For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: SACP calls for speedy resolution to impasse on Gauteng cabinet; Ramaphosa, Biden commit to advancing ‘special relationship’ between countries; And, Lawmakers revive Spending Bill under new government

 

SACP calls for speedy resolution to impasse on Gauteng cabinet

The Gauteng South African Communist Party provincial executive committee wants a speedy resolution of the current impasse in finalising the provincial government cabinet.

The PEC noted with concern the ongoing impasse that has delayed the announcement of the cabinet, saying it creates an impression of a province in a state of paralysis and under siege.

The announcement of the Gauteng provincial cabinet was postponed for the second time on Monday night after African National Congress provincial leaders were instructed by Luthuli House to postpone it.

This as the ANC and Democratic Alliance in Gauteng failed to reach an agreement on posts in the formation of the government of provincial unity.

The PEC is further concerned that the impasse and delays tend to elevate public discourse and narratives that overshadow issues affecting the working class, relegating such issues to the periphery in what seems to be a narrow focus on cabinet positions, the SACP said.

 

Biden commit to advancing ‘special relationship’ between countries

President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Joe Biden expressed their shared commitment to advancing the ‘special relationship’ between the US and South Africa.

Through a telephone call to Ramaphosa, Biden congratulated him on his re-election as President and the successful formation of the Government of National Unity, pledging working relations with South Africa.

Ramaphosa was re-elected as President for a second term after his party struck a deal with political rivals, following the African National Congress losing its outright majority in the 2024 national and provincial elections.

Biden said the US would work closely with the seventh administration in South Africa on key areas such as economic growth, job creation, social development and climate change.

The two leaders also discussed the US-South Africa bilateral relationship, and areas of future partnership including leadership in the G20.

 

And, Lawmakers revive Spending Bill under new government

South African lawmakers, in their first vote since a new government was formed, agreed to revive a bill allowing the National Treasury to release funds to ministries for the year through March 2025 to perform their duties.

Lawmakers in the previous administration failed to complete the process to get the Appropriation Bill — tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in February — passed before elections were held on May 29.

The African National Congress, which has ruled South Africa for three decades, lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in the elections. That forced it to form a coalition government with rivals including the centrist Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties.

South African law states that should the bill not be passed in its entirety, then government spending reverts back to the previous fiscal year. Now that it has been revived, a series of mini debates will be held for lawmakers to vote on each department’s budget. Godongwana will speak at the National Treasury’s budget debate on July 12.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA