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South Africa's human rights landscape is a complex and highly contested terrain, marked by a sharp divergence in perspectives between international observers and the national government. A 2024 US Human Rights Report paints a grim picture of deterioration, citing significant concerns over land rights, violence, and state conduct. Conversely, the South African government has strongly refuted these claims, labeling the report "inaccurate and deeply flawed" and part of a "campaign of misinformation." This briefing examines the key themes of this debate, drawing from the US report, government rebuttals, independent fact-checking, and media coverage.

A sea-cavorting social media influencer's"swimming in poo" video has sparked a much more serious problem for the tourism magnet that is Cape Town - its centuries-old practice of pumping sewerage into the sea is posing an increasing threat to its tourism boom. One of SA's leading water scientists, Prof Leslie Petrik, unpacks the issue with BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

More and more parties and organisations are withdrawing from the National Convention amid fears that the National Dialogue will become an African National Congress (ANC) monologue. In this interview with BizNews, Dr Theuns Eloff of the Afrikaner Leadership Network (ALN) says: “There are, for good reason, fears and suspicions that the Presidency has taken this over, not as a Government of National Unity, but as an ANC Presidency to steer this process into a certain way and to avert any negative criticism that can come to the ANC.” On top of that there is a real fear that the ANC could misuse the dialogue to boost its chances in local government elections next year. “It's like the ANC says we don't have enough money in our own coffers to run a campaign, let us use the National Dialogue for that. And if the ANC goes ahead alone with these things with public money, then they have a campaign. They can wage their campaign without interference from anyone else.” Furthermore, Dr Eloff expresses concern that President Cyril Ramaphosa sees the National Dialogue as his personal legacy. “It’s said in the Presidency that he wants a thousand people there because he wants to make a speech. Now that is not a National Dialogue. That is exactly an ANC monologue.” Meanwhile, Dr Eloff outlines the dialogue options open to civil society organisations.

In today's BizNews Briefing: The DTIC outlines US-SA trade relations amid looming tariffs, DA leader John Steenhuisen warns against expanding the GNU, and Cape Town’s mayor prioritises job creation and basic services. Sports Minister Gayton Mackenzie faces backlash over resurfaced racial slur tweets, while JP Morgan predicts a possible Fed rate cut in September. Elon Musk threatens legal action against Apple over OpenAI preference, and China’s Evergrande prepares to delist in a dramatic property market collapse.

In an explosive interview, investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh unpacks his undercover work that exposed rot at the Independent Development Trust — a state entity meant to serve South Africa’s poorest. From a brazen R60,000 cash bribe to offers of tender kickbacks, Myburgh details how public funds meant for clinics, schools, and oxygen plants were looted, and why corruption thrives under a culture of impunity.

The KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure Department has been hard at work the past few months to turn around the dysfunction there. In this interview with BizNews, MEC Martin Meyer gives an update of the milestones reached. He says the rot was “deep” regarding corruption and maladministration. “And even though it was a small group of officials, they were well embedded and we had to take some very strong action regarding those officials…Currently, our HOD is going through his disciplinary and four other senior officials were successfully prosecuted within the department and their services with us terminated.” He further lists various radical cost-cutting measures - including moving away from consultants - to save millions. Meanwhile, huge progress has been made to pay contractors, some of whom had been waiting five years. Furthermore, a proactive stance against the Construction Mafia has resulted in “many arrests…, and the NPA is now charging people…and in the last six months we've had zero disruptions at any of our building sites”.

Today’s BizNews Briefing features Pieter-Louis Myburgh on exposing IDT graft, Dr. Pieter Groenewald’s thoughts on revisiting the death penalty, and KZN MEC Martin Meyer on fighting corruption. Plus, Donald Trump’s controversial 15% levy on Nvidia chips to China, Taiwan’s semiconductor snub to South Africa, and Mark Bristow’s diplomatic spin after Barrick’s billion-dollar Mali mine loss.

Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald opens up to BizNews on South Africa’s broken prison system – from inmates languishing for years over R100 bail, to overcrowded cells, foreign nationals draining millions, and his controversial call to revisit corporal punishment and even the death penalty.

Big disagreements and divisions are at the heart of some major current political developments here in South Africa and abroad. We speak to columnist and commentator Jonathan Katzenellenbogen. He dissects the row between former president Thabo Mbeki and President Cyril Ramaphosa over the process for the National Dialogue; the row between Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana over prospects for a tighter inflation target; US President Donald Trump’s ongoing Tariff War and African National Congress (ANC) SG Fikile Mbalula’s defiance over possible sanctions against the party’s leaders; Trump’s upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin from which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Europeans are excluded; as well as divisions that have emerged between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Force (IDF) chiefs and allies over Gaza.

In today's BizNews Briefing: Neil de Beer demands President Ramaphosa’s resignation, while Paul O’Sullivan brands SAPS head Mkhwanazi a criminal. Plus, why South Africa’s Taiwan downgrade risks cutting off critical semiconductor supplies - and how AI is already shaking India’s outsourcing industry.