Parties and labour organisations have slammed the 2026 Budget for failing to tackle low growth, high unemployment, and municipal distress, while cautiously welcoming tax relief and social grant increases

Party leader Julius Malema said the move signalled the president’s loss of confidence in the police

“This is not about Patrice waking up one morning and wanting to be president,” the lobbyist said. “It is about stabilising the centre of power before the ANC implodes”

The uncritical cheerleaders for the West cannot be taken seriously until they acknowledge that the West supports and collaborates with authoritarian regimes such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt

The move is a strategy ahead of next year’s local government elections, as the party believes that fixing roads, traffic lights and public transport networks will prove its ability to govern

Now that a VAT increase has been ruled out, the finance minister must find another way to plug a R75bn gap or risk collapsing public services and investor confidence

The premier and provincial co-convenor said the party would resurrect itself in Gauteng because there was no better alternative

The South African Democratic Teachers Union alleges schools are pressuring learners in grade 10 and upwards to drop maths to protect overall matric pass rates

Meetings are due in coming days and weeks to undo the damage after the finance minister caved on the tax increase

The Democratic Alliance has claimed credit for the about-turn by the treasury on the tax, saying its legal team had presented a strong case against the flawed parliamentary process used to adopt the fiscal framework

South Africans have, in recent years, looked beyond the ANC in hope of finding new voices capable of holding the line on spending and corruption. Instead, what they have received is a bewildering capitulation and weak opposition

The agreement came thanks to a lifeline ActionSA threw the ANC

The Democratic Alliance said the budget would struggle to pass in parliament, given the ANC’s lack of a majority

Instead of focusing on trying not to lose the local government elections next year, the comrades are already eyeing who takes control of the party in 2027

The Democratic Alliance is seen as having disrespected President Cyril Ramaphosa, limiting the chances that he might extend the consultation period on the Act’s contentious clauses

They believe the deputy president has the political acumen and experience to maintain the fragile alliance

Strains are evident, but a cabinet ‘clearing house’ will offer the unity government a way of dealing with disputes

MPs challenged him on skewed spending, saying the poor suffered while billions went to protecting politicians This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free Account The Mail & Guardian is committed to providing all our readers with the best possible experience. Please register your free account now. Your registration is your first step to becoming an M&G community member. Register Registration enables: – M&G newsletters access – notifications – the best possible experience Already registered? Login here Want to subscribe and get even more benefits? Explore our subscription offers

The Democratic Alliance will lead five portfolio committees but the bulk have remained under the leadership of the ANC

The ANC said in a statement that President Cyril Ramaphosa would announce appointments to the executive ‘in the coming days’