The decisions of ANC elective conferences are widely anticipated to have an effect on national policy and leadership. As long as the ANC remains in power, it is appropriate that its conferences receive top-level attention, Mpumelelo Mkhabela reports for News24.
Mkhabela argues that as the party has gotten more preoccupied with internal power struggles, it has stopped listening to the concerns of the general public. The government does not seem to be in a hurry to address issues like load shedding, water shortages, unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, and a generally weak economy, even when party leaders hear the people’s worries. (News24, for subscribers)
You might not like it, Satawu, but the Transnet strike is over
Caiphus Kgosana pens for TimesLIVE that as recommended by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration, the United National Transport Union (Untu), which has little more than 24,000 members, has signed a 6% salary increase over three years with the state-owned rail and port firm Transnet. This leaves the SA Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), which is associated with Cosatu, in the cold. It issued a furious statement condemning Untu’s “betrayal of the class fight.” (TimesLIVE, for subscribers)
Godongwana must expand on key priorities, not pundit obsessions
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana will present his second medium-term budget policy statement next week (MTBPS). The public and the media will focus almost exclusively on a small number of topics, such as whether or not the government would implement a basic income distribution, Business Day reports. However, the scope of the MTBPS is far greater than that. It ought to reveal how the government plans to pay for its strategic aims. (Business Day)
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
The danger of framing UCT VC Prof Phakeng as a victim – EWN
SA’s biggest cities are out of water, but the dams are full: what’s gone wrong? – TimesLIVE (for subscribers)
‘Putin the Coward’s new overall goal is to starve and freeze Ukrainians to death’ – Daily Maverick
SA slouches towards Venezuela with ANC at the helm – Business Day
Cape Town’s fight is with criminals, not politicians – devolving some policing is the right thing to do – Daily Maverick
Image: Gallo Images
