President Ramaphosa announces end to load reduction as economy recovers
via The Citizen2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in parliament that South Africa is working to end load reduction, which has constrained economic growth and social development for nearly two decades. He highlighted improved macroeconomic conditions, strong tax collection, better public finances, and stabilized national debt. Ramaphosa acknowledged the impact of the Gulf War on global and local economies, potentially slowing growth and job creation. He noted Moody's recent upgrade of South Africa's rating outlook from stable to positive, following S&P's credit rating lift six months prior. The sixth SA Investment Conference secured over R890 billion in investment pledges, with significant domestic contributions. Ramaphosa welcomed the new portfolio committee on the Presidency and announced a R1 trillion infrastructure investment plan for roads, dams, schools, hospitals, clinics, and energy, logistics, and transport infrastructure over the next three years. Improvements in Transnet's performance have eased bottlenecks in mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, leading to an 11% increase in agricultural export earnings between January and March. South Africa is now the world's largest exporter of citrus by volume. Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso will detail a program to convert agricultural leases to title deeds.
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A Democratic Alliance DA motion aimed at strengthening Gauteng province's response to foot-and-mouth disease FMD was rejected. The motion, tabled by DA spokesperson on agriculture Bronwynn Engelbrecht, called for a publicly available vaccine distribution plan, an audit of municipal commonage and livestock land, and reports on fencing and quarantine facilities. It also sought an intergovernmental task team, clearer accountability between provincial and municipal authorities, and an active role for the Gauteng Disaster Management Centre. Engelbrecht emphasized that FMD is not just an animal health issue but a threat to food security, livelihoods, jobs, and the agricultural economy of South Africa. She highlighted the emotional and financial devastation for farmers and workers, citing instances of calves being discarded. Freedom Front Plus MPL Jaco Mulder supported the need for stricter controls, noting that unregulated and unregistered livestock pose a significant risk to Gauteng's agricultural sector and weaken disease control efforts. Both Engelbrecht and Mulder stressed that effective movement control of livestock is crucial for preventing outbreaks and ensuring the success of any disease control program.
Four men, Ismair Nsubugu, George Lubuluma, Geofrey Bukenya, and Nicolas Bolodangaine, aged between 26 and 34, were arrested in Gauteng on May 29, 2026, by the Gauteng Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit. They are accused of operating a romance scam that involved fake ancestral rituals. The suspects allegedly convinced a South African woman that her money could be multiplied through rituals performed by a purported Ugandan priest. The complainant became suspicious and alerted the police, leading to an operation where one suspect was initially arrested while accompanying her to secure loans. This suspect then led police to a property in Winchester Hills, where the other three suspects were apprehended. During the operation, police discovered a makeshift altar and an underground cave, which were allegedly used to deceive victims into believing ancestors were communicating with them. The suspects appeared before the Booysens Magistrates’ Court on June 1, 2026, and remain in custody. Their case was postponed to June 8, 2026, for further investigation. Police are also investigating potential links to other similar scam cases and urge anyone with information or who may have been a victim to contact Colonel Naidoo or the Crime Stop Line.
Must ReadRetrenched and voluntary service provider SA Post Office Sapo workers picketed outside the department of communications and digital technologies. Jacky Maja, retrenched in 2024, stated that former minister Solly Malatsi had promised them Takealot jobs, which have not materialized. She also mentioned that the department promised to pay their pensions once government funds were received, but payments were still not made after the Treasury provided money. Maja expressed disappointment that the Post Office now proposes paying only 18 cents for every R1 of their pension, an agreement she claims was made with unions without consulting the affected workers. She called for the Special Investigating Unit to intervene. Another retrenched worker, Jackson Khoza, emphasized that they were not consulted about their retrenchment or the pension deal. Albert Kwsha, who worked at the Post Office since 1999, explained that he and others used their pension money to buy vehicles to work for the company under a volunteer service package, only to be retrenched later, leaving them unemployed with vehicle installments. He questioned the whereabouts of his unpaid pension contributions, which he estimates to be over R100,000. The Communication Workers Union did not respond to inquiries.
Must ReadHawks warrant officer Karl Sander informed the Madlanga commission that drug-smuggling syndicates utilize more advanced technology than law enforcement agencies to track and manage their shipments. Sander, a former member of the Hawks’ South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau SANEB in KwaZulu-Natal KZN, testified during hearings at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, detailing drug-trafficking investigations and port-related operations. He stated that criminal networks sometimes control port access points, facilitating large-scale movement of drugs, human trafficking, and counterfeit goods. This control creates a significant operational risk for law enforcement, as police presence can be easily detected. Sander explained that syndicates employ advanced tracking systems and surveillance countermeasures, forcing police to constantly adapt. He noted that investigators have intercepted shipments containing the criminals' own transponder devices, which they use to track their cargo. During his testimony, it was clarified that a previously failed polygraph test result, which had placed him under suspicion regarding the theft of 541kg of cocaine from a Hawks storage facility in November 2021, was declared invalid due to serious errors made by the polygraph examiner. The commission’s chairperson, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, remarked that Sander had been effectively exonerated. Sander also mentioned a strained relationship with KZN Hawks head Lesetja Senona, which led to his