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Govt says Vincent Smith sentencing shows determination to strengthen accountability

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has welcomed the sentencing of former African National Congress Member of Parliament Vincent Smith, praising the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Smith, the first person to be sentenced for State capture fraud and corruption, was given a seven-year prison sentence by the Johannesburg High Court, relating to kickbacks from facilities management company Bosasa.

Smith pleaded guilty to charges including contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the Income Tax Act.

The sentencing followed recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, which investigated widespread corruption and fraud during the Presidency of Jacob Zuma.

Acting GCIS spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa said the commission played a critical role in uncovering wrongdoing and recommending institutional reforms to strengthen accountability and rebuild public trust.

She said implementing the recommendations of the Zondo Commission, and other commissions of inquiry, was a key part of strengthening democratic institutions and restoring integrity in government.

"Government places ethical governance and the rule of law at the centre of building a capable and developmental State. Commissions of inquiry are therefore vital instruments to enable government to expose wrongdoing, recommend reforms and ensure that justice is ultimately served," said Mnukwa.

Mnukwa further pointed out that Smith's sentencing also reflected government's commitment to intensify the fight against corruption and ensure that those who abuse public resources were held accountable.

"The implementation of the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, together with the commitments outlined in the 2026 State of the Nation Address demonstrates government's determination to strengthen accountability, rebuild public trust and ensure that public resources are used to advance the development and well-being of all South Africans," she stated.

Government reiterated that no one is above the law and that the country's democratic institutions "remain resolute" in the fight against corruption.

EFF, DA claim vindication in VAT court ruling

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday said they felt vindicated following the Western Cape High Court ruling on the value added tax (VAT) rate.

The court ruled that Section 7(4) of the VAT Act is unconstitutional, removing powers of the Finance Minister to alter the rate of VAT.

Both parties brought the legal challenge last year, following Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana's attempt to increase VAT during the 2025 Budget process by 0.5% in 2025 and 0.5% in 2026.

The court suspended the declaration of invalidity for 24 months to allow Parliament time to amend the VAT Act.

The EFF claimed that the Section 7(4) of the VAT Act has been an instrument of "economic dictatorship".

"The Western Cape High Court has, therefore, correctly found this provision of the VAT Act to be inconsistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and declared it invalid," it said.

The Constitutional Court found that Section 7(4) of the VAT Act, which gives the Minister of Finance the unilateral power to alter the tax rate constituted an impermissible delegation of legislative power to the Executive.

The EFF said this affirmed its argument in the Standing Committee on Finance and in the National Assembly that the powers to impose and alter taxation in South Africa rest with Parliament.

"The EFF is, therefore, vindicated for its principled argument made in the Standing Committee on Finance, the National Assembly, in the Western Cape High Court and across broader society that there should never be taxation without representation," it said.

The party stated that the ability to increase the taxes on citizens should be determined by their democratically elected public representatives and should not be determined by an individual who operates on the "misguided economic advice of a neo-liberal National Treasury, which draws its policy inspiration from a parasitic financial sector, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund".

DA Federal Council chairperson Helen Zille said the court ruling vindicates the party's constitutional challenge and reinforces that there can be no taxation without proper parliamentary oversight.

"It is a case of 'No taxation without representation' – Parliament is the representation of voters, and must be the decision-maker on taxation," she said.

She noted that the judgment strengthens accountability in fiscal governance and ensures that any future changes to VAT must occur through proper legislative processes.

Mosiuoa Lekota honoured with Official Funeral

Congress of the People (COPE) co-founder Mosiuoa Lekota will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on March 14, in his home town of Bloemfotein.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday made the declaration, and said Lekota will be honoured for his "principled dedication to non-racialism" during the country's struggle and in a liberated South Africa.

Lekota, 77, passed away in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a prolonged battle with ill-health.

Ramaphosa explained that the funeral will feature ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.

He has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations from Saturday morning until the evening of the funeral on March 14.

Lekota served the nation as a struggle activist, inaugural Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Premier of the Free State, Minister of Defence, and he co-foundeed COPE with former fellow National Assembly member Mbhazima Shilowa.

Earlier this week, Ramaphosa described Lekota as a patriot, freedom fighter, and servant of the people whose life story is closely intertwined with the country's journey of struggle and the realisation of democracy.

"We deeply value his service to his home province where he served as Premier and to our Armed Forces and our national security, in his role as Minister of Defence," he said.

Ramaphosa reiterated his deep condolences to the Lekota family, the COPE and Lekota's comrades and associates across the political spectrum.

Sishi to leave National Treasury for IMF job

National Treasury Budget Office deputy director-general Edgar Sishi will step down at the end of March to take up a position at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Sishi joined Treasury in 2007 and has been an integral part of the senior leadership of the department for several years. He took over the Budget Office during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and has played a crucial role in navigating public finances through unprecedented challenges, Treasury states.

It adds that his leadership has helped to achieve the turning point in South Africa's public finances that was evident in the 2026 Budget, with debt stabilising for the first time since before the 2008 global financial crisis. The improvement in public finances will support faster growth and lower borrowing costs, while protecting the future sustainability of social spending.

"The National Treasury thanks Edgar for his dedicated service to the department and to South Africa and congratulates him on his new post. The departure of a senior official is always challenging for the institution, but Edgar has built a strong team at the Budget Office and I have full confidence in their ability to maintain the very high standards set under his stewardship," director-general Dr Duncan Pieterse comments.

Treasury points out that, from April 1, three chief directors with direct exposure to the Budget process will act as Budget Office deputy director-general on a rotational basis, starting with Marumo Maake, who was previously acting head of the Budget Office from April to October 2025.

Treasury says it will begin a recruitment process for a new permanent Budget Office deputy director-general as soon as possible.

Oil spike threatens South Africa inflation, Godongwana says

Sustained higher oil prices resulting from conflict in the Middle East may fuel inflation in South Africa, though the buffers built by the government should help keep its debt-consolidation plans on track, the finance minister said.

The price of Brent crude has jumped almost 16% this week as shipping flows ground to a halt in the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil transits.

"South Africa is a price taker" when it comes to petroleum imports, Enoch Godongwana said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

"That will have an inflationary impact for us. So the war is worrying."

DA says it will not remove 'Lesufi shower billboard', as ANC threatens legal action

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday it will not be meeting the African National Congress' (ANC's) 12-hour deadline to remove the party's billboard that plays on recent remarks made by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

Instead the party encouraged Lesufi to rather act against the water crisis in the province with the same level of urgency displayed in opposing its billboard.

Last month, Lesufi sparked public outrage after saying he often had to shower at a hotel because of water outages.

The ANC has written to the DA demanding the removal of the billboard, which was unveiled in Tshwane on Tuesday. The ANC has threatened legal action against the DA if the billboard does not come down in 12 hours.

DA Federal Council chairperson and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille said the DA's billboard reveals the "truth" facing Gauteng residents: "The ANC showers in hotels. You have no water. Vote DA to put water in your taps."

Zille pointed out that the ANC had not cited any legal reason as to why the billboard should be removed and instead merely protested that the image was demeaning to Lesufi and tarnished his reputation.

"To the extent that the image is demeaning to Lesufi, that is because it reveals the truth of what the Premier said, and the water crisis that the ANC has created. It is nowhere near as demeaning as Lesufi's comments must be to Gauteng residents, when he implied that he knows their suffering because he must shower in fancy hotels.

"For the rest of us who cannot afford to pop in for a quick rinse down at the nearest boutique hotel, we continue to suffer the real consequences of the ANC's service delivery failures," said Zille.

INTERVENTIONS

Meanwhile, the party has identified the ongoing water challenges as a governance failure driven by financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.

The DA has launched legal proceedings against the City of Johannesburg to force the implementation of existing approved water infrastructure plans.

The party has also demanded that Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina relax Rand Water abstraction licences, allowing more water to be moved from the Vaal Dam into the national system.

The DA has also called for municipal councils to urgently ring-fence water and sanitation revenue to ensure funds are used for infrastructure upgrades and not diverted for use elsewhere in municipalities.

Africa's energy transition must support industrialisation, Ramaphosa tells Energy Indaba delegates

South Africa is seeking to expand its electricity transmission grid, which wis a R450-billion challenge, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his keynote address at the 2026 Africa Energy Indaba, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on March 4.

"The main focus in our country has really been the energy landscape and the reform thereof," he told the assembled delegates. "Electricity is an absolute necessity in the lives of all South Africans. Today, 93% of South African households have electricity."

However, the bulk of his address was concerned with Africa as a whole.

"The ambition to be greater is there, but what holds us back is lack of energy," he pointed out. "Without energy, the broader aspiration of development, of the integration, of the African continent, of access and inclusion, cannot be achieved."

Not that the continent lacked energy potential. It had many and large-scale energy resources, of many types, including 60% of the world's total solar potential. Further, it also had substantial critical mineral resources, needed by many modern technologies, including energy systems.

Yet the continent suffered from energy poverty, with 600-million Africans still having no access to electricity. "This energy gap exists in a context of a growing population."

Africa's aim was to be able to meet its energy needs, with affordable and sustainable energy, which allowed development, while also being resilient and competitive in the export of energy, he affirmed.

"Energy is not a luxury; it is a must," he asserted. "Without energy, the broader aspiration of development, of integration, of the African continent, of access and inclusion, cannot be achieved."

It was also a matter of equity and equality. It could not be allowed that so many Africans had no access to electricity. This was an issue that needed urgent attention. Electricity allowed development, job creation and improved lives. When the continent talked about energy, it also needed to talk about industrialisation.

"Africa's energy agenda must be linked to an industrial agenda," he stressed. "When this continent speaks about critical minerals, it must also speak about beneficiation [and] value-addition."

Developed countries have agreed that minerals should be beneficiated in the countries that produce them, he noted. For the energy transition in Africa to be just and inclusive, it had to support industrialisation and development. "The energy transition must be just!"

African countries needed to develop together, he emphasised. Energy integration was an objective of the African Union and was a necessity.

"Across Africa, the logic of integration is visible in regional power pools " he cited. "It's already happening. An integrated system allows resources to be used more efficiently." Such a system would also allow more competitive electricity markets and spread risk.

Such large-scale infrastructure projects required significant financial instruments that were aligned with long-term national development policies, as they involved substantial upfront investment and long-term stable returns. This required long-term policy stability.

Few African countries could afford to finance these projects with public funds, but public money could have a catalytic effect. The private sector and international financial institutions were essential.

"Africa can no longer be left behind," affirmed Ramaphosa. "We cannot be a stepchild any longer!"

MIDDLE EAST IMPACT The President also reflected on the heightened volatility in global energy markets in light of the war in the Middle East, which had resulted in the Strait of Hormuz – an important maritime trade route for cargo and oil and gas shipments – being inaccessible.

"Africa is already experiencing the impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which strains supply chains and [contributes to] higher energy prices. As we have ...

South Africa offers to mediate in Middle East conflict if asked

South Africa is willing to play a mediating role in the Middle East conflict if asked, President Cyril Ramaphosa told local media on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town.

"South Africa is always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever. And if a gap opens or if we are asked, we always live up to our obligations," Ramaphosa said, according to comments broadcast on local broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

"If the opportunity were to open, we would talk and say: there must be a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and then ending the war. And we want this war to come to an end immediately," he said.

Ramaphosa added that the South African government was doing everything it could to bring home its citizens stranded in the region.

Tributes pour in for Mosiuoa Lekota

"South Africa has lost a patriot, a freedom fighter, and a servant of the people whose life story is closely intertwined with the country's journey of struggle and the realisation of democracy," said President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, as he expressed sadness at the passing of former Premier of the Free State and co-founder of the Congress of the People (COPE) Mosiuoa Lekota.

Lekota, 77, passed away in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a prolonged battle with ill-health.

Ramaphosa described his life as one of resilience and courage, and said Lekota held a steadfast belief in justice.

"We honour him especially for his principled dedication to non-racialism during our struggle and in a liberated South Africa," said Ramaphosa.

Lekota served as the first Premier of the Free State from 1994 until 1996 and as Minister of Defence from 1999 until 2008 under President Thabo Mbeki.

Lekota was also a long-serving member and national chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC).

Lekota was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Council of Provinces, which allows communities all over the country to be heard and represented in the national legislature.

In 2008, following Mbeki's ouster as ANC and State President Lekota left the ANC to co-found COPE with former fellow National Assembly member Mbhazima Shilowa.

Ramaphosa said Lekota's establishment of COPE reflected his commitment to the values and principles by which he had lived.

"We will remember Mosiuoa for his patriotism, his intellect, and his personable nature, and we will continue to work for the inclusive, non-racial South Africa for which he sacrificed so much and worked so passionately," Ramaphosa ended.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen described Lekota as a patriot and a man of substance, saying his commitment to principled politics and his willingness to stand firm in defence of democratic values earned him respect across the political spectrum.

"One need not always have agreed with him to appreciate his dedication to our country's success. From his activism on the ground, to Robben Island, to democratic politics, he dedicated all he had to give to the service of the South African people," he stated.

Steenhuisen pointed out that Lekota contributed immensely to the country's democratic Parliament, and remained a steadfast advocate for constitutionalism, accountability, and the rule of law.

"This cost him more than many realise. He could have been a lifelong cadre, a beneficiary of rot and patronage. All he had to do was keep quiet. But he chose a different path, a more difficult one. He showed courage and inspired many, myself and many of my DA friends and colleagues included," he said.

He highlighted that while he and Lekota may have differed at times on matters of policy and approach, they shared a common commitment to upholding the Constitution and strengthening the country's democracy.

"South Africa has lost a seasoned leader whose voice and experience played an important role in shaping our country's democratic discourse," Steenhuisen said.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said Lekota's passing marked the departure of a figure whose life intersected with important moments in the history of South Africa and the struggle for freedom.

In commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the Constitution and Human Rights Month, the party stated that Lekota left an "indelible footprint" beside these milestones.

GOOD Party leader Patricia de Lille extended her heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lekota.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Lekota family and the members of COPE during this time of mourning. May his soul rest in peace," she said.

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) Chief Whip in the National Assembly Nhlanhla Hadebe said Lekota would be remembered for his "fearless" leadership during the struggle against apartheid, his dedicatio...

Govt affirms importance of preserving heritage, unveils Mandela, Tambo statues

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in erecting former President Nelson Mandela and former African National Congress (ANC) President Oliver Reginald Tambo's statues, government is affirming the importance of preserving the country's heritage for the benefit of future generations.

Speaking during the unveiling of the statues in KwaZulu-Natal, Ramaphosa announced that eThekwini would be the venue for the forty-sixth Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to be held in August.

He explained that having Mandela's and Tambo's statues in the same city honours their "distinct but interlocking contributions and roles in the liberation struggle".

Ramaphosa said the statues were a "worthy recognition" of the progress made by all social partners in restoring confidence in Durban as a city, and encouraged completion of this work.

"We look forward, as the chair of SADC, to invite leaders from across the region to gather here in eThekwini – where the African Union was launched – to deliberate on issues that are critical to the growth and development of Southern Africa," he stated.

He said it would be a fitting tribute to Mandela and Tambo's legacies.

"Monuments of this nature are important for preserving our history and heritage. They anchor the collective memory of a nation. They are important as a public affirmation of the values which these leaders represented and the principles for which they fought," Ramaphosa expressed.

He argued that statues such as these provoked questions and initiated conversations not only about their value but also about the country's past.

"…the presence of Mandela and Tambo in bronze ensures that their stories and, indeed, the story of our country remains embedded in the landscape of daily life, not confined to textbooks," he said.

The statues have been unveiled in the year that South Africa celebrate 30 years of the adoption of its democratic Constitution.

Ramaphosa reminisced that it was Tambo who initiated the drafting of the ANC's Constitutional Principles, which were developed while liberation movements were still banned and while apartheid oppression was at its height.

And 10 years later, Mandela signed South Africa's democratic Constitution into law.

Ramaphosa said these statues were more than just art.

"These statues are promises – promises made by a free people to themselves that they will not forget what it cost to be free.

"The erection of the statues is an act of national gratitude, of saying to those who gave everything, and to the Mandela and Tambo families, that we do remember the sacrifices that they made by both these leaders and their families," Ramaphosa added.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

Ramaphosa noted that the relationship between Mandela and Tambo was founded in a desire for justice, saying they sought to solve conflict through dialogue.

"These men of peace would have been gravely concerned by the conflict underway in the Middle East. They would have called for the United Nations Charter to be respected and upheld. They would have joined us in calling for an immediate ceasefire and for the conflict to be resolved through meaningful and earnest negotiations," he said.

The Middle East is experiencing a massive regional escalation in conflict, following a joint US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, in which Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.