MINISTER METH SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON UIF ONLINE CLAIMS SYSTEM AMID MISINFORMATION PANIC

MINISTER METH SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON UIF ONLINE CLAIMS SYSTEM AMID MISINFORMATION PANIC

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA 

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​PRETORIA — The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has moved swiftly to debunk unverified public commentary and rising misinformation surrounding the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF) digital transition, reassuring workers that no applications have been lost.

​In a decisive clarification issued on Monday, Minister Meth blasted misleading narratives that have triggered widespread panic among beneficiaries, systematically laying out the timeline, data, and legal resolutions guiding the state's modern software overhaul.

​Modernizing a Broken System

​On April 1, 2025, the UIF officially launched its overhauled digital ecosystem, dubbed UIF Online. Designed as a direct, modern successor to the glitch-prone, legacy uFiling employee claims portal, the new cloud-based software aims to cut out the red tape that has plagued the fund for years.

​According to the Department of Employment and Labour, the new architecture features:

​Direct-to-Client Architecture: Direct online submission that removes the need for expensive third-party brokers.

​Real-Time Tracking: Instant status updates for applicants.

​Automated Verification: Push notifications and automated communication tracking throughout the entire claim lifecycle.

​The data behind the shift points to an immediate surge in operational efficiency. By April 2026, the newly launched UIF Online platform had successfully processed and paid out 4,558,971 claims.

​By comparison, the old legacy system managed only 3,547,006 claims in 2024 and 4,099,522 claims in 2023, proving that the digital migration is successfully speeding up service delivery to South Africa's unemployed workers.

​

What Happened to the Old Portal?

​Addressing the core source of the public confusion, Minister Meth explained the bifurcated setup of the old system. The legacy infrastructure is split into two halves: the employee claims portal and the employer portal.

​The employee claims portal was permanently shut down on May 20, 2026. The department revealed that the decommissioning had been heavily delayed by aggressive, multi-year legal and contractual battles with old software vendors. Following a successful legal resolution and a meticulous data handover process, the state was finally cleared to pull the plug on the legacy employee infrastructure.

​Crucially, Minister Meth issued a firm guarantee to anxious applicants: no data or claims were lost during the migration.

​Every single pending application submitted via the old platform has been securely cordoned off into an independent database. Technicians are currently auditing, verifying, and systematically absorbing these historical claims into the live UIF Online network.

​The Next Steps and Warning to Panic-Mongers

​While the employee-facing side of the old platform is officially dead, the old employer portal remains 100% operational for company registrations, employee declarations, and monthly financial contributions. This final employer module is scheduled to migrate seamlessly to the unified UIF Online platform by August 2026, completely terminating the old uFiling system.

​Minister Meth took a harsh stance against public representatives and commentators spreading unsubstantiated rumors about a system crash or lost public funds.

​"As public representatives, we have a strict constitutional responsibility to ensure that the information we broadcast is accurate, factual, and in the interest of nation-building," Minister Meth warned. "While aggressive and constructive oversight is always welcomed, peddling outright misinformation and unverified claims undermines vital public confidence and stirs up malicious, unnecessary panic among our most vulnerable citizens."

​To assist users struggling to navigate the transition, the fund has deployed physical support networks across all nationwide Labour Centres, bolstered its remote call centers, and launched localized provincial stakeholder workshops to guarantee no worker is left stranded by the digital upgrade.

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GOVERNMENT RALLIES CONTINENT ON AFRICA DAY, CITING CULTURAL UNITY AND THE RULE OF LAW

GOVERNMENT RALLIES CONTINENT ON AFRICA DAY, CITING CULTURAL UNITY AND THE RULE OF LAW

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA 

LISTEN HERE @KASIBCAUDIO

​PRETORIA — The South African Government has officially joined the global African diaspora and the nations of the continent to celebrate Africa Day, marking the historic founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), today known as the African Union (AU).

​Observed annually on May 25th, the day honors the foundational ideals of continental solidarity, mutual cooperation, and a shared vision of pan-African prosperity.

​Harnessing Sport and Culture for the Environment

​South Africa's official 2026 commemoration is centered under a unique and timely progressive theme: "Sport and Culture: Catalysts for Climate Action."

​The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture highlighted the framework as a strategic push to leverage the unifying power of athletic and artistic expression. By using these massive public platforms, the government aims to mobilize local and regional communities into taking collective action against environmental degradation, building climate resilience, and safeguarding natural resources for future generations.

​The 2026 Africa Month festivities carry double the historical weight for the country, as they coincide directly with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Government communicators noted that this milestone serves as a vital domestic reminder of South Africa’s foundational commitments to human dignity, equality, non-racialism, and systemic social justice.

​A Time for Reflection Amid Socio-Economic Strain

​Beyond the cultural celebrations, state officials emphasized that Africa Month must serve as a period of sober reflection regarding the deep-seated challenges facing the continent, including regional conflicts, economic exclusion, and slow infrastructure development.

​Closer to home, the government openly acknowledged the harsh socio-economic headwinds biting local communities, noting that persistent poverty and high unemployment rates continue to strain social cohesion and test communal livelihoods.

​A Firm Stance on Immigration and the Rule of Law

​Addressing ongoing regional tensions and domestic migration debates, the state issued a firm reminder that South Africa remains firmly anchored by the rule of law.

​In a direct address regarding border management and regional integration, the statement clarified that all individuals residing within the borders of the Republic—citizens and foreign nationals alike—are legally obligated to comply with the nation's statutory frameworks, explicitly highlighting immigration laws and official documentation processes.

​"Government encourages everyone living in South Africa to work in lockstep to promote peace, stability, and mutual respect for the rule of law," the media statement read, implicitly pushing back against unlawful immigration practices while simultaneously discouraging unlawful anti-foreigner vigilante activities.

​

As the Africa Day Celebrations peak across the province, the state is urging all citizens to actively embrace the continent's diverse shared heritage, foster deep social cohesion within their neighborhoods, and build the grassroots partnerships required to achieve a peaceful, secure, and prosperous African continent.

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ANC RALLIES BEHIND AU’S 2026 WATER INTEGRATION AGENDA ON 63RD AFRICA DAY

ANC RALLIES BEHIND AU’S 2026 WATER INTEGRATION AGENDA ON 63RD AFRICA DAY

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA 

LISTEN HERE @KASIBCAUDIO

​JOHANNESBURG — The African National Congress (ANC) has joined the global community, the people of the continent, and the African Union (AU) in celebrating Africa Day, marking the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union.

​Commemorated under the official 2026 continental theme, "Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063," the day’s focus centers heavily on driving aggressive investment into liquid infrastructure, improving sanitation, and securing climate resilience to anchor pan-African economic growth.  

​Elevating Water Security as a Fundamental Human Right

​According to a statement released by the ruling party, the 2026 theme serves as a direct directive to the entire continent to confront mounting water security challenges. By placing water and sanitation at the core of Africa’s developmental and climate adaptation strategies, the framework highlights the resources as essential engines for public health, modern agriculture, industrialization, and regional stability.  

​The ANC emphasized that South Africa has already made tangible strides toward fulfilling these specific goals. Chief among these successes is the country's historic, cross-border partnership with the Kingdom of Lesotho through the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP)—a flagship model of bilateral cooperation rooted in a shared vision of treating water as a fundamental human right.

​Domestically, the party noted that targeted structural reforms are successfully unblocking key development bottlenecks. 

Key initiatives managed under the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) have improved the municipal financial sustainability framework, effectively unlocking R108 billion in infrastructure investments. This legislative momentum is further backed by the formal passing of the National Water Resource Infrastructure Agency Act and a dramatic clearing of historical backlogs in water-use license applications.

​Confronting Continental Challenges & Border Realities

​While celebrating the progress of the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework—further accelerated by expanded trade networks via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFT) and strategic capital deployments in the African Development Bank—the ANC acknowledged that persistent structural issues continue to test continental unity.

​The party directly addressed the sensitive issue of undocumented migration, noting that illegal immigration continues to place an immense strain on South Africa's domestic public resources. The organization firmly rejected ongoing accusations of state-sponsored or structural xenophobia against South Africa, framing the issue instead as a complex socio-economic reality requiring a unified diplomatic approach.

​"We call for decisive leadership and deep continental unity to explore lasting, systemic solutions to the systemic crises holding our people back," the ANC stated. The party underscored that resolving cross-border immigration issues must happen hand-in-hand with collective pan-African strategies aimed at eradicating regional wars, military coups, acute malnutrition, extreme poverty, and the compounding shocks of climate change.

​As the 2026 Africa Day commemorations draw to a close, the ANC re-affirmed its commitment to working closely with its fraternal liberation movements and regional partner governments. 

The party maintained that ensuring equitable access to safe water and robust public health infrastructure remains the most viable pathway to guaranteeing that no African citizen is left behind on the road toward complete economic emancipation by 2063.

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GAUTENG HEALTH IN MASSIVE SAFETY BREACH: 40,000 UNVETTED STAFF LEAVE HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AT RISK

GAUTENG HEALTH IN MASSIVE SAFETY BREACH: 40,000 UNVETTED STAFF LEAVE HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN AT RISK

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA 

LISTEN HERE @KASIBCAUDIO

​JOHANNESBURG — Thousands of sick children, toddlers, and infants across Gauteng’s public healthcare system have been exposed to severe safety risks following a massive systemic failure by the provincial Department of Health to vet its workforce.

​An explosive legislative disclosure has revealed that the department has failed to screen nearly 40,000 staff members against national databases specifically designed to block sexual predators and child abusers from accessing minors.

​The administrative breakdown leaves vulnerable patients—ranging from infants in high-care hospital wards to teenagers in school health programmes—relying on a network of clinics and hospitals that has completely skipped basic, legally mandated safety protocols.

​A Massive Vetting Void

​The crisis came to light in a written reply by the Gauteng MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, responding to sharp questioning in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

​According to official figures provided by the provincial executive, approximately 39,653 individuals are currently employed in "critical posts" across the province. A vast number of these employees maintain direct or indirect contact with minors across a wide web of public services, including:

​Public hospitals and regional community clinics

​School health and immunization initiatives

​Ward-based community outreach and mobile health teams

​Specialized pediatric and neonatal healthcare environments

​Despite the high-stakes nature of healthcare environments, the department admitted that it does not conduct routine vetting against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) or the National Child Protection Register (NCPR) as a standard, non-negotiable prerequisite for employment.

​By failing to enforce these checks, the department has allowed thousands of personnel to work in close proximity to children without verifying whether they hold criminal records for sexual offences or child abuse.

​"An Admission of Systemic Failure"

​Compounding the anxiety of parents across the province, the Department of Health stated it is currently working to "create a system" to ensure that future personnel hired for child-facing roles are properly screened.

​

Legal and political critics point out that this statement serves as a damning, outright admission that the province currently lacks the infrastructure to comply with South Africa's statutory child preservation safeguards. It means key legislative frameworks—specifically the Children’s Act and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act—are effectively being ignored by one of the largest provincial departments in the country.

​

Demands for Urgent Rectification

​

The Democratic Alliance (DA), which brought the issue to light, has slammed the department's negligence and demanded immediate, sweeping reforms to secure public healthcare facilities.

​

The opposition party is calling on the Gauteng Department of Health to implement a five-point emergency corrective strategy:

​

Mandatory Screening: Immediately enforce compulsory, routine NRSO and NCPR background checks for all personnel assigned to child-facing roles.

​Comprehensive Audit: Conduct an urgent, wall-to-wall audit of all posts that involve direct or indirect interaction with minors.

​Full Disclosure: Publicly reveal the exact number of current health department employees who have never undergone vetting.

​Enforcement Timeline: Establish a strict, transparent deadline to achieve 100% compliance across all regional facilities.

​

Accountability: Provide regular public progress reports detailing the corrective actions taken.

​

"It is entirely unacceptable that one of South Africa’s premier provincial departments is failing to implement fundamental child protection laws," the DA stated, asserting that standardizing universal vetting across all provincial government branches must be prioritized to ensure no individual with a history of offenses can slip through the cracks.

​

The Gauteng Department of Health is now under intense pressure to explain how such a massive regulatory oversight was allowed to persist, and how quickly it can secure its facilities to protect the province's youngest and most vulnerable patients.

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MAXIMUM DEPLOYMENT: Limpopo Police on High Alert to Crush Lawlessness Ahead of Anti-Foreigner Protests

MAXIMUM DEPLOYMENT: Limpopo Police on High Alert to Crush Lawlessness Ahead of Anti-Foreigner Protests

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA 

LISTEN HERE @KASIBCAUDIO

​POLOKWANE — The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Limpopo has gone on a state of high alert, deploying massive tactical resources across the province to counter a planned wave of protests against foreign nationals scheduled to commence today, Monday, 25 May 2026.

​The Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, issued an uncompromising directive warning organizers and elements within the public that law enforcement will show zero tolerance toward any acts of lawlessness, public intimidation, or malicious damage to property.

​For up-to-the-minute updates on protest action, active roadblocks, and community safety alerts across Limpopo's townships and borders, keep your eyes on KASIBC_AFRICA at WWW.KASIBC.BLOGSPOT.COM.

​

Decisive Action Vowed Against Unlawful Gatherings

​The planned marches, which have sparked immense tension within local business and residential sectors, are being closely monitored by intelligence structures.

​Lieutenant General Hadebe made it explicitly clear that while the right to peaceful protest is protected under the law, any unauthorized gathering that seeks to actively disrupt public order or ignite xenophobic violence will be dismantled immediately.

​"Any unauthorised gathering, and or march that seeks to disrupt public order and unlawful action resulting in intimidation, violence or destruction of property will be dealt with decisively without any delay by the police," warned the Provincial Commissioner.

​

Ensuring Daily Routines Continue Without Fear

​

The top general moved to reassure Limpopo residents, business owners, and foreign shopkeepers that SAPS operations have been structurally reinforced to guarantee that every member of the community can continue with their daily routines, school commutes, and commercial operations completely free from fear or coercion.

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