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Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Eyewitness News
Minister Tau says SA diversifying and looking elsewhere to mitigate US trade tariffs
CAPE TOWN – Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Parks Tau, says South Africa is diversifying and looking elsewhere to mitigate the impact of the United States (US) trade tariffs. He said the tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration have already impacted the auto industry, with a 25% tariff on automobiles and parts coming into effect in April and May, respectively. In written Parliamentary replies to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs), Tau said the diversification would focus on countries that South Africa has trade agreements with, including some in South America. Tau said, while the US remains an important trading partner for South Africa, it accounted for just 7% of South African trade in 2024. He said around 40% of South Africa's trade is with Asian countries, 25% with European countries and 20% with other African nations. Tau said in February this year, the us 'imposed section 232 tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium on the basis that imports of these products threaten US national security'. He said government is now determined to strengthen partnerships in Africa to address business challenges and create a favourable environment for conducting business. According to Tau, the diversification focuses on countries that South Africa has trade agreements in place, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), African Continental Free Trade Area and the European Economic Partnership Agreement. The country also has a preferential trade agreement with the South American trade bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
IOL News
25-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Public service in Southern Africa: A New era of collaboration and accountability
South Africa Minister of Foreign Affairs Ronald Lamola (C) is seen during the joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community Ministers on the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict held in Harare, on March 17 2025. In Windhoek, delegates from ten Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states gathered for the SADC Public Service Commissions (PSCs) Forum, marking a pivotal moment for statecraft in the region. This forum, with participation from nations such as South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, underscores a pressing dedication to redefine the core of public administration across Southern Africa. The consensus is clear: the existing bureaucratic framework, characterised by inefficiency, patronage, and stagnation, must evolve into a contemporary, ethical, and development-oriented public service.A New Vision for Public ServantsProfessor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of South Africa's Public Service Commission, has articulated a bold and much-needed vision for a "new type of public servant." This reimagining calls for public servants to be more than mere functionaries; they must be active drivers of social transformation, characterised by their ethical conduct, technical proficiency, social consciousness, and development-oriented approach. This visionary perspective is long overdue. Challenges Undermining Governance Uneven public service delivery persists across the SADC region, marked by corruption, politicisation, a lack of accountability, and insufficient investment in human capital. Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that seven of the ten forum-participating countries score below 50 out of 100, signifying severe systemic governance challenges. For instance, public trust in Zimbabwe's government services remains critically low due to widespread mismanagement, particularly in vital sectors like health and education. Conversely, Mauritius, with a score of 53, exemplifies how ethical governance and a commitment to public service excellence can foster stability and sustainable advocacy for a revitalised public service is not mere theoretical discourse; it directly addresses systemic issues that have historically impeded progress. The Southern African region experiences some of the world's most severe rates of unemployment and inequality. South Africa, the continent's leading industrialised nation, for instance, reported a striking youth unemployment rate of 46,1% in Q1 2025, according to Stats SA. In such a climate, an efficient public service is not merely advantageous but is fundamental to economic revitalisation, equitable development, and maintaining democratic integrity. The Case for Regional Cooperation The upcoming forum in Windhoek offers a crucial opportunity to transcend the historical siloing of SADC states in civil service reform, fostering greater cross-border collaboration and policy harmonisation. Regional cooperation is pivotal for accelerating policy learning and consolidating limited institutional capacity. For example, Botswana's significant progress in digitising public services, notably its Integrated Public Service Portal, led to a 30% reduction in administrative delays in 2023. This success provides a scalable framework for nations such as Malawi and Lesotho, where digital integration in governance is still in its nascent strategies are essential for addressing cross-border challenges like migration, climate change, and transnational corruption. For example, Zambia and Zimbabwe frequently encounter coordination issues in the management of shared water resources and infrastructure projects within the Zambezi basin. Such inefficiencies could be resolved through a regional public service framework that prioritizes joint training, shared data platforms, and interoperable regulations. Building Capacity for the Future Fikeni's focus on a 'moral compass' is particularly relevant in a region plagued by widespread ethical failures within its civil service. However, ethics alone will not suffice. Tomorrow's public servant must also possess technical expertise and strategic foresight. As AI, climate resilience, and digital transformation reshape governance, traditional bureaucratic models are becoming achieve the African Union's Agenda 2063 and realise the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a digitally literate, policy-agile, and globally competitive public workforce is essential. The current skills gap is a critical concern: as of 2024, only 19% of public servants in SADC countries have received formal training in data analysis or e-governance, according to the African Capacity Building Foundation. Addressing this deficit is not merely an option; it is fundamental to Africa's prevent the Windhoek forum from being merely a ceremonial summit, its outcomes must incorporate concrete mechanisms. Firstly, a regional public service observatory should be created to monitor reforms, assess service delivery benchmarks, and release annual progress reports. Secondly, a common code of ethics, consistent with the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, ought to be implemented across SADC states. Thirdly, it is crucial to invest in regional public administration schools, emphasising ethical leadership, data governance, and policy Africa, with its rich resources and experience in complex governance reforms, can play a pivotal role. However, distributed leadership is key, with smaller states such as Mauritius and Botswana contributing their best practices and institutional models. The SADC PSCs forum arrives at a critical moment. Southern Africa faces increasing socio-economic challenges, making a capable, ethical, and forward-thinking public service an urgent and essential requirement. It is time for the region to prioritise investment in its governance personnel, rather than solely focusing on policy implementation. This is the only path to achieving a genuinely developmental state that serves its citizens instead of ruling over them. The discussions in Windhoek should not conclude the dialogue, but rather initiate a broader movement.
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
A coup? Here's what makes SA most vulnerable to attacks
The NSS stated that a disregard for the state's authority was growing, fuelled by the malicious use of communication platforms. A National Security Strategy (NSS) document published this week gives an overview of the greatest dangers posed to South Africa's stability. Threats of a possible coup d'état were raised by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni as the country still reels from allegations made by a senior police official. Neither Ntshavheni nor the NSS document elaborate on any specific groups which could carry out a coup, amplifying calls for the minister to furnish the nation with proof of her claims. SA 'remains stable' The redacted NSS document released on 15 July stated that domestically, the primary risks were those that undermined the state's functionality and the physical vulnerability of citizens. The report listed organised crime, gangsterism and illegal migration as breeding grounds of instability — all tied together with the consistent use of illegal firearms. 'Illegal migrants create 'no-go' areas in South Africa that violate the sovereignty of the country and undermine the authority of the state. 'The threat to socio-economic stability is caused by, among others, violent community protests as well as instability in the labour, transport and education sectors,' read the NSS. The NSS stated that a disregard for the state's authority was growing, fuelled by the malicious use of communication platforms. 'In order to destabilise the social and political situation in South Africa, inaccurate information is distributed, including deliberately false reports about the threat of terrorist acts,' read the document. However, it concluded that 'South Africa remains a stable country', despite the number of internal social ills. African and global threats Outside South Africa's borders, threats to the Southern African Development Community primarily stemmed from poverty. 'Poverty and underdevelopment are the overriding human security challenge. Violence and crime feature strongly in the region as both a cause and symptom of underdevelopment,' the NSS states. 'The level and extent of terrorism as an asymmetric threat is contingent on the extent to which major demographic, socio-economic, developmental and governance issues are addressed,' it explained. This leads to a continental spread that sees the 'expansion of ungoverned and ungovernable spaces, transnational militancy, organised crime and trafficking'. Globally, the digital age has removed the geographical limits of crimes, leaving nations open to international crime, terrorism, sabotage and trafficking networks. However, Deputy Minister of Defence Bantu Holomisa said on Thursday that coups were not discussed on social media. Holomisa was one of the last leaders to successfully stage a coup south of the Limpopo when he took control of the Transkei civilian government in December 1987 as chief of the Transkei Defence Force. 'We are not expecting conventional warfare in South Africa. The major threat I foresee is civil disobedience, where we are asked by the police to assist and protect them,' said Holomisa while conducting an oversight visit at 1 Military Hospital. Digital insurgency Digital communications have also been highlighted by a European body as a platform for plotting social unrest and insurgency. A study by the German Council for Foreign Relations (GCFR) states that insurgent groups were most likely to use multiple online platforms to mobilise. 'There is a playbook available to plan a coup based on digitally maximising on- and offline capabilities to amplify a cause and push for mobilisation,' states the GCFR. However, no group or sector of society has been identified as having the resources or organisational capacity to pose a threat to the South African government. This has led Ntshavheni's opponents to insist that the minister or the security cluster reveal the source of her coup claims. 'She must tell us who, what and where,' said uMkhonto weSizwe (MP) party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. 'She has already told the public, now she must give us details and stop politicking,' he concluded. NOW READ: 'A coup is not discussed on social media': Holomisa says no need to press panic buttons
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Minister Majodina calls for SADC unity to tackle Africa's R528 billion water investment gap
Minister of Water and Sanitation, Ms Pemmy Majodina, engages SADC counterparts in Harare to rally support for Africa's R528 billion annual water investment drive. The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, has successfully placed the upcoming Africa Water Investment Summit on the agenda of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 43rd Joint Meeting of Ministers responsible for Energy and Water. The meeting, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from July 3 to 4, brought together regional leaders to strengthen cooperation on critical water and energy issues. Minister Majodina, who attended the meeting alongside Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, used the platform to urge SADC ministers to unite behind the upcoming Africa Water Investment Summit, co-hosted by South Africa and the African Union-Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP). The summit will take place in Cape Town from August 13 to 15, 2025, within the context of South Africa's G20 Presidency Africa faces a staggering US$30 billion (approximately R528 billion) annual water investment gap, threatening the continent's economic growth and water security. The upcoming summit aims to mobilise financial commitments to close this gap and advance bankable water and sanitation infrastructure projects across Africa.
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Elon Musk's Starlink will have to wait for years – or find a way around B-BBEE laws ahead of G20
President Cyril Ramaphosa denied harbouring ideas of relaxing economic transformation laws to benefit tech billionaire Elon Musk after his recent visit to the US. In his recent weekly letter to the nation, Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to broad-based economic policies that are central to fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Image: Presidency Pretoria-born tech tycoon Elon Musk will have to wait for about two years before his Starlink satellite internet company can legally enter the South African market – a vital area for the service to operate optimally in the region. Starlink – already available in a number of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other countries on the continent – is reportedly aiming to launch its services in SA ahead of the G20 conference hosted by South Africa and opening in November. But the company still intends to bypass the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) law and its 30% previously disadvantaged individual ownership laws that Musk has labelled as 'racist', preferring instead to go the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme route, which on its own is not enough to be granted a licence. 'The wheels of government don't mill that fast,' said Paul Colmer, an executive committee member of the Wireless Access Providers' Association (WAPA), a non-profit wireless industry association established in 2006. Speaking to the Pretoria News on Wednesday about their 2025 WAPALOZA conference held in Muldersdrift near Johannesburg from June 23-25, Colmer estimated that it would take about two years for the Electronic Communications Act to be amended. He based this on a presentation by a legal practitioner who made a presentation at the conference. He said as things stood, to 'sidetrack' the B-BBEE requirements there would need to be a change in legislation, which is a 'long process'. There were other ways Starlink could speed up its entry into South Africa, including through partnering with local entities that already have the required B-BBEE status, but Musk and Starlink reportedly "really, really do not like the idea of middle-men". The company and its representatives have also been accused of using Musk's proximity to US President Donald Trump and members of his administration to expand across Africa and in other countries. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Colmer said Starlink, which has been 'overhyped' when there were other similar service providers to choose from, was discussed at their conference but was not the main topic. The key points of discussion included spectrum sharing – a major source of opportunities for the smaller local wireless internet service provider (WISP) following Icasa's recent legislation amendment – and artificial intelligence (AI). However, Colmer said his personal highlight was the technical presentations or regulatory discussions – it was the inspirational human stories of innovation and perseverance, especially that of Songezo Mhambi from the underserved Eastern Cape who spoke on "How I Built a WISP". He said Mhambi started with network switches on his bed because the roof was leaking everywhere else, literally sleeping with his network equipment. He fought to get bank funding, overcame incredible hurdles, and now he's expanding and creating employment. Today, Songezo is, among other things, founder and CEO at Mdaswifi, founder at Vice-Tech, a renowned tech entrepreneur and a 'digital evangelist'. Colmer said he wished he could clone Mhambi because people like him are the solution to getting everyone in South Africa connected. A representative from the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) spoke about the connectivity ecosystem, emphasising how different forms of wireless technology can complement rather than simply compete with each other. Various connectivity solutions – from cellular to wi-fi to satellite – each have unique strengths and weaknesses that can together create a robust network ecosystem able to reliably and economically serve communities across South Africa's diverse landscape. Describing the conference as a success and welcoming the 'pragmatic optimism' displayed, Colmer reiterated his view that Starlink was 'overhyped' and dismissed concerns that Musk's constellation was going to kill the smaller wireless connectivity operators. In his conference summary he said: 'Yes, Starlink is coming, but OneWeb is already legally available in South Africa. Amazon's Project Kuiper is on the way. The Chinese are building their own constellation. 'But here's what I think got lost in all the hype: Starlink isn't the WISP killer some people fear it is. It has real limitations – downloading certain apps is problematic, WhatsApp calling isn't ideal. It's going to be complementary rather than primary. In countries that initially moved from WISPs to Starlink, many have actually moved back to WISPs.'
