Polity.org.za Audio Articles

Stable global trade systems essential for growth - Ramaphosa tells AU-EU Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday urged governments to ensure that trade becomes a powerful instrument for inclusive, sustainable and balanced growth, saying that when global trade systems are stable and predictable, it gives confidence to governments, assurance to exporters and offers security to workers around the world.

"Such reform should be development-centred and address persisting development gaps in the global economy. Crucially, it must allow developing economies to adopt legitimate public policy measures that support value addition, industrialisation and diversification," he explained.

Ramaphosa was speaking during the seventh African Union-European Union Summit, held in Angola, where he pointed out that inequality in global trade affected the world's most vulnerable, including countries that were already burdened by mounting sovereign debt, a sharp decline in exports, and cuts in overseas development assistance.

He acknowledged that the multilateral system was under great pressure, and that geopolitical rivalry continued to cause turbulence in the rules-based international order.

He noted the need for significant reforms to transform the UN, global financial architecture, and the international trade system to enhance sustainability, efficiency, inclusiveness and the voice of developing economy countries.

He said South Africa remained convinced that global challenges were best resolved through multilateralism anchored on the principles of the UN Charter, as he noted that more than two-thirds of UN General Assembly Member States still did not enjoy permanent representation on the UN Security Council.

"To ensure the Security Council's credibility and legitimacy, we need to advance Africa's position as per the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.

"For Africa, a stable and predictable multilateral trading system is essential to support growth and meaningful integration into the global economy," he said.

Over the weekend, G20 leaders adopted a declaration which addressed, among other issues, inequality. World leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support efforts by low- and middle-income countries to address debt vulnerabilities.

"They also affirm the importance of a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at its core. Significantly, the Leaders' Declaration acknowledges that the agreed-upon rules in the WTO are key to facilitating global trade," Ramaphosa said.

In the declaration, Ramaphosa said the G20 leaders recognised that meaningful and comprehensive reform of the WTO was essential to improve its functions so that it was better suited to advance all members' objectives.

DA to lay criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants the South African Police Service (Saps) to investigate uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) Member of Parliament Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role in the stranding of 17 South Africans in the Donbas area of Ukraine, who were allegedly lured there by members of the MKP.

On Monday, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that 17 South Africans remain stranded in the Donbas area after allegedly being lured to fight in the Ukraine-Russia conflict under false pretences.

Earlier this month, media reports indicated that the 17 South Africans, mainly from KwaZulu-Natal, were tricked into believing they were to receive "skills training" in Russia but ended up on the war front with Ukraine.

DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans Chris Hattingh and DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith will on Thursday lay criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla, at the Cape Town Central Police Station.

The party said new evidence and facts had come to light and it wanted Zuma-Sambudla to be criminally investigated, and if found to have broken the law, to be prosecuted.

"This is a chilling case of the powerful preying on the vulnerable. The promise of a job was a death trap, and an MP stands accused of holding the door open.

"The DA will be filing a criminal case with the Saps to investigate the roles of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, MP and others mentioned in media reports for misleading these young men and sending them into an active war zone. The matter has already been handed over to the Hawks," said Hattingh.

"The DA fully supports the Hawks investigation, and if the evidence shows that laws were broken - including trafficking, fraud or illegal foreign military activity - then the law must take its course and prosecution must follow," he added.

Given that Zuma-Sambudla was a sitting Member of Parliament, Hattingh said he would also be writing to the Acting Registrar of Parliament's Ethics Committee to request an immediate investigation.

"Allegations of this nature, involving an MP, cannot be ignored. If a public representative abused her position to recruit or mislead young South Africans into a foreign conflict, it would be a serious breach of her oath of office and Parliament's ethical rules. Parliament must treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves," he highlighted.

The party will also be writing to the Parliamentary committees on Defence and International Relations chairpersons urging that committees be urgently briefed on this concerning matter by the State Security Agency, Defence Intelligence, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), the Hawks and the Department of Defence.

"We need clarity on how this recruitment network operated inside South Africa, whether warning signs were missed, and what government is doing to bring the men home safely," said Hattingh.

The party will also be addressing the potential foreign policy implications of the Dirco's silence on the matter.

On Monday, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation chairperson Supra Mahumapelo expressed confidence in the Saps' investigation into how these South Africans became stranded in the Donbas.

The committee was pleased the Saps would be formally investigating the matter.

Parly confident in Saps investigation into S Africans stranded in Donbas

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Monday expressed confidence in the South African Police Service's (Saps') investigation into how 17 South Africans became stranded in the Donbas area of Ukraine.

About 17 South Africans remain stranded in the Donbas area after allegedly being lured to fight under false pretences to against Ukraine in Russia.

Earlier this month, media reports indicated that the 17 South Africans, mainly from KwaZulu-Natal, were tricked into believing they were to receive "skills training" in Russia but ended up on the war front with Ukraine.

Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said the committee was pleased the Saps will formally investigating the matter.

"We welcome these developments around this matter, and the committee will seek further clarification from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The Saps has a justifiable reason to officially investigate the matter," he said.

Mahumapelo said the police investigation should help establish how these South Africans were recruited, processed and platooned in the Russian army.

He said any underground or parallel structure that worked against the government, or the Department of International Relations and Cooperation should be exposed.

Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these men into mercenary activities.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya added the South African government was working through "diplomatic channels" to secure the return of the recruits.

Ramaphosa and the South African government had strongly condemned the exploitation of young vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities.

Mahumapelo called for patience among South Africans eager for official information from a "correct and responsible channel" regarding this matter.

Ramaphosa lauds success of G20 Leaders' Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday celebrated the success of the G20 Leaders' Summit, saying while "some" sought to create division and polarisation between nations, governments have reinforced their shared humanity.

Last week, South Africa hosted leaders from around the world for the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, with US President Donald Trump choosing to boycott the Summit, claiming that South Africa's white minority were victims of large-scale killings and land grabs.

Ramaphosa said the country leaders that attended the Summit fostered collaboration and goodwill.

"Above all, we have affirmed that our shared goals outweigh our differences. We have prioritised issues that are important for advancing more rapid and inclusive growth in our own country. We reached agreements that will benefit every South African," he said.

Despite the US's boycott, the leaders adopted a declaration addressing climate change, disaster and a new approach to critical minerals.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that a clear commitment from the international community to address the high levels of debt on infrastructure, health and education was secured.

"We placed this issue firmly on the agenda to increase investment on the continent and seize the unique opportunity that Africa presents," he stated.

The G20 leaders also agreed on the need for increased global investment for climate action.

Ramaphosa said this would be crucial for South Africa as it undertook a just energy transition to a low carbon economy in a way that protected workers, businesses and communities.

"As the G20, we have agreed on the need for scaled up disaster prevention and post-disaster reconstruction to address the rising impact of extreme heat, floods, droughts and wildfires. We raised this issue because a few areas in our country, particularly the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, frequently experience disasters," he highlighted.

Ramaphosa said government secured international agreement on a new approach to critical minerals, making them a source of prosperity and sustainable development in the countries that produced them.

"This supports our own ambition to use our extensive endowment of minerals to become a leading global player, while ensuring that beneficiation takes place in South Africa and creates jobs in mining areas," he explained.

Ramaphosa said the G20 Summit had given new prominence to engagement groups from across global society, bringing together sectors such as business, labour, parliaments, scientists, think tanks, women, young people, start-ups, civil society, mayors and the media.

"We can be proud of what South Africa has achieved in hosting a successful G20 Presidency and guiding countries towards agreement on complex and important issues. This has been the historic effort to which all South Africans have contributed," he said.

Ramaphosa said the success of the G20 Leader's Summit, and South Africa's improving performance in the economy and "growing confidence" in reform programmes, showed that South Africa was "a country on the rise".

DA refers Steenhuisen-George dispute to Federal Legal Commission

The Democratic Alliance's (DA's) Federal Executive have resolved to refer the internal dispute between party leader John Steenhuisen and recently removed Minister Dion George to the party's Federal Legal Commission to institute a full investigation, with particular focus on alleged violations of the DA's constitution.

The executive met on Sunday night to discuss a formal response to the "continuing public airing" of issued between Steenhuisen and George.

During the conflict, numerous allegations have been made, said DA Federal Executive chairperson Helen Zille.

The internal dispute currently flaring within the DA, primarily centers around Steenhuisen and the recent removal of George as Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, which has exposed deeper fractures ahead of the party's 2026 leadership contest.

Last week, the party said Steenhuisen requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa replace George with Willem Aucamp.

Steenhuisen publicly stated that the decision was made to strengthen the party's contribution to the Government of the National Unity and advance the urgent reform agenda.

He clarified that the removal was not owing to external pressure or interests, as some reports suggested.

Zille said the executive also issued an injunction to everyone involved, either directly or peripherally, to stop prosecuting their arguments through the media, and allow the party's processes to take their course.

Parly committee welcomes GBVF crisis declaration, urges swift rollout of National Strategic Plan

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development says President Cyril Ramaphosa's declaration of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) as a national crisis is an urgent reminder that the country must take bolder and more decisive steps.

On Thursday, during the G20 Social Summit held in Ekurhuleni, Ramaphosa said government had declared GBVF a national crisis.

"We have agreed, among all social partners, that we need to take extraordinary and concerted action - using every means at our disposal - to end this crisis," he said.

Committee chairperson Bridget Masango commended Ramaphosa for the move, which she said aimed to strengthen legislation, introduce femicide-specific policies, and create clear guidelines for preventing and responding to femicide.

Masango explained that despite multiple interventions by government and civil society, violence persisted in many communities.

The committee said Ramaphosa's recognition of GBVF as a national crisis must be a catalyst for "real action".

The committee wants the full and urgent implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, along with tougher policies that deter perpetrators and ensure harsh consequences for them.

Masango highlighted that the committee had long called on law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to fast-track the National Integrated Strategy on the Prevention of Femicide.

She noted the research presented to the committee by the South African Medical Research Council last year painted a devastating picture. It highlighted that over the past 20 years, South Africa recorded an estimated 10 972 femicide cases.

"Three women are killed every day by an intimate partner. One in four women reports experiencing physical or sexual abuse.

"These represent lives lost, families shattered, and communities living in fear," she stated.

The committee had also raised repeated concerns about the slow reporting on the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF and the limited coordination between the Department of Social Development and other key stakeholders.

She said the declaration by the President must, therefore, serve as a turning point.

Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said government, civil society and business must work together to end GBVF and to ensure that women and children were protected.

DBE proposes single national school calendar

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Friday called for "national alignment" in education as it set out proposals to scrap the staggered reopening and closure of inland and coastal provinces with the establishment of a single national calendar for all provinces.

The department's proposed amendments to the School Calendar Policy aim to modernise existing policy by removing "outdated" provisions and aligning the calendar-planning process with current operational and curriculum-delivery imperatives.

The department said a new section replaces the cluster-based chapter, outlining principles for determining term dates within a unified national framework.

The policy proposes that all schools open in the third week of January to ensure a consistent system-wide curriculum rollout.

"The requirement for the school year to start on a Wednesday is retained; educators must report two days earlier. References linked to staggering and traffic management are removed to strengthen coherence," it explained.

The department stressed that the school calendar is a core planning instrument for the basic education sector.

"It establishes the annual structure for teaching and learning, stipulates the opening and closing dates of terms, and determines the length of school holidays. The revised policy sharpens this focus by removing unnecessary historical references and ensuring that the policy speaks directly to its technical purpose," it argued.

The department has invited stakeholders and members of the public to review the proposed amendments and participate in the consultation process.

Academic says South Africa should not hand over G20 presidency to the US

South Africa should not hand the G20 presidency over to the US, Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development director Jeffrey Sachs has suggested.

"Don't hand it over. If there's no one here to hand it over to, don't hand it over. The US is doing its own thing. I don't know whether there will be a G20 in the US or not. You never know, day by day, what is happening in my weird country," he said on November 21 at The European House - Ambrosetti (TEHA) CEO dialogue on Southern Africa, in Johannesburg.

US President Donald Trump has declined to attend the G20 in South Africa, stating that no US officials will participate in any G20 discussions. His reasons for boycotting the event range from his disapproval of South Africa's racial policies and the expropriation without compensation law, to concerns about the inclusive globalist agenda promoted at the G20, which does not align with the Trump administration's more nationalist "US-first" approach to policy.

On November 20, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the US had changed its position and was considering attending the event after all.

However, this was contradicted a few hours later when US press secretary Caroline Levitt stated that Ramaphosa was "running his mouth" and that the White House "did not appreciate that kind of language".

She confirmed that the US had not altered its stance on attending the G20, but that a US Embassy official would be present solely to accept the handover of the presidency and would not participate in talks.

Sachs, who is also UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network president and a special adviser to the UN secretary-general, downplayed the significance of the US absence, suggesting that the meeting's agenda should remain focused elsewhere.

"The real focus should be on Africa, and the real focus should not be on growth. It should be on rapid growth. The key for Africa is to be achieving 8% to 10% a year economic growth, because this is the real potential of the continent. Africa should be following in the line of China and India on a very rapid growth trajectory. That should be the main focus of this G20," he said.

Sachs compared Africa's population of about 1.5-billion people with China's 1.4-billion and India's 1.5-billion. He argued that this placed the continent in a position to follow similar development paths, provided certain conditions were met.

He maintained that Africa would need to be viewed as a single economic space rather than as 54 separate markets. According to him, only this approach would create the scale required for the accelerated growth he believed was possible from the continent's current economic base.

Sachs described this starting point as offering potential for rapid progress but also warned of heightened risks if African economies failed to meet that pace of expansion.

He linked the continent's long-term stability to economic advancement, arguing that this required collaboration between business leaders and a unified continental market.

He added that a key priority should be ensuring the Africa Continental Free Trade Area became fully functional at scale, supported by connective infrastructure and a workforce equipped with the skills needed to sustain annual growth of about 10% over the coming generation.

He warned that without broader skills development, and particularly if two-thirds of young people continued failing to complete secondary school, Africa would lose any chance of a demographic dividend and instead face what he characterised as a demographic crisis.

Sachs said that this challenge remained central to the continent's development prospects.

He argued that the African Union (AU) should function as an empowered continental institution rather than as a limited administrative body, stating that it should play a guiding role in building continent-wide success in education.

However, he said the AU was not yet fulfilling that role a...

US excludes S Africa from 'revolutionary' HIV prevention meds, will only provide 300 000 doses globally

Activists have sharply criticised the US government's move to exclude South Africa from receiving HIV prevention medication Lenacapavir (LEN-LA), and is urging the South African government to "act decisively" for equitable access.

The US government has announced the donation of only 500 LEN-LA doses each for Eswatini and Zambia, ahead of World Aids Day on December 1.

LEN-LA is a new, potentially revolutionary HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevention injection, taken twice-yearly, and which confers virtually 100% protection against HIV infection.

The Trump Administration has made South Africa the target of harsh foreign policy decisions based on its unfounded accusations of genocide in the country, resulting in severance of foreign aid.

Activists said the US's donation of 500 doses per country was a "public relations stunt".

Health Justice Initiative (HJI) director Fatima Hassan pointed out that in Africa alone, at least 10-million people need LEN-LA to help achieve the global goal of a 90% reduction in new HIV infections by 2030.

US State Department Under Secretary Jeremy Lewin said the US would provide LEN-LA doses for only a total of 300 000 people globally, in 2026.

''Protection for only 300 000 people is insulting, compared with the unmet need for HIV prevention, and the superiority of LEN-LA when compared with HIV PrEP. Instead of crumbs, the US should be providing millions of LEN-LA doses, to alter the course of the HIV pandemic and to repair the harms caused by their illegal and deadly cuts to HIV programmes since January,'' said Health GAP international policy and advocacy coordinator Bellinda Thibela.

Hassan highlighted that 14% of all new HIV infections occur in South Africa, with more than 2-million people needing LEN-LA each year in South Africa alone.

South Africa had been promised LEN-LA doses, Hassan said, but these doses would only be paid for from a reallocation of the Global Fund to Fight Aids budget and would only be enough for 480 000 people from April 2026 to 2028.

"South African modelers have shown that this rationing of doses will have no demonstrable impact on reducing South Africa's pandemic, likely averting only 5 000 of the country's 180 000 new HIV infections per year," she explained.

Investment banking group African Alliance is urging the departments of Health; Trade, Industry and Competition; and the Office of the Presidency to issue a compulsory licence to guarantee supplies to South Africans and others in the countries and territories that are excluded from biopharmaceutical company Gilead Science's voluntary licences.

Co-founder of Advocacy for Prevention of HIV and Aids Yvette Raphael warned that cheap politics and lack of foresight would thwart global efforts for a proper rollout.

"No smart access effort can exclude South Africa from HIV prevention programming. South Africa was also one of the countries that contributed to the success of LEN-LA - and we should remember that HIV knows no borders, and that our fight for human rights is not for sale," she said.

Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) chairperson Sibongile Tshabalala suggested that South Africa had domestic companies that could manufacture quality assured LEN-LA for domestic and regional use and to supply excluded countries.

"Gilead should either license such companies without territorial and other restrictions for LMICs [low and middle-income countries] and include full technology transfer, or the South African government should use its lawful powers to issue compulsory licences,'' said Tshabalala.

TAC wants the South African government to demand that Gilead include additional African licensees with manufacturing capacity in its voluntary licensing arrangements in the interests of self-reliance and said it should also take steps to issue a compulsory licence against Gilead.

"This will open pathways to generic supply and ensur...

Stepping aside does not imply guilt on my side - Malusi Gigaba

African National Congress (ANC) MP Malusi Gigaba said on Thursday that the party's step-aside principle does not imply guilt on his side, stating that there is no indictment and evidence of wrongdoing in the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) matter.

On Tuesday, the IDAC formally added Gigaba as the fifth accused in a corruption case involving former Transnet executives, at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court.

The charges relate to Gigaba's tenure as Minister in the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) between November 2010 and May 2014.

The matter was postponed to January 30, 2026, for the disclosure of the docket, as well as the provision of an indictment, and a date for the transfer of the case to the High Court.

On Wednesday, the ANC said in a statement that Gigaba voluntarily stepped aside from his responsibilities following his recent court appearance.

Gigaba affirmed in a video post on the X platform that he stepped aside voluntarily, in compliance with the ANC's resolutions and constitution.

"This is my own decision guided by revolutionary conscious and discipline on my part. My desire always to enhance organisational integrity and my respect and love for my movement," he said.

Gigaba said the step-aside principle allowed the legal process to continue without affecting the ANC.

He stated that the matter before IDAC related to an "unproven allegation" of an unsolicited benefit under schedule 1, and was not a procurement matter.

He said he remained confident of the facts and continued to cooperate fully with authorities.

Gigaba said he would not be commenting or participating in internal ANC matters until the matter was finalised.

"When it concludes, I stand ready to resume my duties," he said.