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

Making headlines: Ramaphosa greenlights salary increases for MPs, judges; UK-South Africa celebrate five years of development-focused free trade pact; And, Egypt's Sisi to meet Trump on the sidelines of Davos

Ramaphosa greenlights salary increases for MPs, judges

President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to give his public office bearers a salary increment, from April 1.

Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya explained that having considered the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers’ recommendations and its impact on the fiscus, Ramaphosa decided to increase the salary of public office bearers by 4.1% and 3.8%, in different categories.

The increase of 4.1% will apply to judges, magistrates, traditional leaders and members of independent constitutional institutions.

Meanwhile members of the national executive, Members of Parliament, members of provincial executive councils and members of provincial legislatures will see a salary increase of 3.8%

UK-South Africa celebrate five years of development-focused free trade pact

The South Africa-UK development-focused free trade Economic Partnership Agreement, now in its fifth year and designed to harness the power of trade for mutual growth and job creation, has delivered significant benefits, including tariff savings on R50-billion of South African exports to the UK in 2024, while deepening trade, supporting jobs and boosting export-led growth.

The British High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Western Cape trade and investment promotion organisation Wesgro and business organisation the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a seminar in Cape Town on January 20 to raise awareness of the market access and tariff savings available under this agreement with the UK.

In 2024, South African businesses paid unnecessary tariffs on R3.8-billion worth of beverages, automotives and fruits and nuts exports to the UK, which highlights the need for greater awareness and use of the agreement, the British High Commission said.

The UK government said it was committed to ensuring that Southern African businesses fully leverage the Economic Partnership Agreement with the UK in ways that foster growth, strengthen competitiveness and, ultimately, contribute to a diversified local economy that turns profits into jobs and sizable investment.

And, Egypt's Sisi to meet Trump on the sidelines of Davos

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Egypt's presidency said today.

This will be the first meeting between the two leaders since the US announced it was launching the second phase of its plan to end the war in Gaza.

Sisi and Trump met in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in October during a summit convened by Egypt to sign a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the war.

Last week, Trump said that he was also ready to restart US mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia to resolve the dispute over an Ethiopian dam, which both Egypt and Sudan consider a serious threat to vital water supplies.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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