For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.
Making headlines: South Africa, US to resume trade talks as tariff deadline looms; ActionSA plans march in Pretoria to demand Batohi’s removal; And, South African inflation steady in May, as expected
South Africa, US to resume trade talks as tariff deadline looms
South Africa will resume trade talks with the Trump administration on the sidelines of the US-Africa Business Summit next week, with less than a month to go before Washington’s reciprocal tariffs are set to come into effect.
The negotiating teams will aim to thrash out the details of South Africa’s proposed framework agreement, which includes ramping up liquid natural gas imports, a joint fund for the exploration of critical minerals and duty-free US quotas for the auto and steel industries. Officials first presented the measures to the Trump administration when President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Washington on May 21.
Discussions on the technical details of the accord have taken place and South Africa’s team will resume negotiations at the summit, according to people familiar with the talks who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorised to speak to the media. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Angolan capital, Luanda, from June 22-25.
ActionSA plans march in Pretoria to demand Batohi’s removal
ActionSA will on Thursday lead a protest outside Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi’s office, in Pretoria, to demand the removal of the National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi.
Batohi will be required to vacate her office in January 2026, as she reaches the age of 65, however there have been growing calls for her removal and for reform of the National Prosecuting Authority amid lacklustre performance.
ActionSA cited a “growing list” of failures by the NPA, which it said had rendered Batohi’s leadership “untenable”.
Earlier this month, the party wrote to Kubayi to demand Batohi’s removal, in terms of Section 12 of the NPA Act.
The party has accused the NPA of becoming a “refuge for the politically connected”, alleging regular instances of avoided accountability, delayed justice and collapsed prosecutions.
And, South African inflation steady in May, as expected
South Africa's inflation rate was steady in May, staying below the central bank's 3% to 6% target range as it pushes for the target to be lowered.
Headline consumer inflation stood at 2.8% year-on-year last month, unchanged from April and in line with the median forecast of economists polled by Reuters.
The South African Reserve Bank, which has cut interest rates at four of its last five policy meetings, stressed its preference for a lower target at its last meeting.
The finance minister would need to sign off on changing the inflation target, but discussions are at an advanced stage, Governor Lesetja Kganyago said last month.
Inflation has been below the midpoint of the target range - the current level the SARB aims for - since August 2024, and the bank believes lowering the target would make the economy more competitive.
That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
Don’t forget to follow us on the X platform, at the handle @PolityZA
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE ARTICLE ENQUIRY
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here