Category: News

Over 77 000 candidates to sit for matric exams in the Western Cape

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With the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams set to get underway next week, 77 442 candidates are set to sit for the examinations in the Western Cape.

“Of these, 67 606 are full-time matric candidates, while 9 836 are part-time or repeat candidates. We have 3 231 more full-time candidates writing than in 2024,” said Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier.

The exams will start on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, with 12 736 candidates sitting for the computer applications technology (CAT) practical exam in the morning.

In total, 112 exam papers will be written by the time the exams end on 26 November 2025.
As in previous years, Maynier said the subject with the largest number of candidates is Mathematical Literacy, with 53 206 candidates writing Paper 1 on Friday, 31 October 2025, and Paper 2 on Monday, 3 November 2025. 

On the other end of the scale, two subjects have a single candidate writing in the Western Cape, and that is Sesotho First Additional Language, and Setswana Home Language. 

Maynier stated that managing the exams is a large administrative task, with candidates scheduled to write at 473 exam centres and 2 046 trained invigilators appointed to closely monitor the proceedings.
Marking will begin in December, with 954 000 examination scripts being marked by 4 190 markers.

“We appreciate the incredible work that our examination officials do each year to ensure that the exams run smoothly. Our matrics and their teachers have also put in a tremendous amount of work to prepare for these exams, so we appeal to everyone in our province to put the best interests of our candidates first during the exam period. 

“We wish our candidates all the best for the final days of revision and look forward to celebrating with them when the results are released,” Maynier said.

South Africa and China sign landmark agreement

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South Africa and China have signed a historic stone fruit trade protocol, opening the Chinese market to five types of South African stone fruit — apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes.

The agreement was signed in Shanghai by Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Minister Sun Meijun of China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) on Wednesday.

It marks the first time China has granted market access for multiple stone fruit varieties from a single country under one deal.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Steenhuisen described the agreement as “a major breakthrough for South African fruit producers and exporters at a time when diversification is essential for our agricultural resilience.”

He said the protocol forms part of a broader strategy to reduce South Africa’s dependence on traditional export markets and more responsive to new consumption patterns, as China’s growing middle class, which is driving global demand for high-quality agricultural products.

“While markets are grown and developed over time, the access that this protocol will unlock in a vast new market, such as China, holds great potential, and will offset some of the immediate impact of the US tariffs especially on plums,” Steenhuisen said.

The Minister said the Chinese market could unlock approximately R400 million over the next five years, with that figure projected to double within a decade.
“We are of the view that the inaugural 2025/26 export season can generate approximately R28 million and R54 million in 2026/27.”

He noted that China’s demand for peach and plum imports continues to grow, with imports last year exceeding 21 million cartons of peaches and nectarines and 20 million cartons of plums, exceeding South Africa’s entire seasonal export volume.

Projections also indicate that exports to China are set to grow to 5% of South Africa’s total export volumes in 2032/2033.

Job creation

Steenhuisen said the opening of the Chinese market would also enable local producers to export more share of their harvests at more sustainable prices.
“Stronger demand in China, together with a slight reduction in exports to other markets, are expected to drive market growth. Over time, this improved demand, and increased volumes could encourage further investment at farm level, particularly the establishment of new orchards.

“Over the next decade, this protocol could create a market that will support roughly 350 new direct jobs on farms and in packhouses, and close to 600 new jobs overall once linked industries such as transport and packaging are included,” the Minister said.

During his discussions with Minister Meijun, Steenhuisen also raised the resumption of beef exports from certain South African regions and reviewed progress on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) regionalisation.

Technical team 

He also invited a GACC technical team to visit South Africa to inspect the country’s cherry and blueberries orchards and packhouses during the current harvest season.

“If the inspection proceeds smoothly, South Africa will likely secure cherry market access to China within the next harvest cycle, strengthen its trade ties, and unlock new export and job opportunities for the fruit sector. This will also consolidate our positive momentum on broader fruit trade cooperation.”

Investment 

The Minister also highlighted the impact of Chinese infrastructure investment in upgrading South Africa’s railways, ports, and highways, improving market access for farmers and boosting logistics efficiency.
This work aligns with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which prioritises infrastructure investment across Africa.
The Minister also encouraged trading partners to make use of the world-class Shanghai Freight Services network to leverage its extensive global logistics network for both sea and air freight, ensuring faster and more reliable delivery of South African agricultural exports to China.

“China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for more than a decade, and our bilateral trade continues to deepen. We value China’s ongoing cooperation and the shared commitment to exploring opportunities within our agriculture sector and we look forward to building on this partnership through future agreements that benefit both our countries,” the Minister added.

Pretoria High Court Orders Full Overhaul of Aircraft Engines Older Than 12 Years

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Aircraft engines older than 12 years - regardless of flight hours - must now be completely overhauled, following a ruling by the Pretoria High Court on Friday.

The decision comes after five aviation industry bodies challenged the controversial rule introduced by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The court upheld the requirement, which is expected to have a major impact on the aviation sector.
In June, the CAA confirmed that all aircraft with engines over 12 years old must be rebuilt in line with manufacturers’ maintenance manuals. The authority said the move followed the invalidation of the long-standing AIC 18.19 directive, which had previously made engine overhauls only a guideline rather than mandatory.

Most light aircraft in South Africa use Lycoming or Continental engines, which recommend overhauls every 2,000 flight hours or 12 years.

Industry representatives warn that enforcing this as a rule will have serious implications for private, commercial, and agricultural aviation.

Aviation expert and TV presenter Wouter Botes said the cost of overhauling an engine - around R1 million - will force many owners to sell their planes.

“This rule will hit the private sector hard. Some of these aircraft are used for crop spraying,” he said.

Progress made in removal of Western Cape abandoned vessels

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Government has reported significant progress in clearing sunken and abandoned vessels from Western Cape harbours.

“The removal of these wrecks is a critical step in addressing the environmental and safety risks posed by sunken and abandoned vessels, which constitute approximately 90% of such wrecks in Hout Bay Harbour,” the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr Dion George said on Tuesday. 

By clearing these vessels, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) is creating additional mooring and berthing space, responding to numerous requests from the fishing industry for access to these facilities. 

This development is expected to stimulate economic activity, including increased demand for vessel building and job creation in coastal communities.

These efforts are part of the DFFE ongoing revitalisation of the Proclaimed Fishing Harbours located in Lamberts Bay, St Helena Bay, Saldanha Bay, Hout Bay, and Gordon’s Bay.

A total of 37 vessels has been identified in these five harbours, comprising 17 abandoned vessels and 20 sunken vessels. To date, six vessels have been attended to or removed by their owners at their own cost, leaving 31 vessels remaining. 

Of these, 17 vessels—most of which are small leisure boats in Hout Bay Harbour—are expected to be removed through lifting and cutting operations before the end of 2025.

“The successful progress in removing sunken and abandoned vessels across our Western Cape harbours is a testament to our dedication to ensuring safe and sustainable fishing harbours. These efforts not only mitigate environmental and navigational risks but also create opportunities for economic growth by freeing up valuable mooring space,” the Minister said.

In Hout Bay, which accounts for the majority of the remaining vessels (25 identified, with 23 still to be addressed and 10 slated for lifting), the salvage operation for the vessels Edelweiss and African Unity has been underway for the past five days.

Despite initial plans to complete the removal within three days, the complexity of the operation, including the discovery of an additional unidentified vessel beneath one of the wrecks, has extended the timeline.

Collaboration
The DFFE, in collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), have expressed thier commitment to overseeing the completion of these operations in accordance with the Wreck and Salvage Act (Act No. 94 of 1996). 

SAMSA will continue to issue directives to vessel owners where necessary to facilitate removals.

“The collaborative efforts of our teams, SAMSA, and vessel owners are driving transformative change in our fishing harbours. We are committed to sustaining this momentum to ensure our harbours remain safe, functional, and economically vibrant,” the Minister said.

Teams have successfully pumped water from the vessels, and a team of divers is actively sealing identified holes to ensure the vessels can be safely floated and moved for salvaging. 

Additional vessels in Hout Bay, such as Merlin, Blue Boat, and Spes Nova, are scheduled for removal by the end of October 2025, while others like Grant and another Spes Nova are targeted for the end of December 2025. 

Several abandoned vessels, including SA 4256, C.Bull, Nico’s, Roly Poly, Royal Duke, Brilliant, Lucky Too, Teal, and two dinghies, are under discussion for lifting with a crane by November 2025. 

The owner of the White Boat has committed to repairing it and donating it to Small Scale Fisheries Co-Operatives.

In other harbours:
•    Gordon’s Bay (4 vessels identified, 1 remaining): The sunken Dolphin is set for removal by a diving school as part of a training programme, with a date to be confirmed by the end of October 2025. The abandoned vessels Sea Quest, Feelin Naughty, and Illusions – 29504 are also noted.
•    Lamberts Bay (2 vessels identified, 1 to be removed): The sunken Getruide ADF 549 and abandoned James Archer are pending, with SAMSA to issue a directive for Getruide ADF 549.
•    St Helena Bay (2 vessels identified, 2 to be removed): The sunken Arizon II and Anna SH1451P are pending SAMSA directives.
•    Saldanha Bay (4 vessels identified, 4 to be removed): The sunken Benguela Pride 350390, Petrie Hein –350553, OosterDAM 350481, and Angie V are pending SAMSA directives.

In May the Minister called for the urgent removal of wrecked and abandoned vessels that pose significant risks to navigation, marine ecosystems, and the safety of coastal communities.

Garden Route Faces Growing Fire Threat Amid Record Dry Conditions

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By Cobus Meiring: Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF)

In an exclusive interview by Cobus Meiring of the Garden Route Environmental Forum (GREF), veteran firefighter Deon van Wyk, Deputy Fire Chief at the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), expressed grave concern about the region’s escalating fire risk as relentless winds and exceptionally low rainfall persist.

Van Wyk has formed part of the GRDM Fire and Rescue Services Unit since 1996 and works in a team of more than 40 firefighters under the leadership of Chief Fire Officer, Deon Stoffels.

According to Van Wyk, the Southern Cape has recorded unprecedentedly low rainfall figures over the past six months, causing surface and underground water tables to drop dramatically.

“The wind blows right through the night, which is highly unusual for this region and makes fire suppression extremely challenging,” he said.

These prolonged dry and windy conditions have left the Garden Route environment tinder-dry, increasing the likelihood of runaway wildfires. Van Wyk warned that even a small ignition could rapidly develop into a large-scale fire under current conditions, and GRDM have most recently faced more than a dozen wildfires.

Adding to the concern is a sharp decline in experienced wildland fighters across the region over the past decade. “The Southern Cape is naturally fire-prone, and the situation is worsened by the vast amount of invasive alien plant biomass in the landscape,” Van Wyk explained.

“To deal effectively with this, we need a strong corps of professional firefighters trained in forward planning, maintaining fire breaks, as well as block and back-burning practices.”

“Just today, and over the last couple of weeks, prescribed burns have burned beyond control. These have raised concerns about the management and controls thereof, pointing to some of the current risks that require actions to reduce their likelihood”.

Recognising the urgency, GREF, Nelson Mandela University, Southern Cape Fire Protection Association (SCFPA), GRDM, SANParks, CapeNature, and Cold Stream Timbers have established a Fire Risk Reduction Task Team (RRTT).

This collaborative platform focuses on strategic risk assessment, coordinated fire prevention planning, and awareness across both public and private land.

“The task team was created to improve regional readiness and cooperation ahead of what could be one of the toughest fire seasons in years,” said Van Wyk.

GREF urges landowners, municipalities, and residents across the Garden Route to remain vigilant, clear firebreaks, remove invasive plants, and report any signs of uncontrolled fires immediately.

GREF is a public platform for environmental managers. conservation and a climate change think-tank (www.grefecsf.co.za)

Home Affairs achieves staggering improvement in visa turnaround times

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The Department of Home Affairs has reported a dramatic improvement in visa processing times during the 2024/25 financial year - the first under Minister Dr Leon Schreiber.

According to the department’s latest Annual Report, the turnaround in work visa adjudication has been remarkable. Critical skills visas processed on time rose from 52% to 89%, business visas from 61% to 97%, and general work visas from just 10% to an impressive 98%.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the department’s performance, saying it demonstrates the impact that effective leadership can have in areas that have long struggled with inefficiency.

The DA said the results show real progress toward boosting economic growth and job creation.

The department’s Medium Term Development Plan for 2024–2029 lists visa regime reform as a top priority, aimed at attracting skilled professionals, promoting investment, and supporting tourism.

Initiatives such as the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme have already attracted nearly 40 000 tourists and created more than 3 000 jobs in its first phase.

A second key focus has been ensuring that all South Africans can access smart and digital IDs and e-Passports.

In the past year, Home Affairs produced 3.6 million identity documents - up from 2.8 million in 2023/24 - surpassing its annual target by nearly one million. The department says these gains reflect the success of its system modernisation programme and efforts to reduce downtime caused by offline systems.

Immigration Affairs also showed strong progress, improving from 40% to 87.5% performance.

The department says this demonstrates that South Africa can pursue visa reforms to attract investment and tourism while taking firm action against illegal immigration.

The DA says ministries under its leadership will continue to focus on programmes that drive economic growth and create sustainable employment opportunities.

SA launches first harbour-based net recycling facility

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The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has officially launched South Africa’s first harbour-based net recycling facility at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. 

The containerised “micro-recycling pod”, located at Collier Jetty, processes end-of-life fishing nets into high-value raw materials for reuse in plastic manufacturing.

“The solution we see here today, the recycling and repurposing of end-of-life fishing gear, provides a glimpse of what a sustainable future can look like. This is how we build resilience in our blue economy, ensuring that economic activity supports environmental protection,” the Minister said on Friday.

The recycling pod, housed in a converted shipping container, can shred, wash, dry and densify up to 100 kilograms of used nets per hour. 

By transforming discarded fishing gear into clean plastic flakes, the facility prevents waste from reaching landfills or the ocean, reduces the risk of ghost fishing gear, and creates new economic opportunities.

The launch of this pilot project was led by OCEAN Action Network (OCEAN) and Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), while the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) supported the project by securing funding from the Marine Stewardship Council’s Ocean Stewardship Fund. 

The V&A Waterfront also supported the project by donating space to host and operate the facility. 

The Minister commended the initiative, noting that it supports South Africa’s national commitments under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, and advances global goals such as Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. 

He also emphasised that the project complements the ambitions of the emerging Global Plastic Treaty and reflects South Africa’s leadership on this issue within the Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency. 

“This is more than just a recycling project. It’s about protecting marine ecosystems, supporting South Africa’s fishing communities, and building a model that can be replicated in other harbours around the country and across the continent,” OCEAN Managing Director Estelle van der Merwe said.

SADSTIA Executive Secretary Johann Augustyn highlighted the project’s alignment with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard.

“Mitigating the impacts of ghost gear is essential for healthy oceans. We hope this South African pilot inspires wider adoption of innovative, technology-based recycling solutions,” Augustyn said.

With the recycling pod now fully operational, the next step is to scale the model. 

OPT’s self-contained plant is designed for easy replication, and additional containers can be deployed to other harbours.

The net recycling project aims to create a scalable, circular economy solution for marine plastic waste right at the harbour’s edge.

It will also create awareness of the importance of recycling among residents and visitors to the V&A Waterfront.

“Our oceans are the lifeblood of South Africa’s environmental and economic future. Initiatives like this show the power of partnership and innovation in driving real change. When we work together across government, business and civil society, we turn waste into opportunity and stewardship into action,” the Minister said.

Operation Shanela nabs over 700 suspects

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Operation Shanela 2 efforts have led to the arrest of 777 suspects across various parts of Gauteng, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection (also acting as Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing), Major General Mbuso Khumalo, led law enforcement agencies as they embarked on the weekend's operations.

“These suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes that include murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery, rape and sexual assault,” Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said.

Operation Shanela 2 was conducted across all five districts in the province from 10 - 12 October 2025, where 255 wanted suspects were arrested in the Tshwane District and 196 suspects were arrested in the Johannesburg District.

Ekurhuleni saw 137 wanted suspects being arrested, while 186 suspects were arrested in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts. A further 265 suspects were arrested as police embarked on roadblocks, stop-and-searches, as well as compliance checks on liquor outlets.

“The arrested suspects will appear before different magistrate courts in Gauteng in due course,” said the police. 

SARS seizes R65 million narcotics at Durban Harbour

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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has made a narcotics bust worth an estimated R65 million during a collaborative intelligence operation led at the Durban Harbour on Sunday morning.

Thirty bricks of suspected narcotics were seized during the operation that were stashed in the reefer refrigeration unit of a vessel.

“On [Sunday morning] Durban Customs Enforcement Team Launched the Customs Marine Unit Patrol Vessel – Striker to go and intercept the Motor Vessel near the Fairway Bouy at Outer Anchorage about 4 Nautical Miles of the East Coast of the Durban.

“The enforcement team intercepted the vessel as it was entering the port and escorted the vessel to its berth. The enforcement team boarded the vessel, interviewed the Master of the Vessel, and examined documentation to identify the location of a profiled container.

“The vessel was rummaged by the enforcement team, and the container was located on the vessel where the refrigeration unit was examined. This resulted in one positive detection of bricks of suspected narcotics,” SARS said in a statement.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, commended the teams for the successful bust.

“Customs demonstrated its gallantry by working so hard and focussed at the death of the night to intercept this vessel. 

“This speaks to an unwavering commitment by SARS to protect our borders and keep at bay all criminals that are bent on shipping harmful substance that cause unmitigated suffering for our inhabitants,” Kieswetter said. 

Basic Education condemns misinformation on reopening of schools

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The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has condemned the fake news suggesting changes to the reopening of public schools on Monday, 13 October 2025.

“The Department of Basic Education notes with concern the circulation of fake news on social media and other unofficial platforms suggesting changes to the reopening dates of schools for the fourth term. The department wishes to clarify unequivocally that these messages are false and misleading.

“All public schools across South Africa will reopen as scheduled on Monday, 13 October 2025, marking the beginning of the fourth and final academic term of the school calendar,” said the DBE in a statement on Saturday.

The department condemned the deliberate spread of misinformation, which creates unnecessary panic and confusion among parents and learners.

“Education is a shared national responsibility. False information disrupts schools, confuses parents, and undermines the hard work of our teachers and learners. We appeal to every South African to be vigilant, to verify before sharing, and to help us protect the academic calendar and the upcoming National Senior Certificate examinations,” said Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

The department urged the public to rely only on official DBE communication channels including its website (www.education.gov.za), verified social media pages, and provincial education departments for credible and verified updates.

The department said that as the country moves into this critical period of the school year, it extends heartfelt appreciation to parents, teachers, learners and school management teams who continue to uphold the values of commitment, resilience, and discipline that define our education sector.

Final stretch

With just days remaining before the commencement of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations on 21 October 2025, the department called upon all learners particularly the Class of 2025 to stay focused and make the most of the support provided through revision materials, radio lessons, catch-up sessions, and school-based study camps.

The department said it remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring a smooth conclusion to the 2025 academic year. From infrastructure readiness and learner support materials to psychosocial assistance and teacher preparation, all systems are in place to ensure that teaching and learning resume seamlessly on Monday, 13 October 2025.
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