Latest news with #AfriForum
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
US moves closer to sanctions on ANC leaders: Ordinary citizens shouldn't be punished
US moves closer to sanctions on ANC leaders: Ordinary citizens shouldn't be punished – AfriForum Tensions between South Africa and the United States have escalated after a US congressional committee approved a bill that could pave the way for sanctions against ANC officials and senior members of government. According to The Witness, the US–South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025, introduced by Republican congressman Ronny Jackson in April, was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee this week with minor amendments, bringing it closer to a full vote in the House of Representatives. The bill calls for a review of the entire relationship between the two nations, citing South Africa's growing alignment with 'malign actors', including Hamas, China and Russia. It also seeks to identify South African officials eligible for sanctions. Jackson, a vocal ally of US President Donald Trump, said on social media: 'The days of allowing our so-called 'allies' to walk all over us are over!' AfriForum welcomes progress AfriForum welcomed the development, saying it supports 'targeted sanctions' rather than blanket penalties on the country. 'Ordinary citizens should not be punished for the extremism and corruption of politicians,' said Ernst van Zyl, the organisation's head of public relations. ANC's response Deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane said the party was prepared to 'sacrifice' in the name of justice and sovereignty. 'Throughout our struggle, we know that leaders had to sacrifice. We will continue to pay the price of standing for justice, humanity, equality and the rule of law,' she said. She added that ANC allies, including Cuba, had been sanctioned by the US, but the party would not compromise. 'We will continue to speak for ourselves. But who are we when it was just a few years ago that Nelson Mandela was removed from the list of terrorists? The struggle continues.' Relations between the US and South Africa have soured in recent months under Trump's second term. In May, Trump revoked aid funding to South Africa and imposed 30% tariffs on all SA exports to the US, citing what he claimed was a 'persistent trade deficit'. The tariffs take effect from August 1. Additionally, former SA ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled earlier this year and has not been replaced. The US reportedly rejected Mcebisi Jonas as a special envoy, further straining ties. Trade union Solidarity has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently repair diplomatic relations and recommit to a non-aligned stance. 'This must include co-operation on terrorism, military and intelligence matters,' said Solidarity's Jaco Kleynhans. Solidarity is also lobbying the US government directly and plans to meet with US lawmakers before the final vote on the bill. The Presidency has not yet issued a formal response to the bill's advancement. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Big move in US Bill's bid to sanction ANC officials
The Bill was introduced by Republican representative Ronny Jackson, who took to social media on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone. US President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 21 May 2025. Picture: AFP A Bill to review the bilateral relationship between the United States (US) and South Africa, and to impose sanctions on government and ANC officials, has made significant progress. The US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 (H.R.2633) was introduced in April and this week moved through US Congress' foreign affairs committee with minor amendments. This paves the way for the Bill to be debated and voted upon. It was introduced by Republican representative Ronny Jackson, who took to social media on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone. 'Today, my Bill to fully review America's relationship with South Africa and give President Trump the tools necessary to hold their corrupt government accountable passed through committee. The days of allowing our so-called 'allies' to walk all over us are over!' Afriforum welcomes the move In reaction, head of public relations at AfriForum, Ernst van Zyl, said the ANC's 'years of reckless and extremist diplomatic actions and rhetoric are now bearing bitter fruit'. 'AfriForum maintains that ordinary citizens of the country 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,' Van Zyl added. This is a developing story
IOL News
3 days ago
- General
- IOL News
AfriForum criticises City of Tshwane for neglecting fire safety at municipal sites
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department raises concerns over fire hazards in Tshwane cemeteries as dry season approaches, urging landowners to adhere to legal guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Image: Supplied Civil rights organisation AfriForum has accused the City of Tshwane of failing to maintain municipal sites, including cemeteries, which pose significant fire hazards as the fire season approaches in August. This criticism follows last week's warning by the city to landowners and fire protection associations to comply with key fire prevention regulations in order to prevent, predict, manage, and extinguish veld fires. The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department urged landowners to adhere to the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, enacted in 1998, to provide guidelines for managing and preventing veld fires. Additionally, property owners were informed about the City of Tshwane Fire Brigade Service bylaw, published in 2016, outlining specific rules for fire safety in Tshwane. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Tshwane Emergency Services Department, Lindsay Mnguni said: 'It is common cause that lives are often lost as a result of veld, forest and mountain fires, with rural people suffering enormous damage to their livestock and homesteads during the fire season.' He explained that the fire season is rampant during the dry winter months in Gauteng. "Large-scale losses to the forestry industry are also incurred regularly. However, dangerous and destructive fire incidents remain an existential threat throughout the year," he said. However, AfriForum has slammed the city for applying double safety standards, pressuring private landowners and fire protection associations to comply with fire safety regulations while failing to adhere to the same standards itself. Tarien Cooks, AfriForum's disaster management specialist, said the civil rights organisation fully supports the metro's call to observe relevant fire prevention legislation and regulations. However, she said, the metro must also adhere to legal requirements as well, in order to ensure the safety of people, animals and infrastructure from fire risks. She mentioned that the law outlines that property owners or occupiers must ensure their premises don't pose a fire hazard to neighbouring properties due to overgrown vegetation, such as grass, weeds, reeds, shrubs, or trees. However, she pointed out that the city consistently fails to comply with the same bylaw, despite it applying to the metro as well. AfriForum expressed concern about various cemeteries and other municipal sites, such as open fields and veld strips adjacent to roads in the metro, citing them as serious fire hazards due to poor maintenance. Cooks said: 'Overgrown sidewalks and other overgrown open municipal areas are visible throughout the metro. These strips and areas pose a serious fire hazard, yet the metro is failing to meet this critical responsibility. It is especially essential now, in the dry months and during the upcoming windy August and September period, to maintain these sites according to the prescribed requirements. The metro has a responsibility to practice what they preach and not only hold private landowners accountable for complying with the relevant legislation and bylaws.'
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Drone operators catch maize thieves near Delmas
Security drone operators doing routine aerial patrols had no idea they were about to stumble upon what can only be described as a massive maize theft syndicate near Delmas. Farmcor AS Security drone operators spotted two people carrying 50kg woven polypropylene bags on their heads as they exited a client's maize fields near Hawerklip, close to Delmas Colliery on the R50, Leslie Road, at around 09:00 on July 12. The pair was seen leaving private farmland and heading toward a nearby informal settlement. The drone operators continued monitoring them as they entered a shack in the settlement, where they offloaded the bags. Farmcor AS Security was immediately informed, and reaction units swiftly responded to the scene. Upon arrival, members of AfriForum's Delmas Valke Neighbourhood Watch, CamFX Security and other role players joined the operation. Initial investigations revealed the shacks were used to store yellow maize allegedly stolen from adjacent fields. When reaction members requested access to other dwellings, they were told those were unoccupied. A source close to the investigation said security personnel were informed of more storage facilities nearby. The teams were then led to several zinc shelters, where they confirmed that stolen maize was stockpiled in large quantities. It was stored in about 200 woven bags, pulled from almost every shack. The two initial suspects evaded capture, but the teams recovered about 50 tons of yellow maize. ALSO READ: Learner from Evander High School gets chosen as exchange student to Egypt The price of yellow maize for the July 2025 contract on the South African Futures Exchange is approximately R4 019.80 per ton. Consequently, 50 tons would be valued at roughly R201 000. Several suspicious vehicles, including a 32-ton truck and trailer, were also identified nearby and are believed to be linked to the syndicate involved in the theft operation. Hennie Bekker, AfriForum's district co-ordinator for the Highveld, told the Streeknews that grain theft is an ongoing concern in the agricultural industry. 'Farmers suffer immense losses due to grain theft. Proving the origin of a maize cob or pit is challenging. For instance, if a car is stolen, its ownership can be proved via a VIN or registration number, but proving ownership of grain is impossible,' Bekker explained. 'The real value of what is stolen is also difficult to determine. These thieves steal grain in bags or come onto lands with bakkies, sometimes stealing hectares at a time, so it is nearly impossible to quantify the losses. 'The additional cost of security is another contributing factor to the losses farmers suffer from grain theft, and there is, unfortunately, no real solution to this problem,' Bekker concluded. The Streeknews was unable to confirm at the time of going to print whether there were any arrests in the Hawerklip case. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
Swift justice demanded in footballer's culpable homicide case
Mogaila in court Sekhukhune United player Shaune Mogaila was involved in a fatal crash in October last year in Tembisa, killing a nine-year-old girl and injuring another teenage boy. Image: Simon Majadibodu / IOL AfriForum is demanding swift action from the SA Police Service (SAPS) in the culpable homicide case against Sekhukhune United player Shaune Mogaila, who the lobby group complains has been allowed to continue with his life. Mogaila was involved in a car accident that left nine-year-old Gomolemo Mavimbela dead and a 14-year-old boy injured in October last year. The winger fled the accident scene after crashing in his BMW sedan but later handed himself to the police, and in November, the Tembisa Magistrate's Court granted him R20,000 bail. However, AfriForum's private prosecution unit, which represents Gomolemo's mother, Keo Mavimbela, and the 14-year-old's mother, Carol Khethiwa, has expressed concerns that the accused is allowed to continue with his football career while the criminal justice system fails those seeking justice and closure. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Gomolemo's mother, Keo Mavimbela, Advocate Gerrie Nel, and the 14-year-old's mother, Carol Khethiwa. Image: Supplied In a letter written to the SAPS in Rabie Ridge near Tembisa on Wednesday, the unit's head Advocate Gerrie Nel said its clients have attempted to follow the progress in the matter by attending court, but the reasons tendered by the State for each postponement have been met with disbelief as the police still require until September 16 to complete the investigation. 'While the accused returned to the field in February 2025 to continue his career as a soccer player, the SAPS only obtained a statement from Khethiwa in June 2025, after the May 19 postponement,' Nel explained. He demanded that the police ensure that the case is trial-ready on September 16 and that no further postponements are requested for further investigation. In addition, Nel wants the SAPS and/or the prosecutor to provide meaningful feedback, including a timeline, failing which would suggest an apparent lack of urgency in completing the investigation. AfriForum complained that Mogaila was granted bail despite available evidence indicating that he fled the scene and handed himself over to the SAPS at least eight hours after the collision. 'On February 4, 2025, three months after the incident, the matter was postponed because the post-mortem and J88 forms were not available. 'The SAPS requested an opportunity to analyse video footage and to obtain further witness statements,' reads the letter. According to Nel, in May, the State requested another postponement because the post-mortem was still unavailable and to obtain the results of a blood alcohol sample obtained from Mogaila, which suggests that the specimen was received more than eight hours after the accident. Last month, the matter was postponed to September 16 due to the outstanding blood alcohol report. Mavimbela said she felt like there is no progress in the case and that there is a lot of run-around. 'The way things are going, it doesn't give any hope because the case has been postponed without a trial. 'It's always investigations, investigations based on the same reason, which is the blood results,' she said. AfriForum is also demanding to be provided with details of the evidence obtained, including dashcam footage of the collision and a statement from the driver in whose car the camera was installed, and a statement about the alcohol and identification of the possible drugs found in Mogaila's car. The unit wants to establish Mogaila's whereabouts and how he managed to escape in the period between 7am and 3pm on the day of the collision. Available information indicates that the accused fled the scene via an e-hailing vehicle and spent time at a friend's house before handing himself over to the SAPS. Additionally, AfriForum has asked for statements from individuals who removed Mogaila's car from the scene, including information on who arranged for the vehicle to be towed away, as well as evidence from his insurance company regarding the version he provided to explain the collision in support of his claim. BMW South Africa has been asked to provide statements to the police on the evidence recorded by the luxury vehicle's electronic control unit, which would provide precise details of speed, acceleration, and deceleration, engine revs, gear selection, and steering input, among numerous other data fields, in the moments preceding the collision. Other required evidence is the vehicle tracker data, if such a device were installed on the car, and Mogaila's insurance company would be able to confirm this, and statements from other potential witnesses, such as pedestrians and motorists, who are visible in the dashcam footage. SAPS Gauteng spokesperson Mavela Masondo is yet to respond to requests for comment.
