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Monday, August 10, Declared Public Holiday: Government Announces Reason 

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South Africans will get their first bonus public holiday next week, with Monday, 10 August 2026 becoming an additional day off after National Women’s Day falls on Sunday, 9 August.

The extra day is automatic under the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994. Section 2(1) of the Act reads: “The days mentioned in Schedule 1 shall be public holidays, and whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday.”

Both days retain their status, meaning Sunday remains a public holiday and Monday becomes an additional paid public holiday on top of it.

This interpretation was confirmed by the Labour Appeal Court in Randfontein Estates Ltd v National Union of Mineworkers, where the court found that the Monday holiday exists “in addition to” the Sunday public holiday rather than replacing it.

The Act treats Saturdays differently. When a public holiday falls on a Saturday, no extra day is granted and the holiday is observed only on the Saturday itself. There is no equivalent provision triggering a Friday or Monday off in those cases.

The legislation also gives employers and workers some room to adjust how public holidays are observed.

Under Section 2(2), an official public holiday can be swapped for a different agreed day, provided both the employer and employee consent to the arrangement.

The announcement came after questions arose about whether the election could disrupt matric examinations, given that many schools double as voting stations.

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mmusi Maimane said the IEC had already worked through the concern.

“The IEC replied that through consultation with the Department of Basic Education, there will be minimal disruptions to matriculants as the day will be designated as a public holiday,” Maimane said.

Ramaphosa noted that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa supported the date partly because it falls outside the festive season, which is expected to improve voter turnout and limit the impact on schools.

Before the November holiday becomes official, two formal steps are still required. Hlabisa must first proclaim the election date in the Government Gazette, after which Ramaphosa is expected to issue a separate proclamation declaring the day a public holiday closer to the election.

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Foreign

BREAKING: Three Nigerians Jailed in UK Within One Week

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Three Nigerians have been jailed for separate offences in the United Kingdom, with one sentenced for dangerous driving, another for attempting to murder his estranged wife and the third for attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

A 23-year-old Nigerian, Michael Nwanze, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving and other offences following a police chase in Northampton.

According to Northamptonshire Police, Nwanze was stopped in Abington Square on March 10, 2026, after the vehicle he was driving was flagged for having no insurance.

He allegedly sped off, drove through several red lights and reached speeds of more than 100mph on a dual carriageway and 70mph in a 40mph zone. He also collided with several vehicles while attempting to evade the police.

Nwanze was later charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court in April and was sentenced in June.

In Scotland, a 26-year-old Nigerian, Osarenkhoe Atutie, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to murder his estranged wife, Victory Atutie, in Edinburgh.

According to the BBC, Atutie attacked his wife on Duke Street, Leith, in November 2025 after tracking her down following the breakdown of their marriage.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the victim suffered 12 stab wounds and was hospitalised for four days.

Three members of the public intervened, disarmed Atutie and restrained him until police arrived. His original 10-year sentence was reduced to seven-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty.

He was also given a lifetime non-harassment order and will remain under supervision for 18 months after his release.

Meanwhile, a Nigerian student, Anderson Ishiekwene, was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

According to the BBC, the 25-year-old Ishiekwene, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in August 2025, communicated with a decoy profile operated by an online paedophile hunter group after believing the person was a 14-year-old girl.

Prosecutors said he exchanged hundreds of pages of messages with the decoy before arranging to meet at a shopping centre in Washington, England. He was arrested when he arrived at the agreed location.

Ishiekwene had earlier admitted attempting to engage in sexual communications with a child and was convicted by a jury of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming.

He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register and comply indefinitely with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, with the court stating that he was likely to face automatic deportation after completing his sentence.

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Foreign

BREAKING: Ambassador to US Sacked

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday dismissed his ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, in a move that had been expected following a government reshuffle last month.

The sacking, announced by decree, happened, however, as Kyiv was lobbying Washington hard to obtain more Patriot air defence missiles to block Russian strikes.

In a Facebook post in which she also posted a letter asking to be relieved of her duties, Stefanishyna said the decision was her own and “dictated by personal circumstances”.

She called her posting to Washington “the greatest honour” of her life.

“We increased the supply of American weapons and maintained support precisely when the political climate in Washington was shifting against us,” she added.

Stefanishyna, a former deputy prime minister and justice minister, was nominated as ambassador in July last year.

The role is crucial for Ukraine, which depends on US arms deliveries and intelligence-sharing in the conflict against Russia.

Relations between Zelensky and his US counterpart Donald Trump have been strained and, at times, stormy.

But the billionaire Republican former real estate mogul has recently been more encouraging towards the Ukrainian leader.

According to Ukrainian media, Stefanishyna is under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agency on suspicion of wrongdoing, although she has not been formally accused.

Zelensky, who made a controversial government reshuffle in July, has not yet announced who will replace Stefanishyna as ambassador in Washington.

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Business

UK Lists 10 Requirements Nigerians Need To Secure Work Visa

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The UK Home Office has set out detailed requirements that foreign nationals, including Nigerians, must satisfy before they can qualify for a Skilled Worker visa.

The requirements, published on the UK government’s official website, apply to overseas professionals seeking to work in eligible jobs with approved employers across the United Kingdom.

According to the Home Office, applicants must meet employment, salary, language and documentation requirements before a visa can be granted. Additional evidence may also be requested depending on an applicant’s circumstances.

1. Have a job offer from an approved employer: Applicants must first secure a job offer from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office to sponsor foreign workers.

The employer must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which contains details of the job being offered.

2. Work in an eligible occupation: The job must appear on the UK’s list of eligible occupations for the Skilled Worker visa. Applicants must know the correct occupation code assigned to their role before applying.

3. Meet the minimum salary requirement: Most applicants must earn at least £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for their occupation, whichever is higher.

Most applicants must earn at least £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for their occupation, whichever is higher. Lower salary thresholds may apply for some healthcare workers, graduates, younger applicants and certain PhD holders.

4. Prove English language ability: Applicants must show they can speak, read, write and understand English. This can be done through approved English language tests or recognised educational qualifications taught in English.

5. Hold a valid passport: Applicants must provide a valid passport or another accepted document proving their identity and nationality as part of the visa application.

6. Show proof of financial support: Most applicants must demonstrate they have at least £1,270 available to support themselves after arriving in the UK unless their employer confirms it will cover those costs.

7. Pay visa fees and healthcare surcharge: Applicants must pay the visa application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of their stay, and meet any other required charges before their application can be processed.

Partners and children of Skilled Worker visa holders may apply as dependants. Supporting a partner requires showing at least £285 in available funds, £315 for one child, and £200 for each additional child

8. Submit supporting documents: Applicants must provide supporting documents, including their Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, salary details, occupation code and employer information. Depending on individual circumstances, additional documents may also be required.

9. Provide extra certificates where required: Some applicants may need to submit additional documents such as tuberculosis (TB) test results, criminal record certificates, Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificates or proof of overseas qualifications.

10. Apply within the required timeframe: Applicants must submit their Skilled Worker visa application within three months of receiving their Certificate of Sponsorship from their employer.

The Home Office also advises applicants to complete identity verification and provide all required documents before a decision can be made.

Additional documents may be requested

The UK government stressed that meeting the eligibility requirements does not automatically guarantee visa approval. Immigration officials may request further documents or information to verify an applicant’s eligibility before making a final decision.

For Nigerians and other foreign professionals hoping to work in the UK, understanding these 10 requirements can help them prepare a stronger Skilled Worker visa application.

Full breakdown of the rules can be downloaded here.

 

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