Polity.org.za Audio Articles

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the Cairo Summit for Peace on Saturday as the fighting between Israel and Hamas enters its second week.

On the invitation by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Ramaphosa will attend the summit, which is expected to host European leaders as well as Arab and Gulf leaders.

The Peace Summit will discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip, with a focus on humanitarian support and the resumption of the peace process.

Ramaphosa has decried the attacks on civilians and the extensive loss of life as the fighting continues.

"South Africa has repeatedly called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, return of hostages and the urgent opening of humanitarian corridors. South Africa stands ready to join the global effort that will bring about lasting peace to the Middle East," the Presidency said.

A recent voter opinion survey conducted by think tank the Brenthurst Foundation, in collaboration with international strategic communications and campaigns consultancy SABI Strategy Group, has found that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) faces significant competition from coalitions, ahead of the 2024 elections.

The survey found that, compared with 12 months ago, a coalition government is now more likely, with ANC support dropping from 48% to 41%. Political parties under the umbrella of the Multi-Party Charter, which was recently constituted, have a combined total support of 36%.

There is a five-point difference between the combined vote of the Multi-Party Charter and the ANC.

The majority of survey respondents hold the ANC responsible for the country's problems over the last three decades.

The survey highlighted the decrease in support for the ANC as rooted in its inability to govern the country, in particular, the key provinces such as the Western Cape and Gauteng.

However, President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to enjoy the highest positive favorability rating of all politicians tested, although this has also decreased since November 2022, from 48% to 42%.

In assessing the country's foreign policy imperatives, 40% of respondents in the survey preferred an association with Western countries and democracies over the 28% who responded that they preferred a pivot the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) alliance.

Despite Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF's) leader Julius Malema testing as the most unfavorable politician among the survey's respondents, the rising support for the EFF from 11% in 2022 to 17% today has been noted prompting fears of an EFF-ANC coalition.

Download the full survey here

African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane says that the Israeli embassy in South Africa must close its doors and the ambassador must leave his diplomatic station.

Pleading for an "end to Zionism", she added the ANC also wants a boycott of all goods imported from Israel.

"Down with the Israeli government, down. Down with the killing of people and the bombing of hospitals, down. The Israeli embassy must leave South Africa. The embassy must close, and the ambassador must go. Boycott Israeli products," Mokonyane said as the crowd cheered.

She was speaking at a march to the Israeli embassy in Pretoria on Friday, which was held to show support for Palestine as fighting between the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Hamas continues in Gaza.

Thousands of people - both Israelis and Palestinians - have died since the war began on 7 October. With the IDF preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, the ANC has increased its well-known support for Palestine.

Dressed in ANC T-shirts and carrying the Palestine flag, they marched on Friday.

Protesters held posters calling for an end to the oppression of Palestinians.

Supporters of Palestinians from the general public were also at the march, as well as representatives from the Palestinian ambassador's office.

South Africa does not have an assigned ambassador in Israel, only a liaison office.

The decision to downgrade the country's diplomacy was based on the SA government's continued disapproval of Israel's actions in the Middle East region.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who is also the ANC Gauteng chairperson, briefly addressed the protesters ahead of the march, warning the party's coalition partners against supporting Israel.

The comment may have been aimed at the Patriotic Alliance (PA) - the only coalition partner that has expressed support for Israel. PA leader Gayton McKenzie and his deputy, Kenny Kunene, visited Israel earlier this year.

"We will forever stand with those who stood with us during apartheid. We do not change like weather. You stand with us. We will stand with you ... we are unashamed that we stand with the people of Palestine.

"All those political parties that are in coalition with us and have decided to stand on the side of Israel must know it's over with us. We do not care whatever they bring ... We stand with Palestine," he added.

Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach told Parliament on Thursday that appointing Kholeka Gcaleka as the new Public Protector of South Africa will be "settling for less" as the DA believes she is not experienced to run the office independently and impartially.

Parliament is expected to vote, today, on whether Gcaleka will take over the Public Protector's office following the impeachment of Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.

Gcaleka has been acting in the position since last year.

Breytenbach argues that the Public Protector's office demands a high level of ethical conduct and integrity and is not convinced that Gcaleka on her own will be able to run the office.

"I am afraid, on her own history, Gcaleka does not meet that high standard. We should not settle for less. We should not settle. This position is too important to settle for possibly the best of a very mediocre bunch. Is this the type of dubious mediocrity we want to appoint into one of the most important offices in our Constitutional democracy. I should think not," said Breytenbach.

The DA also stressed that Gcaleka has done nothing to improve the performance of the Public Protector's office.

Gcaleka was a prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority, with some experience in litigation but the DA says she was not there long enough to be described as an experienced litigator, and it says while there, she did not conduct herself with distinction.

"She was peripherally involved in the [Richard] Mdluli matter, which cannot be regarded as a success, since his conviction was on the basis of such watered down charges that the murder of Oupa Ramogibe remains unaccounted for to this day," added the party.

Bulk supplier Rand Water says the Tshwane and Johannesburg metros have made strides towards improving their water supply - using fragile systems that have teetered on the brink of collapse.

This after the City of Tshwane issued a mayday warning on Wednesday, urging residents to conserve water as reservoirs took strain.

In a statement, it said it was continuing to experience an increase in water consumption, which was likely to result in no water "for a longer period as the city reservoirs drop extraordinarily from time to time".

On Thursday, Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said there had been a huge improvement overnight, especially in Garsfontein, which was critical.

Despite this, the area is still affected by the low Carina Reservoir. The reservoir also affects Alphen Park, Erasmusrand, Monument Park, Waterkloof Waterkloof Ridge, Waterkloof Park, Waterkloof Heights, Sterrewag, and Groenkloof.

The Tshwane metro's water comes from two sources: Rand Water - which treats bulk water from the Integrated Vaal River System - and Magalies Water - which provides water to areas in Gauteng, the North West, and Limpopo from the Crocodile and the Pienaars rivers.

Last Friday, Rand Water warned the City about water supply from the Wallmannsthal Water Treatment Plant, north of the city, which had been compromised by the sharing of water from the Roodeplaat Water Treatment Plant, "resulting in low water supply against high demand by consumers".

The municipality operates Roodeplaat.

Vandalism that week also halted water treatment.

Unlike Tshwane, Johannesburg does not have its own water supply and must rely on Rand Water.

Rand Water is struggling to keep up with demand, which has continued to exceed the consumption agreement with the municipalities.

Maroo said the South Hills tower, which has been in dire straits, was also improving and was supplying high-lying areas.

The entity released its yearly consumer stats on Tuesday.

Despite agreeing on 1 045 megalitres (where a megalitre = 1-million litres) daily, Johannesburg has not met this target from 5 September 2022 to 16 September.

The graph shows a significant drop in consumption in July, during the planned interruptions to expand the Rand Water system. Since the start of September, the water consumption has been above the 1 493 mega litre mark - this was last year's water target.

The 1 045-megalitre target is 30% less than last year and is designed to help combat the growing consumer base.

The city loses 24.1% of this water to leaks.

The Tshwane metro has also not met its 434-megalitre agreed on consumption and recorded consumption above last year's 620-megalitre target from September 2022 to 2023.

Ekurhuleni, which gets its water from Rand Water, spent most of the period below last year's 813-megalitre agreed usage but did not meet the current target of 569 megalitres.

At a meeting between the Department of Water and Sanitation and the Gauteng municipalities last month, Minister Senzo Mchunu said Gauteng's rapid population growth and "increasing water losses in municipal water distribution systems. have resulted in a situation where the peak demand for water from Rand Water's municipal customers is close to, and occasionally exceeds the available supply".

This meeting was held after Mchunu called on the various entities to explain how they would mitigate the water crisis.

He added that load shedding and a lack of proactive operations and maintenance in the infrastructure contributed to the challenges.

In response to the call, Rand Water said it was "chasing the demand caused by the ever-growing consumption".

Johannesburg Water said its mitigation plans included addressing pressure and reservoir management.

Tshwane said its non-revenue water statistics had improved over the years as measures were implemented to reduce the losses.

And the City of Ekurhuleni said it had turned its focus on correcting metering and billing and added that it was fighting repetitive vandalism of infrastr...

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the International Criminal Court (ICC) should investigate Israel for war crimes after a hospital was bombed in Gaza, killing more than 500 people and leaving hundreds injured.

But the government hasn't approached the ICC yet, Ntshaveni said at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday.

"Israel's bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital that killed well over 500 people and injured over 1 000 is, in fact, a war crime as hospitals are considered a safe haven under international humanitarian law.

"Cabinet calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate the bombing and the crime of genocide in this conflict and on the international community not to allow the perpetration of another holocaust under its watch. The Jewish Holocaust is enough stain in the history of mankind for the international community to fold its arms while the Israeli government perpetrates a Palestinian holocaust," Ntshavheni said.

Israel has denied responsibility for the hospital bombing and the country's defence force has blamed jihadists.

US President Joe Biden, who is in Israel on a solidarity visit, condemned the bombing but appeared to believe the version supplied by Israel.

Nthsavheni said the South African government did not need to wait for a briefing from anyone to believe that Israel was responsible for the bombing and added that the country "can't runway for taking responsibility".

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said what was happening to Palestinians was evil.

"They are stateless, and people are dying every day, and we are saying, let's have a two-state solution. We condemn the killing of Israeli citizens

"Joe Biden and other US presidents have said they support the state of Israel. For America, every solution to a problem is arms. That is the Americans' answer to everything. There is a problem in the Middle East, and their answer is, we will give you arms," Mbalula said

"Where does the notion of peace come in for a superpower like America? At some point, we must try and negotiate peace."

Greylisting

Turning to a different topic, Ntshaveni said Cabinet had also been briefed on South Africa's greylisting status by the Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) in February.

Several areas identified by the FATF showed that the country was not complying with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing standards.

Ntshavheni said the deadline to address the non-compliance was 2025. So far, the country is on track with its efforts to do so.

"Cabinet noted progress in addressing greylisting deficiencies identified by the FATF, rerating at least 14 technical compliance deficiencies and positive progress in 17 of 22 action items against the original action plan.

"Cabinet approved the Updated Operational Framework for Targeted Financial Sanctions to bind the conduct of all agencies involved in the process of designating people and entities in terms of amended section 23 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Amendment (POCDARATA) Act," she said.

The minister said a meeting at the end of October would consider whether the country had taken enough steps so far in adhering to the concerns raised by the FATF.

"The timeline for South Africa to be moved out of greylisting is 2025. That is why we continue to work to ensure we meet the obligation. The greylisting has an impact on the economy and performance of the country," Ntshavheni said.

New appointments

Meanwhile, Cabinet has approved Onderstepoort Biological Products Board appointments.

The following people were appointed:

Professor Peace Mabeta;

Dr Natalie Skeepers;

Mokutule Kgobokoe;

Sinovuyo Matai;

Rajesh Mahabeer;

Dr Len Konar;

Dr Linda Makuleni-Tompson

Kwazi Mshengu, who previously served as an ANC KwaZulu-Natal MPL and Education MEC in the same province, has been appointed board trustee at the Independent Development Trust.

This is his second board appointment in recent mo...

African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula expressed the party's condemnation of "genocidal actions" by Israel against Palestinian civilians, following the bombing of a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday.

The ANC is calling for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and The International Court of Justice to act to address what the party calls "genocidal crimes".

Addressing the media following the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, he announced that the party would work with NGOs and faith-based organisations for the formation of a global anti-apartheid movement against Israel.

Mbalula said the party further characterised the "inhuman call by Israel" for one-million Palestinians to evacuate and desert their homes as "deeply concerning".

"The affected Palestinians have no safe refuge, effectively becoming trapped and vulnerable akin to mice in a corner ready for a slaughter. The NEC believes such a call is equivalent to an announcement of genocide, as it is very impractical, particularly noting that amongst the people to be moved out of this part of Gaza are patients admitted to hospitals, children and the elderly. The ANC strongly condemns the genocidal crimes that took place yesterday in the Gaza strip wherein a hospital was bombed," he expressed.

The ANC NEC further adopted a comprehensive solidarity programme with the people of Palestine "to bring about their right to self-determination and push for a genuine resumption of peace talks towards a lasting and just solution".

Elements of the solidarity programme included a Palestine Solidarity March on Friday to the Israeli Embassy, in Tshwane, and demands that the ICC investigate and report the cases of Israeli crimes against humanity.

"We call upon the International Court of Justice to accelerate the issuing of its advisory opinion on the conduct of the Israeli State against the Palestinian people," he stressed.

The ANC further wants a meeting with the South African Board of Jewish Deputies to engage on the current situation and the position taken by the ANC NEC.

LOADSHEDDING

Also discussed at the NEC meeting were issues closer to home, including the ongoing loadshedding affecting households and businesses, and tepid economic growth and stalled development.

Mbalula said that the NEC acknowledged that the appointment of a dedicated Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, was beginning to pay dividends as there was now a precise schedule to increase the energy availability factor of all power stations.

Mbalula said loadshedding was beginning to ease, as two units at Kusile power station would take power to the grid from the power station to 3 000 MW.

On the distribution of electricity in municipalities, Mbalula said the NEC noted with "grave concern" the vandalism and theft of transformers in Soweto, Sedibeng and many other areas in and around Gauteng, which had resulted in blackouts affecting thousands of households.

The NEC believes that over several years the introduction of the Electricity Amendment Bill will help further consolidate electricity distribution.

He said the ANC welcomed the latest report that Eskom, together with the Gauteng provincial government, was able to replace more than 40 transformers.

The NEC called for the accelerated replacement of transformers and called on the South African Police Service to formulate a programme to secure all transformers and other infrastructure at risk of similar theft and vandalism.

WATER AND SANITATION

The NEC received account of measures to address water and sanitation delivery across the country.

"We are encouraged by the positive developments of progress made as far as the water provision is concerned," Mbalula said.

Recently, many parts of Gauteng went without water for days and weeks, resulting in Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu announcing that water-shifting would be implemented as an immediate mechanism.

Mbalula said South Africa was not facing any imminent crisis in t...

Annual consumer price inflation ticked up to 5.4% in September from 4.8% in August, the second consecutive increase. It was in line with economists' expectations.

The main contributors to the increase were food and non-alcoholic beverages, which increased 8.1% year-on-year, housing and utilities, miscellaneous goods and services and transport, according to Stats SA.

The sizable step up in CPI doesn't bode well for interest rates, which are already at a 14-year high. In the twice-yearly Monetary Policy Review, which was published this week by the Reserve Bank, it was noted that "upside risks have strengthened in recent months, heightening uncertainty about the precise path for inflation".'

Not only have oil prices risen sharply, inflation expectations remain elevated and together with the increased intensity of loadshedding, that could feed into wages and prices.

Oil prices remain volatile as fighting between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza continues. If the conflict spreads more widely throughout the oil-rich Middle East, there will be heightened risks for supply, meaning that crude prices may rise further.

Nonetheless, this will take time to feed into the South African economy and the latest figures from the Central Energy Fund suggest petrol prices could be cut by about R1.90 a litre in November, while diesel prices might be lowered by between 69c and 75c a litre.

The monthly change in the consumer price index was 0.6%.

"South Africa is also likely to experience drier weather conditions this year which could adversely impact domestic food production, particularly the 2023-24 summer harvest, with the effects likely exacerbated by the risks associated with global food markets," the Reserve Bank's report said, suggesting the Monetary Policy Committee may be compelled to hike interest rates.

A Reuters poll earlier this month showed economists expect the Reserve Bank to wait until either January or March before it considers cutting the country's repurchase rate, which is currently at 8.25%.

On 23 November the Monetary Policy Committee will announce what is scheduled to be its last interest rate decision for the year.

The South African government on Wednesday called on the international community to end its "indifference to the gross violations" against the Palestinian people in Gaza, and for the United Nations Security Council to take enforcement action to halt the "unfolding genocide".

This after a massive blast hit the Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital on Tuesday, and which killed over 500 people and injured over 1 000.

Israel has denied responsibility for the bombing and has stated that it was a failed rocket launch from the Palestinian side of the conflict.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) condemned the killing of civilians in Palestine and Israel, saying the targeting of a hospital, which is considered a safe haven under International Humanitarian Law, is a war crime.

"The bombing of the Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza is the most blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law. Doctors are operating without anaesthetics and do not have the medical equipment or supplies to treat the victims. The suffering of children and their parents are unspeakable and unfathomable in this day and age, and there must be consequences for these actions, otherwise the international structures established to maintain international peace and security have utterly failed," said Dirco.

The al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which was bombed on Tuesday night is one of 22 hospitals in northern Gaza which were ordered by the Israeli military to evacuate their patients and staff within 24 hours or be responsible for the consequences.

The Israeli evacuation order drew swift condemnation from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other United Nations agencies.

The WHO said the 22 hospitals were treating more than 2 000 patients in northern Gaza, and the forced evacuation of patients and health workers would further worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe and was tantamount to a death sentence.

Hundreds of civilians were sheltering in the hospital when it was bombed.

Dirco called for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow in medicine, food and supplies.

South Africa also urged Israel to cease its "genocidal campaign" against the Palestinians and provide water and food for civilians, as well as electricity and fuel for the ambulances and hospitals.

"We call on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Ahmad Khan to immediately signal his intent to investigate this and other war crimes, and the crime of genocide in this conflict, and to include in his investigation the liability of those aiding and abetting these crimes," said Dirco.

African National Congress (ANC) activist Dr Mathews Phosa believes that the South African government is far from creating the 'better life for all' that was promised in the post-liberation period as a result of "sickening corruption" by political leaders.

Speaking at tertiary institute STADIO's annual lecture, he pointed out that elected politicians were living in luxury while South Africans were hungry, unemployed and without electricity and water.

"We have seen, at best, a few token prosecutions and even less convictions," he stated.

He questioned the point of spending such vast amounts of money investigating corruption through a commission, if there were no consequences for perpetrators.

"We are protecting freeloading criminals and carelessly gluttoning away the liberation inheritance of our children [who are being] cheated by corruption, crime, gluttony and debauchery. The picture of an uncaring government happily utilising the taxes of its citizens for its own benefit whilst the hungry suffer presents an explosive, a toxic mix of what I call the 'Black Swan'," said Phosa.

He warned that there were many scenarios in the country's political system that could be turned into "Black Swans" if the government was not careful.

"Nothing illustrates this stark contrast better than the government leaders being driven around in the blue lights escorted by luxury vehicles while right next to them thousands [are] walking on pavements praying for work and food, begging," he said.

The recent incident involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his security detail was an example, Phosa noted.

STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES

He also pointed out that the country's State-owned enterprises - Eskom, Transnet, South African Airways, et cetera - had become dysfunctional and added that they had become feeding troughs for cadres and their accomplices.

He questioned how a nation could be without a national airline carrier.

"We are losing Eskom slowly but surely and it scares me," he warned.

On the issue of Transnet dealing with the recent resignation of three top executives, he questioned why "all the rats are running away".

"We should not take these matters lightly, they affect us going into the future. Thirty years later, we have only a slow trickling of benefits for those who have now waited patiently for the revolution to deliver its fruits to the majority. I pray for new, fresh leadership and actions that will shape a South Africa that we all dream of and we must never stop dreaming about a good South Africa. We must work for it and we must tell the truth when we are given an opportunity to speak. The bible says the truth shall set you free. Don't be a prisoner of lies and distortions. I pray for an honest government that is the servant of people, not insensitive rulers. We deserve a better future," he declared.

He said South Africans should never take for granted that they were free, however, he reminded the gathering that the duty to unite the nation had not been fulfilled.

Phosa said while it was agreed that apartheid was a crime against humanity, South Africans should refrain from blaming apartheid for today's errors. In particular, he said politicians needed to take responsibility and stop blaming apartheid for not building houses, for potholes, for loadshedding and for watershedding.