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[Opinion] The fly in the MTBPS ointment

South Africa’s economy is not growing fast enough. This is the key take-away from the 2025 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) delivered last Wednesday by the finance minister, Enoch Godongwana – and it is easily lost among the flood of information, mostly positive, about the public finances.

Why criticism of SA’s G20 presidency misses the real problem

South Africa is not responsible for the G20’s sprawl. It is hosting when years of accumulated commitments reach their final stop in the rotation. The criticism may be fair, but it is misdirected, writes Ofentse Donald Davhie.

[Opinion] ‘Back to basics’ future puts G20 at risk

As of next year, the G20 will transform into an entirely different platform from what it has been for at least the past decade; away from development-oriented agendas and back to its original objective of global financial stability. Although the boycott by the US speaks to the diminishing relevance of the multilateral platform, the true effect will not be from the US’s exclusion in 2025, but from the priorities and values it spotlights in 2026. For SA and other developing economies, the US shift risks diminishing their influence on global governance, debt restructuring, climate financing and trade policy. As the G7 and G20 declarations carry no legal obligations, the Trump administration can disregard Johannesburg outcomes without challenge from other members.

[News] South Africa G20 Pragmatism vs Politics at the Summit

THE 2025 G20 Summit is set to take place on 22 and 23 November in Johannesburg. The Summit represents the culmination of South Africa’s year-long G20 presidency and, if used well, should produce some level of common, shared communique or document that advances South Africa’s priorities and values.

[Opinion] When will SA own its mistakes and stop blaming everything else?

The cause of SA’s 0.8% GDP average from 2012 to 2023 can seemingly never be the government’s chosen ideology and policies

[Letter] Organised crime has its teeth in SA

Criminal actors are filling governance vacuums, especially in local municipalities

[Rapport] Selfs SA se pêlle in Washington raak nou keelvol

Suid-Afrika is besig om ’n gulde geleentheid te verspeel, waarsku Chris Hattingh ná ’n besoek aan Amerika, waar hy met meer as ’n dosyn regeringsamptenare en meningsvormers gesels het.

[Opinion] SA’s emerging demographic crisis: dependency on the rise

The pressure on those who work to support the jobless keeps rising in South Africa.

[Letter] ANC policies impede SA-US trade

The main obstacle in tariff standoff is the party’s political will

[News] South Africa’s deindustrialisation dilemma

BUSISIWE Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, recently wrote that the government must act urgently to mitigate the impact of United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariffs on South Africa’s vehicle manufacturing sector. With the US being one of South Africa’s main vehicle export markets, heightened tariffs will pose a major risk to the local automotive sector. However, reciprocal tariffs are only a recent threat.

[Letter] Trump tariff a chance to reform SA’s trade policies

Notions in support of the AfCFTA will come to nought should the government not change its approach

[Opinion] ANC heads for 30% in local government elections

Scant evidence in party rhetoric or actions to convince support will not decline.

[Opinion] The ongoing tariff dance

Tariff threats have proved a favourite tool of US President Donald Trump as his administration continues to rework US trading relationships and the global trade order.

[Letter] Probe blow to Mchunu’s ambitions

If police minister survives allegations he could challenge Paul Mashatile in race for ANC president

[News] South Africa’s G20 Presidency: What It Means for Global Trade & Investment

South Africa’s G20 Presidency provides the host country with numerous diplomatic, economic, and cultural opportunities. With a main summit (22-23 November in Johannesburg) preceded by numerous side conferences and engagements focused on a range of areas and sectors, South Africa’s G20 Presidency offers multiple chances to make a positive impact on international diplomatic and business counterparts.

[Opinion] CHRIS HATTINGH: Is SA serious about growth?

Policies and legislation need to be questioned as transformation is failing black South Africans

[Opinion] SA dithers while global trade shifts

Amidst the US-generated trade turmoil, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced last week that “zero-tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines” would be accorded to all 53 African nations that have diplomatic ties with China.

[News] US tariffs 2025: 31% blow to South African exports

Over the course of the first five months of 2025, United States (US) President Donald Trump and his administration have worked – mostly using the threat of higher US tariffs on trading partners – to reform global trade. A 10% universal tariff baseline has been established; what remains are the various levels of reciprocal tariffs imposed on individual countries, with much dependent on those governments meeting with US officials to secure a (relatively) more favourable arrangement for their exports to the US.

[Opinion] SA’s once-in-a-century opportunity

For a country as reliant on trade and investment from the US and European countries as South Africa, the government’s focus on ideology and past grievances undermines its opportunity to seize the once-in-a-generation energy and impetus being administered to global trade and investment flows by the Trump administration.

[News] Is South Africa open for business? Labour law challenges

The South African government has often talked a big game about “South Africa open for business”, with President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet setting a 3% growth target for 2025. President Cyril Ramaphosa and his cabinet have set a target of 3% growth in 2025. To reach anywhere near that (after all, between 2012 and 2023 South African GPD averaged only 0.8% per year) the country needs vibrant and active manufacturing and construction sectors.

[Letter] Messy, but democratic

Anyone who voted for a party other than the ANC in effect helped to block the proposed VAT hike

[Opinion] SA’s Goldilocks moment?

While stating the global economy is at a “critical juncture,” in its latest World Economic Outlook the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has slashed its global GDP outlook for this year from the 3.3% projected in January to 2.8%. For South Africa, the IMF downgrades the 1.5% January forecast to 1% now; more realistic than the 1.9% projected by National Treasury in the March Budget.

[Letter] Cash injections won’t save Transnet

Kabelo Khumalo’s article refers (“Rail company boss hails fast-tracking of state reforms”, March 28). I share Traxtion CEO James Holley’s assessment that “it’s hard to exaggerate what a game-changer moment it would be if the SA government is successful in implementing those three projects [in the request for information]”.

[Opinion] A view from Washington, DC

While walking from one briefing to the next in Washington, DC, last week, I received a notification from South Africa’s favourite app. EskomSePush told me loadshedding stage 2 had been implemented.

[News] South Africa’s geopolitical dance

The repeated injections of geopolitical, trade, and investment uncertainty delivered by the second Trump administration have hit various governments, not least of which US allies, hard.

[Opinion] SA policy status quo harming black people the most

After 30 years of democracy, the vast majority of black South Africans continue to languish in poverty at much higher rates than other racial groups.

[Letter] Taxpayers under pressure

The National Treasury estimates that 235,542 taxpayers contribute 33.1% of total individual income tax. Of 7,888,615 individual taxpayers, 569,351 contribute 49.1% of all personal income tax (2023/24 financial year).

[Opinion] AGOA, going, gone

In a 13 February executive order (EO), ‘Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs’,US president Donald Trump puts forth a wide-ranging review and proposed change to how the US administers tariffs – and how the US administration views global trade as well as bodies such as the World Trade Organisation.

[Letter] State’s mixed messages

Government targets private capital, but introduces laws that make SA a riskier place to invest

[News] South Africa’s G20 Presidency: What it means for global trade and investment

SOUTH AFRICA’s G20 Presidency provides the host country with numerous diplomatic, economic, and cultural opportunities. With a main summit (22-23 November in Johannesburg) preceded by numerous side conferences and engagements focused on a range of areas and sectors, South Africa’s G20 Presidency offers multiple chances to make a positive impact on international diplomatic and business counterparts.

[Opinion] The fly in the MTBPS ointment

Why criticism of SA’s G20 presidency misses the real problem

[Opinion] ‘Back to basics’ future puts G20 at risk

[News] South Africa G20 Pragmatism vs Politics at the Summit

[Opinion] When will SA own its mistakes and stop blaming everything else?

[Letter] Organised crime has its teeth in SA

[Rapport] Selfs SA se pêlle in Washington raak nou keelvol

[Opinion] SA’s emerging demographic crisis: dependency on the rise

[Letter] ANC policies impede SA-US trade

[News] South Africa’s deindustrialisation dilemma

[Letter] Trump tariff a chance to reform SA’s trade policies

[Opinion] ANC heads for 30% in local government elections

[Opinion] The ongoing tariff dance

[Letter] Probe blow to Mchunu’s ambitions

[News] South Africa’s G20 Presidency: What It Means for Global Trade & Investment

[Opinion] CHRIS HATTINGH: Is SA serious about growth?

[Opinion] SA dithers while global trade shifts

[News] US tariffs 2025: 31% blow to South African exports

[Opinion] SA’s once-in-a-century opportunity

[News] Is South Africa open for business? Labour law challenges

[Letter] Messy, but democratic

[Opinion] SA’s Goldilocks moment?

[Letter] Cash injections won’t save Transnet

[Opinion] A view from Washington, DC

[News] South Africa’s geopolitical dance

[Opinion] SA policy status quo harming black people the most

[Letter] Taxpayers under pressure

[Opinion] AGOA, going, gone

[Letter] State’s mixed messages

[News] South Africa’s G20 Presidency: What it means for global trade and investment

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