For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Opposition parties slams leadership instability following SAPS Commissioner’s suspension; Ramaphosa warns global inequality entrenches poverty, calls for independent panel to be recognised; And, Senegal's Washington trip leaves investors uneasy

Opposition parties slams leadership instability following SAPS Commissioner’s suspension

The Inkatha Freedom Party and ActionSA have expressed concerns with the growing leadership instability in the country’s security cluster, following the precautionary suspension of National Police Commissioner general Fannie Masemola.

Yesterday President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Masemola following his appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court earlier in the week.

Masemola faces four counts of violating the Public Finance Management Act. The charges relate to his role as the South African Police Service accounting officer and involves a contract awarded to Medicare24, a company linked to businessman Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.

In the meantime, Ramaphosa appointed SAPS Divisional Commissioner for Financial Management Services Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as the Acting National Commissioner of Police.

IFP Chief Whip in the National Assembly Nhlanhla Hadebe noted Dimpane’s appointment but warned that a "growing trend" of temporary leadership is undermining national security.

ActionSA maintained that while decisive action is necessary to protect SAPS's integrity, “repeated reactive interventions" underscore what the party believes is a deeper failure of leadership and oversight at the highest levels of government.

Ramaphosa warns global inequality entrenches poverty, calls for independent panel to be recognised

President Cyril Ramaphosa declared global inequality as one of the most pressing threats to human progress, warning that it stunts development, wastes human potential and entrenches poverty.

Addressing the Consultative Council of the Founding Committee of the International Panel on Inequality, at the Wits School of Governance, in Johannesburg, he highlighted that where inequality exists, opportunity is scarce, and where opportunity is scarce, potential is wasted, ultimately stopping progress.

He argued that humanity cannot advance while many of the world’s people are denied the fundamentals such as water, food, shelter, education, employment, and security.

Ramaphosa emphasised that inequality threatens the stability of societies and the sustainability of economies.

The International Panel on Inequality represents a concrete opportunity to confront this emergency, Ramaphosa said, noting that this is an opportunity to bring together governments and peoples from different countries to help the world understand and address inequality.

He highlighted the need for “coordinated multilateral action”.

And, Senegal's Washington trip leaves investors uneasy

Senegal's talks with the International Monetary Fund at the Spring Meetings in Washington last week were touted as the next step for debt-distressed Dakar's efforts to clinch a new loan programme.

Instead, officials from the West African nation held no investor briefings last week and were largely absent from the hallways of the World Bank, the Fund and the many conferences governments usually use to make their pitch, attendees said.

That follows months of limited information-sharing with the Fund, two sources close to the situation said.

Senegal's $40-billion economy has been in turmoil since 2024, when the new government disclosed debts not reported by the previous administration - and now estimated to stand at $13-billion. In response, the IMF froze its financing.

Dakar has been in talks with the Fund for both a crucial debt-misreporting waiver, which would allow it to avoid repaying any of the previous loan and also to seek a new bailout lending plan.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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