South Africa: Govt Seeks Balance on Immigration Concerns - South African News Briefs - October 12, 2026

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on migration in South Africa is striving to find a balance between addressing public concerns about immigration and adhering to a Constitutional Court order, as reported by EWN. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi stated that the committee requires time to carefully consider the issues and devise the most effective way to implement the court's directive while simultaneously tackling public worries.

Recognizing the growing impatience among citizens, Kubayi urged patience and provided the government with the necessary time to respond to the matters being raised. Additionally, the committee intends to seek a supervisory order from the court to guide the process moving forward.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced that provincial education performance will now be evaluated using a broader set of indicators, moving away from an exclusive focus on matric pass rates. This new approach includes assessing bachelor passes, learner retention, participation, and performance in essential subjects like mathematics, science, and accounting.

Gwarube explained that this shift is intended to furnish a more comprehensive and accurate depiction of education quality across various provinces. It will also aid in pinpointing areas that necessitate intervention and motivate schools to prioritize enhancing literacy, numeracy, and learner development, rather than merely emphasizing pass rates at the cost of a well-rounded educational experience.

Economist Shannon Bold from the Bureau for Economic Research posited that the flexibility to work from home could alleviate the economic repercussions of escalating fuel costs in South Africa. She explained that increased fuel expenditure leaves households with fewer resources to allocate to other goods and services, which may ultimately impede economic growth.

Moreover, heightened transportation expenses can contribute to inflation as businesses transfer these additional costs onto consumers through higher prices, including food items. Bold emphasized that the extra money spent on fuel is essentially diverted from other sectors of the economy. She further argued that flexible work arrangements could enhance productivity and employee well-being by reducing the time spent in traffic, lessening transport-related financial strain, and enabling workers to concentrate more effectively on their jobs.