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SAJFP wants S Africa to cut all ties with Israel after diplomat's expulsion

South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) on Friday urged the South African government to immediately sever all diplomatic ties with Israel, alleging hypocrisy that undermines the country's moral stance.

SAJFP said while it commended the expulsion of Israel's top diplomat Ariel Seidman, it wanted the South African government to act with "full consistency and moral courage".

Last week, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) declared Seidman persona non grata, ordering him to leave the country.

Dirco cited several "unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms" as grounds for his removal, such as the repeated use of official social media platforms to launch "insulting attacks" against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

While the SAJFP supported Seidman's expulsion, it said "hypocrisy" undermined South Africa's moral stance.

"…our government rightly took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), presenting overwhelming evidence of genocidal acts and intent against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Yet, even as it pursues this historic case, South Africa continues to trade with Israel, implicating itself in the very crimes it prosecutes," it explained.

The organisation pointed out that since the instituting of a coal embargo against Israel by Columbia, South Africa had become the largest provider of coal to Israel, primarily through Glencore.

It highlighted that the ICJ itself listed coal as a dual-use item, essential for both domestic and military purposes.

"This trade directly contravenes the ICJ's ruling of July 2024, which ordered States to halt aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel's illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

"It also defies the will of the international community, as expressed in the United Nations General Assembly vote calling on States to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation," said the SAJFP.

The organisation argued that South Africa cannot credibly accuse Israel of genocide at the ICC while fuelling its economy and its conflict with Palestine.

"To do so compromises both our case and our diplomatic stand," it said.

As a result, the SAJFP wants the government to impose an "immediate and comprehensive" embargo on all trade with Israel, beginning with the cessation of all coal exports.

"It is time to end the farce. It is time to align our actions with our principles, our legal arguments, and our historic duty. South Africa must end all ties with Israel," it said.

The organisation said expelling Seidman was a "justified assertion" of the country's dignity.

"However, the cynical response from the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) - which falsely frames this diplomatic defence of sovereignty as an attack on humanitarian aid - reveals the very contempt for South Africa that made the expulsion necessary," it added.

The SAJFP hit back at the SAZF's statement, calling it a "deliberate distraction" from Israel's criminal actions and its "disdain" for international law and the South African State.

The SAZF described Seidman's expulsion as an "act of staggering moral bankruptcy", attacking the African National Congress for "ideological hostility".

Parly defends Speaker's decision to block subpoenas of witnesses in Saps probe

Parliament has rubbished claims that National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza is protecting or shielding Paul O'Sullivan and Brian Mogotsi from appearing before the Ad Hoc Committee established to investigate allegations made by the South African Police Service's KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Political parties have accused Didiza of shielding O'Sullivan and Mogotsi, after she declined to approve subpoenas for them.

"These assertions are incorrect and mischaracterise both the Speaker's role and the legal basis upon which the decisions in question were taken," said Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo.

Mothapo said Didiza's decision was made after "careful and considered" assessment of the committee's requests.

"These are not decisions that can be taken arbitrarily. They are firmly grounded in the constitutional and legal framework governing Parliament's powers, including the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, the Rules of the National Assembly, and the established principle that Parliament must act lawfully and rationally to avoid exposing its processes to unnecessary judicial review," he said.

O'Sullivan offered to testify from a South African embassy but refused to appear in person, citing alleged death threats, while Mogotsi refused to appear unless Parliament funded a private security detail of his choice.

This after other witnesses testifying in the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System were assassinated or had attempts made on their lives.

In the committee's investigation, Mothapo said witnesses' security concerns were not properly engaged on.

"There is no indication, on the record, that the committee considered whether his [O'Sullivan] circumstances amounted to 'exceptional circumstances' under its own Terms of Reference, or to 'sufficient cause' as contemplated in law," said Mothapo.

He also placed it on record that O'Sullivan cooperated with the committee by engaging with its evidence leaders virtually and by submitting a written statement.

Mothapo highlighted that Didiza requested that the committee properly engage with the reasons given by both witnesses and show how those concerns were considered and addressed.

The Speaker wants evidence on whether O'Sullivan's application to appear virtually was formally tabled, and whether members considered his reasons, including his location abroad and security concerns.

She also wants to know if a reasoned and legally justifiable decision was reached and properly recorded; whether Mogotsi's security concerns were formally tabled and considered; whether the nature and credibility of the risks he raised were assessed; if the reasonableness of proposed security measures was evaluated; and whether any threat or risk assessments were considered.

Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Committee is expected to complete its work by February 20.

Last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the deadline for completion owing to the workload of the committee.

The committee's initial deadline was end of October 2025, which was extended to end of November 2025.

DA announces W Cape mayoral candidates

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday announced eight of its 30 Western Cape mayoral candidates ahead of the upcoming local government elections, assuring that candidates are fit for purpose.

The DA governs the majority of the 30 municipalities in the Western Cape, including the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality.

While the province has 30 municipalities in total, the DA has sustained dominant control over most, with 20 DA-run municipalities receiving clean audits in 2024.

Beaufort West municipality will be represented by Gina Duimpies, Central Karoo district municipality by October Haarvoor, Hessequa municipality by Gerald Boezak, Kannaland municipality by Joslyn Johnson, Laingsburg municipality by Aletta Theron, Overberg municipality by Dr Annelie Rabie, Cape Winelands municipality by Antoinette Steyn and Knysna municipality by Levael Davis.

DA leader John Steenhuisen stated that the DA was renewing a promise with these candidates.

"A promise that towns, cities and municipalities in the Western Cape will continue to work for all who live here, and that we stand ready to extend the DA difference, a proven record of good governance across the province, and indeed the country," he said.

DA federal chairperson Dr Ivan Meyer said these candidates were "capable, competent" and understood their local communities.

"All politics are local, and candidates must be familiar with local issues, such as water, sanitation, refuse collection, public transport as well as house and health matters in their local communities," he said.

The candidates went through a "thorough" selection process, he assured.

Steenhuisen pointed out that for nearly two decades, the DA had governed the Western Cape, noting the successes the party had achieved in job creation.

"Since taking over provincial government in 2009, more than 500 000 jobs have been created. Over R50-billion in investment has flowed into the Western Cape. And we continue to have the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa.

"This is not by accident, but by design. Where the DA governs, opportunity follows," he assured.

However, he acknowledged that crime was a major issue in South Africa.

"The DA is serious about safety. Crime destroys lives and robs communities of hope. That is why the DA-led Western Cape has taken a hard-headed, compassionate approach, tackling both crime itself and the social conditions that drive it. We need both tough government action and resilient communities to deal with this scourge," he said.

He pointed out that DA-run municipalities continued to achieve the best audit outcomes from the Auditor-General.

Steenhuisen said the DA continued to grow, noting the recent by-elections, in which the DA took two wards from the African National Congress in the Western Cape.

He explained that this was proof that more voters wanted "capable, honest government".

Steenhuisen, who announced on Wednesday that he would not seek a third term as federal leader of the party in April, said he achieved his goal for the party: to take it into national government and grow its support base.

He reiterated that he believed he was handing over a party in much better shape than it was handed to him in 2019.

"I am full of hope and confidence in the direction our country is going, because of the great strides the DA has made in recent years, at local and national level.

"But our work is not done. And neither is my own work done. I will continue to labour for South Africans in delivering on the promise of a better life, a life with jobs, security, and services, a life of dignity where individuals are empowered through education and their life chances are determined by their abilities and not by their circumstances," he stated.

Tau heads to China, seeking duty-free export access

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau will travel to China from Thursday to Saturday to sign the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, which will see South African exports gain duty-free access to the Chinese market, Tau's office said.

South Africa is seeking to boost exports amid a tariff row with the United States, its second-largest bilateral trading partner after China.

US President Donald Trump imposed a 30% tariff on South African exports to the US in August, the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tau's trip to China "comes at a time when South Africa is pursuing an objective of market diversification and export growth," his office said in a statement on Thursday.

Tau will also meet Chinese companies interested in investing in South Africa on his visit.

Geordin Hill-Lewis considers running for DA leader

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said on Thursday that he was considering running for the leadership of the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-biggest party in South Africa's coalition government.

Current DA leader John Steenhuisen announced on Wednesday that he would not seek re-election at a party leadership contest in April, prompting speculation about who will take over.

Political analysts consider Hill-Lewis, who has served as mayor of Cape Town since 2021, a favourite for the post.

"After John Steenhuisen's announcement yesterday, I have been approached by many party members to stand for the position of Federal Leader," Hill-Lewis wrote in a statement posted on X.

Hill-Lewis said he would only confirm whether he would run for the DA leadership later this month, in line with internal party rules on when public campaigning can start.

"If I do stand for election as DA Leader, I would welcome a robust and principled process focused on competing ideas for the future of our party and our country. We have many excellent leaders, and an open exchange of ideas can only strengthen us," he posted.

Whatever his decision, he said he would seek a second term as Cape Town mayor in local government elections expected to happen late this year.

The coalition government was formed in June 2024 after the biggest party, the African National Congress (ANC), lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of white minority rule in 1994.

The DA has 22% of seats in the lower house of parliament and the ANC 41%.

Trump signs extension of Africa duty-free trade programme, USTR says

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a law extending a preferential trade programme for Africa through December 31, effective retroactively from September 30, 2025, the chief US trade negotiator said.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said his office would work with Congress this year to update the programme to provide more market access for US businesses, farmers and ranchers, and to align with Trump's America First trade policy. The African Growth and Opportunity Act, first enacted in 2000 to provide duty-free access to the US market for eligible Sub-Saharan African countries covering more than 1 800 products, expired in September, putting at risk hundreds of thousands of African jobs.

The US House of Representatives last month passed legislation to extend the law for three years, but the Senate later reduced the extension to one year, which the House concurred with.

Extension of the trade programme comes amid strained relations between the United States and South Africa, Africa's largest economy. Trump last year boycotted a meeting of the Group of 20 major economies hosted by South Africa, which held the rotating G20 presidency. Trump later said South Africa would not be invited to G20 meetings hosted this year by the United States, which assumed the group's presidency in December.

South African Trade Minister Parks Tau last month welcomed passage of the extension, saying it would "provide certainty and predictability for African and American businesses that rely on the programme."

USTR said it would work with relevant agencies to implement any modifications made to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States as a result of the legislation reauthorising AGOA.

To qualify for AGOA's duty-free treatment, countries must establish or make continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process, USTR said.

Additionally, countries must eliminate barriers to US trade and investment, enact policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and protect human rights, it noted.

South Africa to raise minimum wage 5%, exceeding expectations

South Africa will increase the national minimum wage for this year by more than the rate of inflation and exceeding the expectations of businesses and analysts.

The hourly minimum will rise 5% to R30.23 from next month, the government said in a notice on Tuesday. That is more than the 4.7% average advance in wages analysts, businesses and labour unions expected for 2026, according to survey released by the Bureau for Economic Research on December 12.

Consumer prices rose an annual 3.6% in December, while the average for 2025 cooled to 3.2%, according to Statistics South Africa.

While the minimum wage was introduced in January 2019 to try and reduce the pay gap in one of the world's most unequal societies, the latest increment won't be enough to raise the living standards of a large part of the working population who spend the biggest proportion of their money on food. About the 32% of the people in the labour market are unemployed. When including discouraged job seekers, the rate expands to about 42%.

The economy of Africa's most industrialised nation hasn't grown by more than 1% annually for the past decade.

AgriSA, South Africa's biggest farmers' lobby group, said that the timing of the adjustment will put additional pressure on a sector already under strain.

"Agriculture is emerging from consecutive years of contraction caused by drought, climate volatility, and animal disease outbreaks," it said in a statement. "While parts of the sector are showing recovery in 2025, this recovery remains fragile and uneven."

The Congress of South African Trade Unions, the nation's top labour federation, had tabled a slightly higher proposal.

The additional pay "will inject badly needed stimulus into the economy, spurring growth, sustaining and creating jobs," Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks said in a statement.

Steenhuisen ends 'mission' as DA leader

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election for a third term at the party's upcoming Federal Congress.

Speaking in his hometown of Durban, he said he was handing over the reins to a "fundamentally healthier party than the one I inherited".

Steenhuisen said "it is mission accomplished for me".

He will continue to serve as Agriculture Minister in the Government of National Unity (GNU).

He views the agriculture ministry as a full-time job, citing the urgent need to address the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.

"For the rest of this term of office, I will focus all my time and energy as Minister of Agriculture on defeating the most devastating foot-and-mouth disease outbreak our country has ever seen, and to pursue mass vaccination to ensure that this is the last mass outbreak of FMD our country ever sees," he stated.

He argued that it would be unfair to South Africa's farmers for him to split his time between battling the worst FMD outbreak, while also running an internal campaign for the next three months and then leading a local government election campaign.

Meanwhile, Steenhuisen attributed growth in the party to his leadership, stating that the party he inherited in 2019 was "in crisis".

"In the long story of the DA and its predecessors, dating back at least to 1959, there is only one leadership era that will ever be remembered for marshalling our party across the Rubicon, into national government," he stated.

He reminisced that in April 2023, following his re-election as federal leader, he announced that the DA was ready to take this "Moonshot".

"That we were going to shed our image as a party that only shouted at others from the comfort of the side-lines, and mature into a party that gets stuck in to fix the country we all love," he said.

Steenhuisen highlighted that after the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time since 1994, and after the emergence of Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, the DA was spurred on in its mission, resulting in the DA successfully negotiating the formation of the GNU with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He noted that DA members were sworn in as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Speaker, chairpersons and Portfolio Committee chairs in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, as well as MECs and Deputy Speaker in KwaZulu-Natal – in addition to retaining outright control of the Western Cape.

"…this outcome, which included the Democratic Alliance's ascension to national power, constituted the single greatest achievement in the history of our party.

"Against all the odds, a party that once languished at 1.7% of the national vote, that was subsequently seen as little more than a regional party and regarded as too arrogant and oppositional to play any national role, now carried the hopes and dreams of our 3.5-million voters into national government for the first time ever," he pointed out.

Steenhuisen noted that the GNU had more than doubled economic growth during its first calendar year in office, noting major contributions he claimed were made by the party through its victory against a proposed VAT increase last year, in favour of deeper and faster economic reform.

"South Africa recently got its first credit rating upgrade in 20 years, and we have been removed from the Financial Action Task Force's grey list. Growth projections are improving across the board, and unemployment has started to tick down.

"Of course, we have much more to do, but there is no doubt that South Africa's economy is on the up, after more than a decade of rapid decline," he said.

He attributed some of the economic success to the DA at municipal, provincial and national levels, citing the success of DA Ministers in various ministerial portfolios.

Steenhuisen said he has opened major agricultural export markets in the last 18 months.

He pointed out that systemic reform was underw...

Salga urges consistent municipal payment amid rising debt, better service delivery demanded

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) is urging government departments, businesses and households to meet their obligations by paying for municipal services, including rates and taxes, as it expressed concerns about rising municipal debt owing to arrears.

Salga Gauteng chairperson Jongizizwe Dlabathi explained that weak revenue collection systems, high consumer debt, ineffective credit control and inadequate enforcement mechanisms contributed significantly to deteriorating municipal cash flows.

Dlabathi advised that consistent payment was central to restoring municipal financial stability and safeguarding service delivery.

The association said it had repeatedly advocated stronger intergovernmental coordination, clear consequence management and collaborative interventions to address debt owed by State entities to municipalities.

"...ensuring the long-term sustainability of municipalities requires coordinated policy responses, improved funding frameworks, and shared accountability across the intergovernmental system," he said.

Municipalities deliver nearly half of all public services but receive a disproportionately small share of funding relative to their service delivery responsibilities, Dlabathi explained.

"This long-standing imbalance undermines municipalities' ability to sustainably finance basic services, address infrastructure backlogs, and meet constitutional obligations," he noted.

Salga repeated its calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the local government funding model for "adequate, predictable, and equitable" funding for all municipalities.

MUNICIPAL UNDERSPENDING

Dlabathi said while progress was being made on municipal underspending, there were serious concerns over continued underspending on municipal capital budgets, with expenditure regularly falling below the accepted benchmark of 95%.

This underperformance hindered infrastructure delivery and directly affected the provision of basic services to communities, he noted.

The association urged municipalities to strengthen supply chain planning, conclude procurement processes earlier in the financial year and improve contract management.

Dlabathi stated that preventing project delays, cost overruns, and the rolling over of funds was essential to improving service delivery.

Salga said it agreed with Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile that transparent reporting on municipal financial performance was fundamental to strengthening accountability, promoting good governance and ensuring communities understood how public funds were managed.

ANCYL wants youth unemployment declared national disaster

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) on Tuesday stated that it wants government to declare youth unemployment a national disaster, as it challenges the country's youth to actively participate in local government by contesting as ward councillors in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

Over the weekend, the ANCYL convened its first meeting of the national executive committee (NEC), in Mpumalanga, where it said it had received a comprehensive political economy and organisational performance overview focusing on the lived realities of young people in South Africa.

It said youth unemployment had reached crisis proportions and it wanted government to declare it a national disaster.

According to Statistics South Africa, more than 43.2% young people were not in employment, education or training in 2024.

The youth league's NEC wants the immediate accelerated industrialisation, localisation and expansion of public and community employment programmes.

The ANCYL said the global order was shifting and in some cases rupturing.

ANCYL secretary-general Tsakani Shiviti said global trade relations were being reconfigured, external shocks were accelerating structural change, and geopolitics had become a "decisive terrain of struggle".

"...in this moment, neutrality is not an option, progressive forces must choose a side. In a world of constant upheaval, including the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and technological disruption, the pressure to innovate and transform is immense.

"The rules of the game are continuously rewritten. This reality demands that South Africa position itself decisively economically, politically and socially, while advancing progressive gender relations and building a truly inclusive society that leaves no young person behind," she said.

The youth league wants the State to intervene in the economy to drive industrialisation, job creation and inclusive growth, through projects such as upgrading the country's rail infrastructure, though it was emphatic that this must not be done through privatisation.

"...we reject, without compromise, all attempts to privatise or commodify State-owned infrastructure. Instead, the democratic State must mobilise developmental finance, including borrowing from the BRICS New Development Bank, to modernise and expand rail infrastructure in the interests of national development and economic sovereignty," Shiviti said.