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SA urges 'restraint' in Iran amid violent crackdown

The South African government on Thursday expressed concern at developments in Iran, urging maximum restraint from all parties.

Tensions are running high as anti-government protests over rising living costs across Iran intensify and turn violent.

The death toll from the violent crackdown by the Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly nearing 3 000.

South Africa said peaceful protests, freedom of expression, and freedom of association were universal human rights that must be upheld "without exception".

"We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace," the South African government said.

It stressed the need for solutions that centre the agency of the Iranian people.

Earlier this week, opposition party, the Democratic Alliance formally wrote to Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, demanding that he report Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council for blatant human rights abuses in the deadly suppression of civilian protests.

IFP says it will engage NFP to ensure stable governance in KZN amid coalition turbulence

The Inkatha Freedom Fighters (IFP) said on Thursday it distanced itself from "political gamesmanship", and said it will engage the National Freedom Party (NFP) after the latter announced it was pulling out of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).

The IFP is seeking a meeting to understand better the NFP's concern as it noted speculation and commentary suggesting uncertainty in the GPU including claims about the possible withdrawal of partners.

"Let us be clear: such narratives are misinformed, misguided, and risk undermining public confidence in a government that is working to stabilise institutions and restore credibility," explained IFP National Media and Communications Officer Fanele Mhlongo.

Mhlongo said the IFP have not been officially informed of the NFP's decision to leave the GPU.

"… and in light of their unfolding internal processes, including disciplinary matters, we will await the outcomes," he added.

He pointed out that the party's NEC has directed that the GPU partners, including the NFP, must be engaged to ensure stability, good governance and service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

He highlighted that these engagements by the party are currently underway.

Mhlongo affirmed the IFP's position that the NFP is "fairly and adequately" represented in the GPU.

The IFP reaffirmed its own commitment to the GPU, saying it believes cooperation across political lines is not a weakness of democracy, but one of its greatest strengths.

The GPU represents an opportunity to demonstrate that diverse political traditions can work together in the public interest, guided by the Constitution, accountability to the Legislature, and responsiveness to communities, Mhlongo said.

He highlighted that the party's participation in the GPU is rooted in tangible outcomes.

"Stability must translate into improved service delivery wherein we have functioning hospitals and clinics, safer communities, reliable transport and infrastructure, clean governance in municipalities, and economic recovery that creates jobs," he said.

The IFP called on all partners in the GPU to recommit themselves to the founding principles of the coalition and stressed the need for dialogue, discipline, and adherence to agreed processes.

"… and not through public posturing or destabilisation which plays into the hands of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP), which does not have the interests of the people of KZN at heart," the party said.

The IFP rejected what it said was desperate efforts by the MKP, with its motion of no confidence in KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.

"This motion and its accompanying violence and threats of instability and Gender Based Violence have no place in KZN, South Africa or anywhere else in the world."

DA 'disappointed' with Dion George's resignation ahead of inquiry

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday expressed disappointment with Dr Dion George's resignation ahead of its Federal Legal Commission's (FLC's) probe into alleged violations of the party's constitution.

The party's Federal Executive will on Monday begin with the FLC processes.

Last year, the party's Federal Executive referred the internal dispute between party leader John Steenhuisen and George to the FLC to institute a full investigation, with particular focus on alleged violations of the DA's constitution.

The internal dispute was primarily centred around Steenhuisen and the removal of George as Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, which had exposed deeper fractures ahead of the party's 2026 leadership contest.

In November last year, the party said Steenhuisen requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa replace George with Willem Aucamp.

"It is unfortunate that Dr George has resigned before answering a pending disciplinary before the DA's FLC," said DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille.

Zille pointed out that George was supposed to answer allegations that staff appointments to his Ministerial office were done in a way that unjustifiably raised their salaries, at public expense.

He was supposed to also answer as to whether staff in his Ministry sought departmental information to pursue internal party-political matters; and whether he brought the party into disrepute through the media.

Zille said it would have been preferable for George to go through the FLC process to test the veracity of these allegations.

SA can't afford to backslide – DA

Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on Finance Dr Mark Burke on Wednesday said South Africa's institutional infrastructure must continue to be strengthened, particularly the 2026 skills needed to detect and prosecute money laundering and as terrorism financing.

This follows the European Union's (EU's) decision to remove South Africa from its list of High-Risk Third Country Jurisdictions.

Burke explained that being on this list has compelled European banks to conduct enhanced due diligence on South African companies, with the attendant cost and exclusion risks.

"It makes business tougher when our country desperately needs fewer obstacles to financial success," he said.

He said South Africa cannot afford backsliding.

He claimed that the DA's part in a coalition government – with Ministers on the Ministerial Committee on the Budget and a Deputy Minister inside National Treasury and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition – has played a part in South Africa's ratings upgrades, global greylist removal, cheaper bond financing, a lower inflation target and stabilising national debt.

"We understand that for as long as millions remain unemployed, these achievements should be noted rather than celebrated. The road is long, it's full of potholes but the car now ceases to be in reverse. We are gradually but undoubtedly moving forward," he said.

ANC welcomes SA's removal from EU high-risk list

The African National Congress (ANC) views the European Union's (EU's) removal of South Africa from its list of high-risk third country jurisdictions as a milestone that forms part of a broader journey of renewal.

South Africa was added to the EU list in August 2023 as an automatic consequence of its greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The EU listing looks at countries with strategic deficiencies in their systems for combating money laundering and terrorism financing, to protect the EU's internal market.

South Africa's removal from the list follows its delisting by the FATF in October 2025, after comprehensive reforms to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said this milestone reaffirmed the importance of State capacity, professionalism and ethical governance to advance the vision of the Freedom Charter: that the people shall govern, and the country's wealth shall be shared.

She said the removal of South Africa from the EU's high-risk list was a "technical victory and a political triumph," underscoring the link between sound governance and national dignity.

The development marked a significant victory for South Africa, she said, and reflected the progress made in strengthening financial governance and protecting the integrity of the global financial system.

Bhengu noted important lessons for sovereignty in the modern era, such as political independence and the ability to manage financial systems responsibly.

"A country that protects its financial institutions from abuse strengthens its capacity to deliver services, build trust with international partners, and ensure that the wealth of the nation serves the people," she added.

Bhengu said the party would ensure South Africa remained a respected partner in the global economy.

"This moment inspires confidence in the nation's future and demonstrates that collective effort, guided by principled leadership, can overcome obstacles that stifle growth and progress," she said.

Meanwhile, National Treasury pointed out that South Africa's removal from the FATF and EU lists of high-risk jurisdictions does not mean that all South Africa's challenges in implementing its AML/CFT system have been resolved, and it recognises that much work still needs to be done to strengthen deficiencies in the prevention, identification, investigation and prosecution of money laundering and terrorism financing.

"It should be noted that the removal of legislative obligations on EU financial institutions to conduct enhanced due diligence on South African-related transactions does not compel any financial institutions to rescind their risk assessment policies towards South Africa but allows willing EU financial institutions to adjust their risk assessment policies as they see fit," said Treasury.

National Treasury highlighted that South Africa would be entering a new round of evaluation by FATF in the coming months, with a final report scheduled to be presented to the FATF plenary in October 2027.

It said preparation had begun, incorporating the lessons learnt and experience gained during the process to exit FATF greylisting.

DA asks Lamola to report Iran for human rights abuses

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday demanded that International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola report Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for "blatant human rights abuses", owing to the deadly suppression of civilian protests.

The death toll from the violent crackdown by the Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly nearing 3 000 as anti-government protests and demonstrations sweep the country.

In a letter written to Lamola, the DA said the use of blatantly deadly oppression against civilians by a sitting government is one of the "most egregious forms of human rights abuse witnessed anywhere in the world" with the party questioning South Africa's relationship with the country.

DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith said the principles of freedom, democracy and human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution compels Lamola to execute his sworn duty, as the custodian of the country's foreign policy, to protect global citizens against autocratic regimes.

Smith said the UNHRC was the "ideal" international forum where South African foreign policy, rooted in the Constitution, could find expression on the international stage.

He said as a member of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the DA would not tolerate South Africa "turning a blind eye to brutal authoritarian regimes at the African National Congress's (ANC's) behest".

"… and we certainly will not tolerate South Africa's silence in the wake of their violent assault on innocent civilians," Smith added.

He said South Africa's role was especially crucial, given Iran's recent accession to BRICS Plus, and the ANC's own public and unapologetic proximity to Iran, which he said had found "worrying expression" in South African foreign policy.

"In many ways, the Iranian uprisings echo South Africa's own struggle for freedom, including the Sharpeville massacre of 21 March 1960 and the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976, when peaceful civilian protest was met with brutal State violence," Smith noted.

He explained that at those moments, the international community stood with the people of South Africa, not with the apartheid regime.

"Today, Dirco and the ANC face the same moral test: whether they stand with the people of Iran, or with those who repress them," he said.

ActionSA to challenge 'top secret' Phala Phala report

ActionSA said on Tuesday it has begun preparing legal papers to challenge the decision of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to classify the investigation report into the conduct of the Presidential Protection Unit members relating to Phala Phala as "Top Secret".

In March last year, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu told members of Parliament that the report into the Phala Phala scandal involving Pesident Cyril Ramaphosa was classified as "Top Secret" according to the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS).

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont accused the IPID of "a pattern of obfuscation", saying the party's appeal filed last month was ignored.

In April last year, ActionSA tried to uncover the findings of the IPID's investigation, which were then subject to numerous delays, including claims by IPID that its email system had been down.

Beaumont explained that ActionSA's legal papers would take a three-pronged approach.

It will challenge the constitutionality of the MISS Cabinet policy, which is the basis for how documents are classified.

It will also challenge the rationality of the decision to classify this report as Top Secret and ask the courts to compel IPID to hand over the report to ActionSA.

Beaumont described the MISS Policy as "obscene" in the wide-ranging powers it gives many State officials to classify a report as Top Secret. Claiming it will not hold up to constitutional requirements.

"This is made worse by the policy's wording, which allows a report to be deemed Top Secret if it 'can seriously damage the operational relations between institutions'. It is ridiculous that a wide number of State officials are free to keep government reports out of public scrutiny if a report may offend another government institution," he stated.

He said that the notion that IPID's report may offend the Presidency or the South African Police Service was not a good enough reason to keep the document from South Africans.

"Similarly, to claim that disclosing the report may disrupt operational planning is to imply an ongoing investigation that IPID will have to prove six years after the robbery," he added.

He believes the IPID's report protects the President from the events at Phala Phala.

"After a whitewashed Public Protector's report and the South African Reserve Bank clearing the President of breaking exchange control laws, IPID's report is the last opportunity to hold President Cyril Ramaphosa accountable. At the heart of this fight is the knowledge that those entrusted to protect the President were seized by the need to protect him from legal exposure more than they were seized by the need to investigate a crime," said Beaumont.

Public Protector finds Dean Macpherson didn't breach Ethics Code

Matric results: 88% pass rate but concern over low STEM uptake

Politicians have welcomed the performance of the Matric Class of 2025 in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, which saw a national pass rate of 88%, an improvement from 87.3% in 2024.

However, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education noted a low uptake and throughput in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which it said limited the country's drive towards economic growth, technological development and global competitiveness.

"While the 88% is commendable, the committee highlighted the need for a concerted effort to address the sluggish uptake and throughput in STEM subjects," said committee chairperson Joy Maimela.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) suggested that efforts be directed towards establishing a technical school in all districts to help drive growth in these subjects.

Maimela said despite the "commendable progress" in social justice principles within the basic education sector – in terms of access, redress, equity and inclusivity – the committee wanted to see an improvement in efficiency and quality.

It pointed to a decreasing number of educators amid a growing learner population and said this was a major impediment to quality education.

"It is unacceptable that while the system caters for an increasing number of learners, teacher posts are not increasing at the same pace. The DBE must move with speed to improve quality where challenges exist," she stated.

While noting a marginal improvement in throughput, the committee expressed concern that the number of learners who fall by the wayside remained worryingly high.

The GOOD Party weighed in on this concern.

"Of course, if you add in all the learners who would have written the 2025 Matric exams had they not dropped out of school, the numbers wouldn't look as impressive – and there are also issues of the quality of education to consider. Neither learners nor educators are primarily responsible for these factors; they are a consequence of the education system, managed and implemented by politicians and government officials," said GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron.

He pointed to the legacy of a "deliberately unequal education system", which he said had not been addressed. He said education sector leadership needed to step up.

He said the department must build short- and long-term exchange programmes for learners and educators, and academic projects and sports fixtures outside the traditional class or colour-coded comfort zones.

"We should reconfigure our curricula to highlight human values, vulnerabilities and inter-dependencies. We should be forcing provincial departments to spend the education's rightful share of the budget from the National Government on education," he added.

ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni pointed to a "crisis" in basic education, which she said was visible in the conditions under which many learners were expected to study.

"Just days ago, a six-year-old girl in Nkuzana village, Limpopo, lost her life after falling into a pit toilet, despite such toilets being banned by law since 2013. According to a parliamentary reply from late last year, around 590 schools still rely on pit toilets, more than a decade after government committed to their eradication. A system that cannot guarantee basic safety and dignity for learners cannot credibly claim success based on pass percentages alone," she said.

ActionSA advocates for a dual-stream education model from Grade 10, offering learners a choice between academic and vocational pathways, aligned to the skills the South African economy needs.

"Not every learner should be forced into a single academic track designed for another era," Ngobeni said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA), with a Minister heading up the Education Department, noted progress in inclusion, citing increased participation of learners with special education needs alongside improved performance outco...

MKP's leadership shakeup, Brian Molefe appointed treasurer general

The uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) on Monday announced a shakeup in its leadership, with the immediate appointment of Brian Molefe as its treasurer general, replacing Mpiyakhe Limba.

Limaba was appointed by party President Jacob Zuma, after the resignation of Dr Thanti Mthanti in January 2025.

Mthanti took over the role in December 2024, after replacing Menzi Ngubane.

MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said Molefe brings with him "extensive experience" in public administration, governance, finance and organisational leadership.

"His proven track record, strategic capability and deep understanding of complex financial systems render him suitably qualified to assume this critical responsibility at this phase of the Party's growth," he stated.

Following a decision taken by Zuma, together with the National Officials, the party has also removed Colleen Makhubele as Chief Whip with immediate effect. She remains a member of Parliament.

Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi will act in a "caretaker capacity" over the Chief Whip role.

Makhubele was appointed to the position in May last year, taking the reins from Mzwanele Manyi, who only held the position for nine months.

Further, the party announced the upliftment of the suspension of Vanessa Calvert and her immediate reinstatement as Chief of Staff in the Parliamentary Caucus.

This decision takes effect immediately, said Ndhlela.