Thursday, 8 October 2026

The Constitutional Court ruling reopens South Africa’s asylum system, but applying for asylum does not automatically confer refugee status; every claim must undergo verification, despite Home Affairs backlogs.

The national dialogue’s pilot phase held 53 dialogues across all nine provinces, involving almost 4,900 people; its findings will inform the broader process planned for 2027.

UN data cited on air puts South Africa’s refugees and asylum seekers at 167,000, while international migrants overall number about 2.6 million, underscoring the importance of distinguishing categories.

Six Maluti a Phofung candidates outlined plans for water, accountability and service delivery, but analyst Mielani Holeni found their answers unconvincing and lacking specific timelines and measurable targets.

A suspected multi-million-rand drug laboratory was uncovered at a farm in Krugersdorp, where police found mandrax and ecstasy tablets and arrested five South African nationals.