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2 weeks ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
The African National Congress (ANC) has given itself five days to strike a new deal after its main coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), failed to vote for South Africa‘s national budget. As the coalition reset clock ticks, five political figures could shape the outcome. Get full access to The Africa Report
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3 weeks ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
The future of South Africa’s coalition Government of National Unity (GNU) is still “speculative” and efforts are continuing from “all sides” to try to find solutions, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau tells The Africa Report. Get full access to The Africa Report
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3 weeks ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
After South Africa‘s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget proposal, including a 2% VAT hike, was rejected at the 11th hour on 12 March, President Cyril Ramaphosa and others agreed that it gave the Government of National Unity a second chance to show that the coalition could reach an agreement. Here are the possible alignment scenarios as the clock ticks down. Get full access to The Africa Report
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4 weeks ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
Relations between South Africa and the United States are at their lowest ebb in decades. The Trump administration has expelled Pretoria’s ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, after accusing him of hostility toward both America and the president. US aid has been suspended, including vital HIV/AIDS support, while trade benefits under AGOA are under threat. Africa Insights Wake up to the essential with the Editor's picks.
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
While South Africans have long held differing views on US influence, President Donald Trump has intensified these divisions. In his weekly newsletter on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged citizens to “reject the politics of divisiveness that is emerging in many parts of the world”. The starkest contrasts are found on the political fringes, as mainstream parties largely oppose Trump’s policies. Get full access to The Africa Report
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
Although stepping up efforts to avoid unnecessary aggravation in the country’s relations with the US, South Africa won’t go as far as reviewing its international relations policy, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said at a briefing on Thursday. Magwenya said President Cyril Ramaphosa wanted to reset relations, particularly on the trade front. This comes days after South Africa’s ambassador for the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was declared a persona non grata by the Trump administration.
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
While President Cyril Ramaphosa this week still insisted that Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion by the Trump administration was a “hiccup” and that South Africa is “continuing to engage” with the US, there have been reports that the Department of International Relations is identifying a replacement.
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
Soldiers from Southern Africa, trapped for over a month in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, will be coming home, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in a communique after a special heads of state summit on Thursday. “[The] summit terminated the Mandate of SAMIDRC and directed the commencement of a phased withdrawal of SAMIDRC troops from the DRC,” according to the communique from the summit, which lasted under two hours.
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
Friction over South Africa’s refusal to condemn Russia for invading Ukraine in February 2022 was one of the reasons for the seven-year gap between this week’s European Union–South Africa summit in Cape Town and the 2018 summit in Brussels. Delays and foraysThe Covid-19 pandemic, elections and South Africa’s transition to a coalition government contributed to the delay, but US President Donald Trump‘s inauguration in January has introduced a new urgency to EU-South Africa relations.
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1 month ago | 
theafricareport.com | Carien Du Plessis |in Johannesburg
Late last year, Johannesburg secured the bid to host the November G20 summit, which will bring heads of state from the bloc, guest nations, and their entourages to South Africa. But during a recent visit, President Cyril Ramaphosa described Johannesburg as “torn apart”, calling it a shadow of its former self. Get full access to The Africa Report
