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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has financially backed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Sona. (GCIS)
BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Godongwana financially backs Ramaphosa’s tough talk on crime

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has signalled increased spending on peace and security in his budget speech from R268.2 billion in 2025/26 to R291.2 billion in 2028/29. The…

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
2 min read
From Left to right: Japhet Mathanda Ncube: Editor-in-Chief, Mail & Guardian, Angelo Fick: Director of Research, Auwal Socio- economic Research Institute (ASRI), Asanda Ngosheng: Political Analyst, Activist and Academic , Prof Christi van der Westhuizen: Professor of Sociology, University of Western Cape and Sanusha Naidu: Senior Research Associate, Institute for Global Dialogue
EMBASSY OF IRELAND IN SOUTH AFRICA

Analysts weigh Sona’s delivery challenge

At a Mail & Guardian post-Sona breakfast held in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and the Embassy of Ireland, analysts turned from the president’s reform agenda to…

  • Hasina Kathrada
6 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the state of the nation address. (GCIS)
ANC

In Sona, Ramaphosa signals shift from crisis management to consolidation

For the first time in several years, electricity did not dominate the president’s address

  • Hasina Kathrada
7 min read
In his 2026 State of the Nation Address, the president once again committed to economic revitalization. Photo: GCIS
ANC

Ramaphosa talks tough on gangs, corruption

The president said the South African National Defence Force would be deployed to support police in tackling gang violence and illegal mining

  • Hasina Kathrada
6 min read
EFF leader Julius Malema said the move signalled the president’s loss of confidence in the police. (@EFFSouthAfrica/X)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA JULIUS MALEMA

EFF welcomes Ramaphosa’s announcement to deploy the army in Gauteng and the Western Cape

Party leader Julius Malema said the move signalled the president’s loss of confidence in the police

  • Lunga Mzangwe
2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated solidarity with countries and territories experiencing conflict and occupation.. (GCIS)
BRICS

SA’s sovereignty is ‘not negotiable’, Ramaphosa says in Sona

In a pointed message to powerful nations, the president declared that South Africa’s sovereignty was “sacrosanct” and would not be compromised

  • Mandisa Makgakga
2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared South Africa’s foot-and-mouth disease outbreak a national disaster. (GCIS)
AGRICULTURE

Ramaphosa declares foot-and-mouth outbreak a national disaster

The president announced a mass vaccination drive of the country’s entire cattle herd as the government moves to limit economic damage, export bans and further losses to farmers

  • Sheree Bega
2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa. (GovernmentZA)
BAFANA ZEMBE

Artists call for urgent action at Sona 2026

Amid the crisis in South Africa’s creative sector, artists and film crews march to demand funding, spaces and government accountability before Sona 2026

  • Lesego Chepape
3 min read
BRAND SOUTH AFRICA

Brand South Africa 2025 STATE OF THE NATION BRAND REPORT

Brand South Africa, the official marketing and reputation management agency of South Africa, is pleased to announce the insights into the 2024-25 State of the Nation Brand…

  • Brand South Africa
3 min read
Ebrahim Rasool.
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES

South Africa’s presidency confirms ‘regrettable’ expulsion of ambassador to US Ebrahim Rasool

The move, which marks a further deterioration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, was announced by US secretary of state Marco Rubio in a post on X late on Friday

  • Stella Mapenzauswa
3 min read
The MK party has removed Mzwanele Manyi as its chief whip in the National Assembly, less than a year after his appointment.
ANC

‘Incompetent’ Mzwanele Manyi faces MK party revolt

Some members believe the chief whip is out of his depth, which has left the EFF’s Julius Malema dominating as the voice of the opposition

  • Lunga Mzangwe
8 min read
US President Donald Trump. (File photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
AFRIFORUM

Trump order cutting aid, offering sanctuary to Afrikaners is premised on factual inaccuracies, SA says

The department of international relations and cooperation said the order failed to recognise South Africa’s ‘profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid’

  • MG Reporter
4 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the state of the nation address. (GCIS)
CLIMATE CHANGE

Ramaphosa sticks to structural reform path, stands up to Washington

The president warned about nationalism and protectionism and said South Africa would not change its values or policies

  • Emsie Ferreira
7 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa. (GovernmentZA)
CLIMATE CHANGE

Ramaphosa sends defiant message to Washington in State of the Nation address

Without mentioning US President Donald Trump by name, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday sent a message to Washington in his State of the Nation address that South Africa will…

  • Emsie Ferreira
3 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Ziyaad Douglas)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Cyril’s five-year fix-it programme for Team GNU

Re-industrialisation, infrastructure development and cutting red tape are at the centre of the government’s plan to grow the economy

  • Paddy Harper
5 min read