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DA wants Matthew Goniwe School investigated amid claims of budget cuts for schools

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has maintained that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has reduced all quintile five schools' budgets by 64%, despite denials from the GDE, and now the party wants Parliament's Education Portfolio Committee to investigate the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance to determine how public money is being used to fund the institution.

Last week, the GDE rejected the DA's claims that it had cut funding to quintile five schools by 64%, saying the claims were false, misleading, and reckless, and that they represented a deliberate distortion of information.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, DA Gauteng Education spokesperson Michael Waters said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane had a meeting with all affected school principals, in November, to inform them of the alleged budget cuts.

"...so, the fact that the GED is now pretending that they haven't made these unjustifiable cuts to the budgets of quintile five schools is just "gobsmacking".

"They are backtracking. They obviously, I believe, are embarrassed about what they've done, because while they had to balance the budget, no doubt, they took the easiest possible route in doing so, and that was attacking children's education, the frontline services for children. Instead of looking at the fat in the budget and cutting from there," Waters stated.

However, in a departmental statement, Chiloane insisted that at no point had the GDE implemented a 64% reduction in school funding, explaining that the department had implemented an "interim funding realignment process", which he said was necessitated by severe budget reductions imposed by National Treasury, and which affected all provinces.

Waters said the reduced funding, which he said was between R600 000 and R800 000 per school, would be disastrous for schools, and noted that the last assessment to determine which quintile schools should fall into was over 20 years ago, arguing that now some quintile five schools no longer necessarily fall into this classification.

"A lot has changed in 20 years, and you cannot tell me that the same demographics or the same resources the parents had 20 years ago are the same at every school. So, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis that most families are facing, it's going to place a huge burden on overstretched families already," he explained.

The party had since launched a petition to stop the Gauteng provincial government's 64% cut, to reverse it and to table a transparent, line-by-line justification for any proposed budget changes.

He argued that the money being used to fund the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance should rather be used to fund schools that were affected by the GDE's interim funding realignment process.

Waters claimed that the Matthew Goniwe School played "no formal role" but received millions from the GED.

In the forthcoming 2026/27 budget, the Matthew Goniwe School would receive R397-million, Waters pointed out.

He claimed that there had been no oversight of the institution since its establishment in 2019.

In September, the DA asked the Public Protector to investigate GDE's alleged failure to oversee spending at the Matthew Goniwe School.

Polity has reached out to the GDE for comment and will update this article once it has been received.

Ramaphosa pays tribute to Freedom Charter's last surviving signatory

Levy joined South Africa's Communist Party at the age of 24, after which he became leader of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.

Both brothers were arrested in 1956 and charged with high treason. Norman was discharged and Leon was acquitted in 1961.

He went into exile in England, where he was joined by his brother.

"As we mark 70 years since the Treason Trial of 1956, we are obliged to pay tribute to the cohort of leaders and other activists who fought the apartheid state based on their belief in the inherent equality and dignity of all people. Leon Levy attached his signature to the Freedom Charter that lives on in our Constitution whose 30th anniversary we observe as well in 2026. Leon Levy was part of a generation whose contributions to a better life and a better world for all South Africans and humanity globally must never be forgotten or dishonoured," the Presidency said in a statement.

Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to Levy's family and friends and also noted the struggle contributions of Levy's twin brother, Norman, who passed away in July 2021.

Levy, who was accused number four in the Treason Trial in 1956, was one of the organisers of the Congress of the People which adopted the Freedom Charter on June 26, 1955, alongside signatories such as African National Congress president Chief Albert Luthuli, Jimmy La Guma of the South African Coloured People's Congress, Monty Naicker of the Natal Indian Congress and Pieter Beyleveld of the Congress of Democrats.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded Leon Levy, South Africa's last surviving signatory of the historic Freedom Charter, following news of his passing at the age of 96.

Energy security, infrastructure development crucial for sustained investment momentum in SA – Nedbank report

Speaking during the release of Nedbank Capital Expenditure Project Listing 2025 report, he explained that significant progress was recorded in the electricity sector, with regulatory approvals and institutional developments that are advancing the transition to a competitive electricity market.

He noted that State-owned rail enterprise Transnet had maintained improved operational performance, which was reflected in higher rail volumes and continued progress with fleet renewal.

A major milestone was reached with the signing of the long-term concession agreement for Durban Container Terminal Pier 2, unlocking investment in port capacity and technology, he noted.

"Sustained progress in implementing reform commitments has resulted in higher policy credibility and growing confidence in South Africa's growth trajectory. Across all reform areas, the emphasis in the next quarter will be on completing outstanding regulatory processes, operationalising new institutions, and accelerating project implementation to ensure reforms translate into tangible economic and service delivery outcomes," he added.

The Nedbank Capital Expenditure Project Listing 2025 report points out that the country's outlook for fixed investment is cautiously optimistic, with expected improvements in gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and private sector participation.

It notes that continued focus on energy security and infrastructure development will be crucial for sustaining investment momentum in the coming years.

The bank explains that GFCF is expected to improve from -2.3% in 2025 to 2.0% in 2026, with a projection of a sub-par 1.9% over the next three years.

Nedbank highlights that the recovery in GFCF is driven by stronger domestic demand, lower risk premiums, and falling borrowing costs.

The public sector also appeared better placed to execute its ambitious infrastructure plans.

"Despite pockets of improvement, the underlying conditions for broad-based investment growth remain weak," added Dicks.

The bank's Capital Expenditure Project Listing for last year indicates a significant increase in fixed investment plans, driven primarily by the private sector.

The electricity, gas, and water sectors led investments at R415.6-billion, reflecting ongoing efforts to address the country's hindering energy crisis, highlighted Dicks.

Dicks said Eskom's R320-billion infrastructure overhaul was a major contributor, representing 77% of the sector's projects and 45.3% of total announcements.

Investments in renewable energy were a key focus, with projects aimed at diversifying the energy mix and enhancing energy security, he added.

The bank explains that fixed investment plans rose by 16.4% year-on-year last year, highlighting the total value of new projects, which increased from R606.3-billion in 2024 to R705.6-billion in 2025.

Dicks explained that private sector project announcements surged from R116.2-billion in 2024 to R382.5-billion in 2025.

Public corporations accounted for 45% of the total planned project value, while general government project announcements declined.

Investments are heavily concentrated in the energy sector, highlighting its importance for capital formation.

The recovery in private sector announcements is supported by improved macroeconomic conditions, including lower inflation and a stronger rand.

A decline in new public sector announcements follows a surge in 2024, with many projects still in early implementation stages.

The bank notes that the improvement in investment fundamentals is evident, with declining credit default swap spreads and lower long-term interest rates.

However, high operating costs and excess capacity in certain sectors pose risks to private sector investment.

The lack of visible progress on large-scale public infrastructure projects is a constraint on broader investment growth.

LOCAL GOVERNEMNT

Meanwhile, Dicks poin...

Ramaphosa says record number of tourists a vote of confidence in South African brand

South Africa saw the record-breaking arrival of 10.5-million tourists between January and December last year, the highest ever recorded in the country.

Ramaphosa said this was also a vote of confidence in South African tourism, a sector he said had potential for further growth.

He noted the benefits for improved tourism numbers to local economies and businesses, as well as job growth.

"It is estimated that tourism currently sustains 1.8-million direct and indirect jobs, with one job created for every 13 international arrivals. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism contributes nearly 9% to our country's GDP… An increase in international visitors is also a vote of confidence in South Africa's brand appeal, and in our reputation as a safe, reliable, value-for-money tourism destination," he highlighted.

As a result, government has expressed determination to grow the sector through a stronger regulatory and policy environment, with improved collaboration with the private sector, labour and other sectors.

Ramaphosa pointed to the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, which aims to improve tourism through initiatives such as the expanded Electronic Travel Authorisation system, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme and improved connectivity with more direct flights into the country.

The President also pointed to the deployment of more tourism monitors and the creation of a crime call centre spearheaded by the private sector to assist in reducing crime directed at tourists.

Further, he stressed the importance of improving tourism as a way to improve diplomatic relations with various countries.

"South Africa's expanding global tourism footprint, supported by intensive destination marketing and branding, is an important part of our country's public diplomacy. The more tourists that arrive from a given country, the greater the likelihood of strengthening diplomatic relations with that country," he said.

He also noted R1-billion in tourism infrastructure investment projects, which he said showed investor confidence in South Africa.

Government is investing in increasing Chinese tourism by offering funded Mandarin training for registered freelance and full-time tourism guides.

"Retaining our reputation as a tourism destination of choice is a society-wide effort, one in which communities have a particularly important role to play. Every South African should be a tourism ambassador and every community a potential tourist attraction. Our country is rich in natural beauty, history and culture, with much of this potential untapped," Ramaphosa said.

The record number of tourists in South Africa in 2025 is a vote of confidence in South Africa's brand appeal, said President Cyril Ramaphosa, as he revealed that government was increasing collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen the industry.

MKP wants Batohi's pension withheld pending Nkabinde inquiry outcome

Batohi is required to vacate her office this month, as she reaches the age of 65.

The original date for the completion of the inquiry and submission of a final report was January 30, 2026.

The MKP argued that public funds cannot lawfully be paid out while allegations of misconduct, dereliction of duty and possible perjury remain on record.

The party said the Nkabinde inquiry has already placed before the public prima face evidence that raises concerns about Batohi's fitness for office, including contradictory testimony under oath, unresolved discrepancies between her version and documentary evidence.

The party claimed that she failed to handle and safeguarded sensitive prosecutorial matters; and said her withdrawal from the inquiry proceedings was unlawful.

The MKP said it conveyed its demand to Ramaphosa, Batohi and relevant State institutions responsible for authorising or processing the pension, including National Treasury, the Government Employees Pension Fund and the National Prosecuting Authority.

"Allowing benefits to be paid under these circumstances would expose the State to irregular expenditure, undermine public confidence in the National Prosecuting Authority, and reward conduct that is fundamentally incompatible with constitutional standards of accountability and integrity," it argued.

The party also wants the Presidency to establish an inquiry to determine whether Batohi's conduct disqualifies her from receiving her pension benefits or to ensure that any payment made is subject to the State's full right of recovery, and a formal undertaking that the funds will not be dissipated.

The party warned that should the Presidency or any of the institutions fail to act, it will take legal action.

The inquiry is investigating whether Advocate Andrew Chauke, the Director of Public Prosecutions for the South Gauteng Division, remains fit to continue to hold office.

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya announced that Ramaphosa had extended the completion date for the Nkabinde inquiry to June 30.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party on Friday approached the Presidency to withhold outgoing National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi's pension benefits, pending the finalisation of issues arising from the Nkabinde Inquiry.

MPC member Chris Loewald to leave Reserve Bank

The head of economic research at South Africa's central bank is taking early retirement from the institution, reducing the number of voting members on the monetary policy committee.

"The process of appointing his successor is currently under way," the bank said.

Loewald headed the bank's economic research department, overseeing forecasting, global economic analysis and the publication of the Monetary Policy Review.

Loewald's exit will leave the MPC with five members including Governor Lesetja Kganyago, who will hold the deciding vote in the event of a tie on monetary-policy decisions until a new member of the committee is appointed. The MPC delivered its first interest-rate decision of the year on Thursday, when it held the benchmark policy rate at 6.75%.

Chris Loewald, who joined the South African Reserve Bank in 2011 after working for more than a decade at the National Treasury, will step down effective March 1, the central bank said in a statement on Friday.

South Africa kicks out Israel's top diplomat

A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy declined to comment.

"These violations include the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks" on Ramaphosa, as well as a "deliberate failure" to notify the South African authorities about visits by senior Israeli officials.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have been strained since South Africa brought a genocide case over Israel's actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice. Israel has rejected the case as baseless.

South African lawmakers in 2023 voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations over the war in Gaza, but that decision was never implemented.

The South African foreign ministry accused embassy chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman of "unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa's sovereignty".

South Africa declared the top diplomat at Israel's embassy persona non grata on Friday and ordered him out of the country within 72 hours, for what it called repeated violations of diplomatic norms, including insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa.

ANC makes commitments to improve municipalities ahead of election

Ahead of South Africa's 2026 local government election, the African National Congress (ANC) has committed itself to restore functionality and credibility in local government.

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula assured that this would be done through professionalising the interface between municipal political leadership and administrative leadership, strengthening financial management and billing systems, eliminating unfunded budgets, filling funded vacancies with skilled personnel, and enforcing consequence management for maladministration and corruption.

He said the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) Lekgotla declared 2026 the Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government, affirming the implementation of the Local Government Action Plan (LGAP), adopted at the Councillor roll-call in September.

He highlighted that water provision, electricity supply, road maintenance, sanitation, refuse removal, human settlements and local economic development were central to restoring public confidence and dignity.

He also promised that service delivery 'war rooms' were being restructured, consolidated and strengthened on the back of lessons learned from the local, district/metro, provincial and national levels and revealed that the ANC would soon launch a toll-free service delivery hotline.

Mbalula explained that the Lekgotla further resolved that rapid-response technical teams should be deployed to priority municipalities, and that weekly monitoring of delivery performance be instituted.

"Priority workstreams include water reticulation, road rehabilitation, energy network stability, clean towns and cities, human settlements delivery, climate-resilient infrastructure and local job creation," he said.

Mbalula blamed uneven execution, coordination and capacity, rather than a lack of policies, as the major challenge.

The NEC Lekgotla resolved to strengthen intergovernmental coordination, align planning and budgeting across spheres, and speed up the professionalisation of public service.

The ANC also promised to intensify oversight over governance performance, while supporting capacity-building interventions.

The Lekgotla further reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the tripartite alliance as well as partnerships with labour, business, civil society, traditional leaders and progressive formations.

MULTILATERALISM

Meanwhile, the NEC Lekgotla reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to progressive internationalism, Pan-Africanism and principled multilateralism.

Mbalula said the Lekgotla noted the erosion of multilateral institutions, the rise of unilateralism and the persistence of global inequality, which he said posed serious challenges to peace, development and sovereignty, particularly for developing countries.

"In this context, South Africa's foreign policy remains firmly anchored in the values of justice, equality, solidarity, peaceful resolution of conflict and respect for international law.

"The NEC Lekgotla reaffirmed that Africa remains the primary pillar of South Africa's international engagement. South Africa will continue to strengthen African unity and regional integration through active participation in continental and regional structures, prioritising political stability, peacebuilding, economic integration, infrastructure connectivity and industrial development, as envisaged in the African Union's Agenda 2063," he stated.

At a global level, he said South Africa would continue to work with "like-minded countries" of the Global South to promote a more equitable international economic order, fair trade, development financing, solidarity, peace and inclusive global decision-making. Multilateralism remained essential to addressing global challenges such as climate change, conflict, poverty and inequality, he added.

"Our country will neither be bullied nor be reckless, but will act in a principled, sovereign and r...

Ramaphosa wants special task team to investigate those implicated in Madlanga Commission report

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday directed acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Commissioner of the South African Police Service General Fannie Masemola to constitute a special investigations task team to investigate prima facie evidence of wrongdoing by people identified in the Madlanga Commission's interim report.

The Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi and Advocate Sandile Khumalo, submitted its interim report to the President in December.

Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System in July 2025, following allegations made by South African Police Service (Saps) KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about the existence and operation of a criminal syndicate that had allegedly infiltrated the criminal justice system.

The commission has made several referrals concerning allegations of criminality, corruption, fraud, murder, perjury and other unlawful actions by officials and officers in the employ of the Saps, City of Ekurhuleni and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD).

Prima facie evidence of wrongdoing in the Saps has been found against Major General Lesetja Senona, Major General Richard Shibiri, Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu, Brigadier Rachel Matjeng, and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi.

Prima facie evidence of wrongdoing by current and former employees of the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality (EMM) was also identified by the Commission and implicates suspended EMPD chief of police Commissioner Julius Mkhwanazi, EMPD officer Bafana Twala, EMPD officer Aiden McKenzie, EMPD officer Kershia Leigh Stols, EMM former city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi, EMM fleet manager/proxy Chris Steyn, EMM head of department of human resources Linda Gxasheka, EMM head of legal Advocate Kemi Behari and Etienne van der Walt.

Ramaphosa said he accepted the recommendations made in the interim report and welcomed the referrals by the Commission for immediate criminal investigations and urgent decisions on prosecution, as well as recommendations on the employment status and recommended suspension of some individuals.

The President said the establishment of a special task team is critical to ensure that these investigations take place as a matter of urgency.

The Commission will make referrals to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on the status of their investigations and seek explanations for any delays.

Some of the implicated individuals will also return to the Commission to respond to allegations presented against them, while more witness testimony is expected.

The Commission emphasised that, except for EMPD chief Mkhwanazi, it had not yet heard responses from some of the relevant persons identified, thus the allegations against them remain prima facie allegations only and are not findings of the Commission.

"The nature of these allegations, however, warrants the referrals for further investigation and potential disciplinary, prosecutorial or regulatory action right away," he said.

Reserve Bank keeps repo rate steady in split decision

South Africa's central bank kept its main lending rate unchanged at 6.75% on Thursday, saying it wanted to see inflation expectations fall further and citing potential price pressures including electricity tariffs.

The majority of economists polled by Reuters had expected no change in the repo rate.

Central bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago told a press conference that four members of the bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) preferred to keep the repo rate steady, while two favoured a 25-basis-point cut.

"We look forward to (inflation) expectations declining further as South Africans experience ongoing lower inflation," Kganyago said.

South Africa's headline inflation rate inched up to 3.6% in December from November, above the bank's 3% target but staying within its one-percentage-point tolerance band.

Kganyago said on Thursday that bank officials thought December's inflation reading would be the peak and inflation would slow from there.

But he said the MPC was concerned about electricity prices, given the energy regulator has admitted errors in its previous calculations which are expected to result in steeper tariff hikes than previously announced.

Kganyago also stressed elevated uncertainties from global trade tensions and jittery financial markets.

The central bank tweaked its inflation forecasts for this year and next, now seeing headline inflation averaging 3.3% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027, compared to 3.5% and 3.1% previously.

It kept its economic growth forecasts for this year and next unchanged, at 1.4% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027.