Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe on Student and Stakeholder Helpdesk resolving over 55 000 Student Queries

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Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe on Student and Stakeholder Helpdesk resolving over 55 000 Student Queries

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR

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The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Dr Mimmy Gondwe, is pleased to announce that the student and stakeholder Helpdesk in her office has successfully handled over 55,000 queries from across the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector since its establishment in August 2024.

Deputy Minister Gondwe established the Helpdesk immediately after taking office, serving as an interface between the PSET sector and students, and the wider public seeking help and information.

So far, the DM’s helpdesk has managed 57,283 queries, with around 55,121 resolved and closed, achieving a 90% resolution rate.

The DM’s Helpdesk provides quick, personalised support to students and stakeholders, focusing on enquiries about the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), registration status, and issues such as delays in results, diplomas, and certificates.

“The work of the Helpdesk closely aligns with my vision of connecting higher education with our communities. Every day through the Helpdesk, we support students and stakeholders by providing a direct platform for them to escalate their queries and grievances. It pleases me to see the Helpdesk growing and reaching the 55,000 milestone in resolved enquiries. This shows we are making a difference and positively impacting students and stakeholders,” said Deputy Minister Gondwe.

To effectively assist students and stakeholders, the DM’s helpdesk works closely with the department’s internal Exam and Diploma section and with the TVET and University branches within the Department and NSFAS.

“With the increasing volume of queries, we are now transitioning to a digital Helpdesk for a faster, smarter, more accessible solution. In the meantime, please contact my Helpdesk by email at Dmsdesk@Dhet.gov.za,” said Deputy Minister Gondwe.

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US-Iran conflict: South Africans stranded while DIRCO dithers

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US-Iran conflict: South Africans stranded while DIRCO dithers

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : @KASIBC_AUDIO

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply alarmed by the lack of accurate and credible information disseminated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to South Africans stranded in Gulf countries and states in the broader Middle East affected by the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

Thousands of stranded citizens have expressed to us directly or via social media that DIRCO and Embassy e-mail addresses bounce back, phone numbers do not work, calls remain unanswered for days on end, or that the DIRCO Mobile Travel App is faulty.

It has been nearly 4 days since the US-Iran conflict broke out and grounded the Middle East’s international airlines indefinitely, making onward travel virtually impossible as rogue drones and missiles permeate much of the affected airspace.

The DA now calls on DIRCO to urgently make available dedicated and accurate phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and local support call centres to assist South African citizens who are stranded or in distress.

This is a matter of grave importance: DIRCO incompetence on this matter may cost South Africans their lives.

The Democratic Alliance Abroad (DAA) in locations around the Middle East is able to assist with the latest information or recommendations for stranded South African citizens during this unprecedented time. DA Abroad can be contacted for information or recommendations via the following two e-mail addresses: contact@da-abroad.org or mary.paccard@da-abroad.org

While DA Abroad cannot act on behalf of DIRCO who has the legal mandate and responsibility to help and protect South Africans abroad, we are a resource to provide assistance as and when possible.

The DA will update members of the public timeously and consistently as and when information becomes available to us.

In the interim, South African citizens trapped in Middle Eastern locations should abide all safety alerts and directives communicated by relevant authorities.

These include taking up shelter and remaining indoors when directed.

The DA insists that DIRCO must open reliable communication channels and emergency consular services for these trapped SA citizens, urgently.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation is entirely under the control of an African National Congress (ANC) Minister, in the Government of National Unity (GNU). We call on Minister Ronald Lamola to take seriously his mandate and urgently address the dire lack of emergency consular services within the South African foreign service which now places thousands of lives in mortal danger.

DIRCO must come to the table and fulfill its duty to the people of the Republic wherever in the world they may find themselves.

This is no time for the system to be offline.

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SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE RECORDS STRONGEST EXPORT PERFORMANCE SINCE COVID-19 AS MARKET DIVERSIFICATION PAYS OFF

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SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE RECORDS STRONGEST EXPORT PERFORMANCE SINCE COVID-19 AS MARKET DIVERSIFICATION PAYS OFF 

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : @KASIBC_AUDIO

South Africa’s agricultural sector has once again demonstrated resilience and global competitiveness, delivering a record export performance in the fourth quarter of 2025 despite significant headwinds in the global trading environment. South Africa’s total exports reached a record R581,5 billion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025 and agriculture contributed R268,7 billion, the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agriculture exports grew year-on-year by an average of 9% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, which was R243,7 billion. This performance was achieved despite a strengthening Rand, tighter regulatory measures in some markets, and the impact of the United States’ 30% “Liberation Day” tariffs. Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen said the figures reflect “A sector that is not only resilient, but increasingly strategic in its approach to global markets. While agricultural exports to the United States declined sharply by 36% in the fourth quarter of 2025 as a direct result of higher tariffs, our diversification strategy has clearly borne fruit. Strong growth to BRIC+ countries, the United Kingdom, the European Union and SADC more than offset those losses,” he said. Exports are still skewed towards Africa with about 53%, Asia and Middle East at about 17%, the EU at about 16% and 14% to the rest of the world including North America and South America. The exports growth areas in 2025 were the UK at 21%, BRIC+ countries at 31%, the EU at 9% and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at 8%. 

The agricultural trade surplus rose to R24,6 billion in the fourth quarter, underscoring the sector’s positive contribution to South Africa’s balance of payments when compared to the surplus of about R20 billion recorded during 2024. This achievement stems from government support to export-oriented horticulture which has demanded the opening of new markets, rapid deployment of precision-agriculture tools, and expanded value-chain finance rather than pure acreage growth. Our sector has also embraced modernisation which is continuing to bear fruits. Adoption of new farming methods has led to commercial farms raising yield per hectare by embracing satellite-guided fertilisation, drone-based pest scouting, and soil-moisture sensors embedded in variable-rate irrigation rigs, reducing water utilisation by 18% to 25%. The department’s policy support in terms of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan (AAMP) has unlocked R1,2 billion from the public and private financial institutions for irrigation upgrades and packhouse expansion, resulting in a 15% reduction in postharvest losses since 2024. Significant agricultural exports in 2025 highlighted the sector's dual role as a generator of foreign exchange and a cornerstone of domestic food security, and about 950 000 jobs. Primary agriculture contributed about 2,8% of the GDP, but its value chain’s contribution was about 14% of the R7,34 trillion of the GDP during 2024. The strongest-performing export categories during 2025 included table grapes, maize, berries, wine, citrus, apples and pears; sugar, nuts, fruit juices, wool, apricots, cherries and peaches. Notably, fruits and nuts alone accounted for 26% of total agricultural exports in this quarter. Minister Steenhuisen said that this momentum provides a platform for further market expansion.

“Good progress has recently been made in expanding international market access for South African agricultural products. This includes newly secured market access for South African stone fruit into China, as well as the first shipment of South African table grapes to the Philippines, which is currently en route. These developments will go a long way in further increasing the value of the sector’s contribution to South Africa’s exports.” 

“We also gained market access for table grapes to the Republic of Korea during January 2026 and our first shipment will head there for the first time in the 2026/2027 season, and we are also speeding up the conclusion of market access negotiations with the Philippines for apples and pears and their experts will be undertaking verification to South Africa during the last week of March 2026. I will be visiting the Philippines during July 2026 to ensure the finalisation and publication of the export protocol.” The minister said that opening new markets is central to insulating the sector from geopolitical risk and trade volatility. “Agriculture cannot be overexposed to any single trading partner. Our strategy is clear: broaden market access, deepen relationships across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and secure new protocols that unlock value for producers.” The fourth-quarter performance also coincides with encouraging domestic employment figures. According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, agriculture added 30 000 jobs in the final quarter of 2025, bringing total sector employment to approximately 950 000 people. The sector recorded a robust 3,3% quarterly growth rate which places it amongst the strongest job creators in the economy. “This is not accidental,” Minister Steenhuisen said. “It reflects expanding farming operations, growing export volumes, and renewed confidence across the agricultural value chain. At a time when other sectors are shedding jobs, agriculture is creating them.” The minister acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly ongoing port inefficiencies and external tariff pressures. However, he noted that improvements in network industries and logistics reform are beginning to show tangible benefits for exporters. “Our farmers are competing in some of the most demanding markets in the world. The record performance in the fourth quarter of 2025 confirms that South African agriculture remains globally competitive, resilient and forward-looking,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded. 

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EFF BILATERAL MEETING WITH THE SACP TO CONSOLIDATE THE LEFT

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EFF BILATERAL MEETING WITH THE SACP TO CONSOLIDATE THE LEFT

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : KASIBC_AUDIO

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) confirms that, today, it held a constructive bilateral meeting today with the South African Communist Party (SACP) as part of a deliberate process to re-establish relations and consolidate left forces in South Africa. The SACP delegation was led by its General Secretary, Solly Mapaila, accompanied by Deputy General Secretary Madala Masuku. 

The EFF delegation was led by the President and Commander-in-Chief, Julius Malema, who opened the engagement by appreciating the invitation and affirming that without a united left, progressive forces will continue to score own goals while the right consolidates power. 

The SACP, formed in 1921, is one of the oldest liberation movements in South Africa and has historically positioned itself as a vanguard of the working class, playing a central role in the struggle against apartheid alongside other liberation formations. Its cadres endured banning, imprisonment and exile, and it has consistently advocated for socialism, worker control of the economy, and international solidarity with oppressed nations.

The EFF recognises this historic contribution and the ideological overlap between our two organisations on questions of anti-imperialism, land, stateled industrialisation, and the centrality of the working class in political transformation. 

The purpose of the meeting was to lay the foundation for rebuilding principled relations towards a broader Conference of the Left. Both organisations acknowledged the deep crisis confronting South Africa: deindustrialisation, austerity-driven fiscal consolidation, collapsing energy security, mass unemployment, and extreme poverty. 

The EFF President emphasised that poverty has reached intolerable levels, with children dying of hunger, and warned that South Africans have exercised extraordinary patience in the face of conditions that could easily produce social explosion. The discussion additionally reflected on the fragmentation of left forces and the declining trust between workers and some trade union leadership, where many workers perceive unions as too close to employers. 

The EFF raised the urgent need to rebuild worker confidence through concrete programmes such as the insourcing of workers and the cancellation of student debt, calling on the SACP to join these struggles inside and outside Parliament. The meeting discussed the limits of constitutional democracy where unelected institutions can ultimately frustrate transformative legislation, while politicians who have enjoyed a two-thirds majority have failed to decisively implement progressive policies out of fear of “investors.” This has led to the failure to implement measures such as a State Bank, demonstrating political reluctance rather than constitutional impossibility. The meeting moreover agreed that energy sovereignty, mineral beneficiation, industrial policy and banking reform must form the backbone of a minimum programme for economic transformation. International developments were also central to the engagement.

Both organisations reflected on the shifting global balance of forces, the use of sanctions and destabilisation against the Global South, and the vulnerability of African states to imperial interference. There was a reiteration of solidarity with the people of Cuba against the ongoing blockade, noting Cuba’s historic role in defeating apartheid forces in Angola, where over 35,000 Cuban soldiers were deployed. The principled stance of Fidel Castro, including his demand for the release of Nelson Mandela and the withdrawal of apartheid forces from Southern Africa, was acknowledged as a profound act of international solidarity. The meeting resolved to create a joint task team to assist Cuba materially in light of severe energy shortages. Solidarity was further expressed with the people of Palestine and with progressive movements in the Sahel, particularly Niger, whose assertion of sovereignty was recognised as part of a broader continental awakening. Both parties agreed that as beneficiaries of international solidarity during apartheid, South Africa must never retreat from supporting oppressed nations.

The meeting concluded with agreement to establish a joint working group, to participate in preparations for a Conference of the Left through an establishment steering committee, and to develop a clear, practical minimum programme to defend democratic gains while advancing economic emancipation. There was consensus that criticism within the left is necessary, but it must not degenerate into paralysis that leaves neoliberal and right-wing forces unchallenged. This bilateral engagement represents an important step towards rebuilding unity among formations of the working class and confronting the deepening social and economic crisis facing South Africa. 

The EFF remains committed to principled left cooperation grounded in action, clarity, and the pursuit of genuine economic freedom in our lifetime. 

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Minister Buti Manamela gears TVETs for Skills Development system overhaul

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CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

Minister Buti Manamela gears TVETs for Skills Development system overhaul

South Africa is moving decisively to reposition TVET colleges at the centre of occupational training and artisan development.

 

Addressing leaders from across the skills system including SETAs, employers, state-owned entities and college principals, the Minister made it clear that the time for policy debate has passed. The focus now is delivery.

 

In the 2026 State of the Nation Address, the President directed government to implement a dual training model that integrates education with workplace experience and strengthens the role of TVET colleges as primary sites of occupational training. The Minister confirmed that this directive is now being operationalised.

 

Occupational qualifications represent a structural shift in vocational education. Unlike previous models that separated theory from workplace exposure, the new approach integrates classroom learning, practical training and real workplace experience into a single, coherent pathway from enrolment to employment. 

 

Minister Manamela emphasised that readiness across the TVET system is uneven but sufficient to begin immediate rollout. Some colleges are ready now in specific trades, while others require targeted support. Waiting for full system perfection would delay opportunities for young people. 

 

Common bottlenecks have been identified across regions, including accreditation delays, insufficient workplace placements, lecturer occupational exposure and equipment alignment. These are systemic issues requiring coordinated action across government, employers and training authorities. 

 

The session was positioned as an implementation forum rather than a traditional workshop. By the end of the engagement, the system was expected to identify priority occupational qualifications for rollout, confirm college readiness, secure workplace placement commitments and align funding accordingly.

 

The Minister stressed that occupational qualifications are not a pilot or add-on programme. They are the future default of vocational education in South Africa.

 

“confidence in the TVET system will not be restored through announcements, but through measurable delivery, accreditation processed on time, learners placed in workplaces, qualifications completed and employment pathways secured” said Minister Manamela

 

The next 90 days will focus on fast-tracking accreditation, confirming placements, aligning funding and enrolling learners in priority trades.

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