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Ramaphosa greenlights SIU probe into eThekwini municipality, North West Transport Investments

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed a new proclamation and a key amendment empowering the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe deep-seated allegations of serious maladministration, corruption, and irregular expenditure at the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and the North West Transport Investments (NTI), with a direct mandate to recover financial losses suffered by the State.

Ramaphosa amended an existing proclamation to expand the ongoing investigation into the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

The initial 2024 proclamation authorised the SIU to investigate the municipality's procurement of security and VIP protection services.

The new amendment extends the investigation period and brings contracts CMS 0031, 1C15104, 1C18709, 1C20359, 1X31747 and 1C29300 under forensic scrutiny.

The SIU will evaluate whether these contracts, and any subsequent extensions or variations followed a fair, competitive, transparent, equitable, and cost-effective framework, or if they resulted in irregular expenditure.

If the investigation uncovers evidence of criminal conduct, the SIU will hand the files over to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution.

Additionally, the SIU is fully authorised to initiate civil action in the High Court or the Special Tribunal to recover stolen public funds and assets.

In the North West, the SIU will investigate the affairs of the NTI, alongside its wholly-owned subsidiary North West Star, and the Atteridgeville Bus Service.

According to SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho the investigation will target procurement, contracting, and payment processes related to contracts handled by Zentrafor Fuel Limited, trading as FuelU, services rendered under a vehicle rental agreement dated July 28, 2023 and operations outlined in a Sub-Contractor Agreement dated July 7, 2023.

The SIU's scope extends to systemic operational flaws. Investigators will scrutinise the receipt, processing, approval, and payment of claims submitted by Transnat Coachlines, Ziggy Investments, and their subsequent Joint Venture. The unit will check if these transactions breached National or Provincial Treasury guidelines.

Crucially, the probe will also dissect the actions of the Business Rescue Practitioner appointed on 21 July 2022, alongside their agents and NTI employees. The SIU aims to determine whether corrupt individuals or entities received undue benefits, resulting in severe losses to the NTI or the State.

Ramaphosa touts BRICS success, vows to build on $10-billion SA-India economic ties

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to leveraging its BRICS membership to drive domestic economic growth, expand trade and solidify bilateral ties with India.

Following the conclusion of the eighteenth BRICS Summit, held over the weekend in New Delhi, in India, Ramaphosa detailed how South Africa is capitalising on its strategic partnerships to boost investment and modernise key domestic industries.

India currently stands as South Africa's fourth-largest trading partner. The economic footprint between the two nations is already substantial, with more than 150 Indian companies investing over $10-billion in South Africa, a move that has generated more than 18 000 local jobs.

Prominent South African enterprises, including Naspers, FirstRand Bank, Sanlam, and Momentum, maintain a significant investment presence in India.

To build on this foundation, the summit hosted the South Africa-India CEOs Roundtable, bringing together captains of industry from both nations.

Ramaphosa also engaged in targeted bilateral discussions with individual Indian firms looking to either expand their footprint in South Africa or venture into new local markets.

According to the President, Indian business leaders highly commended South Africa's ongoing structural reforms, particularly those targeting the energy, logistics, telecommunications, water, and visa sectors, as well as advancements in public digital infrastructure.

Ramaphosa emphasised that the two nations possess "highly complementary capabilities" that can unlock massive value when combined, noting that India's globally recognised strengths in pharmaceuticals, health technology, IT, and fintech are positioned to support South Africa's ambitions to localise vaccine and medicine production while modernising its public service systems.

He said South Africa's reserves of critical minerals are primed to feed India's rapidly expanding renewable energy, electric vehicle, and battery value chains. Ramaphosa stressed that a key priority remains ensuring the processing and beneficiation of these minerals happen on South African soil.

He explained that to translate this immense potential into reality, both nations have committed to working toward restoring direct commercial flights between South Africa and India, alongside fostering closer collaboration between their respective business chambers.

Addressing scepticism regarding the domestic relevance of international summits, Ramaphosa countered that BRICS membership yields direct, tangible rewards for South Africa's economy.

More than one-fifth of South Africa's total global trade is conducted with fellow BRICS nations.

Furthermore, as a shareholder in the New Development Bank, South Africa directly accesses crucial development finance to fund major domestic infrastructure projects in energy, water, and transportation.

Participation in the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement also secures South Africa access to a $100-billion liquidity pool in the event of a currency crisis.

Beyond the economic balance sheet, Ramaphosa underscored the geopolitical weight of the bloc, noting that BRICS provides a platform for cultivating a fairer, more inclusive multilateral world order that operates under international law with the United Nations at its centre.

Through institutional cooperation in science, research, and education, alongside grassroots platforms like the BRICS Youth Council and the BRICS Network University, the bloc continues to drive sustainable development.

"Through BRICS, we will continue to add our voice to the growing call from the Global South for an inclusive world order rooted in mutual respect and shared prosperity," Ramaphosa said. "And we will continue to use our membership of BRICS to develop our economy and improve the lives of our people."

Ramaphosa calls for BRICS members to invest in productive capacity

President Cyril Ramaphosa, during an address to the BRICS Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue, held in India this week, called for the bloc to direct investment towards manufacturing and beneficiation, industrial technologies, energy systems, infrastructure and logistics.

Africa must not only supply the minerals on which the next generation of industries depends, while value addition and manufacturing take place elsewhere.

"If we are to change where value is created, we must also change where investment is directed. Companies must invest not only to access markets, but also to establish production facilities and develop local capabilities," he said.

BRICS countries were at an inflection point. With the global economy being reshaped, trade patterns shifting, technological advances accelerating and climate pressures increasing, countries and companies must reconsider where they source, produce and invest.

For the BRICS bloc, this was an opportunity to shape a more resilient, diversified and inclusive economic future for the Global South, Ramaphosa said.

Developing economies have participated in global value chains mainly as suppliers of raw commodities. Value creation, technology and higher-value manufacturing remained concentrated elsewhere.

"We must not reproduce that pattern within the expanded BRICS. Our ambition must extend beyond increasing intra-BRICS trade to deepening the productive relationships between our economies."

BRICS must be a platform through which investment and trade reshape existing economic patterns and transform the destinies of its countries and peoples, said Ramaphosa.

He called on BRICS countries to turn the ambitions of the bloc into commercial relationships and productive partnerships.

The work of the BRICS Business Council and the Working Groups was essential to turning the ambitions of BRICS into meaningful economic cooperation, he added.

"The question is not whether there is potential, but whether we have the ambition, the instruments and the partnerships to convert this potential into economic value for our people. Our shared task is to translate the ideas, recommendations and partnerships developed through the council into tangible economic growth and development.

"Our economies have confronted profound challenges [since the formation of the BRICS Business Council in 2013], yet we have also shown that adversity can create opportunity. Resilience is not simply the capacity to withstand disruption. It is the capacity to transform disruption into new capabilities and partnerships," he said.

Nigeria suspends official visits to SA over xenophobic attacks

The Nigerian National Assembly has officially suspended all official visits to South Africa and has initiated a complete boycott of South African-hosted or South African-organised legislative activities.

This directive follows intensive consultations between the leadership of the country's Senate and the House of Representatives and is a response to reports of xenophobic violence, intimidation and the targeted destruction of property belonging to Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.

In an official communication conveying the directive, the Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana, expressed the legislative body's "profound concern" over the escalating hostility, noting reports of Nigerian citizens being killed, injured, displaced, and forced to abandon their homes, investments, and legitimate businesses due to recurring violent attacks.

Of particular frustration to Nigerians is the "systematic failure" of South African authorities to curb the violence.

The National Assembly pointed out that despite repeated appeals from the federal government of Nigeria and regional stakeholders demanding decisive measures to protect foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice, the attacks have persisted with minimal legal accountability.

The National Assembly acknowledged ongoing federal interventions, including State-backed efforts to evacuate vulnerable Nigerian nationals.

The National Assembly emphasised that such emergency measures underscore the gravity of the crisis and reinforce the constitutional responsibility of Nigerian State institutions to safeguard the lives, dignity and interests of citizens abroad.

Following the joint resolution by parliamentary leaders, the suspension of engagements takes effect immediately and remains in force until further notice.

The ban is comprehensive and applies to all planned visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its standing committees, lawmakers, and administrative staff.

Participation in conferences, seminars, workshops and parliamentary exchanges hosted, organised, or co-sponsored by the Parliament of South Africa is strictly prohibited.

The National Assembly pointed out that the restriction applies to physical travel and online or virtual meetings hosted by South African legislative institutions.

The National Assembly has urged the leadership of State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria's 36 states to adopt similar retaliatory measures.

The Clerk made it clear that no official delegation or individual may bypass this directive without prior express approval from the National Assembly leadership. Further, all existing invitations and proposed programmes are to be immediately reviewed.

The legislative leadership described the boycott as a firm, measured response aimed at prioritising the welfare and dignity of Nigerians.

While the National Assembly values parliamentary diplomacy and inter-State cooperation, it maintained that these relationships must be anchored on mutual respect and a shared commitment to the rule of law.

Officials clarified that this decision is not an attempt to permanently dismantle Nigeria's deep-rooted historical and diplomatic ties with South Africa. Instead, it serves as an "unambiguous expression of protest" against the unsafe environment confronting Nigerians in South Africa.

The House of Representatives and the Senate have urged the South African government to fulfil its fundamental international obligations.

They called on South Africa to halt existing violence and prevent future xenophobic outbreaks against African nationals, conduct thorough investigations into all reported incidents of targeted violence, and arrest and prosecute suspects to the full extent of the law to restore confidence and goodwill between the two economic powerhouses.

The House of Representatives reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring developments closely. While Nigeria remains open ...

Parties lodge ethics complaint against Majodina over vulgar tirade against Kouga resident

The EFF, DA and ActionSA have criticised Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina, following a highly contentious confrontation with a resident in the Eastern Cape.

The incident, which has sparked widespread public outcry, has led to an official ethics complaint laid by the DA and ActionSA, and intensified the political temperature ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

The controversy erupted during a community meeting in the Kouga local municipality, meant to address severe local water shortages.

According to political parties, Majodina unleashed a tirade of profanities and insults at a community member who was questioning or criticising the government's performance.

The EFF stated that Majodina ordered the resident to leave the meeting before proceeding to insult him and his mother, using highly vulgar language.

"To make matters worse, the resident she verbally attacked appeared to be a disabled citizen, who was on crutches while being treated with indignity, disdain, and a lack of respect," the party said in a statement.

The EFF alleged that the Minister's outbursts formed part of a broader pattern of behaviour within the ANC.

The EFF highlighted recent separate incidents, including controversial remarks by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Dada Morero, who reportedly compared a resident's community engagement input to faeces, and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe, whom the EFF accused of blackmailing residents with service delivery.

"The attitude of ANC public representatives in community meetings reveals an organisation frustrated with its own electoral decline, and they are now lashing out at the public," the EFF said.

The red berets argued that Majodina did not just insult an individual in Kouga, but effectively insulted millions of South Africans currently enduring water scarcity in areas ranging from Johannesburg and eThekwini to rural Giyani and Ditsobotla.

The EFF called on voters to punish the ruling party's "arrogance" at the ballot box on November 4.

The DA lodged an ethics complaint with Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests, calling for Majodina's conduct to be investigated and for appropriate sanctions to be imposed by Parliament.

"This behaviour brings the ANC, Parliament and government into disrepute and undermines public confidence in her. Minister Majodina must be held accountable, and she must be sanctioned by the President," said DA Parliamentary leader George Michalakis.

ActionSA has also lodged an ethics complaint against Majodina with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Malebo Kobe criticised Majodina's behaviour as a flagrant breach of Section 5(e) of the Code of Ethical Conduct for Assembly and Council Members.

Kobe argued that the Minister's conduct brings Parliament into disrepute and exemplifies a growing disconnect between the Government of National Unity and the citizens it serves.

"There is simply no place for this kind of behaviour from a Minister of the Republic," Kobe said. "South Africans expect those entrusted with public office to conduct themselves with dignity, restraint, and respect, not to resort to crude insults when confronted with the frustration of ordinary South Africans who rightly criticise the failures of the government."

ActionSA has demanded an immediate, unequivocal public apology from Majodina and has called for swift disciplinary consequences from Parliament.

South Africa urged to lock in reforms before Ramaphosa leaves

South Africa must enshrine its reform process in law to guarantee the momentum gained under President Cyril Ramaphosa endures after he leaves office, said the head of a key business lobby group.

"The reform project is the most important project that is happening in this country," Business Leadership South Africa Chief Executive Officer Busi Mavuso said in an interview at Bloomberg's office in Johannesburg on Wednesday. "Reducing government dominance in the country gives the country the resilience in order to continue functioning, irrespective of what happens in politics."

Investors have warmed to Africa's largest economy as reforms begin to bear fruit, most visibly with the end of almost daily power cuts as the state-owned electricity utility improves its performance. South Africa's credit-rating has been upgraded, the much-maligned rand has strengthened, and the stock market hit a record high in February.

But the legacy of corruption and mismanagement under Ramaphosa's predecessor, Jacob Zuma, still dogs an economy that has expanded at less than 1% annually for more than a decade. And with Zuma still a political force, there's apprehension whether the pro-growth track of Ramaphosa and his government coalition partners will survive the election cycle.

The next general election isn't until 2029. But Ramaphosa will stand down as leader of the African National Congress — the country's biggest political party — in late 2027, and in the past the incoming head of the ANC has then become president.

Before then, the country holds municipal elections on Nov. 4.

If the ANC loses ground with voters – as polls suggest it might — it may weaken Ramaphosa's ability to steer the selection of his successor toward someone who will continue reforms. He also faces a potential parliamentary impeachment process over a 2022 cash-in-sofa scandal that he's challenging in court.

"Our country has been undermined by politics," Mavuso said. "You are therefore, through reforms, decoupling the functioning of the economy from politics, you are derisking the function of the economy from politics."

Her remarks come as the government and private sector launch the third phase of their partnership aimed at lifting national economic growth to 3% by 2030.

Ramaphosa established Operation Vulindlela, a unit within his own office aimed at fast-tracking reform implementation, and between 70% and 75% of those in the energy and logistics sectors are complete.

The urgency is pressing. Data this week showed the economy contracted by a larger than anticipated 0.2% in the second quarter, snapping six quarters of consecutive growth.

Mavuso cautioned that the numbers show the economy remains vulnerable and that improvements at State power utility Eskom and the State port and rail operator Transnet only mark the beginning of the process. That's why getting the reforms written into law is essential, she said.

"If the reforms are reducing the government dominance on the economy, it shouldn't matter who the president is because we'll still be able to generate electricity irrespective of what happens," Mavuso said. "At that time, it will be a function of implementing what's in the law."

Six S Africans still missing after Nepal floods, DNA provided in search efforts

Six South African nationals remain unaccounted for following devastating flash floods in Nepal, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed on Thursday.

In response to a formal request from the Nepalese government, Dirco has partnered with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to expedite identification efforts.

The SAPS Victim Identification Centre, operating under the Division: Detectives and Forensic Services, has collected and coordinated DNA profiles from the biological relatives of the missing individuals.

These DNA profiles have been sent to authorities in Nepal and Interpol in Kathmandu to help in the ongoing search and identification process.

Dirco explained that owing to the complex geography of the region, South African diplomatic missions in New Delhi, India, and Beijing, China, are actively liaising with host governments to coordinate a regional disaster response.

Dirco noted that there is still no official confirmation from authorities in Nepal or China/Tibet regarding the status or whereabouts of the six citizens.

Dirco stated that it will continue to monitor the situation closely and remains committed to providing regular updates to the affected families as new information emerges.

South Africa's current account records Q2 deficit as Iran war drives up import costs

South Africa recorded a current account deficit in the second quarter after a strong surplus in the first three months of this year, as the Iran war drove import costs sharply higher, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The current account deficit was 2.6% of gross domestic product in the second quarter, compared with a surplus of 2.3% in the first quarter of 2026, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said.

The deficit on the current account was R205.5-billion in April-June, compared with a surplus of R181.6-billion in January-March.

The trade surplus narrowed sharply to R146.4-billion from R428.8-billion in the previous quarter.

The SARB said the value of crude oil and refined petroleum product imports in particular had surged, linking that to "heightened supply concerns related to the ongoing war in the Middle East".

For crude, the value of imports increased by 82.1% while the quantity imported increased by only 1.8%.

South Africa imports the majority of its fuel, making its economy heavily exposed to swings in global energy prices since the US-Israeli war against Iran started in late February.

Impeachment Committee halts evidence leader appointments, heads to court against EFF, ALPA

The Section 89 Impeachment Committee announced on Wednesday that it will legally oppose court applications brought by the EFF and the African Legal Professional Association (ALPA).

The legal battle followed the committee's controversial decision to rescind its initial recommendation to appoint advocate Thandazani Madonsela as the chief evidence leader for the upcoming parliamentary impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Phala Phala matter.

Both the EFF and ALPA filed separate urgent applications in the Western Cape High Court, arguing that the committee's reversal was flawed.

In its court papers, the EFF criticised the executive's intervention as an act of "bad faith" designed to delay and frustrate parliamentary oversight, further labelling the committee's decision to back down as "fundamentally irrational".

Committee chairperson Makashule Gana confirmed that the decision to oppose the lawsuits was finalised during a committee meeting on Wednesday.

Considering the pending litigation, the committee resolved to halt the appointment process entirely.

"The committee will wait until the court challenges are settled before we appoint the evidence leader," Gana stated, confirming that no new recommendation will be made until the Western Cape High Court rules on the matter.

The dispute erupted last month when Ramaphosa formally objected to Madonsela's nomination, citing severe conflicts of interest.

The objection forced the committee to halt its proceedings and seek independent legal counsel.

In his submissions, Ramaphosa noted that he personally removed Madonsela from the Judicial Service Commission in 2022, creating an inherent risk of a personal grievance.

The ANC noted that Madonsela had previously advised the ruling party on the exact matters tied to this specific impeachment inquiry.

Despite the legal deadlock over the evidence leader, Gana emphasised that the committee is forging ahead with its structural work, noting that 90% of the terms of reference have been completed.

"Now the legal services have been given the mandate to build in the additional clauses that the committee has agreed to today, and now to then produce the final draft," Gana said.

The committee expects to officially adopt the finalised terms of reference at its next scheduled meeting.

EFF heads to court over Parly's 'irrational' reversal on removal of impeachment evidence leader

The EFF has filed an urgent application at the Western Cape High Court, seeking to review and set aside Parliament's decision to rescind the appointment of Advocate Thandazani Madonsela as chief evidence leader of the Section 89 Impeachment Committee in the Phala Phala matter.

The party contends that the Committee's sudden reversal represents a "dangerous capitulation" to executive overreach.

According to the EFF, the legal challenge is vital to "safeguard the independence of Parliament from executive control" and to fortify the legislature's constitutional mandate to hold the executive accountable without fear or favour.

The EFF officially nominated Madonsela for the role on July 22.

Following the nomination, parliamentary officials questioned Madonsela regarding potential conflicts of interest, specifically whether any past dealings with President Cyril Ramaphosa would cloud his judgment.

On July 27, Madonsela replied to Parliament, affirming that he had no conflicts of interest. However, he highlighted two specific interactions with the President and the ruling party.

Madonsela highlighted his previous appointment by Ramaphosa to the Judicial Service Commission, from which he was later removed during a reconfiguration of the body.

He also noted his instruction by a firm of attorneys to assist a junior advocate in drafting a legal opinion for the ANC parliamentary study group.

This opinion outlined how Parliament should respond to litigation following the Constitutional Court's mandate to establish an Impeachment Committee.

The EFF stressed that when the Impeachment Committee met last month, it possessed all this information. After evaluating these facts, the committee concluded that no conflict of interest existed and formally resolved to recommend Madonsela for the role.

The EFF alleged that the committee's subsequent reversal was triggered by direct interference from both the ruling party and the Presidency.

The party noted that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula sent a letter to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, flagging Madonsela's prior legal work for the ANC.

Concurrently, Ramaphosa wrote to Parliament objecting to the appointment, citing the exact two grounds Madonsela had already disclosed - his past JSC membership and the ANC study group briefing.

The EFF has criticised these objections, labelling them "frivolous" and legally flawed.

"The reasons proffered by Ramaphosa are frivolous and should have never been entertained by the committee," the EFF stated. "They are also not new, as the Committee had full disclosure made to it by Madonsela, and still resolved to appoint him."

In its court papers, the EFF argued that the executive's intervention was executed in bad faith, aimed at delaying and frustrating the work of the Impeachment Committee.

Furthermore, the party maintained that the committee's decision to rescind the appointment is fundamentally irrational.

The EFF pointed out a critical misunderstanding of the role: evidence leaders do not function as judges and hold no decision-making power within the inquiry.

The Impeachment Committee itself remained the sole arbiter and decision-maker.

By bowing to external pressure, the EFF warned that Parliament has compromised its integrity, a development that "should concern all Constitution-loving and law-abiding citizens in this country."

The party highlighted that the work Madonsela might have done for the study group cannot constitute conflict of interest because the ANC is not party to any of the litigation taking place surrounding Ramaphosa and Phala Phala.

"… Ramaphosa's averment that Madonsela's role and removal from the JSC might have caused Madonsela to resent Ramaphosa is without merit and irrational," the EFF explained.