Making headlines: Ramaphosa lauds success of G20 Leaders’ Summit; DA refers Steenhuisen-George dispute to Federal Legal Commission; And, South Africa's G20 debt focus to be tested as US takes the chair

Making headlines: DBE proposes single national school calendar; Academic says South Africa should not hand over G20 presidency to the US; And, US considering sanctions against Nigeria

Making headlines: South African key rate lowered at first decision under new inflation target; Malusi Gigaba says stepping aside does not imply guilt on his side; And, DA protest outside Lesufi's office demanding accountability for Tembisa Hospital

Making headlines: South African consumer inflation quickens to 3.6% y/y in October; Motshekga to act against Navy Chief over ‘disingenuous comments’; And, Putin to meet Togo's president in the Kremlin

Making headlines: Motsepe says South Africa must curb crime to lure investors; DA threatens to release Q1 crime stats if Cachalia doesn’t; And, Africa experts call for greater oversight of ratings agencies in G20 report

Daily Podcast - November 17, 2025
November 17, 2025.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the news podcast.
Making headlines: Ramaphosa touts progress as G20 faces boycotts, scepticism; Car makers, Numsa sign three-year wage deal; and Ethiopia says three dead in Marburg virus outbreak
As South Africa hosts the G20 leadership summit this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa has positioned the moment as evidence of national progress. Yet the broader economic picture remains mixed, with many of the country's underlying structural problems persisting despite pockets of improvement.
Ramaphosa's upbeat public messaging has been somewhat undermined by the fact that the leaders from several of the world's leading economies have declined to attend the G20, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Argentinian President Javier Milei. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's attendance also remains uncertain.
Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said the developments are unfortunate, particularly as the US will be chairing the G20 next year. She said it also provides a stark illustration to the political leaders who will be attending of why the rules-based trading system needs to be protected for international prosperity.
The Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa have finally signed a wage agreement, following a protracted process that included nine rounds of negotiations and a declared deadlock.
The three-year deal allows for a 7% across-the-board wage increase in the first year, backdated to July 1, 2025, and a 5.5% increase in both years two and three.
Eligible employees will also receive a R12 500 once-off taxable gratuity and improved employee benefits, including increased transport and housing allowances, as well as enhanced short-time compensation.
Ameo chairperson Abey Kgotle said the agreement is a testament to the maturity of the social partnership under the National Bargaining Forum.
Three people confirmed to have contracted the Marburg virus have died, while another three deaths are suspected to be linked to the highly contagious haemorrhagic disease, Ethiopia's health ministry has said.
The announcement follows Ethiopia's confirmation of an outbreak of Marburg, a highly-contagious and haemorrhagic infection in a town in the country's Southern Ethiopia Region on Friday, with at least nice cases identified.
The Ethiopian Public Health Institute's reference laboratory has confirmed that three people have died from the virus. An additional three fatalities are being investigated for a possible connection to the disease.
The ministry did not give a new overall number of cases but said 129 people who were in contact with the confirmed cases had been isolated and are being monitored.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today
Don't forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

Making headlines: Ramaphosa names new environment, deputy trade ministers; Macpherson claims breakthrough against construction mafia as arrests, convictions rise; And, Tanzania president names new prime minister after disputed election

Making headlines: Godongwana outlines plans for shifting spending focus towards infrastructure; Eskom’s borrowing costs fall as investors warm to turnaround; And, Senegal president and ruling party clash over leadership post

Making headlines: South Africa's official unemployment rate dips in third quarter; Outa, Fines SA welcome AARTO implementation delay; And, Ethiopia to be approved as host for COP32 climate summit in 2027

Making headlines: Environment Minister Dion George set to lose his post; Eskom celebrates Koeberg Unit 2’s 40 years of commercial operation; And, Guinea coup leader Doumbouya cleared to run for president

Making headlines: Mchunu hands over electronic devices to Saps; Ramokgopa chides coal industry for silence in energy debate; And, Tanzania charges 98 people with treason over election protests

Making headlines: MKP suspends John Hlophe, reverses Des van Rooyen’s appointment; ANC celebrates by-election victories in Mpumalanga, Limpopo; And, South Africa to investigate how 17 citizens were lured into fighting in Ukraine

Daily Podcast - November 05, 2025.
For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Polity Daily News Podcast.
Making headlines:
High Court judgment requires Nersa to give more time for public comment on municipal tariff applications
NA passes Bill to implement shared border control zones with neighbouring States
And, Ghana inflation slows for 10th straight month in October
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa is assessing the full impact of a High Court of South Africa judgment, which found its municipal tariff applications process was inadequate and invalid.
Civil society organisation AfriForum had brought the application, which challenged the adequacy of Nersa's consultation process.
The High Court also imposed specific timelines on Nersa processes in considering municipal tariff applications, the regulator says.
The proposed timelines include Nersa communicating the Eskom bulk tariffs to municipalities by January 31 each year and that municipalities must submit their tariff applications by March 30 each year.
The proposed timelines also require Nersa to finalise all municipal tariff applications by May 5 each year.
The National Assembly has passed the One Stop Border Post Bill, with strong support from the Democratic Alliance, with the aim of streamlining cross-border trade and improving State capability at the country's points of entry.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs recommended that the NA adopt the Bill without amendments and it will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.
Parliament explained that the Bill aims to establish a legal framework for creating shared border posts between South Africa and its neighbouring countries.
"It provides for the development of common control zones where officials from both countries can enforce their respective national laws in a coordinated and efficient manner. These zones are intended to improve the facilitation of trade and the movement of people, while strengthening security and cooperation at ports of entry," it said.
Consumer inflation in Ghana slowed for the 10th consecutive month, falling to 8.0% year on year in October from 9.4% in September - the lowest level since June 2021, the statistics service said today.
Government statistician Alhassan Iddrisu told a press conference that food prices were driving the overall decline in inflation.
"Ghana's disinflation process is firmly under way. Price stability is returning, and key drivers that once fuelled double-digit inflation are now losing momentum," Iddrisu said.
The gold-, oil- and cocoa-producing nation in West Africa is emerging from its most severe economic crisis in decades.
Ghana's central bank now targets inflation of 8% with a margin of error of 2 percentage points either side.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today
Don't forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA

Making headlines: EFF rejects appointment of Moepya, Pillay as IEC Commissioners; Court interdicts Operation Dudula from intimidating, harassing foreign nationals; And, statistics agency says Morocco's unemployment rate drops to 13.1% in September

Making headlines: South African factory mood sours in October; AfriForum celebrates Nersa court case victory; And, Tanzania's president Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn into office

Making headlines: ANC says it couldn’t observe Tanzanian elections; Parly committee says court ruling on Luthuli’s death bittersweet victory; and, Tanzania government downplays violent protests, promises return to order

Making headlines: Three candidates approved to fill IEC commissioner vacancies; DA condemns Ramaphosa, Lamola’s ‘silence’ on Tanzania’s opposition leader imprisonment; And, Cameroon opposition leader rejects Biya win, vows resistance

Making headlines: Three candidates approved to fill IEC commissioner vacancies; DA condemns Ramaphosa, Lamola’s ‘silence’ on Tanzania’s opposition leader imprisonment; And, Cameroon opposition leader rejects Biya win, vows resistance

Making headlines:

DA takes aim at ANC with BEE billboard

Prevention at a systemic level required to tackle water mafias

And, African development banks set to expand lending as capital buffers rise,

Making headlines: Ramaphosa welcomes S Africa’s grey list exit; Moody’s upbeat on Johannesburg’s finances despite political woes; And, Cameroon's Biya declared vote winner, opposition reports gunfire