Gwede Mantashe steps in as acting president
This temporary appointment comes as both President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile undertake simultaneous Working Visits abroad.
President Ramaphosa left for the United States and will arrive in Washington, DC, later today, 19 May 2025. Deputy President Mashatile is currently on a separate visit to the Republic of France.
President Ramaphosa's trip to Washington includes high-level engagements aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between South Africa and the United States.
Among the highlights of the visit is a scheduled meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation, trade, and global peace and security matters.
Officials view the visit as a strategic opportunity to deepen ties between the two nations and foster collaboration within multilateral platforms such as the G20 and BRICS.
According to SABC News , the South African delegation plans to address international concerns and misperceptions, reaffirming the country's commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and constructive global engagement.
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
24 minutes ago
- The South African
Malema sings 'Kill The Boer' at EFF's 12th birthday celebration
Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema has done it again by performing the controversial struggle song, Kill The Boer , at the party's 12th birthday celebration. The outspoken politician has been widely criticised for choosing to sing the song, despite it being cleared as freedom of speech. In May, US President Donald Trump publicly condemned the song's 'call to action'. Pretoria-born billionaire businessman Elon Musk and UK media personality Piers Morgan have also criticised the 'racist' lyrics of the song. Over the weekend, the EFF celebrated its 12th birthday with an event in Cape Town. Unlike its grand 2023 anniversary celebration that took place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the party erected a makeshift stage at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium. The celebration was not complete without leader Julius Malema performing Kill The Boer. Malema has repeatedly claimed that he would continue to sing Kill The Boer at public gatherings. He said in a media conference in May: 'There are courts in South Africa, and the courts have said, there is nothing wrong with this song. This is not my song; I did not compose this song. I found this song. The struggle heroes composed this song. All I am doing is defending the legacy of a struggle; this is the heritage of our struggle. 'I will never stop singing a song that Winnie Mandela sang before she died. That would be a betrayal to the struggle of our people'. Kill The Boer – titled Dubul' ibhunu – made headlines when anti-Apartheid activist Peter Mokaba sang the song at a memorial for his assassinated comrade, Peter Mokaba, in 1993. It was also sung by former South African President Jacob Zuma during many ANC events. Over the years, Malema has also sung the controversial song at various EFF political rallies and even at a funeral. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
'I don't want to clap him': Helen Zille speaks out on Liam Jacobs
Helen Zille has broken her silence on Liam Jacob's shock decision to leave the Democratic Alliance (DA) in favour of the Patriotic Alliance (PA). The former party leader claimed that there were 'no hard feelings' over the young MP's defection to the opposition. Speaking to EWN this week, Helen Zille commented on former DA MP Liam Jacob's decision to suddenly leave the party for another he had publicly criticised. She said: 'I like Liam, and I got on well with Liam. I don't want to clap him in any way. Helen hinted that there were no hard feelings on her end. She continued: 'It takes many years in politics to know that getting bashed about is part of what you bought into. And to know that you mustn't take yourself too seriously, and to know that you're going to get clapped from every single angle. You just have to dust yourself and get on with it.' The DA federal council chair alluded to Liam Jacobs's age and somewhat inexperience in politics. She added, 'Young people come in and get into the spotlight and enjoy the limelight. But the minute you get the spotlight, the next thing is that you're going to have your head cut off. And you're going to have to survive it. It takes some hard knocks to get to that point. 'I say to young people that when you get disillusioned, when you get angry, just remind yourself that there has never been a single person who left the DA who wasn't sorry afterwards'. @nexwavesa #NexWaveSA #HelenZille #LiamJacobs #ActionSA #SouthAfricanPolitics #PoliticalDrama #SAnews #WesternCapePolitics #CoalitionTalks #BreakingNewsSA ♬ original sound – nexwavesa In a Facebook Live with Patriotic Alliance president Gayton McKenzie and MP Ashley Sauls last month, Liam Jacobs revealed why he chose to leave the blue party for the green one. The 24-year-old is known for his bold questions in parliament and thought-provoking videos on social media. Liam claimed that in a recent parliamentary committee meeting, during which he critiqued the leadership of the National Arts Council, Gayton said something that touched him 'deep in my soul.' Gayton McKenzie has praised Liam Jacobs's decision to join the Patriotic Alliance. Images via Facebook: @gaytonmck He said of Gayton's words: 'He said to me, 'You call me a dictator when your party doesn't have one coloured person as a minister or deputy minister, despite coloured people making up the overwhelming majority of the vote'. When he said that, it was a moment when I swallowed my breath. At that moment, I knew it was time to come home'. He added, 'I knew I was being used. 'I feel genuinely loved and welcomed here. I am finally home'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Patriotic Alliance crisis — McKenzie set to announce next move in Kunene saga
All eyes will be on the Patriotic Alliance as it seeks to clarify the next steps in the ongoing Kenny Kunene saga after his resignation from the City of Johannesburg council. On Monday, 28 July, Patriotic Alliance (PA) president Gayton McKenzie is expected to announce the party's new representative in the City of Johannesburg following the resignation of Kenny Kunene, the party's deputy president. Kunene resigned as councillor and as Johannesburg mayoral committee member (MMC) for transport on 25 July after he was found at the Sandton house of murder accused Katiso 'KT' Molefe earlier in the week when police were there to arrest Molefe. Party spokesperson Steve Motale told Daily Maverick that, as the party, 'we believe in the innocence' of Kunene. Kunene has been suspended from PA activities for 30 days while an internal investigation is under way. However, Motale said there was no replacement for Kunene and he 'remains the deputy president'. Kunene would return to work as soon as the investigation had been concluded. McKenzie is expected to issue an update on Kunene on Monday, in an address to party followers on Facebook. Kunene made headlines after he was seen at the home of Molefe, who was arrested in connection with the killing of Oupa Sefoka, popularly known as DJ Sumbody, in a 2022 drive-by shooting in Woodmead, Johannesburg. He died alongside his bodyguard after the vehicle they were travelling in was peppered with bullets. As Daily Maverick reported, Kunene claimed he was not friends with Molefe, but had visited the Sandton house in his capacity as owner of online publication African News Global. He had gone there with an unnamed individual who had arranged for Kunene's media company to conduct an exclusive interview with Molefe. Alongside Kunene was an unnamed journalist who would be conducting the interview. In a media blitz last week Kunene claimed to be in the process of removing himself from the publication owing to time constraints, and handing it over to young journalists. McKenzie described Kunene as his brother, and the two are godparents to each other's children. Kunene, McKenzie said, 'would never get involved with murders. That's not him. He's a good man.' Kunene's suspension and resignations On Friday, 25 July, McKenzie posted on X about his communication with party secretary-general Chinelle Stevens about Kunene's suspension as PA deputy president. In his letter, McKenzie said this came from engagements with Kunene 'regarding certain allegations that have arisen against him. These relate to a public perception that his provided reasons for being found at the home of an alleged member of a murder syndicate should be tested.' According to McKenzie, Kunene 'has agreed to cooperate with an investigation, which will be led by a competent legal team. Until such time as he is fully cleared, he has agreed to step aside from his political role in the PA, and he will therefore not act and work in any official capacity in the party while on suspension.' Kunene then also resigned as councillor and transport MMC, in letters addressed to Johannesburg council speaker Margarete Arnolds and mayor Dada Morero. This is the hardest letter I ever had to write in my entire life, for sake of full transparency I am putting it here. — Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 26, 2025 As Daily Maverick has reported, only Morero has the prerogative to remove or replace MMCs, which he can do at any time and without council approval, according to section 60 of the Municipal Systems Act. This crisis has engulfed the PA during a week in which it won another by-election – in the DA heartland of Drakenstein (Paarl, Wellington) – as the party steadily makes inroads across the country in terms of electoral support at local government level. It is also part of the Government of National Unity. The DA in Johannesburg said it noted Kunene's resignation. Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, the party's Johannesburg caucus leader, said in a statement that even though Kunene was no longer a councillor, the party still demanded an investigation of 'all contracts and procurement processes at the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA); full investigation into the contractors and procurement of the Lilian Ngoyi Street Repairs; full investigation into contracts, appointments and procurement processes at the Metropolitan Trading Company (MTC)'. Kunene, as transport MMC, had direct political oversight of these processes, organisations and projects. Daily Maverick's ongoing reporting in Johannesburg reveals potholes, unstable leadership and service delivery problems, from water to roads. Kayser-Echeozonjoku said: 'Should the Executive Mayor fail to respond to the DA within 7 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.' Kunene's resignation from the mayoral committee comes as a reshuffle is due for Morero, since Arnolds is no longer the finance MMC after becoming speaker. Motale told Daily Maverick that the PA still had a seat on the mayoral committee and Morero would communicate the next steps soon. Good party councillor in Johannesburg, Matthew Cook, said that 'while questions remain regarding his relationship with murder-accused Katiso 'KT' Molefe, we acknowledge Kunene's decision to step aside as a responsible and necessary step in defence of public trust.' Cook, who is the party's national chairperson, said: 'Kunene's resignation, while not an admission of wrongdoing, demonstrates a degree of maturity often absent in local government. His departure allows space for due process, transparency and a fair resolution in the interest of all parties involved.' He continued: 'Johannesburg has no shortage of urgent issues demanding attention: collapsing infrastructure, growing commuter frustrations, service delivery backlogs and a need to overhaul the city's transport networks. These challenges require an MMC that is fully focused, credible and above reproach.' He said: 'Good remains committed to placing the interests of Johannesburg's residents above politics. We support all efforts to promote ethical governance, safeguard due process and reinforce a culture of accountability, transparency and dignity in local government.' DM
