President Ramaphosa’s Eminent Persons Group meets to set agenda for National Dialogue amid sea of controversy.
Monday 7 July
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared the start of a national mourning period for former Deputy President David Mabuza, who will be accorded a Category 2 state funeral with military honours on Saturday. Flags will fly at half-mast until the evening of 12 July.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro to discuss global governance, artificial intelligence, climate finance, and international conflicts. The summit concludes without Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, raising fresh questions about the bloc’s cohesion following its recent expansion.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrives in Colombia for a three-day working visit.
The DA leadership will reportedly meet to discuss developments pertaining to the National Dialogue following its withdrawal from the process. President Ramaphosa has warned that failure by Agriculture Minister and DA leader John Steenhuisen to participate in the interministerial committee overseeing the dialogue would amount to insubordination – the charge that resulted in former Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield’s dismissal.
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli hand over land in Nkandla for commercial projects aimed at creating jobs for the local community.
Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velenkosini Hlabisa will announce the disbursement of disaster relief grants to support municipalities hit by the April 2025 national disasters.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts will launch the One Million Trees campaign in Pretoria.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets President Trump in Washington amid renewed efforts to broker a Gaza ceasefire. The visit follows last month’s Israeli-US assault on Iran’s nuclear sites, and comes as negotiators head to Qatar in pursuit of a 60-day truce with Hamas.
Poland introduces temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania in response to rising pressure from Germany’s stricter asylum policy.
Eurozone finance ministers meet to confirm Bulgaria’s accession to the euro from January 2026, following European Commission approval last month.
World Kiswahili Language Day is celebrated to honour Kiswahili’s role in uniting over 200 million speakers across Africa and beyond.
Day two of the second Test between Zimbabwe and South Africa gets underway at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Banyana Banyana face Ghana in their opening Group C match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Tuesday 8 July
The National Assembly will hold mini-plenaries on the Agriculture, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Home Affairs, Tourism, Treasury, and Land Reform budget votes.
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education will receive a briefing from the Department on the implementation of BELA Act regulations, with a focus on Grade R.
The Portfolio Committees on Communications & Digital Technologies, and Justice, will hold a joint briefing on efforts to address SIM card registration, fraud, and regulatory gaps under RICA.
The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts & Culture will be briefed on the integration of sport and cultural activities into the national school curriculum.
French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, starting with an address to Parliament and a state banquet.
The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting begins in Kuala Lumpur, chaired by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.
EU finance ministers convene in Brussels for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council.
The United Nations AI for Good Global Summit begins in Geneva to explore how artificial intelligence can accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Wednesday 9 July
The National Assembly will hold mini-plenaries on the budget votes for Defence & Military Veterans, Science & Innovation, Public Works & Infrastructure, Health, Water & Sanitation, and Justice & Constitutional Development.
By-elections will be held in the Free State and Gauteng, including in Metsimaholo and several wards across the City of Tshwane.
Today is the deadline for the end of President Trump’s 90-day tariff pause, with fears mounting as US-South Africa trade talks remain unresolved. Without a deal, South African exports could face duties of up to 30%, with economists warning of severe consequences for sectors such as agriculture and automotive manufacturing.
US President Donald Trump will host African leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House to discuss economic opportunities.
On this day in 2002 the African Union was officially launched to promote unity, peace, and development across the continent.
Thursday 10 July
President Cyril Ramaphosa will convene a meeting of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, and a meeting with the National Advisory Council on Corruption – both at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The National Assembly continues with budget vote debates on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Social Development, Electricity and Energy, and Basic Education.
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights will rule in the landmark case of Caster Semenya vs Switzerland. The application challenges IAAF regulations requiring intersex athletes to lower natural testosterone levels to compete.
The African Union will convene the seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
The Ukraine Recovery Conference will be held in Rome. It brings together governments, financial institutions, and civil society to support Ukraine’s recovery and long-term reconstruction.
The European Parliament will vote on a motion of censure against Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Friday 11 July
President Cyril Ramaphosa will convene a meeting of the Eminent Persons Group as part of the National Dialogue initiative. The EFF has criticised the group’s composition as ANC-aligned, while the DA has withdrawn from the dialogue completely – prompting rebukes from Ramaphosa and former President Thabo Mbeki.
The National Assembly will hold a mini-plenary debate on the Communications & Digital Technologies budget vote.
The African Union will observe African Anti-Corruption Day.
The Student Action Summit opens in Tampa Bay, Florida featuring high-profile conservative speakers including Russell Brand, Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, Kristi Noem, and Donald Trump Jr.
Banyana Banyana take on Tanzania in their second Group C match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Superman premieres in cinemas, launching the new DC Universe under director James Gunn.
Saturday 12 July
Former Deputy President David Mabuza will be laid to rest in Mpumalanga with a Category 2 state funeral, including military honours.
Palestinian Ambassador Dr Husam Zomlot will speak at the 139th Durham Miners’ Gala in the UK alongside former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
South Africa Women face Canada Women in a rugby test match, followed by the Springbok’s game against Italy at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
The Wimbledon Ladies’ Final will take place at the All England Club.
International Malala Day is observed to mark the birthday of Pakistani Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai and the global fight for girls’ access to schooling.
Sunday 13 July
The Wimbledon Men’s Final takes place on centre court, closing out the 2025 Championships.
The FIFA Club World Cup Final kicks off in New Jersey, concluding the inaugural edition of the expanded tournament.
Liverpool play their first pre-season match against Preston North End, their first outing since the tragic death of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident last week.
The Jewish mourning period known as the Three Weeks begins. It commemorates the breach of Jerusalem’s walls and the destruction of both Holy Temples – first by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and later by the Romans in 70 CE.
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