Polity Podcast

Making headlines: US Senate advances dozens more Trump nominees, including South Africa pick; DWS investigating possible dam failure at Thabo’s dam; And, US aid cuts disrupt life-saving treatment for starving children in Kenya

Making headlines: US to host meeting of G20 officials without South Africa's participation, sources say; US House committee approves Africa trade bill, no mention of South Africa exclusion for now; And, South African business confidence index surges in November, mainly on tourism

Making headlines: Parties question Menzi Simelane’s NDPP shortlist, DA threatens legal action; Cabinet approves draft Gas Bill for processing by Parliament; And, US House committee to take up Africa trade bill, but South Africa risks exclusion

Making headlines: President says white supremacy notion threatens South Africa's sovereignty; Ramaphosa says ‘safety of women, children is everybody’s business’; And, Tanzania urges citizens to stay home ahead of expected independence day protests

Making headlines: South African consumer confidence improves on holiday season optimism; CDE urges NDPP panel to rigorously interrogate shortlisted candidates; And, Tanzania deploys police and army to prevent Independence Day protests

Making headlines: Loyiso Masuku replaces Dada Morero as ANC Joburg chair Home Affairs extends operating hours over festive season And, Congo fighting flares within hours of Trump's peace deal ceremony

Making headlines: Mbalula rubbishes US’s claims that SA’s G20 Presidency operated with ‘spite, division’; Ramaphosa pays tribute to former Sars Commissioner; And, Trump hosts Congo, Rwanda leaders in latest push for peace

Making headlines: DA lays criminal complaint against Tshwane deputy mayor, with Gerrie Nel’s help; Ramaphosa leaves Bi-National with Mozambique with new gas facility; And, Namibia holds key rate, citing South Africa's new inflation target

Making headlines: GDP grows by 0.5% in the third quarter DA lays fraud charges against Tshwane deputy mayor And, Guinea-Bissau election commission says cannot conclude presidential election process

Making headlines: Mavuso says even the best NDPP will still face structural constraints if reform is not enacted; Ramaphosa dismisses Trump’s threat to bar South Africa from 2026 G20 summit; And, lawyer says Cameroonian opposition figure Ekane dies in detention

Making headlines: Zuma's daughter quits as MP over Russia recruitment allegations; Cachalia notes decline in most crime categories; And, DA demands Menzi Simelane’s removal from shortlist of NDPP candidates

Making headlines: Six candidates advance to interview stage for NPA top post; DA lays criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla; And, general sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional president

Making headlines: Call for High Court Judge to step down amid corruption allegations; Ramaphosa to attend fourth BNC in Mozambique; And, Ethiopia says death toll from Marburg virus outbreak rises to 6

Making headlines: DA to lay criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla; DA’s Zille says South Africa’s ruling alliance unlikely to last; And, Nigeria faces record hunger amid insurgent attacks, aid cuts

Making headlines: Ramaphosa lauds success of G20 Leaders’ Summit; DA refers Steenhuisen-George dispute to Federal Legal Commission; And, South Africa's G20 debt focus to be tested as US takes the chair

Making headlines: DBE proposes single national school calendar; Academic says South Africa should not hand over G20 presidency to the US; And, US considering sanctions against Nigeria

Making headlines: South African key rate lowered at first decision under new inflation target; Malusi Gigaba says stepping aside does not imply guilt on his side; And, DA protest outside Lesufi's office demanding accountability for Tembisa Hospital

Making headlines: South African consumer inflation quickens to 3.6% y/y in October; Motshekga to act against Navy Chief over ‘disingenuous comments’; And, Putin to meet Togo's president in the Kremlin

Making headlines: Motsepe says South Africa must curb crime to lure investors; DA threatens to release Q1 crime stats if Cachalia doesn’t; And, Africa experts call for greater oversight of ratings agencies in G20 report

Daily Podcast - November 17, 2025 November 17, 2025. For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the news podcast. Making headlines: Ramaphosa touts progress as G20 faces boycotts, scepticism; Car makers, Numsa sign three-year wage deal; and Ethiopia says three dead in Marburg virus outbreak As South Africa hosts the G20 leadership summit this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa has positioned the moment as evidence of national progress. Yet the broader economic picture remains mixed, with many of the country's underlying structural problems persisting despite pockets of improvement. Ramaphosa's upbeat public messaging has been somewhat undermined by the fact that the leaders from several of the world's leading economies have declined to attend the G20, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Argentinian President Javier Milei. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's attendance also remains uncertain. Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso said the developments are unfortunate, particularly as the US will be chairing the G20 next year. She said it also provides a stark illustration to the political leaders who will be attending of why the rules-based trading system needs to be protected for international prosperity. The Automobile Manufacturers Employers Organisation and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa have finally signed a wage agreement, following a protracted process that included nine rounds of negotiations and a declared deadlock. The three-year deal allows for a 7% across-the-board wage increase in the first year, backdated to July 1, 2025, and a 5.5% increase in both years two and three. Eligible employees will also receive a R12 500 once-off taxable gratuity and improved employee benefits, including increased transport and housing allowances, as well as enhanced short-time compensation. Ameo chairperson Abey Kgotle said the agreement is a testament to the maturity of the social partnership under the National Bargaining Forum. Three people confirmed to have contracted the Marburg virus have died, while another three deaths are suspected to be linked to the highly contagious haemorrhagic disease, Ethiopia's health ministry has said. The announcement follows Ethiopia's confirmation of an outbreak of Marburg, a highly-contagious and haemorrhagic infection in a town in the country's Southern Ethiopia Region on Friday, with at least nice cases identified. The Ethiopian Public Health Institute's reference laboratory has confirmed that three people have died from the virus. An additional three fatalities are being investigated for a possible connection to the disease. The ministry did not give a new overall number of cases but said 129 people who were in contact with the confirmed cases had been isolated and are being monitored. That's a roundup of news making headlines today Don't forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA