SCORE: B- Macpherson tackled the construction mafia in 2024. Since June 2024, 40 non-performing contractors have been blacklisted from doing business with the department. Macpherson also suspended funding under the Expanded Public Works Programme to the Free State municipality of Matjhabeng following allegations of inflated salaries paid to politically connected individuals — pending a full […]
SCORE: E It’s fair to say that Simelane has struggled to come out from under the heavy cloud of corruption allegations against her linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. Earlier this year, the Democratic Alliance also opened a criminal case accusing Simelane of defrauding Eskom of more than R700 000 through inflated billing while […]
SCORE: C- McKenzie entered his second year at the helm of the department with bold statements and ambitious rhetoric, but the follow‑through has been inconsistent and often overshadowed by optics rather than outcomes. On the positive side, he reaffirmed his commitment to school‑level sport and grassroots cultural programmes, reiterating that taxpayer funds should focus on […]
SCORE: D Nyhontso inherited a backlog of just over 5 700 land claims from 1998 and a further 130 000 that were lodged in 2014 with the ministry, which was paired with agriculture up until May 2024. In January, he said declining budgets meant that he could not set a targeted date to settle all outstanding land […]
SCORE: E Despite her efforts to make the department a more proactive facilitator of job creation, Meth still faces an unemployment rate above 30% at the end of 2025. The unemployment rate rose to 33.2% in the second quarter but dropped to 31.9% in the third quarter of 2025, which means employment increased by approximately […]
SCORE: E Tolashe’s 2025 has been marked by a combination of policy initiatives and ongoing controversy. On the policy front, she prioritised efforts to root out fraud and corruption within the South African Social Security Agency, introducing biometric enrolment and targeted investigations aimed at protecting public funds and ensuring grants reach legitimate beneficiaries. She also […]
SCORE: C Under Ndabeni-Abrahams, the department this year outlined an ambitious agenda focused on expanding funding, supporting new economic sectors such as the ocean economy, and formalising informal businesses. In its first quarterly performance and financial report for the 2025/26 financial year, the department achieved 82% of its planned targets, meeting 27 of 33 targets […]
SCORE: E The department of transport gets an E because its leadership has decided to manage chaos rather than regulate a crisis. The department might point to some wins like the turnaround of Prasa with the rail agency achieving its first clean audit in nine years and nearly doubling its passenger trips to 77 million. […]
SCORE: D The department has hardly made strides in addressing the national gender-based violence and femicide crisis besides awareness campaigns and public statements condemning each violent case as it occurs. As the “custodian of strategic leadership, advocacy, and coordination to mainstream the socio-economic empowerment of women, youth and persons with disabilities” the department has often […]
SCORE: D Ramokgopa has maintained a relatively low public profile, aside from criticism from organised labour. Unions accused the minister of bypassing public service regulations by reinstating a senior official facing corruption allegations without following due process, an allegation that has drawn scrutiny of her leadership. Despite the controversy, Ramokgopa has played a central role […]