For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Parliament passes long-awaited 2025 Budget; ActionSA condemns Ramaphosa, GNU for lack of transparency on looming US tariffs; And, Trump says he may skip G20 summit in South Africa, cites policy disapproval

Parliament passes long-awaited 2025 Budget; ActionSA condemns Ramaphosa

After months of back and forth, the National Council of Provinces will send the 2025 Appropriation Bill to President Cyril Ramaphosa for assent, with only the Economic Freedom Fighters and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party opposing it.

The Appropriation Bill is a key part of the national budget, outlining how government funds will be allocated among various departments. Once Ramaphosa signs it into law, government departments can start spending in accordance with the Act.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled the National Budget for the 2025/26 financial year, including the Appropriation Bill, in May this year with multiple delays following.

After the passing of the Bill in the National Assembly last week, the Appropriation Bill was subsequently referred to the Select Committee on Appropriations for consideration and reporting back to the NCOP plenary sitting for adoption.

ActionSA condemns Ramaphosa, GNU for lack of transparency on looming US tariffs

Ahead of Friday’s deadline on US tariffs, ActionSA condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Government of National Unity for their “silence and lack of transparency” in how they intend to address the looming US trade tariffs.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump informed South Africa of its intention to impose a 30% tariff on South African products exported to the US, separate from sectoral tariffs, from Friday.

South Africa was among several countries to receive letters from Trump, setting out planned tariffs to take effect from Friday.

Trump initially announced a tariff on South African exports to the US in April but then agreed to a three-month delay to discuss trade relations with its trading partners.

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba described the GNU government as having been “woefully inadequate” in efforts to address the deteriorating relationship between the US and South Africa following Ramaphosa’s controversial engagement with Trump in the White House in May.

Mashaba said since the engagement, South Africans have not been informed of what sort of trade deals had been mooted by the GNU and what conditions the US had put to South Africa.

And, Trump says he may skip G20 summit in South Africa, cites policy

Meanwhile, Trump said he might skip the upcoming Group of 20 leaders' summit in South Africa in November and send someone else to represent the US, citing his disapproval of South African policies.

Trump has taken issue with South African domestic and foreign policies - ranging from its land policy to its case accusing Israel of genocide in the US ally's war in Gaza.

Trump signed an executive order in February to cut US financial assistance to South Africa. In May, Trump confronted Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a White House meeting.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in South Africa, which has the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.

Washington, both under Trump and former President Joe Biden, has complained about the case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice, where it accused Israel of genocide over its military assault in Gaza.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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