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  Developing countries hit by overlapping crises, UNDP chief warns 02.10.2026 3分

  Developing countries hit by overlapping crises, UNDP chief warns Rising energy costs, a super El Nino and soaring borrowing costs are increasing pressure on developing countries, with conditions nearing those of the pandemic when the G20 suspended debt payments for the poorest nations, the United Nations Development Programme said on Friday. Global policymakers are expected to discuss the huge challenges facing developing countries at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in the Thai capital Bangkok from October 12 to 18, UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo told reporters. He warned events could trigger a "domino effect with many, many countries being pushed into financial distress," but stopped short of calling for a new round of debt relief. The IMF-World Bank meetings will bring together top financial officials from around the world for talks on the global economy, AI, climate change and other challenges, as government borrowing costs hit their highest in several decades on heightened concerns about inflation as the Iran war drives up energy prices. At the same time, the strongest El Nino weather effect since 1950 is expected to trigger more floods in some regions and droughts in others, plunging an expected 49-million more people into food insecurity by the end of 2027. De Croo said UNDP surveys conducted since the start of the war showed it had morphed from a regional conflict to "a crisis which has an impact on approximately 100 countries." Many governments have taken steps to shield their citizens from the surge in oil prices but their fiscal coffers are now running low and their debt levels are rising, with no real relief in sight, he said, adding that countries should focus on measures to help the most vulnerable. While some countries were diversifying their energy sources and adapting their food systems, those efforts would take time, leaving them in a "really tough, tough spot" for now, he said. SUBSIDY BURDEN UNDP chief economist George Gray Molina said a major shift was seen in September, as some governments began to allow higher energy prices to flow through to citizens, and started rolling back subsidies, tax relief and other steps that had kept food and energy prices largely in check since the war began. "That means that they're not able to contain fiscally and financially that burden," he said. "We think that this is a significant issue that needs to be discussed." Even middle-income countries had rapidly depleted their fiscal buffers as they raced to mitigate rising energy prices, he said. Molina said bond market and oil price developments over the next 60 days would be crucial. Higher prices had already contributed to protests and social unrest in 10 countries in September, UNDP said. And many countries expect conditions to deteriorate. Twenty-two of 26 nations surveyed by UNDP rated the crisis as a high or medium priority; 13 said it came on top of an existing economic or fiscal crisis, and all 26 judged that the worst was still to come.
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  Fuel subsidies may top $1tr as Iran war drags, UN says 02.10.2026 2分

  Fuel subsidies may top $1tr as Iran war drags, UN says Governments around the world are running out of room to shield consumers from higher energy prices resulting from the Iran war and other crises, with fuel subsidies potentially costing more than $1 trillion this year, a United Nations study found. Global policy interventions to cushion the impact of rising food and energy prices will become more difficult to sustain as a result of higher borrowing costs and what's on track to be the strongest El Niño on record, according to a UN Development Programme report released Friday. The UNDP warned the next couple of months will be particularly important for governments that have deployed price caps, subsidies and tax rebates as oil nears $100-a-barrel and elevated borrowing costs squeeze already strained budgets. "The horizon over the next few weeks and months is uncertain because we don't see a very clear pathway out of the three-pronged crisis," said UNDP's chief economist George Gray Molina, pointing to the Iran war, borrowing costs and the weather phenomenon El Niño. The UNDP analysis — which looked at data from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the International Energy Agency — found the number of countries deploying different relief measures nearly doubled between April and September as the war's impact continued. If countries hadn't provided relief measures, an additional 130 million people could have fallen below the $6.85-a-day poverty line this year, the report said. And the pressure is only expected to rise, with the combined shocks projected to peak in early 2027, especially given the expected impact of this year's El Niño — where unusually warm ocean conditions can lead to floods and droughts that can worsen food insecurity. In September, higher energy prices contributed to protests and social unrest in at least 10 countries, including Syria, Guatemala, the Philippines, France and Portugal, the report said. An additional September survey of 26 UNDP offices around the world found that 25 of them expect the Middle East crisis to remain or become a greater priority in the next six months and that all of the agency's locations predicted "the worst is yet to come."
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  Mass shootings show the face of South African murder is changing 02.10.2026 4分

  Mass shootings show the face of South African murder is changing On a recent Saturday night, a minibus taxi drew up to a tavern in the gold-mining town of Carletonville west of Johannesburg. Eight men armed with AK-47 rifles alighted from the vehicle before gunning down patrons. Eighteen people died. "They entered the main entrance of the tavern and started shooting randomly," said Mfuneko Dyosini, adding that two colleagues from the gold mine he works at were killed in the massacre. "They all died on the spot." Just hours after the September 26 attack another 10 people were shot dead at an entertainment venue near Cape Town. Days earlier gunmen stormed a house in the coastal city of Durban, killing 11. While South Africa has long struggled with one of the world's highest homicide rates, the nature of murder in the country is changing. While most of those killed die at the hands of people they know, an increasing number are being killed in mass shootings linked to competition among criminals as organised crime becomes increasingly entrenched in the economy. Drugs, extortion, illegal mining and violence between the operators of mini-bus taxi routes are the most-often cited motives. "Mass killings don't just happen out of nowhere," said Julian Rademeyer, a senior adviser at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime. "The aim is to sow terror, to terrorise the community, to potentially terrorise any rivals who may be coming up, and also to take vengeance against your known competitors." At least 210 people have been killed in 45 attacks this year that GI-TOC classifies as mass shootings — those involving at least three deaths. Thirty-six of those attacks were in Gauteng, the country's economic hub and the center of its gold-mining industry, and the Western Cape, where Cape Town is plagued by gang violence. Of the attacks, 31 occurred since the beginning of June. Sixty-seven of 83 deaths that were tied to a motive were linked to gang conflict, extortion and illegal mining. "This year there seems to be a far more pronounced increase in mass killings," Rademeyer said. "These events seem to have gained momentum quite sharply, from about June onwards." The deaths come even as the country's overall homicide rate is declining, with the 5 426 people murdered between April and June — a 5.9% drop from the same period last year. The decline comes even as President Cyril Ramaphosa was compelled to address the nation on the issue of violence against women with the bodies of 11 women found in an area east of Johannesburg since July 15. What the mass killings do represent is the growth of organised crime, with the World Bank estimating criminal activity cost South Africa $40-billion in 2023. South Africa ranked seventh in a 2025 GI-TOC index of 193 countries affected by organised crime, lagging behind only the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Among the most prevalent crimes, according to the organisation, are extortion and protection racketeering, mineral smuggling, the drugs trade and arms trafficking. And there are few consequences for criminals with only about one-in-10 murders resulting in a conviction. The police force is riven by corruption and arms are now more freely available, according to Rademeyer. "There's always been a steady pool of weapons and ammunition available that has increased quite sharply in recent years," he said. "There's leakages of weapons from state stockpiles, from the police." A commission of inquiry into allegations that criminal syndicates have infiltrated South Africa's criminal justice system has been running for more than a year. The police minister has been placed on leave and at least 14 senior officers have been suspended. "The state quite clearly has lost control of the crime situation," said David Africa, executive director of the African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis. "We have a police service that has failed."
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  Franz Ruch appointed seventh MPC member 01.10.2026 1分

  Franz Ruch appointed seventh MPC member Economist Franz Ruch has been appointed as an adviser to the governors of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), effective October 1. As part of the appointment, he will serve as the seventh member of the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Ruch joins the SARB from global financial institution the World Bank, where he served as a senior economist and led and contributed to research, technical analysis and publications, including the World Bank's 'Global Economic Prospects' report. He previously worked in the SARB's Economic Research Department, where he developed and operated economic models and contributed to the central bank's Monetary Policy Review. As a seasoned economist, the SARB says Ruch brings extensive monetary policy expertise to his new role. Ruch holds a PhD from Stellenbosch University, in the Western Cape, and a Master's degree from the University of Oxford, in the UK.
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  South African food inflation rose in August, ending six months of decline 01.10.2026 5分

  South African food inflation rose in August, ending six months of decline South African food and non-alcoholic beverage (NAB) inflation (hereafter to be referred to simply as food inflation, for short) rose in both year-on-year and month-on-month terms in August, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) has reported, in its latest Food Inflation Brief. In year-on-year terms, food inflation in August was up 1.1% (as against a 0.9% increase in July), while the month-on-month figure was 0.1% (compared with -0.2% deflation in July). However, year-on-year Consumer Price Index (CPI) headline inflation in August was 4.4% (up from 4.3% in July). Month-on-month CPI headline inflation in August was 0%, which was a decrease over the July figure of 0.2%. The food categories which saw the highest year-on-year inflation in August were fish and seafood, at 7.5%, NAB (4.9%), oils and fats (2.6%), dairy and eggs (2.1%), sugar and sugar-rich foods (2%) and meat (1.5%). Those categories which experienced deflation were vegetables (-0.6%), cereal products (-1.9%), and fruits and nuts (-5.5%). As for month-on-month inflation in August, the highest rates were recorded for fruit and nuts (2.7%), fish and seafood (1.1%), meat (0.4%), NAB (also 0.4%), oils and fats (0.3%), and dairy and eggs (0.2%). No food categories saw month-on-month deflation. "Year-on-year inflation on popular items in the food basket of lower-income households (such as tomatoes, onions, bananas, canned pilchards, tea, polony and cooking oil) could reduce the ability of these households to achieve adequate energy intake as well as nutritional diversity," pointed out the BFAP. "However, year-on-year price deflation on main starchy staples such as maize meal and rice could provide relief in household budgets, while year-on-year deflation on protein-rich foods such as beef and legumes could improve economic access to protein-rich foods." The cost of the BFAP's Thrifty Healthy Food Basket (THFB) came to R3 935 in August. This was a 0.94%, or R7, increase, in year-on-year terms, but a -0.8%, or -R30, decrease, month-on-month. The THFB provides a nutritionally balanced adequate energy diet, composed of 26 food items from all food categories, for a reference family of two adults and two children, for a month. Of the items within the THFB, most vegetables, bananas, canned pilchards and oil saw year-on-year price increases, but the prices of maize meal, rice, potatoes, cabbage, eggs, apples and beef went down. Assuming the reference family earned two minimum wages and two child support grants, the THFB would have cost them 30% of their total household income in August. This was pretty much the same as the 30.4% that was the average for the least affluent 50% of South African households. The BFAP has also created an Adequate Energy Basket (AEB), designed to provide enough energy for the daily survival of the same reference household. This, however, lacks adequate dietary diversity. In August, the AEB cost R1 155, less than 33% of the cost of the THFB. "Food commodity price movements are expected to remain relatively moderate in the coming months. Meat prices are likely to continue trending lower as vaccination efforts against animal diseases, particularly [Foot-and-Mouth Disease] and bird flu, progress, and slaughter activity gains further month-on-month momentum," concludes the BFAP. "However, several upside risks to the food inflation outlook remain in the medium-term. The recent decision by the Reserve Bank to increase the repo rate by 25 basis points will raise borrowing costs, adding to pressure from higher production inputs, particularly fuel and fertiliser, should geopolitical tensions in the Middle East persist. At the same time, the anticipated (super) El Niño weather cycle could affect yields, resulting in lower summer crop production heading into 2027, potentially placing upward pressure on food prices over the medium term. Nevertheless, large carry-over stocks accu...
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  ActionSA welcomes IEC opposition to ‘hypocritical’ DA electoral court challenge 01.10.2026 2分

  ActionSA welcomes IEC opposition to 'hypocritical' DA electoral court challenge ActionSA has welcomed the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC) answering affidavit opposing an urgent DA Electoral Court challenge, arguing that it would disrupt the entire election process. ActionSA believes the filing affirms that the DA's application is "opportunistic, hypocritical, and frivolous". The legal row stems from an application launched by the DA in the Electoral Court against ActionSA, the EFF, the MKP, and the GOOD party, in which the DA accused them of deliberately submitting proportional representation (PR) lists containing only a single name to hide candidate choices from voters, and allegedly manipulating legal provisions to supplement lists after votes are counted. However, the IEC opposed the DA's challenge, warning that the requested relief would be highly disruptive and put the entire integrity and timeline of the November local government elections at risk. ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont highlighted that the DA's application, brought on 21 September, comes weeks before voting day, after nominations had already closed and lists were certified. He argued that the DA is challenging a practice that political parties – including the DA itself – have followed openly in successive local government elections. According to Beaumont, the DA submitted lists containing a single name in 12 municipalities for the 2026 Local Government Elections. Because of this, ActionSA has asked the court to issue a punitive costs order against the DA, calling the application a "cynical waste of time" for political parties, the IEC, and the judiciary with just a month left before the elections. Beaumont further slammed the DA's stance as "morally bankrupt," questioning how a party could advocate for a departure from democratic principles by seeking to prevent seats from being awarded to parties that collectively represent over 25% of the South African electorate. Defending his party's transparency, Beaumont stated that ActionSA's PR lists comprise ward candidates ranked by performance, allowing South Africans to shape the lists based on merit. He contrasted this with the DA's internal processes, taking aim at the DA federal executive for returning a controversial candidate to a high position on the Garden Route District List.
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  New report shows housing, energy stalled despite GNU’s upward trajectory, but no promises broken 30.09.2026 5分

  New report shows housing, energy stalled despite GNU's upward trajectory, but no promises broken As South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) enters its third year, its central challenge has fundamentally shifted, with the initial phase of articulating new policies over and the focus now resting entirely on executing existing promises. According to the latest South Africa Citizens Watch (SACW) Tracker released by civil society organisation SIVIO Institute, the ultimate success of this coalition government will not be judged by its policy ambitions but by whether ongoing institutional and legislative reforms translate into tangible, everyday improvements for South Africans. Two years after the GNU's formation in June 2024, the SACW Tracker's second assessment evaluates the government's performance from July 2024 to July 2026. The report tracks 120 policy commitments extracted from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Opening of Parliament Address in July 2024, alongside the 2024–2029 Medium-Term Development Plan. The findings reveal a notable pivot from policy formulation to active implementation. According to the report, the GNU achieved an overall performance score of 34% for the 2025/2026 reporting period. While this indicates that the vast majority of the work remains unfinished, it marks a substantial increase from the modest 9% recorded in the first anniversary report in September 2025. The report highlighted that 64 promises are in progress, 52 promises have not commenced, 4 promises are fully implemented and no promises were broken. Crucially, the fact that no promises were classified as broken indicates that the coalition government has maintained its intended policy trajectory, even if the pace of execution remains uneven across sectors. The Tracker monitors progress across five distinct sectors, revealing varying levels of institutional capacity and political momentum. The Economic cluster recorded the highest score of 41%, driven by tangible steps in infrastructure and institutional updates, with the report noting progress on rail corridor restoration and strategic port investments; the introduction of visa reforms and the implementation of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system; and the launch of South Africa's first Infrastructure and Development Finance Bond, which successfully raised R11.8-billion. The report highlighted a 38% score for Governance, with improvements concentrated in building State capacity, digital transformation, local government reform, and tightening border security. In the realm of International Relations and Foreign Affairs, the report noted South Africa's continued pursuit of its International Court of Justice case against Israel's government. Anti-corruption efforts gained momentum with a 34% score, through concrete institutional anchoring. Key drivers included the permanent establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, widespread asset recovery operations led by the Special Investigating Unit, and targeted enforcement actions against organised crime and illicit economic activities. Climate Change recorded 33% progress, with the signing of the Climate Change Act 22 of 2024 representing the most significant development, alongside regulatory advances on carbon budgets and investments in the Just Energy Transition. Despite registering the lowest overall score of 27%, the Social Services sector achieved major breakthroughs in specific subsectors, with the strongest gains in water and sanitation of 70% and education with 45%, reflecting the establishment of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency, completion of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel rehabilitation, the signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, and the registration of more than 10 000 Early Childhood Development centres. The report pointed out that despite the upward trajectory, nearly half of the GNU's promises (44%) have yet to see measurable action. Commitments regarding hous...
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  South Africa summons US ambassador again over 'undiplomatic conduct', official says 30.09.2026 2分

  South Africa summons US ambassador again over 'undiplomatic conduct', official says South Africa's foreign affairs ministry called in US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III on Tuesday for a third time over what it described as "undiplomatic conduct," a senior government official told Reuters, but did not elaborate on what the conduct was. "We can confirm that we demarched Ambassador Bozell. The third demarche since he started his duties nine months ago," a senior official at South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) told Reuters late on Tuesday. A demarche is a formal diplomatic protest from one government to another. The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The State Department acknowledged the receipt of questions from Reuters and said it would respond later. Relations between the two countries have been strained by US President Donald Trump's repeated false claims that white South Africans face systemic persecution. White South Africans are, on average, wealthier and more likely to be employed than Black South Africans. The government policies criticised by Trump are intended to address inequalities that persist from the apartheid era. Bozell, a conservative activist and writer who arrived in Pretoria as Trump's envoy in February, was first called in within weeks of taking up the post over remarks that DIRCO said undermined South Africa's judiciary and historical context. In recent interviews with local media, the ambassador has adopted a firmer and impatient tone, saying that Pretoria had not adequately addressed Washington's concerns and that further pressure could follow. Two weeks ago, the US unveiled visa restrictions on some South Africans. South Africa has maintained a willingness to engage in talks, but said that its sovereignty must be respected and that it will not compromise on domestic priorities like addressing historical injustices. "The issues related to the bilateral relations between the two countries are a subject of ongoing discussions. There is commitment from both sides to resolve the outstanding matters," the DIRCO official said.
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  Parties criticise Ramaphosa’s ‘delayed response’ to Ekurhuleni femicide crisis 30.09.2026 3分

  Parties criticise Ramaphosa's 'delayed response' to Ekurhuleni femicide crisis Opposition parties and civil rights organisations have criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent national address on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), calling his proposed measures "belated, repetitive, and detached" from the realities faced by women. The backlash follows intense public outrage surrounding the brutal murders of at least 11 women in Ekurhuleni over recent months. Acknowledging that GBVF remains a severe national crisis, Ramaphosa admitted that despite existing programmes, the State frequently fails women. He emphasised that protection orders must not become "mere pieces of paper" and that forensic evidence must not sit unprocessed. Ramaphosa announced that the government will mandate safety audits across all municipalities to identify high-risk zones, improve community infrastructure (such as lighting and policing presence), and enhance physical safety for women in public spaces. The President has directed the Minister of Police and Minister of Justice to launch a coordinated, targeted operation to track down, re-examine, and aggressively resolve outstanding and unresolved crimes committed against women and children. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that Ramaphosa has been announcing emergency responses to GBVF since 2019 without producing meaningful change. Hill-Lewis pointed out that despite an Emergency Response Action Plan, a National Strategic Plan, multi-billion-rand funding commitments, and classifying GBVF as a national disaster last year, a massive gap remains between State rhetoric and the lived experiences of women. Following a DA-led parliamentary debate on the Ekurhuleni killings, Hill-Lewis emphasised that any new announcements must be judged on implementation rather than what he termed "empty election promises". ActionSA president Herman Mashaba mirrored these sentiments, describing the President's address as a delayed attempt to manage the consequences of a hollowed-out criminal justice system. While welcoming a proposed case audit, Mashaba warned that South African Police Service detectives are already overwhelmed and lack the capacity to process cold cases. He noted that institutional failures frequently subject victims to secondary trauma through poor case management, delayed investigations, and slow police response times. Mashaba asserted that until these structural deficiencies are corrected, women and children will remain perpetually vulnerable. Civil society echoed the political opposition's scepticism. Amnesty International South Africa executive director Shenilla Mohamed noted that the four immediate measures announced by the President come "seven years too late". Mohamed called for the mandated case audits to be made public and urged government to formally codify femicide as a specific crime to ensure accurate tracking. She stated that South Africa does not suffer from a shortage of legal frameworks, but rather a severe failure to consistently enforce them and hold non-compliant municipalities and officials accountable. The EFF rejected the premise of the President's address entirely, describing it as a reactive intervention prompted only by public pressure rather than proactive governance. The party argued that the State already possesses comprehensive data, such as crime statistics, forensic records, and court dockets, to know exactly which police stations are dysfunctional and where backlogs exist. According to the EFF, establishing new mechanisms or conducting additional audits avoids what it believes is the real issue: a total lack of political will, administrative capacity, and consequences for officials who fail to investigate and prosecute sexual violence effectively.
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  South Africa's foreign direct investment inflows pick up in the second quarter 29.09.2026 1分

  South Africa's foreign direct investment inflows pick up in the second quarter South Africa recorded foreign direct investment inflows of R49.8-billion in the second quarter, up from R20.3-billion in the previous quarter, the central bank said on Tuesday. The South African Reserve Bank said in its Quarterly Bulletin that the higher inflows were due to a local telecommunications company receiving debt funding from a non-resident parent company. It did not disclose which company because the transaction was not public. Portfolio investments switched to an outflow of R9-billion rand in April to June, from an inflow of R9-billion rand in the previous three months. Non-residents sold domestic equity securities amounting to R34.2-billion and acquired domestic debt securities amounting to R25.1-billion during the second quarter. The acquisition of debt securities was partly offset by the redemption of a $1.25-billion international bond by national government, the central bank said.
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  Ramaphosa to address nation on Ekurhuleni murders, GBVF 29.09.2026 2分

  Ramaphosa to address nation on Ekurhuleni murders, GBVF President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening address the country on steps being taken by government to confront the country's gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) crisis. The President's 19:00 address follows a horrifying wave of violence in and around the City of Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, where the bodies of 11 women were discovered dumped between July and September 2026. Ramaphosa is expected to provide a detailed update on the ongoing law enforcement investigations into these murders. The upcoming national address comes on the heels of a significant breakthrough by the South African Police Service (SAPS). Last week, members of the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit arrested one man and two women in connection with the murder of the ninth victim. On Monday, Ramaphosa described the ongoing abuse, rape, and murder of women as a "stain on the national conscience". He issued a stern warning against the public humiliation of women, noting that such actions are often dismissed as harmless but directly reinforce the dangerous attitudes that sustain discrimination and systemic violence. The escalating crisis has triggered a sharp political response from the DA, which has launched targeted political and legislative interventions specifically focusing on the Ekurhuleni killings. Earlier this month, the party announced an additional R500 000 financial reward for any verifiable information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the individuals or network responsible for the murders. Furthermore, the DA successfully secured an urgent debate in Parliament. The DA has also launched a public petition fiercely rejecting recent statements from the SAPS that appeared to underplay their own culpability as law enforcement by advising women to take personal safety precautions. The party criticised the police's stance, arguing that government must fulfil its constitutional mandate to protect citizens rather than shifting the burden of safety onto victims.
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  US Ambassador declares diplomacy 'useless' as relations with S Africa on edge 29.09.2026 4分

  US Ambassador declares diplomacy 'useless' as relations with S Africa on edge Relations between the US and South Africa have reached a critical low point following a scathing assessment by US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III, who accused the South African government of actively rejecting a constructive relationship with Washington. The diplomatic fallout follows the September 15 announcement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio introducing targeted visa restrictions against South African officials deemed responsible for enabling uncompensated land seizures, race-based discrimination, or the incitement of violence against minority groups. In an op-ed, Bozell III revealed that Washington's patience wore thin after a nine-month period of "formal silence" from Pretoria regarding three core policy requests. "It is safe to say my government was not just disappointed, it was shocked," Bozell III stated. "The message was clear: The South African government does not want a constructive relationship with the United States." According to the Ambassador, the friction followed from a series of diplomatic objectives delivered to Pretoria in November 2025, known as the "Five Asks". These objectives built on US President Donald Trump's February 2025 Executive Order 14204 (Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa), which formally outlined American anxieties regarding rural farm attacks, regulatory hurdles for US investors, and South Africa's geopolitical alignment with US adversaries. While Bozell III acknowledged that the first two points had been broadly addressed or paused, negotiations collapsed over the remaining three. He pointed out that Washington requested that Pretoria not interfere with the processing of Afrikaner refugees under the US Executive Order – an assurance granted in January 2026 and currently deemed resolved by the US. Bozell III said the US also expressed deep concern over the 2024 Expropriation Act. While the legislation is currently under judicial review, Bozell III criticised the South African government for signing the Act and "hiding behind a judicial process" rather than outright rejecting it. For now, the US is awaiting the court's final ruling. Further, the US requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior officials publicly condemn the singing of "Kill the Farmer! Kill the Boer!," which Bozell III characterised as an incitement to violence that leaves rural farmers living in fear. Bozell III also revealed that the US urged Pretoria to formally designate rural crime as a priority and fully resource existing safety plans, even offering technical and financial support to assist local law enforcement – a proposal he said went unanswered. The US also asked South Africa to allow foreign telecommunications and mining companies to use Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes as an alternative to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ownership requirements. The Ambassador emphasised that the implementation of the US's new visa policy against some South Africans is a calibrated initial response rather than a final measure. He clarified that the US government's dispute is strictly with the State's "ideological posturing", not its citizens, highlighting the economic potential currently at risk. "Our disagreement is with the government that continues to put its ideology above its own people," Bozell III said, pointing to young entrepreneurs in Soweto, winemakers in Stellenbosch, and software engineers in Durban who he says are bearing the brunt of a stagnant economy. While major US corporations already employ hundreds of thousands of South Africans, Bozell III warned that substantial capital targeting critical minerals, energy cooperation, and telecommunications is actively diverting away from the country owing to regulatory uncertainty and "burdensome race-based regulatory environments". He made it clear that the US will no longer engage in open-ended talks that yield no legislative adjustments. "...
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  Parties call for urgent action after weekend's mass shootings 28.09.2026 3分

  Parties call for urgent action after weekend's mass shootings South Africa is reeling from an unprecedented weekend of trauma as horrific mass shootings across the country have left at least 27 people dead and dozens more injured in targeted tavern attacks. The staggering carnage has sparked fierce national social and political outrage, putting intense pressure on government and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to deploy maximum resources and halt the rising tide of township violence. The deadliest assault occurred on Saturday night in Extension 3, in Wedela, near Carletonville on the West Rand when eight unidentified gunmen, reportedly armed with high-calibre AK-47 rifles and pistols, stormed a local tavern. The attackers opened fire on patrons inside and outside the establishment, set vehicles alight, and robbed survivors before fleeing. The carnage resulted in the deaths of 17 people – 13 men and four women – while 15 others were left wounded. Police have since confirmed a manhunt is actively underway, though the motive remains entirely unknown and no arrests have been announced. The ANC in Gauteng expressed "profound shock and sadness" over the massacre, labelling it a "heinous crime". In a statement, the party stressed the urgent need to scale up intelligence-led policing, particularly in areas highly impacted by violent crime. "The use of high-powered firearms in this attack highlights the grave danger posed by the proliferation of illegal firearms in our communities," the ANC Gauteng stated, calling for immediate operations to disrupt criminal supply networks and remove illegal weapons from the streets. DA Merafong mayoral candidate Carlos Rebelo extended condolences to the affected families and questioned how such a heavily armed group could execute an attack of this magnitude without detection. "Our responsibility cannot end with expressing condolences," Rebelo said, demanding transparency regarding the resources being deployed to bring the perpetrators before the law. As the nation processed the shock of the Gauteng attack, a second attack unfolded in the early hours of Sunday morning in Lwandle, near Strand, in the Western Cape. At about 01:46 AM, gunmen entered a local tavern and opened fire. Five victims died at the scene, and another five succumbed to their injuries at nearby medical facilities, bringing the death toll to 10, with 11 others wounded. The Lwandle massacre occurred just hours after a separate shooting in Khayelitsha that claimed four lives, and barely five days after a mass shooting in KwaZulu-Natal's KwaMakhutha township left 11 people dead. Condemning the Lwandle massacre, ActionSA Cape Town mayoral candidate Dereleen James emphasised that these mass shootings are not isolated incidents but symptoms of deeper crises ravaging communities, including gangsterism, drugs, and extortion rings. James advocated for a multi-departmental approach that goes beyond policing. She called for the integration of SAPS with Social Development, Education, and Community Safety to address the underlying socioeconomic conditions feeding violent crime. "Criminals must know that the State will pursue them and that there will be consequences for taking innocent lives," James asserted. The South African Communist Party (SACP) joined the political voices calling for a relentless State response. Aligning the crisis with its local government election manifesto, the SACP urged the working class to organise alongside law enforcement to build safer public spaces. The party emphasised that protecting vulnerable rural and township communities requires accountable policing, robust public services, and targeted youth development to structurally dismantle organised criminal syndicates.
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  White Cross Project turns to Union Buildings after Washington vigil 28.09.2026 2分

  White Cross Project turns to Union Buildings after Washington vigil Following what it describes a success of its White Cross Project in the US, Afrikaner group Lex Libertas announced it aims to bring the same demonstration to South Africa in a set it up on the lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The organisation is scheduled to meet with White House representatives on Monday to discuss the next steps of its international campaign. The announcement follows a two-day event in Washington, where attendees gathered to witness a display of 3 000 white crosses, which Lex Libertas sys commemorates a victim of farm murders in South Africa. The vigil served as the grand finale of the White Cross Project's US tour and drew campaign supporters, farm attack victims and their families, officials from the White House, the US Department of State, and other various government sectors. The 3 000 crosses have already been dismantled, loaded onto trucks, and are currently being prepared for shipment to South Africa. "Seeing all these people walking among the crosses, reading the names and listening to the stories of victims was an extraordinarily moving experience," said Lex Libertas executive director Dr Ernst Roets. He said the campaign is driven by two primary goals: raising unignorable global awareness and securing actionable international support. "We have made it clear from the beginning that our first objective is to make the harsh realities within South Africa impossible to ignore," Roets explained. "The second, and most important objective, is to use the awareness and momentum that is created by this project, to garner support for short and long-term solutions for the peoples of South Africa." The campaign report outlines twenty immediate steps the South African government could take to curb violence, farm attacks, racial exclusion, and threats to property rights. Furthermore, the report diagnoses what Lex Libertas says are the systemic failures driving these issues, arguing that South Africa's "highly centralised political system has become entirely detached from reality and stripped of accountability". As a long-term remedy, Lex Libertas urged US government officials, civil institutions, and international supporters to back initiatives promoting decentralisation and self-governance in South Africa. However, in his weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa discouraged the campaign. "At a time when unemployment is high and we need to grow our economy and attract investment, travelling to foreign capitals to spread the falsehood of a 'white genocide' and discourage investment in one's own country is neither responsible nor patriotic. We may be a diverse nation, but we are united by the constitutional values that make us South African," he said.
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  Ramaphosa challenges S Africans to defend national identity amid violence, division 28.09.2026 3分

  Ramaphosa challenges S Africans to defend national identity amid violence, division President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a reminder to the nation on Monday that heritage is not only a cause for celebration but a critical battleground that citizens must actively defend, as he stressed that South Africans cannot allow gender-based violence, xenophobia and racial division to define the country's character. Writing in his weekly newsletter, the President's message comes at a time of heightened security concerns, particularly following a grim series of crimes in the Gauteng province. Addressing the crisis of gender-based violence (GBV), Ramaphosa described the ongoing abuse, rape, and murder of women as a "stain on the national conscience". Between July and September 2026, the bodies of nine women were discovered dumped across the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg. Last week, the South African Police Service made a significant breakthrough when members of the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit arrested one man and two women in connection with the ninth victim's murder. Ramaphosa warned that the public humiliation of women, often dismissed as harmless, directly reinforces the dangerous attitudes that sustain discrimination and violence. Turning to regional relations and migration, the President recalled the support African nations provided during South Africa's liberation struggle. He reaffirmed that democratic South Africa remains deeply committed to advancing African unity and integration, explicitly rejecting xenophobia and intolerance. However, Ramaphosa balanced this commitment with a firm stance on immigration compliance. He noted that the government has a fundamental responsibility to manage its borders effectively, emphasising that migration must occur within the parameters of the law and that everyone living in South Africa must respect its legal framework. He labelled inflammatory statements about foreign nationals as dangerous and irresponsible, particularly during periods when undocumented migration fuels social friction. Ramaphosa also defended the country's constitutional transformation policies, drawing a sharp line between democratic redress and past oppression. "We are determined never to return to the racial division and oppression of our apartheid past," Ramaphosa wrote, urging citizens to continuously renew the choice made in 1994 to build a unified nation from diverse backgrounds. In a final warning against political and social polarisation, the President reminded citizens that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, it demands equal responsibility. He condemned inflammatory language that glorifies violence or stokes community tensions, and took aim at figures traveling abroad to sabotage the country's economic prospects. "At a time when unemployment is high and we need to grow our economy and attract investment, travelling to foreign capitals to spread the falsehood of a 'white genocide' and discourage investment in one's own country is neither responsible nor patriotic," Ramaphosa said. He urged all South Africans to remain vigilant against "divisive forces", protect the country's social fabric, and guard against actions that threaten to reopen the wounds of the past.
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  South Africa's Transnet begins process to expand manganese export capacity 25.09.2026 1分

  South Africa's Transnet begins process to expand manganese export capacity South Africa's State-owned logistics operator Transnet said on Friday it has started the process of picking a private sector partner to develop and operate a new manganese export terminal for 25 years, as it seeks to expand the mineral's export capacity by 20%. South Africa is the world's top manganese exporter, having shipped about 26-million metric tons in 2025, according to the Minerals Council. Manganese is mostly used in steel manufacturing, but increasingly in battery technologies, which are vital for renewable energy. Transnet, which currently handles about 16-million tons of South Africa's manganese exports annually through its freight rail system, is seeking a private sector partner to fund, develop, operate and maintain a new export corridor from mines in the Northern Cape to a new terminal at Ngqura, in the Eastern Cape. The freight rail, ports and pipeline operator said in a statement it had issued a Request for Qualification to begin the process of selecting a strategic partner. The new export terminal is expected to reduce the roughly 10-million tons of manganese exports a year which are hauled to ports by road. Ngqura is about 20 km north-east of Port Elizabeth, which currently accounts for 65% of South Africa's manganese export capacity. Transnet is increasingly relying on private sector participation after being constrained by years of underinvestment and insufficient government funding. Approximately 95% of South Africa's manganese export volumes go to Asia, with China accounting for nearly 68% of all shipments, followed by India (16%), Singapore (3%), Malaysia (3%) and Japan (2%).
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  GOOD challenges Zille’s Joburg Mayoral bid and DA’s electoral court action 25.09.2026 2分

  GOOD challenges Zille's Joburg Mayoral bid and DA's electoral court action Ahead of the November 4 local government election, and after filing an answering affidavit opposing the DA's application in the Electoral Court to declare its candidate list unlawful, the GOOD party is also questioning Helen Zille's residency in Johannesburg as she plans to contest the mayoralship for the DA in the city. The DA has launched an urgent application in the Electoral Court against ActionSA, the EFF, the MKP, and the GOOD party, accusing them of undermining electoral laws ahead of the upcoming local government election. The legal challenge centres on allegations that these parties are deliberately concealing their proportional representation (PR) candidates from the public by submitting lists containing just a single name. GOOD said on Friday that its PR list, with one name in each of the 25 municipalities it is contesting, complied with the law and was certified by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). "The DA's application, seeking the exclusion of GOOD, ActionSA, the EFF and MK from the PR ballot, or to restrict the number of seats they may fill, reflects bad faith desperation to manufacture legal technicalities and voter confusion, and subvert voters' choices. Neither the Municipal Electoral Act nor the Municipal Structures Act prescribes a minimum number of names on a party list," GOOD countered. It further stated that it had confirmed with the IEC whether single-candidate lists were allowed, before submitting its lists. "GOOD will defend its lists in court; they comply with the law as Parliament wrote it, not as the DA would prefer it to have been written," it stated. However, the party was not done. It is further taking legal advice on whether Zille's registration in Johannesburg as the DA's mayoral candidate is lawful. "Re-scrutinising the relevant legislation in preparing GOOD's answering affidavit raised questions about the lawfulness of the registration in Johannesburg of the DA's mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille. GOOD has asked its legal team to advise whether Zille's registration in Johannesburg complies with sections 7(3) and 8(3) of the Electoral Act and, if not, what remedies are available," it explained. GOOD argues that Zille's residence, by her own account, is in Cape Town, further stating that if it is advised that Zille's candidacy is unlawful, it will take legal action.
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  Eskom board chair reappointed after turnaround in power supply 25.09.2026 1分

  Eskom board chair reappointed after turnaround in power supply South Africa's government has reappointed State utility Eskom's board chairperson Mteto Nyati, for another three years after a sharp improvement in power availability under his tenure, Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said on Friday. Nyati was appointed chair in 2023, when Eskom was implementing near-daily power outages that were holding back economic growth and a major source of public anger. Eskom has now gone more than 490 days without power cuts. "If it ain't broken, why fix it?," ... The cabinet has taken a decision that Dr. Mteto Nyati is best suited to continue, ... so his term is renewed from the 1st of November," Ramokgopa told a press conference. Nyati had been due to step down at the end of October when his current three-year term expires. The former state monopoly, which has required repeated government bailouts that have strained public finances, made a second consecutive profit in the 2026 financial year. Ramokgopa said on Friday there would be no more bailouts and Eskom would not get double-digit electricity tariff increases. "We have come out of a period of darkness, we have reached a point of inflection, and we're entering a new terrain," he said, adding Eskom should create the conditions for investment, industrial growth and new entrants into the electricity market.
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  MVC asks parties to make coalition plans public before elections 23.09.2026 1分

  MVC asks parties to make coalition plans public before elections Political parties have until 17:00 on October 5 to respond to nongovernmental organisation My Vote Counts (MVC) and outline their plans for coalition negotiations before the local government elections on November 4. MVC argues that voters should have this information before casting their ballot, citing Section 19 of the Constitution, which protects the political rights of citizens. MVC has written to 20 political parties to gauge the principles they will use to determine coalition partners, non-negotiable manifesto commitments in coalition agreements, parties they have ruled out from coalitions after the elections and whether parties will publish all coalition agreements. "We are not asking parties to predict the electoral arithmetic or bind themselves to negotiations that have not happened. We are asking them to disclose the principles, red lines and exclusions that will shape those negotiations. That information belongs to voters before they cast their ballots," said MVC advocacy leader Noxolo Mfocwa. He argued the need for transparency, and said by publishing coalition agreements, residents, civil society organisations, journalists and opposition parties can better hold coalition partners accountable for their commitments. MVC has promised to publish the answers received from any political parties, as well as to make public the ones that failed to respond. MVC Project Lead: Money in Politics Joel Bregman pointed to unstable government and interrupted essential services when agreements are negotiated in secret. "The standard should be straightforward: parties do not have to reveal the outcome of negotiations that have not yet happened, but they should reveal the principles and limits that will govern those negotiations. Once an agreement is reached, the public should be able to read it," Bregman said.
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  IEC demands parties restore public trust at 2026 electoral code signing 23.09.2026 2分

  IEC demands parties restore public trust at 2026 electoral code signing In what is being described as the most challenging political environment in South Africa's democratic history, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Mosotho Moepya declared on Wednesday that the signing of the electoral code of conduct is a "sacrosanct ingredient" to ensuring the integrity of the upcoming 2026 local government elections. Speaking at the official Code of Conduct signing ceremony and ballot draw in Midrand, Moepya framed the signing as a "solemn, binding contract" signed directly with South Africans at a critical historical crossroads. Moepya said recent findings from a voter participation survey conducted with the Human Sciences Research Council painted a stark picture of the national mood, revealing a significant decline in democratic trust, widespread institutional disillusionment, and growing public scepticisms. "We stand at a profound historical crossroads, navigating what researchers describe as the most challenging pre-electoral climate ever observed in South Africa over the last 30 years," Moepya stated. Rather than viewing this as casual disengagement, Moepya described it as structural disillusionment. "Our citizens are saying democracy must work, and work for them," he noted, calling on political parties to use the elections scheduled for November to restore institutional integrity and prove that the democratic process can be responsive, clean, and accountable. The Code of Conduct substantively protects all 136 790 candidates contesting the municipal elections, ensuring equal opportunities to campaign without fear of violence, intimidation, or unfair distortion. By stepping forward to publicly pledge their allegiance to the code, political party leaders and candidates commit to condemning political violence, maintaining clean, fair campaigns and elevating the standard of political discourse. Moepya issued a warning against digital harassment, stating that political parties must also actively protect journalists. He noted that no personal details or private information of media workers—including home addresses, personal contacts, or details regarding their loved ones—may be posted online. As the country heads toward the November polls, the IEC views compliance with this code as the primary mechanism to safeguard constitutional equality and address the potentially distorted playing field.