For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: Solidarity plans another trip to the US as it reveals five-point tariff plan; ActionSA blames lack of foreign patient tracking for ‘unmanaged demand’ on public healthcare system; And, G20 needs to fix debt revamp framework, top African banker says

Solidarity plans another trip to the US as it reveals five-point tariff plan

Trade union Solidarity has said it will soon make another trip to the US amid the tariff announcement by the US, but in the meantime, the organisation has devised a five-point plan to salvage the situation.

Last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed that reciprocal tariffs of 30% would be implemented on South African goods from August 7.

Relations between South Africa and Trump’s administration came to a head earlier this year, after the signing of the Expropriation Act, tensions which many believe were exacerbated by the Solidarity Movement and its members AfriForum and Solidarity lobbying the US.

However, the Solidarity Movement and its organisations have instead blamed the South African government, and particularly the African National Congress, for alienating the US and straining tensions.

The organisation’s plan consists of liaisons with the South African and US governments; support for those who may lose employment once the tariff comes into effect, as well as alternatives employment opportunities for them; collaboration with other organisations to create a broad network to assist in resolving the relationship between South Africa and the US, while supporting affected South African industries; and the creation of a barometer to reflect the impact of increased tariffs on industries.

ActionSA blames lack of foreign patient tracking for ‘unmanaged demand’ on public healthcare system

Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi revealed in a Parliamentary reply to ActionSA that the health department does not track the number of documented or undocumented foreign nationals who access public healthcare facilities, adding to ActionSA’s long-standing belief that this burdens South Africa’s healthcare system.

He further pointed out that while patients are requested to present proof of ID, services are not withheld from them if they are unable to do so. Further, health facilities do not record individuals according to nationality.

ActionSA said this validated its concern that without appropriated data collection, the Department cannot account for any service delivery liabilities.

The Minister defended the lack of tracking by pointing out that the right to healthcare is enshrined in Section 27 of the country’s Constitution for citizens and non‑citizens and that healthcare is provided based on clinical need, not on nationality or documentation status.

ActionSA suggested that a verification mechanism would mean that healthcare providers could verify legal status and maintain continuous patient records.

And, G20 needs to fix debt revamp framework, top African banker says

The Group of 20 should consider improving its debt restructuring framework for poor nations, the former vice president of the African Development Bank said.

The G20 needs to “think about debt restructuring frameworks and how to make them work,” Swazi Tshabalala told a conference in Johannesburg today, discussing the cost of capital, adding that the bloc needs to commit to firm timelines for implementation.

The G20’s Common Framework, established in 2020 to provide a coordinated approach to restructuring unsustainable debt for low-income countries, has been criticised for being too slow and politically fraught. Some debt reworks, such as those in Zambia and Ghana, have dragged on for years. It also doesn’t address nations saddled by high debt-service costs.

Her comments were made as South Africa is set to host leaders from the G20 at a summit in November as part of its presidency of the bloc. Africa’s largest economy has made easing the heavy debt burden of low-income nations a priority.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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