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Civil society organisation My Vote Counts on Friday launched the Civil Society Electoral Reform Panel (CSERP), as a way to demonstrate civil society's continued commitment to deepening democracy and its engagement with the process of electoral reform.

The CSERP is made up of nine representatives from non-governmental organisations and social movements working in government accountability and transparency.

The panel will embark on a process to advise civil society on broad electoral and political reform.

In June 2020 the Constitutional Court ruled that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional to the extent that it prevented adult citizens from standing for and being elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures as independents.

The Court ordered Parliament to amend the law to address this deficiency. The Court order set in motion a parliamentary process for electoral reform and reignited the critique of the electoral system that was put in place during the start of South Africa's democracy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Electoral Amendment Act into law in April 2023.

But My Vote Counts noted that the Act presented minimal reform to the electoral system.

"It simply incorporated independents into the political system at national and provincial level - and faced constitutional challenges and critique from civil society," it said.

The State set up another panel to advise on broad electoral reform, with My Vote Counts alleging that the panel lacked civil society representation but included current or former members of the Electoral Commission, as well as members of previous electoral reform panels.

"The majority of the people of South Africans have been saying there is something wrong with the electoral system, something has to be done in order to be able to fix this problem. We therefore got together as society organisations in order to try to confront, because we are not convinced that Parliament will be able to come up with something. We have our own doubt about the panel appointed by the State," said executive chairman of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa Terry Tselane.

He emphasised that the CSERP was not competing with or opposing the State panel, however it would complement the work being done in Parliament.

My Vote Counts emphasised that it wants to collaborate with government.

Tselane explained that the approach Parliament had taken in the past had been a largely technicist approach where he said a few people got together and the main criticism was that there is not enough consultation.

He believes the CSERP will benefit the country with the experience carried by the various civil society organisations.

Tselane highlighted that the panel would ensure it took the mass-based approach.

"Our inclusion is to consult as much as we can and we will indeed be using that as one of the most important approaches going forward."

He said the CSERP would use those collective experiences and research to advise on electoral reform, while also analysing the current electoral system.

The panel will develop policy options that will drive accountability, and mobilise civil society.

He said the CSERP would also have a platform for the public to participate in the broader electoral reform project.

Abahlali baseMjondolo's Thapelo Mohapi stated that he was committed to holding academia to account with regards to public participation, adding that people on the ground must understand the electoral system in their own language to fully participate in democracy.

The panel hopes to re-excite the public and contribute immensely toward electoral reform that prioritises direct accountability.

The State panel is conducting research and will put out a public call for comments and submissions. They hope to consult people in all provinces and get a broad buy-in from civil society. They expect to have submitted their final report to the Home Affairs Minister by the end of May 2025

Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber on Thursday instructed his department to proceed with speed with the deportation of 95 Libyans who were arrested in White River, in Mpumalanga.

This after the National Prosecuting Authority withdrew charges against the Libyans who were arrested at a suspected unauthorised military camp in Mpumalanga last month.

The 95 were facing charges of Contraventions of the Immigration Act.

Schreiber said Home Affairs officials were in court to secure the confirmations for deportation from the Magistrate, highlighting that this would pave the way for their deportation.

He said the officials were also finalising logistics for the deportation.

"As indicated earlier, deportation was among the options Home Affairs considered working with other law enforcement authorities. The Department stands ready to send the group back to their home country," he noted.

He pointed that his department would not hesitate to act decisively to ensure that anyone who breached the immigration laws of the country was processed through the courts and accordingly faced the consequences.

Meanwhile, ActionSA president Herman Mashaba expressed grave concern following the withdrawal of the charges, saying despite the unanswered questions surrounding how these individuals gained entry into South Africa and their intentions, they were now set to be deported.

Mashaba noted that his party believed that until the nature of every one of the 95 individuals' activities in South Africa was fully ascertained, they must remain in custody within South Africa.

"…it is the Minister of Home Affairs himself who indicated that they indeed irregularly acquired visas to enter South Africa, an act that dually means they contravened our immigration laws," he said.

He explained that ActionSA believed that the country's intelligence services had failed to answer basic questions, such as whether these individuals were part of a known or unknown militant group? Whether they posed a threat to national security? And, importantly, whether any State or non-State actors supported the activities of the 95 individuals?

Mashaba called on government to break its silence and take the nation into his confidence regarding what exactly transpired in this matter, which, by all accounts, was a glaring intelligence and law enforcement failure.

The Democratic Alliance has called on Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi to prioritise mpox in the upcoming Southern African Development Community summit.

The party also wants the department to prioritise access to treatment across the continent, as well as education on prevention and recognition of symptoms to ensure that infected people receive treatment as early as possible.

On Wednesday the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak of the viral infection in Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries.

DA spokesperson on health Michele Clarke noted that while South Africa's numbers are under control and it has access to Mpox treatment, the fact that the Africa Centres for Disease Control declared it a health emergency and the situation in the DRC showed just how fast the situation could change.

Mpox can spread through close contact. Usually mild, it is fatal in rare cases. It causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.

Clarke said it is vital that the health department engage with the Africa CDC and the AU's Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development to ensure collaboration in developing a coordinated response to this health emergency on the continent.

The DA said it would keep a close eye on the development of the disease in the country and in the region, urging the health department to provide the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health with an update on the state of the Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency, which has the potential to transform healthcare across Africa with improved access to safe and effective medicines.

"It must be noted that while the DA supported the AMA Treaty, we have yet to get crucial requested information, including the funding model of the AMA," Clarke explained.

Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Floyd Shivambu announced on Thursday that he will be joining the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, after quitting the EFF.

Shivambu sent his resignation letter to EFF president Julius Malema on Wednesday.

"The Chairperson of Ward 44 Johannesburg has informed me that my membership of the EFF has lapsed. And I said: Please be informed that I will not renew my membership of the EFF in Ward 44 Johannesburg," he said.

Shivambu said he requests that he must be released from his positions as an MP and all positions he has held in the EFF, noting that his non-renewal of his membership is not a vote of no confidence in the party.

"…but the revolutionary act that will allow progressive forces to unite and work towards the agenda for progressive and revolutionary change. I have never in my service of the organisation acted outside this democratic and revolutionary decisions, discipline and practice," he said.

He pointed out that he had served the organisation with discipline, highlighting that he would never abandon the cause of economic emancipation through freedom.

Malema accepted Shivambu's resignation, which he said had brought the same pain he felt as when he received the news of the passing away of his mother.

"…because Floyd to me is not just a Comrade. He is a Brother, and he will remain a Brother even when he pursues his Political career differently," he said.

He pointed out that the party's constitution did not allow people to resign and join other political parties, and come back to the party, however, he said he made the offer to Shivambu that the day he decided to come back to the EFF, he would be more than welcomed.

He highlighted that Shivambu was not the only one to leave the party, pointing out that Jimmy Manyi also resigned on Monday to join the MKP.

"…there will be many others who are going to leave the EFF because they have got their loyalty and support to the Deputy President," he said.

Malema warned EFF fighters that they should be prepared for more people to follow Shivambu, saying this should not serve as a point of collapse for the party.

"This is a testing moment. An organisation that has lived beyond 10 years has never been through this testing moment. The EFF will have to pass this test. This is not the end, it's a beginning of a journey because we have turned 10 years, and this is a new chapter for the EFF," he said.

Malema wished Shivambu well, saying wherever he was going, he was going to be of value. He noted that the EFF had lost a valuable member.

He said there would be no replacement of the deputy president, since the party would be having a conference in December.

Meanwhile, the MKP confirmed Manyi and Shivambu had joined the party.

"The uMkhonto Wesizwe Party welcomes the decision by these astute and well experienced leaders as it could not have come at a better time. The onboarding of both these progressive and politically experienced comrades will further strengthen the agenda of the Progressive Caucus. Manyi and Shivambu will be deployed respectively according to their strengths and expertise," the party said.

South Africa's new multi-party government has an opportunity to boost economic growth and investment, the country's Chamber of Commerce said, as it announced a slight recovery in business confidence over the last two months.

A measure of sentiment compiled by the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) rose to 109.1 in July from 107.8 in May. The gauge, which is published every other month, averaged 111.2 during the first half of 2024, higher than the 109.8 recorded over the same period last year.

"There is now an opportunity to put the economy on an upward trajectory that fosters greater business and investor confidence," the business group said in a statement Wednesday. "The broader representation and accountability in government have created an opportunity for efficient economic expansion, more employment opportunities, and increased inclusiveness."

Sentiment has turned positive since May 29 elections cost the African National Congress (ANC) its outright majority for the first time in 30 years, pushing it to form a broad coalition with centrist parties including the Democratic Alliance and other smaller rivals.

Businesses were initially hesitant after the vote, worried that the ANC might form a pact with left leaning parties including the Economic Freedom Fighters or the uMkhonto weSizwe Party of former President Jacob Zuma, but they reacted positively after the formation of the more centrist alliance.

"The change in the political environment was reflected in the business climate that initially wavered in May but started to recover in June and July 2024," Sacci said.

Under the new government of national unity, as the political formation is called locally, investors are anticipating an acceleration in key reforms and a pick up in economic growth after years of under performance.

Handicapped by chronic energy and logistical constraints and the impact of crime and corruption, Africa's most industrialised economy has only managed average growth of 1% over the last decade.

Between June and July, business sentiment was boosted by an increase in ehicle sales and a stronger rand, Sacci said, while noting that lower merchandise import volumes and fewer foreign tourists had been a headwind.

On a year-on-year basis, the main index increased a meagre 1.8 points, reflecting the reality that economic growth in South Africa still remains inadequate and needs to accelerate, Sacci said.

"Such improvement should enhance more local and foreign fixed investment and thus a higher level of economic activity that can accommodate additional inclusiveness," it said.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched a public petition against Eskom's 40% tariff increase request, saying such an exorbitant increase would leave millions of households having to make the distressed choice between food and electricity.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) will decide whether to approve the request for a 40% electricity tariff increase set to take effect from April 1, 2025.

"Now, on the back of DA Mayors objecting to Nersa directly, the DA is ramping up with the fight against Eskom's outrageous 40% tariff increase with a public petition, available to every South African who stands against this daylight power grab by Eskom," said DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp.

On Tuesday, the caucus of DA local government mayors began a process of written objections to Nersa.

Aucamp pointed out that the petition acknowledged that at a time when South Africans are already facing a dire cost-of-living crisis, not many can afford to pay 40% more for electricity.

"What is extremely troubling with this increase is that Eskom has been allowed to retrospectively punish users with a make-up surcharge next year to recoup the shortfall in revenue it did not generate this year. An endless cycle of making up for under-collected revenue from a previous year cannot be allowed to transpire," explained Aucamp.

The DA said it was going to wage a "full-blown battle" against Eskom's tariff hikes and the "unacceptable" process through which these hikes are determined.

Aucamp highlighted that since 2007, Eskom inflated electricity prices by a staggering 450%.

"Because demand for Eskom's electricity is now shrinking, their audacity to introduce a make-up tariff must be unequivocally rejected, and we call on all electricity users in South Africa to stand up against it," he said.

The DA has also tabled an urgent debate on the electricity prices in Parliament.

"We call on all South Africans to stand against this daylight robbery and power grab - we need your voice in this too. The DA calls on South Africa to sign our petition to stand against unaffordable 40% tariff hikes by Eskom," said Aucamp.

The Presidency announced the postponement of the signing of the Second Presidential Health Compact to August 22, with Business Unity South Africa (Busa) stating its objection to the Compact.

The event was initially scheduled for Thursday.

The second Compact comes after the 2023 Presidential Health Summit, which was built on the 2018 inaugural summit that brought together a range of invested parties to develop sustainable and inclusive solutions to challenges in the national health system.

Busa CEO Cas Coovadia said the organisation could not support a policy that explicitly endorsed the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act in its current form, noting that it had written to the President Cyril Ramaphosa to express its concern.

Coovadia said the draft of the Compact that was shared with Busa promoted the NHI in its current form as the foundation underpinning healthcare reform.

He noted serious differences between business and government as to the appropriateness of the NHI Act.

"…let alone its feasibility as a legislative instrument to underpin universal health coverage," he said.

Coovadia explained that Busa believed the NHI Act needed to be amended to ensure that the country was able to deliver healthcare reform and advance universal health coverage without damaging the economy and the existing skills, innovation, resources and experience that reside in the private healthcare sector.

"The country should be leveraging these resources to help design and support a system that is fit for purpose and that is able to benefit future generations," he said.

Coovadia pointed out that business supported the 2018 Presidential Health Summit Compact, particularly its focus on immediate opportunities for health improvement, including strengthening supply chain management, health infrastructure planning, accountability, augmenting health system resources, as well as the principle of collaboration in healthcare delivery.

He explained that the references to NHI in the original Compact were minimal and only in the context of longer-term planning.

He alleged there had been no consultation on the updated wording that fundamentally transformed the Compact from health system strengthening to a focus on NHI implementation.

"…add to this the context of legal challenges around the NHI Act, and government's recent public statements indicating an openness to engagement on the NHI, [which] makes it all the more bewildering that the Health Compact document has been unilaterally amended and altered in its essence," he explained.

Busa said it was concerned that this was at the expense of immediate opportunities to expand and improve healthcare access.

Coovadia highlighted that while universal health coverage was supported, there were other ways to achieve it rather than implementing an "unaffordable, unworkable and unconstitutional" NHI, which he said was essentially a funding model that is "impractical, inequitable, and not feasible" in the South African context.

"Furthermore, it is putting the cart before the horse to sign and agree to a Compact when structured, formal discussions and engagement with government on the NHI, as a key pillar of universal health coverage, still need to take place," said Coovadia.

South Africa's new business-friendly coalition government signalled that its foreign policy will be focused on furthering the nation's economic interests, a shift that could help mend rifts with Western countries that rank among its largest trading partners.

The African National Congress (ANC), which dominated South African politics for three decades after apartheid rule ended, drew the country closer to China and Russia and strained ties with the US and European Union in the process. Pretoria's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and decision to lay of genocide charges against Israel in an international court over its war in Gaza have been particularly contentious.

But the ANC lost its outright majority in May 29 elections and entered into a so-called government of national unity with nine other parties - all of which have agreed that growing the economy should be the new administration's primary focus.

"We intend to integrate our efforts to help the processes of economic growth through foreign direct investment, but also through ensuring the industrialisation of our domestic markets," Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told reporters in Pretoria on on Monday. "Whenever you hear me speak, it should be the same as what you hear from the ministers of trade and finance. That is the direction we want to take so that our work is focused, integrated and coherent."

Some US legislators have called for a immediate review of South Africa's preferential access to US markets under the African Growth and Opportunity Act. A delegation of ministers that oversee South Africa's economy have made several recent trips to Washington to try and smooth out relations.

Lamola, who was appointed to his post after the May vote, stressed that South Africa will continue to maintain pressure on Israel to abandon its war in Gaza.

Pretoria is weighing its options after Israel ignored an International Court of Justice directive that it must act to prevent Palestinians from being killed or injured, including a possible approach to the UN Security Council to enforce the ruling, he said.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on Tuesday declared that corruption within the South African Police Service (Saps) will not be tolerated, calling for internal disciplinary measures to be urgently instituted against police officers found guilty of corruption.

He expressed concern and disappointment at a recent case involving four police officers from the Intelligence Unit, alongside an employee of First National Bank and a civilian, noting that this had "cast a dark shadow" over the integrity of law enforcement agencies.

Mchunu said in January a complainant reported an incident where individuals dressed in civilian clothes and purporting to be police officers approached him.

He said the complainant was then subjected to physical assault, and was coerced into allowing these individuals to access his home in Fourways, where his phones were confiscated, and a sum of R180 000 was transferred from his accounts into theirs.

"The actions of these individuals are a betrayal of the public's trust and a violation of the very principles that the Saps stands for - honour, integrity, and service. The worst thing is that these are members of the Crime Intelligence Unit, we condemn their criminal activity in the strongest terms they deserve," Mchunu said.

He noted that such conduct was not only criminal but deeply dishonourable.

"…we will not allow any further erosion of confidence that the public has in law enforcement agencies," he said.

Mchunu assured the public that the Saps would continue to root out corruption in its ranks, assuring citizens that the Saps remained committed to building a police service that was trusted by the people it served.

"I would like to commend the investigating officers who worked diligently on these cases, ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice. I would also like to commend the affected member of the public who reported this matter," he said.

He explained that the fight against corruption was a shared responsibility, and he urged the public to continue to report any suspicious or criminal activities, particularly those involving law enforcement officers.

He noted that this incident posed to Saps the challenge of scrutinising the recruitment of police officers.

Al Jama-ah's Kabelo Gwamanda has resigned as Johannesburg mayor, in line with the political engagements that have taken place over the past weeks, according to the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).

The CoJ said the decision was largely informed by the new political architecture of governance following the May national and provincial elections.

Opposition parties and civil society have been calling for Gwamanda's resignation, citing that he is not qualified for the position.

Gwamanda, who took office in May 2023, submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council Margaret Arnolds, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity given to lead the City.

The CoJ said the resignation will be effective from Friday, when Arnolds convenes an Extra-ordinary council meeting to elect a new mayor.

"As the youngest Mayor of Johannesburg I am humbled by the opportunity to have led this City and to have stabilised it financially and administratively following the collapse of the Multi-party coalition government," Gwamanda said.

He added he was pleased that he managed to "place good governance on course" and stated that the City achieved the best audit outcomes in years, under his leadership.

"I shall continue to serve the people of Johannesburg as a Councillor and will forever cherish the experience afforded to me in my tenure as the Executive Mayor," he said.

He hopes his story inspires African children in Johannesburg that "against deprivation, isolation, social and political exclusion and with the absence of friends and peers in the corporate and media hierarchy, one can live and rise on the noble cause of changing the conditions of the poor".

Arnolds expressed gratitude for Gwamanda's "service to the City," acknowledging his contributions during his tenure.

"The City of Johannesburg is deeply appreciative of Mayor Gwamanda's dedication and leadership. His commitment to serving the residents of our City has been commendable, and we wish him well in his future endeavours

in light of the resignation," said Arnolds.