The South African government is hamstrung by the country’s fiscal and economic situation. And short of ideas about how to get out of it.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, introduces the country’s new Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, in Cape Town.
Phando Jikelo/African News Agency(ANA)
Meeting the challenges from the opposition will strengthen the ANC’s dominance. How well its new leadership copes will become clearer over the next few months.
President Cyril Ramaphosa during the late night announcement of his new cabinet.
Elmond Jiyane, GCIS
President Jacob Zuma shouldn’t be allowed to detract from the momentum that Cyril Ramaphosa, the new president of the ruling ANC, has started to build.
There are claims President Jacob Zuma may push through irresponsible proposals relating to higher education funding.
Reuters
The imposition of the fee free higher education proposal on South Africa’s National Treasury without due consideration represents an escalation of the state capture led by President Jacob Zuma.
Finance minister Pravin Gordhan, his deputy Mcebisi Jonas, and Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago.
GCIS
The decision to give former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe, a seat in the country’s parliament comes with the potential to cause great economic pain for South Africa.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan before delivering his 2016 budget address to parliament in February. Will he deliver another?
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
What lies behind the decision to criminally charge South Africa’s finance minister?
South Africa’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa (L) and President Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa has described the ANC government as being at war with itself.
EPA/Mike Hutchings
South Africa has reached a critical point. If patronage politicians win the battle within the ruling ANC and complete the capture of the state, the country will slip from stagnation into the abyss.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is a hunted man.
Mujahid Safodien/EPA
A row between South Africa’s finance minister and the country’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations has prompted academics to pen an open letter asking President Jacob Zuma to intervene.
Finance minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget speech has put the ANC government’s plan to fight poverty and reduce inequality back in the spotlight.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
Finance minister Pravin Gordhan would need President Zuma’s undivided support to drive bold economic reforms. But, signs suggest that he does not have such support and is undermined by the president.
South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is president of the country as well as the African National Congress. He is under pressure on all fronts.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
It is unlikely President Zuma will announce a structural changes in his State of the Nation Address. This, despite education being in dire need of fundamental restructuring and an economy in decline.
Supporters of South Africa’s governing ANC at the party’s 104 anniversary celebration in Rustenburg.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
For more than 100 years South Africa’s ruling ANC and its leaders have often been able to speak to and for the nation with resonance and moral authority, their words matching actions. Not any more.
South Africa’s governing African National Congress celebrates its 104th anniversary this year, ahead of crucial local government elections.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
Pundits will closely watch President Jacob Zuma’s January 8 statement to see what he and the governing ANC consider to be priorities for the country in 2016.
Jacob Zuma’s bungling over the finance minister position has left him politically vulnerable.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
South African President Jacob Zuma has lost control of his party and his administration. It is time citizens came together and gave the old man a helping hand to exit.
Pravin Gordhan is considered an independent mind. His return as South Africa’s finance minister will boost investor confidence.
EPA/Dai Kurokawa
South Africa has had three finance ministers in four days. President Jacob Zuma will live with the fall-out for the rest of his term. Markets have a long-term memory and won’t easily forget.
South African academics are extremely worried about President Jacob Zuma’s axing of the finance minister.
Reuters/Stefanie Loos
Academics from several South African universities say that in the current world economy decisions about any country’s finance minister cannot be made “lightly or capriciously”.
Chair of the Board of Trustees and Head of African Futures & Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies. Extraordinary Professor in the Centre of Human Rights, University of Pretoria