Here are seven things we are watching in SA politics this week

1. G20

South Africa assumed the Group of 20 (G20) Presidency on 1 December, the apogee of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s time in office. Expect a year of meetings, nimble diplomatic footwork and many blue-light cavalcades as Johannesburg gets set to host this meeting of G20 leaders in November 2025.

2. ANC hauls in KwaZulu-Natal leaders

The ANC lost the May 2024 elections in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where voting citizens finally delinked from historic loyalties to tie their votes to service. On Monday, 2 December, the ANC National Working Committee will call in leaders from KwaZulu-Natal to explain what happened. There has been much talk of the centre taking over the provinces, but we don’t think that will happen.

3. Electricity minister presents Eskom’s energy plan

On Wednesday, 4 December, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will present Eskom’s update to Parliament. Expect an outlook and a detailed briefing on the current restructuring of the electricity utility.

4. Public Works – an anti-corruption update

The Public Works Department and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) are in Parliament on Friday, 6 December. Together, they will give an update on all the outstanding corruption cases in this department, which has been knee-capped over many years by property leasing and other graft scandals.

5. GNU’s tension over Bela Act on display

Tension over the suspended language and admission clauses in the Bela Act is getting messy. President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed a Nedlac agreement reached by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube last week while he’s still consulting stakeholders. The issue is also in front of the Government of National Unity’s (GNU’s) Clearing House Mechanism, led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile. 

6. Ghana goes to the polls

On 7 December, Ghana goes to the polls. Will the New Patriotic Party of candidate Mahamudu Bawumia be unseated by the wave taking out incumbents? He is running against National Democratic Congress opposition candidate John Mahama. Unemployment, infrastructure and healthcare are the top three issues driving the election, according to Afrobarometer.

7. Red Berets pack for Joburg

The final big date on the South African political schedule is the EFF Elective Conference at Nasrec from 12 December to 15 December. You can read our update here. DM