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South Africa will hand G20 over to US 'empty chair', president says

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday South Africa will symbolically hand over the G20 presidency to an "empty chair" in the absence of US leadership at the summit next week, while stressing the need to repair trade ties with Washington.

US President Donald Trump said last week no government official would attend the Group of 20 summit on November 22-23 in South Africa because of what he said were "human rights abuses" - citing widely debunked assertions about white South Africans being "slaughtered" and chased off their land.

Trump has said that refugee admissions to the US this year will be focused largely on Afrikaners, who are mainly the descendants of Dutch settlers and make up the majority of South Africa's white population.

"I have said in the past, I don't want to hand over to an empty chair, but the empty chair will be there, (I will) probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and then talk to President Trump...," Ramaphosa said, responding to questions from reporters in Soweto, where he was overseeing a clean-up for the summit.

South African officials are increasingly exasperated with Trump's claims that Afrikaners are victims of ethnic cleansing. They deny that anyone faces discrimination based on their race in the Black-majority country.

Ramaphosa said his priority was to maintain economic ties with one of its biggest trade partners.

"We export products to that country that in the end don't end up in the White House. They end up in the hands of consumers in the United States," he said.

"There could well be a view that we should not engage with the United States. (But) sometimes you have to talk to people who may not be very friendly ... to advance the interests of your own people".

Ramaphosa names new environment, deputy trade ministers

President Cyril Ramaphosa has named new environment and deputy trade ministers, appointing people from his party's main coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Ramaphosa's office said in a statement late on Wednesday that Willem Aucamp would be forestry, fisheries and environment minister, and Alexandra Abrahams one of two deputy trade, industry and competition ministers.

Aucamp replaces the DA's Dion George, and Abrahams fills a position left vacant since June, when Ramaphosa fired the DA's Andrew Whitfield for breaking cabinet rules by travelling abroad without his permission.

The DA said it had requested Aucamp and Abrahams' appointments, which bring the number of its positions in Ramaphosa's cabinet back to 12, the same number it had when the coalition was formed in June last year.

Civil society rejects 'right-wing Afrikaner genocide' narrative ahead of G20

Civil society organisation Defend our Democracy on Thursday rejected efforts to "advance right-wing and populist politics" that seek to undermine South Africa's democratic principles, exacerbate racial tensions and problematise immigration.

The organisation said persistent disinformation regarding an alleged Afrikaner genocide undermines South Africa's constructional democracy.

Defend our Democracy said the global shifts toward nationalist and right-wing politics need to be countered by the values of mutual respect, underpinned by human dignity.

The organisation noted the intended boycott of the G20 Summit by the US President Donald Trump, stemming from his recent assertions shared on his Truth Social media platform, alleging that "Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated".

"This is a continuation of a persistent campaign to not only undermine our sovereignty but also seeks to spread disinformation and sow racial division within South Africa's public discourse and amongst its people," it said.

Defend our Democracy highlighted that these utterances are nothing new, and have no factual evidentiary basis.

The G20 Summit is due to be held in Johannesburg later this month.

"We remain committed to advancing the cause of a just and equitable future in which our melting pot of diversity finds equitable expression, which is strengthened by our constitutional democracy that seeks to protect the rights and liberties of all," Defend our Democracy stated.

It urged all South Africans to condemn the disinformation and to advance the ideals of Ubuntu and democracy.

Ramaphosa reiterates government's shift from consumption to investment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated government's strategic shift in government spending during his address at the 2025 National Construction Summit in Ekurhuleni, on November 13, promising the prioritisation of long-term investment over consumptive social spending and subsidies.

"We are shifting the composition of spending from consumption to investment. Capital payments are the fastest-growing expenditure item on our national Budget. They are expected to increase to about 7.5% over the medium term," Ramaphosa said.

His remarks reiterate Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's statements made on November 12 during the presentation of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement that signalled the recalibration of the government's fiscal priorities, responding to longstanding criticisms that government funds have disproportionately focused on social grants and subsidies instead of infrastructure and future-oriented development.

Ramaphosa linked this shift in fiscal focus directly to the construction industry, describing it as a critical driver of job creation and economic growth.

"Infrastructure investment is one of the most effective levers for stimulating economic growth. This is evident in the statistics that we have just seen earlier this week. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey indicates a decrease in the official unemployment rate from 33.2% in the second quarter of this year to 31.9% in the third quarter, and long may this continue.

"Construction was the biggest contributor and this gives us hope. This gives us the ability to look forward to greater growth in this industry," he said.

Ramaphosa said that, by investing in infrastructure and capital projects rather than expanding consumption-based programmes, the government aims to stimulate sustainable economic growth and create employment opportunities, whereby infrastructure can become the "flywheel" for broader development.

He highlighted that more than 250 fully funded infrastructure projects, valued at more than R250-billion were already under way, covering water, energy, transport and digital networks.

Moreover, Ramaphosa highlighted the medium-term R1-trillion commitment by government - announced in May - to support infrastructure development.

"This is the very first time in our country's history . . . that we have committed such a large amount of money to infrastructure," he claimed, noting that the funding would not only support public works but also catalyse private-sector participation and innovation.

Alongside public investment, Ramaphosa noted the importance of enabling private-sector participation. He noted amendments to public-private partnership regulations and guidelines for unsolicited bids, which were designed to encourage businesses to propose innovative infrastructure projects, which, if financially viable, would be approved for construction.

"Unsolicited bids mean that when people in the private sector have ideas on how we can improve our infrastructure build, they should come forward. They should be enabled to come forward and present their ideas. And if their ideas are innovative enough and financially sustainable, we will then be able to sign them on and say, 'Go ahead and construct the idea that you've put forward,'" he said.

Ramaphosa emphasised that this focus on long-term growth was paired with a strong commitment by government to protecting infrastructure. He warned that criminal activity, including construction mafias, cable theft and vandalism, would face uncompromising law enforcement action.

"If they continue to do that, they shall be arrested and sent behind bars. The law enforcement agencies will continue to deal with those who break the law. We will not let anyone derail these efforts. We will not negotiate with construction mafias. We will not yield to the cable thieves or those who vandalise infrastructure . . . We have declared war on the construction mafias and the...

Families of anti-Apartheid activists unhappy with delays in TRC inquiry

Survivors and families of victims of Apartheid-era crimes expressed disappointment with the delays in the commission of inquiry into political interference in the investigation and prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases, but reaffirmed their commitment to the commission.

The first sitting of the commission of inquiry, chaired by Justice Sisi Khampepe, got off to a rocky start on Monday, after it was postponed to November 26, following an objection by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Minister of Justice to the involvement of chief evidence leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya, in the proceedings of the commission.

The families, and the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), filed a court application against President Cyril Ramaphosa and the government in January, seeking R167-million in constitutional damages for what they say is government's "gross failure" to adequately investigate and prosecute Apartheid-era political crimes following the TRC.

The sitting was scheduled to begin with arguments on whether the Calata Group witnesses could be led by their own counsel.

"This was to be followed by opening statements and the family witnesses, led either by their counsel or the evidence leaders, depending on the ruling of the commission," said the FHR.

The foundation pointed out that the adjournment to deal with the recusal collapsed the first hearing of the commission, which had been set down for three weeks, and at which 15 witnesses were to testify.

"This results in a significant waste of taxpayer money, given the costs of the five government legal teams, the commission itself, and those who must fund their own attendance at the hearing," it said.

The foundation pointed out that on September 18, the attorneys for the Calata Group had written to Khampepe requesting that Semenya be excluded from deliberations on the Prosecution Policy amendments, since in 2008 he had represented the NPA and the Justice Minister in a constitutional challenge to those amendments.

"On 19 September 2025, the Judge confirmed in a letter to [law firm] Webber Wentzel that she had acceded to this request. Copies of both letters were forwarded to counsel for the NPA at that time," it explained.

The FHR highlighted that despite being aware of the possible conflict of Semenya for nearly seven weeks, the NPA did not raise any objections or bring an application for his removal or recusal.

"…only in their objection and arguments filed last week, addressing the question of the Calata Group leading their witnesses, did they and the Minister of Justice raise a general objection to his participation. Even by the start of the first hearing on Monday, 10 November 2025, neither party had prepared an application for his removal," the foundation explained.

The FHR noted that at the hearing on Monday, counsel for the Minister indicated that her client would abide by the commission's ruling of September 19.

Counsel for the NPA confirmed that he had not prepared a recusal application and would comply with the commission's directions.

The foundation said the long adjournment caught the families by surprise.

"They assumed that once the recusal directions had been given, that Semenya would be required to stand down pending the outcome of the recusal application; and that arguments would proceed on whether the Calata Group witnesses could be led by their own counsel.

"This would then be followed by the opening statements, and the family witnesses would then be led either by their counsel or the evidence leaders, depending on the commission's ruling," it added.

The foundation said the commission cannot lose three weeks of hearings considering how long the proceedings have already been delayed.

"More than five months have elapsed since the establishment of the commission on 29 May 2025. The current sitting was set down between 10 and 28 November 2025, meaning it will have on...

Batohi tells Parly committee NPA remains vulnerable after State capture

National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi confirmed receiving classified intelligence about attempts to compromise prosecutors and certain cases, as well as information regarding a potentially corrupt prosecutor, which she referred to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).

The Parliamentary Ad Hoc committee investigating allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi concluded hearing evidence from Batohi on Tuesday.

She addressed allegations of an organised crime network involving drug cartels, business figures and possible infiltration of the criminal justice system, including the South African Police Service (Saps), the judiciary and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Batohi also spoke on prosecutorial conduct and the working relationship between the IDAC and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), including whether IDAC or its officials may have interfered in police investigations or exceeded their mandate.

Committee chairperson Molapi Lekganyane pointed out that on the issue of possible infiltration within the justice system, Batohi acknowledged that the NPA remains vulnerable to compromise and is still recovering from the effects of State capture.

The committee accepted Batohi's request not to disclose the sensitive details at this stage.

Lekganyane said Batohi explained that her direct involvement had been limited and referenced testimony given by KwaZulu-Natal Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Elaine Harrison before the Madlanga Commission.

The committee expressed concerns over the limited detail provided regarding collaboration between the NPA and the PKTT, noting that Batohi referred to evidence already presented elsewhere.

Batohi also briefed the committee on the NPA's internal integrity structures, noting that between 2019 and 2024, the Office for Ethics and Accountability handled 58 complaints of corruption and misconduct, several of which led to dismissals and criminal charges.

"In her concluding remarks, Batohi reaffirmed the urgent need for legislative amendments to provide robust protection and support mechanisms for whistleblowers and witnesses, who are vital in the fight against corruption," Lekganyane said.

The committee will continue its inquiry on Thursday, to hear evidence from Chief of Staff in the Office of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Cedrick Nkabinde.

Meanwhile, last week Mchunu voluntarily handed over his electronic devices to Saps investigators as part of the ongoing investigation.

Civil society wants action against gag orders on Open Secrets

Twenty-three civil society and media organisations are urging Chief Justice Mandisa Maya to consider measures to safeguard against the excessive use of gagging orders imposed on Open Secrets.

The civil society and media organisations wrote to Maya to express concern, urging her to issue guidance to judicial officers reaffirming the presumption of open justice and cautioning against the harmful effects of pre-publication interdicts.

On Monday, Open Secrets issued a statement saying it couldn't speak on a matter of significant public importance.

"We are not permitted to disclose anything related to the matter including the names of the parties that may be involved. What we can say is simple: efforts to muzzle public-interest journalism endanger everyone's right to know," it said.

The civil society organisations want Maya to encourage judicial education on balancing rights to freedom of expression, media freedom, privacy and reputation.

Open Secrets has been prohibited even from sharing the court order or discussing any details such as the date it was granted, the judge who granted it, or the court which issued the order.

"But there can be no mistaking its breadth: Open Secrets is effectively silenced, not only prevented from reporting, but from even explaining why it cannot do so," the organisations stated.

They said the order undermined South Africa's constitutional commitment to open justice and the public's right to know.

"Moreover, the breadth of the order immunises those who seek it, and the court granting it, from scrutiny, and so strikes at the very transparency on which public confidence in the judiciary depends", write the organisations.

They added that the Open Secrets matter is not an isolated case.

"Reports suggest that similarly sweeping gagging orders are being more frequently sought, and granted, against journalists and civil society actors. If left unchecked, this pattern risks chilling public-interest investigation and eroding public confidence in the judiciary," they warned.

South Africa starts trial of first self-made vaccine in 50 years

South Africa started a clinical trial for its oral cholera inoculation, the first developed from scratch locally in 50 years as President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined continent-wide calls for growing vaccine self-sufficiency.

Less than 1% of the world's vaccines are made in Africa, even as infectious diseases are the leading cause of death on the continent, especially in children younger than five. Only a handful of African countries have vaccine-production facilities, with South Africa and Senegal the sole nations in the region with capacity to make them from start to finish.

If the trial is successful, the Biovac Institute - a partly State-owned developer - will sell the vaccine from 2028. Recent global outbreaks of the diarrhoeal disease have raised demand for inoculations.

Cholera, which tops the list of the five biggest outbreaks in Africa this year, has caused almost 7 000 deaths from about 300 000 suspected cases. The continent, which is also grappling with mpox, measles, dengue and Lassa fever, accounts for 94% of all cholera deaths.

Contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water and driven by conflict, poverty and climate change, cholera is resurging in several countries, according to the World Health Organization. This complicates containment efforts and strains fragile health systems.

"This development addresses a critical, life-saving need, given the ongoing global shortages of the vaccine amid recurring cholera outbreaks," Biovac Chief Executive Officer Morena Makhoana said at a briefing Tuesday.

Biovac has ramped up its ability to make vaccines and last week launched a product-development laboratory in Cape Town to ensure a pipeline of vaccines and other therapeutics.

Goldman sees South Africa ratings upgrade this week after budget

Goldman Sachs expects an improvement in South Africa's public finances to pave the way for a sovereign credit-rating upgrade on Friday, days after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers a budget update.

S&P Global Ratings, which assesses South Africa's long-term foreign debt at BB-, three notches below investment grade with a positive outlook, is scheduled to review the nation's credit assessment at the end of the week.

"We think they're quite likely to upgrade," Andrew Matheny, an economist at Goldman Sachs said in an interview.

A ratings upgrade would mark a significant milestone for South Africa, improving sentiment toward the country and its assets. It would also signal growing confidence in the country's fiscal consolidation efforts, that have been marked by large deficits and repeated bailouts to flailing State-owned companies.

When Godongwana delivers the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement at 2 pm in Cape Town on Wednesday, the National Treasury is expected to meet or beat its main fiscal deficit forecast. In May, the Treasury projected a gap of 4.6% for the 2025-26.

"They're outperforming by a large margin, and likely to be telling a pretty constructive story on the fiscal picture," Matheny said.

His views align with four of nine economists in a Bloomberg survey, including those at Bank of America and RMB Morgan Stanley, who also expect an upgrade this year.

Rating agencies have laid out three things they're looking for: slightly better growth, continued fiscal consolidation, and no new State-owned enterprise bailouts, Matheny said. "If our expectations for the MTBPS are confirmed, we think those targets; they are likely to pull the trigger and upgrade."

Still, others, such as Citigroup's South Africa economist Gina Schoeman, expect an upgrade only next year.

"We think S&P's November 14 credit review is still too early for an upgrade," she said. But one in 2026 is possible if gross domestic product growth strengthens, supported by higher fixed investment, a stabilised debt ratio, and a more stable government of national unity formed after the African National Congress failed to win an outright majority in the 2024 elections, she said. A dispute over the national budget earlier this year had threatened its survival.

South Africa's official unemployment rate dips in third quarter

South Africa's unemployment rate fell slightly in the third quarter of this year, as jobs were added in construction, social services and trade, the statistics agency said on Tuesday.

The official jobless rate stood at 31.9% in July-September, down from 33.2% in April-June.

Unemployment rose above 30% five years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been stuck there since, despite repeated government initiatives to try to boost job creation.

Six of the 10 industries tracked by Statistics South Africa recorded employment gains in the third quarter, while four saw decreases.

The most jobs were added in construction (130 000 jobs), community and social services (116 000) and trade (108 000).

Stats SA said it had updated its methodology in line with International Labour Organization guidelines.

Statistics official Solly Molayi said the new methodology had contributed to the job gains in construction, as it meant more informal jobs had been captured.

Another official noted unemployment had tended to fall in the third quarter in recent years.

Africa's biggest economy picked up pace in the second quarter, though growth remains sluggish.

Electricity supply has improved and logistics bottlenecks eased, but weak domestic demand means firms have held back on investing.

Gina Schoeman, Citi's South Africa economist, said investment as a share of gross domestic product would need to rise from 14% to around 16% to achieve a meaningful dent in unemployment.

"To get to job numbers doing better, you first need to invest in actual capital expenditure and expand your business," she said.