
South Africa: Why It Matters – The Crisis You're Not Hearing About
Hersov delivers a blunt indictment of the African National Congress (ANC), blaming the ruling party for skyrocketing crime, corruption, and targeted violence, including the well-documented murders of white farmers across the country. He warns of a country in freefall — where lawlessness, state-led land expropriation, and deep-seated political dysfunction threaten to collapse one of the continent's most important democracies.
Logan and Hersov discuss the international community's silence, the political betrayal of South Africans, and how former President Donald Trump's remarks briefly cast a necessary spotlight on the escalating farm attacks. Despite the grim realities, Hersov emphasizes that there is still opportunity to turn the country around — if bold leadership and global pressure align.
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Business Insider
14 hours ago
- Business Insider
Africa's richest country on track to extend GDP growth streak for third quarter
South Africa's economy likely grew for a third consecutive quarter, driven by rebounds in manufacturing and mining, though new U.S. tariffs threaten to derail momentum. Africa's largest economy, South Africa, likely saw 0.4% growth in Q2, driven by manufacturing and mining rebounds. Recent U.S.-imposed tariffs present challenges, potentially affecting the automotive and agricultural industries. Unemployment in South Africa reached 33.2%, one of the highest global rates, stressing the labour market. Africa's largest economy likely grew for a third consecutive quarter, driven by rebounds in manufacturing and mining, though new U.S. tariffs threaten to derail momentum. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg between Aug. 8 and 13 forecast a 0.4% expansion in the second quarter, up from 0.1% in the previous three months. Gains in mining were supported by demand-driven commodity price increases, according to Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG South Africa. The outlook darkened on Aug. 7 when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on several trading partners, including a 30% levy on South African exports, one of the steepest globally. Already burdened with one of the world's highest unemployment rates and sluggish growth, South Africa's fragile economy now faces fresh strain from newly imposed tariffs. The duties are expected to hit the automotive and agricultural sectors, potentially putting up to 30,000 jobs at risk, the trade department said. That shock could stall growth in the second half of the year and further strain the labour market, warned Jee-A Van Der Linde, senior economist at Oxford Economics. The jobless rate climbed to 33.2% in the second quarter, the highest in a year. Turning to China for a lifeline In response, South Africa is moving to offset the impact of Washington's 30% export tariffs by deepening trade ties with China. Under a new agreement, Beijing will initially import five varieties of South African stone fruit, a deal expected to unlock a lucrative entry into one of the world's fastest-growing consumer markets. Meanwhile, subdued inflation, hovering near the lower end of the central bank's 3% to 6% target for nine consecutive months, has given policymakers room to cut interest rates by a cumulative 75 basis points to 7% in 2025. The easing has supported a 0.9% rise in retail sales for the quarter, with further reductions possible later this year.


News24
a day ago
- News24
Minister defends SANDF chief; Ellis Park not sold out for Boks: Top 7 stories in 7 minutes
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Business Insider
a day ago
- Business Insider
South African general's unapproved visit to Iran may signal complex US relations
The move, which did not receive government backing, has drawn sharp criticism from members of South Africa's governing coalition, who described the visit as ' reckless grandstanding.' The row comes as South Africa navigates tense relations with the US, which has taken exception to the country's ties with Iran, Russia, and its strong affiliation with BRICS. According to Iranian media outlet WANA News Agency, Iran's Chief of Staff, Major General Mousavi, condemned what he called the crimes of the Israeli regime in the region—particularly genocide in Gaza—and praised South Africa's decision to file and pursue a genocide case against Israel at the International Criminal Court. General Maphwanya noted that the two countries shared common goals and always stood ' alongside the oppressed and defenceless people of the world, ' according to the Iranian publication Tehran Times. He also criticised Israel over the ongoing war in Gaza, reiterating support for the Palestinian people and telling officials his visit ' carries a political message ' from Ramaphosa's administration as per The BBC The South African government, however, has denied authorising these comments. According to the South African Defence Department, the general's statement was 'unfortunate,' while the Foreign Affairs Ministry said they ' do not represent the government's official foreign policy stance.' President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed that the president was unaware of the trip and had not sanctioned it. ' The visit was ill-advised and, more so, the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes,' Magwenya told reporters. The Democratic Alliance, a member of South Africa's governing coalition, called for General Maphwanya to be 'court-martialled.' The presidency also confirmed that President Ramaphosa intends to meet with the general to discuss the implications of what he called an 'ill-advised' trip. South Africa's waning U.S. relations South Africa's ties with Iran could likely be one of the issues that influenced President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs, even though they were officially justified by trade imbalances. Under Trump, US trade policy increasingly blended economic and geopolitical concerns, and Pretoria's growing engagement with Tehran through diplomatic and military discussions raised Washington's alarm. These interactions likely reinforced the perception that South Africa was aligning with a country at odds with key US strategic interests. While the visit has not yet directly altered bilateral relations, analysts warn that it could complicate South Africa's already delicate relationship with the United States, which has long expressed concerns over Pretoria's ties with Tehran and other contentious international partnerships. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement that it had noted recent media reports on comments attributed to General Rudzani Maphwanya but stressed that the formulation and implementation of the country's foreign policy is the responsibility of the Presidency, supported by DIRCO. ' Consequently, any statements made by an individual or a department other than those mandated with foreign policy should not be misconstrued as the official position of the South African government. The remarks attributed to General Maphwanya, therefore, do not reflect the government's official foreign policy stance, ' it said.