“By creating jobs, developing skills, and expanding economic opportunity, we are not only growing the economy, but we are also tackling some of the root causes of crime and building stronger, safer communities,” he said.

Calling on all sectors of society to support the new council, Morolong said its success would ultimately be measured by the positive impact it has on the lives of residents.

“You will not be judged on the number of meetings you convene but on the difference you create in the lives of the people of uMgungundlovu,” he said. 

He urged council members to serve with integrity, dedication, and purpose, adding that the initiative should become a light of hope and a model for districts throughout our country. – SAnews.gov.za

South Africa will on Sunday commemorate one of the most defining chapters in its military history when President Cyril Ramaphosa leads the country’s delegation at the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood in Longueval, northern France. 

The annual commemoration honours the courage and sacrifice of South African soldiers who fought during the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916, one of the most significant battles involving South African forces during the First World War.

President Ramaphosa is expected to attend the commemorative ceremony at the South African National Memorial, where wreaths will be laid in remembrance of those who lost their lives in service of their country. The programme will also include the unveiling of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) commemorative plaque recognising the historical significance of the memorial and its contribution to preserving shared global heritage.

The Battle of Delville Wood, fought between 15 and 20 July 1916, during the Somme Offensive, is remembered for the extraordinary courage displayed by the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. Despite suffering devastating casualties under relentless enemy attack, the brigade held its position in what has become one of South Africa’s most enduring symbols of bravery, resilience and sacrifice.

The Delville Wood Memorial stands as the country’s national memorial dedicated to all South Africans who served in all theatres of war. It remains the only memorial dedicated to the participation of South African forces on the Western Front during the First World War and serves as a place of remembrance for all South Africans who lost their lives in the First World War and subsequent conflicts.

More than 229 000 officers and men served with the South African Forces during the First World War, with approximately 10 000 losing their lives in action or dying of wounds sustained during the conflict. Their names are recorded in a Book of Remembrance housed at the Delville Wood Museum, adjacent to the memorial.

The original memorial was unveiled in 1926, while the museum was officially opened in November 1986 to preserve the history and legacy of South Africa’s involvement in the First World War. Beyond the museum lies Delville Wood itself, now fully regenerated, while across the road is Delville Wood Cemetery, established after the Armistice by concentrating graves recovered from surrounding battlefields.

According to the Presidency, President Ramaphosa’s participation demonstrates South Africa’s continued commitment to honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the country.

Beyond remembering the fallen, the commemoration also reflects on the values of courage, duty, sacrifice and remembrance while reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to peace, reconciliation and international cooperation.

The event also serves to strengthen the longstanding friendship between South Africa and France through shared remembrance of a defining chapter in history. By acknowledging the devastating human cost of war, the commemoration reaffirms a collective commitment to preventing future conflicts.

The 110th anniversary also presents an opportunity to educate younger generations about South Africa’s military heritage, ensuring that the legacy of those who served continues to inspire future generations.

President Ramaphosa’s participation in the commemorative event forms part of his Official Visit to France, during which he will also hold bilateral engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and participate in high-level discussions at UNESCO on advancing global education. – SAnews.gov.za

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) systems largely trained on foreign datasets risk perpetuating racial bias and undermining South Africa’s transformative constitutional vision if they are not infused with local historical context.

The Minister delivered remarks at the University of Johannesburg’s “AI and the Law” conference.

She explained that while AI-powered solutions could drastically reduce legal costs and delays, the same technology could just as easily increase access to injustice if deployed without transparency, accountability and data that reflects the country’s apartheid past.

“African Data which carry our archives, African languages and cultural nuance, do not find expression in the AI machines that are currently used in the various fields, including law. Most AI is trained on datasets from North America and Asia.

“This exclusion perpetuates data poverty and algorithmic bias, leading to real-world consequences such as poor language translation machines, especially for African languages.

“The bigger risk for our country in respect of the law is the use of AI machines which are totally devoid of our historical context as a country,” Kubayi said on Thursday.

She acknowledged that despite the challenges presented, AI systems stand to increase justice for all.

“Among the factors that have been a barrier to the achievement of universal access to justice are prohibitive legal costs, geographic remoteness from courts and legal services, lengthy delays in case resolution, and a shortage of legal practitioners willing or able to serve lower-income communities.

“Undoubtedly, by automating repetitive processes, advancing legal research, drafting, increasing dispute resolution, and encouraging predictive legal analytics, the introduction of AI-powered solutions has drastically transformed the delivery of legal services.
“The effect of AI-powered tools does not only reduce the time it takes to perform these tasks, but they also do these tasks at a fraction of the traditional cost. The effect of these developments is the rapid increase of access to justice,” the Minister noted.

Probing questions

She noted that South Africa’s Constitution is transformative and was drafted to “heal the divisions of the past” and lay a foundation for social justice.

“As a country we have seen and experienced the horrific consequences of a nation organised through racial segregation. We need to ask ourselves: what is it that we need to do [so] that technological progress is not concomitant with the growth of digitised racial segregation?

“The data that carries our history and our social context has been excluded in the development of the AI machines that are currently in the market. How then should we expect that the machines which are, in all likelihood, biased against us will be able to help us build a just society? Are we not, in our quest to increase access to justice through AI, at the risk of increasing access to injustice?” Kubayi enquired.

She encouraged leaders of the universities to “help to answer this question and many other questions that have arisen with the development” of AI.

“I have no doubt this conference will attend to all these very important issues so that we can be able to utilise AI to advance the Sustainable Development Goals through Law, Governance and Practice.

“I look forward to the outcomes of this conference. I wish you all the best with your deliberations,” Kubayi concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture has recognised outstanding women farmers and extension practitioners in the OR Tambo District for their contribution to agricultural development, food security and rural livelihoods.

The department on Thursday hosted the district leg of the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) and the Extension and Advisory Services Awards (EASA), making OR Tambo the fifth district to host the combined awards programme.

The Women Entrepreneur Awards recognise excellence among women in agricultural production and agribusiness, while the Extension and Advisory Services Awards honour extension officers, who have demonstrated excellence in providing technical support and advisory services to farming communities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Director: District Coordination, Andiswa Matinise, commended farmers for their contribution to the province’s agricultural sector and efforts to combat poverty and food insecurity.

“We would not achieve our mandate without our farmers. By 2030, we have a mandate to eradicate poverty, and this cannot be achieved without your continued commitment. Your contribution ensures that the Eastern Cape remains one of the country’s food baskets,” she said.

Matinise also praised extension and advisory services officials, describing them as the department’s “ground heroes”, who work tirelessly to provide technical guidance and support to farmers across the district.

Giving words of encouragement, local farmer Andile Ndzendze encouraged both farmers and extension practitioners to explore agro-processing opportunities to increase the value of agricultural products and unlock new markets.

Ndzendze also called for the preservation of indigenous agricultural knowledge, while encouraging the commercial development of traditional products through appropriate intellectual property protection.

“We must preserve our indigenous knowledge and ensure that the products we develop are protected through appropriate intellectual property mechanisms so that future generations can benefit from them,” he said.

Director for Extension and Advisory Services Noluvuyo Nqeno challenged farmers to remain focused on their purpose and embrace their uniqueness.

“You must focus on what you are doing, why you are doing it and who you are doing it for. Nothing limits people more than trying to fit in with the crowd. Be proud of your uniqueness and build something that future generations will recognise and continue,” she said,” Nqeno said.

She encouraged established women farmers to mentor young people by involving them in farm management, administration and the use of modern agricultural technologies.

“Leave a legacy. Even if your children are not yet interested, remain patient because what we have built should not be lost. Allow young people to participate in bookkeeping, administration, and the use of modern technologies within farming enterprises. This is how we will spark their interest and attract them into agriculture.”

She also highlighted the province’s food security challenges, noting that about 27% of households experience food insecurity, and called for greater collaboration to strengthen agricultural production and improve livelihoods.

The district awards form part of the department’s programme to recognise excellence, promote women’s participation in agriculture and strengthen extension services that support sustainable agricultural development across the Eastern Cape.

Women entrepreneur awards winners

Best Smallholder Producer: Sofika and Van Zyl Trading Enterprise
Best Commercial Producer: Tyhopho Trading Enterprise
Best Agro-Processing Producer: Cberkie Projects and Innovations
Overall Winner: Tyhopho Trading Enterprise

Extension and advisory services awards winners

Best Extension Practitioner (Candidate Natural Scientist): Winner – Yongama Zantsi; Runner-up – Bavuyise Sondzaba
Best Extension Practitioner (Certificated Natural Scientist): Winner – Thanduxolo Paliso; Runner-up – Nosihle Mfunduka
Legend/Lifetime Achievement Award: Dumisa Mlanjeni, who joined the department in 1990. – SAnews.gov.za