Nkabane may have misled parliament on Seta panel: portfolio committee
The Sunday Times earlier this month reported the process of appointing the panel was never concluded.
A high-level government source told the publication at the time there had been suspicion that the panel never existed.
'She would have to come out straight and say there was no panel, because she can't say to the president, 'I can't tell you',' said the source, who cannot be named.
'She has come to the end of the runway with her games. She is not forthcoming, to the point of wanting to play hide-and-seek with parliament.
'The president can't have conceivably appointed her and given her to understand she [does not need] to be transparent with the public and parliament. The president's government knows it is constitutionally bound to be transparent.'
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Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Mail & Guardian
The state must listen and talk to the people
When it comes to civic engagement in South Africa, considerable attention is paid to protest action. Democratic participation is meant to influence decision-making processes. But its effect on local governance appears limited. One contributing factor may be how the government interacts with citizens. For example, planning and budget documents presented by the local government are often lengthy, use technical terminology and are released shortly before public consultations. As a result, the timeframe available for citizens to read, interpret and respond to them is constrained, which restricts the potential for informed input into planning, budgeting, and service delivery. From a data perspective, there is an overall decline in civic engagement. But what does this suggest, what modes of civic interaction are declining and what does this tell us about political behaviour in South Africa? Civic engagement encompasses multiple political and civic activities. The type of civic interaction that most South Africans participate in may give insight into how they are choosing to engage with the state. The 2025 Afrobarometer Discussions on civic participation often centre on elections and protest action. Elections are usually recognised as the bridge between citizens and politicians, and a Figure 1 compares civic engagement in South Africa to the regional averages. The figure indicates that national responses for attending a community meeting, joining others to raise an issue, contacting a councillor and participating in a demonstration or protest are higher than the regional averages. This suggests participation is deeply rooted in movement-based, consultative, and mobilised forms of civic engagement. This trend is based in the country's history of struggle-based activism, where civic engagement was often Cumulatively, targeting councillors, community meetings and participating in demonstrations shows that Responses also show that contacting an MP is the least common type of civic engagement (8%), while having voted in the 2019 election (61%) and discussing politics (57%) are the most common types of civic engagement. Afrobarometer data also suggests that, compared with other types of leaders, contact with local government officials is reported more frequently. One possible explanation is their accessibility, or that their Local governments are tasked with delivering basic services, enforcing the law and maintaining infrastructure. Given these responsibilities, citizen perceptions of political performance and institutional effectiveness may be shaped by their assessments of local government actors. Worth noting, from a regional perspective, is that South Africa has one of the highest levels of contact with a councillor (39%). Zimbabwe has an average of 42%, whereas the regional average stands at 28%. This highlights a proactive stance in seeking to address community issues and grievances through formal channels. Among the 39 African countries surveyed, about one in 10 (9%) of respondents say that they participated in a protest or demonstration, making it the least common mode of engagement. Alongside Cabo Verde, protest action is the third highest in South Africa (15%). When it comes to civic engagement in South Africa, considerable attention is paid to protest action. But data suggests that respondents who say they have taken part in demonstrations have decreased over the years. In 2017-18 and 2021-23 attendance in demonstrations or protests decreased from 27% to 14%. The 2015 Furthermore, the report found that those who regularly communicate with their councillors tend to believe that their voices are being acknowledged. These findings further highlight the importance of establishing transparent and responsive communication channels between the government and its constituents. It suggests that when citizens perceive their concerns are being recognised and addressed by their representatives, they are more likely to adopt non-violent methods of engagement. As depicted in Figure 2, long-term trends in civic and political engagement in South Africa are complex. While there has been a decline across most participation indicators, contact with councillors stands out as an exception, showing a steady recognition of them as accessible points of contact for community concerns, especially compared with other tiers of government. The data also shows two notable shifts from 2020, coinciding with the Covid-19 pandemic. First, contact with councillors continued to increase post-2020, possibly because of the need for assistance during the lockdown and service delivery disruptions. Second, the decline in protests is probably a result of movement restrictions. The July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng were essentially anomalous, but nonetheless important. Despite these variations, active forms of participation, such as attending community meetings, protests, community mobilisation, and discussing politics, remain the most prevalent modes of engagement in South Africa. But the overall decline since 2018 is concerning and may reflect public frustration, political fatigue or a perceived ineffectiveness of participatory mechanisms. Last, the consistently low levels of direct contact with political leaders point to a persistent gap in state-society relations. This suggests that citizens do not view political elites as responsive or approachable, further entrenching disillusionment with formal political institutions. The trends in civic engagement point to a persistent disconnect between how citizens interact with the state and how the state engages with citizens. Citizens participate through bottom-up, localised and often informal channels, rather than formalised, institutional mechanisms. In contrast, the state prioritises institutionalised, top-down models of participation, often through structured consultations, national dialogues, public hearings or representative forums that may feel distant or inaccessible to many. This divergence limits meaningful democratic engagement, because citizens prefer participatory modalities. As democracy continues to evolve, the state must recognise and integrate community-driven forms of participation. Rather than relying on protests to be heard or treating grassroots efforts as oppositional, leadership should be people-centred and responsive to lived realities. In a context of deep inequality and institutional mistrust, state responses must be grounded in everyday experiences — flexible to new forms of engagement, and inclusive enough to bridge the widening gap between state and society. Dr Mmabatho Mongae is a lead data analyst at Good Governance Africa.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Celebrating Women's Day: Parliament reflects on the legacy of the 1956 Women's March
National Women's Day is celebrated annually on August 9 to commemorate the 1956 march of 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the apartheid regime's pass laws . Image: Independent Media Archives In commemoration of Women's Day, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane pay tribute to the resilience and leadership of South African women. Their honour acknowledges the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and dignity. This year marks the 69th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, when 20,000 women of all races defied the apartheid regime's oppressive pass laws. This was a defining moment in the history of South Africa's liberation struggle. The month of August is commonly known as South Africa Women's Month. This year, Women's Day coincides with South Africa preparing to host the first P20 Speakers' Summit. The P20 is a high-level gathering of Speakers and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries. Women's leadership, economic empowerment and gender-responsive budgeting are at the centre of the African agenda for the P20 Summit. The Presiding Officers said as part of the build-up to the global summit, Parliament canvassed the views of African women legislators through consultations held in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand on July 25. 'The consultations emphasised the need for African parliaments to strengthen collaboration in tackling gender-based violence, advancing reproductive health rights and ensuring equal access to education and economic opportunities. These recommendations will inform South Africa's input to the P20 and signal a united African voice advocating for gender equality as a cornerstone of the G20's policy outcomes,' the Presiding Officers said. Parliament will convene the P20 Women's Parliament in August. This will provide a dedicated platform to elevate the voices of women, particularly young women and girls from marginalised communities. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The forum will foster inclusive dialogue between public representatives, civil society, academia, and government to surface gender-based concerns and shape Parliament's contribution to the G20 agenda through a gender-responsive lens. 'This is a critical opportunity to influence the global discourse and ensure that women's voices actively shape decisions that affect their lives,' the Presiding Officers said. Parliament said while South Africa has made notable progress in entrenching the rights of women through constitutional guarantees, progressive legislation and policies grounded in equality, the lived reality for many women across the country, and the African continent, remains starkly different. African women, in particular, continue to face deep-rooted inequalities, including poverty, economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and systemic sexism. It said Parliament remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing these disparities. Through its legislative and oversight work, it continues to prioritise gender equality and the advancement of women's rights. 'We are committed to creating inclusive platforms that enable women to articulate their challenges, influence policymaking and make meaningful contributions to national and global development. 'As we observe this important day, we must remember the countless women and girls who have lost their lives to gender-based violence – often at the hands of those meant to protect them. We condemn these heinous acts in the strongest possible terms. Let us be reminded that gender equality is not just a women's issue, but a collective societal responsibility and essential for peace, justice, prosperity and sustainable development,' the Presiding Officers said. IOL
The Herald
2 days ago
- The Herald
National Dialogue must inform policy, not only be a tool for venting: NPC
With ructions among participants only a week before the convention to usher in the planned National Dialogue, the advisory panel of experts within the National Planning Commission (NPC) has called for a focus on the goals of the process. 'We are conscious of the importance of ensuring implementation and hope the issues and concerns raised during the National Dialogue will be taken seriously enough to inform policy changes where necessary,' the entity said on Friday. The National Dialogue is slated as a process to bring together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, women, youth and community voices to find common ground and new solutions for the country. It was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa as an opportunity to forge a new social compact that drives progress towards 'Vision 2030" and to lay the foundation for the next national development plan (NDP). The NPC, created in 2010, is the custodian of the NDP and advises government on the country's long-term plan to eliminate poverty, unemployment, and inequality by 2030. The agency said the National Dialogue comes amid a lack of faith and confidence in institutions of authority. 'In such a climate of mounting public cynicism, the process must honestly acknowledge the failings of the state, political parties and powerful individuals. It must also recognise the pain, suffering and sacrifices of those who are brave enough to express them at these gatherings. 'For the National Dialogue to be a success, leaders across the spectrum will need to demonstrate levels of maturity, altruism and commitment and act in the best interest of the people of South Africa to rebuild trust and ensure accountability.' The NPC said there also needs to be clarity and transparency concerning the roles and responsibilities of the roleplayers involved, and for citizens to be empowered with accurate and timely information to encourage their participation. Action points should flow from the process, the NPC said. 'We welcome the initiative and the opportunity to support the National Dialogue, [however] the NPC wants to caution against the process turning into what is colloquially referred to as a 'talk shop', a national catharsis and emotional ventilation with limited practical outcomes. 'While the need for change is easy to recognise, the effort that accompanies the change is much more difficult.' The statement came as the legacy foundations of former political leaders pulled out of the preparatory task team for the August 15 convention, citing concerns about government control over what should be a citizen-led initiative and funding of the processes. TimesLIVE
