The Automobile Association (AA) has urged the government to provide meaningful fuel tax relief, warning that continued fuel price increases are placing significant financial strain on South African households and could have far-reaching consequences for access to education.

This follows the latest fuel price increase, which took effect on 7 October, pushing petrol and diesel prices to record highs. Early projections from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicate that fuel prices could rise further in November, with petrol expected to increase by as much as R4.58 per litre.

The AA has also criticised proposals by the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to increase its fuel levy, which currently stands at R2.25 per litre. The organisation argues that an increase would add pressure to consumers already grappling with rising living costs, including food prices, school fees and transport expenses.

AA Chief Executive Officer Bobby Ramagwede said higher fuel costs affect far more than motorists.

“Mobility is about much more than transport. It determines how people get to work, seek employment opportunities and ensure their children can access education. Every increase in the fuel price places additional pressure on families already facing financial challenges,” he said.

The association noted that transport costs remain one of the largest expenses for many low-income households, with some workers reportedly spending up to 40% of their salaries travelling to and from work. Rising fuel prices are also likely to increase taxi, bus and e-hailing fares, further affecting learners and students who rely on public transport to access schools, colleges and universities.

The AA warned that escalating fuel costs could contribute to higher inflation, potentially delaying interest rate relief for consumers and increasing pressure on household budgets. According to the organisation, diesel prices have risen sharply over the past year, while early CEF estimates suggest additional increases may be on the horizon. Businesses are also expected to pass increased transport and logistics costs on to consumers, creating knock-on effects throughout the economy.

To address these concerns, the AA has called on National Treasury to consider further reductions to fuel-related taxes and levies. The organisation has also requested a review of South Africa’s fuel pricing mechanisms and urged authorities to strengthen the country’s strategic fuel reserves.

The association further encouraged employers to explore flexible working arrangements where possible, arguing that even one remote working day per week could help workers reduce commuting costs. As South Africa marks Transport Month, the AA maintains that affordable mobility remains critical to economic participation, employment opportunities and access to education, particularly for lower-income communities.

Key fuel projections and figures

• Petrol prices could increase by up to R4.58 per litre in November.

• Diesel wholesale prices may rise by between R2.56 and R2.91 per litre.

• Illuminating paraffin could increase by around R5.00 per litre.

• The RAF levy currently stands at R2.25 per litre.

• The government provided temporary fuel levy relief earlier this year, estimated to cost more than R17 billion.

Sources: Automobile Association (AA), Central Energy Fund (CEF), Investec Chief Economist Annabel Bishop. November fuel adjustments remain projections and are subject to change.

The Labour Court has granted an interim interdict preventing Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela from implementing a directive to re-advertise the position of Executive Officer of the National Skills Fund (NSF), pending the outcome of a review application brought by Dr Khathutshelo Innocent Sirovha.

However, the ministry said the court order does not constitute a final ruling on the legality of the minister’s directive and does not amount to an appointment of Sirovha as NSF executive officer but it notes the judgement.

“The Court has not made a final determination on the lawfulness of the directive nor has it declared Dr Sirovha appointed as Executive Officer,” the ministry said.

Manamela said he respected the judgment and would comply fully with the court order while the matter continues through the legal process.

The dispute centres on the recruitment process for the NSF’s top executive position. Sirovha approached the court after Manamela directed that the post be re-advertised, effectively halting a recruitment process that had already been concluded by the NSF board.

The National Skills Fund is a key state entity responsible for funding skills development initiatives and training programmes aimed at improving employment opportunities and addressing skills shortages in South Africa.

The appointment of its chief executive officer is regarded as critical to the organisation’s governance, strategic direction and management of billions of rand earmarked for skills development projects.

The court’s interim order preserves the status quo while the substantive review application is heard. The review is expected to examine whether the minister acted lawfully when he instructed that the position be advertised afresh despite the completion of the recruitment process.

Manamela reiterated his commitment to lawful, fair and transparent recruitment processes, sound governance and the effective functioning of the NSF and institutions within the post-school education and training sector.

However, the minister declined to comment further on the dispute.

“Given that this matter is currently before the courts, the Minister will not comment on the merits of the case while judicial proceedings are under way,” the statement said.

The outcome of the review application is likely to determine whether the recruitment process proceeds from where it was halted or whether the position must be filled through a new round of advertising and interviews.

Until then, the Labour Court’s order prevents the implementation of the minister’s decision to restart the recruitment process.

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By Dr Tshepo Mvulane Moloi,

Funda Community College has been relaunched, and we are open for business. On Saturday, 10 October 2026, we welcomed veteran artists, educators, families and community representatives to our Diepkloof campus in Soweto.

As the incumbent Rector and Executive Director, I was pleased to share our plans for rebuilding the college and opening its doors to a new generation of learners, creatives and partners.

The gathering brought together people who have carried Funda through different periods of its history. Some helped build its reputation; others kept its work going through difficult years. We also welcomed people whose involvement will help shape the college’s future. Throughout the afternoon, our attention remained on what this campus can offer the community and what we must do to make those opportunities available.

Nickey Mothiba graciously guided the proceedings as master of ceremonies. Our Board Chairperson, Magoshi Kgole, delivered the welcome note, followed by veteran artist Lindumuzi Mngoma (eldest son of muso Khabi Mngoma), who reflected upon Funda’s rich history. Hearing that history from someone connected to its umbilical cord/ontological reality reminded all of us present at the relaunch how much knowledge resides amongst the people who have worked, taught and created at Funda Community College.

As Rector it was an honour to acknowledge Funda’s veterans Gibo Pheto (son of Molefo Pheto), Lindumuzi Mngoma, Charles Nkosi and Stan Sibeko. Their presence connected the work ahead to previous years of teaching, institution building and commitment to accessible education against the canon of apartheid.

Charles Nkosi served Funda for decades, leading the visual arts department and later the college. I thanked him for that contribution. I also recognised Stan Sibeko’s role in administration and his early commitment to technology education. Their work alongside other pioneers helped create opportunities for township learners to enter further education and pursue professional careers across the arts spectrum.

In my address, I briefly reflected upon the apt contributions of Steven Sacks who was Director of the African Institute of Art (AIA), Motsumi Makhene Director of Madimba Institute of African Music (MADIMBA), Matsemela Manaka Director of the Soyikwa Institute of African Theatre (Soyikwa) and the first coordinator of the Funda Arts Centre. As regards the ladies, reference was made to Sibongile Khumalo, Essy Letsoalo and Nomsa Manaka among others.

The programme also gave us an opportunity to hear about current campus activities. Mapule Chuene of Be My Mom Montessori Pre-school outlined campus operations and spoke about her experience of working with the community here. Her contribution showed how the campus already supports relationships with local children and families. Our new Campus

Manager, Tumelo Mokopakgosi, reflected on the Fine Art Department’s history and its place in Funda’s development.

Vusimuzi Owen Meya, Chairman of NESO, presented a community outreach project aimed at helping local children access sporting opportunities through partnerships with local and national taxi associations. Mbongeni Bodlani and Mduduzi Mdlalose, representing the Federation of Gauteng Arts, emphasised the need to involve more young people in Funda’s activities. I concur with that view; our future depends on young people finding a place at Funda Community College and taking an active role in its life.

Our Board Secretary, Ras Sandile Lelaka Khoza, introduced me before I delivered the keynote address, titled ‘The Return of the Imagination’. I spoke about Es’kia Mphahlele’s influence on Funda Community College and his belief in education that enables people to think, create and understand their own experience.

I also acknowledged the difficulties the college has endured, namely interrupted programmes, financial hardship and the loss of library resources. I thanked those who stayed committed when conditions made that commitment difficult. Donations are now helping us replenish the campus, and that work must continue alongside the rebuilding of our programmes.

Our turnaround, which is projected to span until 2031, rests upon three key commitments. We intend to restore music, theatre and dance; develop heritage education and technology opportunities; and deliver succinct results.

We want people to learn to document, interpret, guide and take ownership of Soweto’s heritage of art. Among others, the Zibike Imaginerium seeks to bring back Matsemela Manaka’s plays to the Funda campus.

Poetry was recited by Sibusiso Nxumalo, acknowledgements of our partners and a vote of thanks were given by our new Deputy Campus Manager Mzi Gojo, which concluded the formal proceedings. Tumelo Mokopakgosi, the curator for the relaunch exhibition titled Phinda Phemba, then led the campus tour.

The tour began with murals on the historic Prefab building honouring Funda legends and stalwarts, including Mmatshilo Motsei, Vincent Baloyi, Sibongile Khumalo, Durant Sehlali, Es’kia Mphahlele, Charles Nkosi, Ezekiel Budeli and Matsemela Manaka. Guests then viewed the artwork exhibitions inside the building before gathering for refreshments.

Our next activities include Mzi Gojo’s curation of the Isithebe Residency Exhibition which starts on the 17^th of October 2026. This will then be followed by Sibusiso Nxumalo’s curation of the Black Wednesday commemoration on 19 October 2026 which will lead to his Festival of Original Sound in December 2026.

On behalf of the leadership of Funda Community College, we cordially extend an invitation to all learners, artists, community organisations and prospective partners to engage with us as we chart a new chapter.

We will measure our progress through the learning, performances, archives, graduates and businesses that emerge from Funda Community College. Join us as we embark upon “the process of becoming” (Es’kia Mphahlele).

Dr Tshepo Mvulane Moloi is Rector and Executive Director of Funda Community College.

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South African jurist and former United Nations human rights chief Navanethem “Navi” Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, with the Norwegian Nobel Committee praising her decades-long work advancing international law, human rights, and accountability for some of the world’s gravest crimes.

Announcing the award on Friday, the committee said Pillay had shown “exceptional courage and integrity” in helping build a more comprehensive global legal order and had been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.

The Durban-born lawyer, who grew up under apartheid, was recognised for a career spanning national and international courts, where she helped shape legal precedents that continue to influence international justice.

“Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career,” the Nobel Committee said.

Pillay became one of South Africa’s pioneering female lawyers during apartheid, representing anti-apartheid activists, including figures associated with the liberation struggle. Her legal career later expanded to the global stage, where she served as a judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), the International Criminal Court (ICC), South Africa’s High Court and as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

More recently, she chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and currently serves as a judge at the International Court of Justice in proceedings concerning allegations of genocide against Myanmar.

The Nobel Committee said her work demonstrated how legal institutions can help prevent violence and hold perpetrators accountable.

“In historic international court cases, she has shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence,” the committee said.

Among the achievements highlighted by the Nobel Committee was Pillay’s role in landmark ICTR rulings that established rape and sexual violence as crimes against humanity and, in certain circumstances, acts of genocide. The committee also noted her contribution to another legal breakthrough in which incitement to commit genocide through propaganda was successfully prosecuted.

The award comes as the international legal system faces increasing strain from geopolitical conflicts and challenges to multilateral institutions.

The Nobel Committee warned that the rules-based international order was under pressure from a growing shift toward power politics and away from legal frameworks designed to resolve disputes peacefully.

“At a time of existential challenges, including more wars and conflicts than the world has seen in a long time, international law is no longer just a supplement to peace and security. It is an absolute necessity,” the committee said.

The committee said the prize was intended as a reminder that both national and international legal systems remain essential for peace, justice and stability.

“Peace requires justice,” it said. “History has shown that a world operating without the rule of law is unjust, unwise and inhumane.”

The Nobel Committee further described Pillay as one of the foremost defenders of international legal principles of her generation, saying her work had strengthened cooperation between nations by promoting legal mechanisms as alternatives to conflict and violence.

For South Africa, the award represents global recognition of one of the country’s most distinguished legal minds, whose journey from apartheid-era Durban to the highest levels of international justice has made her a symbol of the struggle for human dignity and accountability.

In its citation, the Nobel Committee said Pillay’s lifelong commitment to justice and human rights offered “hope and inspiration to all who seek to bring about a more peaceful world”.

The Nobel Peace Prize, first awarded in 1901, marks its 125th anniversary this year. Pillay joins a distinguished list of laureates whose work has advanced peace, human rights and international cooperation.

South Africa now has five Nobel Peace Prize recipients, following the award to Navi Pillay in 2026.

South African Nobel Peace Prize recipients:

1. Chief Albert Luthuli (1960)
   Awarded for his non-violent struggle against apartheid.

2. Arch BishopDesmond Tutu (1984)
   Recognised for his role as a unifying leader in the non-violent campaign against apartheid.

3. Nelson Mandela (1993)
   Shared the prize for helping bring about the peaceful end of apartheid and laying the foundations for democracy.

4. F.W. de Klerk (1993)
   Shared the award with Nelson Mandela for their joint efforts in the peaceful transition to democracy.

5. Navi Pillay (2026)
   Awarded for her efforts to promote peace and international law through her work as a jurist, human rights advocate and international judge. Notably, Pillay is the first South African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Comparing women’s and men’s salaries reveals only part of South Africa’s gender pay gap. Recent research shows that a substantial share is linked to the companies they enter and whether those employers generally pay higher or lower wages across their workforces.

South Africa’s gender pay gap cannot be understood by comparing individual salaries alone. While direct pay discrimination remains part of the problem, inequality takes root much earlier. The industry a woman enters, the work available to her, and the employer she can reach can each influence what she is likely to earn.

An eight-year South African study makes this clear. Using administrative tax records, researchers tracked millions of formal-sector workers and found that women earned, on average, 12% less than men. About 45% of that gap, equivalent to 5.5 percentage points, was associated with women being more concentrated in lower-paying companies.

Because the study did not compare women and men performing the same work, the remaining 55%, or approximately 6.5 percentage points, cannot be read as a measure of direct pay discrimination.

However, the researchers suggested that it could reflect unmeasured differences between individual workers, as well as bias against women operating across the labour market rather than within any one company.

The findings carry a clear implication. Any explanation of the gender pay gap that stops at individual workplaces is incomplete. The question is not only how employers pay women, but which sectors, positions, and companies women can reach.

Where women work shapes what they earn

The gender earnings divide runs through three levels of the labour market. Women and men tend to work in different industries and occupations, and for companies that pay at different levels. Each divide affects earning prospects differently.

The first divide is between industries, because sectors do not offer the same earning opportunities. The study found that women entering formal employment were disproportionately concentrated in sectors offering lower pay premiums, meaning less of an earnings advantage. These included education, retail and personal care. Men were over-represented in higher-premium industries such as construction, mining and manufacturing.

This is not simply a historical pattern. A Stats SA analysis published in August 2026 found that women occupied 44 of every 100 jobs nationally. They accounted for more than half of employment in personal services, accommodation, food and beverages, and retail, but had their lowest representation in construction, mining, transport and storage, and the motor trade. These figures measure representation rather than earnings, but they confirm that the sectoral divide persists.

Occupation creates a second divide. Women and men may work in the same industry but perform different kinds of work with different levels of authority and prospects. According to Q2 2026 data, clerical work accounted for 17% of employed women and 5.8% of employed men, while domestic work accounted for 10.8% and 0.5% respectively. Managerial positions were held by 7.1% of employed women and 10% of employed men. These differences influence access to authority, advancement and better pay.

The employer adds a third layer. Two people can perform comparable work in the same sector yet earn different amounts because their employers pay at different levels.

“These divisions do not operate in isolation. Layered together, sector, occupation and employer can place workers on sharply different earnings paths, allowing disadvantage to accumulate from one level to the next,” says Prof Linda Meyer, MD of Rosebank International and Visiting Professor at Nelson Mandela University.

Why women’s access to better-paid work remains unequal

A deeper economic inequality arises before pay can even be compared. Women are less likely than men to be in paid employment. Stats SA reported that only 7.3 million of South Africa’s 21.3 million working-age women were employed in the second quarter of 2026.

That is just over one in three. Women’s labour-force participation was also lower than men’s, at 54.9% compared with 64.4%. These figures don’t measure unequal pay, but they show that disadvantage can arise before questions of salary or advancement begin.

Entering formal employment doesn’t end the divide. According to the study, the gap between the average pay levels of women’s and men’s employers was very small in their early 20s, but widened considerably between the mid-20s and mid-40s.

Women changed employers about as frequently as men, yet their moves were less likely to take them to better-paying companies. Women returning to formal employment after unemployment or informal work also tended to enter lower-paying companies than men.

The gap widens in the same years when many women are raising children. While the study does not prove that care responsibilities cause the divergence, the timing is too significant to ignore, particularly when homemaking falls so unevenly between women and men.

The latest published Stats SA figures show that women accounted for 2.1 million, or 88.2%, of the 2.4 million people outside the labour force for this reason. The unpaid work that sustains families and enables others to hold paid jobs can restrict women’s own earnings and advancement.

For employed women, care responsibilities may also make predictable hours, flexibility or proximity to home decisive, narrowing the jobs they can realistically consider.

The pathways into different kinds of work, however, can begin to diverge much earlier through education. Although women make up the majority of students in South Africa’s post-school system, the latest DHET statistics show that men still outnumber women among graduates in fields including physical and computer sciences, manufacturing and engineering.

“Education alone doesn’t determine pay, but different fields of study open different occupational pathways. The labour-market divide is shaped by a series of connected pressures, not one free and isolated decision about which job to accept,” says Prof Meyer.

Closing the gender pay gap requires more than equal pay

Equal-pay laws remain essential, but they can address only part of the divide. South African law prohibits unfair pay differences for work that is the same, substantially similar, or of equal value. Yet legal protection has limited effect when disparities remain hidden. As a Stellenbosch Business School analysis argues, employers must examine their remuneration practices, identify unjustified differences and correct them. Greater transparency, regular pay audits and effective enforcement would make inequality easier to expose and harder to defend.

But a pay audit can uncover inequality within a company. It cannot help women enter the industries, occupations and companies where better-paid work is concentrated. Closing the wider gap also requires childcare support, flexible work without a pay penalty, fairer recruitment, and stronger pathways into higher-paying fields and employers.

Equal pay cannot be judged only by what happens once a woman and a man work side by side. It must also be judged by whether women have an equal opportunity to enter, advance and remain in the parts of the economy where secure, well-paid work is available. Until South Africa confronts both unfair pay differences and the structural barriers influencing women’s employment paths, women will continue to reach salary negotiations with their earning potential already constrained.

©Higher Education Media Services.

Nelson Mandela University, in association with Rosebank International, the University of the Free State and Higher Education Media Services, the publisher of ednews.africa, invites you to an online discussion on the future of higher education in South Africa, with a keynote from the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela.

Future of Higher Education in South Africa

How should universities adapt what they teach and research to respond to unemployment, inequality, AI and the changing needs of society?

Joining the Minister in the discussion will be

• Professor Sibongile Muthwa, Vice-Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University

• Professor Hester C Klopper, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, and

• Professor Linda Meyer, President of Rosebank International.

  The discussion will focus on the future of higher education in South Africa, adapting curricula to changing employment needs, developing students’ independent thinking in an AI environment, and responding to South Africa’s education and development challenges.

  Save the date:

  The webinar takes place on

  DATE: 12 October 2026

  TIME: 16.00 to 17.30 (South African time)

  VENUE: Microsoft Teams

  ©Higher Education Media Services.

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Many people are familiar with being asked to accept cookies or agree to the collection of their personal information when using online platforms.

But what happens when the choice is to either pay for privacy or consent to even more extensive data collection? Should we have to pay money to protect our privacy or surrender our personal information to use these platforms?

According to research by Stellenbosch University (SU) legal scholar Zinhle Novazi, the pay-or-consent model, also known as the pay-or-okay model, raises important questions about whether South African law can adequately protect consumers.

Novazi, a lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law at SU, investigated the legality of the pay-or-consent model within the framework of South African law. This model gives users a choice: either consent to the processing of their personal information for behavioural advertising or pay a subscription fee to use online services without this type of data processing.

Novazi focused on platforms operated by Meta, which introduced such a model for Facebook and Instagram in Europe in 2023. She says that because Meta’s subscription model was introduced specifically in Europe, her paper looks ahead to what could happen if a similar model were introduced in South Africa, that is, whether our law would be capable of regulating it.

The findings of her study were published in the Stellenbosch Law Review in December 2025.

“The legality of the pay-or-consent model depends on whether users are given a genuine and fair choice, and whether the model complies with data protection, consumer protection, competition and contract law.

“Consent is meaningful only when a person can refuse unnecessary data processing without suffering exclusion, disproportionate financial consequences or the loss of essential digital connections.”

Novazi says her study does not argue that platforms should be prevented from charging for their services. Rather, it asks whether users who don’t want their personal information collected and used in this way are offered a genuinely accessible, affordable alternative that provides the same service. If not, the choice they are given may be more of an illusion than a real choice.

According to her, South African law remains fragmented. “Although it contains tools such as POPIA (the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013), the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) and competition law that could challenge such a model, it lacks clear rules and coordinated regulatory enforcement to limit the power of dominant platforms. This places too much responsibility on individual consumers to challenge powerful platforms after harm has occurred.”

Novazi adds that the common law of contract is also limited.

“Courts generally require proof that someone was unlawfully pressured into agreeing to a contract and have been reluctant to invalidate agreements solely because one party had more bargaining power. Although public policy, good faith and constitutional rights may be used to challenge unfair terms, the courts have traditionally been cautious about applying these principles.”

Novazi points out that consent is not always as voluntary as it appears. She explains: “A user may be presented with two buttons, but that does not mean the alternatives are practically accessible or equivalent.

“Many users have spent years building networks, storing photographs, developing business pages and maintaining personal or professional relationships on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Network effects make it difficult to move to another platform because the value of the service lies partly in the fact that other people are already using it. Refusing consent may therefore mean losing access to an established community, audience, livelihood or digital identity.

“The paid alternative may also be unaffordable, particularly in a country with high levels of economic inequality where the choice may be to surrender your personal information or accept digital exclusion. Users may technically consent, but do so under significant economic and structural pressure.”

Novazi says South Africa can learn from the European Union (EU), which has developed a more detailed and integrated legislative response to the model. “In Meta Platforms v Bundeskartellamt, the Court of Justice of the EU held that personalisation does not make extensive data collection contractually necessary unless it is objectively indispensable to the service.

“It also held that a platform’s dominance may undermine freely given consent, which must be obtained separately for distinct collection activities. However, the European Data Protection Board emphasised that large digital platforms cannot offer only a choice between paying and accepting behavioural advertising; they must offer a free alternative that provides the same service and is less intrusive.”

Novazi emphasises the importance of strengthening POPIA with clearer binding regulatory guidance on pay-or-consent models and of making it clear that the CPA should also apply when consumers provide their personal information instead of money to access a service.

“Platforms should not be allowed to combine behavioural advertising, sharing of personal information with other companies, service improvements and cross-platform tracking into a single request. Users should be able to refuse unnecessary data collection without losing access to the core service.

“Large platforms should be required to offer a free alternative that provides the same service without relying on behavioural advertising. If they do offer a paid option, its price should be clear and affordable. Claims that a service is ‘free’ should disclose how users’ personal information will be used.”

Novazi warns that if South Africa doesn’t strengthen its legal framework, privacy could gradually become a luxury rather than a right, forcing lower-income users to exchange their personal information to use online platforms.

She calls for closer collaboration between the Information Regulator, Competition Commission and consumer-protection authorities to address digital inequality and exploitation.

Source: Novazi, Z. 2025. Privacy For Sale? The Legality of the Pay-or-Consent Model in South Africa. Stellenbosch Law Review Vol 36 Issue 3, pp. 501-539. DOI: 10.47348/SLR/2025/i3a6

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Borrowing against your pension to finance a home requires more than having sufficient retirement savings. Your monthly cash flow must be healthy, with your income covering your expenses and enough financial stability to meet your repayment obligations.

Regular reliance on an overdraft, particularly when expenses exceed income, can signal financial distress and undermine an application for a pension-backed housing loan.

A pension fund declined a member’s application for such a loan after determining that her monthly expenses exceeded her income and that her regular reliance on an overdraft facility indicated a negative cash flow. The loan, applied for in August 2025, was intended to finance the completion of the member’s family home.

The member challenged the decision by the Cape Municipal Pension Fund, arguing that the refusal was unfair and prejudicial and that the fund had failed to conduct a proper affordability assessment in line with its own rules and the National Credit Act (NCA).

She said she had informed the fund and Alexander Forbes, the fund administrator, that she had sufficient pension savings, that the overdraft had been used to manage construction costs and that she no longer had an active bond obligation because the relevant bond had been settled.

She also provided proof of a good credit record, paid-up debts, an improved overdraft position and additional financial information when requested. Despite this, her application was again declined on the same grounds.

The matter was subsequently escalated to the Principal Officer, followed by further meetings and assessments. According to the member, the affordability assessment prepared by the fund administrator contained several errors, including irregular expenses, debts that had already been paid and an incorrect reflection of her overdraft position.

She also questioned the relevance and consistency of some of the enquiries made during the assessment, including the focus on a religious donation. She considered the repeated requests for extensive financial information disproportionate and suggestive of unequal treatment.

The member claimed that the refusal and delays caused serious personal and financial prejudice. She said construction of her home was delayed, costs increased and her savings were depleted. She was forced to rely on overdraft facilities, credit cards and borrowed funds to continue the construction and prevent the unfinished property from being damaged or vandalised.

Her family, she said, was also forced to live in temporary accommodation, including a friend’s garage, resulting in significant emotional and mental stress. She subsequently obtained alternative funding from a bank under the same NCA framework, but said this resulted in avoidable costs, delays and additional stress.

The fund defended its decision, saying the application had been assessed in accordance with Section 19(5) of the applicable Act, which permits housing loans only under defined conditions, as well as its Housing Loan Policy, which sets out mandatory exclusions and lending criteria.

The fund said its assessment found that the member’s monthly expenses exceeded her monthly income, resulting in a negative affordability position. It also found that her bank account showed frequent reliance on an overdraft facility, which indicated negative cash flow.

Taking into account her matrimonial property regime, the fund said the household’s financial position demonstrated heightened financial risk.

On this basis, the fund concluded that granting the loan would amount to reckless lending under the NCA, which it was prohibited from doing.

The fund also rejected the suggestion that an overdraft automatically disqualified a member from obtaining a housing loan. It said an overdraft was not an automatic exclusion but was a legitimate indicator of financial risk under the NCA and had to be considered together with the applicant’s total household affordability.

In his determination, the Adjudicator lebogang Mogashoa said the fund was not free to approve the loan simply because the member wanted to complete her home. The fund was required to satisfy itself that the proposed loan complied with the applicable Act, the NCA and the conditions imposed by its trustees through the housing loan policy.

The Adjudicator referred to Clause 4.2 of the housing loan policy, which requires an affordability assessment to be conducted before a housing loan is granted. Clause 6.1.1 further provides that, before granting a loan, the fund must assess whether a member can repay it within the loan term. This includes consideration of the member’s income, existing financial commitments, repayment history and future ability to meet the repayments.

The Adjudicator said the fund’s position was that the member’s expenses exceeded her income and that her bank account was in overdraft, indicating negative cash flow. The fund relied on Section 80 to justify its decision, arguing that the member’s expenses exceeded her income and that her overdraft usage demonstrated negative cash flow. According to the Adjudicator, Section 80 supported the fund’s duty to avoid reckless lending.

The complaint was, therefore, dismissed.

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The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) welcomes the recent announcement by the African Development Bank to establish a $5.1 billion framework to support the ailing fertilizer sector.

The fertilizer sector is in crisis due to recent geopolitical events leading to rising energy costs, global price volatility, and a significant increase in shipping and logistics costs.

South Africa imports more than 80% of its fertilizer requirements. The ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf has severely disrupted fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping insurance for fertilizers jumped from 0.25% to 1% of cargo value because of the continued conflict in the Middle East.

“This is a decisive intervention by the African Development Bank during a time of significant stress and uncertainty in the fertilizer sector, a key sector in the chemical industries which CHIETA supports.

We call on more support for our local fertilizer sector by government and other role players to support the sector against further external shocks,” says CHIETA CEO, Yershen Pillay.

According to Pillay, “The fertilizer sector is experiencing a crisis. Fertilizer security is essential for food security. As a country, we should not remain overwhelmingly dependent on imported fertilizer when we have vast renewable energy resources, a strong chemical-industry base, and a growing green hydrogen capability to build our own fertilizer value chain at home. CHIETA’s role is to ensure that as we build this local capability, South Africans have the skills to operate it.”

CHIETA is also supporting the development of enterprises that can participate in the growth of the chemical industries. More than 900 SMMEs were supported by CHIETA in the past year, providing businesses with opportunities to strengthen their capabilities and participate more meaningfully in the economy.

“The fertiliser opportunity extends beyond the large producers. There is an important role for SMMEs, entrepreneurs and emerging businesses across the wider value chain. Supporting these enterprises with the right skills and capabilities can help broaden participation while strengthening the resilience of the sector,” says Yershen Pillay, CEO of CHIETA.

The African Development Bank framework includes measures to secure critical food, energy and fertiliser supply systems, while supporting reforms aimed at developing diversified supply chains and greater long-term resilience.

CHIETA says this creates an opportunity for stronger collaboration between government, industry, development finance institutions, skills development bodies and the private sector to ensure that investment translates into productive capacity, enterprise development, innovation and employment.

CHIETA has continued its drive for more investment into green fertilizer and green ammonia as strategic pathways for fertilizer localization and securitization.

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My Vote Counts (MVC) has written to 20 political parties asking them to tell voters how they will approach coalition negotiations both before and after the 2026 local government elections.

The list comprises all 18 parties currently represented in the National Assembly and two nationally organised parties outside Parliament - the SACP and Afrika Mayibuye Movement - selected because of their potential relevance to coalition formation following the 2026 elections.

Letters were sent to the ANC, DA, MKP, EFF, IFP, PA, ActionSA, FF+, ACD, UDM, ATM, Al Jama-ah, Build One South Africa, NCC, RISE Mzansi, GOOD, PAC, UAT, SACP and and Afrika Mayibuye Movement.

Parties have been asked to respond by 17:00 on 5 October 2026.

Our position is that this information is necessary for voters to exercise their constitutional rights, MVC said in a statement. Section 19 of the Constitution protects every citizen’s right to make political choices and vote. Read together with the right of access to information in Section 32, voters should have meaningful information about how political parties may use the mandates entrusted to them.

The number of hung councils more than doubled from 27 following the 2016 elections to 66 following the 2021 elections. The number of municipalities governed through coalitions or other cooperative arrangements is expected to increase again after voters go to the polls on 4 November 2026.

“Voters should not have to vote for one party and discover only after the election that their vote has helped produce a governing arrangement they would never have supported,” said Noxolo Mfocwa, Advocacy Lead at My Vote Counts.

Each party has been asked to answer the following four questions:

1. What specific principles and values will your party use to determine whether another party is an acceptable coalition partner?

2. Which of your party’s policies or manifesto commitments will be non-negotiable in any coalition agreement?

3. Which political parties, if any, has your party ruled out as coalition partners after the 2026 local government elections?

4. Will your party commit to publishing every coalition agreement it enters, including any amendment, side agreement or confidence-and-supply agreement, within seven days of signature?

“We are not asking parties to predict the electoral arithmetic or bind themselves to negotiations that have not happened. We are asking them to disclose the principles, red lines and exclusions that will shape those negotiations. That information belongs to voters before they cast their ballots,” Mfocwa said.

Transparent Agreements are Central to Accountable Coalitions

The commitment to publish coalition agreements is central to MVC’s intervention. Transparency is required both before and after the election: voters need information about parties’ coalition positions before they vote and access to the agreements reached once coalition negotiations have concluded.

South Africa has spent several years considering how to make coalition government more stable and accountable. The 2021 Framework for Coalitions in Local Government and the framework that followed the 2023 National Dialogue on Coalition Governments both emphasise the importance of a common policy programme, mechanisms for resolving disputes and publicly available coalition agreements.

The Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill (B23-2026) is currently before Parliament. Legislation may establish useful rules, but it cannot, on its own, build the democratic political culture required to sustain principled and accountable coalitions.

Political parties do not need to wait for a new law to take transparency seriously. Publishing coalition agreements allows residents, civil society organisations, journalists and opposition parties to understand what has been agreed in their name and to hold coalition partners accountable for their commitments.

MVC Will Publish the Record

After the response deadline, MVC will publish the answers it receives and identify the parties that did not respond. This will give voters a clear and comparable record of what parties said before election day and a basis for holding them accountable for the governing arrangements they enter afterwards.

“Coalition government can broaden representation and require political compromise. But when agreements are negotiated in secret as exchanges for political positions or access to public resources, residents pay the price through unstable government and interrupted services,” said Joel Bregman, Project Lead: Money in Politics at MVC

“The standard should be straightforward: parties do not have to reveal the outcome of negotiations that have not yet happened, but they should reveal the principles and limits that will govern those negotiations. Once an agreement is reached, the public should be able to read it.” Bregman said.

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The Afrika Mayibuye Movement (Mayibuye) has issued a strongly worded appeal to the IEC, warning that the exclusion of thousands of prospective candidates due to technical submission errors risks undermining democratic participation and public confidence in the electoral process.

In an open letter addressed to the IEC chairperson, commissioners and chief electoral officer, Mayibuye president Floyd Shivambu outlined the organisation’s achievements in its first year of existence, while raising alarm over the fate of candidates whose details were captured in the Online Candidate Nomination System (OCNS) but not finally submitted before the deadline.

According to the IEC’s own announcement, 2,274 prospective candidates from 45 political parties - including 480 proportional representation (PR) candidates and 1,794 ward candidates - were affected. Shivambu argued that the consequences extend far beyond administrative inconvenience, striking at the heart of South Africa’s democratic rights.

“A democratic right purchased through such sacrifice must never be treated as an administrative inconvenience,” the letter states.

Mayibuye, less than a year old when nominations closed, claims to have built the largest municipal electoral footprint of any new political organisation in South Africa. The movement reports contestation in more than 200 municipalities, candidates in every ward of metropolitan cities, and a presence in all nine provinces.

The organisation highlighted its grassroots mobilisation - from community consultations in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West, to engagement with traditional and religious leaders, and volunteer networks across rural and urban areas.

Shivambu emphasised that these achievements belong to ordinary citizens who contributed time and resources to building a democratic alternative.

Yet, despite this progress, the party insists it cannot celebrate while other organisations and candidates face exclusion due to technical submission failures.

The Stakes of Exclusion

The letter warns that excluding entire party lists or ward candidates has profound consequences:

• Loss of voter choice: Communities may be denied the opportunity to support their preferred candidates.

• Candidate disenfranchisement: Eligible individuals lose the chance to seek public office.

• Narrowed competition: Exclusion alters the range of contestants before voting begins.

• Resource inequality: Smaller, volunteer‑driven organisations suffer disproportionate consequences.

• Erosion of trust: Citizens may withdraw from voting or distrust institutions.

Shivambu stressed that a councillor candidate who completed documents and consented to nomination should not be penalised for an administrator’s failure to click the final submission button.

“An administrator’s genuine mistake should not, wherever lawful correction is possible, become a community’s lost political choice,” he wrote.

Mayibuye urged the IEC to conduct a transparent examination of affected records, disclose how comparable cases were handled in previous elections, and apply consistent criteria across all parties.

The letter references the 2021 local government elections, when the candidate nomination process was reopened and upheld by the Constitutional Court. Shivambu argued that if materially similar cases received corrective treatment then, refusing equivalent remedies now would be “grossly unfair.”

The movement also acknowledged the Electoral Court’s dismissal of the ANC’s candidate list challenge but insisted that materially different factual circumstances should receive proper consideration.

Citing HSRC/IEC voter participation research, Mayibuye highlighted troubling statistics: national trust in the IEC stands at just 32%, with even lower figures in KwaZulu‑Natal. While these findings do not prove manipulation, Shivambu warned they signal urgent need for institutional responsiveness.

“Confidence grows when institutions listen, explain their decisions and correct errors transparently. It weakens when people believe that their participation has been sacrificed to a process they neither controlled nor understood,” the letter cautions.

The movement insists that admitting eligible candidates whose nomination information was captured before the deadline, through a lawful and transparent corrective process, need not undermine free and fair elections.

Safeguards such as preserving original records, verifying consent and eligibility, and preventing the introduction of new names can protect electoral integrity while ensuring participation.

Shivambu’s appeal concludes with a direct plea to the IEC, “protect the integrity of the election by protecting meaningful participation in it. Hear the affected parties. Examine the records. Correct what can lawfully be corrected. Allow qualifying candidates to face the judgment of the voters.”

The Afrika Mayibuye Movement’s intervention underscores a broader tension in South Africa’s electoral administration: balancing strict deadlines and procedural certainty with the constitutional imperative of inclusive participation.

With more than 2,000 candidates and 45 parties affected, the scale of the issue demands urgent institutional attention. Whether the IEC will revisit its processes and provide remedies remains uncertain, but the stakes - voter choice, candidate opportunity, political competition, and public trust - could shape perceptions of electoral fairness for years to come.

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Three suspects, including one man and two women, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered in Dawn Park, Boksburg, last week

The arrests were made over the weekend by members of the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit as investigations continue into a series of murders involving women across Gauteng.

Police found the body of the ninth victim on Thursday, 17 September 2026, in Dawn Park. The discovery followed the recovery of eight other women’s bodies in various parts of Ekurhuleni over the past two months.

The three suspects are expected to appear before the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said all nine murder cases are receiving priority attention from investigators.

“We remain committed to ensuring that these investigations are pursued with the urgency and determination they require. Our investigators are following all available leads and are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice,” said Dimpane.

Police said further details relating to the case will be revealed during court proceedings.

Authorities have also appealed to the public for information that could help the investigation. Anyone with relevant information can contact the Crime Stop Line on 08600 10111 or submit anonymous tip-offs through the MySAPS App.

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Source: SAnews.gov.za

The Nat Nakasa Award recognises bravery in journalism, the kind of work that speaks truth to power, confronts wrongdoing without fear and places the public interest above personal comfort.

The award honours journalists who show integrity, persistence, and courage in the face of pressure, because fearless journalism is essential to accountability and democracy.

In its citation, the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) said the Nat Nakasa Award recognises bravery in journalism, work that speaks truth to power, confronts wrongdoing and places the public interest above personal comfort.

“For many years, Edwin Naidu has demonstrated these qualities through his reporting on education, exposing wrongdoing and informing the public on policies that affect society.

His recent investigations into corruption and maladministration at UNISA further reflect his integrity, courage and commitment to the truth.

“His work has consistently served the public interest with integrity, courage and independence. Through his reporting on education, including his recent investigations into corruption and maladministration at UNISA, he has shown the fearless commitment to truth that the Nat Nakasa Award was created to honour. His journalism reflects not only professional excellence, but also the bravery and public mindedness that make a lasting difference in our media sector.”

“Tonight, we are proud to announce Edwin Naidu as the winner of the Nat Nakasa Award for showing bravery in his reporting.”

SABC journalist Tshamano Makhadi, pictured above, won the Stephen Wrottesley Award.

Earlier this year, Makhadi stepped up as Acting Chair during a turbulent time for SANEF, bringing efficiency and dedication to the role.

From Deputy Chair and Treasurer-General to Chair of the Education and Training Committee, Tshamano has consistently demonstrated passion, commitment and tireless service, including leading vital COVID-19 reporting training and supporting SANEF’s broader projects.

“His continued dedication to SANEF’s goals and vision makes him a deserving recipient of this year’s recognition.”

The 2026 Community Media Award went to Queen Machimane.

Community journalism is the heartbeat of local democracy, giving communities a voice, holding power to account and bringing overlooked issues into the national conversation.

Amid financial pressures, shrinking advertising revenue and the shift to digital platforms, this award celebrates the resilience, public interest and impact of community media.

The Nat Nakasa Community Award 2026 goes to Queen Machimane, a former writer at Rising Sun community newspapers, for journalism that strengthens accountability, deepens democracy and ensures local voices are heard.

Machimane did not collect her award in person as she has begun a new career with the South African Police Services.

SANEF Chairperson Katy Katopodis reflected on the killings of 9 women in Ekurhuleni, found between July and September 2026, and implored the media to keep naming them and reporting on the women until there is justice for the victims.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged that “no stone will be left unturned” in the investigation into the spate of killings of women in and around Kempton Park, Gauteng. His remarks follow the discovery of a seventh body in the area, intensifying fears of a serial killer at large.

Police confirmed that two additional bodies were recently found - one in KwaThema, Springs, and another near Thembisa Mall in Clayville - bringing the total number of victims linked to the Kempton Park killings to seven.

Those feared to be among the victims include runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who went missing but was found allegedly beaten, killed, and dumped.

The identities of several victims remain unknown, and Gauteng police say they are working around the clock to establish the facts and track down those responsible. Rumors of a serial killer have spread rapidly, with women in the affected communities voicing deep concern for their safety.

In his statement, Ramaphosa extended condolences to the families and communities affected. “These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women,” he said. “Our law enforcement agencies are working urgently to establish the facts, keep communities safe, and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.”

The President confirmed he had spoken to the Minister of Police and the Acting National Police Commissioner, directing that the cases be prioritised. He emphasised that police are working in partnership with citizens and appealed for information that could aid the investigation.

“As a nation, we must stand up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls,” Ramaphosa said.

Authorities have urged anyone with information or who may be missing a relative to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike at 082 465 7249.

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The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has released a comprehensive assessment of the province’s independent school sector, highlighting its growing footprint, strong academic performance, significant public funding, and the regulatory challenges shaping the sector.

The department says independent schools have become an increasingly important part of Gauteng’s education landscape, educating hundreds of thousands of learners alongside the public schooling system. While public schools continue to serve the overwhelming majority of learners in the province, the independent sector now accounts for nearly 380,000 enrolments.

Independent schools continue to expand

According to the department, Gauteng currently has 1,083 registered and operational independent schools, up from 961 in 2021. This represents an increase of 122 schools over five years, reflecting growing demand for alternative schooling options across the province.

The sector now enrols 379,727 learners and employs 24,974 educators.

Of the total number of independent schools:

• 279 schools receive government subsidies

• 804 schools operate without state subsidies

Johannesburg remains the largest hub of independent education, with 557 schools serving nearly 198,000 learners. Ekurhuleni follows with 233 schools, while Tshwane has 199. Sedibeng and the West Rand have smaller concentrations.

The department says understanding the growth and geographical distribution of independent schools is essential for education planning, particularly as Gauteng continues to experience rapid population growth and migration.

Why government subsidises independent schools

One of the most debated issues surrounding independent education is the use of public funds to support privately managed institutions.

The department argues that such funding is both constitutionally and legally permitted, provided schools meet prescribed requirements. Subsidised schools remain independently owned and governed but receive government support because they contribute to educational access, particularly in lower-fee communities.

This funding has been substantial.

Between the 2022/23 and 2025/26 financial years, Gauteng allocated approximately R4.3 billion in transfers and subsidies to qualifying independent schools.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the allocation was close to R1.1 billion, while approximately R1.13 billion has been budgeted for 2026/27. The department has also projected similar allocations for the following two financial years.

Officials emphasised that funding comes with strict accountability requirements, including monitoring of financial statements, governance processes, payroll systems, assets and budget management.

Strong matric performance

Independent schools in Gauteng delivered strong results in the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

Of the 12,291 learners who wrote the examinations, 11,651 passed, resulting in an overall pass rate of 94.82%.

The achievement included:

• 7,869 Bachelor passes

• 2,358 Diploma passes

• 127 schools with a 100% pass rate

• 49 schools achieving between 95% and 99%

The department noted that almost 70% of independent schools included in the analysis achieved pass rates of at least 95%.

Performance in key subjects was also highlighted:

• Business Studies: 93.8%

• Life Sciences: 91%

• Accounting: 88%

• Physical Sciences: 83.6%

• Mathematics: 74.8%

The GDE said these outcomes demonstrate the sector’s contribution to Gauteng’s broader economic and development goals, particularly in science, technology and commercial fields.

‘Independent’ does not automatically mean better

Despite acknowledging the sector’s strong academic performance, the department cautioned against equating private ownership with educational excellence.

Drawing on findings from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the department argued that learner achievement is influenced more by factors such as effective school leadership, discipline, teaching quality and a strong learning culture than by a school’s ownership model.

Officials also pointed to Gauteng public schools, which achieved an 89.06% matric pass rate in 2025, as evidence that high performance is possible across both sectors.

The department said many township schools continue to achieve excellent results despite facing infrastructure and resource challenges.

Ongoing concerns over unregistered schools

The department identified illegal and unregistered schools as one of the sector's most pressing challenges.

Parents have been urged to verify that schools are officially registered with the Gauteng Department of Education and appropriately accredited where required.

Between January and September 2026:

• 61 suspected illegal schools were inspected

• 32 schools received closure notices

• Seven schools ceased operating

• Four applied for registration

• Two school directors were arrested

Officials warned that uniforms, websites and marketing material do not by themselves prove that a school is legally authorised to operate.

School fees remain a major source of complaints

Disputes involving school fees continue to feature prominently among complaints the department receives.

Between 2024 and August 2026, the department recorded 3,688 cases relating to independent schools.

Among the most common concerns were:

• School registration issues

• Suspension or expulsion linked to unpaid fees

• Withholding of learner reports or transfer certificates

• Admissions disputes

• Bullying and disciplinary matters

• Curriculum and assessment concerns

The department reiterated that while parents remain responsible for honouring fee agreements, schools may not expel learners during an academic year or withhold progress reports because of disputes between schools and parents.

Home education on the rise

The department also reported continued growth in home education.

In 2026, Gauteng received 2,681 new home education applications, with 1,892 approved and a further 174 awaiting final approval after verification.

Between 2022 and 2026, the province registered 6,930 learners for home education.

However, the department cautioned against institutions operating as unregistered schools under the guise of homeschooling centres, tutor centres or online schools.

Independent schools remain a key part of the education system

In its conclusion, the Gauteng Department of Education described the independent school sector as a “large, diverse and established” component of the province’s education system.

While challenges relating to registration, school fees, governance and illegal operators remain, the department maintains that independent schools contribute significantly to educational access and learner achievement.

At the same time, officials stressed that public schools remain the backbone of Gauteng’s education system.

“The evidence shows that strong schools can exist in both sectors,” the department said, adding that school quality is ultimately determined by leadership, educator commitment, discipline, governance and the quality of teaching and learning taking place in classrooms, rather than whether a school is public or independent.

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OMODA & JAECOO South Africa has launched the J5 SHS hybrid, adding an electrified option alongside the existing petrol-powered model and the recently introduced fully electric J5 BEV.

The J5 SHS harbours a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 165 kW of power and 295 Nm of torque. The hybrid system is supported by a 1.83 kWh battery that enables electric assistance during low-speed driving and stop-start traffic conditions.

According to OMODA & JAECOO, the J5 SHS delivers a fuel consumption figure of 5.3 litres per 100 km, while its 51-litre fuel tank provides a theoretical driving range of up to 980 km on a single tank. Power is transferred to the front wheels through a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission (DHT), designed to optimise efficiency and performance.

The crossover offers 410 litres of luggage capacity, expanding to 1,214 litres when the rear 60/40 split-folding seats are folded down. Other convenience features include a power-operated tailgate, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic moonroof, automatic LED headlights and multi-colour ambient interior lighting.

Inside the cabin, occupants benefit from black leather upholstery, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a leather multifunction steering wheel and an eight-inch digital driver display.

Technology and connectivity

The J5 SHS features a 13.2-inch central touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity and voice-command functionality. Drivers also get 50W wireless smartphone charging and a six-speaker audio system. Rear parking sensors and a camera are included to assist with manoeuvring in tight spaces.

Strong safety credentials

The J5 SHS comes equipped with six airbags, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), Brake Assist, traction control and ISOFIX child-seat anchorages.

The crossover also features a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including:

• Adaptive Cruise Control

• Automatic Emergency Braking

• Lane Keep Assist

• Lane Departure Warning

• Lane Departure Prevention

• Traffic Jam Assist

• Emergency Lane Keeping

• Forward Vehicle Departure Reminder

• Integrated Cruise Assist

• Multi-Collision Brake

• Intelligent Evasion System

Pricing and warranty

The OMODA J5 SHS is priced at R459,900. The purchase price includes:

• Five-year/150,000 km vehicle warranty

• Ten-year/one-million km engine warranty

• Five-year/unlimited kilometre roadside assistance

• Five-year/75,000 km service plan

With the addition of the J5 SHS, OMODA & JAECOO now offers South African buyers three distinct J5 powertrain options, providing a broader range of affordable mobility solutions to suit varying consumer needs.

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South African tourism has opened exhibitor registration for Meetings Afria 2027, setting the state for the continent’s premier business events trade show to return to Sandton Convention Centre from 22-24 February 2027.

The announcement follows extensive industry debriefs and consultations, with organisers promising a stronger focus on quality connections, market access, and meaningful business opportunities for exhibitors and buyers alike.

The 2026 edition marked a milestone as Meetings Africa celebrated two decades of connecting Africa to the world. Last year’s show drew buyers from 53 countries, hosted more than 300 international buyers, and featured 325 exhibiting companies. Over two days, the platform facilitated more than 6,440 confirmed business meetings, underscoring its role as a driver of Africa’s business events economy.

Corne Koch, Chief Convention Bureau Officer at the South African Convention Bureau, said the next edition will build on lessons learned: “Our 20‑year milestone gave us an opportunity to celebrate, but also to listen and reflect. Meetings Africa 2027 is about taking those lessons forward and ensuring the platform delivers greater value through quality connections, market access and meaningful opportunities for our sector.”

Johannesburg Steps Up as Host City

The event will again be delivered in partnership with the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC), strengthening collaboration between national and city tourism authorities.

JTC Chief Executive Officer Thandubuhle Mgudlwa highlighted the city’s growing reputation: “Johannesburg is looking forward to welcoming the continent and the world, driving economic growth, fostering partnerships and showcasing Africa’s exceptional business events. Between July 2025 and June 2026, JTC supported 22 business events, generating an estimated economic impact of R154 million. These achievements underscore Johannesburg’s position as a leading business events destination.”

Organisers say the 2027 edition will place an even stronger emphasis on exhibitor and buyer value, ensuring participation translates into tangible commercial opportunities. The show will continue to unite convention bureaus, venues, hotels, destination management companies, and other tourism products with qualified buyers from key international and African markets.

South African Tourism has invited the sector to be part of this pan‑African platform, with Koch concluding: “We look forward to once again partnering to showcase the continent’s people, capabilities and experiences as we advance Africa’s competitiveness.”

Key Dates

• Exhibitor Registration: Now Open

• Buyer Applications: To be confirmed

• Meetings Africa 2027: 22–24 February 2027

• Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

For registration and enquiries, visit www.meetingsafrica.co.za or contact Synergy Business Events at Florence@synergybe.co.za (synergybe.co.za in Bing), Elvis@synergybe.co.za (synergybe.co.za in Bing), Millicent@synergybe.co.za (synergybe.co.za in Bing), or call +27 11 476 5104.

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A new conservation initiative is seeking to redefine the relationship between Africa’s national parks and neighbouring communities, with plans to establish a continent-wide network of community-led conservancies by 2036.

Rewilding Africa CIC, a UK-based Community Interest Company, has unveiled its National Park Conservancy model, which aims to create sustainable development zones around protected areas while strengthening conservation outcomes and unlocking investment opportunities for local communities.

The initiative is built on the premise that the long-term success of Africa’s national parks depends not only on safeguarding wildlife and habitats but also on improving the livelihoods of people living alongside them.

Rather than treating park boundaries as the end of conservation efforts, the model seeks to transform surrounding landscapes into managed conservancies where conservation, tourism, enterprise development and community participation work together.

“The National Park Conservancy model is about changing the relationship between national parks and the communities around them,” said James Arnott, founding director of Rewilding Africa CIC.

“We believe that by putting communities at the centre of the planning and development process, and by creating investable opportunities around conservation, we can build a model that delivers lasting benefits for people, wildlife and landscapes.”

The programme will be rolled out in two phases.

The first phase, a 24-month Destination Branding and Market Activation Programme, is designed to establish conservancy destinations, align stakeholders, attract partners and create the foundation for future investment. Rewilding Africa says this stage is intended to catalyse interest and prepare conservancies for long-term sustainability rather than support their ongoing operations.

The second phase focuses on the planning, development and management of conservancies. It includes natural resource assessments, community consultations, land-use planning, governance frameworks, investment strategies, enterprise development, landscape restoration and long-term management.

A key feature of the model is that communities are expected to play a central role in shaping each conservancy. Rewilding Africa says no master plan is imposed from the outset, with extensive communal planning intended to ensure local participation and consent before development decisions are made.

The organisation argues that conservation and economic development can reinforce each other when communities are directly involved and benefit from activities such as tourism, conservation-related enterprises and social-impact investments.

Two flagship pilot opportunities are already being explored around South Africa’s iconic Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and Zambia’s Kafue National Park. These projects are expected to test the model in different ecological, social and economic environments and demonstrate how it could be replicated elsewhere on the continent.

If successful, the initiative could create a network of connected conservation and development landscapes around national parks, opening new opportunities for responsible tourism, habitat restoration, community-owned businesses and nature-positive investment.

Rewilding Africa is now engaging national park authorities, governments, conservation organisations, investors, development partners and community leaders as it seeks suitable pilot destinations and strategic partnerships.

The organisation’s long-term vision is to establish National Park Conservancies across Africa by 2036, creating what it describes as a new conservation economy where protected areas and neighbouring communities thrive together.

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South Africa cannot hope to industrialise, modernise or compete globally without a strong corps of qualified artisans, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela warned on Saturday evening.

Speaking at the 2nd Annual South African National Artisan Awards (SANAA) in Gauteng, the Minister delivered one of his strongest messages yet on the country’s skills crisis, arguing that artisan training must become a national development priority rather than a symbolic gesture.

Addressing 34 finalists across 13 priority trades, Manamela said the awards were not simply a celebration of excellence but a reminder of the country’s urgent need for plumbers, welders, electricians, millwrights, cobblers and other trades that keep the economy functioning.

The Minister’s keynote came days after TVET Month, during which the department pushed for young people to physically visit colleges, see workshops, meet lecturers and understand the pathways into trades.

He argued that South Africa’s skills pipeline must be judged not by speeches or enrolment numbers, but by how many apprentices complete training, qualify, enter workplaces and build sustainable careers. “We must count learners who complete, artisans who qualify, graduates who enter work, and enterprises that survive and grow,” he said.

Manamela was frank about the system’s weaknesses. He noted that students often bear the cost of fragmented planning, outdated equipment, slow certification processes and limited workplace opportunities.

A major focus of the speech was workplace learning, the single biggest bottleneck in artisan development. While government can fund training and colleges can teach theory, Manamela stressed that apprentices cannot become competent artisans without real-world exposure under qualified mentors.

South Africa’s National Development Plan sets the objective of producing 30,000 qualified artisans a year by 2030. “We will not reach that objective by counting registrations, launches or memoranda of understanding. We must count learners who complete, artisans who qualify, graduates who enter work, and enterprises that survive and grow.”

This requires practical reform, said Manamela.

He called on employers to stop “standing at the edge of the skills system” and instead help design programmes, open workplaces, provide mentors and absorb graduates. SETAs and the National Skills Fund, he added, must support this through coherent funding and transparent tracking.

The Minister also highlighted the need for inclusion, saying women, persons with disabilities and young people from rural and township communities must be able to enter and progress in every trade.

“Inclusion is not achieved by enrolment alone,” he said.

Manamela used the SANAA platform to call for a single, credible national system for recognising artisan excellence. The awards, launched last year with a focus on Centres of Specialisation, now include finalists from all 50 public TVET colleges. From 2027, he said, the platform should extend to private training institutions while maintaining a unified national standard.

The partnership with Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropies South Africa and Allan Gray Makers adds an entrepreneurial dimension, positioning artisans not only as job seekers but as potential business owners who can employ others and strengthen local economies.

To the finalists, Manamela delivered a message of pride and responsibility. Being named a National Artisan Ambassador, he said, must mean more than receiving a blazer and a photograph. “An ambassador mentors an apprentice, speaks to young people about vocational careers, supports quality and safety, keeps learning as technology changes, and helps to leave the workshop, enterprise and community stronger than they found it.”

As he prepared to sign the SANAA Book of Legacy, Manamela said the true legacy would be measured in workshops, workplaces and communities where standards rise, opportunities expand, and artisans build the infrastructure that sustains the nation. “Skills build nations. And artisans are nation-builders,” he said.

South Africa, he concluded, “sees you, values you, needs you—and now asks you to lead.”

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The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, in consultation with National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi, has appointed Advocate Ntuthuzelo Vanara as Acting Head of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

Vanara replaces Advocate Andrea Johnson, who resigned amid controversy and allegations that have cast a shadow over her tenure.

A seasoned legal, governance and regulatory leader with more than 25 years’ experience across Parliament, state institutions and state‑owned enterprises, Vanara previously served as Group Executive: Legal, Governance & Regulatory at the SABC and held senior roles in Parliament and various oversight structures. He holds B.Proc, LLB and LLM qualifications from the University of the Free State.

Currently Chief Legal Counsel at the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Vanara provides strategic leadership in civil litigation, asset recovery, corporate legal services and compliance. He joins IDAC on secondment and assumes his new responsibilities immediately.

Minister Kubayi expressed confidence in Vanara’s integrity and ability to stabilise and reposition IDAC, wishing him well in his new role.

(c)Higher Education Media Services.

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