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Sars deputy commissioner tipped as new head

South Africa's finance minister favours Johnstone Makhubu to take over as commissioner of the nation's tax agency, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The support makes Makhubu a strong contender to replace Edward Kieswetter as the head of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) when he steps down, said the person who asked not to be identified as discussions about the succession plan aren't public.

Makhubu has been deputy commissioner of taxpayer engagement at Sars since 2023, when he was appointed along with two other deputies.

The National Treasury, which has a 48-hour turnaround time for responses to requests for comment, didn't respond to queries sent on Wednesday.

Kieswetter is due to step down as commissioner in April. Appointed in May 2019, his five-year term was extended by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024 for two years as an interim measure to ensure a "smooth leadership transition," the presidency said at the time.

Kieswetter has asked Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for an early release from his current contract, and the position will be formally advertised in the coming weeks, the person said. Godongwana will make his recommendation to Ramaphosa at the end of that process.

The commissioner is expected to stay on until December to oversee the handover to his successor, the person said.

Kieswetter didn't answer his phone and didn't respond to a text message seeking comment.

'Kill the Boer' chant: AfriForum, Saai up intensity in quest for international sanctions against EFF's Malema

Lobby group AfriForum and the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) have launched a detailed charge sheet against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, named the Malema Dossier, to be distributed internationally.

During a media conference on Wednesday, the organisations announced that they were continuing the fight against the "Kill the Boer" chant internationally by officially requesting that countries impose targeted sanctions against Malema.

In April, AfriForum urged the international community to impose sanctions against Malema and others who they say are guilty of gross human rights violations through their alleged public calls for violence against Afrikaners and farmers.

During this year's Human Rights Day commemoration in Sharpeville, Malema sang the anti-apartheid 'Kill the Boer' chant. AfriForum had previously lost its appeal in the Constitutional Court to have the chant declared hate speech.

However, last week, in another case, the Western Cape Equality Court found Malema guilty of hate speech in a case stemming from comments made at an EFF rally in 2022.

The case was brought by the South African Human Rights Council and another and Malema was found to have had the intention to incite violence and promote hatred.

AfriForum says its Malema Dossier provides a comprehensive account of alleged hate speech, incitement to violence, and examples of his statements, allegedly in support of terrorist organisations and terrorist acts.

It also contains a comprehensive report by AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit head Advocate Gerrie Nel and his team regarding the allegations of corruption against Malema.

The organisations explained that its decision to fight Malema's 'Kill the Boer' chant internationally is necessitated by the fact that the Constitutional Court has, in practice, "legalised Malema's incitement to violence" through this chant, while President Cyril Ramaphosa "decisively refuses to condemn this promotion of hatred".

In April, AfriForum urged Ramaphosa to publicly condemn the anti-apartheid 'Kill the Boer' chant.

AfriForum board member Werner Human has been delegated to hand over the Malema Dossier to key role-players, with whom meetings are scheduled in Washington during his and Solidarity's upcoming visit to the US.

AfriForum will also send a delegate to Europe later this year to garner support for targeted sanctions against Malema.

Saai and AfriForum are scheduled to engage in discussions locally with various countries' embassies regarding action against Malema.

AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said he was confident in AfriForum and Saai's international request for targeted sanctions against Malema, saying "it will bear fruit".

He noted Britain's refusal to grant Malema a visa recently, as well as the American Magnitsky Act, which ensures targeted sanctions against individuals who support terrorism and otherwise violate human rights.

AfriForum cited these as indications that international sanctions against Malema and others who chant 'Kill the Boer' were a strong possibility.

AfriForum head of public relations Ernst van Zyl said the organisation would continue its "years-long mission" of ensuring that Malema "does not only face justice locally, but guarantees that his actions will also be denounced abroad so that he can face the consequences internationally".

Saai executive director Dr Theo de Jager said the legal system had failed armers at the highest level.

"… that is why the professional compilation of a crime dossier and the internationalisation of our search for justice are such important steps," he stated.

ANC to discuss broader Central Bank role - Report

South Africa's biggest political party, the African National Congress (ANC), will revive a debate about expanding the central bank's mandate at a key meeting later this year, Business Day reported, citing a party document.

While maintaining the independence of the South African Reserve Bank is important, the institution "must operate in a manner that supports transformation and development," the discussion document said, according to the newspaper. "Monetary policy should be balanced with developmental objectives: while containing inflation, it should also consider employment and growth."

In the document, prepared ahead of a National General Council meeting in December, the ANC said a focus on fiscal consolidation and inflation targeting resulted in austerity, budget cuts and underinvestment, Business Day reported. A separate discussion document said the pace of interest-rate cuts has been too slow.

Previous debates within the ANC about the role of the central bank have raised investor concerns about the institution's independence and South Africa's commitment to prudent economic policy.

Cope slams Mathabatha's 'insincere' resignation as ANC Limpopo chair; Mbalula to hold talks

The Congress of the People (Cope) in Limpopo "unequivocally" dismissed former Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha's resignation as the African National Congress (ANC) Limpopo chairperson, calling it a "calculated PR stunt".

Mathabatha voluntary stepped aside as the ANC chairperson, and in a letter addressed to the ANC's National Executive Committee he cited misconduct in the party, the erosion of ANC values and processes relating to conferences in the Vhembe and Waterberg regions.

Cope said it believed Mathabatha's decision to step down was "not sincere", but rather a "performance to cover up a long history of corruption and moral bankruptcy".

Mathabatha and Limpopo Office of the Premier director-general Nape Nchabeleng were implicated in a R500-million broadband scandal dating back to 2018.

Cope said Mathabatha's sudden departure is a "hollow attempt" to rewrite history and deceive.

"This is not a moment of redemption but a desperate scramble to salvage a tarnished reputation as the ANC's grip on power weakens under its first coalition government since 1994," stated Cope Limpopo provincial chairperson Dr Makgwana Rampedi.

He said Mathabatha must "come clean", provide the names of those involved in corruption, and explain the deals.

He said the people of Limpopo deserved answers and justice, not a "carefully staged exit".

"… for years, he was part of a corrupt system that hurt the people of Limpopo. His resignation is not a confession. It is a calculated PR stunt. If he truly regrets anything, he must come clean and explain which unethical acts he is referring to. The public deserves transparency and honesty, not crocodile tears from someone who benefited while others suffered," Rampedi said.

He also pointed to Mathabatha's support for former President Jacob Zuma.

"As a key supporter, he helped dismantle critical State institutions, including the Scorpions, a specialised unit that could have curbed the very corruption, he now decries. In a 2025 media interview, Mathabatha himself admitted this was a 'fundamental mistake', yet he conveniently omits his complicity in that decision. This act of sabotage weakened State capacity, paving the way for construction mafias and unchecked looting, as he later lamented. His hands are stained with the blood of a compromised justice system," Rampedi said.

He alleged that under Mathabatha's leadership as Limpopo Premier, there were serious claims of mismanagement and kickbacks.

"His team called it a deliberate effort to 'tarnish his name'. Yet evidence of financial irregularities and the subsequent suffering of communities deprived of basic services tells a different story. This is the legacy he leaves behind - poverty, unemployment and shattered livelihoods - while he retreats to a comfortable exit," Rampedi said.

Meanwhile, following receipt of Mathabatha's letter, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has convened a meeting with Mathabatha to deliberate on the issues raised.

A meeting with the Limpopo provincial leadership will take place on Thursday, to discuss issues raised by Mathabatha.

Further, the ANC was unhappy that Mathabatha's letter to the ANC appeared on social media on Monday.

"The ANC registers its dismay that this correspondence first surfaced on social media before internal party protocols were observed. We reiterate that proper organisational procedures must always be followed, and internal discipline respected, as guided by the constitution of the African National Congress," the ANC said in a statement.

DA wants disbandment of GPAA, ActionSA calls for accountability

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the disbandment of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA), arguing that its work should be taken over by the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to protect pensions and taxpayers.

The DA and ActionSA are calling for an urgent parliamentary hearing to hold GPAA executives accountable, with ActionSA formally writing to chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts Songezo Zibi.

Last month, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana placed GPAA CEO Kedibone Madiehe on precautionary suspension with full pay, effective immediately, following allegations of serious misconduct concerning high-value procurement transactions.

The GPAA was implicated in reports of procurement irregularities, allegedly awarding a R500-million biometric contract to a company without any directors, and for the alleged payment of nearly R36-million to Shula Developers for refurbishments at a non-existent office building.

Shula Developers reportedly returned the funds on the same day Madiehe was suspended, but without interest, with ActionSA MP Alan Beesley saying this raised further concerns about the agency's financial oversight and governance.

DA Spokesperson on Finance Dr Mark Burke said the party is outraged that public money is allegedly being used to track down the whistleblower who exposed alleged looting at the GPAA.

Burke said whistleblowers are heroes.

"…they protect taxpayers and expose corruption. Targeting them sends a chilling message: speak up and you will be punished. South Africa cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the State Capture era where previously reputable firms enabled looting," he stated.

The DA wants the investigation into the whistleblower halted and the money spent returned to the public, stating that firms should not profit from "witch hunts", while also working for government.

Meanwhile, Beesley said Parliamentary hearings are vital to ensure transparency, recover lost funds, and prevent further abuse of the GPAA's administration of the GEPF.

ActionSA has asked that GPAA Acting CEO Job Stadi Mngomezulu, GPAA Advisory Council, Madiehe, and Godongwana with senior National Treasury officials be summoned to account for how irregular contracts were signed, what the Minister knew, and why action was delayed until late August.

"Parliament must show that it is serious about protecting government workers' pensions from corruption and maladministration. We will continue to push for full accountability, so that those responsible for this scandal face consequences and the integrity of public pension funds is restored," said Beesley.

ActionSA pushes Bill promoting use of public health system by MPs

ActionSA on Tuesday announced its intention to table the Parliamentary and Provincial Medical Aid Scheme (PARMED) Amendment Bill in Parliament, which seeks to end compulsory membership in the scheme for Members of Parliament (MPs) and other public office bearers, instead making membership in this scheme voluntary.

ActionSA Member of Parliament Dr Kgosi Letlape said public officials have been "shielded by a medical aid scheme exclusive to them", and cut off from the struggles of South Africans who rely on public healthcare services.

The Amendment Bill forms part of ActionSA's broader mission to ensure that public representatives experience the same realities as the people they serve.

"By making PARMED voluntary, this Bill restores the freedom of choice for MPs and judges to either remain on PARMED, join a different medical aid scheme, or, importantly, make use of public healthcare facilities like the people they represent," said Letlape.

He pointed out that the costs of compulsory PARMED membership had become increasingly unsustainable, with deductions running into thousands of rands each month for members who often do not want or need the scheme.

"…more critically, compulsory membership entrenches a double standard where public representatives enjoy a level of healthcare access that the majority of citizens can only dream of," he added.

Letlape said the PARMED Amendment Bill was, therefore, also about accountability, as it aligned the interests of public representatives with the citizens they served.

"If MPs and Ministers are forced to use public healthcare, there will be a direct political incentive to fix the system that millions depend on," he highlighted.

The party is asking members of the public to send through their support for the Bill by September 28 to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza via email [email protected] and copied to [email protected].

Social Development's Lumka Oliphant suspended pending misconduct investigations

Social Development Department communications chief director Lumka Oliphant has been placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into potential misconduct, following findings in an Auditor General report, although the nature of the alleged misconduct remains unspecified.

In a statement Social Development director-general Peter Netshipale confirmed that Oliphant's suspension was on full pay.

The Sunday Times has recently reported on the department's R3-million spending on sending delegates, including the Social Development Minister, to a New York workshop.

Oliphant spoke out against the suspension in a public statement, saying she was not surprised, claiming that the department believed that she leaked that information to the Sunday Times.

She pointed to alleged infighting in the department, claiming that the Auditor General findings had "nothing to do with me".

DA requests SANDF security plan, following most recent army base robbery

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has requested that Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans chairperson Dakota Legoete summon Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga, following the theft of ammunition from the Bloemspruit Air Force Base.

The party condemned the incident, demanding an immediate, system-wide security overhaul across all South African National Defence Force (SANDF) installations.

The DA wants Legoete to summon Motshekga, alongside SANDF chief General Rudzani Maphwanya, SANDF chief logistics Vice Admiral D M Mkhonto and Chief of the Air Force Lieutenant-General Wiseman Simo Mbambo, within seven days. It is also requesting that they table a report on the functioning and results of the inter-departmental working group in terms of time-bound workplans with set milestones and funding.

DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans Chris Hattingh added that this report must also quantify the total value of equipment and vehicle parts stolen across all base, as well as name the responsible officers, deadlines and deliverables, together with the outstanding reports ordered on May 28.

In May, the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans heard evidence of encroachment, theft and infrastructure vandalism at bases and resolved that Motshekga establish an inter-departmental working group to improve security.

"Since the Committee's 28 May 2025 resolutions, nothing has been done: no inter-departmental working group has reported and no seven-day theft-value report has been tabled," Hattingh pointed out.

He said the theft at the base was not an isolated incident, claiming "rotten" perimeter security, dead alarms, unmonitored CCTV and broken lighting. He added that these risks were flagged over a year ago by the Inspector General.

He highlighted that persistent cable theft at military bases was knocking out lighting, alarms, CCTV and communications, darkening perimeters and leaving sites blind and inviting to thieves, warning of direct national-security implications.

He said Parliament had already been briefed on widespread trespassing on SANDF bases, allegedly owing to informal settlements pressed against or inside base boundaries, with claims of cut fences, illegal electricity and water connections, cable theft, and even illegal mining and persistent farming on defence land.

DA demands accountability from Nersa over tariff error

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) chairperson Thembani Bukula demanding public accountability and answers relating to the R54-billion error made in its recent Eskom tariff determination.

Nersa has agreed to a court order that Eskom can collect an extra R54-billion in tariffs over the next few years, as a result of errors made by the regulator in its sixth multiyear price determination revenue decision.

DA spokesperson on Electricity and Energy Kevin Mileham stated that this "monumental blunder" was not a simple mistake.

"… but a sign of gross incompetence at the heart of the country's energy regulator," he said.

The DA vowed to protect South Africans from being taxed for "State ineptitude", calling for a clear outcome, full transparency from Nersa, accountability for those responsible for the mistake, and a complete overhaul of the regulator's processes.

"The consequence is that already-struggling South African households and businesses will be forced to pay billions more for electricity to cover for Nersa's failure. The decision to rectify this via a quiet settlement with Eskom, which will see tariff hikes soar to 8.76% in 2026/27 and 8.83% in 2027/28, is a slap in the face of every citizen," Mileham said.

Last week, the party formally requested Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Energy and Electricity chairperson Nonkosi Queenie Mvana to urgently convene an inquiry into Nersa's internal processes and its fitness to regulate the country's energy sector.

The party highlighted that it is "unacceptable" that a technical error in the calculation of depreciation and the Regulatory Asset Base could result in such a massive financial burden being shifted onto consumers.

"This points to systemic failures within Nersa's processes and calls into question the credibility of its regulatory oversight.

"This incident has shattered public confidence in the regulator. South Africans deserve a regulator that protects them, not one that makes them pay for its mistakes," Mileham said.

Announcement on inflation target to be made 'as soon as is practical'

The National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) have issued a rare joint statement to provide an update regarding the progress being made in ongoing deliberations over the future of the inflation-target band.

The statement confirms that the technical work conducted by the Macroeconomic Standing Committee (MSC), which includes members from both institutions, is drawing to a close, and that the draft recommendations will be tabled before Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago.

"The Minister of Finance and governor will agree on any changes to the target band.

"The Minister of Finance will make a formal announcement as soon as is practical to anchor expectations," the joint statement reads.

The update comes amid media reports of tensions between Godongwana and Kganyago on the issue, with Godongwana having used his Budget Vote address in July to underline that the responsibility for setting the inflation-target policy resided with the Finance Minister, in consultation with the governor.

The joint statement reaffirmed that South Africa continued to target inflation within the 3% and 6% range, and that the SARB had been focusing on anchoring inflation at the midpoint of the range, or 4.5%, since 2017.

However, it added that research and consultations had highlighted challenges associated with a wide target band, as well as the long-term costs to the economy and entrenched inequality caused by relatively high inflation.

It also highlighted that the SARB's Monetary Policy Committee expressed its preference in July for consumer price inflation to remain "around the bottom end of the current target range of 3% to 6%".

"Similarly, National Treasury, in its 2024 Macroeconomic Policy Review, acknowledged that low and stable inflation is good for economic growth and concluded that monetary policy goals have broadly been achieved.

"The review also emphasised that, while the current macroeconomic policy framework is fit for purpose and flexible to changing conditions, some adjustments could make it more effective," the statement reads.

It adds that the MSC has, thus, undertaken technical work to assess the appropriateness of the inflation target.

While stressing that macroeconomic policy, including adjustments to the inflation target, will be evidence based, the statement also points to new risks to the global outlook and the potential for further global shocks.

"Macroeconomic policy needs to be both flexible and robust to these shocks and the many others that will inevitably come our way."