Author: Tshegofatso Letsie

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development says it is optimistic that cooperation with key stakeholders will ускорate the reopening of Magistrates’ Courts affected by heavy flooding in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Several courts were temporarily closed due to structural damage, including roof leaks and power interruptions. In a statement, the department said Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has engaged her counterpart in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Mcphearson, to address the challenges. The department said the public will be kept informed of developments and interim arrangements, adding that most courts continue to operate despite the disruptions. It reaffirmed its…

Orbit College FC head coach Pogisho Makhoye has revealed that the departure of team captain Monnapule Saleng to Mamelodi Sundowns came as an unexpected blow to the club. Makhoye made the remarks during a post-match interview following Orbit College FC’s 2–0 defeat to Sundowns at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Monday evening. “It was a surprise. It caught us off guard because it happened so quickly. We didn’t expect it,” Makhoye said. “We had planned our game strategy around Saleng, and when we heard that he had been sold to Mamelodi Sundowns, we had to adjust immediately. You could…

The Gauteng Department of Education has revised the death toll of the scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark to 12 learners, following earlier reports that indicated 14 fatalities. Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the updated figure was confirmed after proper investigations. He explained that confusion arose when parents and families gathered at the scene to locate their children. Mabona added that one learner remains unidentified, having been found under one of the vehicles, and appealed to families with missing children to contact the department to assist with identification and provide closure. Mabona further assured that provincial departments will work together to…

The Department of Human Settlements has warned beneficiaries of the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), to adhere to the rules and regulations. This follows the handing over of title deeds in various areas across the country.  Minister Thembi Simelani says the aim of providing  RDP housing is to implement the government’s objective of providing dignified and stable housing to citizens. The department’s plea emanates from the selling of RDP units and title deeds by owners, without following due processes. Simelani outlined key regulations that must be followed.  “RDP beneficiaries cannot sell their houses within the first eight years of occupancy. This regulation is…

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has urged residents in Limpopo to remain vigilant and comply with safety measures around dams following heavy rainfall that has caused water levels to rise at 14 of the province’s 19 dams. Several dams, including Nsami, Tzaneen, Modjadji, Luphephe and Dap Naude, are severely overfull, while Albasini and Doorndraai dams are actively releasing water. DWS spokesperson Wisani Mavasa warned that dams operating above capacity pose unpredictable risks. He called on communities living near dams to report unusual water releases, structural concerns and blocked slipways, and to share warnings with vulnerable households. Residents were…

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has moved to clarify claims that South Africa’s learner drop-out rate is significantly higher than officially reported. This follows allegations by political parties, including Build One South Africa (BOSA), that more than 566,000 learners did not reach matric after leaving school to pursue alternative education pathways or dropping out altogether. The Department’s Director-General, Mathanzima Mweli, has dismissed BOSA’s claims as inaccurate. “While the number of learners who have dropped out has decreased compared to those who started Grade 1 in 2014, there has been an increase in learners repeating grades. Many of them get…

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has dismissed as false allegations that its learnership programme at the Kgora Farmers Training Centre has benefited applicants from other provinces. The claims, circulating via social media audio, suggested that non-local individuals were being paid through the programme. MEC Madoda Sambatha clarified that learnerships are strictly for provincial unemployed youth, stressing that it is impossible for learners from other provinces to be recruited. “The person spreading this knows they are lying,” Sambatha said. He reaffirmed the department’s commitment to transparent, fair, and accountable recruitment processes, urging the public to verify information…

The Gauteng Department of Education has joined the call to encourage the class of matric 2025 to make use of mental health support tools made available. It attributed this to the pressure and sometimes disappointment or anxiety teens may experience after receiving their results. The department’s call after the Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube announced the results on Monday evening at a ceremony that was held in Fairlands, Johannesburg. The department advised learners to visit its Primary Health Care facilities across Gauteng, when experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts. “The Department reminds learners that matric results do not define their…

ActionSA has criticised what it describes as excessive travel expenditure by Cabinet Ministers serving in the Government of National Unity (GNU), citing findings from its GNU Performance Tracker, an index established to monitor the coalition government since it assumed office. According to the report, GNU Ministers have spent close to R450 million on travel and accommodation over the past 18 months. ActionSA highlighted several examples, including the office of Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, which spent R2.12 million on a three-night trip to New York in September 2024, followed by R1.5 million for a week-long visit to Washington…

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has committed to supporting efforts to regulate artisanal mining in South Africa, citing the growing impact of illegal mining on local communities. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola made the remarks while delivering a keynote address during a community dialogue on the 2026 Foreign Policy Outlook at the Rustenburg Civic Centre in the North West province. Lamola said DIRCO’s position is informed by persistent illegal mining activities that continue to plague communities across the province. “This issue of illegal mining has been raised by many communities. Our Department of Mineral Resources…