SCORE: B+ Finance minister Godongwana’s leadership this year faced its first test during the tabling of the national budget. For the first time, the budget had to be re-tabled over a dispute about a proposed VAT increase, initiated by parties in the government of national unity. The minister was required to strike a balance between […]
SCORE: A When tensions between South Africa and the United States erupted over claims made in Washington about the killing of white farmers, Lamola stepped up. He was tasked with smoothing relations to ensure the two countries could continue to benefit from mutual trade, despite ongoing strain caused by US policy decisions, including cuts to […]
SCORE: C+ Tau has had a tough year navigating the global turmoil triggered by US tariffs on several countries. The 30% on South Africa’s exports is certainly not a reflection of the minister’s personal performance. But the reality is that under his watch, not only has the country been slapped with the punitive tariff, it […]
SCORE: F- Mchunu’s legacy has taken a heavy knock from allegations of collusion with criminal syndicates which were made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi which resulted in two inquiries — the Madlanga Commission chaired by retired judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga and parliament’s police ad hoc committee. Several months into office Mchunu disbanded the Kwazulu-Natal based […]
SCORE: D Mantashe’s tenure in the mining and petroleum sectors has been defined by a mix of early reforms and structural challenges. He oversaw the initial rollout of the long-delayed mining cadastral system, which aims to improve transparency, prevent licence overlaps and reduce permit backlogs, but full rollout is only expected by the end of […]
SCORE: B+ A remarkable milestone under Ramokgopa’s leadership is an impressive and sustained electricity supply record, with over 196 consecutive days without loadshedding for the year 2025 and over 400 days of intermittent power supply. The department’s Generation Recovery Plan aimed at improving energy availability and reliability has resulted in a 71% average in the […]
SCORE: D It hasn’t been exactly a sterling year for Kubayi, particularly the tail end of it. One fumble that will stick in many people’s minds is how she recently suggested that Marius van der Merwe, a witness killed after testifying at the Madlanga inquiry into corruption in the criminal justice system, left himself exposed […]
SCORE: C As Cyril Ramaphosa’s most trusted ally and the go-to woman if you want his ear, Nthavheni is loved by some for protecting the president from undue external and internal pressure, but also loathed for sweeping his skeletons under the carpet. Since he became president of the country, Ramaphosa has refused to meet with […]
SCORE: C Under Gwarube, the department has seen some real and visible gains this year: record matric pass rates, a renewed strategic focus on early childhood and foundational learning, progress on sanitation and safety and stronger national oversight on finances. The implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which Gwarube’s Democratic Alliance party is […]
SCORE: C Nzimande’s first full year leading the ministry of science, technology and innovation has been defined by institutional housekeeping and strategic repositioning rather than headline-grabbing breakthroughs. The renaming of the department of science, technology and innovation, restoring “technology” to the title, signalled his commitment to sharpening the department’s focus and aligning it with global […]