Ramaphosa to address nation on Sunday on Mkhwanazi's allegations
On Sunday Mkhwanazi alleged deputy national commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya obstructed justice, stalled investigations into political assassinations and organised crime and shielded politically connected suspects by taking control of more than 120 sensitive dockets. Mkhwanazi said that was done without the authority of the national or provincial commissioner.
Further allegations implicated the minister of police, suggesting links to controversial figures such as Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who faces serious criminal charges, but reportedly remains politically protected while benefiting from lucrative SAPS contracts.
At the time he made the allegations, Ramaphosa was outside the country attending a Brics summit in Brazil. However, he noted the statements, saying the matter is of grave national security concern.
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IOL News
40 minutes ago
- IOL News
US tariffs threaten local jobs, but we can still be competitive
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IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Cyril Ramaphosa advised to adopt diplomacy amid US sanctions threat
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While Ramaphosa's administration was still trying to navigate the US's 30% tariff on the country and Trump's Executive Order, US Congressman Ronny Jackson proposed US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, which seeks to impose sanctions against some ANC leaders accused of, among others, supporting China, Russia, and Iran, and mismanaging state resources. The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has already passed the bill and is now awaiting tabling at the full House of Representatives for a vote. US embassy spokesperson Rubani Trimiew declined to comment, saying the questions about the bill should be directed to the members of Congress who proposed it. Jackson did not respond to questions emailed to him on Friday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The bill, which the South African Communist Party described in April as an imperialist agenda, accused Ramaphosa and former International Relations and Cooperation minister Naledi Pandor of being pro-Palestinian and Hamas and anti-Israel. Ngcobo, who described the bill as concerning, said the president and ministers have to be diplomatic in how they comment on issues that are sensitive to the US, as South Africa is still negotiating a trade deal and repairing its relations with the US. 'They have to be willing to compromise to gain bigger things that we are trying to achieve. 'Criticising Trump publicly will not benefit South Africa in any way, so they need to find a strategy to air their thoughts without being aggressive,' said Ngcobo. Ngcobo said that since South Africa is not a global influencer, it should take a beggar's approach. 'We are not Russia or China, we don't have the economic and military strength to counter the US, because even continentally, our influence is weaker than before. 'With the Democratic Republic of Congo, we could not mediate, and that peace was mediated by the US, which shows that we won't get much global support. 'This means that South Africa would have to beg,' she said. It remained unclear which individual ANC members would be the targets of the proposed act. However, the bill specifically mentioned Pandor, who is an ANC veteran, Ramaphosa, ANC president, party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, and Ebrahim Rasool, an ANC activist whom the US expelled as the ambassador. It blamed Pandor for saying in 2024 that Israeli-South Africans would be arrested for fighting in the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza 'upon their return home and could strip them of their South African citizenship.' It said Pandor also encouraged protests outside the United States Embassy. 'Pandor called for the International Criminal Court to issue an immediate arrest warrant charging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with violations of international criminal law. 'On October 14, 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa accused Israel of 'genocide' in statements during a pro-Palestinian rally. 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'It would be key individuals whom they know the sanction would affect their operations. 'At this point, I am not sure who they are targeting,' she said. AfriForum, which had been accused of badmouthing the country in the US, welcomed the bill as a weapon to implement targeted sanctions against corrupt and extremist South African politicians. "AfriForum maintains that ordinary citizens should not be punished for the extremism and corruption of politicians. 'AfriForum has never advocated for sanctions that target South Africa as a whole. 'Therefore, the introduction of targeted sanctions against these politicians will be a welcome development,' said AfriForum's public relations head, Ernst van Zyl. Ramaphosa took a wait-and-see stance, saying the bill still has a long way to go before reaching the final stage, as after the House of Representatives vote, it will proceed to the Senate for final consideration. 'Our bilateral dealings and engagements with the United States will continue, and we'll talk about all manner of things - including this issue.' 'We are very positive that the outcome of our engagements with the United States will be comprehensive and all-encompassing, so we can return to good deals with the United States,' he said. On behalf of the ANC, Bhengu-Motsiri said: 'Remember, we come from a history where sanctions were imposed against the apartheid system. 'The ANC was also isolated by countries that worked closely with the apartheid regime, including the United States,' she said. Zimbabwe's Zanu–PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the sanctions, which started in 2000, failed to bring his country to its knees.
Mail & Guardian
5 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Kenny Kunene steps away from Joburg and PA roles
Suspended Patriotic Allianc deputy president Kenny Kunene. (X) Suspended Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene has resigned from his roles in the City of Johannesburg. His resignation follows his official suspension from the PA pending an investigation into his relationship with murder-accused Katiso 'TK' Molefe, who was this week arrested for allegedly orchestrating Oupa Sefoka (DJ Sumbody's) murder in 2022. Kunene has agreed to 'cooperate with an investigation' and will step aside from his political role in the Patriotic Alliance until he is cleared of the allegations. He will also not act and work in any official capacity in the party while on suspension, its leader Gayton McKenzie said in a statement. Kunene tendered his resignation as Proportional Representation Councillor and transport MMC in the city of Johannesburg with immediate effect. 'I am stepping aside from public life, for a period, while my party satisfies itself to certain allegations that have been raised against me, which are unfounded, but I have nevertheless agreed it would be in the public interest for me to await the clearing of my name before considering a return to public service and duty,' Kunene said in a statement. This week, Kunene, who also owns the online publication African News Global, said the purpose of his visit to Molefe's property was to facilitate an exclusive interview on various topics for one of his journalists. He added that he only knew Molefe from a distance. Molefe was arrested for allegedly orchestrating DJ Sumbody's murder in 2022, and he was also on R100 000 bail for another murder case at the time of his arrest. The Democratic Alliance, which has been critical of the Patriotic Alliance following these recent revelations, said it notes Kunene's resignation, but demands investigations into the projects that Kunene was overseeing. These include a full investigation into all contracts and procurement processes at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), a full investigation into the contractors and procurement of the Lilian Ngoyi street repairs and a full investigation into contracts, appointments and procurement processes at the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC). 'Should the executive mayor fail to respond to the DA within seven days, the DA will use all avenues at our disposal, including approaching law enforcement with the information available to us, to hold the executive mayor as shareholder representative himself responsible for the alleged irregularities at JRA and MTC,' the party's Johannesburg caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku said in a statement.
