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Zuma released from hospital – reports

Former South African President Jacob Zuma was discharged from hospital after being admitted last week, eNCA reported on its website on Tuesday.

Zuma, who leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, was taken to hospital by ambulance on October 6 for what the party said was a routine medical check-up, local media reported last week. ENCA said that he was discharged on Monday night from a hospital in Pietermaritzburg.

The state of his health has raised questions about the extent to which Zuma would be able to campaign in the country's November 4 municipal elections.

The MKP aims to extend its inroads into the support of Zuma's former party, the African National Congress, that it made in South Africa's 2024 general elections.

The ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of White-minority rule three decades earlier, hurt by voter anger over poor public service delivery and high unemployment.

SA's record Class of 2026 begins final exams amid calls for systemic reform

The Class of 2026 officially commenced the final National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on Tuesday, with a record-breaking 962 832 candidates registered nationwide, and the exams are scheduled to conclude on November 26.

Political parties and government officials united in wishing the learners well while simultaneously highlighting critical challenges remaining within South Africa's education landscape.

Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa described the examinations as a major milestone, representing the culmination of 13 years of learning, preparation and personal growth.

"Government acknowledges the dedication, hard work, and perseverance of learners, educators, parents, and guardians throughout the academic year," Mnukwa said.

She encouraged candidates to remain calm, manage their time effectively, follow their timetables closely, and approach each paper with confidence.

While messages of support poured in from across the political spectrum, the commencement of the exams also sparked intense debate regarding systemic drop-out rates and higher education readiness.

DA spokesperson on Basic Education Eleanore Bouw-Spies offered words of motivation to those entering the exam rooms.

"We know that the pressure can be overwhelming, but we encourage every learner to stay focused, believe in themselves, and give each exam their best effort," she stated.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa reflected on past successes, noting that the Class of 2025 achieved a historic record national pass rate of 88%, with KwaZulu-Natal leading strongly at 90.8%.

While expressing confidence that the Class of 2026 would build on this excellence, Hlengwa issued a strict warning against misconduct.

"Acts such as group copying and other forms of cheating undermine the credibility of the National Senior Certificate," he said, calling on authorities to ensure fair and consistent exam administration across the provinces.

The EFF blended encouragement with sharp systemic criticism.

While telling learners not to allow anxiety to creep in, the party demanded that the country confront an uncomfortable reality: the high volume of students lost along the way.

Statistics show that nearly half a million children who entered Grade 1 in 2014 dropped out before reaching their matric year in 2025, primarily between Grades 10 and 12.

The EFF rejected assertions that dropping out is caused by a lack of discipline.

"Education must not become a privilege reserved for children whose families can afford the costs associated with learning," the party stated, emphasising the State's responsibility to provide quality infrastructure, dignified sanitation, and adequate nutrition.

Anticipating a high success rate, the SACP looked toward the next step for these matriculants and urged universities and colleges to prepare for a heavy influx of applicants.

"We call upon institutions of higher learning to begin preparations in earnest to accept those learners who will qualify," the SACP noted.

The party also explicitly urged the leadership of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to efficiently process funding, emphasising that technical and vocational education and training colleges must be prioritised alongside traditional universities.

Former Home Affairs officials arrested for issuing fraudulent passports to non-nationals

Two former Home Affairs officials have been arrested for fraudulently issuing South African passports to foreign nationals for up to R100 000 each.

In a statement issued on Monday, the department said the syndicate exploited weaknesses in the manual passport process for "photo swapping".

"The arrests follow a joint investigation by the Department's own Counter Corruption Unit and the Hawks into a syndicate uncovered in 2022, which exploited a loophole known as "photo swapping", where the identity details of legitimate South African citizens were used to obtain passports bearing the photographs of foreign nationals," the department said, using the case as a reason to digitally transform Home Affairs.

As part of Home Affairs reforms, biometric verification is used to link people to their applications, including when photographs are taken.

Home Affairs said the digital takeover at the department will reduce human intervention and in turn remove opportunities for corruption.

"This case is a powerful example of why we are fundamentally reforming Home Affairs. For years, outdated manual processes created loopholes that criminal syndicates could exploit to fraudulently obtain South African passports. Through our digital transformation, we are closing these loopholes by introducing secure biometric verification and automated systems that remove opportunities for human manipulation," said Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber.

He commended the Department's Counter Corruption Unit and the Hawks for tackling corruption and noted that since the start of the seventh administration, 98 Home Affairs officials have been dismissed and 42 arrested as part of the programme to root out corruption.

Sibiya 'dishonourably discharged' from SAPS

The South Africa Police Service (SAPS) on Monday confirmed that Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has been dishonourably discharged, following a disciplinary hearing, during which his lawyer tendered Sibiya's resignation.

This comes as Sibiya faces a case of rape, sexual grooming and trafficking.

The SAPS said in a statement that Sibiya is no longer an employee with immediate effect.

"The disciplinary hearing against Lieutenant General Sibiya sat this morning, during which his legal representative tendered his resignation immediately after the disciplinary proceedings had commenced. As the former senior officer had an ongoing disciplinary case against him at the time of his resignation, his departure from the Service is therefore regarded as a dishonourable discharge," the police said.

Expanding, transforming South Africa's agricultural base a must – Ramaphosa

South Africa's population continues to grow and with it, so does the demand for food. Being reliant on the productive capacity of a relatively small segment of the population to meet the country's food needs is unsustainable, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In his latest weekly newsletter, he says that, despite a flourishing farming sector, many communities remain on the periphery.

Ramaphosa says the local sector still has "two agricultures", noting that predominantly white-owned commercial farms account for the bulk of the country's commercial farming output, while black farmers only account for about 10%.

"We must, therefore, focus on the transformation of our agricultural sector. This is both necessary for the broader transformation of our economy and critical to food security," the President says, emphasising the need to cultivate a new generation of farmers to address the inequalities of the past and to meet the needs of the future.

Hence, he argues that the productive agricultural base has to be expanded, outlining the need to build a pipeline of skilled and productive commercial farmers who can sustain the sector.

"We must equip aspiring farmers with the skills, mentorship, training, technologies and other resources to farm successfully on a commercial scale. The first step in building a new generation of South African farmers is providing them with titled access to land.

Through the Proactive Land Acquisition Strategy, Ramaphosa says the government is releasing about 2.5-million hectares of State-owned land in various parts of the country to black farmers and providing them with title deeds.

In addition to land, the President also notes that knowledge about crops, weather, animal disease and the like is gained from practical experience and learning from established farmers.

"We are greatly encouraged by the programmes being run by commodity associations like the Citrus Growers' Association, Grain South Africa, National Wool Growers' Association, Potatoes South Africa, Red Meat Industry Services, Milk Producers' Organisation and Fruit South Africa, which do admirable work in building an inclusive farming economy."

Ramaphosa adds that a successful farming enterprise also needs affordable, patient capital for new-era commercial farmers, noting that the Land Bank, together with the Department of Agriculture, started the blended finance instrument to address this funding aspect.

He thus encourages other agribusinesses and commercial banks to join the blended finance programme and to develop more funding instruments to support agriculture.

The President says the government is on a concerted drive to expand and diversify export markets for the country's agricultural products, noting that government is engaging with agribusinesses and farmers on issues such as new breeding techniques and advances in agricultural biotechnology.

"Agriculture is a sector that holds immense potential for growth and jobs. Through strong partnerships between government, farmers, business, lenders, traditional leaders and communities, we can build on the strong progress it has made over recent years.

"We can bring more land under cultivation, create a new generation of black commercial farmers and ensure that we grow enough not only to feed all our people, but to sell to markets across the world."

South Africa blames disinformation as anti-migrant protests turn violent

Anti-migrant protests in two South African cities including Johannesburg's Soweto township turned violent on Thursday, with the government blaming disinformation over a court ruling on asylum seekers.

In coastal Durban, the second city hit by protests, a Reuters reporter saw five torched cars in the urban centre, where foreign-owned shops were also looted.

The unrest followed a protest by a group demanding that a refugee centre stop processing asylum applications.

In Soweto, a Reuters reporter saw residents carrying groceries out of a shop that they said was owned by a person from Somalia, whom they chased away. The looters fled after police arrived and made them disperse.

Government spokesperson William Baloyi said the violence was triggered by people spreading deliberately false information about a constitutional court ruling in July.

The country's highest court ruled that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to South Africa's asylum system solely for procedural reasons such as having entered the country illegally.

Baloyi said the ruling had been widely misrepresented and did not automatically grant refugee status, permanent residence or other legal rights to undocumented migrants. "We are deeply concerned by what is going on now," he added.

Police said in a statement that they had mobilised more officers in Durban, where they said at least 14 vehicles had been set alight while a guest house and warehouse were partially burned.

A top police official, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, told a press conference in Soweto: "Those responsible for acts of violence and destruction will be identified, investigated and where sufficient evidence exists, arrested and brought to book."

Dimpane said 10 vehicles had been burned in Soweto but the situation was now under control.

South Africa has seen months of anti-migrant marches this year that have drawn international criticism.

Some of the marches have descended into violence and looting, and thousands of African foreign nationals have fled the country.

Migrants are often blamed for taking jobs, fuelling crime and straining public services, claims that social scientists say are not supported by evidence.

Three decades since apartheid ended, South Africa remains deeply unequal and about a third of people are out of work. Despite this, it remains Africa's largest economy and continues to draw migrants.

Home Affairs backtracks from attempt to comply with ConCourt refugee ruling, amid public safety concerns

Following violent anti-migrant protests that rocked Durban and Soweto this week, Home Affairs director-general Livhuwani Makhode has withdrawn the directive relating to the intake of asylum seekers, citing public safety concerns.

Government blamed the violence on the deliberate spread of misinformation on social media following the recent Constitutional Court judgment declaring certain provisions of the Refugees Act unconstitutional.

On Thursday, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMCM) warned that false narratives are being designed to create panic, fuel social tensions and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

Clarifying recent legal developments, the IMCM emphasised that the landmark decision by the Constitutional Court does not grant any new rights to asylum seekers, contrary to these widespread and false online claims.

The Court found that under certain provisions of the Act, individuals had been unfairly prevented from accessing the asylum system solely on procedural grounds. Under the previous regulations, individuals were blocked from seeking asylum if they entered the country irregularly, lacked an asylum transit visa, or failed to report to a Refugee Reception Office (RRO) within the prescribed period.

The Court ruled that such procedural barriers could result in asylum seekers being excluded from the process without their claims being properly assessed on their merits, reaffirming South Africa's constitutional and international obligations – particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning a person to a country where they may face persecution, conflict or serious harm.

Home Affairs noted on Friday that it had issued its intake directive to all RROs as a "purely operational attempt" in line with the Court's order with no interference from the Minister of Home Affairs or any other political office-bearer.

"Claims that it was a politically-motivated decision are therefore categorically untrue, as the directive emanated from a Constitutional Court case that the Department had opposed," the Department stated. It noted, however, that in its attempt to follow the court order, RRO operations had been overwhelmed and Home Affairs officials were placed at risk, with serious threats to public safety and order.

"With these new facts now at hand, the Department will embark on a fresh process to determine the most appropriate operational approach to ensure compliance with the Constitutional Court's order. The Department reaffirms its respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, as well as its commitment to determine an operationally appropriate and sustainable method to comply with the order," it said.

South African Navanethem "Navi" Pillay wins 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

South African judge Navanethem "Navi" Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday "for her efforts to promote peace and international law," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.

"A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time," the committee said.

The peace prize is the fifth Nobel awarded this week, after literature, chemistry, physics and medicine. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won in 2025.

The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 12-million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2-million, is due to be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will.

The United Nations human rights office on Friday welcomed the news of Pillay's Nobel Peace Prize win, acknowledging her longstanding advocacy for human rights.

"It is amazing news, we need more dedication and commitment to human rights," Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, told reporters in Geneva.

Pillay was the former head of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and a former International Criminal Court judge.

In September last year Pillay oversaw the publishing of a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry that concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu incited these acts - accusations that Israel called scandalous.

"We hope it will encourage and continue to encourage and inspire others to speak out in protection and promotion of the human rights of all people around the world," Mantoo said in reaction to Pillay's win.

ANC seeks to correct 'false narratives' over immigration ruling, pending labour Bill

The ANC has called on South Africans to reject "false narratives" surrounding the country's immigration policies, clarifying that a recent apex court ruling does not open the floodgates for irregular migration, nor has a pending labour Bill already become law.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu stated that the public commentary surrounding the Constitutional Court's judgment in the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town v Minister of Home Affairs matter and the Employment Services Amendment Bill has been heavily distorted for "party political and populist ends".

Bhengu described these as misrepresentations that undermine ongoing legislative processes and fuel a negative narrative that the State is prioritising foreign nationals over South African citizens.

The ANC expressed its respect for the independence and judgment of the Constitutional Court regarding the Scalabrini Centre matter. However, the party stressed that public interpretation of the ruling has been widely taken out of context.

According to Bhengu, the judgment explicitly focuses on procedural fairness rather than granting automatic residency.

The court ruled that specific procedural provisions of the Refugees Act—not the Immigration Act itself—are unconstitutional and invalid.

Effectively, the judgment means the Department of Home Affairs cannot deny individuals access to the asylum system or reject requests for refugee status solely owing to procedural non-compliance, such as entering through an undesignated border or lacking a five-day transit visa.

The ruling reinforces the international law principle of non-refoulment, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution, before an individual assessment of their claim can take place.

The ANC noted that this does not award permanent residency or citizenship but simply ensures that every claim is lawfully assessed on its merits rather than resulting in arbitrary, undocumented deportations.

Addressing anxieties regarding labour laws, the ANC clarified that the Employment Services Amendment Bill [B16-2026] is still undergoing parliamentary processes.

Despite rumours that the Bill is already effective and operational, the ANC confirmed that public hearings remain open until November 6.

Tabled in the National Assembly in May 2026, the Bill aims to amend the Employment Services Act of 2014.

Far from expanding employment of foreigners, the legislation is designed to align South Africa's labour laws with the Immigration and Refugees Acts, explicitly prioritising employment opportunities for South African citizens and permanent residents.

The ANC stated that these legislative measures are designed to prevent employers from exploiting undocumented foreign nationals as cheap labour to bypass local labour laws.

The party maintained that the upcoming legislation and the adherence to constitutional law are part of a broader strategy to strengthen processes to document migrants, eliminate corruption in the immigration system, and enforce stricter border management.

The party urged citizens to remain vigilant against disinformation and to actively participate in the public hearings before the November deadline to ensure their voices shape the final legislation.

Ministerial Committee warns of fake news as ConCourt ruling triggers influx at refugee centres

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMCM) has expressed concerns over what it says is the deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media, warning that false narratives are being designed to create panic, fuel social tensions and undermine public confidence in government institutions.

Clarifying recent legal developments, the IMCM emphasised that a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court does not grant any new rights to asylum seekers, contrary to these widespread and false online claims.

The clarification follows a Constitutional Court judgment that declared certain provisions of the Refugees Act unconstitutional.

The Court found that these provisions unfairly prevented individuals from accessing the asylum system solely on procedural grounds. Under the previous regulations, individuals were blocked from seeking asylum if they entered the country irregularly, lacked an asylum transit visa, or failed to report to a Refugee Reception Office (RRO) within the prescribed period.

The Court ruled that such procedural barriers could result in asylum seekers being excluded from the process without their claims being properly assessed on their merits, reaffirming South Africa's constitutional and international obligations – particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning a person to a country where they may face persecution, conflict or serious harm.

In compliance with the apex court's ruling, RROs have been directed to receive and process applications from any person indicating an intention to seek asylum, including those who entered irregularly or were previously barred by procedural technicalities.

RROs may no longer deny access based on quotas, administrative restrictions or the absence of specific documentation before an application is lodged.

However, the IMCM acknowledged that these new directives have led to a massive influx of foreign nationals at RRO facilities, creating a surge that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) currently lacks the capacity to manage efficiently.

The committee recognised that this development has placed significant pressure on administrative systems and refugee processing facilities.

To address these immediate operational implications, the IMCM said it is working closely with the DHA, the Border Management Authority, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant departments.

The government's coordinated response includes expanding refugee processing capacity, upgrading administrative infrastructure, and enhancing identity verification and biometric screening processes.

Furthermore, authorities plan to accelerate the adjudication of asylum applications, improve information-sharing between migration and security agencies, and intensify efforts to root out fraud.

The committee vowed to continue strictly enforcing immigration laws against individuals who do not qualify for protection under South African law, stating firmly that the State will not tolerate the abuse of its systems.

Applications that are fraudulent, abusive, unfounded, or fail to meet the statutory requirements of the Refugees Act will continue to be rejected through established legal channels, the IMCM stressed.

To combat corruption, the IMCM announced it will recommend that President Cyril Ramaphosa extend the Special Investigating Unit proclamation to include all refugee centres, ensuring that the fraudulent issuing of asylum status is thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

Looking toward long-term policy stabilisation, the IMCM has engaged legal teams to consolidate all outstanding court judgments on migration, analyse their systemic implications, and outline implementation requirements.

This legal task force will provide the State with options and historical precedents to navigate situations where substantial time and resources are required to comply with judicial rulings.

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