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No lawbreaking for Starlink in South Africa, says Ramaphosa

No lawbreaking for Starlink in South Africa, says Ramaphosa

TimesLIVE4 days ago

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will not bend its laws to accommodate billionaire Elon Musk's Starlink.
In replies to questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday, Ramaphosa addressed concerns raised by the EFF about potential legal loopholes for the satellite internet provider.
The EFF questioned whether the government would ensure Starlink complies with South African laws, accusing the government of using B-BBEE policies to funnel billions to politically connected individuals.
'We will never take any measures or any acts that are going to militate against our constitution or violate the laws of our country,' Ramaphosa replied.
'We will always seek to act in accordance with our laws and constitution. We will follow the law as much as we possibly can; do not fear that we will violate the law.'

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MKP, Shivambu tussle signs of deeper conflict
MKP, Shivambu tussle signs of deeper conflict

IOL News

time3 hours ago

  • IOL News

MKP, Shivambu tussle signs of deeper conflict

MKP President Jacob Zuma. At all times, the unity and interests of the organisations should supersede those of individuals irrespective of their standing in the organisation, says the writer. Professor Sipho P. Seepe Reactions to and commentary on Floyd Shivambu's press conference have come fast and furiously from many quarters. This is understandable. First, Shivambu is no ordinary politician. He was part of the formidable leadership of the ANC Youth League led by Julius Malema. The two were pivotal in the formation of EFF, its policy framework, and its electoral appeal. Shivambu's political shift to the Umkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) after the 2024 national election caused a stir. His position as Secretary General placed him at the hub of the new party. As a person of considerable stature in all of these political parties, with ready access to confidential decision-making and information, he was regarded as a trusted comrade. 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Doing so provides him with an opportunity to leave the party with a modicum of dignity. Others have argued that MKP's decision to renege on its promises to deploy Shivambu in parliament was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Shivambu arguably used the presser to present an exaggerated version of the party's challenges with a view of positioning himself as Mr Fixer who has fallen victim to scoundrels. Stripped of all the hype, recent developments in the MKP carry lessons for political parties, organisations, and leaders. Organisations are fundamentally imperfect. They are comprised of imperfect individuals. Imperfections manifest themselves in various forms. These include the inability to manage individual ambitions, personal jealousies, and differences of a personal and political nature. Robust organisations survive these. Those who lack the maturity to handle these subjective imperfections fall by the wayside. MKP risks going the same as the Congress of the People. 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At all times, the unity and interests of the organisations should supersede those of individuals irrespective of their standing in the organisation. A party should be prepared to sacrifice delinquent members for the sake of its in parties should learn not to overestimate their importance. We have instances of presidents and ministers who upon assuming office start believing that they are bigger than the very party that catapulted them into office. They forget that their support is derived from their association with the party. This also goes to misreading the sympathetic support one receives after being mistreated by one's own. Very few individuals have been able to turn their misfortune into a stepping stone to reinvent themselves. The formations of both the EFF and MKP come to mind. Malema and Zuma relied on their personal charm and political populism to relaunch themselves. Shivambu, even with his strong political acumen and ideology has largely played second fiddle than being at the top. His latest utterings may have brought his character into question. Glen Sungano Mpani said, "If the ANC is directionless, the EFF a cult, and MK a gathering of the gullible led by scoundrels—then what does that make the man who has sat at the table of all three? If you've danced with the directionless, pledged loyalty to the cult, and sought refuge among the gullible—what does that say about your political judgment? Your character? Why should anyone entrust their hopes, their future, their leadership… to you? Leadership is not about who you abandon—it's about what you stand for." For now, the jury is out on whether Shivambu can pull the same stunt as what Malema and Zuma achieved. * Professor Sipho P. Seepe Higher Education & Strategy Consultant

DA threatens motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa
DA threatens motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa

eNCA

time10 hours ago

  • eNCA

DA threatens motion of no confidence in Ramaphosa

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DA will not leave GNU or table motion against Ramaphosa despite Whitfield firing
DA will not leave GNU or table motion against Ramaphosa despite Whitfield firing

Mail & Guardian

time13 hours ago

  • Mail & Guardian

DA will not leave GNU or table motion against Ramaphosa despite Whitfield firing

DA Leader John Steenhuisen. (Delwyn Verasamy / M&G) Despite feeling hard-done-by over the firing of one of its deputy ministers, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will not leave the government of national unity (GNU) or table a motion of no confidence against President However, the party said on Saturday it was withdrawing from a DA leader The DA had earlier in the week — after Whitfield's axing — given Ramaphosa a 48-hour ultimatum to similarly fire corruption‑accused ministers Ramaphosa responded that he would not be swayed by threats or ultimatums, insisting that he had acted within his constitutional powers in letting Whitfield go. On Saturday Steenhuisen said the DA would remain in the GNU despite how it had been treated, arguing that leaving would open South Africa to a 'coalition of chaos and destruction' with disastrous consequences, through the inclusion of radical parties such as the 'We've said to South Africans when we went into the GNU that we're here for the best interests of South Africa,' he said. 'We do not believe that it is the best interest of South Africa for the current GNU to collapse and for a coalition of chaos or corruption to follow, because the feeding frenzy that would then result from MK or the EFF getting into office and other parties will be significant.' But he added: 'Things have to change. They cannot stay the same as they are, and the ANC needs to start realizing that we are part of a coalition. Being part of a coalition means that you show respect to your coalition partners. I have shown nothing but respect to the president throughout the term of the GNU, and we will continue to do so — but it is only fair that respect is reciprocated.' Steenhuisen dared Ramaphosa to eject the DA out of the coalition government, telling journalists: 'If the ANC wants to kick the DA out for fighting corruption, well, so be it.' He said tabling a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa was still on the table. 'We understand the concerns that many South Africans have about what will follow once Ramaphosa is removed from office. However, I want to be honest that, in the DA's view, the president is failing to uphold his word to act against corruption and fast becoming indistinguishable from the 'Now, while the federal executive decided not to table a motion of no confidence at this stage, it is clear that the DA is losing confidence in the president's ability to act as a leader — not only of the ANC but of the GNU, of which we are the second-largest component.' The DA also announced its withdrawal from the national dialogue which is expected to bring citizens together to address corruption, gender-based violence, unemployment, and other social ills. 'It is clear the dialogue will be nothing more than a waste of time and money — a distraction from ANC failures. This explains why they are so obsessed with it; it's clearly an electioneering ploy at taxpayers' expense to gloss over the serious crises they have plunged South Africa into,' Steenhuisen said. 'The dialogue has no constitutional standing to impose decisions. Frankly, if the president cannot meaningfully engage with his coalition partners, there is little point pretending this is anything more than an ANC-run national dialogue.' He added that the DA would mobilise civil society to oppose what he called an 'obscene waste' of over R700 million of public funds. It would demand that the dialogue not proceed unless Ramaphosa removed corrupt ANC individuals from the national executive. 'The reality is, no matter what the dialogue resolves — no matter how many noble resolutions or feel-good moments — it will not bring meaningful change if the same corrupt individuals remain in cabinet. The people of South Africa should not be taken for fools.' The DA would also vote against upcoming budget proposals for departments led by Simelane, Nkabane, and other corruption‑accused ministers and persist until those ministers were removed, Steenhuisen said. He defended Whitfield for his US trip, which he said was not a government one. 'He went to a party function—there were no meetings at the White House or anything of that nature. He was there as a member of the DA. It was a party-funded trip, not paid for by the government, and despite repeated follow-ups, he has never received a response.' The DA would submit a name to replace Whitfield as deputy minister, Steenhuisen added. 'It is a DA decision, and once again, the fact that we have six ministers and six deputy ministers in the GNU shows how we are committed to South Africa.'

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