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Critical issues affecting Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students were at the core of a meeting between Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane and the South African Technical Vocational Education and Training Student Association (SATVETSA).

Held at Mpumalanga University, the meeting focused on adjustments in TVET student living allowances, payment of 2024 outstanding student allowances, and payment of 2025 student allowances among others.

On the issue of adjustments in TVET student living allowances, it was resolved that parity between TVET and university living allowances should be established while on the matter of the payment of 2024 outstanding student allowances, it was agreed that all outstanding 2024 student allowances will be processed by 25 February.

On the payment of 2025 student allowances, the Minister said allowances for the 2025 academic year will be processed next week, subject to receiving registration data from colleges.

At Monday’s meeting, the payment for student accommodation matter was under the microscope with the resolution being that all outstanding student accommodation fees will be processed by 25 February 2025.

On the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Appeals Process, it was resolved that the Appeals Committee will convene before Friday, 28 February 2025, to finalise all outstanding appeals.

On pending examinations results, the resolution was that the the mop-up process for all pending results will be completed by Wednesday, 26 February and that the process will be followed by Umalusi’s approval of the results by Friday, 28 February.

Other issues discussed include the representation on the NSFAS board with the resolution being that SATVETSA will nominate a candidate to represent the TVET sector on the NSFAS board.

“The resolutions … represent a significant step towards addressing the systemic issues within the TVET sector,” said the Minister in a statement on Thursday adding that the Ministry, in collaboration with SATVETSA and other stakeholders, is committed to implementing these resolutions without delay.

“The Ministry acknowledges students’ frustrations and remains dedicated to fostering a functional, fair, and transparent TVET system. Regular progress updates will be provided to ensure that commitments made in this agreement translate into real, tangible improvements in the lives of TVET students,” it said.

Following the recovery of generation capacity and the replenishment of emergency reserves, Eskom has suspended load shedding.

In a statement, the power utility said load shedding had been suspended as of 5am on Wednesday.

“We maintain our guidance that load shedding is largely behind us due to structural improvements in the generation fleet. Our focus remains on eliminating load shedding as a structural constraint on the economy.

“There will be valuable lessons to be learned from the set of multiple unit trips that were unconnected and purely technical in nature related to electrical and control system issues within auxiliary parts of our power stations,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.

The suspension comes after the power utility implemented Stages 3 and 6 of load shedding at the weekend.

On Monday, Eskom implemented Stage 4 load shedding and Stage 2 load shedding on Tuesday.

“We remain committed to high levels of maintenance, and the results are clear. Our efforts have delivered a 99% electricity availability rate over Eskom’s current financial year, from 1 April 2024 to 21 February 2025, saving R17 billion in diesel costs,” said Eskom Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo.

Nxumalo said ongoing planned maintenance stands at 6 660MW in alignment with the company’s summer period maintenance strategy, “which is at increased levels in order to prepare for winter and meet licence and regulatory requirements”.

“We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that South Africa will not return to the severe levels of load shedding experienced in 2023,” said Nxumalo.

On Tuesday, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reassured South South Africans that the implementation of load shedding at the weekend was not due to sabotage, but technical issues.

The Minister explained that despite 300 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply, recent setbacks occurred, including the loss of five generation units at Majuba and four units at Camden power stations.

“The setbacks we experienced are regrettable, but we are now able to bounce back, we are coming back much faster than we thought. It is important that we have the lights on for the South African economy,” Ramokgopa said.

The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato has applauded the arrest of two immigration specialists at the Beitbridge port of entry by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

The arrests on Monday evening followed an ongoing investigation linked to the case of immigration specialist Dorah Ncube, who was arrested last year for fraud and corruption related to the illegally processing of six Malawian nationals at Beitbridge.

According to the BMA, Ncube remains in police custody.

The arrested officials appeared before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The authority said it has continuously reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and remains committed to upholding the integrity of South Africa’s border management systems.

“We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies in their investigations to ensure that those involved in corrupt activities are held accountable.

“The BMA will not tolerate any misconduct that undermines the rule of law and the security of the country. We assure the public that decisive action will be taken against any official found to be involved in unethical practices,” said Masiapato.

The BMA continues to curb corruption within its systems. Currently, it is processing 45 cases that are still to be concluded with transgressions including aiding and abetting as well as illegal processing of travellers and goods.

About 27 officials have been dismissed since the BMA’s inception on 1 April 2023.

Further updates on the arrests of the two officials will be provided as investigations progress.

The seven Chinese nationals standing trial for human trafficking and child labour have been found guilty on 160 counts in the Gauteng South Division Court in Johannesburg.

Judge David Mhango said it was common course that the accused were in charge of Beautiful City and managing its operations; that the factory employed foreign nationals – mainly Malawians; that a number of employees sustained injuries during operations of Beautiful City and that the Malawians were illegal in South Africa.

He further said employees at the factory worked from Monday to Sunday and the company paid wages below the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is a statutory requirement in the country.

Kevin Tsao Shu-Uei, Chen Hui, Qin Li, Jiaqing Zhou, Ma Biao, Dai Junying, and Zhang Zhilian were facing schedule six offences.

The Chinese nationals were found guilty on not registering with the Compensation Fund and declaring their operations; failure to keep records of their earnings; failure to submit their return on earnings; failure to pay and declare assessments; failure to maintain a safe workplace; failure to report incidents; failure to register and declare with the Unemployment Insurance Fund Commissioner; failure to inform the Commissioner on Unemployment Insurance changes; guilty of human trafficking; aiding/facilitating human trafficking; bondage; benefiting from victims of human trafficking and assisting illegal persons to remain in South Africa.

The Chinese nationals were arrested on 12 November 2019 in a joint operation carried out at their premises Beautiful City Pty Ltd based at Village Deep in Johannesburg.

They were arrested during the joint inspection blitz carried out by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch together with the South African Police Service (SAPS)/ Hawks Unit and the Department of Home Affairs.

The factory produced cotton fibre sheets.

“The joint operation uncovered illegal immigrants some of whom were minors working under horror conditions and kept in the locked premises of Beautiful City,” said the Department of Employment of Labour.

the department’s Gauteng Provincial Chief Inspector, Advocate Michael Msiza said the judgment was a landmark ruling for labour laws.

He said the judgment sent a strong message to those that continue to employ illegal immigrants, that illegality will not be tolerated.

All the accused were remanded in custody except for number six, Dai Junying who is still out on bail and was kept outside on medical grounds.

Sentencing proceedings will resume on 7 March 2025.

Repairs at Eskom’s Majuba power station in Mpumalanga has placed the country closer to the suspension of load shedding, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the Minister reassured South Africans that the implementation of load shedding at the weekend was not due to sabotage, but technical issues.

“We are going to have a review later this evening and then we can make an announcement, a promise we make, is a promise we will keep,” Ramokgopa said at an engagement held in Johannesburg.

The Minister explained that despite 300 consecutive days of uninterrupted power supply, recent setbacks occurred, including the loss of five generation units at Majuba and four units at Camden power stations.

He added that the setback experienced at the weekend where the power utility implemented Stages 3 and 6 of load shedding were regrettable.

“The setbacks we experienced are regrettable, but we are now able to bounce back, we are coming back much faster than we thought. It is important that we have the lights on for the South African economy,” the Minister said.

Ramokgopa’s comments come as Eskom is currently implementing Stage 2 load shedding from Monday’s Stage 4.

At a briefing on Sunday, the Minister assured the nation that the country will overcome the current bout of load shedding by the end of the week.

READ | Load shedding expected to be suspended by the end of the week

“I’m confident that by the end of the week, we should be out of this difficult situation. We are confident we’re going to go to conditions of normality. By the end of the week there will not be [any] load shedding,” he said at the time.

The Special Tribunal has ordered 16 service providers to pay back some R21 million in profits linked to alleged irregularly awarded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) contracts.

The contracts were awarded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development (KZN DSD) during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order emanates from a probe by the Special Investigating Unit following a provincial Treasury investigation into the KZN DSD.

“The Treasury investigation concluded that PPE was procured from 16 service providers in 18 contracts, with a total cumulative value of R21 242 955.95. The report further recommended disciplinary action against several officials and the registration of a criminal case.

“The SIU [Special Investigating Unit] processed the report through its processes and systems and identified significant shortcomings in the initial investigation. The report did not evaluate potential financial recoveries or quantify the state’s losses. Additionally, no efforts were made to recover funds lost due to overpricing or irregular procurement practices.

“The SIU [investigation] found that all service providers charged rates that exceeded the pricing guidelines set by the National Treasury. Consequently, the SIU has initiated proceedings in the Special Tribunal to recover the overpayments,” the SIU said in a statement on Tuesday.

The corruption busting unit said any criminal conduct will be referred for prosecution.

“In line with the Special Investigating Unit’s and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996 (SIU Act), the SIU refer[s] any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.

“Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration,” the SIU concluded.

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 2 heavy rain warning for KwaZulu-Natal.

This follows widespread flooding that has claimed the lives of nine people.

In a statement released Monday afternoon, the weather service warned of disruptive rainfall leading to localised flooding in susceptible areas, including formal and informal settlements, roads, bridges, and critical infrastructure in the province’s extreme northeastern regions.

On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli visited the families of those affected by the recent severe weather conditions in the KwaMakhutha Township, south of Durban.

The floods have claimed the lives of three people, including the families’ graves, which were washed away due to the persistent rainfall in eThekwini and surrounding areas of the province.

The three affected families reside in KwaMakhutha, Mbumbulu, and Folweni.

Premier Ntuli expressed his condolences and reassured the public that the provincial government was taking immediate steps to provide assistance.

Ntuli said the MECs have already visited the area to assess the situation and ensure that those affected are not enduring further hardships.

He said the provincial government was committed to providing the necessary support, including temporary shelter and fixing the stormwater drainage system.

The Premier underscored the importance of allocating people in strategic areas, where they would be less vulnerable to floods.

“We asked the traditional leaders, when they allocate land for building houses, to consider flood-prone areas. Even in informal settlements, people must avoid building on land in floodplains,” Ntuli said.

While the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) has a comprehensive disaster response plan in place designed to provide immediate assistance during and after such crises, the Premier stressed that prevention remains a top priority.

“We must prioritise early intervention over waiting until lives are lost. It is essential that people in KwaZulu-Natal observe the warnings given by weather service and CoGTA,” Ntuli said.

Government has encouraged all spaza shop owners and vendors to register their businesses with their local municipality by the end of the week.

“Spaza shops must be registered to ensure that food safety laws are followed, and dangerous goods are taken off the market, keeping children safe and preventing future outbreaks,” the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said.

They have until Friday, 28 February 2025, to register their businesses.

Application forms for registration or permits to conduct business can be accessed physically at the municipal offices or on the municipality website.

The registration of a business takes one day, people must not wait until the last day to register.

“Citizens are reminded that registering a spaza shop on behalf of another person is a criminal offense. The Immigration Act of 2002 clearly states that it is a criminal offense to assist an illegal foreigner to conduct any business in the country and to assist an illegal foreigner to obtain a licence to conduct any business,” GCIS said.

For guidelines on spaza shop registrations visit: https://www.sanews.gov.za/features-south-africa/guide-register-spaza-shops.

Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the registration deadline for all spaza shops and food handling outlets after initially announcing the registration directive in November 2024.

This extension follows a serious incident involving foodborne illnesses, which resulted in over 890 cases and nearly 30 deaths since September 2024.

In October last year, six primary school children from Naledi, Soweto, died after allegedly eating snacks from a foreign-owned local spaza shop.

The East London Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation  unit, in collaboration with the Road Accident Fund (RAF), has helped to secure the conviction of Solomon Ndika-Ndika (59) for fraud.

Ndika-Ndika was sentenced to five years’ direct imprisonment by the East London Regional Court on 14 February 2025.

Ndika-Ndika was initially arrested on 7 November 2023 and released on warning the following day. His case stemmed from a claim filed with the RAF on 29 January 2016. He stipulated that on 7 October 2014, he was involved in a motor vehicle accident, as he was traveling from Elliot towards Cala.

Ndika-Ndika further divulged that during the time, an oncoming vehicle approached him. When he tried to avoid the accident, his car overturned, and he sustained injuries.

During the claim processing, RAF picked up discrepancies between documents that were submitted by Ndika-Ndika and the police report. RAF repudiated the claim and referred the matter to the Hawks for a thorough probe.

A comprehensive investigation by the Hawks revealed that through misrepresentation made by Ndika-Ndika, RAF nearly suffered a loss of more than R1.6 million.

Ndika-Ndika made numerous court appearances until his sentencing by the East London Regional court on 14 February 2025.

He was sentenced to undergo five years direct imprisonment with no option of a fine. Furthermore, Ndika-Ndika was declared unfit to possess a firearm.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) has condemned the brutal murder of Imam Muhsin Hendricks who was gunned down on Saturday while attending a wedding in Gqeberha.

Hendricks is a renowned Muslim scholar and an avid advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) rights having served a number of organisations championing the cause for equality along gender lines within the Muslim faith.

Hendricks became the first Imam in the world to come out as gay in 1996 and was since removed from his position for coming out.

He is the founder of the Inner Circle, a global Muslim community advocating for a society free from discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

He also established the LGBTQIA+ inclusive Masjidul Ghurbaah mosque where there is no gender segregation.

Recently, Hendricks led the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation, which provides psycho-spiritual and social support to Muslims marginalised due to sexual orientation, gender identity, and belief.

Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Deputy Minister, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, said the murder of Hendricks was a stark reminder that the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa continues to experience discrimination and hate crimes, despite the nation’s progressive legislation, such as the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act (2023), enshrined in part to protect the rights of the queer community.

Letsike recalled brave words uttered by Hendricks as he advanced the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in the Muslim faith, as he said: “The need to be authentic was greater than the fear to die.”

“This brutal murder is not just about Imam Hendricks, it is a direct assault on all movements, organisations and persons advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights in South Africa. We call on the South African Police Services and all law enforcement agencies, to strengthen their investigation, and track the persons responsible for justice to prevail.” Letsike said.