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Opposition is mounting against proposed changes to the National Credit Act (NCA) introduced by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), with youth advocacy groups and student organisations warning that the amendments could entrench cycles of poverty and exclusion among young South Africans.

Recent reports indicate that under the amendments, educational institutions would be added to the list of entities that can supply credit information to credit bureaus, alongside banks, courts, and debt collectors. This means that unpaid student fees or other educational debts could end up on a young person’s credit record, leading to blacklisting. Critics argue that the move could worsen the position of students who already struggle to graduate due to unpaid fees, and further block their access to housing, loans, or financial services. 

Youth Capital, a youth advocacy campaign, expressed alarm at the implications for young people who rely on credit to access education, start businesses, or cover the costs of seeking work.

“Youth Capital welcomes efforts to ensure that young people, who are often first-time borrowers, are safeguarded against unfair lending practices,” said Buhle Magwaza, Project Lead at Youth Capital. “But these amendments can cause harm to young people, as students and hustlers turning to entrepreneurship as a survival strategy in the face of record unemployment.”

Magwaza argued that the framework treats defaults as individual failures without recognising the structural drivers of debt. “These numbers illustrate how young people are not failing to repay debt out of irresponsibility; they are being set up against impossible odds in a system that denies them both work and opportunity,” she said, pointing to youth unemployment of 71.7% for 15–24-year-olds and 49.5% for those aged 25–34 in the second quarter of 2025.

She warned that under the proposed framework, defaults would trigger severe consequences such as blacklisting, garnishee orders, and long-term exclusion from formal financial systems. “These outcomes can entrench disadvantages: closing doors to further education and training, housing, entrepreneurship, and even employment opportunities that require a clean credit history,” Magwaza said.

According to Youth Capital, the tightening of regulations risks portraying debt default as a personal failure rather than recognising systemic issues. “Doing this means ignoring the real, structural drivers of debt: the unaffordability of higher education, the high costs of looking for work, and limited pathways to decent jobs. It also overlooks the precarious reality of entrepreneurship for young people who have no safety nets,” Magwaza added.

She called for complementary reforms to accompany the proposed amendments. “Without complementary measures such as income-contingent repayment systems, debt relief schemes, and more robust public investment in education and self-employment support, these amendments risk further entrenching cycles of exclusion,” she said.

“An example is the steady increase of graduate unemployment now at 12.2%, showing that a qualification does not guarantee protection from exclusion. Penalising defaults without structural reforms will deepen this trap,” Magwaza added.

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union Students’ Chapter (SADTU SC) has also come out strongly against the DTIC’s proposals, describing them as a betrayal of young South Africans.

“The South African Democratic Teachers Union Students’ Chapter (SADTU SC) note with dismay the proposed bill by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), which aims to blacklist individuals with student debt,” said National Coordinator Xolani Dube in a statement.

“This is nothing but a sheer betrayal of a promise, and lack of commitment to the plea of an African child. The disingenuous proposed bill by DTIC is regressive and has the ability to perpetuate a cycle of poverty,” Dube said.

SADTU SC called for the scrapping of clause 18(17)e, describing it as “highly contentious and bound to cause an outcry.”

Dube added: “It is a matter of fact that student debt is often unavoidable for those seeking higher education, and this bill disproportionately affects individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Rather than penalising these students, DTIC should focus its efforts on enabling social mobility through creating more equitable educational funding and repayment options.”

Both organisations have stressed that the amendments, without broader structural reform, will only deepen exclusion. Magwaza said the credit system should “create pathways for financial rehabilitation, so that a period of hardship does not permanently exclude young people from economic opportunity.”

She added that education and training should serve as “a bridge, not a barrier,” and urged policymakers to design repayment systems linked to income realities, introduce debt relief schemes, and institutionalise financial literacy and mentorship for young entrepreneurs.

With unemployment at record levels and graduate joblessness rising, youth organisations warn that the amendments risk closing off opportunities for a generation already under pressure. “Penalising defaults without structural reforms will deepen this trap,” Magwaza said.

*This article was first published by IOL News

By: Matshidiso Selebeleng

The Free State Legislature has sworn in Mamiki Mkhabela as a new Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), marking the African Congress of Transformation’s (ACT) latest representation in the house.

Mkhabela’s swearing-in strengthens the small party’s footprint in provincial politics, with ACT positioning itself as an alternative voice on governance, accountability, and service delivery in the Free State.

The Speaker of the Free State Legislature, Mxolisi Dukwana, presided over the swearing-in of Mamiki Mkhabela in terms of Section 107 of the Constitution, which requires all members to swear or affirm their loyalty to the Republic and their commitment to the Constitution before taking up legislative duties.

Mkhabela’s appointment follows the passing of her husband, David Mkhabela, last month. He had joined the legislature in 2024 and served on several committees, including Petitions, Public Works, Health, and Finance.

Welcoming Mkhabela, Dukwana said he looked forward to working with her in serving the people of the Free State.

Speaking to Journal News soon after her swearing in, Mkhabela stressed that her appointment should not be linked to her husband but recognised in her own right as a political leader in a senior position.

“This is not about my husband. When I joined the African Congress for Transformation, I did so independently, separate from him. This is not a hierarchical position or a matter of kinship - it is purely political. I would like to be treated as an individual, not associated with my husband,” she said.

She further emphasised the importance of youth participation in politics, noting that young people must take charge of the country’s future and work to improve living conditions for all.

Mkhabela is regarded as bringing both experience and dedication to public service.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry, chaired by retired justice Sisi Khampepe, has announced that it has concluded its consultations with family and legal representatives and other parties who are central to its work.

As a result, the commission has set aside a preliminary timetable for receiving oral testimony by November 10, with the filing of witness statements expected to conclude by October 10, 2025.

The TRC Cases Commission revealed this on Tuesday after it concluded its pre-hearing engagements with interested parties, including family and legal representatives.

Last month, Khampepe indicated at a media briefing held in Soweto that the commission aims to be inclusive and non-adversarial, encouraging contributions from interested parties.

Commission spokesperson, Lionel Adendorg, in a statement said: "During this constructive engagement with around 60 legal and family representatives of victims and/or their respective families, as well as legal representatives for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the South African Police Services (SAPS), and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, it was also suggested that persons of interest or implicated persons are to file their statements within 20 days after being provided with the details of their alleged connection to the subject matter of the TRC Cases Inquiry."

Adendorg further said that the commissioners are considering the proposal of scheduled dates, with a draft timetable also discussed.

"The meeting discussed, among other things, how evidence will be collected and what process the inquiry will follow. A draft timetable was also discussed, and according to this proposal, the TRC inquiry is set to receive evidence and submissions from anyone with information by 10 October, and will hear oral evidence during the second week of November. At the moment, the commissioners are considering this proposal, and we will be able to communicate the decision once it has been made," he said.

In January this year, a 23-member group of victims' families filed a 260-page affidavit requesting the court to order President Cyril Ramaphosa to set up a commission of inquiry within 30 days to investigate why TRC cases have not been properly investigated or prosecuted.

Following this, in May, Ramaphosa signed a proclamation for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.  

Ramaphosa subsequently appointed Khampepe as the chairperson, with retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Advocate Andrea Gabriel SC as her assistants.

The commission will be headquartered at the Sci-Bono Complex in Newtown, Johannesburg, CBD.

*This article was first published by IOL News  

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again come to the defence of deputy ministers, stating that they play a crucial role in assisting ministers in the performance of their functions and responsibilities.

Responding during the oral question session in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said the deputy ministers play a critical role and that they should be given more responsibilities.

“Those deputy ministers are distinguishing themselves as real contributors to our governance. And what I also really appreciate is the fact that many of our deputy ministers are working so well with their minister colleagues,” he said. 

The size of the Cabinet has raised concerns, especially after the 2024 elections resulted in yet another bloated executive, with the total allocation for all new Ministries and Deputy Ministries amounting to R239 million in 2025/26, with carry-through costs over the 2025 MTEF.

The allocation is for salaries of the executive, cost of support staff, official vehicles, and goods and services.

There is again a push to scrap the deputy ministers, with ActionSA even introducing a bill in Parliament.

Ramaphosa said the Constitution provides for the appointment of deputy ministers to assist ministers.

“The deputy ministers appointed in June 2024 continue to add value to the work of government and to support in a meaningful way the implementation of the priorities of the seventh democratic administration.”

He noted that it was not possible to reduce the number of Ministries when he announced the Cabinet last year after the elections, as he had indicated the need to ensure that the executive was inclusive of all the parties to the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Ramaphosa also said they were always concerned about the size of the executive.

“You may recall that right at the beginning, when we constituted this government. We did address this issue, and I said my own wish was that we should have a smaller executive,” he said.

“That has always been my declared wish, but we needed to accommodate various parties that are part of the GNU, which requested us to have the size of the executive,” said the president.

Ramaphosa stated that the GNU partners had accepted the size of the executive.

“It would have been ideal to have a much smaller executive; however, the need to have GNU, which is representative, meant that we needed to have this type of architecture we have.”

Ramaphosa heaped praise on deputy ministers and ministers who went about executing their tasks.

“It is what we have, and we need to keep the government moving forward with this type of architecture we have now.”

ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip asked whether he and the ANC would support his constitutional amendment bill aimed at doing away with deputy ministers so that the money spent on them could be redirected to the betterment of the country.

In his response, Ramaphosa said he would like to have a look at the bill.

“Please have the bill forwarded so that we can look at it. I am unable to respond in any way until I see the content of the bill,” he said.

The president commended Trollip for introducing the bill, saying he was making a meaningful contribution because he was concerned, as he was, with the size of the executive.

“I would like fewer deputy ministers. But right now we do have deputy ministers who are really stepping up to the plate, who are going beyond what I call of duty. These deputy ministers are distinguishing themselves as real contributors to our governance.”

Ramaphosa said the deputy ministers, as members of the executive, participate in Cabinet committee discussions.

“We have a really wonderful system that functions so well that every proposal that finally sees the light of the day in Cabinet goes through a rigorous process, starting in the department where the ministers and deputy ministers engage with their directors-general and deputies to be thoroughly discussed across various departments, but ends up going to the clusters we have.”

He said deputy ministers also participate in the discussion vigorously in crafting policy proposals and drafting laws.

“I appreciate the inputs and commitment that they demonstrate, and in many ways, deputy ministers' positions can also be seen as a training ground for future ministerial positions. That is how I look at it. They are doing a good job, and we may not see the value they do, but I see great value.”

*This article was first published by IOL News  

They said the rise in unnatural deaths over the last three years is a concern and noted how prison officials weren’t held fully accountable.

Members of Parliament’s Correctional Services Portfolio Committee have slammed the department accusing it of failing to prevent the unnatural deaths of prisoners by suicide.

Parties have also questioned the high number of prisoners whose causes of death are registered as “unknown”.

They said the rise in unnatural deaths over the last three years is a concern and noted how prison officials weren’t held fully accountable.

The Department of Correctional Services said the unnatural deaths at correctional facilities typically involve fatalities resulting from homicide, suicide and accidents like drug overdose.

The department said over the last three years there have been 1,144 with more than 400 still under investigation.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member of Parliament (MP) Carl Niehaus raised the alarm on the number of deaths registered as unknown.

“I don’t understand that you can come and tell me that there are unknown causes of death.”

The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcaba said prison officials should pay a higher price where they're found to have played a role.

“These people who participated in the death of an inmate and then got off with a verbal warning. What does that even mean? Why would you get a written warning or any sort of warning, surely it should be dismissal. “

The department said several deaths are still under investigation and most suicides are usually linked to mental health.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News

Operation Dudula has recently made headlines for monitoring the entrances of public healthcare facilities and checking whether patients are South African citizens.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has approached the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, to ensure Operation Dudula is prevented from blocking foreign nationals from accessing healthcare services.

The group has recently made headlines for monitoring the entrances of public healthcare facilities and checking whether patients are South African citizens.

On Tuesday, the Chapter 9 institution released a series of reports, highlighting some of the most frequently reported human rights violations from the past financial year.

Operation Dudula claimed that public healthcare facilities have become overcrowded due to the influx of foreign nationals, regardless of their legal status in the country.

The group argues that other African nations would not grant South Africansthe same free access to public healthcare and that treatment should be reciprocal.

However, Tshepo Madlingozi, a commissioner at the SAHRC, stated that Operation Dudula is directly obstructing human rights.

“It’s unlawful for any citizen or anyone to try to enforce immigration laws. No one is allowed to play the role that is supposed to be played by Home Affairs.”

Government has been criticised by some civil society organisations for what they describe as turning a blind eye to Operation Dudula’s alleged xenophobic activities.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News