By Lesedi Sibiya – Diplomatic Inside
Minister in the Presidency of South Africa Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, addressed the media today about the recent cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. Key aspects in the media brief include international relations, the economy, Crime prevention & Security and G20 summit which will commence in November this year.
International relations
The cabinet has welcomed a reset in relations between South Africa and the United States. President Cyril Ramaphosa went to visit the United States for a working visit last week, in order to revitalize relations between South Africa and the United States. Both countries are set to finalize the trade deal, as the South African government is confident that their objectives have been met and are hopeful that U.S President Donald Trump will be in attendance at the G20 summit in November 2025.
Cabinet has also welcomed South Africa and France’s strengthened relations, as Deputy President of South Africa Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile visited the French republic for a working visit, as he met with the President of the French Republic Emmanueal Macron. The Deputy President and South African delegates were in attendance at the SA-France Investment Conference with the purpose of improving upon investment opportunities by French Companies into South Africa, as well as South Africa offering their investment opportunities to France and also having companies from both countries to invest in the African continent.
Economy
Cabinet affirms their support of the 2025 national budget which was presented by the Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana on 21 May 2025. The budget highlighted key spending priorities over the next three years within the country’s fiscal envelope. The National Budget promises and presses upon fiscal discipline, as it is targeted at helping vulnerable citizens in the South African society. An Investment of R1-trillion will be put towards infrastructure over the next three years.
61 cents on every rand of consolidated, non-interest expenditure funds will be spent on basic services such water, electricity, education, healthcare, affordable housing and social grant for the underprivileged.
The Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2025 which was held in Cape Town from 25-27 May 2025, in which the government had unveiled the new Construction Book: “A Repository of Funded Infrastructure Projects”. This construction book highlights all the infrastructural projects which the government will oversee over the course of the 2025/26 fiscal year. The value of projects which have currently been approved in the country is well over R313.5 billion and the energy sector infrastructure R180 Million of embedded generation investment.
Crime Prevention and Security
The fourth quarter crime statistics for the 2024/2025 financial year have been released as crime remains a distressing concern in South Africa. Crimes such as murder have had a small decline while other crimes such as Sexual offences/violence have risen exponentially. The Minister Ntshavheni has expressed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) have done “speedy work” in their investigations into these various crimes and have made arrests in cases of GBVF. Minister Ntshavheni has also noted the suspects in the brutal murder of young Olorato Mongale, a Wits University Student, whose body was found after she was on a date with the alleged killer. The Minister expressed her condolences to Olorato’s family and friends on behalf of the South African government.
Minister Ntshavheni has also made mention that the government is determined to combat Illegal immigration. The launch of a new initiative titled Operation New Broom is a technology-driven initiative by the Department of Home Affairs. The initiative aims to use this technology to arrest, convict and deport illegal immigrants in the country. This operation has already made arrests to 2 suspects who occupied land illegally in District 6, Cape Town. It uses biometric technology to verify the immigration status of suspects , eliminating any risk of fraudulent documents for court cases.
G20 Social Summit
South Africa is gearing up for the G20 social summit which will take place in November. South Africa will soon unveil its G20 summit plan and programme. The G20 summit is a platform for social movements and civil society organisations who are severely impacted by geopolitical and macroeconomic decisions made by various leaders of the 20 countries, South Africa has had the privilege of being The G20 President.
Minister Ntshavheni has expressed that the government has been holding a series of high-level meetings in preparation for the G20 summit later in the year. In these meetings discussions of financial inclusion by way of providing financial support to small and medium enterprises and also providing technology to help underprivileged populations.
The Cabinet meeting proved to be very proactive and promising as the government continues to press the sustainability of South Africa’s economic and social progress.