March 05, 2025.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines:

DA delegation returns from US as it attempts to ‘stabilise relations’

ANC says 0.6% GDP growth positive sign for economic growth

And, Germany stops new aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict

DA delegation returns from US as it attempts to ‘stabilise relations’

Following a recent Solidarity Movement delegation visit to the US amid tensions between Washington and Pretoria, the Democratic Alliance also undertook a visit to the US capital this week, in an attempt to stabilise diplomatic relations between both countries.

Turbulent relations between South Africa and Donald Trump’s administration came to a head 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.

Charges of treason have since be laid against AfriForum.

Trump has stopped aid to the country, significantly impacting thousands of health-care programmes, and critically jeopardising HIV/Aids projects.

There are also concerns surrounding the possibility that South Africa could lose vital access to US markets through the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

During its visit to Washington, the DA said it had engaged with the US Congress, State Department and the White House, to present “accurate and fact-based information” on issues affecting South Africa.

ANC says 0.6% GDP growth positive sign for economic growth

The African National Congress says South Africa’s 0.6% GDP growth shows a positive growth trajectory despite challenges in areas such as standards of living, which it attributed to an inflationary economy and other economic factors.

South Africa’s GDP increased by 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024, following a decrease of 0.1% in the third quarter of the year.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri noted that the growth was indicative of economic expansion, which she said imbued hope and served as positive sign for economic growth.

She said this development is aligned with the party’s priorities of pursuing a developmental macroeconomic framework, tackling the high cost of living in line with our economic transformation agenda.

Bhengu-Motsiri said that as a measure of economic growth, the 0.6% expansion demonstrated strides made to ensure an upward and positive developmental path and “a country at work”.

Germany stops new aid to Rwanda over Congo conflict

Germany has halted new development aid to Rwanda and is reviewing its existing commitments in response to the African nation's role in the conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The German development ministry said Berlin had informed Rwanda in advance of the move and urged it to withdraw support for the M23 rebel group, which has made advances in eastern Congo.

Congo, UN experts and Western powers accuse Rwanda of backing the group. Rwanda denies this and says it is defending itself against ethnic Hutu-led militias bent on slaughtering Tutsis in Congo and threatening Rwanda.

Rwanda's foreign ministry called Germany's action "wrong and counterproductive".

The German ministry said Berlin last pledged aid of 93.6-million euros to Rwanda in October 2022 for the period 2022 to 2024.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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