South Africa: Government Policy & Public Finance

South Africa's Portfolio Committee on Health has begun detailed deliberations on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, with illicit trade and the distinction between combustible and non-combustible products emerging as central concerns. The Committee is considering amendments to address enforcement capabilities and regulatory gaps that could undermine public health objectives.

The South African Reserve Bank's Cash Smart Strategy challenges the assumption that digital payments will replace cash, instead proposing a hybrid system where both coexist. As digital infrastructure expands unevenly across South Africa's diverse economic landscape, the strategy addresses how to maintain affordable and accessible cash while modernizing payment systems, raising critical questions about financial inclusion, regulatory oversight, and the future of payment infrastructure in emerging markets.

The African Organisation for Intellectual Property (OAPI) engaged in strategic discussions during the 2026 WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva, focusing on strengthening international cooperation and promoting innovation across member states. These high-level meetings culminated in the signing of a bilateral work plan with Morocco's industrial property office, marking a significant step in expanding IP-driven economic development partnerships across the Francophone African region.

In Kunene Rampala Inc Attorneys ("KR Inc") v North West Province Department of Education and Sport and Development ("the Department"), the Supreme Court of Appeal...

The National Development Plan 2030 (NDP), a policy document of the South African government drafted in August 2012 by the National Planning Commission...

South Africa has a budget deficit of 3.1 % of GDP and debt on government spending alone amounting to a staggering 48% of GDP.