Free State Targets Surgical Backlogs
The three-day Cataract Marathon, held over the weekend at Boitumelo Regional Hospital in Kroonstad, was a great success, with over 100 patients receiving treatment.
Screening was conducted last week Friday with cataract operations scheduled for Saturday and Su...
While matrics across the country have started with their final exams, lawyers are battling it out in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, as to whether their results may once again be published in the media early next year.
This has been an ongoing issue since 2022, and while several judges have up to now given the green light for the publication, the matter has never been fully ventilated. The dispute over the public publication of matric results began in 2022 when the Department of Basic Education (DBE) tried to prohibit it.
At the time, the judge agreed with AfriForum and the other parties involved that the publication of the results was in the public interest and that the use of examination numbers instead of the names of the matriculants provided sufficient protection for their privacy.
At the end of last year, the Information Regulator (IR) tried to prevent the DBE from publishing the 2024 matric results. The IR’s application to obtain an interdict against it, however, failed in January when the court ruled in favour of the publication of the results.
The DBE maintains that this order is still valid, and it argues that it has no other choice but to oppose the IR’s directive to withhold publication. However, the case in January only dealt with the interdict and not the merits of the case. In this week’s legal challenge, three applications in this regard have been joined. This includes whether the IR’s directive that the results may not be published is valid or not.
The fact that the DBE published last year’s matric results resulted in the IR slapping it with a R5 million administrative fine. This is one of the applications under the spotlight as the department wants the court to overturn this sanction.
The Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia) came under the spotlight on Monday during the arguments of Advocate Marius Oosthuizen SC, acting for the DBE. He told a full bench - three judges - that each matric candidate is issued with a confidential exam number.
The matric results are published under this exam number, and the candidate itself is not identified, other than through the specific number. “Our case is that by using the exam number, we are not using the personal information of the candidate,” Oosthuizen said.
The IR maintained that this is still against Popia, as a candidate sitting next to another in the exams may notice the other’s number and then check that candidate’s results. But Oosthuizen said this is absurd, as this is mere speculation.
He also argued that in the age of transparency, the media should be allowed to report on the results of the matric exams. He pointed out that the results will remain the property of the DBE and will only be released to inform the candidates of their marks. He argued that the principles of the Act are flexible, and it all comes down to reasonableness.
It was meanwhile argued on behalf of the IR that regarding the 2025 matric examination results, the DBE was ordered to obtain the consent of learners to publish their results in newspapers and also to design a system in terms of which examination numbers are not issued sequentially. This was, however, not done.
“In addition, if the DBE does not design a new system, it must ensure that the results are published in the newspapers in a manner that will not make it possible for the learners in the same school to identify other learners and their results,” the IR argued. It added that the DBE remains obligated to release matric results directly to the learners, and it is not obliged to publish them in newspapers.
South Africa has called on G20 member states to exercise maximum flexibility and solidarity as the Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) enters the final phase of negotiations on the first-ever G20 Ministerial Declaration on the Empowerment of Women.
Delivering her welcoming remarks at the 4th Empowerment of Women Technical Meeting, currently underway in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Director-General, Advocate Mikateko Joyce Maluleke, expressed optimism that the declaration, if adopted, would mark a historic milestone for the G20’s gender equality agenda.
“If we can reach agreement amongst ourselves, this would indeed be a momentous occasion — for the G20 Forum to adopt, for the first time, the Empowerment of Women Ministerial Declaration,” Maluleke said.
The meeting, which takes place from 27 – 29 October 2025, is attended by representatives from G20 member states, including guest countries and international organisations. It is the final meeting under South Africa’s Presidency of the Working Group.
The delegates are negotiating the Ministerial Declaration, to be adopted during the EWWG Ministerial Meeting on 31 October 2025.
Maluleke commended the “robust engagement” of delegations over the past three and a half months, noting that 29 paragraphs of the draft declaration have been finalised, with 18 still under negotiation.
She also reflected on the evolution of the text since South Africa introduced the initial draft, emphasising efforts to balance diverse perspectives. These include references to gender issues, which have increased significantly, from 13 mentions in the Zero Draft to 44 in the latest revision (REV3), showing the growing recognition of women’s empowerment as a core development priority.
However, she acknowledged that some contentious issues, such as references to comprehensive sexuality education, patriarchy, and harmful practices, had been removed through successive revisions to reach consensus.
“This is an indication that the issues under discussion are vibrant and relevant under the gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls’ agenda for all delegation,” Maluleke said.
She also appealed for the use of “agreed UN language” in remaining discussions, stressing that the goal was to produce a declaration that is balanced, ambitious, bold, and action-oriented, ensuring that “all women and girls in our countries will be able to confirm that their human rights are also promoted and protected in the G20.”
The EWWG, first established under India’s G20 Presidency in 2023, has since evolved under Brazil in 2024 and now South Africa in 2025. The Johannesburg meeting marks the culmination of this three-year process, setting the stage for a potential global commitment to women’s empowerment within the G20 framework.
As the delegates gather for their final week of negotiations in Gauteng, Maluleke expressed confidence that collective determination would lead to success.
“We rely on all delegations to exercise their maximum flexibility in this last leg of the negotiations. When the negotiation session resumes, I want us all to reflect, take cognisance that we have spent 55 hours in each other’s company engaging in this text over three and a half months.
“This has not been an easy process, and we cannot allow all this hard work to turn into nothing,” the Director-General said.
*This article was first published by Sa Government
In a landmark moment for South Africa’s tourism and heritage rail sector, Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) and the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Company have signed a 25-year concession agreement to operate and manage the iconic Outeniqua Choo Tjoe heritage railway line.
This long-term concession marks a significant milestone in the revival of the much-loved steam train service, which last operated in 2006 and has remained a symbol of South Africa’s rich railway history.
The agreement enables the restoration, operation, and development of the line between George and Knysna, creating a new era of heritage tourism along the world-renowned Garden Route.
“The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is more than just a railway; it is a national treasure. This partnership ensures its return as a world-class heritage experience that will bring significant social, cultural, and economic value to the region,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Monday.
She made these remarks during the signing ceremony for the agreement in George, Western Cape.
Phillips hailed the agreement as “a model for public-private collaboration in the preservation and activation of strategic heritage infrastructure”.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe is South Africa’s last remaining full-sized, narrow-gauge steam train to have operated a regular service and is fondly remembered by local and international passengers for its spectacular route along the Garden Route coastline.
This concession forms part of Transnet’s broader strategy to unlock value from non-core assets through partnerships that preserve heritage, boost regional tourism, and promote inclusive economic growth.
The Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Company Chief Executive Officer, Alan McVitty, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential.
“We are honoured to partner with Transnet on this visionary journey. Our goal is to breathe new life into the Choo Tjoe, preserving its charm while delivering a safe, memorable, and economically impactful rail experience for locals and visitors alike,” McVitty said.
*This article was first published by Sa Government
South Africa’s major metros, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, are tackling water repair and maintenance operations this month as they try to keep its ageing infrastructure afloat while balancing supply disruptions, illegal connections, and financial instability.
While challenges differ from city to city, underinvestment, water losses and increasing demand have pushed municipalities into a constant state of crisis management.
Cape Town
From Tuesday until November 5, the City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Department will start its planned maintenance. It is expected to affect neighbourhoods from Kuils River to Fish Hoek, Delft, and Woodstock.
Residents have been warned to store water in advance, as scheduled shut-offs could last up to ten hours in some areas. The city’s water team will conduct pipe and valve installations, replacements, and leak repairs.
In a statement, the City of Cape Town said: "The aim is to ensure the future continuity of water supply by addressing the issue of unaccounted-for water.”
Maintenance work will include zero-pressure tests and conditional assessments, which temporarily disrupt supply but aimed at identifying weak points in the network and prevent future bursts.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg seeks to solve its water crisis believed to be a result of illegal connections, non-payment, and decaying infrastructure. These issues have sparked protests in areas such as Westbury and Coronationville.
In a recent media briefing, City of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero unveiled a turnaround strategy aimed at restoring reliability and financial sustainability to the city’s water utility.
“One of the most significant developments,” Morero said, “is the ringfencing of Johannesburg Water as a trading entity, ensuring greater accountability and efficiency.”
The move, supported by the Presidency and National Treasury, allows the utility to manage its own finances and revenue collection.
As part of enforcement efforts, three informal settlements have already been disconnected from illegal water networks. The city is also partnering with the private sector to drill boreholes in high-demand areas and rehabilitate reservoirs and wastewater treatment plants.
Durban
Meanwhile, Durban’s eThekwini Municipality is also waging what it calls a “war on leaks.” Earlier this month, the city’s Water and Sanitation Department isolated the Northern Aqueduct, one of its main supply pipelines, to repair a major leak near Piesang River and three smaller leaks further down the line.
The shutdown, which lasted 27 hours, affected thousands of residents and businesses in areas such as Phoenix, KwaMashu, Umhlanga, and Durban North.
Municipal spokespersons described the repair operation as essential to reduce water losses
The city has allocated R40 million in its 2025/26 budget to fix 22 pipelines prone to frequent bursts.
Municipal statistics show that in just over a year, more than 1,000 bursts and leaks were repaired across three wards — a sign of both progress and deep-rooted decay.
City officials across all metros have urged residents to store water in advance of planned shut-offs, use clean sealed containers, and report leaks promptly.
The search for three-year-old Katleho Leeuw from Glen outside of Bloemfontein ended in tragedy when her lifeless body was found in the bushes on Saturday afternoon.
Little Katleho went missing on Thursday. She was last seen alive by her mother, Joyce Leeuw, while playing with other children in the backyard of her home, but later on realised that her daughter was overly quiet and immediately reported the little Katleho missing at the Glen Police station.
Captain Jerry Motaung from the Family Violence Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit led the search for two days and at 11:20 am on Saturday, Katleho’s fragile body was found dumped in the thick bushes, a distance from Glen Location
“Preliminary investigation indicates that Katleho was sexually assaulted and murdered.
“Crime scene experts are currently looking for clues that will help the investigation further. A case of Murder is opened at Glen Police Station,” confirmed Free State spokesperson for SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane.
Covane urges public members with information to assist the investigation and arrest of Leeuw’s suspect(s) to contact Sergeant Lebogang Dikgacoi on 083 585 1951 or 051 407 3600.
