Parties welcome Nkabane's removal but question Manamela's appointment as Higher Education Minister

Political parties have welcomed the removal of Nobuhle Nkabane as Higher Education and Training Minister, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) saying this is the first step to restoring faith that the Government of National Unity (GNU) will not tolerate corruption.

On Monday President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Nkabane and replaced her with Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela.

Ramaphosa has also appointed Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.

Earlier this month, the DA laid criminal charges against Nkabane, for allegedly lying to Parliament about ANC cadre appointments.

The party claimed that Nkabane lied when she stated that the panel tasked with appointing the sector education and training authorities (Seta) board chairpersons consisted of independent people, and subsequently informed Parliament that they were not independent at all.

Nkabane faces allegations of manufacturing a scheme that saw senior ANC personalities deployed to high-paying Seta board jobs, benefiting the family of Gwede Mantashe, the former ANC Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, former ANC MECs in KwaZulu-Natal, a former ANC Deputy Minister in national government, and the ANC's provincial coordinator in KwaZulu-Natal - until she was forced to overturn these deployments.

"Seeing one ANC Minister depart Cabinet under storming clouds of lies, deceit, cadre deployment corruption and a Hawks investigation is a first step to restoring our faith that the GNU will not tolerate corruption," said DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau.

The DA had opposed the department's budget while it was led by Nkabane, who the party described as "dishonest and incompetent".

"Our demand to President Ramaphosa was for him to act against the seriously compromised, corrupt and nefarious in the ANC, and the firing of Nkabane is the first step for him. One Nkabane does not a renewed ANC make. There is still a very long list of ANC corruption to be eradicated," the party expressed.

ActionSA said Nkabane's tenure as the Higher Education Minister offered no meaningful reform, and that it showed blatant disregard for the realities students faced daily.

"She leaves behind a national student housing backlog of more than 500 000 beds, a dysfunctional National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) whose 2023/2024 report is nine months overdue, and a staggering R20-billion black hole at the Setas, which continue to fail in delivering skills development," ActionSA stated.

The party pointed out that Nkabane's attempt to bury parliamentary questions under 800 pages of "bureaucratic nonsense" concealed, among other things, a R11.2-million departmental travel spree.

MANAMELA APPOINTMENT

However, the party expressed concerns with Manamela's appointment as Nkabane's replacement, saying this was not a cause for celebration.

"Manamela has served as Deputy Minister since 2017 and has been seated at the centre of the department's decline. His promotion is not a clean-up but a missed opportunity to clean house entirely," it said.

ActionSA believes that the Basic and Higher Education departments should be merged.

The party has proposed expanding Nsfas to support the missing middle by raising the income threshold to R500 000 and introducing affordable, low-interest student loans repayable only after two years of employment, capped at 10% of income.

"We continue to advocate for the conversion of hijacked buildings in CBDs into safe and affordable student housing. Most importantly, we have called for the scrapping of the broken Setas and the redirection of their budgets into an innovative Opportunity Fund that delivers real skills and jobs," the party highlighted.

ActionSA said it rejected "cosmetic Cabinet reshuffles" that recycle the same failed officials while students continue to suffer.

CONFIDENCE IN NEW LEADERSHIP

Meanwhile, the ANC expressed confidence in Mana...

We will support Appropriation Bill now that Nkabane is gone - DA's Steenhuisen

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday welcomed the dismissal of Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, saying that it will support the 2024/25 Appropriation Bill following President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to fire her.

On Monday Ramaphosa removed Nkabane and replaced her with Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela.

Ramaphosa has also appointed Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training.

Earlier this month, the DA laid criminal charges against Nkabane, for allegedly lying to Parliament about ANC cadre appointments.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said Nkabane's removal was a "crucial first step in holding compromised Ministers accountable".

He said the party would not let "compromised" Cabinet members hinder government.

"The DA acted in the national interest when we passed the Division of Revenue Bill to enable provinces and municipalities to continue to receive funding, and we will now pass the Appropriation Bill in the national interest following the President's actions," Steenhuisen said.

The Appropriation Bill would ensure that the Budget is passed in Parliament.

Steenhuisen reiterated the DA's stance that it would not support the budgets of Ministers who are implicated in wrongdoing, until they are fired.

"These were not symbolic actions, they were principled stands backed by real consequence, and we will see these actions through to its conclusion," said the DA leader.

However, he called out Ramaphosa for not taking action sooner and berated him for not being decisive and consistent.

"The ANC must also accept that it no longer governs alone. In a coalition, meaningful consultation with partners is not optional. It is essential to rebuild public confidence and ensure accountable governance. We will continue to engage the GNU parties in good faith to stop corruption and drive delivery in government," Steenhuisen said.

SIU investigates Tokiso Security Services contracts

President Cyril Ramaphosa has amended Proclamation 30 of 2019, to authorise the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate contracts awarded to Tokiso Security Services CC, which provided security services to the North West Development Corporation (NWDC) and other provincial government entities.

Ramaphosa signed Proclamation 270 of 2025, which will allow the SIU to determine whether the security service contracts were awarded appropriately and if any irregularities, maladministration, or financial losses to the State occurred during the procurement process.

The original proclamation had empowered the SIU to investigate maladministration related to the establishment of Tokiso Security Services as a subsidiary of the NWDC.

SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation would look into whether proper procedures were followed in appointing Tokiso Security Services CC and whether any officials, employees, or service providers acted improperly.

"Additionally, the amendment extends the investigation period to include conduct up to the date of the proclamation's publication on 18 July 2025," he said.

Kganyago noted that the original Proclamation also authorised the SIU to investigate irregularities in contracts associated with the NWDC, including the Youth Enterprise Combo implemented by MVEST Trust, security services provided by Naphtronics and the purchase of the Christiana Hotel and Game Farm.

"Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU is committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending measures to prevent future losses.

"In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996, the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action," he highlighted.

He explained that under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration.

AfriForum challenges CoJ on CCTV camera by-law

Lobby group AfriForum has described the by-law on privately owned closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras as a blatant power grab disguised as regulation, calling on the High Court to declare the by-law unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid.

Last week, the civil rights organisation brought a court application to challenge the Johannesburg metropolitan municipality's controversial CCTV cameras by-law. The organisation is seeking a court order to have the by-law set aside in its entirety, with costs against the Johannesburg metro.

The by-law seeks to regulate and control CCTV networks installed in public spaces and private property of which the range and angle of coverage includes public space.

The use of traditional CCTV cameras, drones, automatic number plate recognition systems and even body-worn cameras will be regulated by this by-law.

"This by-law is a blatant power grab disguised as regulation. It is nothing more than an attempt to seize years of private investment, undermine the right to privacy and centralise surveillance power in the hands of a municipality that has consistently failed to uphold public safety," said AfriForum's chief spokesperson for community safety Jacques Broodryk.

The by-law was passed by the City Council in February, with the meeting minutes showing support from 15 parties, including the African National Congress, ActionSA, Economic Freedom Fighters and Patriotic Alliance, and dissent by two parties, the Democratic Alliance and the African Christian Democratic Party.

The by-law allows city officials to demand access to private CCTV infrastructure, dictate fees and tariffs and even confiscate or destroy cameras without a court order.

It also creates sweeping powers for undefined "authorised officials" to access surveillance data, control private security networks, and restrict the legal use of footage collected by community and commercial systems.

AfriForum argued in its court documents that the Johannesburg metro failed to conduct proper public participation, as required by the Municipal Systems Act.

Broodryk said the by-law infringed on several constitutional rights, including the rights to privacy, property, security, freedom of trade and administrative justice.

He said there was no legal or constitutional mandate allowing a municipality to regulate or charge fees for private security infrastructure on private property; and that tariffs and permit systems were "irrational and arbitrary", with no justification, since the Metro does not render or maintain the services in question.

He added that key sections of the by-law are "incomplete, vague and impossible" to comply with, including references to missing application forms and schedules.

AfriForum also argued that the by-law undermined the Private Security Industry Regulation Act and the Protection of Personal Information Act by imposing additional restrictions on private data use and surveillance operations.

"This case shows that the core issue in public safety is not a lack of regulation but a lack of enforcement and rampant political interference. The fact that the Metro now wants to hijack community-run camera networks without offering a cent in compensation is just another form of expropriation without compensation," stated Broodryk.

AfriForum proposed that rather than seizing private infrastructure, the Metro should work with voluntary safety networks such as AfriForum's neighbourhood watches, which operate CCTV and patrol systems in areas such as Roodepoort and Johannesburg North, providing real-time data and assistance to law enforcement.

Earlier this month, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) urged the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) to overturn its new by-law on CCTV cameras, describing it as unworkable, convoluted and irrational and arguing that it placed unreasonable burdens on private businesses and residents, while it raised privacy concerns.

The organisation headed to court to ch...

G20 finance chiefs approach consensus in South Africa despite US tariff tensions

Finance chiefs of G20 countries were close to agreeing a common position on trade and other global challenges on Friday, which would be the first since US President Donald Trump's election victory and tariff war.

The G20, which emerged as a forum for cooperation to combat the 2008 global financial crisis, failed to reach a joint stance when finance ministers and central bankers met in February, to the dismay of hosts South Africa.

An agreement now in the coastal city of Durban would be considered an achievement even though G20 communiques are non- binding and the precise wording is unclear.

"I don't think it's a secret. It hasn't been issued yet, but there's going to be a communique," Raymond Gilpin, chief of strategy, analysis and research at the United Nations Development Programme Africa, said on Friday.

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told Reuters late on Thursday he was cautiously optimistic the meeting would result in a final communique. An official of another G20 country, who requested not to be identified, expressed similar optimism.

"We have to see the final text, but I think it's important that we reached a communique and common language. That's an improvement from the last G20," Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen told Reuters.

South Africa, under its presidency's motto "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability", has aimed to promote an African agenda, with topics including the high cost of capital and funding for climate change action.

Delegates at the meeting sought to agree lines on global economic challenges, including the uncertainty created by trade tensions, as well as wording on climate finance.

Some officials told Reuters that the language in the agreement could stress the benefits of free trade, and not label tariffs as bad, and reference extreme weather events to avoid terms like climate change.

Two delegates said the challenge was establishing what language Washington would accept, a task made harder by the absence of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from the two-day meeting.

Bessent skipped February's Cape Town gathering as well, which several officials from China, Japan and Canada also did not attend, even though Washington is due to assume the G20 rotating presidency in December.

Bessent's absence was not ideal, but the US had been engaging in discussions on trade, the global economy and climate language, said a G20 delegate, who asked not to be named.

TARIFF THREATS

Finance ministers from Brazil, China, India, France and Russia also missed the Durban meeting, though South Africa's Central Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said what mattered was that all G20 countries were represented.

The meeting is taking place under the shadow of Trump's tariff policies which have torn up the global trade rule book and clouded the economic outlook.

German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said he made clear to his counterparts from the Group of Seven major economies on Friday that the global trade conflict must be ended quickly. The G7 discussions were on the sidelines of the G20 meeting.

"What I take home from this is that I hear a lot of countries advocating for free trade and the importance of free trade. It's under pressure right now. It's not good for the world," the Dutch finance minister said.

South Africa moves closer to exiting dirty-money list in October

South Africa is edging closer to leaving a global financial watchdog's so-called gray list in October, with a team of assessors scheduled to visit the nation this month.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has already determined that South African authorities had met "all or almost all of the actions" required to leave the list and the visiting team will evaluate that "implementation is there, but also that it's sustainable," FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo said Thursday.

Exiting the list would show South Africa has made sufficient progress implementing reforms to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, potentially boosting investor confidence and smoothing capital flows. Africa's most industrialised economy joined the gray list in February 2023.

"They will come, they will assess, and they will come back to the plenary and report on their findings and we will make a decision" at the group's October plenary, De Anda Madrazo said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "Whatever that decision is, what I can tell you is that we do see political commitment in South Africa."

She was speaking on the sidelines of the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors' meetings at a coastal resort in South Africa, the host.

The former Mexican official met South Africa's central bank governor at the event and saw political commitment from the authorities, she said.

ANC takes swipe at GNU partner's MP over 'misinformation campaign'

The African National Congress (ANC) stated on Friday that it is unhelpful that political parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU) are engaged in a "relentless campaign" that appears to support punitive actions against South Africa.

The party condemned what it termed Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson on International Relations & Cooperation Emma Louise Powell's apparent efforts to undermine the South African government's response that seeks to roll back the US's new tariff regime.

Powell came under fire following a news article that accused her of spreading disinformation about South Africa during a trip to the US, amid the already strained relationship between both countries.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said this was a "complex and sensitive process", and accused "non-State actors", such as Powell, of engaging the US government and Congress to "perpetuate negative perceptions" of South Africa.

"These engagements have contributed to the spread of false narratives, including fabricated claims of a so-called 'white genocide' and 'forced land expropriation'. In our own diplomatic interactions with US counterparts, we have been told that such fake narratives have originated from within South Africa, poisoning perceptions, particularly within the White House," Bhengu-Motsiri said.

She said it was troubling that "non-State actors" were lobbying the US, as a major power, to pressure South Africa into changing its domestic policy.

"Some individuals have even claimed to be negotiating on behalf of the South African State. It is even more alarming that certain political parties represented in Parliament and participating in the GNU now seek foreign intervention when they are unable to prevail through legitimate democratic processes," she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri said government was holding ongoing engagements with the US administration.

Meanwhile, the ANC accused Powell of being a spokesperson for the US government, which wanted South Africa to repeal its land expropriation and broad-based black economic empowerment legislation and to withdraw the case brought before the International Court of Justice against Israel.

Bhengu-Motsiri stated it was "bizarre" that "Powell and other right-wing actors" would position themselves as spokespersons for another government against their own country.

When approached for comment on the matter, Powell told Polity that her party would issue a statement on the ANC's claims.

"They're just doing what they always do and painting me out to be a racist because its literally the only card they have to play," Powell said, adding that she was a "die-hard liberal".

Earlier this week, Powell had claimed that South Africa's Special Envoy to the US Mcebisi Jonas was denied a visa to the US as far back as May, which the ANC shot back at her for.

"Powell has also pursued a sustained campaign of harassment against Comrade Mcebisi Jonas, the President's Special Envoy to North America. Her aim appears to be to discredit his standing in diplomatic negotiations. She is part of a cabal frustrated by its inability to access confidential information and who have actively lobbied for Comrade Jonas to be replaced by a white businessman who serves their narrow interests," Bhengu-Motsiri stated.

The ANC sees the Jonas matter as a "racist smear campaign".

Powell said on X that she is a lifelong liberal who has represented South Africa "with distinction on the world stage".

"...often under very difficult circumstances. I've waved our flag high, and I've told the truth. The ANC has been exposed for misleading the public and failing to act as the US tariff deadline looms. Now, with their backs against the wall, they reach for the oldest trick in the book: racially-loaded deflection. It's cowardly, it's transparent, and it's an insult to the intelligence of all South Africans. I remain unmoved," she said.

Ramaphosa appoints leaders of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group

Following last week's inaugural meeting of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings, President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated National Planning Commission chairperson Professor Tinyiko Maluleke and former Minister and constitutional negotiator Roelf Meyer as co-chairs.

Last month, Ramaphosa explained that in the wake of government's engagements with various entities, there was broad agreement to convene a National Dialogue, given the challenges facing the country.

He announced that a National Convention, which will set the agenda for the National Dialogue, will be held on August 15.

Ramaphosa has appointed former Member of Parliament Lindiwe Mazibuko and award-winning rocket scientist Siyabulela Xusa as deputy chairs, while student activist and former Member of Parliament Nompendulo Mkhatshwa has been appointed as the secretary.

He appointed an Eminent Persons Group, comprising leading figures in society, who he says reflect the great diversity of the nation, with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building.

He noted that the Eminent Persons Group will guide and champion the National Dialogue, explaining that they are expected to critically consider the progress and the conduct of the National Dialogue, and provide advice where correction is required.

The members include former Independent Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Brigalia Bam; former Constitutional Court Judge Edwin Cameron; Banyana Banyana coach and football legend Dr Desiree Ellis; researcher and rural activist Professor Nomboniso Gasa; Springbok captain and double world champion Siya Kolisi; leader of the Zion Christian Church Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane; Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba; unionist and former Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali; Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and business leaders Dr Gloria Serobe and Bobby Godsell.

"I am grateful to each of them for agreeing to take on this responsibility and to contribute towards the effective functioning of the Eminent Persons Group," said Ramaphosa.

The Eminent Persons Group is supported by the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team, which is made up of representatives of several foundations, civil society organisations and the Presidency.

He noted that the Preparatory Task Team was responsible for the practical arrangements of the National Dialogue until a representative Steering Committee had been established.

Govt commits to restoring public confidence in State security

Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel has welcomed Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's release of the National Security Strategy 2024-29 (NSS) and National Intelligence Estimate 2019-24 (NIE), describing it as "most encouraging".

Ntshavheni released the reports on Tuesday. The NIE provides a consolidated, evidence-based assessment of the strategic threats, risks, and opportunities facing South Africa. The NSS, which was endorsed in 2024, outlines a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to national security, by embedding intelligence at the core of strategic foresight, resilience-building, and crisis prevention.

Fazel described the release of the reports as government taking the public into its confidence on the country's security system.

"In conducting independent oversight of the Intelligence Services, we are committed to helping to restore public confidence in the security system, as well as ensuring the effectiveness and accountability of the Services through ethical and effective intelligence oversight," said Fazel.

He said the move by government to release the reports needed to be supported, stating that security was the responsibility of all citizens.

The NSS points to an increase in threats to global security, including human-induced climate change that continues to pose a threat to global livelihoods and further impacts on the stability of many countries in different regions.

It notes that South Africa remains a stable country, however, it faces several potential threats to its national security and interests.

The country's NSS illustrates the capabilities and resources needed to address these challenges towards promoting and protecting the country's national interests and security.

"South Africa must remain prepared to engage the Southern African region, the African continent, and the world as the international environment becomes uncertain, complex and ambiguous, and marred with border disputes, intra-State conflicts, violent extremism, and proxy wars amongst others," it highlighted.

The report said risks to the country's national security through instability and insecurity were the underpinning, causal issues that if unmitigated led to compromised national security.

The NSS noted factors that undermined the integrity and functioning of the State and imposed physical vulnerability for citizens as threats to the country's national security.

It warned that other threats to national security included changes in technology, antimicrobial resistance, a range of cyber-related threats, acquisition of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, advanced conventional weapons by State and non-State actors, and chemical and biological attacks against South Africa or its forces.

The report advised a culture of preparedness across all levels of society and it encouraged citizens to guard against complacency.

"…my Office regards the public as an important stakeholder in holding the Intelligence Services to account. We trust that this is the first of many steps in encouraging public participation in the deliberation and discourse on Security and Intelligence in South Africa. As citizens we can participate constructively in combatting crime and the other security threats which threaten our collective well-being," Fazel said.

The NSS further noted that the capacity to counter threats to national security also lay outside of the State.

"…the private sector has a crucial role in countering threats, especially to the economy, to the citizens and to the peace. Civil society, in its broadest sense, is also a key capacity for countering threats. Political formations, community organisations, NGOs, religious organisations, academia, the media and many others have a critical role to play in countering threats to national security," it said.

South Africa's NSS was intrinsically linked to the political, economic, social and strategic transformatio...

G20 nearing deal on communique, Godongwana says

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said the Group of 20 advanced economies are nearing a deal on a communiqué.

"We are closer to a making a deal and achieving a consensus that will emerge as a communiqué tomorrow," Godongwana said in a Bloomberg Television interview Thursday on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in the eastern coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal.

"I suspect there will be a communiqué."

The economic club has failed to reach consensus on a communiqué since 2022, when Indonesia held the presidency. South Africa took over from Brazil in December and is now hosting the third meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors this year. The two previous gatherings also ended without a communiqué, with a chairperson's summary indicating the group could not reach a consensus.

The sticking points include wording on sustainable financing coming from the US delegation and a reference to global imbalances on China's side, the finance minister said.

"If we can achieve one it will be a major achievement," Godongwana said