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Business Unity South Africa (Busa) expressed concern over the planned October 7 nationwide protest by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), saying recurring protests, using "outdated" National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) certificates, place undue strain on businesses and the economy.

Cosatu is protesting retrenchments it says are to maximise profits, and alleges that "we have seen the number of retrenchments increase at alarming rates accompanied by weak economic growth as well as rising costs of living".

Busa said while it acknowledged the importance of labour rights, it stressed that protests should not come at the cost of economic stability.

Busa said it did not believe that Cosatu's proposed strike would address any of the challenges that the trade union had raised.

"We respect the right to strike or protest, within the dictates of the law, but believe the issues raised by Cosatu are structural in nature and can be addressed through the various bilateral and multilateral processes, engagements and partnerships underway," said Busa CEO Cas Coovadia.

Busa CEO designate Khulekani Mathe said the organisation reiterated its proposal to revise Nedlac Section 77 processes, to limit the time between Nedlac certificates and protests to 12 months, ensuring that labour actions were "relevant, current and justified".

"The use of an old certificate to stage recurring protests exemplifies the need for reform," he said.

Mathe pointed out that to Busa's knowledge, the issues being relied upon by Cosatu in the proposed strike were last discussed in Nedlac in 2017.

He added that no effort had been made to engage government or business in Nedlac since then on these issues.

Coovadia pointed out that at a time when the country's economy was under severe strain, such protests would only add further pressure, and said such strikes did not contribute to efforts to achieve sustainable economic recovery.

"…these actions also hinder our collective efforts to grow the economy at a rate that can address unemployment, inequality and poverty. We need to prioritise stability and collaboration to foster long-term economic growth, rather than resorting to measures that negatively impact both business and citizens," he said.

Government has expressed concern at the continued escalation of military action by Israel against Palestine and Lebanon and wants the international community to address what it described as a spiralling conflict.

International Relations and Cooperation Ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said as long as there was impunity for unlawful acts, war and injustice would continue.

Phiri said government noted with "dismay" that UN secretary general António Guterres had been declared persona non grata by Israel.

South Africa wants the international community to uphold International Law, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter to maintain international peace and security.

Phiri said the continued occupation of Palestine, which he said had denied the Palestinian people their enshrined rights of self-determination and statehood, remained a "prerequisite to restoring peace and security" in the region.

The South Africa government called for "utmost restraint" and urged countries to avoid any act that would escalate tensions in an already fragile region, as it is vulnerable groups who suffer the most under conflict.

"South Africa reiterates the concern expressed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, that he was alarmed about the very real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation, and that neither the region nor the world can afford another war," Phiri said.

Civil rights organisation AfriForum has requested the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) to reconsider their participation in the government of national unity (GNU) should the clause in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act that it says threatened the continued existence of Afrikaans in schools, be implemented unchanged.

This follows internal emergency discussions held by the organisations' board of directors, in reaction to what it calls a group of "anti-Afrikaans activists" in the African National Congress (ANC), Gauteng government, and even politically driven senior officials in the National Department of Education.

Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the BELA Bill into law, despite a significant degree of public rejection, and concern over its constitutionality.

After consultation, Ramaphosa placed on hold clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill for three months to find solutions to the concerns around them. Should no solutions be found, the Bill would be implemented fully, he said.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said this group is acting "contemptuously" towards Ramaphosa's decision to create an opportunity for further deliberation on the Bela Act's language clauses.

He said this group is "openly out to derail constructive discussions and steamroll" the implementation of the BELA Act in its current format and try to make any cooperation with the GNU impossible.

Kriel highlighted that AfriForum's concerns arose after Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi and Education MEC Matome Chiloane indicated that there is "no place" for a single-medium Afrikaans school.

"This disdain for further discussion is also shared by several senior officials in the National Department of Education. This was clear during a meeting where an official acted very aggressively towards AfriForum, Solidarity and Saai's [Southern African Agri Initiative's] delegates and even indicated that the implementation of the BELA Amendment Act was a forgone conclusion," he explained.

He pointed out that the hope that the GNU has ushered in a new era of cooperation will be dashed if it turns out that the ANC has simply "co-opted the DA and FF+ to blindly follow ANC policies and even implement draconian policies such as contained in the Bela Act with diligence."

He indicated that should the Bela Act be fully implemented under the GNU, all those serving in the GNU would be complicit in the Bela Act's "assault" on the survival of Afrikaans communities.

"Afrikaans speakers do not, like other cultural groups in the country, have large traditional areas in which their cultures are promoted and therefore Afrikaans schools play a central role in the survival of the respective Afrikaans cultural communities across the country," he said.

He highlighted that the fight against BELA is not just a fight against another law, but it is a fight for cultural survival.

Meanwhile, AfriForum said its petition against BELA act is gaining momentum.

South Africa will need to expedite reforms that can boost economic growth to sustain investor inflows that have flooded in since the formation of a coalition government, according to the world's largest investment banks.

Since the African National Congress aligned with business-friendly parties after losing its outright majority in May 29 elections, South African markets have been on a tear. The rand has gained 5% to the dollar, local-currency bonds have outpaced all peers in an emerging-market index with returns of 24% in greenback terms, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange has hit successive record highs, delivering a 15.7% return in dollar terms.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile and a delegation of ministers are in London this week to secure fresh capital from the likes of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group.

Investors will continue to look favourably on Africa's most industrialised economy if it can improve the generation capacity at its State-owned power utility and fix its fraying port and rail operator, JPMorgan strategist David Aserkoff said at an event at the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

"South Africa really needs to rehabilitate Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. and bring Transnet SOC Ltd. back on track," said Aserkoff. The nation needs two years of 2% gross domestic product growth, "and then we're going to see South Africa outperform. Then we'll see South Africa deliver the kinds of results we know that it can. And I think 2025 is going to be the first of those two years."

South Africa's local yield curve and the rand are "undemanding," said Andrew Matheny, an economist at Goldman Sachs. He expects the nation could realise more value from these assets fast-tracking reforms and accelerating economic growth.

Doing so could also improve South Africa's sub-investment-grade credit ratings within six months and help with fiscal strains that worry investors, Matheny said.

Over "the last four years, you've seen the wage bill cut pretty significantly - it's been declining as a share of GDP," said Matheny. "Spending cuts on the social side have been across the board but we're reaching the point where they are really harming service delivery. There are some speed limits that probably need to be put in place on that now."

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver the nation's first medium-term-budget policy statement on October 30 since the coalition government was formed. The policy priories and updated fiscal metrics will be closely watched by investors.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) pointed out on Wednesday that without the participation of its Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) would be "improperly constituted."

The JSC is scheduled to hold a week-long sitting, from Monday, to undertake judicial interviews of prospective judges.

Last week, the Western Cape High Court interdicted Hlophe from participating in JSC processes, after which the MKP threatened legal action, and called for the postponement of the upcoming JSC sitting.

Despite MKP's threats of legal action and a request for a postponement, Chief Justice Mandisa Maya said on Tuesday that the JSC would proceed with its sitting on October 7 without Hlophe.

The MKP said last week's judgment against Hlophe was erroneous and unjustifiable and it wanted a court interdict to stop the scheduled JSC sitting, which the party said, if it goes ahead, would be unconstitutional.

The case is set to be heard Friday, in the Johannesburg High Court.

"Dr Hlophe is the leader of the opposition. Without his participation, the JSC would be improperly constituted - not as a matter of quorum, but of composition," said the party.

The MKP highlighted that its request for postponement was made in good faith, aimed to avoid litigation, not only by the MKP but "potentially by other unsuccessful candidates who may face an unlawful process".

"Unfortunately, the JSC has disregarded this request. The reasoning offered by the JSC for proceeding is entirely unfounded, and a postponement would have prevented the current Constitutional crisis," the party said.

The MKP said the JSC had confirmed that Hlophe remained a member of the JSC, representing the National Assembly delegation of six members and that according to the Constitution, at least three of the six JSC members, or 50%, must come from opposition parties.

The MKP said it would continue to act within the law to ensure that the JSC interviews did not proceed until the primary review had been finalised.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday filed a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC), calling for an urgent investigation into the State-owned National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC).

The NHFC is an entity in the human settlements sector responsible for supporting housing delivery through affordable housing finance.

The DA's complaint comes after a series of allegations by a whistleblower, and the party says it was also approached by concerned public servants at the NHFC.

DA spokesperson on human settlements Luyolo Mphithi said the allegations against the NHFC include claims of financial mismanagement and irregular increases in board fees, among other concerns.

"As the custodian of the public service, the PSC must take urgent action to prevent the potential collapse of this entity. The commission is urged to prioritise an investigation and recommend corrective measures to address these alleged irregularities within the NHFC," he said.

Mphithi said the complaint has been lodged in accordance with the PSC's constitutional mandate, as outlined in the Constitution.

"This mandate authorises the commission to investigate, monitor and evaluate the organisation and administration, and personnel practices, of the public service, to propose measures to ensure effective and efficient performance within the public service, and to promote the values and principles set out in section 195 throughout the public service," he explained.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says a "comprehensive change" in management of South Africa's correctional facilities is needed, following the damning Public Protector (PP) report which blamed the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for the escape of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester.

Bester escaped from the maximum security Mangaung Correctional Centre in May 2022 by faking his death and was arrested in April 2023.

The PP launched an investigation a month before his re-arrest after a complaint was made against the DCS for the poor handling of the escape.

The PP report blamed two DCS officials for improper conduct.

The DA will now write to the chairperson of the Correctional Services Portfolio Committee to call for an urgent special joint Portfolio Committee meeting between Correctional Services, Justice, and the South African Police Service.

"The report highlights serious lapses in the DCS's conduct and response, exposing the department's failures in addressing the incident promptly and adequately. The investigation uncovered a series of failures by DCS, citing months of inaction and delays in reporting Bester's escape to the South African Police Service," said DA spokesperson on correctional services Janho Engelbrecht.

The DA noted the PP's report which said the DCS was lax in investigating Bester's apparent death and in reporting his alleged remains to law enforcement and instead passed on responsibility to private security company G4S.

"This inaction allowed Bester to remain at large for several months, potentially endangering public safety and causing significant distress to the victims of his previous crimes. It is noted that G4S played a role in the mismanagement of the escape, but DCS, as the primary custodian of correctional services in the country, is held accountable," Engelbrecht said.

South Africa's infrastructure development agency has restructured its pipeline of planned projects to make them more attractive to the private sector as state officials court investors in the UK.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is leading a ministerial delegation on a weeklong roadshow to London, where the officials are looking to capitalize on market optimism about the nation's newly formed coalition government. It's pitching for investment in energy, water and freight-rail projects, said acting head of Infrastructure South Africa Mameetse Masemola.

South Africa in February amended regulations governing public-private partnerships to make it easier for businesses to invest in them, and as the National Treasury faces constraints on spending as it tries to reduce its debt burden. Total infrastructure investment envisaged by the South African government over the next three years amounts to R943-billion, according to the presidency.

"With the new guidelines we have had to pivot and look at projects that are candidates for public private partnerships, projects that will qualify for blended finance," Masemola said in an interview in London on Monday. "This will include social infrastructure that must illustrate enough innovation that they can garner private financing."

The ISA finances projects worth more than R1-billion that are aimed at fulfilling national development needs. These are compiled in a so-called construction book, in which investors can view the project pipeline.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to turn South Africa into a construction site by investing in infrastructure to revive economic growth that's averaged less than 1% over the past decade. National Treasury guidelines ahead of a mid-term budget - to be presented on October 30 - are clear that no new money will be made available for capital projects, meaning that programmes must attract private-sector investment in order to get off the ground.

"Projects have got to demonstrate that they can leverage private sector financing, so PPPs are going to be quite important," Masemola said.

Africa's most-industrialised economy requires R1.6-trillion of public-sector infrastructure investment and a further R3.2-trillion from the private sector to meet targets set out in the government's National Development Plan by 2030.

Red tape has previously deterred investment, with as many as 86 approvals being needed for projects that were fully funded. Those policy constraints and others that dampened private sector appetite have now been removed, according to Masemola.

"Investors were not able to submit unsolicited bids, projects below 2 billion rand had to come through the Treasury and then go through those typical approvals," she said. "Now they've given some level of flexibility to accounting officers to give early approval."

More reforms to make it easier to design bankable projects for private investors are expected when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the mid-term budget, where he's expected to announce further changes to the infrastructure-financing regime, according to the Treasury.

President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Monday that African countries need to work together to ensure that development, poverty eradication and job creation remain at the centre of the national agenda.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that alongside the other nations of the world, countries need to speed up the pace of progress so that they can realise the aspirations of the Pact for the Future and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

He announced that when South Africa assumes the presidency of the G20 later this year, it will prioritise the needs and aspirations of the continent and the Global South.

South Africa will from December 1 to November 2025 assume the G20 Presidency. This is about five years before the deadline of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He highlighted that for many countries in Africa and the Global South, the cost of servicing their debt is diverting much-needed funds for development, noting that as a signatory to the Pact for the Future, South Africa wants people-driven, sustainable development to become a reality.

Last week, South Africa attended the UN General Assembly Summit, which culminated in the adoption of a Pact for the Future, which reaffirmed that extreme poverty is the greatest global challenge.

It seeks to hold member States to their existing commitments to supporting sustainable development.

Ramaphosa noted the UN estimation that the world needs about $4-trillion to achieve these goals, highlighting that leaders of the world need the political will to dedicate the necessary resources to where they are most needed.

He pointed out that many countries, particularly those with developing economies, are falling behind in meeting their targets, mainly owing to a lack of funds.

"All the nations of the world have a right to development, and better resourced countries have a responsibility to support countries with developing economies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.

In South Africa's address to the UN General Assembly last week, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa's position that sustainable development can only be achieved when it is being driven by "inclusive, responsive and agile" multilateral institutions.

He explained that this meant that bodies like the UN and financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund need to be fundamentally reformed.

Ramaphosa noted the Covid-19 pandemic, which he said had exposed the serious shortcomings of the international financial architecture.

"Low-income countries struggled to get financial and other forms of assistance from multilateral institutions to support their pandemic response. Onerous lending requirements and overly bureaucratic systems meant that many poorer countries were unable to get help when they needed it most," he said.

He added that, similarly, developing economy countries also struggle to get the funds they need, at sufficient scale, to respond to climate change and its impact.

"…this is largely because the northern hemisphere countries that are largely responsible for the damage to the climate have not met the commitments, they made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in 2015," he explained.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) will urgently appeal what it calls the "erroneous and unjustifiable" interdict ruling against its Parliamentary leader Dr John Hlophe, also calling for the postponement of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sitting.

On Friday the Western Cape High Court interdicted Hlophe from participating in JSC processes.

The JSC sitting is set to take place on October 7.

As a Judge, prior to his political career, Hlophe was removed from office by the National Assembly, following the JSC finding him guilty of dishonesty and gross misconduct for his attempts to unlawfully influence Constitutional Court judges Bess Nkabinde and Chris Jafta, in 2008, to rule in favour of Jacob Zuma in cases before them.

In July, he was nominated by the MKP, the political party he joined following his removal from judicial office, to serve on the JSC, which is responsible for nominating judges for appointment, and for disciplining judges.

The party believes the High Court ruling has precipitated a significant Constitutional crisis, which it said has now improperly constituted the JSC.

"The delegation from the National Assembly has been reduced to five members, resulting in an imbalance that favours the ruling bloc over the opposition," it explained.

The MKP said this violates the Constitutional requirement that the opposition must make up at least 50% of the National Assembly's delegation to the JSC.

"With Parliament currently in recess and only set to reconvene on 7 October 2024, the situation has become critical," it added.

The MKP has submitted a formal request to Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to postpone the sitting until the review application is finalised.

The party believes the postponement is the only "practical and Constitutionally" sound solution.

"Any decision to proceed with the JSC under its current composition would likely trigger further legal challenges and raise serious concerns about the legitimacy of any appointments made by an improperly constituted body," it said.

The party is hopeful the JSC will act prudently and grant its request for postponement.

"...however, should the JSC fail to do so, the MKP will have no choice but to pursue legal action to interdict the October 7 sitting. Furthermore, we are prepared to mobilise our supporters, allies, and all freedom-loving South Africans

to demonstrate against the proceedings. We remain hopeful that such steps will not be necessary, provided the JSC makes the correct decision to postpone," it said.

ActionSA on Friday said it was referring the interdict ruling against Hlophe to Parliament's Constitutional Review Committee, citing "glaring contradictions" in eligibility criteria for public office.