South Africa’s new government is making heads explode

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with the newly elected deputy speaker of Parliament, Annelie Lotriet, as John Steenhuisen, the leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, looks on

That giant whooshing sound you may have heard coming from Africa’s southern tip was a collective sigh of relief. South Africa’s top two political parties — the ruling African National Congress and the longtime opposition Democratic Alliance — managed to put aside their differences to form a national unity government and reelect Cyril Ramaphosa as president

By Keith B. Richburg

Global Opinions contributing columnist. 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa shakes hands with the newly elected deputy speaker of Parliament, Annelie Lotriet, as John Steenhuisen, the leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance, looks on. (Nic Bothma/Reuters)

Listen

That giant whooshing sound you may have heard coming from Africa’s southern tip was a collective sigh of relief. South Africa’s top two political parties — the ruling African National Congress and the longtime opposition Democratic Alliance — managed to put aside their differences to form a national unity government and reelect Cyril Ramaphosa as president.

Sign up for the Prompt 2024 newsletter for opinions on the biggest questions in politics

And that popping noise? That would have been the sound of heads exploding among the country’s radical socialists, populists and ethno-nationalists. They can’t countenance the idea of the continent’s most storied Black liberation movement sharing power with the party known as the representative of wealthy White suburbia.

Such a governing alliance seemed unlikely before the May 29 election, which left the ANC shorn of its parliamentary majority and needing a coalition partner to stay in power. But this alliance of the sensible center should allow South Africa to tackle its myriad problems, attract foreign investment and reach its potential as the continent’s economic engine. Stocks and the local currency, the rand, were buoyed by the news.

This governing coalition also avoided what many South Africans feared would be the “nightmare scenario”: an alliance between the ANC and extremists on the fringes. They include former ANC youth leader and firebrand Julius Malema, a red beret-wearing socialist who advocates sweeping nationalization of industry and confiscation of White farmland, as well as corrupt former president Jacob Zuma, whose tenure accelerated South Africa’s downward slide.

Zuma’s new Zulu-centric party, uMkhonto weSizwe, or MK, finished third, mostly on the strength of its support from Zuma’s KwaZulu-Natal heartland. Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters party came in a distant fourth. The two have joined in an opposition alliance with other leftist parties calling themselves the Progressive Caucus. Zuma blasted what he called the “White-led unholy alliance” between the DA and the ANC.

Zuma and Malema can still make trouble in Parliament, but for now they are consigned to the fringes. It must be particularly galling to Malema, a notorious race-baiter who likes to chant “kill the Boer,” meaning kill White farmers, to now sit powerless on the opposition benches while a White woman, Annelie Lotriet of the Democratic Alliance, serves as deputy speaker of Parliament.

You know what they say about karma.

Presidential Inauguration 2024

 WATCH #PresidentialInauguration2024 | In the presence of everyone assembled here, and in full realisation of the high calling I assume as President of the Republic of South Africa, I, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South Africa, and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the Constitution and all other law of the Republic; and I solemnly and sincerely promise that I will always—

- Promote all that will advance the Republic, and oppose all that may harm it;

- Protect and promote the rights of all South Africans;

- Discharge my duties with all my strength and talents to the best of my

knowledge and ability and true to the dictates of my conscience;

- Do justice to all; and

- Devote myself to the well-being of the Republic and all of its people. 

So help me God.

 Here are all the newly-elected provincial Premiers in SA

The South African

Let’s take a look at the nine provincial Premiers for the seventh administration.

THESE ARE THE NEWLY-ELECTED PROVINCIAL PREMIERS

Newly-inducted provincial legislature representatives voted them in between the 13th and 14th of June.

Gauteng: Panyaza Lesufi (ANC)
KwaZulu-Natal: Thami Ntuli (IFP)
Western Cape: Alan Winde (DA)
Northern Cape: Dr. Zamani Saul (ANC)
Limpopo: Dr. Phophi Ramathuba (ANC)
Eastern Cape: Oscar Mabuyane (ANC)
North West: Lazarus Mokgosi (ANC)
Mpumalanga: Mandla Ndlovu (ANC)
Free State: Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae (ANC)

The people re-elected President Ramaphosa as the President of South Africa

Additionally, ANC’s Angela Thokozile “Thoko” Didiza has assumed the role of Speaker of the National Assembly (Parliament), with Dr Annelie Lotriet from the Democratic Alliance (DA) elected as Deputy Speaker.

The office of the Presidency has gazetted the approved salary hikes for ministers, deputy ministers, members of parliament and other legislators in South Africa.

How much do you think they earn?

The salaries will kick in retroactively from 1 April 2024, and reflect a 2.5% increase—well below inflation.

According to the presidency, the total annual package includes the following elements:

A basic salary component equal to 60% of the total, which constitutes the pensionable salary.

R120,000 per annum is included in the basic salary, equating to a monthly allowance of R10,000, which is excluded from income and, therefore, does not appear on the IRP 5 certificate.

An employer’s pension benefit contribution equal to 22.5% of pensionable salary.

A flexible portion for the remaining amount of the total.

These elements apply to all the salaries listed below.

HERE IS A BREAKDOWN OF THEIR SALARIES:

The full salary hikes can be seen below:

Deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers 2024/25

Position (Pay level 1, effective from 1 April) 2023/24 2024/25

Deputy President R3 087 467 R3 164 654

Minister R2 624 329 R2 689 937

Deputy Minister R2 161 190 R2 215 220

Members of the National Assembly and NCOP 2022/23

Position (Pay level 1-2, effective from 1 April) 2023/24 2024/25

Speaker: NA R3 078 467 R3 164 654

Chair: NCOP R3 078 467 R3 164 654

Deputy Speaker: NA R2 161 190 R2 215 220

Deputy Speaker: NCOP R2 161 190 R2 215 220

House Chair R2 057 045 R2 108 472

Chief Whip: Majority Party R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Chief Whip: NCOP R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Parliamentary Counsellor: President R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Parliamentary Counsellor: Deputy President R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Leader of Opposition R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Committee Chair R1 634 452 R1 675 314

Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party R1 471 064 R1 507 841

Chief Whip: Largest Minority Party R1 471 064 R1 507 841

Leader of Minority Party R1 471 064 R1 507 841

Whip R1 365 074 R1 399 201

Member of National Assembly R1 243 450 R1 274 536

Permanent Delegate of the NCOP R1 243 450 R1 274 536

HOW MUCH DO THE PREMIERS, MEC’S AND MEMBERS OF PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES EARN?

Premiers, MECs and Members of Provincial Legislatures

Position (Pay level 1-3, effective from 1 April) 2023/24 2024/25

Premier R2 470 010 R2 531 760

Member of Executive Council R2 161 190 R2 215 220

Speaker R2 161 190 R2 215 220

Deputy Speaker R1 748 874 R1 792 595

Chief Whip: Majority Party R1 634 452 R1 675 314

Committee Chair R1 471 067 R1 507 844

Leader of Opposition R1 471 067 R1 507 844

Deputy Committee Chair R1 384 012 R1 418 612

Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party R1 384 012 R1 418 612

Chief Whip: Largest Minority Party R1 384 012 R1 418 612

Leader of Minority Party R1 384 012 R1 418 612

Parliamentary Counsellor to King/Queen R1 243 450 R1 274 536

Whip R1 243 450 R1 274 536

Member of Provincial Legislature R1 203 473 R1 233 560

 Ramaphosa re-elected SA President

sabcnews.com

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as head of state in South Africa.

Earlier, DA leader John Steenhuisen said that the party will now co-govern South Africa in the spirit of unity and collaboration. Steenhuisen’s comments came after his announcement today, that the party would be joining the government of national unity alongside the IFP and ANC.

Part of the agreement reached by the government of national unity is that the DA will also enter provincial government in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Proceedings in the National Assembly: The election of the President of South Africa was not a walk over. The Progressive Caucus comprising parties such as the EFF, PAC, UDM, UAT, ATM and Al Jama-Ah put forward their candidate to contest the State Presidency in the newly constituted National Assembly in the form of EFF leader Julius Malema.

City Power has issued a list of suburbs that could face load reductions if their usage continues to test the network's limits

 Residents in these areas could be hit with load reduction and load shedding at the same time

The Citizen

City Power has issued a list of suburbs that could face load reductions if their usage continues to test the network's limits

City Power has warned that Joburg residents could face power cuts if their usage is not curbed during winter.

Several high-density suburbs across the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) have been identified as high-users that could destabilise the grid.

Should the suburbs not curb their usage, City Power says it will be forced to implement load reduction in said areas.

Loadshedding is currently suspended but in the eventuality that it makes a return this winter, City Power confirmed the affected suburbs will face dual electricity constraints. 

“If reinstated, load reduction will continue parallel to load shedding in these areas if energy consumption is not reduced,” revealed City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

These peak usage levels occurred between four and 10 in the mornings and evenings. 

List of high-usage suburbs

The high-density suburbs needing to lower their usage are:

1. Alexandra
2. Freedom Park
3. Hospital Hill
4. Kliptown
5. Klipfontein
6. Lawley
7. Matholesville
8. Mayibuye
9. Mountain View
10. Naturena
11. Pennyville
12. Pimville Zone 9
13. Precast
14. Princess
15. Slovo
16. Thembelihle
17. Tshepisong
18. Vlakfontein

Should infrastructure fail, it would delay repairs and could have a ripple effect on healthcare services, schools and small businesses, among others.

Suburbs warned two weeks ago

The suburbs received the same warning on 23 May.

The cold snap called for the message to be repeated.

“Although City Power has taken steps to mitigate the impact of the extreme wintry weather on its network, customer cooperation is essential to maintaining a stable and uninterrupted power supply.”

 Ramaphosa to announce ANC’s coalition option tonight, but allies unhappy with ANC-DA option

independentonsaturday.co.za

In the aftermath of the 2024 elections where the ANC garnered only 40% of the vote, losing its total grip on power, the party is grappling with coalition options to form a stable government. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to announce the coalition decision soon, amidst intense internal debates and division within the party's National Executive Committee (NEC).

A special NEC meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg is addressing coalition possibilities, with some members advocating for an ANC-DA alliance for the country's stability. However, this proposal has faced stiff resistance from within the ANC, including prominent members like Lindiwe Sisulu, and from alliance partners like the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu). These groups argue that partnering with the DA betrays the legacy of the Struggle's heroes.

The ANC's NEC remains deeply divided, prolonging the decision-making process on the coalition, reflecting the high stakes and contentious nature of this political crossroads.

Internship in South Africa

 Internship in South Africa 2024 list

1. NedBank: Graduate Internships 2024. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/10139

2. East Coast Radio: Internships 2024 / 2025. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/10187

3. Dis-Chem: Dispensary Support Learnerships 2024. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/8799

4. Foschini Group: Graduate Internships 2024 / 2025. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/10186

5. TotalEnergies: Graduate Internships 2024. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/9161

6. Toyota South Africa: Bursaries 2024. https://www.graduates24.com/jobs/viewjob/10184

 Zimbabweans Must Stay in SA – They’re Vital for Our Economy: DA’s Helen Zille Urges Regularisation

iharare.com

Helen Zille, the Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance (DA), has sparked a buzz on social media after a video of her voicing her opposition to the expulsion of Zimbabweans holding Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) emerged on social media.

DA Chair Zille Advocates for Regularizing Status of Zimbabweans in South Africa

In an old video footage, Helen Zille contended that Zimbabweans should have their stay in South Africa regularised due to their significant contributions to the country’s economy.

Zille’s comments come amid increasing debates on immigration policies in South Africa. She stressed that the South African government should provide illegal immigrants with the opportunity to regularise their status, highlighting the potential economic benefits of such a policy.

“Many Zimbabweans in South Africa are highly skilled and contribute immensely to our economy,” Zille stated.

Zille Opposes Revoking Zimbabwean Permits, Calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

She argued that they can’t just take away the ZEP permit from them. She revealed that this is not something that they support or believe in.

Helen Zille pointed out that an inclusive approach towards immigration could attract skilled foreign workers and entrepreneurs, bolstering economic growth.

Zille cautioned against populist rhetoric, arguing that resolving the immigration issue is a complex and time-consuming process that requires a comprehensive, long-term solution. She emphasized that there is a need for proper laws, proper border patrols and the need to build state capacity without corruption.

When asked if they are going to kick out Zimbabweans, she said that they are not going to go around rounding up people like concentration centres. She emphasized that they have to fix the system first.

Helen Zille stated that addressing immigration effectively necessitates thoughtful policies rather than reactionary measures.

Helen Zille’s Stance on Zimbabwean Immigrants Divides Public Opinion

Helen Zille’s remarks have sparked a flurry of diverse reactions on social media. Her approach has been widely welcomed by Zimbabweans, who see it as a positive step towards stability and recognition of their contributions.

However, many South Africans have expressed opposition, arguing that Zille’s stance effectively supports an open border policy.

 ANC will talk, but not to MKP

By:independentonsaturday.co.zaJun 3, 2024

Durban — As political parties in KwaZulu-Natal gear up for horse trading, the ANC says it would be impossible to go into a coalition government with the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which it accused of disrespecting institutions of government.

ANC spokesperson Mafika Mndebele told the Sunday Tribune at the provincial results centre in Durban on Saturday that there was no love lost between them and the MKP.

“We are not going to talk with anyone who wants to disrespect institutions of government, unfortunately. We’d rather be in an opposition bench than be part of that.

“Before we went into the elections, people of Umkhonto weSizwe were already saying that the elections were going to be rigged,” Mndebele said.

He was referring to an incident that happened in Durban where people believed to be MKP members held IEC officials who were transporting ballot papers hostage as they accused them of rigging the elections.

“They said the ANC will rig the elections, [but] we demonstrated to the country that we are willing to accept the will of the people.

“But now they are surprisingly saying ‘no it was the DA who rigged the elections’ and they are already disputing the entire results,” he said.

Mndebele said the ANC national executive committee would meet on Sunday (today) to discuss coalition talks with its counterparts.

Mndebele said it was clear that the MKP was not the party to sit down and talk with “because foremost in our minds is to respect the people, respect the institutions of government”.

“If MK wants to form a coalition with the ANC, there are things that they must do better, but for now I can tell you, they are not doing things in an expectable manner, in a standard required,” said Mndebele.

However, he said the ANC would be in discussion with any party, including the DA and IFP, who adhered to its standards.

“What we need to do now as the leadership moving forward is to ensure that we respond to the needs of the people and the demands of our people and that is what we are committing ourselves to.

“There is a high possibility for the ANC to form part of a ruling coalition because we have heard the message from the voters and that requires us now to then discuss with other political parties,” said Mndebele.

Mndebele said people did not come out in large numbers to vote for the ANC so the province would be hung.

He said voters voted in protest against the lack of service delivery.

“There is no one who has won the elections in KwaZulu-Natal but what the ANC accepts is the fact that there is a protest, there is a lot of dissatisfaction among our people,” he said.

He said the outcome of the elections “shocked us” and that the ANC accepted the outcome of the elections.

He expressed confidence that the majority of people in the province still loved the ANC, but they used their vote to express dissatisfaction.

“People are saying ‘guys, there have been allegations of corruption. We have heard your message of renewal but we have not seen tougher actions, tougher action must be done’.

“People are saying we have seen our country being transformed in the past 30 years but there has now been complacency and lack of services, for example, people in our strong base such as Umlazi did not have water and they had the right to protest,” he said.

The MKP spokesperson, Ndaba Gcwabaza, said although the MKP was yet to meet and decide on which party it would consider for the coalition, the party was looking at partnering with black parties.

“There are enough black organisations that we think we can talk to and agree with.

“We are not angry with the ANC at all, we just want to pursue what the MKP wants to do guided by the mandate that we got from the people,” said Gcwabaza.

A political analyst from the University of Western Cape, Bheki Mngomezulu, cautioned the MKP about being vindictive against the ANC.

“If it becomes vindictive then the change will get worse and if it becomes embracing and reconciliatory then the change will be for the best,” he said.

Ronaldo makes big announcement

 Ronaldo makes big announcement

Cristiano Ronaldo ended the record-breaking season with Al Nassr by recalling his personal achievements, saying his team will make a stronger comeback.

Sharing a number of feats he achieved during the season, Ronaldo said: “Play, learn, grow, repeat. Thank you all for your support this season. We will come back even stronger.

Ronaldo, 39, had a bittersweet season with Al Nassr. However, his team, for the first time in history, won the Arab Club Champions Cup.

The Portuguese footballer said that he was also able to smash some records with everyone’s help as he managed to score 50 goals in 51 games.

Not only that, the legendary player also received a Saudi Pro League’s top scorer award. “Only possible with the help of my teammates and staff,” he expressed.

Recalling that Al Nassr fell twice in penalty shootout against Al Hilal in the Saudi King’s Cup, Ronaldo vowed that his team will come back stronger in the next season.

Al Nassr faced a 5-4 defeat from Al Hilal in the King’s Cup final on Friday in Jeddah.

“Thank you all for your love and support. Now its time to focus on the Euro and give everything I have for my country,” wrote the star player.

Power Outages on the Horizon? Overloaded Transformers Raise Concerns

 Overloaded transformers – will load shedding return soon?

Eskom has urged consumers to reduce electricity usage due to transformers overloading in cold weather, especially in Gauteng and Soweto. Residents are advised to switch off geysers, unused lights, and non-essential appliances, and use alternative heating methods like blankets and hot water bottles instead of heaters.

This warning comes after Eskom dismissed rumors of load shedding resuming post-elections. Despite this reassurance, South Africans remain skeptical, particularly after Nersa approved guidelines for load shedding up to Stage 16 earlier this year. Vally Padayachee from the NRS Association emphasized that while reaching Stage 16 is unlikely, the guidelines are precautionary to prevent grid collapse.

The revised load shedding code aims to improve grid stability and customer confidence by integrating stages 1 to 16, enhancing control over load shedding decisions, and encouraging energy reduction among customers. It also includes compliance and reporting rules, and advice on using smart meters to mitigate load shedding effects.