High Court dismisses Zuma, Mbeki's bid to recuse Justice Khampepe

The Gauteng High Court dismissed the application brought by former Presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to withdraw retired Justice Sisi Khampepe as chairperson of the Commission investigating alleged political interference in the prosecution of apartheid era crimes.

Last year, the former Presidents approached the courts for Khampepe's recusal, arguing that her past roles specifically on the original Truth and Reconciliation Commission amnesty committee and as deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions created a "reasonable apprehension of bias".

The court explained that the former Presidents were required to obtain Chief Justice Mandisa Maya's consent before instituting review proceedings against Khampepe, as per Section 47 of the Superior Courts Act.

"Leave to cite in terms of Section 47 (1) must be obtained. This is so regardless of whether the matter relates to either a Judge's judicial functions and activities or private affairs. It applies to civil proceedings, as in this instance, intended to be instituted against the Judge in the Judge's personal or judicial capacities," the judgment read.

It explained that this also applied to retired judges such as Khampepe.

Zuma and Mbeki were ordered to personally pay the legal costs of the failed application.

Ramaphosa backtracks on US role in G7 Summit snub

South Africa walked back its claim that US pressure led to its disinvitation from an upcoming Group of Seven summit in France.

Pretoria's presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, had said on Thursday afternoon that an invitation to attend the meeting scheduled to take place from June 15-17 had been withdrawn because of "sustained pressure" from Washington. Hours later, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country hadn't been snubbed.

"My information is that there has been no pressure from any country, the US or any other country," Ramaphosa said in remarks aired by Johannesburg-based broadcaster eNCA. "We haven't attended every G7, so if we don't go to this one it should never be a surprise to anyone."

Magwenya didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent by text message on Friday morning. The US State Department said it hadn't requested that South Africa be shut out of the G7 meeting.

"We have not asked the French to exclude South Africa from the G7 summit," Nick Checker, who heads the State Department's Bureau for African Affairs, said in an emailed response to a request for comment.

The South African presidency's initial statement suggested a new flashpoint in already strained ties with the US. Relations have deteriorated sharply since Donald Trump's return to the White House last year, with the US president falsely accusing Pretoria of subjecting White farmers to a genocide and seizing their land, denouncing its relations with Iran, and rejecting its Black economic-empowerment policies.

Last year, Trump boycotted a G20 summit that Ramaphosa hosted in Johannesburg, and said South African officials won't be invited to attend this year's meeting in Miami.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Kenya, rather than South Africa, had been invited to the G7 meeting. Kenya and France are scheduled to co-host the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi on May 11-12.

"We did not give in to any pressure," Barrot was quoted as saying by Agence-France Presse. "We made a choice consistent with our decision to hold a streamlined G7 focused on geo-economic issues."

Ramaphosa says municipalities in 'crisis', with 63% 'at risk'

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday stressed the importance of restoring the fortunes of local government to attract investment that creates jobs and boosts provincial economies.

He acknowledged that local government was in crisis, noting that the number of municipalities across the country being placed under administration was growing, including seven in the Free State.

Ramaphosa and the national Cabinet met with Free State Premier MaQueen Joyce Letsoha-Mathae and the provincial executive council, in Bloemfontein, in the eighth such national engagement since 2024.

Ramaphosa will be meeting with the leadership of all nine provinces in due course.

He revealed that as of 2025, 35 of the country's 257 municipalities were classified as distressed, and about 63% were classified as being "at risk".

"Underfunding, lack of capacity, high debt and struggling revenue generation models are just some of the challenges. At the same time, many municipalities are practically paralysed by poor governance, financial mismanagement and corruption," he pointed out.

Weaknesses or failings at local government not only affect service delivery but also the trust between government and citizens.

In his State of the Nation Address in February, Ramaphosa outlined steps to strengthen local government, including reviewing the funding model for municipalities and establishing ring-fenced utilities for water and electricity services.

He said government would undertake extensive consultations around the updated White Paper on Local Government this year.

Meanwhile, Letsoha-Mathae emphasised that her province was committed to fixing local government, noting that several municipalities had been placed under administration.

She stressed the need for stricter consequence management for unethical officials, improvement of ageing infrastructure such as sewerage systems, and bolstered human settlements as people migrated between areas.

A primary focus for the province is the eradication of the bucket toilet system and reviewing stalled capital projects, such as the Dark and Silver City Housing Development in Bloemfontein.

She pointed out that Ramaphosa's previous engagements with the province reaffirmed the urgency of confronting social challenges facing the province.

"We remain resolute in intensifying our efforts, particularly in the fight against gender-based violence and in building safer, more cohesive communities," she said.

Ramaphosa highlighted that the Free State was uniquely positioned to be at the heart of the country's economic growth story.

"It is strategically located, making it a natural logistics and distribution hub linking major economic centres. The province has extensive agricultural capacity, contributes significantly to our nation's food security, and has a growing agroprocessing sector," he said.

He explained that mining was well-established, with increasing opportunities in manufacturing and beneficiation.

"… the province is also leveraging its natural resources to generate renewable energy and for battery storage. The Free State's urban centres that are already administrative hubs are well-positioned to attract investment in the professional services and education sectors," he explained.

He noted that these endowments and advantages must be leveraged to drive inclusive growth and create jobs.

US urged France to revoke South Africa G7 invite, Pretoria says

France withdrew an invitation for South Africa to attend a summit of Group of Seven leaders in June following pressure from the US, President Cyril Ramaphosa's office said.

Leaders of the world's richest nations are scheduled to meet in Évian-les-Bains, in southeastern France, from June 15 to 17.

"The invitation was withdrawn by the French government due to sustained pressure from the US," South African presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said by phone on Thursday. "That's the communication we received from the French government."

A spokesperson for President Emmanuel Macron's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The US State Department also didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent via its website and by email.

Earlier, an official in Macron's office said that South Africa wasn't invited to the G7 because Kenya — where Macron plans to travel in April — is attending in its stead. Other invited countries include India, South Korea and Brazil, the official said.

Kenya's principal secretary for foreign affairs said on March 24 that the East African nation had been asked to attend the summit.

South Africa's relations with the US have deteriorated sharply since Donald Trump's return to the White House last year. The American president has falsely accused Pretoria of subjecting White farmers to a genocide and seizing their land, denounced its relations with Iran and Hamas, and rejected its Black economic-empowerment policies.

Trump boycotted a G20 summit that Ramaphosa hosted in Johannesburg in November last year, and said South African officials won't be invited to attend this year's meeting in Miami.

DA launches urgent interdict over CoJ's R10bn wage agreement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is seeking to urgently interdict the R10-billion wage agreement between the City of Johannesburg (CoJ), and the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu).

Last week, the Johannesburg City Council passed the adjustment budget, which the DA said highlighted the "catastrophic risk" to the City's financial viability of the agreement with Samwu.

The party described the agreement as a "heist," claiming that it bypassed proper Council processes and was made without proper authority.

DA Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille explained that the agreement committed the city to paying Samwu members more than R10-billion.

"This is more than the City's entire annual budget for building new infrastructure to improve service delivery," she highlighted.

She said the agreement was a "politically facilitated agreement".

"…it is, once again, the ANC using ratepayers' money to buy Samwu's support for the forthcoming election. Put another way, it is the ANC using public money to bribe Samwu to support and campaign for the ANC in this election," she stated.

She pointed to the adjustment budget, which she said demonstrated the impact of the agreement.

"In the budget, the first tranche of R1.4-billion under this agreement would be paid. That almost exactly equalled the cuts to the budgets of City Power, Joburg Water and Pikitup," she explained.

Zille claimed that in reaching this agreement, the ANC ignored the law, and the City's dire financial circumstances, to buy political support.

"This is illegal. That is why we are seeking an urgent interdict to prevent the further looting of the City's water and electricity budgets to fund the ANC's election strategy.

"This is a matter of the gravest public importance because if implemented, it will have devastating financial consequences for the City," she warned.

Zille highlighted that the CoJ was already in an "extreme" financial crisis, which is why President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana singled out Johannesburg as an example of a failing government.

"… if this agreement is not stopped, it will be the final nail in Joburg's coffin," she said.

South Africa's policy rate on hold as Iran war seen pushing up inflation

South Africa's central bank maintained its main lending rate at 6.75% on Thursday, saying caution was needed as higher energy prices triggered by the US-Israel war against Iran would push up inflation.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected no change in the repo rate, as the Middle East conflict has forced central banks around the world to revise their forecasts and reconsider the path for interest rates.

South Africa's inflation was well-contained in the months before the conflict, slowing to the central bank's 3% target in February, but it is expected to pick up as the effects of anticipated fuel price hikes and a weaker exchange rate filter through.

The decision by the Monetary Policy Committee of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) was unanimous.

"We warned of elevated risks, and we have been proceeding cautiously in our rate setting," Governor Lesetja Kganyago said, reading out the decision. "Now a crisis has hit, this prudent approach is proving appropriate."

The central bank expects headline inflation to accelerate to around 4% soon, with fuel inflation of more than 18% for the second quarter.

Before the US and Israel started the war and then Iran retaliated, economists had been predicting further policy easing by the SARB this year.

But those bets are now off.

Kganyago said the SARB's projection model showed rates unchanged for a longer period, postponing cuts seen in January.

DA wants Fannie Masemola suspended amid tender corruption scandal

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for National South African Police Service (Saps) Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to be placed on precautionary suspension, while the R360-million Medicare24 tender matter is in court.

Masemola was served with a warrant to secure his court appearance on April 21 in connection with an investigation by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) on the R360-million Medicare24 tender, linked to a company associated with controversial businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

Twelve senior Saps officers and Medicare24 director Claudette Masethe appeared in the Pretoria magistrate court on Wednesday, following their arrests by the IDAC.

"Masemola's arrest is not the first of its kind since two previous predecessors faced the same fate. This latest development strikes at the heart of public trust in the Saps," said DA Spokesperson on Police Lisa Schickerling.

She echoed the Economic Freedom Fighters' (EFF's) concern about alleged systemic corruption within Saps.

On Wednesday the EFF said the arrests of the Saps officers must lead to successful prosecutions, asset recovery, and the permanent removal of corrupt elements from the State.

The party described the arrest of 12 officials as a "necessary step towards accountability" but warned they must not become an "illusion of justice."

The DA said urgent steps must be taken to stabilise Saps leadership and restore integrity in the institution for effective crime fighting.

"… South Africans cannot be expected to have confidence in a police service where those entrusted with upholding the law are themselves accused of breaking it," Schickerling said.

AfriForum wants US to sanction Mbalula as it pursues corruption charges, while ANC rejects 'smear campaign'

Civil rights organisation AfriForum said it will use its comprehensive report on African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Fikile Mbalula to convince the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute him for alleged fraud, money laundering and corruption.

The organisation released its report detailing various claims of fraud, money laundering and corruption against Mbalula, titled the Mbalula Dossier, which also claims that Mbalula is exposing South Africa to US punitive measures through "defiant and insulting statements" against Western countries; lobbying for expropriation without compensation; and alleged liaison with Hamas.

AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit Advocate Gerrie Nel announced that he had written to newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andy Mothibi, requesting the NPA to reconsider the prosecution of Mbalula.

Nel claimed the NPA had been hesitant to prosecute Mbalula owing to his political position, despite AfriForum's assertion of a strong prima facie case that corruption, fraud and money laundering were committed in relation to the payment for a Dubai holiday that Mbalula and his family took in December 2016.

"No one should be immune from prosecution simply because they hold a senior position. Therefore, AfriForum will continue to consider private prosecution against Mbalula should the NPA decide not to prosecute him," he said.

Nel also indicated that progress had since been made to prosecute Mbalula privately on a charge of crimen injuria for the public statements he made in which Jaco Pieterse, former principal of a school in Matatiele, was wrongfully identified as a child rapist.

The docket has already been obtained, Nel said.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the Mbalula Dossier will also be used as a basis to try to convince the US not to "punish" South Africa, but rather to act against Mbalula using the US Magnitsky Act, which allows the US to impose visa bans and targeted economic sanctions on foreign individuals or entities involved in human rights abuses or significant corruption.

Kriel highlighted that AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement were "doing everything possible" to avert American punitive measures against South Africa in the interest of South Africans.

He claimed that Mbalula also made "insulting statements" against America's newly appointed ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell III, allegedly referring to him as a "drunk" and a "racist", arguing that this hinders AfriForum's efforts to "help normalise relations with the US".

Kriel said Mbalula's "reckless and radical" actions, which he believes are to garner support for the ANC and himself as the next ANC President, are affecting South Africa.

According to Kriel, Mbalula's attempts to promote his own and the ANC's interests for the sake of short-term political goals will fail.

"However, it will unfortunately succeed in bringing about international punitive measures on the country, which will lead to growing unemployment and poverty. "Mbalula does not care that his reckless actions harm ordinary people in the country, as he himself will selfishly continue to live in luxury and wear expensive designer clothes," he said.

ANC RESPONDS

Meanwhile, the ANC "rejected with contempt" AfriForum's Dossier, describing it as a politically motivated smear campaign that aims to isolate Mbalula.

The ANC described AfriForum as "a reactionary organisation that has long positioned itself as an enemy of transformation, nonracialism and the democratic will of the South African people".

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu stressed that matters of law enforcement were handled within South Africa's legal framework, and not by foreign governments at the behest of lobby groups.

The party accused AfriForum of being an "imperialist aligned pressure group" that attacked South Africa's sovereignty by routinely se...

DA offers to work with Godongwana to cushion fuel price shock for consumers

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it is willing to collaborate with Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana to urgently reduce the Road Accident Fund (RAF) and general fuel levies by 50% for the duration of the oil price shock, or as long as possible.

As of April 1, petrol is set to increase by more than R5 per litre and diesel by more than R9 per litre, as the turmoil in the Middle East negatively affects the oil sector.

DA spokesperson on Finance Dr Mark Burke explained that, combined, the two levies contribute R6.35 to the overall price of fuel.

"A 50% reduction would dampen increases by R3.17 and provide immediate and essential relief to South Africans who are staring down the barrel of a massive petrol shock in a week's time," he said.

The party said it was aware that such a pause in levies would affect tax revenue as well as RAF funding, by about R6.5-billion a month.

"This is not insignificant, but the shock of not doing anything to protect South Africa's fragile economy is likely far larger. Sharp petrol price increases will hurt GDP, increase inflation, and cripple household budgets," Burke said.

He said he will be writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Godongwana to request urgent action on fuel price relief.

TRADE-OFF SUGGESTED

Burke noted that it was possible for government to recover the lost funds without new taxes and without new debt, with the DA proposing the Compensation Fund pay over its surpluses.

He highlighted that over recent years, National Treasury had given the Compensation Fund permission for the entity to retain sizable surpluses despite the fund having sufficient reserves to meet its liabilities.

"The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COID) Fund is meant to provide social security to workers yet suffers from years of mismanagement – evidenced by audit failures and is likely overfunded. In its 2024/2025 annual report it applied to retain a R21.7-billion surplus (despite receiving a disclaimer audit opinion). That's more than 3 months' worth of fuel taxes relief," Burke explained.

He said surplus funds can be pulled from sector education and training authorities, noting that they were currently sitting on R6.7-billion in yearly surpluses, which he said was enough for one month's relief.

He called for strengthening of the Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme, so that reluctant departments were forced to make cuts to outdated and inefficient programmes.

"Despite having few teeth, TARS has already found almost R12-billion in savings over the medium term. That's a further two months' relief," he said.

Burke also called for the extension of ghost worker audits at municipalities and State entities.

"What is more, many of these reforms would yield permanent savings, the fuel levy freeze is once off. In the long run South Africa's finances won't only be healthier because we were able to mitigate this oil shock, they will be stronger because spending will be less wasteful," he said.

South Africa's consumer confidence improves in Q1 but Mideast war risks loom, survey shows

South Africa's consumer confidence improved in the first quarter, a survey showed on Tuesday, helped by a rebound among higher-income households, although the report warned the Middle East war could weigh on sentiment in the coming months.

The consumer confidence index, sponsored by First National Bank (FNB) and compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research, improved to a minus 7 points from minus 9 in the fourth quarter.

"Unfortunately, the ripple effects from the Iranian war may well see a U-turn in high- and middle-income confidence during the second quarter," said FNB Chief Economist Mamello Matikinca-Ngwenya.

South Africa's central bank is due to announce its interest rate decision on Thursday, as it weighs the impact a weak stock market, falling rand and surging oil prices could have on the economy.

The first-quarter survey, which was conducted before the conflict started in late February, showed improved confidence among high-income households supported by lower interest rates, soaring stock prices and a stronger rand exchange rate.

However, confidence among low-income households deteriorated further from the previous quarter, due to disappointing employment growth towards the end of 2025 and tighter compliance measures in the social grant system.