
Umalusi, South Africa's quality assurance body, has announced significant changes to the post-school education and training system. The Nated Report 190/191 N1-N3 programmes have entered a phase-out period, with Umalusi no longer issuing new N3 certificates after registrations closed in 2023. Existing N3 certificates remain valid, and Umalusi will continue to handle re-issues and replacements. The formal wind-down process for Nated N1-N3 programmes began on January 1, 2024, with 2025 being the final year for Umalusi to quality assure N2-N3 examinations and issue N3 certificates. Additionally, Umalusi is no longer responsible for the quality assurance or certification of National Certificate Vocational Levels 2 and 3 examinations. This responsibility has shifted entirely to the Department of Higher Education and Training DHET, which will now issue statements of results for these levels. However, Umalusi will continue to externally quality assure and certify NCV Level 4 exams. Umalusi assures the public that these policy changes will not affect the validity or credibility of previously issued qualifications.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa is seeking an urgent application in the Western Cape High Court to halt Section 89 impeachment proceedings against him, arguing that he will suffer irreparable harm if they proceed before his review application is heard. Advocate Wim Trengove SC, representing the president, argued that the independent panel, which found prima facie evidence of potential constitutional and PRECCA violations related to the Phala Phala scandal, did not adequately consider Ramaphosa's responses. Trengove contended that the panel should have weighed all evidence to determine if there was sufficient cause for a public inquiry, rather than merely establishing a prima facie case based on accusers' evidence. Judge Andr茅 le Grange questioned this, noting the panel's limitations to affidavits and a 30-day reporting period. Trengove maintained that a public trial of a sitting president would cause significant and irreversible reputational damage, even if the report were later overturned. He stated that the president is not trying to protect the disclosure of facts but to avoid public humiliation from being tried for a serious offense. Conversely, Judge Matthew Francis suggested that the proceedings could lead to exoneration. William Mokhare SC, representing the impeachment committee chair, argued that Ramaphosa had "missed the boat" to review the report and that the committee has a constitutional duty to proceed impartially. Mokhare assured that the committee would ensure fair a
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