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DA, ActionSA want Qedani Mahlangu prosecuted for Life Esidimeni tragedy

Opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and ActionSA on Tuesday demanded accountability in the long-drawn-out Life Esidimeni case, calling for former Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu's prosecution.

While hailing the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA's) decision to prosecute those responsible for the Life Esidimeni mental health patients' deaths as a necessary step, both parties remarked that justice had been delayed for too long.

In 2016, 144 mental healthcare patients died following the Gauteng Department of Health's decision to terminate its contract with Life Esidimeni to cut costs. The patients were moved to ill-equipped NGOs, leading to widespread neglect.

The DA is calling those identified by the inquest to be prosecuted on the full range of possible charges including culpable homicide.

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Dr Jack Bloom said politicians should not escape accountability for gross negligence that leads to suffering and death.

"Successful prosecutions will serve as a deterrent by showing real consequences for those who abuse vulnerable patients," he said.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape described the tragedy as a catastrophic failure of leadership, ethics and governance.

The party pointed out that the 2021 inquest already identified Mahlangu and former Mental Health director Dr Makgabo Manamela as accountable for the deaths.

Letlape highlighted that prosecutions must mark the beginning of accountability.

"South Africans deserve a healthcare system that protects the most vulnerable, not one that exposes them to harm through negligence and mismanagement and those who enabled this tragedy should be charged for criminal negligence," he stated.

ActionSA reiterated its call for stringent consequence management for all those responsible and institutional reform in public healthcare to prevent a recurrence, as well as improved oversight mechanisms to ensure similar incidents do not occur.

Gwarube flags 'misinformation' as deadline for comments on new history curriculum looms

Ahead of the deadline for public comment on the draft history curriculum, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has cautioned against misinformation, noting that some claims circulating about the draft curriculum are inaccurate.

The Department of Basic Education has invited public comments on the draft History Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements by April 19.

The draft document, Gwarube explained, aims to overhaul how history is taught, with a stronger focus on pre-colonial African history.

In 2019, former Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga, appointed a Task Team to develop a new history curriculum for Grades 4 to 12. That work resulted in the current proposed draft curriculum document.

Gwarube said she noted the public debate regarding the draft history curriculum and the concerns raised, urging stakeholders to engage with the document.

"The more inclusive this process is, the more inclusive our history curriculum will be. I therefore encourage as many people as possible to indicate where they believe the draft should be strengthened, corrected, expanded or refined," she said.

Gwarube also set out her view on the principles that should guide the development of the history curriculum.

"Our history curriculum should not exclude key events or perspectives on political grounds, nor should it impose any ideology on learners. I am committed to ensuring that the curriculum equips learners to think critically about our past, so that they may form their own opinions," she said.

South Africa wins record investment pledges, but delivery gap persists

South Africa's latest investment conference secured record commitments, but official data show that less than half of past pledges have materialised and turned into economic activity.

The sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) held in Johannesburg in late March secured 81 confirmed investments totalling R889.8-billion - part of a five-year drive targeting R3-trillion by 2030.

In his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed the outcome as evidence of renewed confidence in Africa's most industrialised nation, especially given global headwinds such as rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions notably the Middle East conflict and economic uncertainty.

PLEDGES AND CONVERSION INTO PROJECTS

However, data from the Presidency and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition show that of the roughly R1.5-trillion pledged since the first SAIC in 2018, only R634-billion - just under 42% — had flowed into the economy by March 2026.

While investment announcements rarely translate fully into projects, South Africa's conversion rates are low by international standards. Consultancy McKinsey found that 60%-80% of foreign direct investments announced globally are typically realised.

South Africa's economy has grown at only 1%–2% a year for decades, far short of the pace needed to reduce unemployment, which is stuck above 30%. Growth has been weighed down by policy uncertainty, years of systemic graft confirmed by a corruption inquiry in 2022, and dilapidated energy and transport infrastructure.

Investment levels remain subdued. Gross fixed capital formation - a key measure of spending on machinery, buildings and infrastructure - has hovered around 15%, Alistair Ruiters, special adviser to the president on investment promotion, told Reuters. This is well below the 20–25% threshold typically associated with sustained growth in emerging markets, according to World Bank and IMF benchmarks.

FOCUS ON TOURISM AND DIGITAL ECONOMY AMONG OTHERS

Commitments announced at the March conference span tourism, property, the green economy, chemicals, with the ICT and digital economy receiving the largest share of commitments. They include new FDI as well as reinvestment and expansion plans by both local and multinational firms.

Of the R415-billion confirmed company-led pledges, about two thirds came from firms headquartered in South Africa — including R60-billion from petrochemical company Sasol, R24-billion from the V&A Waterfront development company and R21.8-billion from telecoms operator MTN.

International companies including UAE logistics firm DP World, Green Minerals & Metals from China and US firms Visa and riding-hailing firm Uber as well as companies from Britain, India and France also made commitments.

"The green shoots are beginning to emerge", said Ruiters. "But not enough."

Despite government optimism, global sentiment toward South Africa has cooled amid growing concerns over political uncertainty, infrastructure bottlenecks, rising costs and global trade tensions. The country dropped to 12th from 7th in the 2026 Kearney FDI Confidence Index, which surveys over 500 senior executives from multinational firms.

Ruiters said Ramaphosa has tried to counter negative perceptions by engaging directly with business leaders during overseas trips to New York, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jakarta, Sao Paulo and Brasilia.

Foreign investment remains critical for scale and confidence, with the presence of companies like Toyota, Uber, and Meta's undersea cable project aimed at enhancing connectivity on the continent, sending a strong signal, Ruiters said. "You want to have the big brands coming in."

PURSUING REFORMS

South African Reserve Bank data show inward foreign direct investment has declined each year since 2022. In 2025 the country recorded a net outflow of R41.4-billion, meaning more capital left than entered.

Average annual inw...

Ramaphosa: Local investment dominates as economic momentum builds

Hot off the success of R890-billion in investment pledges made at the South Africa Investment Conference last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa noted on Monday that most of the pledges were made by local firms, which he says signals to international investors that the South African economy is stable and strengthening.

South Africa's new target seeks R3-trillion in new investments over the next five years, which Ramaphosa said was called "unrealistic" by some.

"Yet, building on the momentum that has been created, drawing on the efforts of all South Africans, there is no reason why we cannot achieve it," he assured.

With global uncertainty and increasing competitiveness, Ramaphosa expressed confidence that the pledges made at the conference reflected renewed confidence in South Africa's economy, particularly after years of stagnant growth, State capture and electricity instability.

"That we have been able to realise a record value in investment pledges despite this difficult climate is an indication of how far we have come. It is significant that a substantial share of the investment pledges announced at the 2026 conference were domestic in origin, and encompass a mix of new commitments and capital investments that had already been planned. Each of these investments – whether newly announced or in the pipeline for some time – is significant, because each required a deliberate choice. Each investment decision is shaped by the credibility and stability of the economic environment and expectations of return on investment," he stated.

Local investment was important, the President said, as it displayed confidence from investors who understand South Africa's conditions.

He also noted the importance of commitments made in industries that have been prioritised for faster economic growth and increased employment, such as mining, beneficiation, agro-processing, tourism, renewables and the digital economy.

Policy certainty, structural reform and transformation form part of government's plan to increase investment.

"The reform and transformation processes will continue apace to resolve longstanding challenges not only in areas such as electricity, water and logistics. We will continue to foster transformation and reforms in various areas that will improve the lives of our people and continue to create a conducive environment for investment. We will continue to take decisive steps to root out corruption, to prevent extortion at construction sites and to break the back of the illicit economy," Ramaphosa said.

In addition to investment drives, government is also looking to new markets and seeking to strengthen existing trade relations with one-on-one engagements.

Ramaphosa noted "valuable engagement" with US companies in South Africa, as well as an upcoming meeting with Spanish companies.

"As we reflect on the progress made over the last few years, and as we tally up the investment pledges that have been made to date, we must always look ahead. Our economy is starting to pick up pace, more jobs are being created and confidence is improving. Our economy is increasingly better positioned to take advantage of the technological shifts underway in the world. This bodes well for faster growth and greater investment," he said.

NPA gives the go-ahead for prosecutions in Life Esidimeni tragedy

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Monday that implicated individuals in the drawn-out Life Esidimeni investigation and legal proceedings will be prosecuted, giving families a ray of hope after the events of 2015 and 2016.0

One-hundred and forty-one vulnerable psychiatric patients died after they were unlawfully removed from licensed care facilities to unregistered and ill-equipped NGOs.

"The matter has since stood as one of the most serious human rights violations in democratic South Africa. For nearly a decade, families of the deceased have endured prolonged delays in the pursuit of justice. These delays were occasioned by the complexity of the case, the scale of the evidence, and the necessity of ensuring a thorough and legally sound process. The NPA acknowledges the pain and frustration experienced by affected families during this period," the NPA said.

It revealed that the delay in the NPA's prosecutions announcement was owing to the retirement of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Bathoi, and the need to brief incoming NDPP Andy Mothibi about the case.

The inquest into the tragedy found that the Gaunteng Department of Health was negligent resulting in the deaths of patients and it identified individuals for prosecution.

"After careful consideration of the inquest findings, supporting evidence, and applicable legal standards, the NPA has resolved that there is sufficient basis to institute criminal prosecutions. The charges are expected to include culpable homicide, among others, against those deemed responsible for the unlawful and negligent actions that led to the deaths," the NPA revealed.

New DA leader Hill-Lewis to address 'trust deficit' with Black voters

South Africa's newly elected Democratic Alliance (DA) party leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis, said on Monday he will focus on addressing a "trust deficit" among Black voters as he seeks to grow the DA into the biggest party in the country.

The DA is South Africa's second-biggest party with about 22% of seats in parliament, but it has a reputation as the party of white privilege in a majority Black country and has struggled to grow in recent years.

Cape Town Mayor Hill-Lewis is its second white leader in a row, succeeding Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen.

"I really want to focus the party on communicating, on conveying and on, most importantly, demonstrating that we genuinely care about the advancement of every South African," he told reporters.

This would mean being more present in communities and vocal about the issues that are worrying voters, he said.

"You can't blame the voters... you have to look internally at why that trust deficit still exists," he added, in response to a question about mistrust from Black voters.

DA MAINTAINS OPPOSITION TO BLACK EMPOWERMENT LAW

The DA entered into a coalition government in 2024 with the long-ruling African National Congress, which has been steadily losing support due to corruption scandals and dysfunctional basic services.

Hill-Lewis said he was committed to making the coalition work but also said his mission was for the DA to surpass the ANC, which has almost twice as many seats in parliament, and to be president someday.

One of the DA's most prominent policy positions is its opposition to Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE), the ANC's affirmative action framework which gives companies incentives to hire and promote Black people, who remain deeply disadvantaged three decades after the end of apartheid.

Hill-Lewis said this does not mean the party is against Black advancement, although he acknowledged that some people see it that way.

"We have to make it clear to Black South Africans that we are genuinely invested in and care about their advancement, but we do not support the current model," he said.

ActionSA wants probe into Phala Phala misconduct findings

ActionSA's parliamentary team is writing to the Portfolio Committees on the Presidency and on Police to institute an urgent inquiry into reported misconduct by Major General Wally Rhoode and members of the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU) during the Phala Phala investigation.

The party has obtained an Independent Police Investigations Directorate (IPID) report detailing serious misconduct including the unlawful use of State resources, falsifying documents, and abuse of the President's name.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont pointed out that despite the report, which was finalised in 2023, making serious findings against Rhoode and Constable HH Rekhoto, no accountability measures have been taken.

Beaumont highlighted that the report, which ActionSA has now published, finds that Rhoode and Rekhoto, despite their positions within the South African Police Service (Saps), both refused to participate in the IPID's official probe.

They conducted an "off-the-books" investigation into the farm theft without opening a formal police case or notifying the National Police Commissioner.

Beaumont noted that both Rhoode and Rekhoto allegedly falsified documentation to secure State funding for the investigation by disguising it as legitimate PPU operations.

The pair also incurred irregular costs by flying in drivers from Pretoria to Cape Town for the investigation, ignoring the fact that local resources were already available.

Beaumont pointed out that they seemed to have used the President's name to intimidate and pressure other law enforcement officials into following irregular orders.

"They interrogated suspects without informing them of their constitutional rights, leading to allegations of unlawful apprehension and kidnapping. They arranged an unauthorised meeting with Namibian government officials in a 'no-man's-land' near Upington and improperly involved the Presidential Envoy for Africa, Dr Bejani Chauke," he added.

Beaumont said despite these findings being public for almost two years, the Saps leadership and the President are accountable for failing to act against Rhoode, Rekhoto, and Chauke.

He argued that the President's inaction is even more concerning given reports that his name was used to prevent an investigation into the case's irregularities.

The document was only declassified by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia after ActionSA prepared legal action, Beaumont said, adding that despite the declassification in early February, subsequent requests for the report were ignored until its release.

"ActionSA pursued the release of this report because, at the heart of our democracy, is the principle that every South African must be equal before the law. This principle has been undermined by successive African National Congress (ANC) governments and is now further compromised by a Government of National Unity that has been co-opted to protect the ANC," he noted.

Ramaphosa makes new ConCourt appointments

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday announced the appointment of Justice Nambitha Christabel Dambuza-Mayosi and Justice Katharine Mary Savage as Judges of the Constitutional Court with effect from May 1.

The appointments were made following recommendations from the Judicial Service Commission, and after consultations with Chief Justice Mandisa Maya and leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Ramaphosa lauded Judges Dambuza-Mayosi and Savage for their "unwavering dedication" to the rule of law.

"Judge Dambuza-Mayosi and Judge Savage have for decades served the cause and practice of justice with great diligence, foresight and, most importantly, clear commitment to our Constitution," he said.

Dambuza-Mayosi has served as a Supreme Court of Appeal judge since 2015 and did a stint acting as President of the Supreme Court of Appeal for an extended period.

Justice Dambuza-Mayosi holds more than three decades of experience in legal practice, academia and the judiciary.

Savage became a Judge of the Western Cape High Court in 2015 and has served as a Judge of the Labour Appeal Court since 2024.

Ramaphosa wished the new judges well in their new roles, noting that their appointments take place as the country marks 30 years since the adoption of its Constitution.

"… this anniversary is a significant moment for our nation and serves as an inspiration for our Constitutional Court to sustain the entrenchment of our national values and the supreme law that underpins them," he said.

ANC departs from traditional party processes to find local govt leaders ahead of elections

The African National Congress (ANC) on Friday announced a shift in how it governs and deploys leadership, ahead of the upcoming local government elections, with plans for an intensive headhunting of mayoral candidates.

Speaking during a media briefing in Johannesburg, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the party was entering a "decisive phase" in preparing for the 2026 local government elections, centering on the credibility of governance at local level.

The party is formally launching its mayoral and councillor candidate selection process, and is introducing a "strengthened, centralised and competency-based" approach to the identification and deployment of executive leadership in key municipalities.

In doing this, Mbalula pointed out that the ANC was taking "extraordinary steps" to ensure leadership deployed to municipalities was "capable, ethical, disciplined and accountable".

He said the search extended beyond the traditional internal ANC processes to include experienced public representatives, professionals and specialists in governance, community leaders and veterans of government.

"This proactive approach aims to find individuals with proven leadership track records and governance capability, expanding the pool of talent while remaining firmly rooted in the values and discipline of the organisation," he explained.

Mbalula said the party would establish a centralised implementation machinery within the office of the secretary general, supported by a dedicated secretariat and coordinating with the party's local government interventions committee, for uniformity, strategic oversight, and discipline in implementation across all provinces.

"This move ensures that the selection process is not hindered by regional factionalism and that high-calibre leadership is maintained nationally," he explained.

The ANC is also calling for public submissions, inviting communities, stakeholders and broader society to nominate individuals to serve as mayors.

The process, Mbalula said, would be complemented by structured consultation with provincial and regional leadership to ensure that the final pool of candidates reflected national strategic priorities and the lived realities of communities.

He assured that a rigorous and transparent assessment process would be undertaken, featuring strict requirements approved by the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC).

"These measures are designed to ensure that candidates are not only politically grounded, but possess the technical capability, administrative competence, ethical integrity and leadership capacity required to manage complex municipalities and deliver meaningful change," he said.

ANC national officials will finalise and approve mayoral candidates based on their competence, credibility, and capacity to deliver on the party's transformation agenda.

This process, Mbalula added, would include creating strategic leadership teams in municipalities to ensure "stable, coherent, and effective governance".

The finalisation and announcement of the ANC's mayoral candidates will be undertaken in June, in phases.

Mbalula announced that this programme focused on eight metropolitan municipalities and 22 secondary cities, which he said were central to economic activity, infrastructure development and service delivery in South Africa.

He assured that the ANC would approach these deployments with seriousness and strategic focus.

He highlighted that following the selection, candidates would undergo rigorous training, including programmes through the OR Tambo School of Leadership, to ensure alignment with ANC policies, governance frameworks and the electoral strategy.

Mbalula explained that upon taking office, all ANC mayors must sign legally binding public Mayoral Delivery Agreements, which establish performance targets and measurable goals.

"These agreements will be subject to continuous monitoring through...

EFF hits out at judiciary over 'unacceptable' Phala Phala delay

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Thursday expressed disappointment in delays in the Phala Phala case, stating that it has created the impression that justice is being deferred because the matter concerns President Cyril Ramaphosa, and warning that such delays risk public confidence in the judiciary.

This followed Chief Justice Mandisa Maya's assurance that the Constitutional Court's judgment on Phala Phala is in its final stages and will be delivered within a month.

The EFF had written to Maya arguing that the delay exceeded normal court standards.

EFF leader Julius Malema claimed that Maya's response was a result of sustained pressure from the party, saying that the matter was of "profound national importance".

Malema pointed out that for months, the EFF had engaged in peaceful civil action, including consistent pickets at the Constitutional Court, to demand that the judiciary uphold its responsibility to deliver justice.

"It is precisely this sustained mass pressure, not quiet diplomacy or elite lobbying, that has forced a response from the highest office of the judiciary.

"It is, therefore, not coincidental that only after direct correspondence from the EFF did the Chief Justice indicate that the judgment may be delivered within a month," he added.

Malema said this demonstrated that accountability in South Africa must be demanded through struggle, hitting back at civil society organisations for allegedly being silent on the matter.

"Institutions such as Corruption Watch, Helen Suzman Foundation, Nelson Mandela Foundation, Thabo Mbeki Foundation, the South African Council of Churches, Freedom Under Law, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse and many more, have failed to raise their voices on this matter with the urgency it deserves. Their inaction exposes a selective approach to accountability, where issues are only pursued when politically convenient," he added.

MADLANGA COMMISSION

Meanwhile, Malema called for a complete overhaul of the South African Police Service (Saps) and successful, swift prosecutions, following revelations from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

The party also called for the immediate dismissal of all implicated officials.

Malema noted the conclusions of the Ad Hoc Committee to investigate allegations made by Saps KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi and in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, calling for action and reform.

The Ad Hoc Committee is currently in the final stages of its work and has not yet released a final concluding report.

The party reaffirmed its role in the fight against corruption within South Africa's law enforcement agencies, declaring that the current findings emerging from Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry are a "vindication" of the party's long-standing calls for accountability.

The EFF said its "consistent, principled, and uncompromising pressure" led to the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament.

The party welcomed the recent arrests of senior police officials implicated through the Madlanga Commission process; however, Malema maintained that arrests alone were not sufficient, and demanded successful prosecutions, dismissals, and a complete overhaul of the "institutional culture" at Saps.

At the same time, the EFF condemned the continued wasteful expenditure of public funds through the ongoing remuneration of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

The party said it was "irrational and unjustifiable" that South Africans were expected to fund the salary and benefits of a suspended Minister implicated in "criminal infiltration".