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Godongwana plays down big tax changes in South Africa Budget

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana ruled out any major tax changes in next month's budget and stressed the importance of keeping fiscal consolidation on track.

"It's not something we intend; making substantial" tax changes in the budget, Godongwana told Bloomberg Television in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday.

South African assets are enjoying their best performance in years, with the stock market up, bond yields down and the rand rallying to its strongest levels against the dollar since 2022 as investors take stock of some recent positive developments.

These include a November budget update showing improved public finances, which Godongwana is expected to repeat in the annual budget next month, plus his backing for the central bank's shift to a 3% inflation goal and a rating upgrade by S&P Global Ratings.

The improved outlook, as well as surging gold prices, have driven an almost 3% gain in the rand against the dollar this year – making it one of the top performing currencies in the world tracked by Bloomberg.

South Africa is still in talks with Washington to secure a reduction in the 30% tariff that President Donald Trump has slapped on its exports to the US – the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, Godongwana said.

"I'm quite confident we will have a deal with the United States of America on the trade front," he said, without providing a time frame.

ANC condemns scholar transport operators' 'arrogance' in flouting law after accident

The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned recent threats made by scholar transport operators, following the impounding of unroadworthy vehicles, saying this demonstrates "arrogance and unpreparedness" in terms of compliance with the law.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the law must respond equally to the "nonchalant and indifferent attitude" of the scholar transport and taxi industry.

More than 60 scholar transport vehicles have been impounded during an operation led by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg.

This after 14 school children died in a collision between a minibus and a truck.

The drivers of scholar transports threatened to stop collecting and dropping off learners, this after the Transport Department embarked on an unannounced blitz and impounded some unroadworthy minibus taxis.

"We are most disadvantaged in this business, and they do not do anything to help us. We said to them when we bought these cars, they were new, so these cars are now old. The next thing we are being targeted," they said.

The Scholar Transport Association bosses believe they were ambushed and bullied.

The association said it wanted a peaceful protest, where it would meet with government so it could get answers as to when the drivers would get the permits they applied for.

Bhengu said the deaths and the state of scholar transport were of grave concern, and she called for stricter regulation of the industry through enforcement and a revamp of scholar transport policy.

"Our observation of the industry, including the entire taxi industry has revealed serious shortcomings, unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, noncompliance with the law, reckless and negligent driving and disrespect towards commuters and other road users," she said.

She said any noncompliant vehicle must be impounded, encouraging parents to choose "the best and safer services" in the best interest of their children.

Meanwhile, Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries chairperson Makhi Feni called on law enforcement agencies to hold the minibus driver involved in the accident accountable and include a possible ban from driving on South Africa's roads.

"It seems nothing will make taxi drivers change their behaviour and make them respect traffic laws. Police should be given full powers to handle criminality on our roads as it relates to driver behaviour. The road network is a shared service which demands that drivers respect other road users," he said.

MULTISECTOR ACTION

The Public Servants Association (PSA) said government's response after every incident or accident was to call for reform without any action.

The PSA suggested an urgent National Scholar Transport Imbizo, that involves the Department of Basic Education, provincial Departments of Education, national and provincial Departments of Transport, Treasury, budget oversight structures, law enforcement agencies, road safety authorities, unions, scholar transport associations, private operators, school governing bodies, parent organisations, civil society and child rights advocacy groups, road safety researchers, engineers, and policy experts.

The organisation wants the Imbizo to result in the design and commitment to an enforceable national action plan, closing of regulatory gaps, establishment of safety standards, stricter vehicle enforcement, strengthened licensing and vetting for all scholar transport drivers, implementation of technology-enabled monitoring systems, securing interdepartmental accountability and ensuring sustainable funding models.

The PSA said multisector action was the "only way to break the cycle of reactive government messaging and deliver the systemic reform needed to safeguard learners".

Fund established to rebuild Kruger National Park – Aucamp

The Kruger National Park cannot rebuild without help and a well-coordinated, rapid response is needed, with national parks agency South African National Parks (SANParks) estimating the damage to infrastructure could run into hundreds of millions of rands, said Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp.

The combined scale of infrastructure damage and operational disruption in the recent flooding had exceeded the park's existing contingency and maintenance budgets. Substantial finances were required for recovery and restoration efforts, the Minister pointed out in a January 22 media briefing.

Therefore, Aucamp has endorsed the establishment of the SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund, which aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Kruger National Park as a national heritage asset, economic driver and symbol of South Africa's commitment to conservation amid climate risks.

The fund would be administered with strong fiduciary oversight and credibility to attract national and international donors, he said.

The Kruger Recovery Fund will be administered through three audit firms on SANParks' panel, which will provide independent governance, assurance, transparent reporting and donor confidence in the use of funds for resilience-enhancing infrastructure reconstruction programmes at the national park.

Aucamp pointed out that the Kruger Park had still been recovering from flooding experienced in 2023, when the most recent floods hit.

Prolonged delays in recovery risked not only environmental degradation and loss of tourism revenue, but also adverse socioeconomic consequences for surrounding communities and the broader conservation sector, said Aucamp.

The Kruger Park faces immediate to medium-term revenue loss risks as a result of the flood damage.

Further, SANParks generated close to 80% of its own operating budget; therefore, the destruction of its tourism flagship put the sustainability of the entire network of parks at risk, Aucamp added.

The floods have damaged bridges, roads, water and electrical systems and services in the Kruger Park, as well as destroyed certain staff villages and tourist accommodation.

The Kruger Park has suspended tourism facilities and commercial operations, with 15 camps currently closed, and with some completely inaccessible owing to the destruction of roads and bridges.

There are also continued temporary gate closures, which limit access to the park in certain areas and both overnight and day visits.

Additionally, between January 9 and 19, the Kruger National Park recorded 24 073 guest entries, which was a 41% decline compared with the same period in the previous year, he reported.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and SANParks have received an overwhelming influx of support from various spheres of society, with local people and organisations and international entities and figures expressing support for the recovery fund.

Additionally, the Honorary Rangers, which is a long-term strategic and trusted partner organisation of SANParks, will assist with funding conducted through its normal fundraising channels under the 'Kruger Flood 2026 Fund' campaign.

The Honorary Rangers had a long-standing record of trusted community support and, in addition to their flood relief fundraising efforts, they were also supporting the Kruger Recovery Fund as one of the patrons, said Aucamp.

Further, internationally acclaimed author Tony Park is another patron of the Kruger Recovery Fund, and he has committed to supporting the rebuilding efforts by supporting the Kruger Recovery Fund, and the fundraising and relief initiatives driven by the Honorary Rangers.

The SANParks Kruger Recovery Fund and Honorary Rangers' Kruger Flood 2026 Fund were the only two legitimate funds authorised to receive donations for the recovery efforts, Aucamp emphasised.

"The Kruger National Park is not just a conservation landscape, but is an ec...

Ramaphosa appoints Deputy Public Protector

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Dinkie Portia Dube as South Africa's Deputy Public Protector, for a term of seven years, from February 1.

The position of Deputy Public Protector became vacant following the appointment of Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, to the position of Public Protector.

Last year, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development recommended Dube as second in command.

Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa made the appointment on the recommendation of the National Assembly.

Dube has more than 20 years of experience in the public sector with expertise in oversight, complaints management and investigation.

"She is currently the director-general of the Public Service Commission, before which she served as the chief director: operations in the Office of the Military Ombudsman," he added.

Between 2011 and 2014, Dube was the provincial director of the Gauteng Office of the Public Protector South Africa.

She has experience in complaints resolution in the then Department of Trade and Industry's Office of Consumer Protection and was a legal officer in the South African Human Rights Commission.

Ramaphosa wished Dube well in her new role.

Higher Education Minister outlines reform under way in education sector

Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela on Thursday stressed the importance of vocational education in the country's post-school system, stating that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and community colleges are not residual options.

Manamela was briefing the media on the post school education and training (PSET) sector's plans for the 2026 academic year as well as the state of readiness.

He said the PSET system has about 535 000 funded and planned spaces across universities, TVET colleges, community colleges, skills programme and workplace-based learning.

Manamela told media that South Africa's post-school system must be differentiated, articulated, but also well-communicated, as he noted a stagnant performance in mathematics and accounting.

The Matric Class of 2025 achieved the highest pass rate in the country's history, achieving a pass rate of 88%, an improvement from 87.3% in 2024.

Manamela highlighted that 46.4% of candidates achieved a bachelor's pass, 28.1% achieved diploma and 13.5% achieved higher certificate pass.

He noted that this meant that over 40% of learners did not achieve a bachelor's pass, noting that even such a pass did not guarantee entrance into a university.

Manamela said the country's post-school system was deliberately designed to be differentiated with universities, TVET colleges, community colleges, occupational qualifications, skills programmes, and work-based learning, all forming part of the system.

"And so when people look up to our system, it should not just be that we want to go to universities. When people look up to our system, it must be that I either want to pursue an academic or a vocational stream or a hybrid of those streams. And so choose on the basis of what is available out there in terms of this particular stream. And they are provided across all of our institutions," he explained.

His department wants to strengthen coordinated enrolment planning across the education system, linking with basic education.

He explained that the newly established just energy transition skills desk would play a critical role in linking demand to priority economic sectors, particularly renewable-energy construction, grid infrastructure, and electric mobility.

He said given the infrastructure and staffing constraints, the department would increasingly prioritise short courses and modular qualifications, particularly at TVET colleges and community colleges.

The department wants to encourage the growth of occupational programmes that can be scaled up speedily.

Manamela explained that this was the first year the department was rolling out its occupational programme on a large scale. The programme included apprenticeships, learnerships, and internships, which would be the emphasis of the education and training authorities.

"[That is] three pathways which offer faster labour market entry while allowing articulation into further learning. So if you could not get a spot at university, it does not mean that it is the end. We have all of these options and that we encourage learners together with their parents to look for and find these opportunities. Your TVET colleges, as I said, community colleges," he stressed.

CONSTRAINTS

Meanwhile, Manamela said his department viewed science, technology engineering under-represetation as a major constraint confronting the PSET system.

He said the current trend of growing enrolment in mathematical literacy rather than pure mathematics was concerning, as there was stagnant performance in mathematics and accounting, and limited growth in physical sciences.

The consequences are very profound, he stated.

"Learners are excluded from high demand programmes in engineering, health sciences, ICT, data science, and also advanced manufacturing, not because of institutional failure, but because of subject level preparation," he explained.

This weakened the country's national ski...

De Klerk Foundation condemns Nobel Peace Prize being used as 'political currency'

The FW de Klerk Foundation has slammed Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's decision to give her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump, during her visit to the White House.

The foundation of former President FW De Klerk, who shared the 1993 prize with former President Nelson Mandela, said on Wednesday that the Nobel Peace Prize should not be "abused as a currency to buy political support" and added that the medal was not only a recognition for past achievements.

Instead, the award should act as an encouragement for recipients to continue their efforts, it said, adding that the prize came with the responsibility to "vigorously safeguard freedom, democracy and the rule of law", for lasting peace.

FW de Klerk Foundation's Christina Teichmann said Machado's "symbolic gesture" came at a time when the Trump administration was gearing up for further military intervention in other countries, following its recent action in Venezuela, most notably Greenland.

Teichmann said the renaming of the US Department of Defence to the Department of War indicated that the current US government was more inclined than previous administrations to use military force for "narrow geopolitical goals and interests".

"Taking the available modern arsenal of weapons that could potentially be used in a WW3 scenario into account, this administration's inclination for the use of military force could lead to unimaginable human suffering and destruction," she added.

She highlighted that while the Nobel Committee had already issued a statement, in which it stated that the Prize was not transferable, the foundation said the gesture by Machado was "problematic as it downgrades the prestigious Prize to a currency which is used to buy political influence and support".

She said previously, Trump declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela's leader despite her movement claiming victory in the widely contested 2024 elections.

"…whether President Trump has changed his mind after receiving the gold medal from Machado is left to be seen," she added.

The foundation urged Trump and global political leaders to stick to diplomatic instruments of peaceful conflict resolution, warning that military interventions and wars could not be contained in a globalised and interconnected world and should be avoided.

It further urged world leaders to respect and adhere to international laws and supranational institutions, such as the United Nations, "as the world simply cannot afford to regress to a stage where might makes rights".

Ramaphosa stresses govt focus on literacy, numeracy for improved education

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that government is intensifying its focus on "evidence-based teaching" of literacy and numeracy, as he expressed concerns about the slow pace of growth in vocational and occupational education.

Speaking at the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla, in Ekurhuleni, Ramaphosa said this will ensure that every classroom is supported by a coherent curriculum and well-trained teachers.

"And that every classroom has high-quality, age-appropriate, grade-specific and culturally relevant learning and teaching support materials," he added.

He stressed the importance of a strong education foundation laid in the early grades, for a resilient and capable education system, and said strengthening early grade reading and numeracy is a national priority.

"When children do not learn to read for meaning or to work confidently with numbers by the end of the Foundation Phase, the cost is borne by the entire education system.

"Unless we get it right at the outset, learners spend the rest of their school careers trying to catch up. We see this in repetition, dropout, weak progression and the tragic loss of human potential," he explained.

He highlighted that by investing in foundational learning, government is building a "resilient education system" that can sustain learning, adapt to shocks and equip children with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

While there is much focus on matric results, solid foundations in early learning – from birth to nine years – is essential, he stressed.

He said this provides the foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes required for successful onward learning and for lifelong development.

"Early learning lays the groundwork for cognitive, social and emotional development. Children who receive quality early education are better prepared for future learning experiences," he said.

Ramaphosa said establishing early learning as a core component of the education system is essential for nurturing well-rounded, capable young people who can thrive academically, socially and economically.

"By investing in early childhood education, our country can foster stronger communities, support equitable access to education and promote lifelong success for all children," he explained.

He wants real-time reading and literacy programmes prioritised and faster progress reports in the sector.

"This demands a bold shift in approach: to rethink and reimagine early learning, to embed it within the basic education system, and to ensure that early childhood development is treated as a core pillar of educational success," he said.

VOCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION

While Ramaphosa applauded the achievement of the Matric Class of 2025, he expressed concerns with the slow pace of growth in vocational and occupational education, which plays a vital role in preparing the youth for the world of work, enhancing economic growth and promoting social equity.

By focusing on practical skills the economy needs, it contributes to building capable and adaptable workers who meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy, he said.

"We must intensify our efforts to partner with various sectors of the economy to strengthen our collective contribution to vocational education. As we strive to improve the quality of our matric results, we must work harder to ensure that more children complete their schooling," he said.

He raised concerns that nearly half a million children who entered grade one in 2014 left school before reaching their matric year in 2025.

Most of these learners dropped out between grades 10 and 12, he said.

"We call on the department, teachers, parents and communities to counsel learners who are contemplating leaving and to work together to ensure that learners complete their schooling," he stated.

He said attention must be placed on the reasons learners drop out – from financial pressure to poor academi...

South Africa's inflation rate edges up in December, as expected

South African inflation rose slightly in December, as expected, but analysts said they still expect the central bank to deliver several interest rate cuts this year as price pressures remain well contained.

Headline consumer inflation increased to 3.6% year on year in December from 3.5% in November, as predicted by analysts polled by Reuters.

The modest rise keeps the headline rate within the 1 percentage point tolerance band of the central bank's 3% target, and the statistics agency said average inflation for 2025 of 3.2% was the lowest in 21 years.

Annual core inflation, which strips out volatile items like food and energy, came in at 3.3% in December, in line with economists' forecasts.

At its last monetary policy meeting in November, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) cut its main lending rate by 25 basis points to 6.75%, and its next policy announcement is scheduled for January 29.

"With real rates still quite high, and the inflation outlook both benign and continuing to improve, there should be scope for the SARB to ease policy further," Elna Moolman, Standard Bank's head of South Africa macroeconomic research, told Reuters.

Moolman said she expected a rate cut at one of the next two policy announcements, "with the odds likely slightly biased towards January rather than March".

Independent economist Elize Kruger said a stronger rand exchange rate than in November and declining inflation expectations meant there was room for another 25-basis-point rate cut next week.

A breakdown by Statistics South Africa showed the main drivers of December's marginally higher headline inflation were the housing and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages and insurance and financial services categories.

Godongwana invites concise suggestions on 2026 Budget

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has invited suggestions on the 2026 Budget ahead of him presenting it in Parliament on February 25.

The Budget allocation aims to strike a balance between growing the economy and supporting the vulnerable, with due consideration to government's limited resources.

Interested parties can provide inputs on government spending priorities, addressing a large budget deficit, stabilising State-owned entity finances, energy and water investments, tax policies, debt sustainability, municipal finances and any other economy-related topics.

Submissions must be under 300 words and submitted here.

Justice committee wants 'full implementation' of safety protocols at all courts after shooting

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development on Tuesday expressed concern about the shooting incident outside the Booysens Magistrate's Court in the south of Johannesburg, and wants the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, to ensure that all safety protocols are strictly adhered to and fully implemented at all courts.

Committee chairperson Xola Nqola said safety and security in and around court facilities must be treated as an absolute priority.

"Safety in and at our courts is non-negotiable. No member of the public or any official should ever fear accessing justice in our country," he said.

The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development confirmed the incident at the Booysens Magistrate's Court, which involved the shooting of five people, with two fatalities.

Spokesperson for the Department Samuel Modipane said the incident was still active, and law enforcement agencies were attending to the situation.

Nqola noted that during the previous oversight visits, the committee raised concerns regarding security shortcomings at some court facilities, including non-functioning security scanners at court entrances.

The committee extended its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

"While we strongly condemn this senseless act of violence, we call on all law enforcement agencies to work together to ensure that all necessary measures are implemented to safeguard court users and personnel. We also wish those who were injured a speedy recovery," Nqola said.

Deputy Minister for Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel is expected at the scene to assess the situation, while the Ministry awaits further details from law enforcement agencies and court management.

The Ministry condemned the incident, and said it would work with the relevant security and law enforcement authorities to ensure that all necessary measures were implemented to safeguard court users and personnel.