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

Making headlines: South Africa urged to sweeten US trade deal before tariff deadline; Outa requests meeting with new Higher Education Minister over Setas; And, DA questions constitutionality of Presidential Johannesburg Working Group

South Africa urged to sweeten US trade deal before tariff deadline

The US urged South Africa to improve its trade offer as Pretoria waits to hear what tariff US President Donald Trump will impose on its exports to the world’s largest economy.

South Africa hopes to negotiate a lower levy than the 30% already allocated by Trump, with a deadline to strike a deal by tomorrow.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said US officials weren’t sure what the president would decide and had encouraged South African officials to submit an enhanced proposal.

The US is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner after China and tariffs of 30% would hit its automobile and farming industries hard, dealing a blow to an already-feeble economy where the unemployment rate is one of the highest in the world.

Outa requests meeting with new Higher Education Minister over Setas

Following concerns of widespread governance failures in the sector education and training authorities and the lack of action on forensic reports, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has requested a meeting with newly appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela, warning that there is a growing risk that public money continues to be spent without accountability.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Manamela’s appointment last week, after he fired Nobuhle Nkabane, who faces accusations of misleading Parliament.

Following Manamela’s appointment, Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said the new Minister should kick off his tenure by urgently appointing new Seta board chairpersons with people that are free from political interference to ensure accountability.

Outa has, over several years, stressed deep-rooted maladministration, governance failures and corruption at multiple Setas and at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.

Outa said it would submit its full Construction Education and Training Authority investigation report to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, to assist the committee with oversight.

The organisation found in its CETA report that bid files were left on the floor and tenders cancelled because specifications were changed.

And, DA questions constitutionality of Presidential Johannesburg Working Group

Ahead of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit, to be held in November, in Johannesburg, Democratic Alliance Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga is demanding answers on whether the Joburg Bomb Squad and the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group are constitutional, expressing concerns of a deepening crisis in the City.

Last month Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero launched the JBS, a specialised unit that aims to tackle crime and enhance service delivery in the metro, and in March President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the proposal of a Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to accelerate service delivery, stabilise the city’s finances and operations, and enable economic growth and job creation.

Msimanga explained that if these bodies were constitutional, his party wants to know where the funding was from, as well as disclosure on how much had been spent and by whom.

The DA has been vocal about Morero’s initiative, calling it a “ploy” to help African National Congress cadres who have “fallen on hard times”.

The DA wants the terms of reference for both the Bomb Squad and the Presidential Working Group and clear accountability measures to ensure that any wasted funds can be recovered.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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