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Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said on Thursday that South Africa's G20 Presidency in 2025 will not be confined to climate change but also to the equitable treatment of nations of the Global South.

"These are important principles that we remain open to pursue and engage the United States on," said Lamola.

This followed a social media post by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying he won't attend an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 group of countries from February 20-21 in Johannesburg, South Africa, citing concerns with polices, including land reform.

"I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg. South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote solidarity, equality, & sustainability. In other words: DEI and climate change. My job is to advance America's national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism," he posted on X.

On Sunday US President Donald Trump accused South Africa of "confiscating" land and "treating certain classes of people very badly," threatening to cut off all future funding to the country pending an investigation.

Lamola stressed South Africa's sovereignty and democracy, which he said entailed a committment to human dignity, equality, and rights, championing non-racialism and non-sexism, while placing the country's Constitution and the rule of law at the forefront.

He highlighted that there was no arbitrary dispossession of land or private property.

"This law is similar to the [US's] eminent domain laws," he noted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday deliver his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) at 7pm, where he will outline the task of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in implementing the three strategic priorities of the Medium-Term Development Plan.

This includes dDriving inclusive growth and job creation;, reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental State, explained government spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

Magwenya said the address will take place before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament.

He highlighted thatsaid the address holds "added significance" as it occurs during the commemoration of 30 years of freedom and democracy, and it coincides with South Africa's G20 Presidency of G20.

The 2025 SoNA is the first of the 7th Administration and will be held under the theme: '"A nation that works, for all'."

"The annual address gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation and recommits us to working together to build the country we envisioned at the start of our democracy," Magwenya pointed out.

Ramaphosa will deliver his reply to the SoNA debate next week Thursday.

The President looks forward to a constructive and substantively enriching debate that will follow his SoONA address, said Magwenya.

South Africa's government signalled that it is making headway in resolving an impasse over a new national medical-insurance plan that critics say will infringe on the rights of patients and health-care workers and sideline the private sector.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed off on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act less than two weeks before May elections in which the African National Congress lost the parliamentary majority it had held for the past three decades.

A 10-party coalition government was formed after the vote and some of its members oppose the legislation, which provides a framework for citizens to secure universal access to health care through a centrally managed government fund that buys services from public and private providers. The law currently bans the private sector from offering cover for treatment available under NHI.

An understanding has been agreed to drop a provision that would have caused the collapse of private medical-insurance companies, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen told reporters in Cape Town on Wednesday.

"I expect that the NHI Act will have to have some of its provisions redrafted. This is a compromise that has been reached," Steenhuisen said. "We will not be part of the destruction of the private medical aids. If that does happen then we cannot be part" of the unity government, he said.

Cape Town-based news website News24 reported on the agreement earlier.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters in Cape Town that Ramaphosa is committed to ironing out difference within his administration over the NHI and "one would not be entirely surprised if an agreement is reached in that regard."

South Africa's overburdened public facilities currently serve about 84% of the population, while the remaining 16% who can afford private insurance have access to world-class treatment.

Opponents of NHI say it won't remedy the health-care system's shortcomings, is unconstitutional and that the government hasn't spelled out how much the revamped system will cost or how it will be funded. The Solidarity labour union has filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the legislation.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) stated on Wednesday that while its Ministers are delivering growth and jobs in their respective portfolios, it continues to push the African National Congress (ANC) to urgently embrace the economic reforms South Africa desperately needs.

Ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SoNA), to be delivered on Thursday by President Cyril Ramaphosa, DA leader John Steenhuisen warned that unless the Government of National Unity (GNU) urgently implements policies that drive economic growth and enable job creation, South Africa will fail.

He said there was an alarming lack of urgency in the ANC.

"We have pushed the ANC to implement pro-growth, pro-jobs reforms through the Medium Term Development Plan process, and we have pushed the President to announce such reforms during his SoNA," Steenhuisen said.

EXPROPRIATION ACT

Meanwhile, Steenhuisen said the party would continue to use GNU structures to mount its opposition to the Expropriation Act, from within government.

This after US President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw aid to South Africa owing to his view that the recently enacted Expropriation Act was leading to the confiscation of land.

Steenhuisen said in response, on Monday, that while there were concerns around the Act, it was not true that it allowed land to be seized arbitrarily by the State as claimed by lobbyists.

"…and it does require fair compensation for legitimate expropriations in terms of Section 25 of the Constitution. It is unfortunate that individuals have sought to portray this Act as an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for Expropriation Without Compensation," he said.

The DA lent its support to the GNU's attempt to engage with Trump to clarify the situation, describing the US's partnership with South Africa as valuable, particularly as US funding assists with crucial HIV/Aids treatment and support services and humanitarian and environmental programmes.

"It would be a tragedy if this funding were terminated because of a misunderstanding of the facts. Property rights are foundational to the success of our economy and the DA will always fight to ensure they are fully protected. We successfully opposed any change to Section 25 of the Constitution, which protects property rights, and we will continue to work to ensure the Expropriation Amendment Act is constitutionally sound in every respect," Steenhuisen had said.

Now, Steenhuisen said the Expropriation Act must go back to Parliament.

He said the protection of private property rights was the cornerstone of any economy, and that the DA had always supported this and fought hard against any amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution, since 2018.

"The DA is strongly of the opinion that the Act is unconstitutional and our view has not changed," he said on Wednesday.

He said the party would approach the courts, arguing that this Act was indeed "procedurally and substantively unconstitutional".

"As long as Dean Macpherson, or any other DA representative, is Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, we will be able to mount protection for South Africans through the Minister responsible for the Act's implementation. However, that situation cannot be guaranteed forever. It provides short-term relief, but broader solutions are needed," he explained.

DEBT MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC REFORMS

Steenhuisen said the GNU needed to commit to a credible plan to reduce government debt and stick it to.

"End bailouts to failing State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and begin the phased privatisation of non-essential SOEs, redirecting funds to critical economic infrastructure and service delivery," he suggested.

He added that government must also implement a strictly managed spending review across departments, to ensure measurable outcomes for allocated budgets, and to eliminate programmes that are duplicated or lack impact.

Steenhuisen said South Africa cannot tax or borrow its way to a better future, and said government must fast-track reform...

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has stressed the importance of clearing up any misconceptions surrounding the Expropriation Act, to ensure investors of policy certainty.

He called for reasoned discussion and for the Government of National Unity to explain the facts surrounding the legislation to the US administration.

Macpherson was speaking to members of the investment community on the margins of the Investing in African Mining Indaba opening reception, in Cape Town, on February 3.

Macpherson averred that there had been misconceptions about the legislation, including recent comments made on social media by US President Donald Trump.

"I want to be unequivocal: No one in South Africa is having their land confiscated," Macpherson emphasised.

He pointed out that the Expropriation Act sets out a clear legal framework under which expropriation may take place - always with due process and court oversight.

Furthermore, Section 25 of the Constitution remains firmly in place, "enshrining property rights in the highest law of the country", he pointed out.

Macpherson also cautioned against brinkmanship.

He further noted that the government was committed to working with international partners to ensure investor confidence remained strong.

"As the Minister responsible for this Bill, I am also committed to ensuring that it is constitutional and that there will be no arbitrary land grabs by the State in South Africa. Property rights are not only about protecting investments but also about ensuring that the rule of law is upheld in all sectors of society," he assured.

South African civil society organisations have accused US President Donald Trump of "dangerous lies", following his statements that South Africa is "confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly".

The Campaign for Free Expression executive director Nicole Fritz said on Tuesday that Trump's comments are "demonstrably untrue and would be absurd were this lie not now being propounded at the very highest levels of US government".

Trump has threatened to cut all future funding to South Africa over the new Expropriation Act and claims that white farmers are being targeted.

Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law an Expropriation Act that allows land expropriation without compensation in certain circumstances.

The 19 civil society organisations - which include the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Corruption Watch, the Helen Suzman Foundation, the Land Access Movement of South Africa and the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation - said they were "appalled" at the threats Trump issued against South Africa but also by his "dangerous lies".

"We are unquestionably saddened that those we once took to be potential partners in this endeavour - to perfect our union as they looked to perfect theirs - should shamefully have abandoned that enterprise. But we are enraged that through thuggery and threat they would now look to deliberately endanger our endeavour," they noted.

They explained that the recently promulgated Expropriation Act does not look to confiscate land but is an attempt to address historic dispossession and removal from land.

"It looks to secure a peaceful, prosperous future for all South Africans while respecting the rights of current property owners. Moreover, our Constitution and our courts have long been praised globally for their championing and protection of human rights and civil liberties. Such flaws as there may be with the Expropriation Act will be fully scrutinised by our court system, and if found wanting, struck down," said the organisations.

The organisations said it was ironic that Trump compared himself to South Africa's president Nelson Mandela, as the US president defended himself against criminal charges, stating that Mandela had previously stated that democracy in South Africa must mean addressing centuries of land dispossession and denial.

"Thirty years after democracy, South Africa remains among the most unequal places on earth with that inequality largely tracking racial lines: the typical Black household in South Africa owns 5% of the wealth held by the typical White household. For far too many South Africans democracy has yet to allow an escape from crippling poverty," they said.

They further noted that Trump's most significant funding contributed by the US to South Africa at present goes to healthcare-related initiatives and warned that funding cuts are likely to affect the most desperate, destitute South Africans.

"Trump's actions will only make them more so and by potentially fuelling tensions between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' in South Africa, may inadvertently threaten the interests of those 'certain classes' for whom Trump ostensibly seeks to act," the organisations warned.

President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa's constitutionally embedded values of the respect for the rule of law, justice, fairness and equality, when he spoke with Elon Musk on Monday.

The Presidency said on the X platform, which is owned by Musk, that Ramaphosa spoke to the South African-born businessman on issues of misinformation and distortions about the country.

This after Musk asked Ramaphosa, on the X platform, "why do you have openly racist ownership laws?" and after US President Donald Trump accused South Africa of "treating its citizens badly" and vowed to cut off all future funding to the country.

Ramaphosa signed into law the Expropriation Bill, which has been met with criticism for its clause on nil compensation in certain cases.

Lobby groups such as AfriForum and its mother body Solidarity are fiercely opposed to the legislation and have launched international awareness campaigns to call to attention what it believes is an attack on property rights.

This caught the attention of the controversial US President, who began the maelstrom on Monday in his false comments that South Africa was confiscating land, which has angered South African politicians, including Ramaphosa.

The Democratic Alliance and the African National Congress (ANC) have since sought to address misconceptions around the Expropriation Act amid Trump's threats, while the ANC accused AfriForum of orchestrating a misinformation campaign that the US had decided to amplify.

Ramaphosa explained that the Expropriation Act was not a confiscation instrument, but a constitutionally mandated legal process that ensured public access to land "in an equitable and just manner as guided by the Constitution".

"South Africa, like the United States of America and other countries, has always had expropriation laws that balance the need for public usage of land and the protection of rights of property owners," he said on Monday, in response to Trump.

Ramaphosa said South Africa looked forward "to engaging with the Trump administration over its land reform policy and issues of bilateral interest", and expressed optimism that these meetings would result in a better, and common, understanding.

Civil society organisation the Solidarity Movement said it will ask the Trump Administration to exercise pressure on African National Congress (ANC) policies, but not to punish ordinary South Africans through measures that exacerbate unemployment or harm the vulnerable.

"We do not like the ANC, but we love the country. At the same time more foreign pressure on the ANC is essential because the constitutional settlement is currently being violated, and the ANC continues to govern on its own while a government of national unity (GNU) is indeed in power," said Solidarity Movement chairperson Flip Buys.

This comes as US President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw aid to South Africa owing to his view that the recently enacted Expropriation Act is leading to the confiscation of land.

Following Trump's comments, which were made initially on his Truth Social account and later reinforced in a brief television interview, the South African Presidency said government had not confiscated any land.

It also underlined South Africa's status as a "constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality".

Uys believes the US has a "major responsibility" to ensure that constitutional promises such as property rights, mother tongue schools and universities and the abolition of racial discrimination are fulfilled, arguing that those promises were instrumental in South Africa's 1990 constitutional settlement.

The Solidarity Movement has planned a series of diplomatic actions that will include discussions with local diplomats and visits to Washington.

Meanwhile, Afrikaner interest group AfriForum echoed Solidarity's stance and said it will write to the US government to request that the punitive measures that Trump wants to introduce against South Africa should rather target senior ANC leaders directly and not South Africans.

AfriForum will also make an urgent request to the South African government to avert what it calls a crisis, and suggest that an amendment to the Expropriation Act be tabled to ensure the protection of property rights in South Africa.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said there were serious concerns about the impact of Trump's punitive measures on ordinary citizens who were already buckling under economic pressure.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party stressed on Monday the importance of "level-headed" diplomacy and "cordial engagement" with the US to protect and strengthen bilateral relations.

GOOD Party secretary-general Brett Herron pointed out that Trump's statement to withhold funding to South Africa was a owing to "misrepresentations about the Expropriation Act by people who seek to protect the beneficiaries of colonial and apartheid land dispossession".

Herron explained that as a sovereign country, and constitutional democracy, South Africa had its own political and parliamentary systems and mechanisms to establish policies and pass laws.

"The system contains adequate space for political organisations to express their ideological views, both in the law-making process and in the option of taking laws on review to the Constitutional Court," he added.

He said political organisations appealing to US lawmakers to punish South Africa was an anti-democratic act and likened it to economic treason.

"While the likes of AfriForum and other groups, including parties which are now members of the GNU, are within their rights to argue for the retention of the apartheid-era status-quo - free speech is guaranteed by the Constitution - they have no right to place the country's economic welfare at risk by feeding misinformation to Washington lawmakers," he said.

The party condemned the "disinformation" efforts by AfriForum, Solidarity, and even the Freedom Front Plus and the Democratic Alliance.

"Their collective campaign has backfired and will hurt not only their members but the entire country. GOOD calls for urgent action to be taken against AfriForum, in this instance, for spreading deliberately false and inflammatory ...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it was concerned about US President Donald Trump's threats to cut funding to South Africa owing to the Expropriation Act, while the African National Congress (ANC) took aim at lobby group AfriForum for "deliberately" misrepresenting the Act.

Trump threatened to withdraw aid to South Africa owing to his view that the recently enacted Expropriation Act is leading to the confiscation of land.

Following Trump's comments, which were made initially on his Truth Social account and later reinforced in a brief television interview, the South African Presidency said government had not confiscated any land.

It also underlined South Africa's status as a "constitutional democracy that is deeply rooted in the rule of law, justice and equality".

DA leader John Steenhuisen said while there were concerns around the Act, it was not true that it allowed land to be seized arbitrarily by the State as claimed by lobbyists.

"…and it does require fair compensation for legitimate expropriations in terms of Section 25 of the Constitution. It is unfortunate that individuals have sought to portray this Act as an amendment to Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for Expropriation Without Compensation," he said.

The ANC accused AfriForum of orchestrating a misinformation campaign that the US had decided to amplify.

"President Trump's recent tweet, echoing AfriForum's false claims of 'land confiscation', is a direct result of the lobby group's ongoing efforts to mislead the global community and protect apartheid-era land ownership patterns. AfriForum has long positioned itself as a defender of white minority privilege, using fear-mongering to undermine South Africa's constitutional and lawful land reform programme. Their campaign is not about justice but about blocking economic transformation and maintaining an oppressive status quo," the party said.

It described the Expropriation Act as a "fair, constitutional mechanism" to reverse historical land dispossession and noted President Cyril Ramaphosa's optimism that a meeting with Trump would result in common understanding.

The DA lent its support to the Government of National Unity's attempt to engage with Trump to clarify the situation, describing the US's partnership with South Africa as valuable, particularly as US funding assists with crucial HIV/Aids treatment and support services and humanitarian and environmental programmes.

"It would be a tragedy if this funding were terminated because of a misunderstanding of the facts. Property rights are foundational to the success of our economy and the DA will always fight to ensure they are fully protected. We successfully opposed any change to Section 25 of the Constitution, which protects property rights, and we will continue to work to ensure the Expropriation Amendment Act is constitutionally sound in every respect," Steenhuisen said.

Meanwhile, the ANC said the "weaponizing" of misinformation has encouraged the perpetuation of racist narratives, blaming AfriForum for calling on "external intervention" on sovereign South Africa's policies that seeks to redress apartheid injustices.

"…the ANC will not tolerate racist distortions aimed at undermining our national sovereignty and transformation agenda. We call on all progressive forces, both locally and globally, to reject AfriForum's divisive agenda and stand with South Africa in its pursuit of justice, equity, and meaningful land reform," the party said.

Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya announced on Friday that 2 241 statements have been obtained in 53 cases addressing State capture recommendations, as he pledged to ensure that the Hawks prioritise these investigations.

Outlining progress and milestones achieved during the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year, in Pretoria, he said the State Capture National Investigation Task Team was focussing on conducting comprehensive investigations, explaining that the team was prioritising investigations and converting inquiries into case dockets.

Lebeya pointed out that the DPCI had made significant inroads in apprehending individuals involved in high-profile cases, to ensure accountability and justice for victims.

He noted that 38 accused persons - 30 natural and eight juristic persons - had been arrested by the Hawks.

"…this includes the six suspects at Bosasa that were already arrested by the DPCI before the cases were taken over by the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) which has charged no less than 268 persons," he said.

He added that four accused had already been convicted and sentenced on State capture matters handled by the Hawks.

Meanwhile, he pointed out that during the third quarter a total of 1 452 suspects - 1 409 natural persons and 43 juristic - were secured before the various courts in the country.

He said of these arrests, 451 people, representing 32%, were South Africans while 958 people, representing 68%, were foreign nationals.

He also pointed to the second quarter, highlighting that out of the 800 natural persons that were secured before court, 331 people, or 41%, were South Africans while 469, or 59%, were foreign nationals.

"Of the 1 452 suspects, the serious organised crime investigation secured 1 172, the serious commercial crime investigation secured 234 while the serious corruption investigation secured 46 suspects," he explained.

TAX-RELATED MATTERS

The DPCI announced that it was investigating 738 South African Revenue Service- (Sars-) related cases.

Lebeya said of these cases, 229 were pending at court, 266 were under investigation while 243 were sent to the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision.

He highlighted that among the successes achieved in this quarter, were that 78 of those included securing attendance in court and while 16 convictions for tax-related offences were obtained.

"The sentences of the accused, who are a combination of natural persons and juristic persons, included orders of payment of a total amount of R14 947 391.11 to Sars," he said.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

Lebeya announced that a case involving former South African Airways director Yakwe Kwinana had been postponed to March 12, for the defence to make a representation.

Kwinana appeared at Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court where she was granted R20 000 bail.

On 26 November 2024, Kwinana handed herself over to the Serious Corruption Investigation team in Germiston.

"Yakwe Kwinana (60) was a member of the board that deliberated and recommended appointments of the two firms, and she voted in favour of the resolution of the board. While being aware that PwC and Nkonki had tendered for these services, she failed to disclose past contractual relationships with the said companies, which caused prejudice to the proper administration of the affairs of SAA," explained Lebeya.

He said this contravened the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.

The public entity made payments amounting to about R59-million because of the conclusion of a contract, which would not have occurred if all the material facts relating to the relationship between the accused and the two companies were known to the board of directors of SAA.