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  Mashatile urges National Dialogue committee to resolve governance issues ahead of elections 07.10.2026 2мин

  Mashatile urges National Dialogue committee to resolve governance issues ahead of elections Deputy President Paul Mashatile has emphasised that the immediate priority of the National Dialogue steering committee must be to conclude all outstanding governance and participation issues, ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Mashatile stressed that these foundational matters must be resolved to strengthen unity and solidify public confidence in the ongoing political and social process. The Deputy President called on all sectors to immediately finalise implementation plans, mobilisation strategies and dialogue methodologies. Mashatile met with the National Dialogue steering committee on Wednesday following months of intense grassroots mobilisation. Mashatile welcomed a comprehensive progress report presented by the committee, noting that the groundwork laid over the past few months proves the vision of a citizen-led National Dialogue remains vibrant and continues to gain momentum across broader society. The Deputy President highlighted several key sectoral milestones that have advanced the initiative, noting that the Youth sector has developed its own independent coordination framework, successfully resolved internal organisational matters, and officially commenced preparations for upcoming youth-led dialogue processes. He said people with disabilities have successfully convened broad consultations and submitted critical, structured recommendations focused heavily on improving accessibility, participation, and social inclusion. Civil society and faith-based groups have demonstrated a deep commitment to ensuring local communities are fully mobilised and structurally prepared to participate. According to Mashatile, recently conducted pilot dialogues have yielded "invaluable insights". He assured that the trial runs have shown that citizens across various demographics are willing to engage constructively with the complex challenges facing South Africa, frequently contributing highly practical, localised solutions. Furthermore, the implementation of these pilots highlights the success of a "whole-of-society" operational approach. Provincial governments and local stakeholders stepped forward to provide essential logistical support, seamlessly managing security coordination, transport arrangements, and necessary regulatory approvals, he added. Mashatile issued a reminder that the National Dialogue ultimately belongs to the people of South Africa, rather than political frameworks. "The conversations held thus far demonstrate that citizens are ready to engage honestly about the challenges facing our country and to contribute solutions," Mashatile pointed out. "Our responsibility is to ensure that these voices are heard, that the process remains credible and inclusive, and that the outcomes translate into meaningful action that improves the lives of our people," he concluded.
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  Mistra warns fragmentation will make 2026 coalition talks complex 07.10.2026 4мин

  Mistra warns fragmentation will make 2026 coalition talks complex The Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra) released the third edition of its Coalitions Barometer, on Wednesday, revealing a surprising decoupling between local political instability and municipal audit outcomes. Despite a chaotic political landscape with routine Motions of No Confidence (MONCs) and shifting alliances since the 2021 local government elections (LGE), technical municipal structures have shown unexpected resilience, the institute said. However, it warned that ahead of the upcoming LGEs, coalition politics is poised to become even more complex. The central finding of its Coalitions Barometer report challenges the conventional narrative that political chaos directly degrades municipal administration. Mistra noted that it was unable to find reliable evidence that coalition instability has a harmful effect on audit outcomes. Data from the barometer indicated that municipalities experiencing high numbers of coalition collapses between 2021 and 2025 did not yield significantly worse audit results at the end of the period than those that remained stable. "This could mean that local governments have done a better-than-expected job of insulating their technical capacity from instability at the political level. It could also mean that new variables or a different research design will be needed to understand how coalition instability affects the quality of governance – this is only a first look," the institute said. The report highlighted a stark divergence between local political and national dynamics following the watershed 2024 national elections. Mistra noted that while South African politics was radically reshaped by the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the ANC and the DA remained somewhat untouched by this spirit of cooperation. Mistra pointed out that the ANC and the DA have continued to actively topple each other via MONCs, even if the frequency of these manoeuvres has slowed down recently. Mistra said the EFF's strategic reorientation toward the ANC stood as the most consequential local realignment since 2021. "Yet, throughout this period, the EFF maintained its position in the opposition benches against the ANC within the National Assembly," the institute said. Mistra explained that while media coverage often portrays hung councils as inherently dysfunctional, the Coalitions Barometer dataset painted a more complex picture of governance survival. Out of 70 administrations initially formed in hung councils, 23 administrations remained in office in their original format by the data cutoff point, while 22 administrations suffered complete collapses. Mistra explained that the remainder adapted by rebuilding coalitions around the same anchor party. A true collapse, defined as the largest governing party losing office entirely, occurred in only 46 out of the 80 municipalities tracked, proving less common than public perception suggests, it said. Mistra's findings highlighted how South Africa's major political parties navigate their constrained choices to advance distinct strategic interests, noting that the ANC demonstrated flexibility by occasionally agreeing to serve under a smaller partner's mayor, even when it is the largest member of the coalition. It also highlighted that the DA is unwilling to cede executive mayoral leadership to smaller partners within its coalition structures, while the IFP successfully leverages its geographically concentrated support base to join and directly lead local governments. Mistra said the EFF uses its geographically dispersed support base to project power and exert external influence over coalitions it does not directly lead. Meanwhile, looking ahead to the upcoming LGEs Mistra emphasised that the ultimate driver of coalition politics is the electorate, not politicians. It said voters have spent several election cycles dividing their support among an expanding fragment of parties...
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  South Africa to establish new Commission to oversee State firms 07.10.2026 2мин

  South Africa to establish new Commission to oversee State firms South Africa intends establishing a commission chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa to coordinate the work of its State-owned firms after shelving plans to place them under the auspices of a holding company. The new panel will review a national strategy that outlines what role the firms should play and ensure the government exercises ownership in a coherent and professional manner, Gwen Ramokgopa, a minister in the Presidency, said in a response to questions. It will also standardise and strengthen governance practices, improve monitoring, and facilitate and coordinate the rationalisation and restructuring of the entities to eliminate duplication and improve efficiency, she added. South Africa has scores of State entities, including power utility Eskom, logistics company Transnet, and South African National Roads Agency. A number of them have been dogged by mismanagement and financial problems, leaving them reliant on government funding to survive, which has spurred calls for improved oversight. Some of those biggest firms fell under the Department of Public Enterprises, but it was disbanded in March 2025 and control was transferred to the relevant line ministries. A draft law was presented to parliament in 2024 that proposed the establishment of a management company that would oversee all State firms, but the legislation wasn't processed and it was withdrawn last month. "Circumstances have changed considerably" since the law was first drafted, Ramokgopa said by phone. "Once the bill had gone through stakeholder engagements and all the political parties had been consulted, we realised that the bill could not simply be rewritten, we needed to take it back to cabinet." The new panel, which will be a hybrid of the type of structures established by China and Norway to oversee their State entities, can be established relatively quickly. In the interim, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is working on reform proposals for the State companies, including drawing up appointment and remuneration guidelines, and a framework for their rationalisation. "Our constitution allows for the president to directly chair a commission using regulations, rather than the long process of creating a law," Ramokgopa said. ''If necessary, we can still create a management company down the road should we need to."
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  South Africa drops to 87 in global economic freedom ranking 06.10.2026 2мин

  South Africa drops to 87 in global economic freedom ranking South Africa has ranked eighty-seventh out of 165 countries and territories in the 'Economic Freedom of the World: 2026 Annual Report' (EFW), published by the Free Market Foundation (FMF) in conjunction with Canada's Fraser Institute. The latest ranking reflects a further decline for South Africa, which previously hovered at eighty-third place, signalling an ongoing erosion of economic liberty. With an overall absolute score of 6.63 out of ten, the data confirms that South Africa's economic freedom has been on a slow, downward trend since its peak in the year 2000, leaving the country less free today than it was at the turn of the century, FMF states. "South Africa's drop to eighty-seventh place is a clear warning sign," says FMF senior associate and Cumberland University finance and economics professor Richard Grant. "Historical data show unambiguously that countries with greater economic freedom are also more prosperous, with higher average incomes and lower poverty rates. Without widespread liberalisation, secure property rights and a reduction in government overreach, South Africa will continue to suffer from anaemic growth," he warns. Economic freedom – the degree to which individuals are permitted to make their own decisions regarding commerce, employment and personal exchange – is fundamentally tied to national prosperity and personal freedom. The EFW index measures these levels across five key areas: size of government; legal system and property rights; sound money; freedom to trade internationally; and regulation. Out of all five categories, only sound money has avoided dropping below its level of 25 years ago. However, ongoing inflation pressures and currency depreciation continue to exacerbate broader economic challenges. The report highlights several major structural weaknesses holding South Africa back, including excessive general government spending, which exceeds one-third of GDP and consistently exceeds tax revenues, as well as heavy regulation, particularly of the labour market. "Governments cannot create lasting prosperity, but they can create the conditions within which people's lives and property are respected. Where people are free to pursue their own opportunities and make their own economic choices, they build prosperous, harmonious and resilient communities," says Grant. The FMF continues to advocate for policy reforms under its Liberty First initiative, identifying key structural changes necessary to reverse South Africa's economic decline, restore investor confidence and foster growth.
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  Parties, union demand fuel price relief ahead of Budget 06.10.2026 3мин

  Parties, union demand fuel price relief ahead of Budget The unprecedented hikes in fuel prices have triggered widespread outrage, prompting political parties, civil society organisations, and trade unions to launch a unified call for immediate government intervention. According to official data released by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, 93 octane petrol will surge by R3.12 a litre at midnight on Wednesday, while 95 octane will spike by R3.33 a litre. Wholesale diesel prices are set to climb by between R2.84 and R3.24 a litre, illuminating paraffin will jump by R3.58 a litre, and LPGas will rise by 42c a kilogramme. Organisations across the political and social spectrum have warned that these are not ordinary price adjustments, predicting a severe inflationary ripple effect that will hit agriculture, transport networks, small businesses, and already strained household budgets. Accusing Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana of ignoring a September request for an official review, the civil rights organisation AfriForum has instructed its own research department to conduct a comprehensive audit of the country's fuel price composition. The investigation will target the calculation, transparency, and efficiency of the General Fuel Levy, Carbon Fuel Levy, and the Road Accident Fund (RAF) Levy, the usage of collected funds and their economic impact on consumers and businesses and long-term structural policy reforms. "The government is responding like a deer in the headlights of the energy crisis: paralysed with indecision. Someone must expose the root cause of the cost-of-living crisis and push for desperately needed reforms," stated AfriForum head of public relations Ernst van Zyl. The DA identified the RAF levy as the primary driver of artificially inflated fuel costs. However, DA spokesperson on Transport Dr Chris Hunsinger, noted that the RAF recently informed Parliament it faces a staggering R450-billion backlog in outstanding claims. With a yearly revenue of just R47-billion, Hunsinger believes it would take over a decade just to clear the existing backlog, without factoring in new claims or operational costs. The DA is demanding urgent legislative reform to replace the "bankrupt" entity and permanently remove its corresponding levy from the fuel price equation. ActionSA has called on the National Treasury to use strong tax collection revenues to buffer citizens against the incoming shock. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley pointed out that the South African Revenue Service collected R2.010-trillion in net revenue for the 2025/26 financial year –beating initial estimates by R24.7-billion. ActionSA argued that this structural growth creates immediate fiscal space for a temporary reduction in the fuel levy. The party announced plans to robustly challenge the upcoming Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement later this month, to ensure the Government of National Unity addresses waste and provides citizen relief. Trade union UASA echoed the call for emergency relief measures, highlighting that low- and middle-income workers bear the brunt of rising transport costs. UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo acknowledged that while international oil volatility and global geopolitical tensions drive market rates, the domestic tax framework remains entirely within State control. The union urged the State to act decisively before the socio-economic damage becomes permanently entrenched in the local economy.
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  Voters urged to ‘rescue’ Joburg from ‘corrupt crime-council ecosystem' 06.10.2026 3мин

  Voters urged to 'rescue' Joburg from 'corrupt crime-council ecosystem' Voters must use the upcoming local government elections to rescue Johannesburg from a "devastating crime-council ecosystem" that thrives on the city's decay, Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) executive director Ann Bernstein urged on Tuesday. Launching the CDE's latest report, 'Time for Action – Corruption in Joburg', Bernstein warned that the dangers of "more of the same" over the next five years are immense. The report is the fifth instalment in the CDE's 'Johannesburg Matters: Fixing South Africa' series. According to the CDE, Johannesburg's decline is not only a result of weak administration or municipal incompetence. Instead, it notes an entrenched network of political, business, and criminal interests has intersected local government, actively profiting from dysfunction. "Infrastructure theft creates contracts for repairs. Water failures create demand for tankers. Dysfunction creates opportunities for emergency procurement. Those who benefit from failure therefore have an interest in perpetuating it," Bernstein said. The report draws on simultaneous research commissioned from the Global Initiative Against Organised Crime. This research exposes overlapping networks manipulating municipal procurement, senior appointments, and critical services such as electricity, water, and property. Corrupt insiders allegedly collude with syndicates involved in infrastructure theft, sabotage, and building hijacking, using violence and intimidation to silence whistleblowers and investigators. The CDE noted that this system has flourished owing to persistent political instability and weakened accountability structures. ADVISED SOLUTIONS To dismantle it, the think tank proposed a comprehensive, systems-driven action plan focused on making corruption difficult, visible, and dangerous, noting the publication of information across the full lifecycle of major contracts—from bid scoring and beneficial ownership to invoices and proof of delivery—while using data to flag suspicious procurement patterns. The CDE wants the introduction of open, merit-based processes for senior positions and municipal boards, featuring published criteria and professional assessments. It said opportunities to profit from chaos must be reduced by installing infrastructure that is theft-proof, tightening controls on emergency contracts, and enforcing stricter supplier rules, while also mandating financial disclosures for high-risk positions and concentrating lifestyle audits where corruption risks are highest. The CDE called for protecting the Group Forensic and Investigation Service from political interference, triggering automatic external referrals for sensitive probes, and tracking completed findings so they cannot be buried. The CDE suggested that investigative resources must be concentrated on repeat suppliers and politically connected intermediaries. The CDE explained that the city must use disciplinary action, civil asset recovery, and contractual remedies alongside criminal prosecution to recover losses. The think tank urged the establishment of secure reporting channels, protection for whistleblowers from retaliation, the creation of rapid-response safety mechanisms, and the consideration of financial rewards for information leading to successful recoveries. Bernstein emphasised that the city's salvation lies in robust institutional design rather than vague ethical reforms. "There is no shortage of ethical codes, procurement rules, financial regulations or declarations of principle... The problem is the gap between rules and outcomes," Bernstein said. "Johannesburg needs institutions capable of functioning even when powerful people have an interest in defeating them." Read the report here.
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  NGO critiques local govt failures ahead of elections, launches voter tool 05.10.2026 3мин

  NGO critiques local govt failures ahead of elections, launches voter tool As South Africa approaches its local government elections, non-governmental organisation My Vote Counts (MVC) has launched a scathing critique of municipal service delivery, warning that decades of documented failures have allowed "local government rot" to fester despite a robust legislative framework. In response to these persistent challenges, the civil society group has released its Municipal People's Analysis of Manifestos (M-PAM), a citizen-centred tool designed to empower voters to evaluate political promises against actual community needs and constitutional mandates. The organisation emphasised that South Africa does not lack the legal infrastructure for good governance, as it possesses a solid legislative foundation designed to foster community-led governance, noting Section 152 of the Constitution which mandates that local government facilitate community participation in municipal affairs. The 1998 White Paper on Local Government envisions citizens participating simultaneously as voters, consumers, and collaborative partners, while the Municipal Systems Act of 2000 legally obligates municipalities to receive petitions, provide notice of meetings, and report back to communities. Despite these laws, MVC noted that maladministration, corruption, and inadequate participatory channels continue to lock citizens out of the decisions shaping their daily lives. A key point of failure highlighted by MVC is the breakdown of ward committees. Intended as a vital communications link between residents and local government, these structures have largely become invisible, the organisation said. "In practice, ward councillors and committees tend to be inaccessible and only visible during elections," the organisation stated, demanding that committee members be known to their constituents, host accessible meetings, and actively represent marginalised groups, including those in informal settlements and people living with disabilities. While major political parties such as the ANC, DA, and EFF have outlined manifesto priorities such as water, electricity, housing, safety, and fighting corruption, MVC argued that actual delivery remains a deep concern. M-PAM aims to disrupt this cycle by shifting the focus away from party rhetoric. "Too often, election debates begin with what political parties are promising, rather than with what people are experiencing in their communities," explained MVC campaigns intern Thinam Mali. "M-PAM starts from the other direction. It asks citizens to look at the services they receive, the challenges they face... and then use that knowledge to interrogate the promises being made to them." MVC emphasised that marking a ballot paper is only the first step, adding that "true accountability" requires ongoing civic participation, including tracking local budgets and participating in consultations on municipal Integrated Development Plans. Project lead Keamogetswe Seipato explained that local government elections dictate the precise conditions in which people live every day. "Citizens therefore need more than promises. They need the information and tools to question those promises, assess performance and hold elected representatives accountable," Seipato said. Click here to read the full report.
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  DA launches relentless final campaign push following surge in latest polls 05.10.2026 2мин

  DA launches relentless final campaign push following surge in latest polls The DA has announced it will work relentlessly over the next month to secure outright majorities in the City of Tshwane, City of Johannesburg, and the City of Cape Town municipalities, in its aim to "rescue" these key metros from what it terms the "chaos of unstable coalitions". This aggressive campaign strategy comes in response to the latest News24/SABI poll, which the DA said confirms a significant, tangible shift in South African politics. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis noted that the poll indicates that his party is now within five percentage points of the ANC nationally. Furthermore, the data reveals that the DA is the most favourably viewed party among polled voters and holds the leading position across almost all surveyed metros, except for eThekwini. Hill-Lewis stated that the poll awards the DA the best net favourability score among all the political parties tested. He said in the City of Tshwane the DA leads the ANC by eight points, in the City of Johannesburg Helen Zille is currently leading the mayoral race and, in the City of Cape Town, voters expressed a markedly more positive outlook regarding the direction of their city compared with their views on the direction of South Africa as a whole. The DA's message targets the recent history of hung councils. Hill-Lewis pointed out that South Africans have witnessed local councils collapse into instability and endless political bargaining. He argued that these coalition governments spend more time fighting over political positions than fixing roads, collecting refuse, or keeping communities safe. "We cannot afford another five years of that. That is why every DA supporter must turn out on election day. A clear DA majority means a stable government that can get straight to work delivering for residents," he said. The party claims that a "genuine political shift" is occurring across South Africa, with more voters looking beyond the "old politics of decline" and moving toward a party with a proven track record of service delivery. Despite the positive polling, Hill-Lewis maintained that the party remains cautious. "We will take nothing for granted. For the remaining weeks of this campaign, we will fight for every ward, every community, and every vote — to win the strongest possible mandate to make South Africa work, for everyone," he concluded.
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  Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC vote-buying claims 05.10.2026 3мин

  Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma's ANC vote-buying claims In a major legal development shaking the ANC, the High Court has directed that the defamation dispute between party veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula must be resolved through oral evidence. Following the decision, Mbalula clarified that the judgment does not validate the allegations made against him. The legal fallout erupted after Dlamini-Zuma alleged, during an appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, that illicit financial influence heavily dictated internal ANC election outcomes. Specifically, she accused Mbalula and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola of vote-buying at the ANC's fifty-fourth National Conference in 2017. Furthermore, she alleged that Mbalula "dished out money" at a clinic facility during the fifty-fifth National Conference in 2022 to secure his position and protect President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership. In response to the broadcast, Mbalula initiated defamation proceedings to clear his name, while simultaneously referring Dlamini-Zuma to the ANC Integrity Commission. Mbalula petitioned the court for an order compelling Dlamini-Zuma to issue an immediate retraction and apology. Acting Judge HM Viljoen declined to grant the immediate order for retraction sought by Mbalula. Instead, the court determined that the core factual disputes, and the gravity of the allegations, are better evaluated through witness testimonies and oral evidence under oath. Dlamini-Zuma, who has filed a formal notice of intention to oppose the suit, welcomed the ruling. "The Court has made no such order [for retraction. It has directed instead that the central factual question be determined on oral evidence from us and witnesses. I remain committed to cooperating with the Court's processes," Dlamini-Zuma stated. Standing firmly by her initial remarks, Dlamini-Zuma emphasised that the litigation serves as a necessary inflection point for the ruling party. She argued that if the ANC is to genuinely achieve organisational renewal, it must confront the role of money in its elective processes. Out of respect for the judiciary, she indicated she would no longer debate the merits of the case in the public domain. Meanwhile, Mbalula also welcomed the court's decision to test the veracity of the statements under oath, noting that the judge did not dismiss the matter outright as Dlamini-Zuma had requested. However, Mbalula was quick to clarify that the judgment does not validate the allegations made against him. "The factual dispute remains to be determined after the evidence of the relevant witnesses has been tested under oath. I welcome that process. I have consistently maintained that the allegations are false and I have nothing to hide," Mbalula said. He rejected any public commentary suggesting that the court's refusal to issue an immediate retraction served as a vindication of Dlamini-Zuma's claims. "It has not," Mbalula clarified. "The Court has made no finding that I distributed money to delegates, bought votes or otherwise corrupted the electoral process at the ANC's fifty-fifth National Conference. I will allow the evidence to be tested in court, where it belongs, rather than conduct the remainder of this matter through public statements and political commentary."
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  Developing countries hit by overlapping crises, UNDP chief warns 02.10.2026 3мин

  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 2мин

  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 4мин

  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 1мин

  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 5мин

  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 2мин

  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 5мин

  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 2мин

  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 3мин

  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 1мин

  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 2мин

  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.