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Minister Gwarube to release findings of National Investigative Task Team (NITT) interim report into NSC 2025 examination breach The Minister of Basic Education will host a media briefing to formally release the findings of the Interim Report of the National Investigative Task Team into the recent examination breach. The briefing forms part of the Department’s …
The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has said there is a need for emphasis on qualitative approaches in the passes for Grade 12.
He said: “For too long our focus had been on securing a high average percentage mark and no follow up on what happens after. A functioning education should allow for monitoring even post school where progress of children could be reported on.”
“The progression should apply even at higher education institutions where universities are not boggled down with bridging learners on learning areas that should have occurred at the basic education level.” He said the time for matriculating for the sake of passing Grade 12 is long gone.
“Our children should be equipped for opportunities be they academic or workplace related. We should not matriculate and then no one knows what happens after,” added Mr Feni. He also said even opportunities at TVET colleges ought to be coordinated and linked up with real skills.
Mr Feni emphasised: “Failure to do this makes a mockery of the government's progressive stance to expand NSFAS opportunities to fund college students. Let us meaningfully and qualitatively build on these opportunities; it starts with the quality passes at Grade 12.”
The committee wished all the learners awaiting their results well and good passes.
Mr Feni said those who do not pass should not be despondent, but use the hurdle of repeating a Grade as another opportunity to jump higher in the system. The Grade 12 results will be announced on Monday and will be published in major daily newspapers on Tuesday, with schools scheduled to open on Wednesday.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCES AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, MR MAKHI FENI.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee's Media Officer:
Name: Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
Cell: 081 052 6060
E-mail: smaputi@parliament.gov.za
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reports that the Vaal Dam and the broader Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) continue to perform strongly, maintaining stability in line with the latest weekly reservoir status update. This positive outlook is supported by the ongoing rainfall season.
The Vaal Dam remains above full capacity, currently at 103.17%, with no measurable change compared to last week. This sustained level highlights both the resilience of the system and the effectiveness of the Department's strategic management.
The IVRS, which supplies water to Gauteng and surrounding provinces, also reflects consistent performance, holding steady at 100.8%. Such stability underscores efficient management practices and proactive planning to strengthen drought resilience and ensure sufficient water availability ahead of the peak summer rainfall season.
Key dams within the system recorded the following status:
Storage facilities linked to the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) also show encouraging trends:
These figures collectively demonstrate the strong performance of the system, supported by consistent inflows and reliable management.
DWS remains committed to maintaining a proactive approach to flood preparedness and hydrological risk management. The Department continues to track inflows closely and provides early warnings and technical updates to all relevant stakeholders.
Earlier this year, DWS advised that some dams could be maintained at higher storage levels in anticipation of a potentially dry summer. However, the latest seasonal outlook from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) now anticipates above-normal rainfall for the current season.
To support operational planning:
As the national custodian of the country's water resources, DWS issues alerts, tracks catchment conditions, and offers technical support. Operational disaster response such as evacuations and emergency relief falls under the mandate of local, district, and metropolitan disaster management authorities.
During flood situations, DWS implements its Flood Preparedness Plan and submits continuous situation updates to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and other intergovernmental structures to maintain coordinated action across all levels of government.
The Department also underscores that water security in the IVRS should not be viewed solely through the status of the Vaal Dam. The system functions as an integrated network supported by several reservoirs and inter-basin transfer schemes, including the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Water and Sanitation, Republic of South Africa.
Pace bowlers Mitchell Starc of Australia and Jacob Duffy of New Zealand along with all-rounder Justin Greaves of the West Indies are in line for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for December while India opener Shafali Verma joins the South African pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus in the women’s shortlist. …
Two-time British & Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe returns to the starting line-up for tomorrow night’s Investec Champions Cup clash with Gloucester at Hive Stadium (Friday 9 January, kick-off 8pm) – live on Premier Sports. The prolific winger returns from a hip injury and is one of three changes to the starting XV that …
The Border Management Authority (BMA), working in close collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), has intercepted more than 20 minors near the Limpopo River in the vicinity of the Beitbridge border fence.
The children, aged between 5 and 17 years, are believed to have been en route from South Africa to Zimbabwe when they were intercepted during routine border safeguarding operations. Among the group were 10 adults; however, preliminary verification conducted by BMA officials has confirmed that only one adult is the parent of one child. The remaining minors were found to be travelling without parental supervision or lawful guardianship.
“The interception has raised serious concerns regarding child protection, possible exploitation, and non-compliance with immigration and child welfare legislation. All individuals have been placed under the care of the relevant authorities, and processes are underway to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and lawful handling of the minors in line with South African laws and international child protection protocols, Dr Masiapato said.
The BMA is working closely with SAPS, the Department of Social Development, and other relevant stakeholders to verify identities, establish circumstances surrounding the movement of the children, and determine appropriate interventions.
Dr Michael Masiapato, has reiterated the Authority's zero-tolerance approach to the unlawful movement of children across South Africa's borders. “The protection of vulnerable persons, particularly children, remains a priority for the BMA. We will continue to intensify joint operations with our security cluster partners to prevent exploitation and safeguard the integrity of our borders,” he said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, in collaboration with the Rustenburg Local Municipality, will host a public participation event on Friday, 9 January 2026, at the Civic Centre in Rustenburg under the theme: Advancing People-Centred Development.
The event will be hosted by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, supported by Deputy Minister Alvin Botes. The event forms part of DIRCO's nation-wide public participation efforts linked to South Africa's G20 Presidency and the historic G20 Leaders' Summit hosted in November 2025.
The event further serves as a follow-up to the G20 Townhall Engagement hosted in Rustenburg on 30 October 2025, themed Inclusive Economic Growth and Just Transition for Sustainable Societal Development.
The engagement seeks to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to engage on key outcomes of the G20 Leaders' Summit and the G20 Social Summit, as well as to explore opportunities in the mining sector and other emerging sectors such as agriculture and tourism.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: Friday, 9 January 2026
Time: 09:30 for 10:00
Venue: Civic Centre, Rustenburg
Media RSVP: rakgakolem@dirco.gov.za
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Johannesburg: Artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly used across South African workplaces — but many organisations are discovering a critical limitation: AI generates convincing language, not verified truth. Finance, HR, compliance, and operations teams are reporting growing concern over AI-generated content that sounds accurate but contains subtle errors, assumptions, or fabricated details. When unchecked, …
I think back to the first online adverts that I used to see for renewable energy systems like Solar Panels and wonder if they were the reason for a lot of scepticism. Those adverts promised free electricity without mentioning the investment needed to generate said free electricity. Now to the uninitiated the word ‘free’ conjures …
Emirates (www.Emirates.com) will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy and its latest onboard products to more cities across its network.
The recently-announced third daily service on the Dubai-Cape Town route will now be served by an A350, bringing Emirates latest aircraft type to the market for the very first time. The deployment enhances travel options between South Africa and Dubai, with Emirates' full suite of products and services available for customers to enjoy – from the iconic A380 and the fully-retrofitted Boeing 777 to the next-gen A350.
Commenting on the deployment, Emirates' Regional Manager of Southern Africa, Afzal Parambil said, “With the deployment of the next-gen A350 on the third daily service between Dubai and Cape Town, South Africa becomes the only African nation on our network to be served by all three aircraft types on the Emirates fleet. This fleet mix provides the greatest flexibility for our customers to travel in and out of our three gateways, while still providing travellers with the world-renowned Emirates' experience, on every flight.”
Emirates also announced additional A350 deployments on new daily services to Copenhagen and Phuket, offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience, ahead of the anticipated surge in winter travel demand. The airline will deploy its Premium Economy retrofitted A380, Boeing 777 and A350 aircraft with the latest cabin interiors on more than 84 routes by 1 July, underscoring its focus on delivering a premium and consistent experience across its network.
Additional flights and capacity to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town
From 1 June, a second daily service will be introduced between Dubai and Copenhagen; a third daily service between Dubai and Phuket and the third daily to/from Cape Town will come into effect from 1 July. All three services will be operated with the airline's latest A350 aircraft, featuring its award-winning Premium Economy, in addition to the latest Business and Economy Class cabins.
From 1 June, Emirates' flight EK153 will depart Dubai to Copenhagen at 14:50hrs, arriving at 19:45hrs. The return flight, EK154, will depart Copenhagen at 21:35hrs, arriving in Dubai at 5:55hrs the following day.** The new service is optimally timed to provide seamless connections from Copenhagen to popular destinations via Dubai, to East Asia including, Bangkok, Bali, Manila, Tokyo Haneda and Phuket as well as convenient links to Colombo and Male. In addition, the service introduces new connections to key African cities such as Nairobi and Entebbe. Passengers travelling from key global cities, such as Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Delhi and Bangalore will also benefit from the additional frequency to the Danish capital, with convenient onward connection times through Dubai.
From 1 July, Emirates' flight EK778 departing Dubai at 10:25 hrs, arriving in Cape Town at 18:05 hrs; the return flight, EK779, will depart Cape Town at 20:00 hrs and arrive in Dubai at 07:25 hrs the following morning. The third frequency offers travel options with optimised connections from/to London, Dublin, Bombay, Brussels, Australasia and key Asian markets, serving both leisure and corporate travel demand.
Emirates' double daily Cape Town service has seen consistently high load factors over the past year, particularly during peak periods. Inbound demand from the GCC continues to grow, while outbound traffic to Europe and the US East Coast remains strong.
From 1 July, Emirates' flight EK390 will depart Dubai to Phuket at 22:40hrs, arriving at 08:10hrs the following day. The return flight, EK391, will depart Phuket at 10:00hrs, arriving in Dubai at 13:05hrs. Travellers will benefit from additional travel options to the popular resort destination, which offers an early morning arrival ideal for those connecting from Europe including Manchester, Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt as well as Kuwait and Bahrain via Dubai. The new flight will also provide convenient onward connection times from Phuket to key gateways across Europe and the Middle East, including Madrid, Munich, Birmingham, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Edinburgh, Zurich and Amman.
The airline will also operate its A350 to Rome and Taipei from 1 May.
Planned Premium Economy route expansions:
Africa
Europe & North America
Asia
Australia
Middle East
Tickets can be booked on www.Emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as Emirates' retail stores.
* Aircraft deployment may be advanced if released earlier from refurbishment.
** All times are local.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.
Johannesburg, South Africa: When families face the emotional and logistical challenges of a deceased estate, relocation, or downsizing, the process of selling household contents can feel overwhelming. Grand Oak Auctions has introduced a practical and compassionate auction approach designed to ease that burden, by conducting auctions directly at the property itself. Rather than removing items, …
Johannesburg – South Africans continue to love the Hyundai brand, with Hyundai Automotive South Africa ending 2025 as the fourth largest automotive brand in the country, recording 36 409 new vehicle sales in a market characterised by unprecedented competition. The 2025 performance resulted in a 19% year-on-year growth. The achievement comes in a year where …
SailGP has established its first long-term training base at the state-of-the-art American Magic performance and innovation center in Pensacola, Florida, opened earlier yesterday. Set to provide SailGP teams access to world-class facilities that support year-round performance and innovation, the partnership brings together SailGP and American Magic – two leaders in elite sail racing – to …
Statement by Mzamo Billy MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The Democratic Alliance (DA) will formally call on the Ministry of Police to urgently brief Parliament on the stalled rollout of police body-worn cameras, amid a growing number of fatal South African Police Service (SAPS) operations in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Over the past …
Melinda Snyman, NSRI St Lucia station commander, said: At 18h28, Tuesday, 6 January, NSRI St Lucia were alerted by Ezemvelo Wildlife authorities, at Sodwana Bay, of a drowning in progress at Sodwana Bay main beach. iSimangilso lifeguards, who had already gone off normal scheduled duty, responded back to Sodwana Bay main beach and initiated a …
Seventeen umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees will officiate at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Thirteen different nationalities will be represented, including two umpires from one of the host nations, Zimbabwe. Forster Mutizwa, who represented Zimbabwe 21 times across …
Find out what the latest weather forecast from the SA Weather Service means for your region for 8 January 2026. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of severe thunderstorms, flooding risks and extreme fire danger expected in parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and beyond. The weather service has released its latest weather forecast for 8 January …
As part of the voluntary communications programme managed pro bono by APO Group (https://APO-opa.com) to support the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, we are seeking an experienced Website Developer & Designer.
Location: Remote (Europe or Africa)
Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)
Commitment: 2 days per week, for at least 6 months
About the Role
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), the governing body of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa, is inviting applications for a Website Developer & Designer to strengthen and enhance its digital presence.
This is a hands-on, execution-driven volunteer role focused on the design, development, and ongoing maintenance of SECAM's websites and digital platforms. While content will be provided by other team members, the position centres on ensuring technical implementation, smooth functionality, consistent and professional design aligned with SECAM's brand standards, user-friendly navigation, and strong site performance.
We are seeking a dedicated individual who can work independently on clearly defined tasks, follow established brand guidelines and UX best practices, and collaborate effectively with content creators, communications teams, and project stakeholders. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by shaping SECAM's digital presence and ensuring its platforms remain accessible, engaging, and reliable.
This role is part of the pro bono volunteer programme facilitated by APO Group (https://APO-opa.com). Learn more about the initiative: SECAM Africa Newsroom (https://apo-opa.co/4puAWzY).
The programme operates within European and African time zones. For this reason, applications are only open to candidates based in these regions.
As a Website Developer & Designer, you will:
Website Administration & Maintenance
Performance, SEO & Accessibility
Collaboration & Process
Required Skills & Experience
Nice-to-Have
Requirements
What We Offer
This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Church's noble mission, while also enhancing your professional experience, strengthening your CV, and broadening your international network.
I M P O R T A N T: Only applicants who complete the form below will be considered.
APPLY here: https://apo-opa.co/4qIZsOT
The Catholic Church operates 82,235 Catholic Schools in Africa, educating 30,629,476 pupils. Its extensive network of care includes 13,880 facilities such as hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, leprosy centres, homes for the elderly and chronically ill, centres for disabled people, orphanages, kindergartens, and marriage counselling centres.
According to the 2022 State of the World's Volunteerism Report compiled by the United Nations, the global number of volunteers stands at 862.4 million. Embracing volunteerism provides individuals with unparalleled firsthand professional experience, allowing them to enrich their CVs with valuable expertise gained through meaningful contributions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group Jobs.
APO Group Media Contact:
marie@apo-opa.com
About APO Group:
Founded in 2007, APO Group (https://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.
Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy Agency of the Year South Africa in 2024 and again in 2025 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, we were honoured with the Gold distinction for Best PR Campaign and Bronze in the Special Event category at the Davos Communications Awards.
APO Group's esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa's Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences.
PRETORIA, GAUTENG – As homeowners and businesses in the Capital City increasingly prioritize health and indoor air quality, AquaSteam is proud to announce the official launch of its specialized, professional upholstery cleaning services across Pretoria and its surrounding suburbs. With the harsh Gauteng dust and seasonal allergens being a constant challenge for local residents, AquaSteam …
Defending champions Australia headline Group A of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 alongside three teams hoping to earn a maiden trophy. Australia triumphed at the 2024 edition in South Africa to be crowned the victors for the fourth time. In the group stage, they will take on year 2000 runners-up Sri Lanka, …
In a landscape crowded with products, promises, and polished marketing, one truth has become non-negotiable: brands with purpose earn trust faster, last longer, and grow deeper than those without it. Whether you are a business competing for market share or an NGO competing for attention and funding, purpose has become the new currency of credibility. …
Internationally loved food creator, Mattia Moleri, shows just how sweet South Africa’s festive treat really is. South Africa (07 January 2025) – South Africans didn’t need international validation to know that malva pudding is elite, but it’s still pretty satisfying when the rest of the world catches on. Popular food content creator Mattia Moleri recently …
The 2026 Jazzathon program is out with fantastic acts on each of the three days Highlights include Hassan’Adas on Saturday 10th at 6pm. The band are a seamless blend of Samba, Marrabenta, Afro-jive, and Afro-Latin grooves layered with Cape Jazz sensibilities. As well as Julius May, Women Unite and Chadleigh Gowar 9–11 January 2026 | …
The failure of the Gauteng government, led by Premier Panyaza Lesufi, to enrol all learners in schools before the 2026 school year commences is unacceptable. A mere 606 of the more than 5 000 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners have been enrolled over the past two weeks, leaving 4 858 learners without any idea […]
The post Lesufi administration fails to enrol Gauteng learners appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.