For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Home Affairs deportations hit 46% since GNU formation; Govt calls for comment on new Bill to strengthen whistleblower protections; And, Gauteng secures R205bn in investments

Home Affairs deportations hit 46% since GNU formation

The Department of Home Affairs revealed today that since the formation of the Government of National Unity, 109 344 illegal immigrants have been deported, a cumulative 46% increase over the last two financial years.

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the numbers demonstrated the DHA’s commitment to uploading the rule of law.

The GNU administration increased deportations by 30%, from 39 672 in the 2023/24 financial year to 51 560 in 2024/25.

This was followed by another increase of 12%, to 57 784, in 2025/26.

The department is also focused on deterrence and modernisation to deal with illegal immigration, with Schreiber noting the use of drones and body cameras, as well as the improvement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system to efficiently read biometrics of travellers.

Govt calls for comment on new Bill to strengthen whistleblower protections

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mamoloko Kubayi officially released the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill, calling for stakeholders across civil society, business, and labour to submit input by May 14.

Speaking in Pretoria, Kubayi emphasised that the new legislation was not only an update, but an intervention to deal with corruption networks in the country.

The proposed legislation arose largely from the findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, as well as recommendations from the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.

Kubayi described this Bill as a robust, all-encompassing framework for protecting whistleblowers, effectively addressing previous legislative weaknesses.

She remarked that while the current Protected Disclosures Act offered a basic structure, it had been found to be “critically flawed”, lacking standardised reporting protocols and failing to protect whistleblowers from occupational detriment.

The primary goal of the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill was to provide secure reporting avenues, shield individuals from reprisals, and ensure that disclosures were managed by capable institutions, she added.

And, Gauteng secures R205bn in investments

In the wake of the record R890-billion in commitment secured at the sixth South African Investment Conference, the Gauteng Investment Conference 2026 attracted more than its targeted goal of R200-billion in pledges.

Pledges of R205.6-billion were received, building on the success of the inaugural conference held in April 2025, which secured R312.5-billion in investment pledges.

This brings Gauteng’s cumulative investment over the past two years to R518.1-billion, already at 65% of the R800-billion in new investments Gauteng aims to secure over a three-year period.

Gauteng Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Vuyiswa Ramakgopa, deeming the conference a success, said that the new investment pledges, project backed, sector diversified and implementation-focused, reflects a maturing investment ecosystem as Gauteng moves from fragmented development to an integrated economic ecosystem.

South African investors accounted for 78%, China 17%, US 2%, UK 1% and others 2%.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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