Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

State Of The Nation Address 2018

latest news & developments
‘It is generally agreed that in order for our economy to grow at a rate that will lead to job creation on a meaningful scale, we need to significantly increase levels of investment’. (GCIS)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

READ IN FULL: President Ramaphosa’s announcement of the economic stimulus package

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the highly-anticipated economic stimulus and recovery plan on Friday

  • Staff Reporter
11 min read
Retired judge Robert Nugent has urged reform in the Judicial Service Commission, emphasising the need to prioritise judicial independence
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Ramaphosa names retired Judge Robert Nugent to head SARS inquiry

The inquiry is expected to consider the adequacy and legality of steps that SARS has taken to address revenue shortfalls over the past two years

  • Jan Cronje
1 min read
The announcement by Minister of Education Angie Motshekga that history will be made compulsory from grades 10 to 12 by 2022 has opened up many debates
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA

Motshekga calls urgent meeting to discuss poor infrastructure

The education minister has convened an urgent meeting to plot the eradication of unsafe toilets following the death of five-year-old ​Lumka Mkhethwa

  • Luke Feltham
1 min read
ANC 54TH NATIONAL CONVENTION

Letters to the Editor March 2 to 8

In an open letter to the president, a reader asks that refugees are given a lending hand

  • Letters
4 min read
Precious resource: Agriculture makes up only 2.5% of South Africa’s gross domestic product
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

What the lay of the land may be

Whatever route the ANC goes, a balance has to be found between property rights and restitution

  • Wandile Sihlobo
  • Sifiso Ntombela
10 min read
Hungry for land: The Economic Freedom Fighters championed the call for the invasion of land. Now the ANC has committed itself to land expropriation.
ANC 54TH NATIONAL CONVENTION

Land reform a podium pipe dream

The ANC’s renewed commitment to land expropriation may be more political posturing

  • Lucas Ledwaba
4 min read
‘Some women continue to be abused and dehumanised when they report the abuse to the police and the court. They are treated with contempt and the severity of their case is belittled
BODY LANGUAGE

Ask women about civil servants

Abused women ought to be helped by authorities but this doesn’t always happen

  • Jennilee Peremore
4 min read
Saturday and Sunday will now be reserved for the convening of a bi-annual lekgotla where alliance partners will also attend to plan for the year ahead.
ANC

Masses are singing from the pulse of President Ramaphosa’s Sona

Ramaphosa has brought back a sense of belonging to the vast majority of our people, who were despondent and felt dejected.

  • Staff Reporter
5 min read
Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan
BUDGET 2018

Comeback king: Gordhan willing to serve in Cabinet for another year

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan may return to his previous position amidst speculation of a cabinet reshuffle

  • Mashadi Kekana
2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an “extraordinary coronavirus budget” on Tuesday. (Reuters)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

New dawn, old problem: Our democratic system

The new president’s plans for a better future must include ending party proportional representation so that citizens can have a say and drive change

  • Lawrence Hamilton
8 min read
“There was a very strong call that government must act speedily to implement free higher education for young people from poor and working class background
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Leave Cabinet decisions to the president, Pandor tells opposition

The minister told opposition parties that decisions regarding the assembly of new cabinet should be left to the president of the republic

  • Paul Herman
  • Staff Reporter
4 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic stimulus package shows that he and his political allies are in charge of economic policy. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BUDGET 2018

How will Ramaphosa deal with the public sector wage fight?

The salaries of public servants will test the president’s resolve in finding a solution to the government’s spending problem

  • Lynley Donnelly
3 min read
Implicated: Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s impeccably tailored suit could not conceal the narrative of a rotten state
BUDGET SPEECH

​Prepare for a tough budget — Malusi Gigaba

The president has asked the finance ministry to reduce spending and increase revenue to fill a R50-billion revenue gap

  • Govan Whittles
2 min read
Godlimpi warned that even though current polls showed the ANC winning 48% of the vote next year with Cyril Ramaphosa as president, that figure was not guaranteed if the governing party could not resolve the electricity crunch. (Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Land reform takes centre stage at #SonaDebate

President Cyril Ramaphosa repeated the ANC’s intention to expropriate land without compensation in his State of the Nation address on Friday night.

  • Govan Whittles
3 min read
The credit rating is a reflection of how risky an investment South Africa is
BUDGET SPEECH

​Can the budget save South Africa from further credit rating downgrades?

“Should politics continue to improve, then credit ratings agencies might be willing to postpone a downgrade and the rand could hold onto its gains"

  • Staff Reporter
2 min read