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South Africa is widely recognised as the most unequal society in the world, with a startling 71% of the country’s wealth concentrated in the hands of a mere 10% elite

Austerity, the NDP’s grim reaper

Ten years after its adoption, the government has failed to achieve the targets set out in the National Development Plan. Looming spending cuts will render the NDP even more futile

Trevor Manuel
1996 – 2009. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

Is Ramaphosa and Manuel’s feted economic plan delayed or dead?

With most of the NDP targets way off the mark, our fiscal path defers the NDP goals by another decade, if we are lucky, while an incapable state will spell its death

The Constitutional Court will rule on whether parliament acted lawfully when it rejected a Section 89 panel report recommending an impeachment inquiry into President Cyril Ramaphosa over the Phala Phala scandal

Cabinet yet to discuss damning National Development Plan findings

A 10-year review of the NDP lays bare the extent to which the economy has regressed, as its targets slip further from the government’s grasp

(Phill Magakoe/Getty Images)

Spiralling food prices force households into poverty

Price hikes mean fewer people are able to put nutritious food on the table, experts warn

Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi(Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Measures to reform public service offer some hope

However, allowing politicians to be involved in the hiring process might be the sticking point

To rebuild South Africa’s economy — in the wake of Covid-19’s onslaught — the country needs a stronger social compact, Trevor Manuel has said. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

‘We mustn’t tire’ — Manuel on South Africa’s economic recovery

During a webinar on Wednesday evening, the former finance minister said the country needs a stronger social compact and a more detailed recovery plan

Minister Patricia De Lille says government is capable of turning the tide.

Government announces tailwinds on infrastructure project

Minister of public works and infrastructure Patricia de Lille and President Cyril Ramaphosa call for corruption crackdown in government during talks with investors on…

The Sekhukhune District Municipality, plagued by allegations of corruption involving irregular expenditure, does not have the money to provide water to all its residents. (Delwyn Verasamy)

Water services worse than in 1994 

More than 5.3-million households and 21-million people don’t have clean water, despite money being spent on dams and pipelines to deliver water to 95% of the population. Sipho…

Should the government put a moratorium on any move to withdraw from the ICC, it would likely result in the current International Crimes Bill being put on hold. (Reuters)

Radebe sticks to his NDP guns

The ANC’s head of policy has announced the updated achievements of the first phase of the National Development Plan’s implementation.

Change agents: Cyril Ramaphosa and Trevor Manuel have both stressed the need for a more professional public service.

Wanted: One vision for a better future

The new commission can plan but public servants must do their jobs to make it work.

Keeping youth unemployment on top of the political agenda

Regardless of the perspective that one takes, South Africa’s youth unemployment statistics make for scary reading.

Demolitions in the Second Avenue precinct have given way for the Second Avenue Court Yard

Lack of employment security affects youth’s social protection

As we commemorate youth month, the challenge of youth unemployment dominates discussion.

Youth unemployment in South Africa was the focus of an M&G Critical Thinking Forum held in May. Panelists were Xolani Gwala

The battle for “youth” working environments

The Glenhove Conference Centre was the unlikely venue for a wrestling match featuring the Provocateur, Policymaker, Lawyer and Sociologist.

Children carry the heaviest burden: inadequate nutrition, unsafe housing, limited early childhood development, and weak schooling outcomes overlap and compound.

SA’s poverty levels are decreasing, shows new study

A first-time study by the National Planning Commission and UCT has shown poverty in SA is decreasing and that we’re still a nation of labour migrants.

The coal stockpile levels are at 35 days

Energy: Choices made in government’s IRP2010 need to be revisited

It is difficult to understand why the department of energy is dragging its feet with the review of the integrated resource plan of 2010.

Advocate Krish Govender believes the executive discretion involved in judicial appointments ought to be reconsidered.

Call for commission to remap judicial appointment process

KwaZulu-Natal state attorney Krish ­Govender on Thursday called for the formation of a "judicial planning commission".

This week: the death of South Africa’s soldiers in the Central African Republic and renewed calls for Communications Minister Dina Pule to be sacked.

Politics need to know: CAR, Mandela and Zuma’s pay freeze

The ANC’s back against the wall over CAR, Nelson Mandela’s sixth night in hospital and Jacob Zuma’s failed attempt at a salary freeze.

Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane.

Chabane: NDP trumps government plans

The NDP will have an overriding effect on the strategies of the government, Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane has said.

Floyd Shivambu finds it insulting that ministers such as Trevor Manuel trust ANC members to vote them into office.

NDP scraps increases linked to pupils’ performance

A revised version of the NDP has been handed to President Jacob Zuma, with changes to key issues like salaries, the economy and cadre deployment.

Floyd Shivambu finds it insulting that ministers such as Trevor Manuel trust ANC members to vote them into office.

Five things to watch for in the NDP

SA’s roadmap for the next two decades is due to be accepted by President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday. Here’s how political manoeuvring has changed it.