Frontrunner Cyril Ramaphosa draws up his final "top six" shortlist for ANC congress

Foreign investor visas divide Pretoria in midst of economic slump 

Several Western countries are pushing South Africa to set up a system to grant foreign companies visas for their staff based on the amount of money they invest in the country. But the government, against a backdrop of growing nationalism and mass unemployment, is split on the issue.

Cyril Ramaphosa deploys Operation Vulindlela to sidestep defiant ministers 

The government's Operation Vulindlela, jointly run by the presidency and the treasury, is trying to implement structural reforms in several key sectors of the South African economy, from transport to telecommunications and visas.

Ramaphosa's international relations expert, Ramokgopa, sees her star continue to rise 

The president's international relations adviser Maropene Ramokgopa is preparing for the diplomatic marathon that will take Cyril Ramaphosa to Nairobi and London. She is also playing a key role in the run-up to the ANC congress in December.

Parastatals Eskom, Denel and others drag feet on annual reporting to Parliament 

Several state-controlled entities have not complied with the obligation to submit a detailed financial annual report by 30 September. The situation highlights South Africa's recurring governance problem.

• GUINEA - Djami Diallo, key to negotiations on the Simandou iron ore project

• KENYA - Ogutu Okudo, oil specialist and Odinga's spin doctor

• SOUTH AFRICA - Maropene Ramokgopa, the pro-Ramaphosa leader of the ANC Women's League

• GHANA - Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, social and environmental spokesperson for the cocoa industry