INTEREST RATE CUT AS RELIEF FOR HOUSEHOLDS

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

INTEREST RATE CUT AS RELIEF FOR HOUSEHOLDS

Government welcomes the decision by the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee to cut the interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing the repo rate to 6.75% and the prime lending rate to 10.25%.

The rate cut is expected to ease pressure on consumers with loans, support small businesses, and encourage investment and economic activity. Government continues to prioritise measures that help reduce the cost of living, create jobs, and improve economic stability. 

The decision aligns with the Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen growth, support vulnerable communities, and build an economy that works for all. Government will continue to work with social partners to improve the economic environment and ensure that the benefits of growth reach the poor and those most affected by rising prices.

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MINISTER STEENHUISEN SALUTES SOUTH AFRICA’S SIX WORLD-CLASS VINEYARDS

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MINISTER STEENHUISEN SALUTES SOUTH AFRICA’S SIX WORLD-CLASS VINEYARDS 

The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, is today celebrating the remarkable achievement of the South African wine industry for being awarded six coveted spots on the top 100 list of the World’s 50 Best Vineyard 2025 Awards. “We have always known we have great wine, and this exceptional performance, with six of our winery estates securing places amongst the world’s best, is a resounding endorsement of our wine tourism’s consistent standards and innovation,” the minister said. Two vineyards made it to the top ten list. Klein Constantia Wine Estate, in the Western Cape, was named the Best Vinyard in Africa and also the recipient of the Highest Climber Award. 

This estate is now ranked as the sixth top vineyard globally. It has climbed 35 places from its 2024 ranking.  Creation, in the Hemel-en-Aarde area, Western Cape, is ranked number seven globally. This estate has been dominating the regional category and, until last year, was voted the Best Vineyard in Africa. Four local vineyards made it to the extended 51-100 list: • Tokara Wine and Olive Estate (Stellenbosch): No. 71;   • Delaire Graff Estate (Stellenbosch): No. 79;   • La Motte Wine Estate (Franschhoek Valley): No. 94 (New Entry); and   • Hamilton Russell Vineyards (Hemel-en-Aarde): No. 99 (New Entry).   “We applaud the dedication of the teams at all six vineyards for elevating the South African brand to compete on the global stage. Their commitment to excellence not only produces world-renowned wines, but also enhances our reputation as a premier destination for wine tourism,” Minister Steenhuisen said. Economic value of wine tourism The minister highlighted the sector’s crucial contribution to the national economy, noting that wine tourism is a powerful job creator and driver of regional development. 

“Our wine tourism sector demonstrates robust growth, which contributed R9,3 billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2022. It has created around 11 000 jobs at the farm gate and 40 108 employment opportunities. Wine tourism now accounts for 17,3% of the total turnover for all grape-crushing cellars in South Africa.” Minister Steenhuisen added that it is no surprise that our domestic market is the biggest driver of wine tourism. “Local visitors account for 58% of all Cape Winelands room nights in 2024. 

This strong local foundation is the anchor of the sector, ensuring resilience and driving consistent demand.” South Africa produces approximately 4% of the world’s wine and in 2024, the country’s wine industry was ranked the seventh-largest wine producer globally. 

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GAUTENG HANDS OVER 300 OPERATING LICENCES AS IT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO CLEAR BACKLOG

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GAUTENG HANDS OVER 300 OPERATING LICENCES AS IT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO CLEAR BACKLOG 

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport today handed over 300 operating licences to compliant public transport operators during a ceremony held at the Ekurhuleni Council Chambers.

This forms part of the province’s ongoing programme to clear the operating license backlog and stabilise the public transport sector. Since 1 September 2025, the department has issued a total of 525 operating licenses. MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, said that the handover demonstrates government’s commitment to strengthening regulation and improving service delivery to operators and commuters. “Today is more than a handover ceremony. It is a statement of our commitment to rebuilding a licensing system that is transparent, efficient and fair. We are working tirelessly to ensure operators receive services closer to their communities and within predictable timeframes,” said MEC Diale-Tlabela. 

The MEC emphasised that public transport remains the backbone of mobility in Gauteng, moving millions of commuters daily, and that regulatory stability is essential for safety, economic participation and job creation. 

Furthermore, the strengthened provincial licensing system is designed to validate applications, improve data accuracy, and protect operators from fraudulent middlemen. “We are taking a firm stance against corruption, fraudulent applications and individuals who extort money from operators under the pretext of consulting. These practices will not be tolerated. We are working closely with law enforcement agencies and our stakeholders to ensure that only legitimate operators are licensed,” said the MEC. MEC Diale-Tlabela emphasised that an operating license is not just a document but an instrument of economic empowerment and responsibility. “We expect operators to honour the rules of the road, provide safe and reliable services, and contribute to a public transport system that the people of Gauteng can trust. This partnership is key to building a stable, modern and accessible transport network,” she added. 

The Department will continue to implement measures aimed at eliminating the remaining backlog and strengthening the regulatory framework to ensure a safer and more efficient public transport environment for all Gauteng residents. 

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PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA MEETS EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS ON THE MARGINS OF G20 SUMMIT

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PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA MEETS EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS ON THE MARGINS OF G20 SUMMIT

1. President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the European Council, Mr António Costa, and President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen met on the margins of the G20 Summit on 20 November 2025.

2. This meeting follows a series of engagements between the leaders, including at the multilateral fora such as the UNGA80 in New York, the EU’s Global Gateway Forum in Brussels and the recent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. 

3. The Leaders reviewed progress on the key political and economic outcomes agreed to at the 8th South Africa – EU Summit held in March 2025, in Cape Town.

4. In the context of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and ahead of the 7th AU-EU Summit on 24-25 November in Luanda, Angola, this meeting took place against the backdrop of growing challenges to multilateralism and the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Leaders reiterated their March commitment to a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine and in the occupied Palestinian Territories. They also recalled the importance of multilateralism, the centrality of the United Nations Charter and the support for a renewed global financing framework for sustainable development, following the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville from 30 June to 3 July 2025 and Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP30) from 6 to 21 November in Belém, Brazil. 

5. The Leaders welcomed the signature of the EU-South Africa Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP), which will create new trade and investment opportunities, while supporting decarbonisation objectives through a tailored, flexible, and targeted approach taking into account the priorities of South Africa and the EU. In addition to facilitating trade and investment in clean supply chains, this partnership will also serve as a forum for regulatory cooperation between the EU and South Africa in areas of mutual interest.

6. The Leaders also welcomed the signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Minerals and Metals Value Chains, which will promote value addition and beneficiation of critical minerals close to the source of extraction and will enhance economic and industrial integration between South Africa and the EU. 

7. Delivering on the commitment taken up at the EU-South Africa Summit earlier this year, the two sides launched the South Africa - EU Energy Dialogue in September 2025 and agreed to raise it to Ministerial level in 2026. The Dialogue provides a platform to deepen collaboration in areas such as transmission, clean energy technologies and additional just transition initiatives. Both sides also reiterated the commitment to work together towards future export of electro Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF) to the EU market in line with the commitment made during the SA-EU Summit in March 2025. 

8. Leaders reiterated their commitment to facilitate bilateral trade in animals, plants and their products. In particular, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to enable trade of poultry, including through a conclusive discussion on regionalisation, as well as further assess and process EU market access applications based on the information to be provided by exporting countries as a matter of priority. The EU signaled readiness to advance listing South Africa as eligible to export shelf-stable composite products to the EU market. South Africa has shared progress report on various EU market access requests. Both sides committed to identify tangible deliverables to demonstrate progress in fulfilling their respective commitments by the next Trade and Investment Dialogue. 

9. The two sides commended the agreement to facilitate bilateral cumulation of batteries through a temporary derogation from the Rules of Origin under the provisions of the EU – SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to be submitted by South Africa. This derogation would aim at promoting battery manufacturing in the EU and South Africa and facilitating South Africa to employ batteries made in the EU and South Africa to export electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to the EU market under the EU-SADC EPA. 

10. The EU announced five projects as part of the implementation of the Team Europe Global Gateway Investment Package for South Africa of nearly EUR 12 billion, unveiled at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels on 9 October 2025. These projects included three blended finance and technical assistance facilities on green hydrogen, minerals and metals in the e-batteries value chain; a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan to Transnet to support the decarbonisation of South Africa’s transport sector; as well as support from EIB under the EU-supported Human Development Accelerator initiative to boost South Africa’s vaccine’s manufacturing capacities. The two sides acknowledged the role of the implementing partners, including the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Industrial Development Cooperation, Transnet and Biovac, as well as the EIB, the German Development Bank (KfW) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). 

11. The Leaders acknowledged the ongoing negotiations on the Horizontal Aviation Agreement, and the commitment by both sides to strengthen cooperation on maritime security in the context of the Djibouti Code of Conduct. 

12. The two sides noted the recent high-level discussions and technical exchanges dedicated to strengthening cooperation on environment, specifically on issues related the water sector.

13. The Leaders took note of ongoing efforts to advance cooperation on peace, security and defence, notably by establishing a dedicated Dialogue as set out in the Summit Declaration of March. It will strengthen cooperation, including on countering terrorism, cybersecurity, maritime security and mediation. They further concurred that tackling the underlying drivers of conflict remains essential for achieving durable peace, security and stability.

14. The meeting took place in the same spirit of partnership and cooperation that characterised the Summit in Cape Town. Both sides undertook to redouble efforts to address the outstanding issues to foster shared prosperity based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. 

15. The EU looked forward to hosting the 9th South Africa – EU Summit in Brussels on a mutually suitable date to be agreed between the parties.

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McKenzie’s VAR: Vague, Unfunded and Risky

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

McKenzie’s VAR: Vague, Unfunded and Risky The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on Minister Gayton McKenzie to immediately release the official Treasury approval letter for the R20 million he claims has been allocated to the national VAR project, and to table a full feasibility study along with a detailed three-year financial and project plan. South Africans deserve an explanation for why the Minister publicly committed millions to this project before any verified costing, planning or technical assessment existed. Video Assistant Referee is the technology used in football to review controversial decisions using multiple camera angles. It is expensive, highly technical and requires specialised equipment, trained operators, and stadium readiness. Yet the Minister has committed millions to a national rollout without knowing the real cost or whether such a rollout is feasible. In Parliament, he admitted that he had been given wildly different estimates: first R120 million, then R80 million, and later “not more than R50 million.” None of these figures come from a feasibility study, procurement process or technical plan. They are guesses. Yet he continues to speak publicly as if the project is ready to proceed. The R20 million he cites is not new funding; it is money likely shifted from the cancelled Big Walk project. This amount cannot justify the public claim that the VAR project is funded or close to implementation. Parliament has still not received a verified costing or a complete three-year financial plan. Worse still, SAFA has admitted it has no idea what it can contribute financially. It cannot access FIFA Forward funding because the ±R3 million it previously received has already been spent or committed elsewhere. It also could not name a single alternative funding source when questioned. At present, this project has no credible financing model. The team appointed to lead VAR has only been in place for two months and is still in a fact-finding phase. No feasibility study has been done on stadium readiness, technology needs or operational design. The project has no full technical management structure, no governance framework and no confirmed buy-in from the PSL, the key body needed for stadium integration and match-day operations. Announcing fluctuating figures without facts, funding or planning is reckless.

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PRETORIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SGB TO FOCUS ON TRANSFORMATION

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA

PRETORIA HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS SGB TO FOCUS ON TRANSFORMATION 

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) welcomes the recent High Court judgment in the matter involving the Pretoria High School for Girls School Governing Body (SGB). We are pleased that the Court has clarified the situation, allowing everyone to move forward and focus on what matters most: the development of the learners and the school. The Pretoria High Court dismissed the SGB’s interim request to access the Department’s investigation report. 

The report was commissioned by the GDE following allegations of racism involving learners at the school. The SGB had asked for the report as part of a judicial review, arguing it was necessary for their case. Accordingly, the report does not fall under Rule 53, which only deals with documents showing the decisionmaking process in judicial reviews. 

The Court also emphasised that the proper way to request such information is through the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), a law that allows people to access governmentheld information. The Court noted that attempting to obtain the report through the courts instead of PAIA was not appropriate and described this as “forum shopping,” meaning seeking an alternative legal route to achieve the same outcome. 

While the matter has now been settled in favour of the Department, we encourage the SGB to focus on strengthening governance, ensuring the school functions smoothly, and creating a safe and supportive environment where all learners can thrive. 

The Department also wishes to emphasise that many issues can be resolved amicably through dialogue and cooperation, without the need for court proceedings. 

The GDE remains committed to supporting Pretoria High School for Girls on its journey toward transformation, stability, and excellence, helping the school to cultivate a culture rooted in fairness, respect, and dignity for every learner. 

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DA President John Steenhuisen Reshuffle DA

ONLINE EDITOR @KASIBC_AFRICA 

DA President John Steenhuisen Reshuffle DA 

The Democratic Alliance takes note of the speculation surrounding the departure of Dr Dion George as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

I wish to set the record straight in this regard, not least given the reportage that seeks to make out that his removal is due to external pressure and interests.

The simple truth is that it is not.

The DA entered the Government of National Unity in June 2024 with a clear mission: to confront South Africa’s most urgent challenges and to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of our citizens.

Central to this commitment to putting people at the centre of our concerns is our ongoing fight for the implementation of bold economic reforms that will unlock growth, attract investment, and create jobs.

The DA currently holds twelve positions within the National Executive. It is therefore imperative that these roles are occupied by the most capable individuals our party has to offer — people who bring integrity, energy, and excellence to government.

Collegiality is crucial.

Our progress requires steadfast team work within and outside government as we strive to deliver better governance and improvements to people’s lives. In this mission it is also important for each and every public official to work to an agreed agenda.

Accordingly, I formally requested that the President implement the following changes to the DA’s representatives in the National Executive:

• Mr Willie Aucamp MP to succeed Dr Dion George MP as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

• Ms Alexandra Abrahams MP to fill the vacant position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.

These appointments will strengthen the DA’s contribution to the GNU, and advance the urgent reform agenda our country and its people so desperately need.

I thank Dr George for his service, and look forward to working with him in other important roles.

I wish Mr. Aucamp and Ms. Abrahams every success as they take up their new responsibilities in the Executive.

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