EFF leader Julius Malema recently revealed that he had plans to establish an organisation similar to “Afrifoum” aimed at advancing the interests of people of colour in the country.  

Speaking on the first episode of his party’s podcast, he shared that he envisaged starting the organisation with former Judge President John Hlophe at the helm.  

“I wanted him to be a Gerrie Nel of some sort,” said Malema.  

Advocate Gerrie Nel leads Afriforum’s Private Prosecution Unit, after resigning as a state prosecutor.

Speaking on the EFF podcast, Malema said he spoke with Hlophe before he joined the MK Party but noted that their engagement was not about recruiting him into party politics. 

“He has got no politics, none whatsoever. And that’s why when he tried to join EFF, I said no,” Malema said.  

Malema explained that instead of party politics for Hlophe, he envisaged him at a civil organisation that would challenge institutions such as Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom Under Law.  

“We are going to form an AfriForum type of an organisation. But for black people. Its responsibility will be to mark the AfriForum,” Malema said. 

He further claimed that the EFF was prepared to support Hlophe financially during the establishment phase.  

“Because you don’t have income, we’re going to put you on the EFF payroll until we fully establish this thing,” Malema said, citing Hlophe’s “legitimacy” locally and abroad. 

Hlophe was impeached by Parliament in 2024, a decision that Malema disagreed with.  

However, Hlophe joined the MK Party, and Malema’s plans at the time for the lobby group were thwarted.  

Malema criticised his move, saying Hlophe “decided to join a wrong party which values no education at all and values no educated people”. Hlophe was suspended as parliamentary leader for the MK Party last year. 

The Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, says its schools are proving that learning can flourish anywhere. In 2025, they recorded a 94.4% pass rate in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, exceeding the national average of 88%.

A total number of 180 learners from 18 schools sat for the NSC examinations.

“Learning does not stop at prison walls, and hope, when nurtured through education, can flourish even in the most constrained environments.”

This department says 15 schools achieved a 100% pass rate, up from 13 in 2024, with learners earning a total of 132 distinctions.

Two schools, Usethubeni in Durban-Westville and Baviaanspoort in Gauteng, have maintained a 10-year streak of perfect results, while the Johannesburg Female Correctional Centre School also achieved a flawless pass rate.

KwaZulu-Natal stood out, producing the highest number of matriculants, with 45 out of 50 learners attaining Bachelor passes.

Groenewald emphasised that education in correctional centres is about far more than academics.

“In correctional centres, it’s not just about academic achievement, but about rebuilding dignity, self-discipline, and hope.”

The Department has however noted a worrying trend of learners dropping Mathematics for Mathematical Literacy, a critical gateway subject for career opportunities.

The minister also praised educators, correctional officials, families, and the Department of Basic Education for their dedication in supporting learners under uniquely challenging circumstances.

“Our matriculants have shown that their past does not define their future. Through discipline, perseverance, and commitment, they have invested in themselves and in the future of this country.”

While a fire that broke out on Signal Hill on Sunday night has been contained, it comes amid an increase in fire incidents year-on-year.  

Visitors to Signal Hill had to evacuate the area after sunset that day, when a fire broke out in the mountainous area above Voetboog Street in Bo-Kaap.  Signal Hill Road was also closed down as a precaution.  

This prompted a large-scale emergency response at around 21:30 including over 60 firefighters from the Table Mountain National Park and the Volunteer Wildlife Services, said Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse.  

“Crews were protecting property in Voetboog Street as the fire was moving in that direction,” said Carelse.  

South African National Parks confirmed that the fire was contained by 23:00, after which mopping-up operations began. 

Carelse confirmed that no property was damaged and no injuries were reported.  

“At around 01:00 the fire was extinguished and periodic inspections were completed until 04:30 this morning to ascertain if there were any flare ups.” 

He further noted that the cause of the fire is still unknown. 

The Signal Hill incident comes amid fire statistics released by the City of Cape Town for the period between 1 December and 15 January, which it said shows a year-on-year increase across multiple fire categories.  

Total incidents rose from 5,309 to 5,608, while vegetation fires increased from 3,213 to 3,492. Formal residential fires rose to 244, from 210, and informal residential fires climbed to 332 from 315.  

Between October 2025 and early January 2026, nearly 7,000 people were affected by fires across the metro. 

READ MORE: Dunoon fire: More than 2,600 displaced – Smile 90.4FM

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said higher temperatures and prolonged south-easterly winds have intensified risks.  

“These fires disrupt thousands of lives every year, and many people struggle for months, if not longer, to find their feet. It is for this reason that we need to put greater emphasis on disaster reduction,” said Smith.  

Smith encouraged residents to familiarise themselves with fire safety measures and to report fires immediately to the Public Emergency Communication Centre. 

“Each and every one of us need to start thinking differently about our role in fire prevention and mitigation. What can we do in our homes and our community to lower the risk of fires and other hazards, or to mitigate the impact when disaster does strike?” 

Safety tips 

The City listed some fire prevention and safety tips for locals to take note of: 

• Create a family emergency plan that coordinates your evacuation in the event of a disaster. Decide where you and your family will meet, and how you will get there. Make sure each family member has a copy of the plan. 

• If you have a serious medical condition, wear medic alert tags or bracelets that identify your illness. 

• Create a document that gives essential information about each family member: ID number, date of birth. Important medical information, home address, school or work address, phone numbers, medical aid and insurance details. 

• Identify at least two exits from every room, and check for any items that could block your escape path from the building. 

• Identify and remove potential fire hazards from your home to reduce the risk of fire. 

Political parties are calling for accountability after the SANDF’s apparent defiance of President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding Iran’s participation in the recent naval exercise, Will For Peace 2026, in Simon’s Town.

The Democratic Alliance says it appears that Iranian warships took part despite reports of a presidential order to exclude them. Other reports indicated that Iran pulled out of the joint naval exercise amid political tensions.

The DA states that there are conflicting SANDF statements, which raise concerns that civilian authority was disregarded.

The US Embassy in Pretoria slammed the events as they unfolded.

“The United States notes with concern and alarm reports that the Minister of Defence and SANDF defied a government order regarding Iran’s participation in the ongoing naval exercises. Iran is a destabilising actor and state sponsor of terror, and its inclusion in joint exercises – in any capacity – undermines maritime security and regional stability. It is particularly unconscionable that South Africa welcomed Iranian security forces as they were shooting, jailing, and torturing Iranian citizens engaging in peaceful political activity, for which South Africans fought so hard to gain for themselves. South Africa can’t lecture the world on ‘justice’ while cosying up to Iran.”

The DA has now called for an urgent parliamentary debate to enforce accountability.

The party’s spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, says it looks less like confusion and more like defiance within the SANDF.

“Despite credible reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa, as Commander-in-Chief, instructed that Iranian warships be excluded from the exercise, Iranian vessels nevertheless took part. This was followed by contradictory explanations, deleted SANDF communications, and a shifting official story that continues to change as more facts emerge.”

Hattingh says the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, publicly hailed Iran’s participation, only for events to unfold in a manner that appeared to defy a reported presidential instruction.

“When senior officers publicly signal one direction and events on the ground follow that direction, Parliament is entitled to ask a hard question: was lawful civilian authority ignored?”

The Minister of Defence, Angie Mothekga, established a Board of Inquiry to probe the allegations, but Hattingh says this cannot put Parliament on hold.

Meanwhile, ActionSA has requested an urgent Joint Defence Committee probe into the matter.

ActionSA has rejected the Board of Inquiry established by Motshekga, arguing that Parliament is far better placed to get to the truth of what has unfolded and to ensure that those responsible are held publicly accountable in this crisis.

“ActionSA believes that while building a capable and battle-ready defence force is incredibly important, this must first and foremost be grounded in a disciplined respect for the rule of law and the constitutional chain of command, upheld at every level, from senior military leadership to the executive.”