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The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) went to court on Tuesday to try to block a fuel tax increase that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed in last month's budget.

The 4% increase in the levy South Africans pay on petrol and diesel is due to kick in on Wednesday, but the EFF wants the High Court to suspend it on the basis that it is unjust and that the minister did not follow proper parliamentary process.

"This increase places an unjust burden on the working class and the poor, who are already reeling from rising costs of living, stagnant wages, and ongoing economic hardship," the EFF said in a statement before a court hearing in Cape Town.

In a sworn statement, Godongwana said he had the right to raise the fuel levy and that the EFF's case appeared aimed at blocking passage of the budget, which he already had revised twice due to disagreements in the coalition government.

Godongwana said that if the court blocks the tax increase, it would leave a revenue shortfall of at least R3.5-billion, which would have to be recovered through additional borrowing, taxes or spending cuts.

He has already backtracked on a contentious plan to raise value-added tax, under pressure from the second-biggest political party in the coalition, the Democratic Alliance, and others outside it.

Investors want to see evidence that Africa's biggest economy can rein in spending and hit revenue targets after a steep rise in public debt over the past two decades.

Opposition parties have reacted to South Africa's 0.1% GDP increase in the first quarter, with ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) laying blame for the dismal growth on the Government of National Unity (GNU).

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday announced the 0.1% GDP increase, following an increase of 0.4% in the previous quarter.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry increased by 15.8%, contributing 0.4 of a percentage point to the positive GDP growth, primarily owing to increased economic activities reported for horticulture and animal products.

Stats SA said finance, real estate and business services increased by 0.2% adding 0.1% to the GDP. It noted that increased economic activities were reported for insurance and pension funding and auxiliary activities.

A decrease was noted in the manufacturing industry, which contracted by 2.0%.

Reacting to the figures, ActionSA called for a "complete overhaul" of industrial policy to prioritise key sectors and to create a "truly" business-friendly regulatory environment. It also urged the establishment of a high-level public-private Industrial Council to support domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependence.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said a year into the GNU, South Africa's economy was stagnating, unemployment was deepening, and the government had "no plan to change course".

He said Tuesday's GDP figures confirmed that the economy was "barely breathing", pointing to much-needed 3% to 4% growth to create jobs.

He accused the GNU administration of being "paralysed, distracted by internal horse-trading".

Beesley said a collapse in productive capacity reflected years of "policy incoherence, failing infrastructure, unreliable energy, and unfair competition" from low-cost imports.

He believes that government has failed to create the enabling environment needed to support production, investment and job creation.

"In a country at South Africa's level of development, a dynamic industrial sector should be driving growth, innovation and mass employment. Instead, manufacturers are being ground down by inefficiency and neglect. With loadshedding set to return in the coming weeks, this misery will only deepen, crippling what little momentum remains in key industries and further undermining any prospect of recovery," he said.

COHERENT AND INTERVENTIONIST STRATEGY

For the EFF, the 0.1% marginal growth is a "clear demonstration" that the current coalition between what it terms "the former liberation movement and the racist liberal establishment" is incapable of reviving the economy.

"…instead, it continues to strip the State of its ability to stabilise and grow the economy through a coherent and interventionist strategy," the EFF stated.

It said a break with neoliberalism and wholesale privatisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) was needed to rescue the economy.

"…until then, South Africa will remain trapped in low growth, mass unemployment and deepening inequalities," the EFF said and added that this "dismal" economic performance must be read in the context of a broader structural crisis, saying the country's real GDP growth had been stagnant since 2012, marking more than a decade of economic malaise.

The EFF has consistently called for a developmental State model with SOEs at the centre of economic transformation.

The party is proposing a new macroeconomic framework, in which fiscal policies must be aligned to clear employment and growth targets.

The EFF pointed to the negative growth in manufacturing, construction, and mining, saying this was a reflection of a government without a jobs plan, without a coherent industrial strategy, and without any intention of using the State as a driver of development.

"Instead of investing in State-led infrastructure development, the government has prioritised the privatisation of State-owned enterprises through Operation Vulindlela, a programme driven by the National Treasury and its global partners in capital accumulat...

The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MKP) has removed Floyd Shivambu as the party's secretary-general and has redeployed him to represent the party in the National Assembly, following a recent trip to Malawi to visit fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the MKP said Shivambu's visit was in violation of the party's constitution and that his redeployment would strengthen the MKP as an opposition party owing to his experience as a former member of Parliament.

"We would like to thank and acknowledge Commander Shivambu's contribution as both the National Organiser and Secretary General of the MK Party and the role he has played in contributing to the advancement of the organisation. His invaluable skills and experience as a politician will continue to benefit the MK Party in his new role to which he is redeployed. The National Officials have had discussions with Commander Floyd Shivambu pertaining to his deployment, and he has duly accepted this particular position," said MKP chairperson Nathi Nhleko.

He said the trip was not an officially sanctioned programme of the party and its President Jacob Zuma, and went against the party's constitution.

He added that civil society had approached the party, after which the MKP considered the gravity of the matter and the implications for the party and its image and principles.

Shivambu thanked Zuma and the party's leadership for having assigned him as secretary-general and the party's national organiser. He said he accepted the redeployment to the National Assembly as a "disciplined member" of the MKP and assured that he would continue to play a role to advance the party's agenda and programme.

"It has been an invaluable role that we have played - a humbling experience that we have been assigned by the President. We want to thank him for leading the programme of unification of all the progressive forces in South Africa. That is the agenda that we are going to continue to pursue. On behalf of myself and everyone else who is involved, we want to regret the decision in terms of the visit to Malawi. It was not consistent with the constitution of uMkhonto WeSizwe as reflected in the statement, and we fully accept the new responsibility.

"We'll continue to play a role and build the organisation towards the 2026 local government elections and towards the two-thirds majority victory in the 2029 general elections. Thank you very much, comrade President. We really appreciate the role that you have given us and the redeployment. The confidence that you continue to show even when we falter in terms of some of the issues that we deal with at a personal level. Thank you very much I really appreciate it," Shivambu said.

The party said "the matter ends today" and that nobody in the party's leadership will comment on the matter further.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday celebrated its court victory against uMkhonto we Sizwe Member of Parliament Dr John Hlophe after the High Court found that Parliament violated the Constitution by designating Hlophe to take up a seat on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Last year, the party filed papers against Hlophe's designation to the JSC.

Hlophe is the first judge to be removed from office by the National Assembly, after the JSC found him guilty of dishonesty and gross misconduct. His conviction resulted from his attempts to unlawfully influence two judges of the Constitutional Court, Judges Bess Nkabinde and Chris Jafta, in 2008, to rule in favour of Jacob Zuma in cases before them.

In July last year, Hlophe was nominated by his party to serve on the JSC, which is responsible for nominating judges for appointment, and for disciplining judges.

DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille said the previously impeached Hlophe's appointment to the JSC undermined the "integrity and compromises" the legitimacy of any process he may be involved in to appoint further judges.

She said her party pursued and won this case, to uphold the rule of law.

She highlighted that the court judgment stresses that "public confidence in the judiciary's composition and administration of justice is vital," adding that the High Court order to bar an impeached judge from serving on the JSC, is a victory for the rule of law, and the Constitution.

"The Judicial Services Commission must play its role as interviewing and disciplinary body for the judicial arm of government through members who are themselves fit and proper and above reproach," she said.

As the fifth phase of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) gets underway on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged employers to give young people their next opportunity, mentor their enthusiasm and foster their potential.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that after a year's pause, the BEEI has returned to over 20 000 townships, villages, inner cities, farms and special needs schools, "bringing hope, energy and incomes to places where opportunities are too often out of reach.

The initiative is a flagship programme of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which he said has, since its inception in 2020, supported the delivery of jobs and livelihood opportunities in the country.

This phase of the BEEI aims to provide 200 000 job opportunities for young people and will provide them with soft and hard skills required in the world of work.

The soft skills that they will gain will commence from day one where schools will explain their school ethos; request the youth to sign work contracts and job descriptions; manage their time; improve communication skills; enhance reading and writing skills; and hone a sense of professionalism, self-confidence and self-esteem.

The BEEI is implemented by the Department of Basic Education and by provincial education departments and funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund Labour Activation Programme and national government.

"This programme is designed to develop the work skills that employers say they need, such as time management, task management, teamwork, problem solving, IT, admin and much more," Ramaphosa explained.

Participants undertake roles aligned to school priorities to ensure these young people add real value, enhancing the learning environment for learners and strengthening learning outcomes.

Ramaphosa added that the Basic Education Employment Initiative offers opportunities for young people at all skills levels.

"…graduates are prioritised for work in the classroom, where their tasks allow teachers to spend more time on teaching and lesson preparation. Curriculum Assistants support maths, science and technology. Reading Champions promote literacy and a culture of reading. Lab and Workshop Assistants support technical subjects. Others support IT and school administration," he said.

He said government must also reach out to those young people who want to be entrepreneurs.

"…we need to find new ways to support those who want to create their own jobs and local value, to connect them to finance, training, markets and networks," he said.

He believes the Presidential Employment Stimulus show government's capacity to address the youth unemployment problem.

"Through this programme we have been able to give young people work experience and a pathway to formal employment or even further education," he said.

He added that this will have a much longer-term benefit for the employability of young people, acknowledging that government has still "much more to do" to address the plight of young people.

"Today we celebrate this cohort of young people beginning meaningful work, many for the first time. But let us also not forget those who applied for these posts but who weren't selected," he said.

Ramaphosa noted that young people cannot be left on their own to navigate the transition into work, adding that government needs to step up to assist them.

"These young people will leave the school environment having shown up, contributed and made a difference. They will have worked in high-pressure environments with limited resources and will understand deadlines and responsibility," he said.

ActionSA has submitted a suite of proposed constitutional amendments aimed at overhauling key provisions, that it believes have been misused to fuel illegal immigration in South Africa, provisions that it says continue to enable the exploitation of the country's hospitality and limited resources.

ActionSA Parliamentary leader Athol Trollip argued that the country's constitution is a living document, and as such, the amendments should clarify and safeguard important rights against "misapplication and abuse, particularly where individuals who have entered the country illegally seek to exploit them."

He pointed to clinics in Johannesburg, which he said are recording over 70% of patient files belonging to foreign nationals, and to schools that he says are struggling to meet placement demands owing to court-ordered enrolment of illegal immigrants.

He said South Africa's already limited resources are under severe strain and has resulted in the diversion of essential services away from South African citizens, which he said undermine their access to critical healthcare and education.

ActionSA wants to begin with the amendment of the Preamble of the Constitution, specifically the text 'South Africa belongs to all who live in it.

Trollip argued that it is persistently misinterpreted and has been used to extend constitutional protections to those residing in the country illegally.

"In practice, this deliberate misreading has placed undue pressure on limited public resources and compromised the government's responsibility to prioritise the needs of South Africans.

"A carefully considered revision is required to reaffirm the original intent of this principle and prevent its continued misappropriation, without undermining the inclusive spirit of the Constitution," he argued.

Further, ActionSA said it believes amending Section 26 of the Constitution would clarify the scope of the State's housing obligations by introducing a lawful presence requirement in relation to emergency housing support.

The party noted that the current universal application of Section 26 has led to "unintended consequences," where municipalities are compelled to divert scarce housing and emergency accommodation resources to individuals who are neither citizens nor lawfully present in the country.

Trollip explained this places undue pressure on municipal resources and undermines the constitutional obligation to progressively realise the housing rights of South African citizens.

He highlighted that in amending Section 26 of the Constitution, government must remove the universal nature of the right to housing, by clarifying that the obligation to provide Temporary Emergency Accommodation (TEA) in instances of illegal land or property occupation is limited to South African citizens and persons lawfully present in the country.

He noted that the proposed amendment would reaffirm South Africa's commitment to human rights while ensuring that the State's limited housing resources are allocated "lawfully and equitably."

ActionSA believes that these revisions to the country's Constitution must acknowledge South Africa's limited capacity to bear the socio-economic burden of illegal immigration and strike a practical balance between primarily protecting the rights and wellbeing of South Africans and upholding humanitarian principles.

"Similarly, in recognition of the interconnected challenges stemming from South Africa's severe resource pressures affecting the realisation of Section 27 (the right to access healthcare) and Section 29 (the right to education), it is clear that these rights are also being compromised through misappropriation and misuse," he said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday expressed support for the establishment of a commission of inquiry into delays in investigation and prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases, noting concerns about allegations of interference with South African Police Service (Saps) and National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) processes.

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a proclamation for the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to determine whether attempts were made to prevent the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.

The commission will be chaired by retired Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe, assisted by retired Northern Cape Judge President Frans Diale Kgomo and Advocate Andrea Gabriel.

"The delay of investigations and prosecutions of these cases flies in the face of the ideals upon which the TRC was established. As a country, we need to heal from the atrocities committed during the previous dispensation, so that we can move forward together. It is unacceptable that decades later, the families of many of the victims have received neither closure nor justice," said DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach.

The Presidency explained that the establishment of the commission of inquiry was part of an agreement reached in settlement discussions in a court application brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes.

The commission must inquire into, make findings, report on and make recommendations on whether, why, to what extent and by whom attempts were made to influence members of the Saps or NPA not to investigate or prosecute cases identified by the TRC.

The commission will look into whether any members of the Saps or the NPA improperly colluded with organs of State, including possible further investigations or prosecutions of persons who may have acted unlawfully.

The commission will further investigate whether the payment of any amount in constitutional damages to any person is appropriate.

The commission will cover the period from 2003 to the present, and it is expected to complete its work within six months from the date of this proclamation and submit its report within 60 days after the completion of its work.

The DA noted that such a commission would take a long time to finalise its findings, as well as implementation, with Breytenbach saying this is not ideal, but is perhaps the only route to an answer.

The African National Congress (ANC) said on Friday that the launch of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) has positioned South Africa to harness its natural resources, reduce dependency on imports, and retain greater value from the country's mineral and energy wealth.

Last week, government launched the SANPC, which is the merger of PetroSA, iGas and the Strategic Fuel Fund.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri described it as "the birth of a strategic national asset with the potential to redefine South Africa's energy future and industrial trajectory for generations to come".

She pointed out that the SANPC had been created to "shape the future" of South Africa's energy security, industrialisation agenda, technology adoption and economic transformation, and to also play a central role in the full petroleum value chain, from exploration and production to refining, storage, and distribution.

Bhengu-Motsiri said the party saw this launch as more than an institutional milestone.

"…it is a concrete expression of our commitment to building a capable State that drives economic transformation. It affirms our belief that the State must lead in strategic sectors to ensure that national development objectives are met, and that the benefits of our resources are shared among all South Africans," she said.

She pointed out that the youth stood to benefit from the merger through targeted training programmes and employment opportunities from renewed exploration activities, infrastructure expansion, and downstream operations.

"Communities located near strategic energy sites will also benefit from local procurement, development projects, and empowerment initiatives," she added.

Bhengu-Motsiri pointed out that as a State-owned entity, SANPC would be instrumental in unlocking investment, building strategic infrastructure, and enabling South Africa to fully participate in the local and regional energy markets.

"This achievement is a direct response to the ANC's manifesto commitment to industrialise the South African economy. Through the work of the SANPC, new industries will emerge, jobs will be created, and skills will be developed across the petroleum and energy sector," she explained.

She noted that the company's mandate extends beyond traditional oil and gas, and includes a strategic focus on energy security, environmental sustainability, and the exploration of new minerals critical to the global transition to cleaner energy.

"…by investing in innovation, beneficiation, and the local processing of key energy minerals, SANPC will support the development of new value chains that are essential to South Africa's future competitiveness," Bhengu-Motsiri stated.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Friday called for urgency in enhancing State capacity, as he acknowledged that there are areas where the country's State machinery still lags, which he said hinders the ability of government to deliver on the promises of the Constitution.

Mashatile was speaking during a roundtable dialogue in Pretoria on strengthening the political-administrative interface, stressing that effective governance required more than good intentions.

It demanded functional systems, clear accountability, and seamless coordination between those who set policy and those who implemented it, he said.

"…it tells us what many of us have long known, but perhaps not yet fully addressed, that the high turnover among directors-general (DGs) and heads of department (HoDs) erodes institutional memory, undermines policy continuity, and dampens morale," he pointed out.

Mashatile said political interference in administrative decisions across government and State-owned enterprises - particularly in appointments, procurement, and financial management - created a precarious environment, which he argued made even the most qualified professionals hesitant to serve or unable to act with integrity.

He said the net effect of these institutional weaknesses was the erosion of the trust of the people, undermining investor confidence, and compromising our standing in the international community as it perpetuated the perception of a failing State.

He further noted that a "capable and developmental" State referred to a government that had the essential resources and skills to successfully execute policies that fostered economic growth and enhanced the well-being of its citizens.

He highlighted that this required a knowledgeable and effective public service, strong institutions, and a dedication to tackling the fundamental issues of poverty and inequality.

He said South Africa had made strides in the past, overcoming immense challenges to secure its democracy and pursue socioeconomic progress, noting that a developmental, capable and ethical State required skilled managers, especially DGs and HoDs, with clear lines of authority and accountability to execute their duties in a way that achieved optimal outputs and agreed outcomes.

"…this requires a political and administrative environment that is free from undue political interference, with effective systems, and with a consistent and fair application of rules," he explained.

Mashatile said if government was serous about building a capable, developmental and ethical State, it must move from compliance to coherence, from fear to integrity and from institutional drift to decisive alignment.

"These calls, amongst others, urge that we re-visit our institutional design to respond to governance deficits that in certain instances manifest themselves through acts of corruption and malfeasance. The recently launched White Paper on Local Government, which seeks to review the 1998 version, is one among the many interventions being undertaken by this administration," he assured.

He acknowledged that government needed to deal with corruption, which he said jeopardised sustainable economic development, ethical principles, and justice.

He pointed to the lack of consistency in leadership and institutional memory, particularly of DGs, which he said compromised government's ability to implement and oversee policies in the long term.

He said government needed to work towards the de-politicisation of the public service through the recommended policy and legal reforms, to make significant strides in the implementation of the country's development goals.

He further pointed out that the question of political and administrative interface continued to be a source of concern for a well-functioning government that provided services to its citizens.

He highlighted that there was strong recognition that a successful and professional public service must be supported and enabled by a sound legal framework, guided by constitu...

Independent political and economic advisory firm Private Clients director Dr Frans Cronje argued on Thursday that for South Africa to grow investment, it should refine coal, rework empowerment policies and guarantee market value in the event of an expropriation.

Cronje was speaking during PSG Financial Services' 'Think Big Webinar', where he explained that South Africa would soon have more than enough installed energy generating capacity, and that in a defunded coal fleet, government would need to refit this coal infrastructure to provide energy while not immediately abandoning coal, to achieve an ambitious GDP growth rate of 4% or 5%.

He urged international actors, particularly Europe, not to pressure South Africa to abandon coal prematurely, arguing for a phased transition to green energy considering South Africa's unique economic and political circumstances.

This, he argued, would prevent an energy ceiling from limiting future economic growth.

Cronje also urged government not to tax capital on arrival into the country, highlighting that this was one of the key factors that deterred investment.

Meanwhile, he said the real building blocks of empowerment were fixed investment, tax payments, employment and exports.

He said South Africa's fixed investment rate of about 15% of GDP was too low compared with emerging markets and believes that to achieve 4% to 5% GDP growth, government and the private sector must raise fixed investment by 10 percentage points collectively.

Further, he said South Africa should move away from "narrow racial criteria" to remove a major barrier to investment.

He pointed out that government should also look into the question of property rights, saying they must be 100% secure.

"There is no policy in South Africa called land expropriation. There's a piece of expropriation policy that allows the seizure of any fixed or moveable asset without market related compensation," he said.

He said this needed to be tweaked to say that in the event of an expropriation, a court would weigh in to decide on compensation that was of market value.

"… in a free and open society and a modern industrial economy, it is just and equitable that expropriated owners get market value for assets that are appropriated," he stated.

If all these recommendations were met, Cronje said, people would live in "much better circumstances", noting that politically South Africa would remain free and open, and the country would be a "pretty prosperous and pretty stable" corner of the world.