Category: South Africa Government

The Gauteng Provincial Government says its approach to economic growth is firmly grounded in the reindustrialisation of Gauteng and the deliberate inclusion of township and local enterprises in the mainstream economy.

“Towards the end of 2025, South Africa’s labour market showed modest improvement, with national employment rising by almost a quarter million due to growth in the infrastructure and services sectors.

“Our province outperformed the national trend, reaching a record 5.24 million employed and accounting for nearly 70% of national job gains over the past year, with growth strongest in construction, finance, community and social services,” said Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi.

He said Gauteng has managed to attract R27 billion in Foreign Direct Investment from a diverse set of countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Australia, Cyprus, the USA and the UAE, underscoring international confidence in this province as South Africa’s primary investment and industrial hub.

“In our SOPA last year, we committed to attracting new investments to create sustainable jobs. We did as promised…We attracted R312 billion investments in our Inaugural Gauteng Investment Conference. Today, R73 billion is now moving from commitment to implementation, creating 114 000 jobs across multiple sectors.

“Last year, Gauteng secured the largest share of the Presidential Investment Conference amounting to over R180 billion, and we expect nothing less of our performance in this year’s Presidential Investment Summit.

“The City of Johannesburg, with its Netherlands partners, secured a R7 billion waste-to-energy project.

“Through the assistance of our dynamic Minister [of Electricity Kgosientsho] Ramokgopa, all major electrical appliances and equipment will now be made in Ekurhuleni with an initial investment of R2.2 billion, creating 3000 new jobs.

“We brought Chery International Car Manufactures to our shores to build their cars here rather than bringing them to our province as finished products. This intervention will also bring new jobs and also protect 700 jobs affected by Nissan’s repositioning.

“Heineken Global has started construction of a R1.9 billion investment in Midvaal. This is not about malt but about farmers and job seekers. Microsoft invested a R5.4 billion data centre expansion in the Midrand–Centurion corridor, positioning Gauteng as Africa’s digital gateway.

“We successfully brought in Chung Fung Metal, a R2.5 billion investment that opened its factory doors last month and created more than 1000 jobs. This new steel factory has brought the latest technology in steel manufacturing to our shores.

“The proposed DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) steel plant located in Lesedi Local Municipality represents a major industrial investment with the potential to create more than 1 000 permanent employment opportunities once fully operational.

“The Gauteng Dry Port is moving towards reality, representing a projected investment of approximately R50 billion. Once fully operational, it will create approximately 50 000 permanent jobs.

“The Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) has secured R1.61 billion in confirmed new investments and remains on track to achieve the 4 000 construction jobs committed for Phase 2.

“The Vaal SEZ, which has recently been gazetted for comments by Minister Parks Tau, is expected to contribute over R10 billion to the Gauteng economy.

“Lanseria Smart City has secured R4 billion for Cradle Film Studios, which is set to become the largest film production facility on the continent. The project is expected to create 15 000 jobs, including 10 000 in film production.

“The Tambo Springs SEZ is projected to deliver significant and long-term economic benefits to Gauteng, underpinned by an estimated R23.6 billion capital investment. During the construction phase, the project is expected to contribute to and support about 50 000 jobs and enable over 1000 new MSMEs.

“Haier–Kwikot is investing approximately R2.4 billion in Benoni as part of one of the most significant industrial investments in our province in recent years. This investment secures more than 700 existing jobs.”

The Premier said all these investments are ready and capable of assisting in defeating unemployment, totalling just 250 000 jobs, especially for the youth.

The Gauteng Economic Growth and Development Plan is the roadmap for economic development. The Premier announced the resumption of the action labs for the 12 high-growth sectors, such as manufacturing, green economy, transport and logistics.

“We will formally launch the action labs on 19 March 2026, which brings together government, the private sector and critical stakeholders to convert sector plans into bankable projects, attract foreign direct investment, and drive job creation in our high-
growth industries.”

Lesufi said in support of international tourism growth, Gauteng set a target of opening four new air routes during this financial year.

To date, three routes have been secured, namely FlyGabon, Qantas Airlines, and United Airlines. These routes provide access to three strategic markets, including Central Africa, North America, and Australasia.

He said with the potential gas cliff due to Sasol’s possible reduction in this space, Transnet has entered into a partnership to construct and operate South Africa’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal at the Port of Richards Bay, which will transport gas from Richards Bay to Gauteng for the first time.

The converted pipeline will make imported gas available to industrial users across Gauteng, thus wetting Gauteng to ignite the economy.

“Those who came before us in 2012 saw the need to go to the private market to secure funding for R27 billion to build the Gautrain. By the end of March this year, the private sector will handover to us the R52 billion infrastructure fully owned by the people of Gauteng.

“To maximise this investment later this year, we will resume the process to expand Gautrain to Soweto, Mamelodi, Springs, Atteridgeville, Fourways, etc. We are finalising the concessionaire for the Gautrain expansion for the next 15 years,” said Lesufi.

He said the Gauteng- Limpopo Provincial Rail Link speed train has taken an impressive turn.

“Over 30 investors have raised their hands willing to bankroll this project. With the undivided support of our President and the Minister of Transport, this dream is about to be realised in our lifetime.”

He said the province must deal with the illicit trade that continues to cripple the economy. Recently the British American Tobacco (BAT) announced its intention to completely close its manufacturing plant in Heidelberg, placing livelihoods at risk.

The company attributes its decision largely to the persistent growth of the illicit cigarette trade in the country, which has significantly eroded its market share and revenues.

“Together with the police, we are intensifying the protection of our manufacturing and retail sectors. Already, we have confiscated counterfeit goods valued at R250.2 million last year.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

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Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo is undertaking a high-level working visit to Japan to strengthen bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Japan in the water and sanitation sector.

The visit, from 23 – 27 February, builds on the longstanding partnership between the two countries and advances the existing Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with a particular focus on capacity building, skills transfer, and sustainable water management solutions.

Mahlobo’s visit comes at a time when he has been closely involved in stabilising water supply systems in Johannesburg, working with municipalities, water entities, and communities to address infrastructure pressures and service delivery constraints.

The department said this firsthand experience in navigating complex operational and governance challenges brings a practical perspective to the delegation and positions the visit as a continuation of ongoing efforts to secure long-term sustainability in South Africa’s water sector.

The Deputy Minister is accompanied by senior officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA), reflecting a coordinated approach to supporting municipalities and driving measurable reform in water management.

South Africa continues to grapple with serious water sector challenges, with non-revenue water identified as a critical concern in more than 80 percent of assessed municipalities. Water losses through leaks, illegal connections and billing inefficiencies are placing immense strain on already constrained municipal finances and infrastructure systems.

“Reducing these losses is central to restoring reliable supply, protecting revenue, improving infrastructure performance and safeguarding scarce water resources in a climate-constrained environment,” the department said in a statement.

The visit also reinforces cooperation with the Government of Japan, represented by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. This partnership, formalised through a Memorandum of Cooperation, focuses on water infrastructure management, disaster risk reduction and capacity building, and has positioned Japan as a strategic technical partner in strengthening South Africa’s water sector.

The department noted that through the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), South Africa has already advanced the development of a comprehensive Non-Revenue Water Training Programme, aimed at strengthening the Department’s Infrastructure Branch Training Centre in Roodeplaat.

According to the department, the technical cooperation has resulted in the construction of a specialised training yard that simulates real municipal water systems and provides hands-on, practical learning directly aligned to the operational realities faced by municipalities.

“Implemented in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association and MISA, the programme prioritises practical skills in pressure management, metering accuracy, data analysis and active leakage detection,” the department said.

Technical cooperation agreement

In terms of the Technical Cooperation Agreement, the department reported that 10 South African officials per year over a three-year period will participate in specialised training of trainers programmes in Japan, producing 30 accredited trainers.

“From 2 to 13 February 2026, the first group of 10 water sector officials — drawn from municipalities, MISA and the department — are participating in the intensive programme to ensure that expertise acquired in Japan is institutionalised and cascaded locally,” the department said.

During the visit, the delegation will engage with Japanese counterparts to review and strengthen the cooperation agreement, examine Japan’s water governance and licensing systems, and explore advanced infrastructure and disaster resilience models.

As South Africa advances the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, the delegation will also engage with the Japan Water Agency to draw lessons from its institutional framework. Technical site visits will include integrated river basin and flood management systems, reinforcing the shared emphasis on resilience and long-term planning.

The department said the partnership presents mutual benefits, creating opportunities for innovation exchange while delivering tangible improvements in municipal capacity and operational performance in South Africa.

“Mahlobo’s working visit demonstrates government’s commitment to combining international best practice, strong bilateral partnerships and intensive skills development to address water challenges decisively.

“Through strengthened cooperation with Japan, South Africa is taking practical steps to improve service delivery, support municipalities and secure the nation’s water future,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says a R760 million infrastructure investment upgrade is underway in the city of Johannesburg to permanently resolve water issues.

Delivering the State of the Province Address at Nasrec in Johannesburg on Monday, the Premier said the upgrades will be implemented over a phased approach.

The construction of a new ground reservoir and a tower in Brixton is underway and will go live by this Saturday to improve water supply. Also, an emergency boosting pumping station will go live next week.

“The permanent solution will be realised once the construction of the 5km pipeline is concluded at the end of the year. Furthermore, the national government is assisting us in realising the return on investment made, so that the people of Hammanskraal, Bronkhorspruit, Kokosi, Fochville, Kwa-Thema and other areas can have their dignity restored,” he said.

Lesufi said the challenge was not water availability, but the interruptions caused by infrastructure failures, leaks and high-demand peaks.

“We are working as the three spheres of government to fix the water challenges in our province. We are about to conclude the expansion of our water infrastructure so that we can be ready to receive additional water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, thus cementing our water security permanently.”

On 27 January 2026, Johannesburg was hit by an unexpected water shortage. There was an explosion at the Rand Water plant. After the explosion, a fire hit the transmission machines, followed by a huge burst pipe.

“Immediately thereafter, our water supply was deeply affected. We then went into emergency mode. The area affected by the explosion was rectified within 72 hours, the fire extinguished, and the burst pipe repaired. However, the water levels were badly affected.”

The President sent a Ministerial team to the province and the water emergency team went into overdrive. 

The Premier said this resulted in the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, giving an extraordinary proclamation to allow Rand Water to immediately extract more water from the Vaal River Integrated Water System.

The first suburban area to be hit hard was Midrand, where water has been fully restored.

“In Soweto, we have made great progress, except for Meadowlands Zones 3 and 4 and areas receiving water from the Doornkop reservoir. Our engineers have assured us that this will be addressed urgently; in the West Rand, water in Kagiso and the surrounding areas has been restored. Besides Bedfordview, Tsakane, and parts of Kwa-Thema, the Ekurhuleni water supply is now stable, including Tshwane, Sedibeng and West Rand.”

The Premier said there were areas where residents have a full supply but might be affected by pressure at night due to nighttime throttling. Nighttime throttling reduces pressure to allow system recovery.

The areas affected include Kensington, Bezuidenhout Valley, Bruma and Berea. Other areas that are still experiencing instability are those supplied through the Commando System and the Brixton Towers.

The areas that remain stubborn and difficult include parts of Westdene, Coronationville, Sophiatown, Melville, Emmarentia, and sections of Doornkop.

“To avoid the sporadic shortage of water, together with mayors and the national government, we prioritised the need for investment in water storage.

“In Midrand, we are building a new water storage facility to house 20 million litres. The private developers matched this investment with a donation of 10 million litres of water that will be available to the people of the Midrand. Similar investments are rising in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and the West Rand municipalities.”

Lesufi said while progress is being made, the water challenges in the province need constant monitoring and support.

“We once more sincerely apologise to our residents that went and still go through the inconveniences caused by this unfortunate situation. Be assured of our commitment to permanently resolve this challenge.” – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive to deploy the SANDF to Gauteng to stamp out illegal mining and rising gang violence.

“We are pleased that these soldiers have already arrived in our province,” said the Premier, delivering the State of the Province Address on Monday at Nasrec, in Johannesburg.

He said illegal mining in Gauteng has reached intolerable levels. Over 600 families, including women and children, fled from their homes in January 2026 due to the violence, threats, and attacks on the residents by “marauding gangsters”.

The ongoing illegal mining affects the communities of West Rand, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Sedibeng Districts.

“Dangerous syndicates use high-calibre weapons such as AK-47s to conduct hostile takeovers of illegal mining sites. Government will put a stop to this terror and protect law abiding residents of this province,” said the Premier.

He said the might of the law was demonstrated recently in the West Rand when all spheres of government confronted Zama-Zamas who thought they could victimise and intimidate the community of Sporong.

“This was followed by a joint operation where 75 AK47 rifles and rounds of ammunition were recovered. This municipality remains the biggest beneficiary of the recently announced deployment of the SANDF.”

Regarding the mushrooming of informal settlements in the province, Lesufi said; “We cannot allow our beautiful province to be reduced to a shanty town. Of late, major parts of our province are witnessing an abnormal rise in a number of informal settlements.”

“To stop this we have resolved that all law enforcement agencies and municipalities will not allow the building of new informal settlements in our province. We have established a multi-disciplinary team to attend to the mushrooming of informal settlements.”

The first informal settlement to be removed by this team was Plastic City in Ekurhuleni with over 2500 people.

“We thank the Ekurhuleni municipality for leading from the front. This is not being against the poor and the homeless. We are against the ‘Mkhukhu” mafias who are taking advantage of our people.”

He said the next informal settlement was Plastic View in Tshwane. “We went there with the SAPS, metro police and Home Affairs officials. However, we were not successful but we have agreed to return later this year.”

On Tuesday, the provincial government will be in Benoni at the Chief Albert Luthuli mega housing project where 188 walk up units will be handed over which will benefit people who were staying in the Chris Hani, Gabon, Zenzele informal settlements, Daveyton old section, Benoni, Actonville, Crystal Park, Mayfield Ext.1, 6 & 7, Etwatwa, Barcelona, Emaphupheni and Wattville.

“We have reported before that the government has identified the Makause informal settlement in Ekurhuleni as a key focus area for development and relocation to improve the living conditions of its residents.

“I am pleased to report that we have since acquired 200 hectares of land to upgrade this informal settlement. The process of land transfer and registration to City of Ekurhuleni is underway.”

The province is successfully piloting innovative alternative sanitation solutions in informal settlements. This will ensure that residents have access to clean, safe and dignified sanitation services. These systems are quick to install, use minimal water, and do not require conventional sewer infrastructure.

To ease morning and afternoon traffic congestion on the provinces roads, which affects the economy, the Gauteng EXCO has adopted the Transport Master Plan with the aim of opening new roads, amongst others.

“We welcome the adoption of the Integrated Transport Master Plan that begins to shift planning to action, using corridor-based investment and stronger integration of rail, bus, taxi and non-motorised transport.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has warned universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges against using internationalisation as a reason to ignore South Africa’s immigration and labour laws.

The warning follows a recent joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to discuss the employment of foreign academics within universities and TVET colleges.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) briefed the committee members on their respective roles, regulations and oversight responsibilities regarding the employment of foreign nationals.

During deliberations, committee members raised serious concerns about the lack of accurate and reliable data on foreign academic staff employed across the post-school education sector.

Members stressed that the employment of foreign nationals must align with the country’s Critical Skills List and address genuine skills shortages, rather than replacing capable South Africans.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela told the committee that without reliable data, it is difficult to determine whether institutions are complying with immigration and labour laws or bypassing them by appointing foreign nationals in non-critical roles.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Tebogo Letsie, stressed that institutions are obliged to respect the country’s laws.

“When South African students go to other countries, they are expected to follow the laws of those countries. The same [principle] is expected from those who come to the country.

“Internationalisation is important, but it must not be used as an excuse to ignore immigration laws. If institutions need foreign academics, they must clearly demonstrate that such skills shortages exist,” Letsie said.

He added that the committee recognises the valuable contribution made by many foreign academics, especially in critical subjects such as mathematics, and clarified that the committee is not opposed to their employment where justified.

Members expressed concern about weak coordination and oversight mechanisms that have reportedly allowed foreign nationals to be employed in positions that are not classified as critical skills. Oversight visits revealed that some foreign nationals were employed in senior management and administrative roles, including principals, chief financial officers and other non-academic posts.

The committee recommended that the DHET urgently clean and verify its data, including reviewing the status of at least 67 foreign nationals employed in the TVET sector whose roles are not linked to critical or scarce skills.

Members of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs reminded institutions that employing foreign nationals without valid work authorisation constituted a criminal offence. Section 38 of the Immigration Act (Act 13 of 2002) clearly prohibits the employment of undocumented foreign nationals.

The committees also raised concern that some institutions may be using the critical skills system without first confirming whether qualified South Africans are available for the positions. 

The committees acknowledged the ongoing review of the White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Protection of Refugees and resolved to engage further once the Bill is tabled in Parliament.

The meeting also agreed to meet with the Department of Employment and Labour in the coming weeks to address the issues raised by members.

Letsie affirmed that the committee will continue its oversight efforts to ensure compliance across the sector.

“We have a serious problem in the sector where some universities and TVET colleges hire foreign nationals without following proper processes. This cannot continue at the expense of qualified South Africans. Institutions must comply with the law, improve transparency and ensure that employment practices are fair and lawful,” the Chairperson said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has assured citizens that the government is rolling out targeted interventions to curb corruption and hold officials accountable for manipulating systems to issue documents irregularly.

“I can today announce that disciplinary processes against all implicated individuals are ongoing. A total of 20 officials have already been dismissed since April last year,” the Minister said on Monday in Pretoria.

His remarks are a response to the release of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) interim report on the investigation into allegations of serious maladministration within the Department of Home Affairs.

The investigation focused on recurring schemes involving document fraud, visa and work-permit manipulation, and facilitation networks enabling unauthorised entry into South Africa.

“I have also requested the Director-General to write to the Department of Public Service and Administration, as well as to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to ensure that these former officials are not reemployed elsewhere in the State while they undergo criminal proceedings.

“Over the past two financial years, a total of 75 disciplinary cases were completed, resulting in an additional 16 suspensions without pay and 22 written warnings,” the Minister said.

This work has also led to several referrals for criminal prosecution.

“I would encourage the National Prosecuting Authority to prioritise these cases as part of our collective efforts to restore the rule of law,” he said.

Furthermore, the department has also identified over 2 000 study visas that were fraudulently issued through the syndicates that were operating at Home Affairs.

“Administrative processes are now underway to cancel these visas, and we will also ringfence any subsequent visas obtained by these same individuals to ensure that all irregularly obtained documents are cancelled and that perpetrators are deported or prosecuted as required,” the Minister said.

The department is moving to shut down manual processes and replace them with new cutting-edge digital systems that leave no space for manipulation.

“As confirmed by the SIU, it is paper-based and manual processes that have long created space for crooked officials to overlook fraudulent documents or approve applications that do not meet the relevant regulatory requirements,” Schreiber said.

Last year, Home Affairs launched the first phase of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which enables visa applicants to apply online, capture biometrics, and receive approvals in real-time, eliminating lengthy processing times and cumbersome documentation.

“To date, this new system has declined over 30 000 applications that did not meet the relevant requirements for tourist visas. It does so by using machine learning to verify the authenticity of documents like passports.

“The ETA also uses biometric technology to match an applicant’s face to their passport photo, which means that they cannot enter South Africa using fraudulent documents.

“The ETA does all of this through rules-based decision-making that is overseen by the Department, but that cannot be manipulated by any official,” the Minister said.

Working together with the Border Management Authority and the South African Revenue Service, the department is currently expanding facial recognition capabilities to all international airports and to the busiest land ports of entry.

“Once this work is complete, we will scale up the ETA to become the central entry point for all tourist visas to South Africa. This means that we will shut down all other tourist visa processing, including at South African missions abroad.

“Once this is complete, we will further expand the ETA to additional visa categories, including study visas. By moving all visa processing to the ETA, we are closing loopholes that were previously exploited to grant non-qualifying or fraudulent applications,” he said.

Through the ETA, Home Affairs will ensure that a handful of officials can’t manipulate processes.

“The rollout of the ETA also links to our work to build an Intelligent Population Register to anchor a new Digital ID system, which will ensure that biometrics are recorded for every person in South Africa, and that biometric verification is used to protect our citizenship and identity system.

“This is how we eliminate the scourge of identity theft by illegal immigrants, which is concentrated around the continued use of the green bar-coded identity book,” the Minister said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

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The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has recommended that Home Affairs considers the vetting of all employees of the department as one of the range of measures to address vulnerabilities in the country’s immigration system.

The SIU on Monday briefed media on the outcomes of the Home Affairs investigation which was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa under Proclamation 154 of 2024. An interim report outlining the outcomes of the investigation has since been submitted to the President.

The investigation has revealed that South Africa’s immigration system has been treated as “a marketplace, where permits and visas were sold to the highest bidder”.

“Officials entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of the Department of Home Affairs instead turned their positions into profit-making schemes, while external actors, including religious figures and entertainment industry personalities, exploited influence, fabricated documentation, and manipulated systemic weaknesses to secure fraudulent residence permits,” said Acting Head of the SIU, Leonard Lekgetho.

Investigation background

Lekgetho said a whistleblower brought forward to the SIU allegations that foreign nationals enter South Africa, fraudulently obtain asylum seeker permits, and later use them to apply for permanent residence and ultimately citizenship. 

“The SIU received information that these foreign nationals collude with syndicates involving corrupt Home Affairs officials to secure permits without merit, as permits are issued upon application without assessing the asylum claim. 

“Holders can remain in the country, even if their application is rejected by exhausting appeal rights up to the Constitutional Court, regardless of the merits of their application.” 

The SIU obtained a Special Tribunal order to investigate and, with the assistance of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), they searched five Refugee Reception Offices, seizing laptops, desktops, cell phones, external drives, and files. Two hundred and thirty-seven items were imaged for cyber forensic analysis.

Cell phone analysis revealed communication between officials and foreign nationals, with payments via e-Wallet ranging from R500 to R3 000, facilitating the unlawful issuing of permits and visas to unqualified individuals, the SIU said.

“Payments were made through various methods: cash hidden in application forms, with office doors closed to avoid cameras; e-Wallet deposits using non-RICA registered or fraudulently RICA [Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act] registered numbers; asylum seekers sending e-Wallet payments to themselves and providing OTPs to officials, and in-kind payments, such as covering officials’ private rent or services. Officials used dummy phones to conceal transactions and communication,” said Lekgetho. 

The nefarious exchange: Citizenship for luxury lifestyles

The “nefarious syndicate” – as described by Lekgetho – is a coordinated group of department officials responsible for the lawful processing, adjudication and receipt of visa applications. However, the Acting Head said they instead engaged in behaviour suggesting systemic corruption and illicit enrichment, in violation of their official duties. 

“The SIU can reveal that, so far, we have uncovered that four officials, who earn less than R25 000 per month, have received a total of R16 313 327.00 in direct deposits.

“Evidence indicates that certain members of this group have acquired significant assets that are grossly disproportionate to their legal income. This includes the cash purchase of multiple properties and the construction of high-value residential developments. 

“Some members have developed private properties with extensive infrastructure, such as large-scale solar installations and spacious parking lots, suggesting access to capital inconsistent with their official salaries,” Lekgetho said.

The SIU’s investigation, said Lekgetho, shows that certain officials turned the permit system into a “marketplace”. 

“Their modus operandi was simple: applications were sent via WhatsApp for expedited approval, and once approved, money flowed almost immediately. Payments were not made directly to officials but funnelled through accounts held by their spouses, deliberately disguising the bribes.

“In one case, a permit was approved on 20 December, and by 21 December, R3 000 had been deposited into the spouse’s account. Another transaction saw R6 000 transferred days after two permits were approved. These transactions reveal a direct link between approvals and payments, leaving no doubt that permits were being sold.”

Officials also reportedly operated within syndicates, using intermediaries to collect funds from foreign nationals. Transaction references such as “Permit”, “Visa Process”, or “Building Material” were used to mask the true nature of payments. 

Secondary accounts belonging to spouses received unexplained cash deposits amounting to hundreds of thousands of rand.

The scale of enrichment, Lekgetho remarked, was staggering. 

“Analysis of a construction company registered in the name of one official’s husband revealed deposits totalling R8.9 million between 2020 and 2023. These deposits were inconsistent with legitimate construction business activity and included payments explicitly referencing “PRP” (Permanent Residence Permit). At least R185 000 was directly linked to PRP applications. 

“Officials turned their spouses into silent partners in crime. 

Another official accumulated so much wealth that she built a mansion and a paved road leading to her home on a monthly salary of R25 000,” Lekgetho noted.

The SIU has also traced financial gains exceeding R181 million associated with beneficiaries of fraudulent visa applications, which were underpinned by fake documentation.

Investigation into identity fraud and DNA manipulation

Based on the findings of the SIU, in conjunction with Interpol, a significant scheme of identity fraud has been uncovered, primarily involving foreign nationals who obtain South African passports to commit crimes abroad or seek refugee status elsewhere. 

The investigation revealed a specific modus operandi in which these individuals collude with departmental officials to gain unauthorised access to Home Affairs’ offices.

Once inside, they fraudulently use the fingerprints of unsuspecting South African citizens, while substituting the photograph on the application with that of the foreign national.

“In response to these findings, the SIU has proposed systematic recommendations to bolster security. We advise that, while the department is implementing its biometric system, it should enforce stricter controls on passport photographs. 

“Furthermore, the SIU recommends strengthening physical access control to departmental offices to ensure that all individuals entering Home Affairs facilities can be positively identified, thereby preventing such internal collusion,” said Lekgetho. 

In a parallel investigation, the SIU uncovered evidence of DNA sample swapping and manipulation, a scheme designed to favour foreign nationals in their applications for Permanent Residence Permits. 

This practice exploits the requirement for DNA testing, conducted by the National Health Laboratories Services, which is a prerequisite for certain visa categories. 

Lekgetho said the SIU has found prima facie evidence that these biological results are being tampered with to benefit foreign applicants.

“Although this specific manipulation may not fall strictly under the Department of Home Affairs’ direct operational control, the SIU has formally alerted the department to this observation to ensure inter-agency awareness and cooperation.”

He said another factor that compounds issues of fraud is the systemic abuse of the retirement visa category, which the SIU attributes to a lack of clear departmental guidelines for its adjudication. The investigation revealed that this regulatory gap directly leads to manipulation and fraud, particularly because the visa type has no age restriction, making it susceptible to widespread abuse. 

“A core part of the problem lies in the fact that while applicants are required to prove a monthly income of approximately R37 000 to obtain the visa, the department failed to monitor compliance with this financial requirement after the permit has been issued. 

“This lack of post-issuance oversight creates an environment, where the visa’s conditions can be easily circumvented, undermining the integrity of the immigration system.”

Recommendations to strengthen immigration system

To curb fraud and corruption in the immigration system, the SIU has recommended that:

• The Department of Home Affairs should strengthen its contract management. The Department should consider the enforcement of an ethical culture and provide ethical training to its employees.
• The department should consider vetting of all employees.
• The department should consider system integration on all its processes, including those of other government departments linked to the Department of Home Affairs.
• The system integration should take into account the interim findings of the SIU and the observations thereto.
• The department should consider developing a step-by-step guideline on how verification should be conducted.
• The department should consider strengthening its verification process before the issuance of visas.
• The department should consider having quality assurance before the issuance of visas. The department should consider system integration between the department and the Department of Labour.
• The department should consider enforcing compliance with its prescriptions by the company to issue a business visa to report to the department upon termination or cancellation of the visa.

“The findings make one thing clear: South Africa’s immigration system was treated as a commodity. Permits and visas were sold, traded and laundered. These findings show that corruption in the visa system is not incidental; it is organised, deliberate, and devastating to public trust. Integrity is betrayed,” Lekgetho concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s commitment to improving water and sanitation infrastructure is bearing fruit with the R16 million refurbishment of the Kelvin Jones Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kariega.

The upgraded facility plays a critical role in supporting major industries within the metro, including multinational companies such as Volkswagen South Africa, Tromberg, Schubert, and several automotive component manufacturers operating in the region.

Over the past three years, the plant suffered damage due to floods and vandalism, which negatively affected its performance. This poor performance had a direct impact on the linked industries, particularly neighbouring industrial operations.

To address these challenges, the municipality undertook comprehensive mechanical and electrical refurbishment works. 

These included the construction of a new concrete platform to accommodate upgraded inlet pump sets and the manufacture and installation of six new Gorman Rupp T10 Eradicator pumps. 

The pumps are belt-driven by 45kW electric motors and mounted on custom galvanised over-mount bases.

Three pump sets have been installed per sump in, a two-duty, one-standby configuration, ensuring the plant can effectively manage peak wet weather flows. 

The existing galvanised manifold was rotated by 90 degrees to optimise the new layout, with delivery branches now facing vertically upwards.

New HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) and galvanised pipework has been installed to accommodate the revised configuration incorporating six pipes. Galvanised piping is used directly on the pumps to reduce heat transfer, while HDPE pipework, known for its 100-year design life, was fitted with electrofusion welded fittings to ensure durability and longevity, resulting in cost savings for the municipality.

Additional upgrades include the installation of new AVK knife valves to isolate pipework during maintenance or in the event of blockages, as well as AVK swing check valves to ensure pumps remain primed and to prevent reverse flow. 

These valves are fitted with counter-levers, which not only indicate pump operation and flow through the pipework, but also act as a buffer against water hammer, improving system reliability.

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, said the metro has adopted an aggressive infrastructure investment strategy to protect existing industries and attract new investment.

“We are fully aware of the ageing infrastructure and the growing population that continues to place increased demands on our systems. We are pleased that this infrastructure is now fully operational, and that disruptions to sanitation services for the people of Kariega and its industries will be a thing of the past,” Lobishe said.

The refurbished plant is now operating at an optimal capacity of 24 million litres per day, serving the entire Kariega area and parts of KwaNobuhle.

In the medium to long term, the municipality plans to expand the plant’s capacity to treat 30 million litres per day in the medium term and up to 50 million litres per day in the long term, in line with projected population growth and the continued expansion of Kariega’s industrial economy. – SAnews.gvo.za
 

 

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The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of severe thunderstorms over the central interior, accompanied by heavy rain on Monday.

A cut-off low is expected to approach the Eastern Cape from the northwestern interior, leading to significant cloud development with a chance for heavy downpours in places.

“As the cut-off low-pressure systems approaches the country from the west, it will lead to conditions favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms, resulting in heavy downpours, strong winds and hail over most parts of the Northern Cape and Free State, except the north-eastern parts today, as well as western parts of North West and central Free State tomorrow afternoon,” the weather service said.

These weather conditions are likely to cause flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas, along with strong, damaging winds.

The weather forecast for Tuesday shows cloudy weather over the central and eastern parts, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to warm, but hot in some places. 

Isolated to scattered showers and thundershowers expected.

“A Yellow Level 4 for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours and flooding of susceptible roads, settlements, and low-lying bridges/areas over the western parts of the Eastern Cape and southern parts of KwaZulu-Natal.

“A Yellow Level 2 warning remains for the central and eastern interior for localised flooding due to heavy downpours,” SAWS Meteorologist Tokelo Chiloane said.

Possible flooding due to heavy downpours:

• Wednesday: No significant weather expected.
• Thursday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment)
• Friday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts)
• Saturday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Sunday: Low to medium 40% – 60% chance – North West, Free State, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape.

Possible severe thunderstorms:

• Monday: Low 40% chance – Northern Cape (eastern and central parts), Western Cape (except the coastal areas), Eastern Cape (western and central parts), Free State (western parts).
• Tuesday: Low 40% chance- Free State, Eastern Cape and Western Cape (eastern parts).
• Wednesday: No significant weather.
• Thursday: Low to Medium 40% – 60%chance – Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), Eastern Cape (along the escarpment).
• Friday: Medium 60% chance- North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal (north-western parts), Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Saturday: Medium to High 60% – 80% chance: North West (eastern parts), Free State (eastern parts), Limpopo (Western Bushveld), Gauteng, Mpumalanga (Highveld and escarpment), KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape (eastern parts).
• Sunday: Medium to High 60% – 80% chance: North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Winds (not associated with thunderstorms):

• Monday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – East and South-east coast.
• Tuesday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South-east coast.
• Wednesday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South-west coast.
• Thursday: Low 40% chance – West coast.
• Friday: Low 40% chance – East and South-east coast, West coast.
• Saturday: Low 40% chance – West coast.
• Sunday: Moderate to High 60% – 80% chance – South and South-west coast.

–SAnews.gov.za

 

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