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Parly committee recognises worth in Ramaphosa's call for change to Seta model

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries said while failures in the sector education and training authorities (Setas) are mostly related to governance challenges and not the Seta model entirely, it echoes President Cyril Ramaphosa's contention that Setas are not living up to expectations.

Speaking at the News24 On the Record Summit in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said government was working to overhaul the Seta system and replace it with a "fit-for-purpose" one that enabled young people to access jobs.

Ramaphosa acknowledged that the Seta model was not working.

The committee stated that the alleged "rot" in the Setas warranted more formal enquiry, and those found wanting should be taken to task.

"The President's observations have been formed over time and offer South Africa an opportunity to reset, to ensure workplace training is fit for purpose. The Setas were set up to enhance skills training in our country, and the committee welcomes the President's view that there needs to be a change in the Seta's focus," said committee chairperson Makhi Feni.

However, he said it was worth noting that the failure in the sector was less about the Seta model than failing governance, adding that too much time had been spent stabilising governance of these entities.

The committee urged the Department of Higher Education and Training, which was the custodian of these entities, to start rethinking and if necessary remodelling the Setas in line with Ramaphosa's call.

Feni explained that the Setas were a government intervention that sought to address workplace training needs while reducing the cost of training entry-level employees in various sectors, through a State-subsidised and incentivised programme.

"The country must not lose momentum on training needs and workplace experiential training and learning. The committee supports the President's call for a change, as the recent talk [of reforming Setas] has been on noncore operations of Setas, like board appointments," he said.

Further, he said any new model must be established between employers and Setas without compromising current employees.

Meanwhile, the Setas are facing severe corruption allegations, with reports from Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse indicating widespread financial mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and tender irregularities.

Velenkosini Hlabisa urges stronger intergovernmental coordination during meeting with mayors

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa on Friday pointed to an urgent need to strengthen the intergovernmental coordination that underscores political, institutional, management, administrative, and governance collaboration.

Speaking in Boksburg during an engagement session with mayors of metropolitan municipalities, he said municipalities across the country were facing systemic governance, fiscal, and institutional pressures that severely hindered their ability to serve communities effectively.

He noted that political instability in some of metros impacted negatively on the ability of municipalities to effectively govern and provide service delivery.

He added that "poor decision-making and a lack of accountability", compounded by declining revenue and low municipal collection rates, left many areas financially strained.

Hlabisa highlighted that metros housed 62% of the nation's population and generated over two-thirds of GDP, and, therefore, noted their critical role in the country's economic stability and social well-being.

He said organisational inefficiencies and ageing infrastructure created significant barriers to delivering essential services, while rapid urbanisation heightened demand for these services, which he said resulted in community dissatisfaction and protests.

"… many municipalities struggle to comply with their constitutional and legislative obligations, eroding public trust and emphasising the necessity for enhanced governance and accountability mechanisms," he explained.

These issues are not isolated but are interconnected, he said.

"A lapse in governance and inefficiencies in service delivery feed into a broader narrative of declining trust and social unrest. The protests we see are a direct result of this systemic failure, underscoring the urgent need for transformative change in our local government structures," he stressed.

He believes through intergovernmental relations and fostering partnerships, government can revitalise the governance framework.

He pointed to the development of more robust partnerships between the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department and metropolitan leadership, which he expects will improve service delivery and governance across metros.

Meanwhile, ahead of the upcoming local government elections, Hlabisa said strengthened governance systems would ensure transparent processes and maintain public trust in local government institutions.

Last week, the Electoral Commission of South Africa announced that discussions with Hlabisa for an election date were at an advanced stage, and assured the public that a date would be proclaimed after the registration weekend of June 20 and 21.

The municipal council term expires on November 1 and the general elections would fall between November 2 and the end of January 2027.

Govt, industry insist there is no risk to fuel supply amid 'panic buying' fears

The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Fuels Industry Association have issued a joint statement urging South Africans not to engage in any "panic-buying" of fuel, insisting that supplies to the country remain stable for the immediate future.

The joint statement comes amid concerns of possible supply disruptions as well as the prospect of extreme price hikes in diesel and petrol in April, precipitated by blockages to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following the launch of military attacks on Iran by the US and Israel.

Fuel prices are adjusted monthly to movements in oil prices and the exchange rate, and assessments based on the fuel-setting formula point to a current under-recovery on diesel of more than R8/l and more than R5/l on certain grades of petrol.

The joint statement was released in reaction to messages being circulated warning of imminent fuel shortages.

"While there may be isolated localised logistical challenges affecting the movement or availability of fuel in certain areas, these are operational in nature and do not constitute a national supply shortage.

"These issues are being actively managed through established industry and regulatory channels," the statement reads, adding that it was incorrect and misleading to link isolated domestic logistical problems to broader geopolitical developments.

Such claims, the statement added, risked creating unnecessary alarm, which could place undue pressure on supply systems and congestion at service stations.

"The department and the Fuels Industry Association will continue to monitor the situation closely and will communicate any confirmed developments through official channels."

Earlier, the department stated that a comprehensive plan was in place to manage potential supply risks arising from the fact that the country was a net importer of petroleum products, and was increasingly reliant on final product in light of the closure of domestic refining capacity.

"Fuel consignments scheduled for March and early April 2026 were secured prior to the recent escalation in global tensions. These deliveries have commenced and are expected to adequately sustain national supply over the coming weeks," it said, without providing specifics.

For the more medium term, the department was assessing various interventions to strengthen security of supply, including the diversification of fuel import sources, an enhancement of strategic storage capacity, and accelerating infrastructure investments.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Association announced on March 20 that initial volumes of oil from the emergency reserves had started to be released in line with the March 11 agreement for IEA member countries to make 400-million barrels of oil available to the market.

The overall release of emergency stocks, it said, would largely consist of crude oil, while in Europe the contributions would primarily take the form of refined oil products.

Separately, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada released a joint statement on March 19 in which they indicated that they were ready to join "appropriate efforts" to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and would take steps to stabilise energy markets.

IFP wins KZN wards from NFP

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have won three of five contested by-elections, reclaiming wards held by the National Freedom Party (NFP).

The party won Ward 7 and Ward 20 in Nongoma local municipality from the NFP, in KwaZulu-Natal.

IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa explained that in Ward 7 the IFP received 1 280 votes and in Ward 20 the party received 981 votes.

These wards became vacant following the resignation of NFP councillors.

"… voters have now returned the mandate to the IFP — restoring the party's outright majority in the municipality," said Hlengwa.

He pointed out that the IFP now held 23 of the 45 seats in Nongoma local municipality, placing it firmly back in control.

Prior to this outcome, the IFP was governing through a coalition arrangement with the Economic Freedom Fighters, which holds two seats, and the National African People's Front, which holds one seat.

The IFP also secured a victory in Ward 12 of Abaqulusi local municipality, also in KwaZulu-Natal, where it received 1 628 votes, reaffirming the IFP's strong grassroots support and organisational strength, said Hlengwa.

The IFP further contested Ward 32 in Buffalo City metropolitan municipality and Ward 14 in Winnie Madikizela-Mandela local municipality in the Eastern Cape.

"While the party did not win these wards, it recorded increased support compared to the 2021 Local Government Elections, signalling growing national appeal," he explained.

Hlengwa highlighted that these results delivered a strong showing that he said underscored the party's growing electoral momentum and continued voter confidence.

"These results send a clear political message: South Africans are increasingly placing their trust in the IFP as a credible alternative for stable, accountable governance," he stated.

The party called on its newly elected councillors to serve with integrity and dedication as the party builds momentum towards the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Since the 2021 Local Government Elections, the IFP has now secured 47 by-election victories nationwide, with Hlengwa saying this strengthened its position as a growing political force.

The party now governs 19 municipalities with outright majorities.

South Africa's economic hub 'trapped' in stagnation, report says

Gauteng, the South African province that's home to Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, is struggling to grow and its shift from manufacturing and mining to a services hub is deepening inequality.

That's according to the provincial government, which said urgent action is needed to arrest the decline. In a 153-page development plan presented on Thursday, it stressed the need to create new industries, boost employment and improve crumbling infrastructure.

"If we can't get Gauteng right, we can't get South Africa right," Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi told an event in Johannesburg to launch the report.

Gauteng's stagnation is at the heart of the struggle to boost growth in Africa's most industrialised economy, which has languished for more than a decade. As mining and manufacturing have shrunk, new jobs in finance and other services have failed to stem unemployment from rising above 30%, one of the highest levels in the world.

Since 2010 in Gauteng only government activities, financial and other services have grown with the report highlighting that finance alone now accounts for 40% of Johannesburg's economy, clustered in the affluent northern suburb of Sandton, well away from the decayed city center.

Even as the population expanded, manufacturing shed almost 200 000 jobs, shrinking the workforce to 528 000. At the same time, people employed in financial services rose to more than 1.2-million from 776 000.

Finance Curse

"Gauteng, despite its role as South Africa's economic core and contributor of over one-third of national gross domestic product, is trapped in a cycle of stagnant growth, rampant unemployment, and deepening inequality," the report said. It noted that high-skilled bank jobs are a poor match for the region's large pool of predominantly low or semi-skilled workers.

As a result, Lesufi's African National Congress (ANC) risks losing ground to the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's second-largest political party, in local elections expected to be held later this year. Senior DA figure Helen Zille is running to be mayor of Johannesburg and is campaigning on the ANC's track record in the city.

The ANC lost its parliamentary majority in 2024 elections and now governs in an uneasy coalition with the DA at the national level.

Gauteng's unemployment at 34.4% — above the national average — and youth unemployment of 54% is "a profound crisis of exclusion and wasted potential," the report said.

While joblessness is a national problem, the DA-governed Western Cape, Gauteng's closest provincial economic rival, has slashed unemployment to about 19% by encouraging the growth of industries such as tourism and call centers for international clients.

Gauteng's plan aims to secure R800-billion in investment pledges by 2028 to address the problems caused by the "bifurcating economy." It urges investment in infrastructure and sectors ranging from cannabis to the automotive, pharmaceutical and defence industries through the use of incentives and cutting red tape.

Still, the report comes to a sobering conclusion.

"A decade of subdued growth, infrastructure deterioration, and chronically high unemployment — exacerbated by global shocks and domestic energy crises — has trapped the province in a cycle of exclusion and underperformance," it said.

We need to drive reform to offset conflict effects – Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Thursday that in addressing the unemployment crisis facing the country, government must support small businesses and the informal sector, to create jobs at scale.

Ramaphosa was speaking during the News24 'On The Record' Summit in Cape Town, where he pointed out that government's "single greatest challenge" is to translate positive economic momentum into jobs for the millions of South Africans who remain unemployed.

Ramaphosa pointed to the conflict in the Middle East, saying it looked set to exact a heavy toll on global economies, with increasing energy costs, supply chain disruptions, higher costs of living and fewer growth prospects.

"It is therefore essential that we proceed with urgency to drive the reform and transformation of our economy while identifying the measures we need to take to mitigate the effects of the conflict," he said.

He said support must be given to businesses with potential to grow through capital, skills and market access, and said an enabling regulatory environment must be created.

He confirmed that government was reviewing current legislation to reduce the administrative burden on small businesses and make it easier for them to start and grow.

He assured that government was reforming the country's criminal justice system to restore public trust and equip law enforcement agencies to deal with organised crime and corruption.

"Pervasive crime breeds fear and mistrust. It has both a devastating human cost and a direct economic impact. It increases the cost of doing business and discourages businesses from investing," he said.

Ramaphosa explained that rebuilding the country's criminal justice system was as important for jobs as any employment programme.

"We will complete the implementation of our action plan on the recommendations of the State Capture Commission and undertake the corrective measures that may arise from the work of the Madlanga Commission.

"We are focused on strengthening the Hawks, National Prosecuting Authority and the Special Investigating Unit to bring perpetrators to justice, to recover stolen funds and to end impunity," he said.

He said government was also advancing reforms to professionalise public service and protect it from political interference.

Ramaphosa averred that after years of stagnation, the country's economy had reached a turning point.

"Growth is improving, investment is expanding, and more jobs are being created. Our reform agenda has built up significant momentum, enabling growing confidence in our economic trajectory."

He pointed to tangible improvements in the country's economic performance, saying this was the result of a sustained, multi-year effort to reform the economy and to fix what was broken.

"Most importantly, these improvements are the result of collaboration between government and partners across society, of the recognition that our challenges cannot be resolved by the State on its own. All our efforts have been driven by the simple conviction that we can achieve more when we work together," he said.

He called on all companies to be part of the Youth Employment Service (YES drive) to allow more young people a first step into the work environment.

He noted that as part of the effort to ensure that young people were equipped for work, government was reforming the skills development system to link training more closely to demand in the economy.

"We are working to overhaul the Seta system and replace it with a fit-for-purpose system that enables young people to access jobs. We must build on our strengths as a country to create jobs for the economy of the future. We have one of the most sophisticated financial sectors in the world," he said.

He added that government could position South Africa as a destination for financial services companies to locate their African and emerging market operations.

"We have among the best solar and wind resources in the worl...

Mbalula says People's March a necessary, timely response to rise in imperialism, external pressure

African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday framed the upcoming "People's March" as a reaffirmation of the "true values" of the country's democracy, a rejection of division and misinformation, and a call for unity amid complex challenges.

The "People's March" will take place on Saturday, starting from the Mary Fitzgerald Square, across the Mandela Bridge, to Constitution Hill.

The mobilisation will be led by the ANC and its alliance partners, the South African Communist Party, Congress of South African Trade Unions and South African National Civic Organisation, and will bring together business formations, labour, faith-based organisations and civil society movements.

This mass mobilisation coincides with Human Rights Day and marks 30 years of the South African Constitution.

Speaking during the official launch of the march, Mbalula described the event as a necessary response to the rise of misinformation, distortion and coordinated narratives, which he said sought to undermine public confidence in democratic institutions, and create division among the country's people.

He said these narratives were often driven by narrow interests that were opposed to transformation and that sought to preserve historical privilege.

Earlier this month, the ANC condemned US ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III's utterances on South Africa's foreign policy and domestic laws.

In an address to a BizNews 2026 conference, Bozell outlined the US's supposed frustration with South Africa for not adhering to requests on land expropriation, broad-based black economic empowerment, the protection of white farmers and others.

Bozell noted the continued and mutually beneficial relationship South Africa had with US-based tech-companies, Google, Microsoft, Amazon VISA and the more than 500 US companies which operated in South Africa.

Mbalula said there were broader global dynamics and external pressures intersecting with these domestic challenges, that sometimes reinforced instability and uncertainty.

He said South Africa approached these uncertainties with sobriety and responsibility.

"We will not be reckless, nor be drawn into unnecessary confrontation, instead we remain guarded by the principles of democratic engagement, constructive dialogue and the defence of national sovereignty, within the framework of international cooperation," he stated.

He said on Saturday citizens would not rise in disorder but in disciplined formation.

"… not in anger but in purposeful resolve, not in fragmentation but in unity of a nation that understands both its history and its power. This is the march that carries the voice of the workers, the hopes of the youth, the resilience of women and the aspirations of communities across the length and breadth of our country," Mbalula said.

MKP reinstates John Hlophe to leadership

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has welcomed back, with immediate effect, suspended party member John Hlophe as its first deputy president and leader in Parliament.

Hlophe was suspended in November for replacing parliamentary Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele with Des van Rooyen. The party said at the time that the changes were effected "without a collective consultation", and launched an investigation into Hlophe's conduct.

The MKP said on Wednesday that it had appointed an independent legal panel to investigate his conduct.

"Following this process, H.E President [Jacob] Zuma held a bilateral meeting with Dr. Hlophe, during which the allegations were thoroughly discussed. After considering the outcomes, President Zuma has decided to immediately reinstate Dr. Hlophe as both the 1st Deputy President and the Party Leader in Parliament. The Party thanks Hon. Des Van Rooyen, who has served as an exceptional leader in his role as the Acting Party Leader in Parliament in the interim," it said in a statement.

South African inflation slows to central bank target in February

South Africa's annual inflation eased in February, falling to the central bank's target of 3%, but analysts said the slowdown could be temporary as the ripple effects of the US-Israel war against Iran will show up in upcoming releases.

Headline consumer inflation slowed to 3% year-on-year in February, down from 3.5% in January, Statistics South Africa data showed on Wednesday.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected annual inflation would be 3.1% in February. The central bank's inflation target was lowered to 3% in November, and inflation was last at exactly 3% in June 2025.

A breakdown by Stats SA showed the main contributors to February's inflation rate were housing and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and insurance and financial services.

"This data largely predates the war on Iran though, as well as the resulting spike in oil prices and the weakening of the rand exchange rate, both of which will be ... inflationary," Elna Moolman, Standard Bank's head of South Africa macroeconomic research, said in a note.

Many economists expect South Africa's central bank to leave its main interest rate unchanged at its March 26 policy announcement, whereas before the war they had expected a rate cut. The bank maintained its repo rate at 6.75% at its last monetary policy meeting in January.

DA wants Mantashe to disclose state of SA's fuel reserves

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday urged Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe to declare South Africa's Fuel Reserves amid worries about potential fuel shortages, rationing and increasing energy prices triggered by the major conflicts in the Middle East.

"In order to settle public worries about shortages, he should disclose the exact state of the country's fuel reserves without delay," said DA spokesperson on Mineral and Petroleum Resources James Lorimer.

The party expressed concern at Mantashe's failure to confirm whether the legal requirement of supplying transport fuel was being met by government, arguing that this raised serious concerns that the two-month reserve had not been maintained.

Lorimer explained that by law there were supposed to be two months' supply of transport fuel held in reserve at any time.

On Monday Mantashe assured during the Southern Africa Oil and Gas Conference in Cape Town that there was no need to panic about potential shortages of fuel caused by the war in the Persian Gulf.

But Lorimer said Mantashe avoided revealing the state of South Africa's fuel reserves.

"If it is the case that the two months' supply is not available, there needs to be an urgent plan to make up the shortfall and maintain it in the future.

"If there's the slightest possibility of fuel shortages, we need to know far in advance so that citizens and businesses can prepare measures to cope," he explained.