The Home Affairs Department will soon begin tracking down ghost workers in government departments, with the use of a digital verification system.  

The platform is set to go live next month for an initial two-month verification process across national and provincial departments.  

“The Department of Home Affairs has developed a world-class new online realtime employee verification portal for National Treasury as part of government’s broader digital transformation agenda to strengthen public sector accountability and protect public funds,” read the department’s statement.  

The platform, linked to the National Population Register, uses biometric verification and “liveness” testing to confirm that employee records are legitimate. 

Payroll system fraud cost the country around R3.9 billion last year, with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration noting earlier this year that more than 4,300 high-risk cases were identified across government departments. 

“We have also been clear about the need for evidence of results, including the number of ghost employees identified and removed, the monies recovered and the number of prosecutions. While the committee is encouraged by the number of ghost workers identified, we call for consequences where wrongdoing has been confirmed, which must include prosecutions and successful convictions,” said Jan de Villiers, chairperson of the parliamentary committee. 

READ MORE: Public Service Committee urges swift action on 4 323 ghost workers, welcomes payroll reform measures 

In a statement on Tuesday, Minister Leon Schreiber said this system could save taxpayers billions if used consistently. 

“The application of the digital capabilities our reform work is now consistently delivering to this new use case, demonstrates that the digital transformation of Home Affairs is laying the foundation for an entirely rebuilt state, with the benefits being felt widely across government and society.”

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has clarified how the 2027 on-time admissions process for Grade R, 1, and 8 will unfold, stressing that the first round of results is only the beginning of a longer placement process.

According to the department, the initial outcomes will be released on Thursday. However, WCED MEC David Maynier warns that parents should not assume that these first results represent the final status of their child’s application.

Maynier explains that early results can sometimes cause concern for families when no immediate offer is received. This is often part of a temporary situation within the admissions process.

“The initial release of results can cause concern for parents if their child has not yet received an offer when the initial outcomes become available. We understand how disappointing this can be, and we would like to help families better understand the process,” Maynier added.

According to the department, school admissions are determined by individual school policies, not directly by the WCED itself.

“Schools determine the outcome of admissions applications based on their admissions policies. The WCED does not determine the outcome of applications to a school,” Maynier said.

The department encourages parents to accept or defer placements to avoid spaces being “double booked”.

“At the point when outcomes are first released, a substantial number of learners will have received offers from more than one school. For example, last year, over 40 000 learners had multiple successful outcomes at various schools and were initially “double parked” on the system,” Maynier stated.

Maynier said once parents begin confirming their preferred school, other spaces become available again and are reallocated to waiting applicants.

“As soon as parents begin confirming their choice of offers, this frees up additional places which can then be offered to others,” the department stressed.

Parents are required to confirm their school choices by 15 June 2026.

A man believed to be an illegal immigrant is in police custody in Milnerton on suspicion that he is implicated in human trafficking.  

The 38-year-old was arrested on Monday, after teams including the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks), the City of Cape Town and Home Affairs descended on a house in Brooklyn.  

“A multi-disciplinary team consisting of the Hawks Economic Protected Resources team (EPR), Law Enforcement SSIMS Unit, Metro Police, Metro Police K9 Unit as well as Department of Home Affairs swooped on a house in Brooklyn, Milnerton,” read the Hawks statement.  

Spokesperson for the Hawks, Zinzi Hani, said it was following up on information about the alleged trafficking of women for sexual exploitation.  

Three possible victims between 21 and 26 were rescued.  

Meanwhile, the suspect is not only facing charges for the alleged trafficking but also for contravening the Immigration Act, after it was established that he was in the country illegally.  

“He was arrested for trafficking in persons as well as for Contravention of the Immigration Act.” 

Hani noted that he would be making his first court appearance on Wednesday.  

ALSO READ: One person shot dead at establishment on Marine Drive, Blouberg – Smile 90.4FM

A group of learners from Parkfield Primary School took to the streets of Hanover Park earlier this morning in an emotional plea for peace, calling for an end to the ongoing stone-throwing incidents that have become common in several communities.

The young children marched through the area holding placards and chanting messages of peace, hoping to inspire change and bring an end to the violence affecting the community.

The Hanover Park Community Police Forum (CPF) spokesperson, Kashiefa Mohammed, stressed that stone-throwing has become a serious challenge in the community, with children as young as nine years old engaging in this dangerous activity.

“The stone-throwing in the community has become out of control. Schoolchildren are fearful of being struck, as incidents start as early as 7 a.m. and continue again when they return from school. Our children are living in fear.”

Mohammed further added that despite several interventions aimed at ending the stone-throwing attacks, many parents of the children involved continue to turn a blind eye.

“Parents must take accountability and address the issue because it is becoming a danger. These children don’t care if they harm people or property. Parents must take responsibility for the actions of their children.”

Mohammed emphasised that while gun violence continues to tear through the community and bring its own safety concerns, the stone-throwing needs to end.

“It does not just end with stone-throwing. We see shots fired after these attacks, and it seems like it has become more dangerous. We need the community to stand together and bring an end to this violence.”