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Polity.org.za offers a unique take on news, with a focus on political, legal, economic and social issues in South Africa and Africa, as well as international affairs. Now you can listen to the top three articles on Polity at the end of each day.

  1. 9 HR AGO

    ConCourt deals blow to NHI

    ConCourt deals blow to NHI Opposition parties and trade unions overwhelmingly welcomed the recent Constitutional Court ruling, which they viewed as a crucial defence against State control and professional coercion. The government's Certificate of Need (CoN) scheme was widely considered a foundational mechanism for implementing the centralised control required by the National Health Insurance (NHI). On Monday, the Constitutional Court struck down key sections of the NHI Act governing the CoN, delivering a major blow to the government's NHI plans. The Constitutional Court invalidated Sections 36 to 40 of the NHI Act, which required doctors and healthcare facilities to apply to the State for a CoN to operate, effectively determining where they can practice. The court found the scheme irrational and unconstitutional, noting there is no proof that denying certificates in certain areas would force professionals to relocate to underserved communities. The CoN was viewed by the government as a cornerstone of the NHI, meaning its removal critically undermines the state's capacity to control and redistribute health sector resources. The Democratic Alliance's (DA's) health spokesperson Michéle Clarke argued that by requiring government-issued permits and allowing the State to impose strict conditions on a practitioner's services and equipment, these provisions were widely criticised as an infringement on property and occupational rights. The Constitutional Court's confirmation that these clauses are invalid ensures that health practitioners retain their right to practice freely, she said. She pointed out that while the NHI Act does not explicitly detail CoNs, they have long been regarded as a fundamental mechanism for implementing the NHI's centralised control. She explained that the court's ruling establishes a major legal precedent that opposes this centralisation, protecting healthcare providers from government dictation on where they are permitted to work. "This ruling underscore the necessity of balancing constitutional rights with government policy," she said. The DA maintains a strong commitment to achieving universal quality healthcare for all South Africans. However, the party said it remained fiercely opposed to the NHI in its current form. The DA argued that the NHI serves as a vehicle for the severe centralisation of healthcare control, an approach it says that risks undermining the private and public healthcare systems rather than improving them. ActionSA described the ruling as a vital constitutional check against State overreach. "By invalidating the CoN, the judiciary has safeguarded the autonomy of doctors, dentists, nurses, and other medical professionals from unnecessary and excessive government interference," said ActionSA Member of Parliament Kgosi Letlape. Medical practitioners are already bound by rigorous oversight and registration through existing statutory bodies, he said and added that the court's decision provides a "timely victory" as further legal challenges against the NHI Act proceed. ActionSA said quality healthcare cannot be achieved through bureaucracy, coercion, and centralised control. It blamed South Africa's healthcare crisis on government failure, poor infrastructure, and corruption, and not because of a lack of willingness by medical professionals to serve their communities. "Attempting to restrict the autonomy of healthcare practitioners would only exacerbate the strain on the national medical system and deter skilled workers from remaining in the country. ActionSA views this judgment as a crucial constitutional precedent that reaffirms fundamental rights," said Letlape. Following this judgment, the party is calling for a broad rethink of the government's approach to healthcare reform. Meaningful reform must be constitutional, patient-centered, and focused on tangible health outcomes rather than the expansion of political control, the party said. Lobby group Solidarity hailed the decision as a...

    4 min

  2. 9 HR AGO

    DA appoints Glynnis Breytenbach as party’s Parliamentary Chief Whip

    DA appoints Glynnis Breytenbach as party's Parliamentary Chief Whip Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach is the Democratic Alliance's (DA's) new Chief Whip in Parliament, taking over from George Michalakis, who is now the DA's Parliamentary Leader. Michalakis announced Breytenbach's appointment on Monday, noting her 12-year role as the party's spokesperson on justice. "During ten of those years, I was her DA counterpart in the National Council of Provinces. Through this, the DA is sending a clear message that safety and security is a top priority for us in Parliament, in line with the Federal Leader, Geordin Hill-Lewis' vision… She will be the custodian of Parliament's rules and procedures on the part of the DA. She will also, alongside myself, be the party's chief negotiator within the [Government of National Unity] in Parliament," Michalakis said. Breytenbach will oversee the DA's 13 National Assembly whips, 87 National Assembly members, and 12 National Council of Provinces members, alongside her deputy Chief Whip Bax Nodada.

    1 min

  3. 9 HR AGO

    Ramaphosa calls for 'sustained effort' to bridge SA's investment-to-growth gap

    Ramaphosa calls for 'sustained effort' to bridge SA's investment-to-growth gap President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday emphasised that transforming investment pledges into large-scale growth and job creation takes time, noting that achieving the National Development Plan's target to raise gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) to 30% of GDP by 2030 will require "sustained, collective effort and productive" domestic investment. In his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa highlighted that while recent infrastructure summits and the South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) have yielded massive pledges, a significant gap remains between these promises and implementation. He said GFCF currently sits at around 14% of GDP, well short of the 30% target. "Our GFCF reached around 21% in 2008, driven by a sustained commodity boom, the start of Eskom's build programme and infrastructure expansion ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. There has been a steady decline since then, as the global financial crisis and the period of state capture progressively undermined private investment and business confidence," he stated. Ramaphosa pointed out that since 2018, government has moved to arrest this decline by stabilising public finances, resolving the energy crisis, and advancing structural reforms. However, he said there remains a disconnect between improved investor sentiment and actual investment on the ground. Ramaphosa said government and the private sector must bridge the gap to encourage the substantial private capital currently sitting in reserve, such as the R1.8-trillion held by non-financial companies, to be utilised productively. DOMESTIC INVESTORS LEADING THE CHARGE The task of building an inclusive society relies on productive investment at scale, and Ramaphosa pointed out that domestic investors led the charge at the sixth SAIC, contributing roughly three-quarters of the record R890-billion in pledges. These commitments, he said, are actively translating into new factories, mines, and expanded operations, reinforcing the foundation for sustained job creation and growth across the country. In forging ahead with efforts to attract new investment, government wants the local private sector to be at the forefront of rebuilding investment momentum in the economy. "Their confidence will encourage more international capital to follow. It is now abundantly clear that the engagements and commitments made in conference halls are steadily and increasingly translating into the economic activity that creates jobs and opportunities for South Africans," Ramaphosa said. Meanwhile, since the launch of the first national investment drive in 2018, South Africa has attracted investments across energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, automotive, mining, and advanced manufacturing, he pointed out. Of the R1.5-trillion in pledges secured across 317 projects, a cumulative R634-billion has successfully flowed into the productive economy, translating directly into job creation, he said. He referenced the R4.2-billion investment by BMW to electrify its Rosslyn plant in Gauteng and to support new energy vehicle production; the R500-million investment by Tetra Pak to upgrade its plant in KwaZulu-Natal; Corobrik's R500-million investment to build its Kwastina plant in Gauteng; and the Newlyn PX terminal in the Port of Durban that began operating in 2024. He explained that beyond construction and production, these projects are equipping young South Africans for the evolving world of work through critical skills development. "… for instance, Microsoft has committed more than R5.4-billion to expand its hyperscale cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa. As part of this initiative, the company partnered with the Youth Employment Service to fund globally recognised certifications in high-demand AI skills," he said.

    3 min

  4. 3 DAYS AGO

    Ramaphosa declares ‘end to patronage’, sets new vision for metros

    Ramaphosa declares 'end to patronage', sets new vision for metros Declaring that the era of patronage, factional politics, and municipal looting is over, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the renewal of South Africa's local government, emphasising its role as the essential engine of national development. Speaking during the closing session of the National Council of Provinces's (NCOP's) 'Taking Parliament to the People' programme in Stilfontein, on Friday, Ramaphosa urged citizens to actively participate in the consultation process for the reviewed draft White Paper on Local Government, currently underway. "Local government is critical in ensuring that people have water and sanitation, electricity, roads, clinics and community services," Ramaphosa said. "Our task is to make it work for the people. Not for vested interests." Following the official gazetting of the reviewed draft White Paper by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, the Presidency is pushing for massive structural reforms. The review, which began in 2025, aims to modernise municipalities, fight corruption, and improve service delivery. Ramaphosa warned against political leaders colluding with "corrupt" businesspeople to destroy infrastructure for private gain, particularly in water provision. He said the review draft paper aimed to address "decades of confusion" between district and local municipalities, explaining that the new framework aimed to eliminate duplicate functions and clarify roles to stop municipalities from "blaming each other" for failures. Intergovernmental coordination would become legally binding, in line with the Constitution, forcing different spheres of government to work together in solving local problems instead of operating in silos, he added. Ramaphosa explained that the White Paper proposed a total overhaul of municipal billing and revenue collection, holding leaders to stricter account regarding expenditure. He noted that the new reforms would also prioritise the professionalisation of municipal appointments and tackle the "treasonous" tendency of underspending allocated budgets. "We are going to be focusing on digitisation and strengthening data systems that are able to facilitate and monitor service delivery," Ramaphosa promised. He said municipal infrastructure could not be allowed to be deliberately ruined so that preferred private companies could take over critical functions such as providing water. "For too long municipalities have gotten away with saying that they are committed to public participation because they placed an ad in a newspaper, had a public hearing or because they have a complaints line," Ramaphosa said. He sees meaningful public participation in local government as a structured partnership. "We are going to be looking at the different ways in which all of society can play a more direct role in shaping how local government is administered. Our country has entered a new era of hope and promise. Our economy is recovering. Investors are increasingly seeing South Africa as a favourable place in which to do business," he said. ECONOMIC AXIS Meanwhile, he declared that local government would serve as the critical enabler of the most ambitious infrastructure build programme in South Africa's history. Ramaphosa confirmed that over the next three years, government will be investing R1-trillion to build energy, water, transportation, logistics, IT and essential other infrastructure. He emphasised that for South Africa to successfully attract investment and create jobs, its municipalities must be "functional, reliable, and secure". He noted that investors were not only interested in national policy, but in whether they could bring their investments to areas with functioning basic services. "Local government doesn't just support development. It is the axis on which our entire economy turns," Ramaphosa said, acknowledging that the current state of many municipalities was a direct...

    4 min

  5. 3 DAYS AGO

    DA announces Impeachment Committee team

    DA announces Impeachment Committee team Following the recent Constitutional Court judgment and the subsequent move to establish a Section 89 Impeachment Committee, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally submitted the names of those who will represent the party on the committee. The names of five of its members in the National Assembly have been sent to Speaker Thoko Didiza. The members will represent the party on the committee, which is tasked with investigating the 2020 Phala Phala farm incident and determining whether President Cyril Ramaphosa committed an impeachable offence. Last week, the Constitutional Court ruled that the National Assembly acted unconstitutionally and invalidly in December 2022 when it blocked impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala farm scandal. It ordered that the independent panel's report be officially referred to a parliamentary impeachment committee. The DA has maintained that where there is a finding of wrongdoing against the President, it will hold him accountable, mirroring the action taken against various members of his cabinet. "We respect the rule of law and have a constitutional duty to hold the executive accountable in a constructive manner, in the best interest of all South Africans," the party stated. The party has appointed Parliamentary leader George Michalakis; Deputy Chief Whip Bax Nodada; advocate Glynnis Breytenbach; National Spokesperson Karabo Khakhau and DA Spokesperson on Social Development Nazley Sharif. The DA said its selected team brings "significant" experience in parliamentary oversight, particularly in holding the executive accountable. It highlighted that Khakhau gained prominence after exposing the scandal involving the appointments of African National Congress-linked chairpersons to Sector Education and Training Authority boards, which ultimately led to the removal of former Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, while Sharif recently spearheaded the accountability campaign against former Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe. Ramaphosa fired Tolashe on Thursday. The 31-member impeachment committee will begin its work following the submission of names by all political parties, which were required to be submitted by Friday.

    2 min

  6. 3 DAYS AGO

    ANC rallies behind Ramaphosa, backs High Court review of Phala Phala report

    ANC rallies behind Ramaphosa, backs High Court review of Phala Phala report The African National Congress (ANC) has moved to shut down speculation regarding President Cyril Ramaphosa's future, with secretary-general Fikile Mbalula clarifying on Friday that the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) did not consider, nor was it asked to consider, a recall of the President. Addressing the media at Luthuli House following a special NEC meeting in Cape Town, Mbalula stated that Ramaphosa's resignation was not on the table. "The National Executive Committee reaffirmed, in clear and unambiguous terms, its full and continuing support for the President of the African National Congress, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, as the leader of this movement and, in that capacity, as the leader of the Government of National Unity," Mbalula said. The special NEC meeting was convened following last week's Constitutional Court judgment, which revived the Phala Phala saga. The court declared that the previous parliamentary process used to shield the President was unconstitutional and ordered Parliament to establish an impeachment committee. Despite this, the NEC has thrown its weight behind Ramaphosa. Mbalula addressed the judgment with high praise for the judiciary, noting that Chief Justice Mandisa Maya delivered the May 8th judgment with "an even tone and an admirable, teachable temperament that this country can and must learn from." "Hers is the leadership of a stateswoman of the law. Hers is the example to which every officer of our courts, every Member of Parliament, every public servant, and indeed every cadre of our movement can aspire," he added. Mbalula clarified that Ramaphosa, as a citizen, had the right to a fair hearing and the right to seek a judicial review of the independent Section 89 panel report, a move the President has indicated he will take. Mbalula dismissed calls for the President to step aside, emphasising that the party will not vote to impeach its own President. Mbalula stated that after receiving and carefully considering the counsel's opinion, the party's national officials have recorded their full support for Ramaphosa's legal strategy. "The [Constitutional] Court did not find the President guilty of anything. The Court did not direct that Ramaphosa be removed from office," Mbalula said, clarifying the party's position on the ruling. "The judgment... is concerned with the procedural conduct of the National Assembly and the rules under which it acted. It is not, in any respect, a finding on the merits of the matter," he explained. Mbalula reaffirmed that Ramaphosa would continue to perform his duties as head of State, noting that the Constitutional Court judgment did not interrupt the work of the government. "The parliamentary process that the judgment has activated will run its course," Mbalula said, while stressing that the ANC respected the constitutional independence of National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and the programming of the House. He committed the party to participating constructively in the process. Didiza confirmed that Parliament would fully comply with the apex court's ruling and was initiating the process of establishing an impeachment committee. She said the Independent Panel report, which suggested the President may have a case to answer, would be formally referred to this new committee, and a copy would be provided to Ramaphosa to allow him to exercise his legal rights. The committee is expected to consist of 31 members drawn from all political parties represented in the National Assembly, with the ANC securing nine seats, followed by the Democratic Alliance, MK Party, and Economic Freedom Fighters. While the ANC maintains its support for the President, the parliamentary process mandated by the Constitutional Court will proceed independently. The ANC indicated that the "impeachment committee is expected to continue its work unless the Section 89 panel report is set aside by the courts".

    3 min

  7. 4 DAYS AGO

    Goldman now sees two 2026 South Africa rate hikes because of war

    Goldman now sees two 2026 South Africa rate hikes because of war Goldman Sachs expects South Africa to raise interest rates twice this year after previously seeing a series of cuts, as the Iran war fans inflation risks around the world. The bank forecasts quarter-point increases at the central bank's meetings in May and July, after raising its oil-price and inflation assumptions in response to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Goldman economist Andrew Matheny said in an interview. "We have shifted to a baseline for two rate hikes," Matheny said, adding that the likelihood of larger half-point increases remained "quite low." "Prior to the Iran war, we had been forecasting rate cuts at alternating meetings down to a 5% terminal rate," he said, implying 75 basis points of easing in 2026. Goldman still sees the central bank lowering the policy rate to 5% — arriving there in 2029 — but now has "50 basis points of hikes before returning to a structural cutting cycle." South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and his colleagues held interest rates at 6.75% at the last monetary policy committee meeting in March, while warning that the risks to price pressures had risen since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The MPC will deliver its next policy decision on May 28. Matheny now expects South African inflation to average 4% this year, before slowing to 3.4% in 2027, with price growth likely to hover between 4% and 4.5% over the coming quarters. That could bring added pressure to bear on the SARB to tighten as policymakers seek to guide inflation down to the 3% target they adopted last year, potentially making them more sensitive to supply-driven price shocks. The longer the Iran conflict drags on, the greater the risk that higher diesel and fertiliser costs spill into broader food inflation, Matheny said. While he described the case for tightening as "borderline," he said persistent inflation risks now tilt the balance toward additional hikes. The more hawkish monetary policy outlook comes even as Goldman maintains a constructive view on South Africa's sovereign credit trajectory and broader economy. "The positive fiscal story is still intact," he said. Goldman estimates South Africa's budget deficit narrowed to 4.3% of gross domestic product in the fiscal year through March, outperforming the National Treasury's February projection of 4.5%, while the country posted a primary surplus for a third consecutive year. That fiscal out-performance may support sovereign credit-rating upgrades over the coming months, according to Matheny. Matheny said Moody's Ratings may revise South Africa's outlook to positive at its review expected next week, while S&P Global Ratings could ultimately raise the country's rating to BB+ — one notch below investment grade — if the global economy avoids a deeper slowdown linked to the Iran conflict. Goldman's baseline view is that disruptions to oil flows ease by the end of June, allowing crude prices to moderate to about $90 a barrel by year-end. But the bank warned risks remain skewed upward, with more adverse scenarios placing oil between $100 and $115 a barrel. Even so, it doesn't currently see the Iran war triggering a global recession and recently lowered its probability for a US downturn. Provided the global economy remains intact, Matheny said markets may still be underpricing South Africa's improving ratings momentum.

    3 min

  8. 4 DAYS AGO

    Impeachment or GNU: Hill-Lewis says no trade-off for accountability in government

    Impeachment or GNU: Hill-Lewis says no trade-off for accountability in government Despite being in a crucial coalition alliance with President Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC), Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Geordin Hill-Lewis is clear that there will be no trade-off for accountability or integrity in government under his leadership. Speaking exclusively with Polity about the DA's policies and political developments in South Africa ahead of the 2026 municipal elections, Hill-Lewis said there was no balance being sought between his party's commitment to accountable governance and its role as a Government of National Unity (GNU) partner. This as Ramaphosa faces the possibility of impeachment as the National Assembly initiates a process to establish an Impeachment Committee after the Constitutional Court found that the previous parliamentary vote, which halted an impeachment inquiry against Ramaphosa, violated the National Assembly's constitutional obligations under Section 89 of the Constitution. When asked about the DA's position on the matter, Hill-Lewis said his party's vision of building a successful country was much bigger than government. "[It] isn't just about me. It's not about the President. It's not about this government. It's bigger than all of us. And so we have to stand very firmly for some of the principles on which successful societies are built. And one of them is accountability and integrity in the State. "And so that's not something that we will trade off, not for political convenience, not ever. And so if it comes to that, you know, I've made it clear that we will participate fully in the Impeachment Committee, but we will not be part of turning a blind eye to wrongdoing," he said firmly. And the way in which Hill-Lewis plans to execute his party's vision for a successful South Africa is through his position in government. He reiterated his plan to stay on as Cape Town mayor, while heading up the country's second largest political party, a dual role that he believes he can successfully pull off by being "deliberate and intentional" with his time, splitting off his weekdays in the mayoral office and campaigning for his party on the weekends. "And I look forward to trying to do both," he said, noting that as his party grows, those who grew with it would face the same responsibilities. NOT A 'WHITE PARTY' In his dual role as DA leader and Cape Town mayor, Hill-Lewis further aims to leverage his position in government to grow the DA's voter base, with a focus on those who have previously not voted for the party, owing to what he describes as "literally two decades or more of propaganda about what the DA will do when we get into government and who we will govern for…" He acknowledged that expanding the DA voter base was the party's biggest challenge, and one that he had committed himself to working on over the next few years. "…the most important leverage is your position in government, actually. So, you know, that's one of the reasons I thought it was important to stay [as mayor], because I can show very practically on a day-to-day basis that we are governing, I'm governing for everyone, that everyone benefits when the basics work, where cities function and succeed. And in fact, the people that benefit the most are the poorest because they rely on functional public services more than the wealthy," he rationalised. He punted the DA's biggest strength as its track record in governance, while stressing that the DA's focus was not solely on Cape Town, with the party's sights firmly set on Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to prove to South African voters that the DA would work for the benefit of everybody and not just one race. "Then you start to chip away. You take a 10 pound hammer to that label that, you know, that perception. Similarly with the Government of National Unity. So in the portfolios that we are responsible for, we're not responsible for the whole government, but we are responsib...

    5 min
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Polity.org.za offers a unique take on news, with a focus on political, legal, economic and social issues in South Africa and Africa, as well as international affairs. Now you can listen to the top three articles on Polity at the end of each day.

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