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Conflicts over South Africa's social grants system threaten to threaten millions of vulnerable beneficiaries with non-payment, risking more than just preventing poor people from accessing much-needed subsidies. is producing. The failure of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), which is responsible for the payment and administration of social grants, to act in a timely manner threatens to leave grant recipients on a silver platter in the hands of unscrupulous financial services companies. A crisis is occurring. . The latest installment of this strange story was released last week. Sassa officials have announced that they will submit papers to the…

South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are the voice of a radical movement that includes expropriation of white-owned land without compensation. It is led by Julius Malema, former president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). Malema later parted ways with ANC leader Jacob Zuma and was expelled from the party. He then formed his EFF as a rival party and won over 6 percent of the vote in the 2014 general election and over 8 percent of the vote in the 2016 local government elections. Malema has long professed his admiration for Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, 92, who has…

Johannesburg — A recent visit to Taiwan by the mayor of South Africa's largest opposition party has sparked a debate in the country about its relationship with the Chinese territory, and unexpectedly triggered a power struggle within the South African government. Until recently, most local government positions in South Africa were held by the long-ruling African National Congress. The ANC prides itself on party discipline and cohesiveness, which has resulted in virtual control of policy from city hall to the president. One of its strongest foreign policy tenets is maintaining strong relations with China, which it claims Taiwan is part…

If South Africa's non-fiction bestseller list is any indication of the zeitgeist, the country has entered an uneasy year. The country's bookshelves reflect a country struggling to make sense of a turbulent political environment, high crime statistics and an unreliable power grid.an apocalyptic title How long can South Africa survive?: The looming crisis and now we are starting to descend have flew off the shelf.Concerns that corruption would overwhelm state institutions drove readers to nonfiction analysis.legal documents, those of the public protector; State capture reportoutlines how the president's friends achieved success, making it one of the most shocking reads of…

South Africa's political crisis appears to be reaching its climax.Two interrelated issues have thrown the country's political system into turmoil. First, South Africa's public protector is investigating the relationship between President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family, a wealthy family that allegedly exercised political influence over the president. Mr Zuma blocked publication of the report on the day its author, Thuli Madonsela, resigned, but it is likely to have a huge impact if it is eventually published.Second, the power struggle between Mr Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan (who is himself under investigation for fraud) exploded over the weekend. Mr.…

CNBC Africa will broadcast the All Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) Southern Africa Highlights Special on the network on DStv Channel 410 from 7pm. Or you can live stream it on YouTube and CNBCAfrica.com. Also read: 7 tips for starting your own small business The award recognizes courageous business leaders in East, West and Southern Africa. The Southern African winner will be announced on September 29th, and will compete against peers from across the continent at the All-Africa Grand Finale in Sandton, Johannesburg, on November 11th, before the overall winner is announced. Also read: Social media helps small businesses “This…

South Africa's business confidence fell to a 30-year low in September, reflecting uncertainty over the outlook for Africa's most industrialized economy, a survey showed on Wednesday. South African businesses are struggling to survive due to slowing economic growth since the 2009 recession. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI)'s monthly economic index was 90.3 in September, down from 92.9 in August, the worst result since July 1985. “An overview of the demand side of the economy suggests that economic conditions are tight for all actors in the economy, including consumers, investors and the public sector,” SACCI said. “The…

South Africa's business confidence fell to a 30-year low in September, reflecting uncertainty over the outlook for Africa's most industrialized economy, a survey showed on Wednesday. South African businesses are struggling to survive due to slowing economic growth since the 2009 recession. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) monthly business climate index was 90.3 in September, down from 92.9 in August, the worst result since July 1985. “An overview of the demand side of the economy suggests that economic conditions are tight for all actors in the economy, including consumers, investors and the public sector,” SACCI said.…

University students protest against tuition hike The campaign to lower tuition fees began in 2015 when students at universities across South Africa protested for free, quality education. This year, students resumed protests to counter the 2017 academic year tuition hike. EWN reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande has announced that each university will decide on their own tuition fee increases in 2017, but has indicated that the increase will not exceed 8%. However, the government will help an eligible student cover the difference between her 2015 tuition fees and her adjusted 2017 tuition fees at her institution.…

Black and poor South Africans are the most affected by “filthy industrialism,” writes Salim Fakir. Photo: Melissa Foley, Environmental Rights Centre In South Africa, environmental issues are still seen as a white and middle-class concern: it is black and poor South Africans who are most affected by polluting industrialism, even though environmental issues are seen as elitist. These issues of race and class were among the topics discussed at last month's EarthLife Africa gathering, and are likely to be at the stated or implicit heart of our environmental policies. Viewed through the very narrow lens of traditional conservation, environmentalism certainly…