The ANC has given itself until end-July to announce who it will be fielding in the three Gauteng metros, as the race to take Johannesburg intensifies, while the IEC gears up for its final voter registration weekend.
Politics
Ramaphosa to address Pan-African Parliament
On Monday morning President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the opening of the Seventh Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). The opening session, at the PAP headquarters in Midrand, will be held under the African Union’s 2026 Theme: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.”
Extended Cabinet Lekgotla to address strategic priorities
Ramaphosa will chair a meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday at the Sefako M Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria before the start of the Cabinet Lekgotla, which will take place over Wednesday and Thursday at the same venue. The lekgotla, announced in January, will focus on the implementation of the strategic priorities in the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024/2029. These priorities include: inclusive growth and job creation; reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living; and building a capable, ethical and developmental State.
IEC to brief media on final Voter Registration Weekend
The Electoral Commission (IEC) will brief the media on its state of readiness for the second and final voter registration weekend, to be held on Saturday and Sunday (1 and 2 August). The briefing will be held on Wednesday afternoon at Election House in Centurion.
Impeachment committee to proceed with behind-the-scenes work
Despite Ramaphosa’s successful application to interdict public hearings by the Phala Phala impeachment committee, the committee is continuing with its preparatory work. On Wednesday the committee is expected to meet to finalise the appointment of an evidence leader and approve its terms of reference.
ANC to finally announce its mayoral candidates?
The ANC is expected to announce its mayoral candidates for the metro municipalities by the end of July, which will be Friday. Frontrunners for the three Gauteng metros are: the Reverend Frank Chikane in Johannesburg, Aaron Maluleke in Tshwane, and Ntombi Mekgwe in Ekurhuleni.
Launch of Women’s Month 2026
Saturday 1 August is the official start of Women’s Month, and Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities will inaugurate the government’s programme for the month. The launch will take place on Saturday morning through the EmpowerHer Market Trade Fair, held at the Durban Olive Convention Centre in Durban,
Economics
9th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week
Regional policymakers and investors will gather at the Durban International Convention Centre from Monday to Friday next week to strengthen Southern African industrial capacity, agricultural expansion, and critical minerals transformation. President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver the keynote address
Leading Business Cycle indicator (May 2026)
On Tuesday morning the Reserve Bank will release its latest economic cyclical data, including the May leading business cycle indicator. April’s month-on-month growth was a negative -1.8%, the first month of contraction since September 2025. May’s month-on-month growth is expected to be slightly positive and not quite regaining the lost ground in April.
Producer Price Index / producer inflation (June 2026)
StatsSA will release the producer price numbers on Thursday morning. Month-on-month growth is expected to continue its decline from a record 3.0% in April and 2.6% in May but year-on-year growth will remain elevated at around 8% due to base effects.
The South Africa Brief in the news
Launch of a five-part article and podcast series
For the next five weeks, The South Africa Brief, supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), is producing a five-part article and podcast series examining how South Africa’s political landscape has shifted since the 2024 elections, the state of the main parties heading into the local government elections (LGE), the contested metro battlegrounds, the future of coalition politics, and the scenarios confronting the Government of National Unity (GNU). The first article will be published this week on Tuesday followed by a podcast on Thursday.
This article is published courtesy of The South Africa Brief, a political newsletter published on Substack which is a collaboration between Paul Berkowitz and Jonathan Moakes. It provides analysis and insight into the new, uncertain era of South African politics heralded by the 2024 general election. Including a specific focus on municipal politics, it will provide full analysis in the run-up to this year’s municipal polls.
Top image collage: Rawpixel; Currency.
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