SCORE: B From surviving an internal plot inside the ANC to oust him at the party’s national general council (NGC), standing up to incecant attacks from United States bully Donald Trump and staying firm on Israel over its genocide in Gaza, President Cyril Ramaphosa appears to hace cemented his position and may become the first […]
SCORE: D Deputy President Paulus Shipokosa Mashatile, the man tipped to replace President Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president in 2027 and possibly the next leader of South Africa, is a hard worker and a smart politician. Unfortunately, his career has always been dodged by corruption allegations. Although the allegations remain untested and Mashatile has maintained […]
Agricultural exports and rural employment highlight Steenhuisen’s tenure, alongside ongoing disease and regulatory pressures
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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 In 2024,Velenkosini Hlabisa quickly brought both structure and order to South Africa’s most dysfunctional tier of government, reading them the riot act over unpaid Eskom and water board debts. In 2025, the minister continued his progress with the department by first extending community work programme contracts for older workers in February, reversing an […]
Nobuhle Nkabane | SCORE: E Buti Manamela | SCORE: C Before her dismissal Nkabane’s 2025 tenure was a case of ambitious intentions undermined by poor execution, lack of transparency and perceived political patronage. On paper, she advanced reasonable reforms: capital injections, board appointments at NSFAS/skills bodies, and a plan for skills-driven post-school education. But in […]
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 […]
SCORE: F The year 2025 was a baptism of fire for Motshekga, one of the worst performing ministers in the government of national unity. After South African soldiers were sent on an ill-fated deployment in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and returned home with bloody noses, humiliated by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who took over Goma, […]
SCORE: E With 105 of South Africa’s 144 municipal water service authorities classified as failing – representing nearly three-quarters of the country’s water governance structures – Majodina’s tenure faces critical scrutiny. Municipal debt to water boards has surged to R25 billion, threatening operational viability. Criminal networks — the “water mafia” — exploit illegal connections, extortion […]
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 […]
Schreiber has cleared a backlog of over 300 000 visa applications, led large-scale anti-corruption within the department and launched the Home Affairs Citizenship Reinstatement Portal
The new minister inherits partial successes in biodiversity, climate adaptation and renewable energy from his predecessors but faces ongoing environmental crises, governance weaknesses and public mistrust
SCORE: C Malatsi moved into the communications and digital technologies portfolio with a reputation for discipline, clarity and political steadiness, qualities it desperately needed after years of turbulence, leadership churn and stalled reforms. His first year has largely been about restoring credibility, stabilising entities and nudging long-delayed policy shifts forward. On the positive side, Malatsi […]
SCORE: C The Department of Health earns a C this year. Unlike previous years of total decline, the department hit major targets, particularly in its massive HIV and TB programs. By ensuring 96% of people with HIV know their status, South Africa remains a global leader in epidemic control. However, this grade reflects a department […]
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: 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: 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: D Under De Lille’s leadership, international and domestic tourism increased during the 2024–25 financial year, boosting South Africa’s economic and employment prospects. The department also maintained unqualified audit outcomes on financial and non-financial indicators. She also successfully led South Africa’s tourism promotion at international events, including ITB Berlin 2025, raising the country’s profile and […]
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: C In 2025, Groenewald stepped down from his leadership role in the Freedom Front Plus to focus on his ministerial duties. In June, parliament’s portfolio committee on correctional services warned of a projected R1.4 billion overspend for the department for the 2024/25 fiscal year. It flagged food costs, a high number of inmates, rising […]
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 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: 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 […]
SCORE: C Minister for Public Service and Administration Mzamo Buthelezi has stepped up efforts to reform South Africa’s public service, placing a strong focus on fighting corruption and improving performance. Under his leadership, the government intensified ethics training, lifestyle audits, disciplinary oversight and protections for whistleblowers. Buthelezi also released a Presidential Productivity Report that exposed […]