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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Can China save South Africa from Donald Trump?
SOUTH AFRICA is a country with a dark past and a frustrating present. In such a society, to represent the future is a glorious thing. For many South Africans, China holds the keys to a better tomorrow. To its admirers, China represents a timely alternative to a West that is turning inwards, cutting aid and tightening border controls. If America imposes 30% tariffs on South Africa on August 1st, as it says it will, their country has options, they say. China long ago overtook America as South Africa's largest trading partner, with two-way trade growing 25-fold this century. A Chinese maker of electric cars, BYD, is said to be scouting for South African factory sites. Public opinion is marked by racial divides. Asked by the Social Research Foundation, a think-tank, whether Russia and China provide more investment and jobs than America and the EU, 59% of black South Africans agreed, but only 34% of whites. Geopolitics inspires more caution. Asked whether South Africa should pursue anti-Western foreign policies aligned with China, Iran and Russia, 41% of black respondents and 12% of whites said yes. A narrow majority of all said no. In Johannesburg boardrooms and Cape Town cafés where politicians gossip and scheme, there is agreement about China's importance and alarm at lopsided trade. South Africa exports mainly raw materials and minerals to China while importing manufactured and capital goods, running a trade deficit of $9.7bn in 2023. Diplomatically, South Africa has moved away from a tradition of non-aligned pragmatism. It now often backs Chinese positions in the BRICS, the G20, the UN and other forums. But centrist politicians and business leaders reject the notion, heard on the left of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), that closer alignment with China avoids the need to mend fences with the West. South Africa's relations with America, notably, are at their worst since apartheid ended. President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have threatened sanctions for some invented crimes, starting with what Mr Trump falsely claims is a genocidal campaign, egged on by South African officials, to kill white farmers and take their land. But real disputes have soured relations, too. These touch on everything from South Africa's sponsorship of genocide charges against Israel at the International Court of Justice, to its commercial and diplomatic ties with Russia and Iran. Relations with Europe have also been frosty in recent years, says a Western envoy, though the EU is currently wooing South Africa as a swing state in the global south. In his capacity as agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen sees 'huge opportunity for South Africa in China', with farmers eager to sell citrus fruit, wine and nuts to Chinese city-dwellers. But as the leader of the Democratic Alliance, a business-friendly party in coalition with the ANC, Mr Steenhuisen says: 'Those who think we can say goodbye to the West and look at China haven't checked the numbers.' He notes that 75% of foreign investment to South Africa is from America, Britain and the EU, which will be hard to replace 'in the short and medium term'. Morris Mthombeni, dean of the University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business Science, calls it 'naive' to think that South Africa can afford to lose its trade with the West. China buys large volumes of commodities, but 'in terms of diversity of trade, the West is more important. Trade with China and with the US are not substitutable.' A researcher at the China-Global South Project, Cobus van Staden, sees ideological affinity guiding some ANC politicians. As veterans of a liberation movement with Marxist roots, they admire China's Communist Party for combining economic growth with central planning and a big state-owned sector. 'The problem is that China builds that on top of a hugely competent technocracy, which isn't the case in South Africa,' he notes. Modern-day Chinese party cadres are more entrepreneurial than South African bureaucrats. 'The line you hear from Chinese diplomats is they would like to do more with South Africa, but they find it over-regulated. They're frustrated at the number of hoops they have to jump through,' reports Mr van Staden. For that matter, it is common to hear South Africans frustrated at the reluctance of Chinese firms to transfer technologies and high-value skills when they open factories in South Africa, or to promote Africans to senior positions. In his embassy in Pretoria, its design a nod to grey-walled Chinese courtyard mansions, China's ambassador, Wu Peng, denies that his government imposes any 'artificial technical barriers' to technology transfers by companies. On the contrary, he says, China encourages firms to bring capital, technology and skilled personnel to South Africa, for instance in such fields as automobiles, batteries, renewable energy and pharmaceuticals. Yet conditions must be ripe. 'You cannot reach industrialisation in one day. You need your economic structure to be more competitive,' advises the ambassador. China's model of modernisation holds 'strong appeal' for many African countries, Mr Wu avers. But China 'never, ever' lectures African governments about the best path to take. China: not a trump card against Trump South Africa's dysfunction and red tape (eg, rules requiring ownership stakes for non-whites) harm it. Because electricity is so expensive and unreliable, it is profitable to mine chromium ore in South Africa and ship it to China for smelting, laments Songezo Zibi, the head of a small centrist party, Rise Mzansi. He describes China's current relationship with his country as 'unhelpfully extractive', urging South Africa to seek deeper, more sustainable ties with both China and the West. Bluntly, there is no magic China solution. Hard reforms are needed, as well as balanced foreign relations. Otherwise, whether the future is Chinese or not, South Africa will be left behind. Subscribers to The Economist can sign up to our Opinion newsletter, which brings together the best of our leaders, columns, guest essays and reader correspondence.
Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
ActionSA says it won't invite 'unnecessary instability' to Tshwane Municipality with regards to ANC's bid to remove city manager
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA said it won't invite "unnecessary instability" to the Tshwane Municipality when asked if it will support the African National Congress's (ANC) push to remove the city manager. The ANC in Tshwane has launched a public campaign to remove Johan Mettler, claiming there were discrepancies with his appointment as city manager. ActionSA held a media briefing on Tuesday on its ongoing participation within the ANC-led multiparty coalition government in Tshwane. ActionSA member and Tshwane mayor, Nasiphi Moya, said the city was engaging the provincial and national COGTA departments around the possible "non-compliance" of the city's senior managers. "This issue of non-compliance we're talking about for these section 56 managers, it's an issue of the constitution of the panel. The regulation says you must have one councillor (on the panel) but in all these interviews, and I'm talking about interviews that happened in 2022/2023, there were two councillors that were part of the panel." ActionSA national chairperson, Michael Beaumont, said the party believed in the separation between political and administrative issues in government. "As a party, we have ventilated our issue on the matter. It is a matter, and particularly in light of our view that we should not invite unnecessary instability in a city that's starting to move forward for the first time in a long time."
The South African
4 hours ago
- Business
- The South African
Paul Mashatile's R28.9 million Constantia home raises eyebrows
Parliament has released the 2025 register listing the financial interests and other benefits of the current Members of Parliament (MPs). Due to the nature of their jobs, MPs are required to disclose financial interests, such as shares and other financial interests in companies and other corporate entities; remunerated employment or work outside of Parliament; directorships and partnerships; consultancies and retainerships; sponsorships; gifts and hospitality as well as benefits and interest free loans. In addition, they are required to disclose travel; ownership in land and property; pensions; rented property income generating assets; and trusts. In fact, there are 13 different categories. The register is extensive and broken down per political party . For the curious, it's interesting to note what gifts in particular they have received and what property MPs own. By way of an example, let's take a closer look at Deputy President Paul Mashatile (real name Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile). Paul Mashatile is one of 183 ANC MPs to feature on the register. As soon as the register was made public, eagle-eyed South Africans were quick to notice he declared a 4 000 square metre Constantia, Cape Town mansion worth a reported R28.9 million, which is registered under his son-in-law Nceba Nonkwelo's company as one of three 'residential' properties. The Hawks are investigating the source of the funds used for the purchase. Nothing to disclose Nothing to disclose Nothing to disclose Nothing to disclose Nothing to disclose Description Value Source Portrait of Deputy President Estimate R3 000 National Youth Development Agency HILIA designed box:silver Omani (Wildlife ofRussia) made in 2022,Manufacturer: TISSO –The collection consist ofthree sets dedicated toanimals, birds and fishthat are mainly found onthe territory of the Russian Federation Estimate R2 000 Russia Prime Minister:Mikhail Mishustin, duringthe Deputy President working visit in Russia PYCCKNECAMOLIBETBI (sets oftwo saucers and teacups).Tea sets: four cups,one small kettle and four saucers Estimate R1 500-R2 000 Russia Prime Minister:Mikhail Mishustin, duringthe Deputy President working visit in Russia Backpack bag (black andgrey in color with writtenHarambee on the back)Hoodie Jersey Bennie Estimate R700 Harambee YouthEmployment Accelerator: CEO – Kasthuri Soni. RT Mirco PhoneThelema The Mint 2021CabernetSauvignon Estate Wineand Lindor double chocolate Estimated R1 000 China council for thepromotion of international trade (CCPIT) Japan Bottle of Wine and Small grey bowl Estimate R2 000 Ambassador of Japanand Takeshi Iwaya,Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hibiki Suntory WhiskyBottle, Edo Glass forWhiskyIsuzu light-duty truck (Toydisplay), N Series, and Decor Pot Estimate R2 000 Working Visit in Japan The Taberer Avontuur Stellenbosch Wine Estimate R500 Ahmed Kathrada legacy fundraising breakfast Black pot for décor Estimate R1 500 People's Republic of China, H.E GAO Yunlong Silver Elephants Statue display Estimate R2 000 The Minister of ExternalAffairs New Delhi, India Nothing to disclose Nothing to disclose Description of property Area where property is located Size of the property in square metres Residential family home Constantia, Western Cape 4 000 square metres Residential family home Waterfall, Midrand Gauteng 9 000 square metres Residential Kelvin, Johannesburg Gauteng 3 000 square metres Source of the pension Public / Private GEPF Public Nothing to declare Description of income generating asset Nature of the income Old Mutual Unit Trust Interest generated on account Nothing to declare Declaring such interests enhances transparency and strengthens public trust and confidence in parliamentary processes and decision-making. Last Friday, the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests adopted the 2025 Register of Members' Interests per item 12 of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members' Interests for National Assembly and Permanent Council Members. The 2025 register is the second of the seventh Parliament following the 2024 General Elections. 'As per convention following the adoption, the committee resolved to release the register to enable access to the public section of the register. The new code adopted by the sixth Parliament established the submission of interests using the prescribed electronic form, which is aimed at streamlining declarations and making the process seamless and quick. 'The adoption of the electronic declaration submission form was a strategic decision in line with the move to ensure a paperless Parliament. Also, to ensure seamless submission, the office of the Registrar availed staff to support and assist Members of Parliament with their online submissions,' Parliament said. Item 12 (7) of the Code is clear that a Member must disclose his/her registrable interests in the first quarter of the financial year. 'The code promotes a culture of openness and accountability, and the release of the register is a bold step in building public trust and confidence. Furthermore, by ensuring accountability of public representatives, the release ensures credibility of the oversight work over the executive,' Parliament said. As per item 12 (1) of the Code, the Register consists of both a public and confidential section. The public section of the register is now available to be perused by the public to ensure accountability. 'The Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests further communicates that the 2025 disclosure process had a 100% compliance by the due date of all Members of Parliament. No Member of Parliament submitted late. The committee commends this milestone.' The full public section of the register can be accessed here: A full report will be published in the Parliament's Announcements, Tabling's and Committee Reports. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Star
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Parliament forms Ad Hoc Committee to investigate serious allegations by KZN police commissioner
Mayibongwe Maqhina | Published 5 days ago The National Assembly on Wednesday night unanimously agreed to form an Ad Hoc Committee tasked with investigating the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This decision comes after the adoption of a report from the portfolio committees on Police and Justice and Constitutional Development, which were requested to consider the appropriate approach to deal with the allegations. ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli announced that the 11-member committee will consist of four members from the ANC, two each from the DA and the MK Party, one member from the EFF, and two representatives to be recommended by other parties. Ntuli said the committee will report to the National Assembly by not later than October 31. He said the committee's terms of reference included t he alleged unlawful decision by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team, t he alleged unlawful removal of 121 case dockets from the Political Killings Task Team on the direction of Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and t he alleged moratorium by Mchunu on filling vacancies within the SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit. Others are t he nature and implications of the relationship between SAPS senior leadership and certain members of the public, w hether the award of the R360 million contract to Vusumuzi Matlala's company for the provision of healthcare services to SAPS was irregular. The committee will also look into t he alleged interference by the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption in police matters, including judicial issues, and also c onsider the need for legislative policy and institutional reform to restore public confidence in the criminal justice system. Parties have thrown their weight behind the Ad Hoc Committee. ANC MP Samuel Moela said the allegations made by Mkhwanazi cannot be left unexamined. 'General Mkhwanazi's assertion, if accurate, paints a disturbing picture of how certain elements might be undermining the integrity of law enforcement institutions for political or personal gain. 'Parliament has both the responsibility and the authority to get to the bottom of these claims, not for political point scoring, but to protect the democratic institutions so many South Africans fought to build,' Moela said. DA deputy spokesperson on police, Lisa Schickerling, said the evidence Mkhwanazi presented raised the greatest questions about the conduct of Mchunu, Sibiya, senior police officers, and even members of the judiciary. 'The National Assembly must hold the executive to account, even in the face of parallel investigations. We welcome the urgency with which this House has resolved to independently oversee the political and institutional dimensions of this crisis,' said Schickerling. MK Party's Sibonelo Nomvalo saluted Mkhwanazi for taking on the perceived untouchables by exposing criminal syndicates within the criminal justice system. 'Our clarion call is that Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi must appear before the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament and expose all the police officers, prosecutors, judges, Members of Parliament, and all officials in the Department of Police who are in cahoots with criminals," he said. 'An allegation by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi against judges justifies our valid call for a lifestyle audit against judges. It is our firm belief that judges are human beings. They are not a paragon of morality, and therefore are corruptible honourable members,' Nomvalo said. EFF MP Rebecca Mohlala said the SAPS was a seriously compromised service, and its top brass enabled the capture of the institution for nefarious reasons. Mohlala said Parliament should get to the bottom of the allegations and reassert its role in providing oversight to the executive. 'We support the recommendation of the report for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to conduct an inquiry to get to the bottom of corruption,' she said. [email protected]
IOL News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Fikile Mbalula: No Arms to Ukraine, South Africa Stays Committed to Peace
Liberation Movements Summit 2025 class photo. Image: X/ANC By Bayethe Msimang South Africa has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to neutrality and peace in international conflicts, including the war in Ukraine. This stance was underscored by African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during his address at the recent summit of Southern African liberation movements. Speaking to an audience of political veterans and representatives from across the region, Mbalula emphasised that no South African arms manufacturer, whether public or private, will be permitted to export weapons or ammunition to any party involved in the war. 'As the ANC, we have taken a decision – consistent with South Africa's constitutional values and foreign policy traditions – that South African arms manufacturers will not be allowed to export weapons or ammunition to the war zone in Ukraine,' Mbalula said. His remarks were not presented as a new policy initiative, but rather as a public reaffirmation of South Africa's deeply rooted principles in international engagement. For decades, South Africa's foreign policy has emphasised peaceful conflict resolution, respect for sovereignty, and a strong commitment to international law. Mbalula's words served to restate that approach at a time when the global arms trade and its implications for ongoing conflicts are under intense international scrutiny. Over the past several years, public interest in arms transfers has steadily grown, both within South Africa and abroad. This has been driven by a broader international dialogue around transparency, ethics, and the unintended consequences of global weapons flows. Within this climate, South African defence manufacturers — including well-known entities such as Rheinmetall Denel Munition — have occasionally appeared in investigative reporting and academic research exploring the complexities of modern arms production and end-user accountability. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It was in this context of heightened awareness that Mbalula's remarks were made. Rather than responding to any specific incident, his statement served as a principled reminder of the frameworks that already guide South Africa's approach to arms exports. Reassuring both local and international observers, Mbalula emphasised that the decision not to authorise exports to the Ukrainian war zone was not an exceptional case, but a confirmation of South Africa's broader diplomatic posture. The guiding principle remains consistent: military goods should not be exported to regions experiencing active conflict, particularly when there is a risk that such exports could contribute to further escalation. In this way, South Africa continues to walk a path defined not by alignment with global power blocs, but by its own moral compass and legal obligations. The government's position reflects its historical role as an advocate for dialogue, mediation, and peaceful coexistence values that have shaped its diplomatic identity since the end of apartheid. Mbalula's message thus serves a dual purpose: it reassures domestic audiences that South Africa's defence industry remains under firm legal and ethical guidance, and it signals to the world that the country remains committed to its role as a bridge-builder in times of war. At a moment when the international order is marked by volatility and mistrust, South Africa's quiet consistency may well be its greatest diplomatic strength. IOL
