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ANC, Cosatu renew commitment to unity

African National Congress (ANC) officials met with the national office bearers of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) in a bilateral meeting on Monday, in Braamfontein, where parties asserted a renewed commitment to the "unity and strategic coherence of the alliance", and to the deepening of socioeconomic transformation.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the ANC and Cosatu agreed on further engagements on the implementation of the ANC's 10-Point Economic Action Plan, grounded in the values of the Freedom Charter, to ensure that economic transformation directly benefits the working class and "advances the struggle for shared prosperity".

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled the 10-Point Economic Action Plan earlier this month.

The meeting saw a presentation on the plan, which outlines measures to accelerate inclusive growth and job creation.

The plan focuses on restoring energy security, improving the efficiency of freight and logistics, rebuilding the mining and industrial base, and strengthening the capacity of the State to implement major infrastructure projects.

"It further emphasises support for small, medium-sized, and microenterprises and township enterprises, labour activation initiatives and balanced regional development that expands economic participation beyond the main centres," Bhengu said.

The meeting also touched on the ANC local government action plan and ongoing preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The ANC emphasised the importance of restoring the integrity of municipal councillors, improving governance and delivering quality services.

Bhengu explained that the meeting was the first formal bilateral engagement between the two historical allies in some time.

She said the meeting reaffirmed the "deep bond of comradeship and shared responsibility" that the ANC and Cosatu hold as partners in the National Democratic Revolution.

"Both organisations reflected with honesty and revolutionary maturity on the challenges confronting the movement and the working class, agreeing that this renewed engagement marks an important step in strengthening and reinvigorating the strategic alliance of the ANC, the South African Communist Party, Cosatu, and the South African National Civic Organisation," she added.

Fitch expects South Africa to set 3% inflation target in November

Fitch Ratings expects South Africa to announce a revised 3% inflation target during November's medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS), a senior analyst said on Tuesday.

Central bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago said earlier in October that the central bank and National Treasury agreed the inflation target should be lowered but they were still discussing when to make the change.

"It doesn't mean that it will strictly be implemented immediately," Thomas Garreau, Director for Middle East and Africa Sovereign Ratings at Fitch, said during a media briefing.

"We do consider that South Africa's Reserve Bank will have some tolerance for inflation," and not hike rates as a result Garreau added.

Kganyago surprised financial markets in July when he said the central bank would effectively target 3% inflation, rather than the formal 3-6% range set by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

Commenting on South Africa's credit rating, Garreau said it was not necessarily linked to higher GDP growth.

"But we must be confident that medium-term growth prospects will be higher and will become sufficiently strong to support fiscal consolidation and address some challenges ... typically high inequality and unemployment," he said.

Confidence in stabilising government debt-to-GDP would also be a positive sensitivity for the rating, he added.

Fitch affirmed South Africa's BB- rating with a stable outlook in September, projecting growth of 1.2% from 2025 to 2027, below the median of 3.7% for similarly rated peers.

The agency cited weak logistics, low investment, and structural unemployment as key constraints.

South Africa lost its investment-grade rating with Fitch in 2017 and was downgraded to BB- in 2020, when the agency projected general government debt would rise to 94.8% of GDP in the financial year to end-March 2023 from 64.9% in the previous period.

Looking ahead, Fitch projects debt rising slightly to 79.6% in the financial year ending March 2027. This is above government forecasts, who estimated debt peaking at 77.4% this year before starting to ease.

Last week, Kganyago criticised past projections by rating agencies, calling for borrowers to have the ability to challenge ratings.

Lamola cites 'positive vibes' on AGOA

Trade talks between South Africa and the United States are "very positive", and there is hope that the US congress could renew a key free trade agreement with the continent before the end of the year, South Africa's minister of International Relations and Cooperation said on Tuesday.

Minister Ronald Lamola told the FT Africa Summit in London that there are "positive vibes" coming from US Congress about the renewal of the AGOA trade agreement, which expired last month, and that ongoing bilateral trade talks were also productive.

"Negotiations are going very well," he said of trade talks with the United States.

Politicians wish matriculants well ahead of finals, express confidence in class of 2025

Politicians extended best wishes to all matriculants ahead of their final National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with government encouraging learners to approach the examinations with focus, confidence and determination.

The final National Senior Certificate examinations will commence on Tuesday and continue through to November 27.

Deputy government spokesperson William Baloyi said this period marked the culmination of 13 years of learning, commitment and perseverance.

He said the learners' hard work represented a vital contribution to the development and progress of the country.

Government is appealing to parents and guardians to provide the necessary support and a conducive environment for learners during this period.

"A calm, encouraging atmosphere at home helps to reduce anxiety and allows learners to perform to the best of their ability. Families are encouraged to ensure that learners maintain healthy routines, including adequate rest, nutritious meals, light exercise, and regular study breaks to sustain concentration and overall well-being," Baloyi said.

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) expressed confidence in the "resilience, strength, and determination" of the matriculants, positive that despite the 2025 challenges, learners would achieve "outstanding success".

The party acknowledged that 2025 presented significant challenges.

"Learners have had to overcome obstacles such as criminal activity and gangsterism in some communities, as well as disruptions in KwaZulu-Natal schools due to educators' union protests over subsidy payments. These factors have added to the pressure on many learners during an already demanding time," said IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa.

He noted recent matric results, which he said showed a sustained upward trend in learner performance, reflecting steady progress within South Africa's education sector.

"As the Class of 2025 enters the examination period, we reflect with pride on the Class of 2024, who achieved a record-breaking pass rate of 87.3% - the highest in the country's history. We are confident that this year's cohort will continue that legacy of excellence," he said.

IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa congratulated the class of 2025 in advance, thanking them for their perseverance and encouraged them not to give up.

Hlabisa also noted the role of parents during this time, saying learners need maximum emotional and financial support.

"Educators and all school stakeholders must continue ensuring that learners receive the assistance they need, whether in studying or in facing personal challenges. Teachers and parents must remain close to offer guidance and encouragement," he said.

The IFP expressed its gratitude to educators who, despite difficult circumstances, remained committed to supporting learners.

The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng called on the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to ensure that all examination centres were adequately resourced, well-prepared and properly secured.

The party also urged the GDE to implement all necessary measures to prevent any disruptions or leaks of examination papers.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters also wished the class of 2025 well for their exams.

Ramaphosa urges private sector to make nutritious food more affordable for S Africans

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday urged the 'Big Five' retail companies to make nutritious food more affordable for South African households, saying despite a range of interventions by national and provincial governments, a large portion of South African households are food insecure.

Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly letter to the nation that amid high unemployment and poverty and limited economic growth, many South African households were finding it difficult to afford nutritious food.

He said with the majority of South Africans relying on supermarket retailers for their food supply, the private sector had an important role to play.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the efforts by several retailers to keep prices as low as possible, as well as initiatives to keep daily essentials affordable.

"The Shoprite Group's R5 products line is an example of this," he said.

He noted that according to Statistics South Africa data, annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages continued to rise.

Last month, headline consumer inflation hit a 10-month high. Meat and vegetables were more expensive, putting household food budgets under pressure.

Ramaphosa stated that as retailers worked to grow their market share among low-income households, they had a responsibility to ensure this included affordable healthy food choices such as plant and animal proteins, fruits and vegetables.

He said access to nutritious food directly affected the physical health and development of individuals and societies.

Around 15- to 16-million people in South Africa have inadequate or severely inadequate access to food.

He pointed out that the Competition Commission had conducted several inquiries to enforce accountability in the food market.

In February, the Commission facilitated a R1-million settlement with an edible oils producer accused of price fixing.

The Commission also conducted inquiries into bread and milling cartels, into the grocery retail and fresh produce markets, and most recently, into alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the poultry industry.

Ramaphosa said South Africa was among 29 countries where the right to food and water was enshrined in the Constitution, and where citizens had recourse to the legal system to ensure that this right was enforced.

"Our Constitution imposes a duty on the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to progressively realise this right.

"Since the advent of democracy in 1994, successive administrations have adopted a multifaceted approach to tackling hunger and food security. This has included legislative and policy reform, nutrition at primary health care level, and programmes that deliver nutrition directly to communities and institutions, such as the school feeding scheme," he explained.

He said although food retailers themselves were under pressure owing to external factors like rising energy and transportation costs, droughts and global supply chain disruptions, practices such as price-fixing that inflated food prices were directly contributing to food insecurity for households.

He pointed out that the success of all efforts would rely on deeper collaboration between government, business, labour and civil society.

"We need to gain a deeper and honest understanding what is driving food insecurity in our society and the measures that need to be taken to overcome them. The ultimate measure of the success of our democratic dispensation lies in our ability to ensure that no person goes hungry," he said.

DA proposes Bill to replace BEE, wants ANC's support

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday launched its Economic Inclusion for All Bill to replace Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and is urging support from the African National Congress (ANC).

The party expressed concerns about what it said was the ANC's continued defence of BEE, which it argued had deterred investment, stifled growth and benefited ANC cadres while the majority of black South Africans remained in poverty and excluded from opportunity.

With its proposed Bill, the DA aimed to replace what it termed "years of ineffective ANC empowerment policies".

"Around 44-million South Africans are stuck in poverty, 12-million are stranded in unemployment queues, and our country remains the most unequal place on earth. This is not the inclusive country we envisioned building when we lined up to vote on the 27th of April 1994," stated DA head of policy Mat Cuthbert.

He believes that since the ANC's BEE policy was first introduced in 2003, conditions have significantly worsened for the people it claims to represent.

He said the unemployment rate for black South Africans was 36% in the last quarter of 2024, compared with 7% among white South Africans.

From 2014 to 2024, the black unemployment rate increased by 9%, while the white unemployment rate decreased by 1%.

The DA vowed to use its position in the Government of National Unity (GNU) and Parliament to oppose what it said was a "harmful" policy.

"The DA may be in coalition with the ANC in government, but that doesn't mean we need to agree with them all the time. We are in the GNU to represent the interests of all South Africans, and we will not relent," Cuthbert said.

The DA believes that instead of redressing past injustices, BEE has created a "feeding trough for the ANC's cadres".

Cuthbert claimed that the BEE model had become a key driver of corruption, citing the looting of about R2-billion from Tembisa Hospital and the murder of Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality's Chief Auditor Mpho Mafole after he submitted a report that pointed to irregularities in a R1.8-billion chemical toilets tender.

"This clearly demonstrates how successive ANC administrations have failed to address the root causes of inequality by implementing crude race-based procurement policies to benefit themselves at the expense of the people," Cuthbert said.

He assured that the DA was committed to redressing the injustices of the past by removing all barriers to accessing opportunities and delivering "real empowerment" for all South Africans.

The party's Economic Inclusion for All Bill seeks to amend the Public Procurement Amendment Act of 2024, to repeal all race-based preferential procurement provisions and replace them with an empowerment system that targets poverty as the proxy for disadvantage instead of race.

The Bill aims to create a public procurement system that encourages economic empowerment by offering incentives for developmental outcomes such as job creation, poverty reduction, skills enhancement and environmentally sustainable practices.

"We aim to reform South Africa's public procurement framework by aligning it with Section 217 of the Constitution, which governs public procurement, requiring that all State organs must contract for goods and services in a system that is fair, equitable, transparent, competitive, and cost-effective," explained Cuthbert.

He further highlighted that the DA's Bill removed provisions for set-asides, prequalification criteria, subcontracting conditions and local content designations, replacing these measures with an outcomes-driven system centred on inclusive development and value-for-money procurement.

He said the transitional measures in the Bill included the winding down of the BEE Commission over 12 months and the systematic removal of references to BEE across legislation.

To give effect to this change, the Bill empowered the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to develop a simplified preference ...

SIU secures order for recovery of R2.4m in PPE case

The Special Tribunal has ordered Nozihle Construction and Projects CC to repay over R2.42-million to the Mpumalanga Department of Health, following a judgment declaring a multimillion-rand personal protective equipment (PPE) contract unlawful.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) secured a court order for the recovery of R2 427 333.30, with SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explaining that the order relates to an April 2020 contract for the supply of 100 000 3-ply surgical masks, valued at R2 645 000.

The Tribunal found that the contract was unlawful and void as Nozihle Construction and Projects CC was not licensed as a distributor of medical devices with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, as is mandatorily required by the Medicines and Related Substances Act.

"The order affirms the SIU's argument that any transaction performed in contravention of statutory prohibition is void," Kganyago said.

He added that the judgment was a critical outcome of the SIU's "relentless efforts" to recover public funds lost during the Covid-19 national state of disaster.

"It sends a clear message that suppliers who fail to meet essential legal requirements have no entitlement to profit from the State, and the SIU will use its litigation powers to the fullest to ensure such funds are returned," he stated.

The recoverable amount of R2 427 333.30 represented the difference between the price paid by the Health Department and the average price for masks on the National Treasury's transversal contracts, Kganyago said.

The Special Tribunal also set aside the contract and ordered Nozihle Construction and Projects CC to pay the SIU's costs, including the costs of two counsel.

In line with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action.

Under the Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration, explained Kganyago.

Ramaphosa optimistic National Dialogue steering committee appointments will eliminate disruptions

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday expressed confidence with the establishment of the National Dialogue steering committee and assured that there will be no disruption in the processes to follow.

He explained that the National Dialogue process had reached a "pivotal stage" with the completion of the nomination of sectoral representatives to the National Dialogue steering committee.

However, he said work was underway to establish a fully-fledged National Dialogue secretariat, housed at the National Economic Development and Labour Council, which he said would provide institutional support to the process.

Once approved by the President, the National Dialogue steering committee will coordinate the roll-out of public dialogues across the country. It is expected that the process of appointing the steering committee will be concluded in the coming weeks.

The first sitting of precursor to the National Dialogue, the National Convention, held in August, in Pretoria, got off to a rocky start with some legacy foundations and political parties withdrawing from the National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team (PTT).

Ramaphosa noted, however, that the first National Convention approved the mandate, responsibilities and composition of the National Dialogue steering committee, and agreed that each of the identified sectors would hold consultations to decide on nominees to serve on the steering committee and its subcommittees.

He said it was important that the momentum that had been built up and the expectations that had been raised were not allowed to dissipate.

He said no less than 26 sectors had to date submitted nominations for the National Dialogue steering committee.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, explained that the list of nominated steering committee members has been handed over to the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) for quality assurance.

"For its part, the EPG will submit its recommendations to the President in his role as head of State and convener of the National Dialogue for finalisation," Magwenya said.

In July, Ramaphosa appointed an EPG, comprising leading figures in society, who he said reflected South Africa's diversity, and who had a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building.

He noted that the EPG must guide and champion the National Dialogue, explaining that they were expected to critically consider the progress and the conduct of the National Dialogue, and provide advice where correction was required.

Meanwhile, Ramaphosa extended gratitude to the committees involved in the organisation of the National Dialogue.

"As a country, we owe a great debt of gratitude to the members of the Convention Organising Committee (COC). Working with the EPG and the Inter-Ministerial Committee, the COC made sure that hundreds of delegates from around the country were able to gather at the National Convention to endorse and to launch the National Dialogue. Through a truly collective effort, the National Convention proceeded smoothly and gave people from all sectors an opportunity to express themselves," said Ramaphosa.

He also pointed out the role of legacy foundations and other civil society organisations in the National Dialogue PTT, which he said was instrumental in getting the National Dialogue off the ground.

He explained that the EPG, the Inter-Ministerial Committee and the Presidency would remain custodians of the process's integrity and would continue to "safeguard its credibility" until it was handed over to the National Dialogue steering committee.

Ramaphosa has received the Handover Report of the COC and the Report on the National Convention, ending the mandate of the COC.

DA, ActionSA want answers on delayed crime stats

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Friday the latest postponement of the release of the first quarter crime statistics is "unacceptable and deeply troubling", adding that it will write to Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia again to ask for the release date, while ActionSA has called for the immediate release of the statistics and an explanation for the delay.

The crime statistics for the first quarter were due at the end of August, the same time at which the South African Police Service (Saps) released last year's data.

DA spokesperson on Police Lisa Schickerling said the figures were already seven weeks overdue, and said the lack of a timeframe was "indefensible".

She said the Saps' and Cachalia's silence on the matter was "growing louder by the day".

"The annual Safer Festive Season campaign is about to begin, yet those on the ground are left without accurate crime information to guide their operations. Officers know where the hotspots are, but without updated statistics, planning and resource allocation become guesswork," she said.

She said timely crime data was not a courtesy but a constitutional and legal duty.

The ongoing delay and lack of communication from Saps suggested a worrying disregard for accountability and openness, she added.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Dereleen James said the delays were taking place amid deepening turmoil within the Police Ministry, as well as uncertainty over the Acting Minister's authority, a leadership vacuum at Saps, and ongoing investigations by an ad hoc committee into governance failures within the Ministry.

"…together, these developments paint a picture of a police service in crisis, one that appears to have lost focus on its constitutional duty to protect and inform the public," she stated.

She said as violent crime continues to terrorise communities across South Africa, the "lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable".

ActionSA wants strong parliamentary oversight to ensure that those responsible for these recurring failures are held accountable.

"Year after year, South Africans are promised a more transparent and accountable police service. Yet what we continue to witness is instability, excuses, and a persistent disregard for the public's right to know. It is time for the leadership of Saps and the Police Ministry to stop hiding behind bureaucracy and face the people they are meant to serve," she stated.

Parly Saps committee investigating Mkhwanazi allegations granted extension

The Parliamentary ad-hoc committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi now has until November 28 to finalise its work.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has granted the extension.

The ad hoc committee met on Wednesday to receive reports on the legal opinion on the participation of certain members, its request for an extension of the committee's lifespan and the identification of further witnesses, among other things.

The committee was initially given until the end of October to finalise its work.

So far, 325 submissions have been received.

The deadline for input from the public on Mkhwanazi's allegations is Friday.

The committee said only submissions which relate to the scope of the enquiry would be considered.

"Written submissions, including supporting documentation, intended to place evidence before the committee, must be provided under oath or affirmation. Individuals or organisations requiring assistance in preparing a sworn statement or submitting evidence are encouraged to notify the committee so that appropriate support can be arranged," it said.

The oral hearings are scheduled to continue Friday with the testimony of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Next week, the committee is expected to hear from former Police Minister General Bheki Cele.

The committee also finalised a list of high-ranking South African Police Service officials that would be called to appear before the committee.