Spotlight | South Africa
Ramaphosa faces a 2025 laden with perils

South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa's impossible task to appoint new ambassador in the US

Deputy Justice Minister Andries Carl Nel is being considered, among other potential candidates, to take over the South African embassy in Washington given current diplomatic tensions. But this nomination risks destabilising an already fragile government coalition.

South Africa
Pretoria sends mission to Washington to save its trade, with AGOA under threat

Faced with the threat of his country being excluded from the economically beneficial African Growth and Opportunity Act, President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked four of his closest aides to lead a delegation to the US.

South Africa
Finance minister mulls resignation over contested VAT hike

Enoch Godongwana of the African National Congress is under pressure after the Democratic Alliance, the ANC’s most important partner in the government of national unity, rejected his budget on 19 February.

The New Guard
Ghana, South Africa, Algeria

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

GhanaJohn Abdulai Jinapor, the new oil expert

South AfricaAshor Sarupen, a cooperative deputy finance minister

AlgeriaHabib Brahmia, a crestfallen opponent

Palace Intrigues
Alassane Ouattara, William Ruto, Cyril Ramaphosa

Intrigues big and small – every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

Ivory CoastOuattara irked by his advisers

KenyaRuto unhappy about secret meeting between Kindiki and Kenyatta

GhanaRamaphosa angry with John Dramani Mahama

South Africa
Pretoria considers quotas for foreign workers in hospitality sector

A bill is currently being prepared to encourage the employment of nationals who have few qualifications. Although it does not target any particular sector, hospitality recruitment networks are in its sights.

South Africa
South African delegation will head to Paris's February AI summit

South Africa's deputy minister of communications and digital, Mondli Gungubele, from the ANC party, will be in Paris on 10 and 11 February for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit organised by the Élysée Palace.

South Africa
Democratic Alliance manoeuvres to influence ANC foreign policy

As the second largest force in the African National Congress-dominated government of national unity, the centre-right DA party is no longer willing to play second fiddle when it comes to international relations.

South Africa
ANC-DA alliance struggles to overcome legal vacuum

South Africa's ruling coalition is creaking in the absence of an applicable legal framework amid growing tensions between its two leading parties.

South Africa
No rush to set up proposed BRICS grain exchange, urges South Africa

The bloc's nine members should work to establish mutual and preferential access to each others' agricultural markets before putting in place the common platform sought by Moscow, according to South Africa's trade minister.