2025 Matric Results
The 2025 National Senior Certificate pass rate is 88 percent - an increase by 0.7 percent from the previous year.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube announced the results on Monday. KwaZulu Natal dethroned Free State for the top honours of being the top performing province.
READ: IEB bachelor pass rate slightly declines
Meanwhile the Independent Examination Board reported a decline in their 2025 matric pass rate. The IEB reported their pass rate of 89.1 percent, which is a slight drop from their 2024 89.3 percent.
READ: Limpopo premier promises action after school records zero matric passes
A school in the Sekhukhune District in Limpopo called Naledi Ya Meso reported a 0 percent pass rate. Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba says the province takes accountability and action will be taken to revive the school.
Limpopo, Mpumalanga ravaged by floods.
A total of 36 homes in Mbaula, outside of Giyani in Limpopo have been destroyed after heavy rains wrecked havoc in the Mopani and Vhembe districts of the province.
The South African Weather Service has issued a level 10 weather warning Thursday, as heavy rains continue in the region.
By Wednesday, a total of 19 people had died since the start of the rains in Mpumalanga and Limpopo since the beginning of the summer season.
READ: Kruger National Park shut to day visitors amid severe weather
A 5-year-old boy died in Mbaula after he was swept away by floods. The boy and his mother were stuck on a tree. The mother was rescued by an SANDF helicopter.
The opening of schools in some part of the Vhembe and Mopani Districts have since been closed, with a preliminary opening date being Monday 19 January 2026.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since visited Tshakuma in the Vhembe district and Mbaula in the Mopani District to see the devastation on the ground.
Knysna is running out of water
The Gauteng Route is facing yet another challenge. Days after the Mossel Bay fires, Knysna is running out water.
Knysna's Akkerkloof Dam has reached critical level , leaving the area with only a few days' water supply left.
Mayor Thando Matika says, while the situation could have been avoided, high seasonal demand and panic storing are not helping the situation.
IDT CEO resigns
Suspended Independent Development Trust CEO Tebogo Malaka has resigned.
The IDT says Malaka's resignation is effective from 31 January 2026 without exit compensation.
Malaka was caught offering a R60,000 bribe to a Daily Maverick journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh in August 2025.
Malaka has denied knowledge of the bribe saying IDT communications specialist Phasha Makgolane was the person who had an existing relationship with Myburgh.
READ: EXCLUSIVE | Suspended IDT CEO denies knowledge of bribe
The Daily Maverick had been investigating an IDT contract and its links to one of Malaka’s upmarket properties.
She was suspended after a forensic investigation into an oxygen plant tender worth over R800-million.
A PwC report revealed serious mismanagement and corruption at the entity.
The Malaka Family Trust has previously denied the allegations, calling it a "manufactured scandal".
Sifiso Nsibande will continue to act as IDT CEO.
Dion George ends relationship with DA.
Former Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has resigned as a member of the Democratic Alliance.
The announcement comes after he was axed by party leader John Steenhuisen.
George hit back, accusing Steenhuisen of abusing the party's credit card.
On Monday, Steenhuisen was cleared of any wrongdoing after a probe found that the expenditure on the credit card was fully reconciled.
The DA's federal committee ordered an inquiry to determine whether their public spat brought the party into disrepute.
George was removed as minister in November, at the party's request, and replaced by party spokesperson Willie Aucamp.
READ: How rift between John Steenhuisen and Dion George escalated into resignation
He has accused Steenhuisen of being captured by the ANC.
READ: How rift between John Steenhuisen and Dion George escalated into resignation
He says it is this very same capture that has seen the DA being muzzled and losing its ability to lead South Africa's interests.