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Minister Ronald Lamola has arrived in Juba, leading a High-Level African Union Ad-hoc Committee of Five (C5) Visit to South Sudan from 14 to 15 January 2026. He is leading the delegation in his capacity as the Chairperson.

This visit is a follow-up to the previous C5 Ministerial Visit to Juba, which took place exactly a year ago.

The visit serves as a precursor to a Peace and Security Council (PSC) Meeting of the African Union, scheduled for 19 January 2026, which will assess the situation in South Sudan. It also precedes the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government and the proposed C5 Plus Summit, which will convene on the margins of the AU Assembly from 14 to 15 February 2026.

The year 2026 marks a pivotal moment for South Sudan, as the country is earmarked to hold its first-ever elections since gaining independence from Sudan in July 2011. The role of the C5 is to oversee the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).

South Sudan is currently led by a Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity, with elections expected to be held in December 2026.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, wishes learners, teachers, parents and education officials well as public schools reopen today for the 2026 academic year.

The Chairperson noted that the reopening of schools marks an important moment in the country's education calendar, particularly for learners entering Grade 1 and those in Grade 12. “For Grade 1 learners, this year signals the beginning of a lifelong learning journey, while for Grade 12 learners it represents the final and most critical phase of their schooling. We encourage parents, caregivers and families to support the learning of foundation phase learners from an early stage, as families share responsibility with educators for learners' development.” The Chairperson further encouraged the Class of 2026 to approach the year with discipline, resilience and determination.

The committee, however, remains concerned about ongoing challenges that may affect teaching and learning in KwaZulu-Natal. “We have noted worrying reports of delays and gaps in the delivery of learner teacher support material (LTSM) to no-fee-paying schools. This needs urgent attention to ensure that learning is not compromised from the start of the academic year.” She said the province performed exceptionally well in the 2025 National Senior Certificate examination by achieving the highest overall performance despite existing challenges. “We want to see KwaZulu-Natal continue on this positive trajectory.”

The committee is also concerned by reports that some schools in parts of Limpopo are unable to reopen due to damage caused by recent flooding. Ms Maimela called on the Department of Basic Education and provincial authorities to act promptly to support affected schools in the two districts and to put in place contingency measures to safeguard learners' right to education. “The committee intends to visit education districts in this province later this month, where it will be able to assess the measures put in place,” the Chairperson said.

The committee expressed concerns about the persistent challenge related to learner placements, particularly in provinces such as Gauteng and the Western Cape, where many learners remain without confirmed school placements at the start of the academic year. The Chairperson noted that urgent intervention is needed to ensure that all unplaced learners are accommodated without further disruption to their schooling.

Ms Maimela emphasised that every learner has a constitutional right to basic education. “No child should be excluded due to administrative delays, infrastructure shortages or inadequate planning.” She called on provincial education departments to strengthen coordination, improve admissions systems and ensure that temporary or alternative placements are implemented where necessary.

“The committee will continue to exercise oversight to ensure that all learners are provided with safe, functional schools and the necessary resources to succeed in 2026,” Ms Maimela said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Media Contact:
marie@apo-opa.com 

Kenyan Trend Media Contacts: 
Name: Astone Lukoye Keya
Position: Senior Editor
Email: astonlukoye@gmail.com
Phone: +254790851519

About APO Group: 
Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.   

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About Kenyan Trend:
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