President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the closing remarks at the G20 Social Summit held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni on Thursday, urging global cooperation, inclusive development and respect for national sovereignty. The summit brought together delegates from civil society, business, labour, youth, women, media and parliamentary formations to contribute to the G20 agenda ahead of the Leaders’ Summit. President Ramaphosa opened his address by emphasising the principle of Ubuntu, highlighting the interconnectedness of humanity. “We are acknowledging the personhood,…

Vietnam and South Africa have pledged to elevate their bilateral cooperation to a new level, following a two-day official visit to Hanoi by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. During talks, Vietnamese President Luong Cuong described the discussions as “fruitful” and said both leaders agreed to steer relations towards a deeper, more effective phase of collaboration. This was reported by Prensa Latina, a partner of TV BRICS. Alongside plans to expand bilateral trade, the two nations committed to strengthening cooperation in…

What was meant to be a hopeful journey home for dozens of travellers from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe turned into a scene of horror and heartbreak on Sunday evening, when a cross-border bus plunged down a steep embankment along the N1 near Ingwe Lodge in Limpopo. The devastating crash claimed 42 lives, including seven children, and left 49 others injured, six of them critically. Among the dead was a 10-month-old baby, according to rescue officials. The bus, carrying passengers from Zimbabwe…

Unions organising in the private security sector have warned they will petition President Cyril Ramaphosa to authorise a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into provincial departments awarding contracts to non-compliant companies. In the latest round of protests against rogue companies that deduct millions from workers but fail to pay their health and other benefits, trade unions representing thousands of security officers have accused the Limpopo provincial government of enabling large-scale exploitation in the private security industry. Members of the Democratic…

The abduction of South Africans and other international humanitarians aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces has provoked widespread condemnation, with President Cyril Ramaphosa leading calls for their immediate release. The flotilla, comprising vessels carrying food, medical supplies and other essential aid, was intercepted in international waters off the coast of Gaza in the early hours of Thursday. Among those abducted are Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, celebrated author Zukiswa Wanner, and South African peace activist Reaaz…

The Madlanga Commission has been forced to adjourn its hearings after suspended head of SAPS Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, fell ill on Wednesday morning. Khumalo, who was expected to continue with explosive testimony that has already rattled the political and policing establishment, was reportedly unwell and left the Commission’s Pretoria precinct just after 9 a.m. The proceedings were scheduled to begin at 9:30, but Commission chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga announced an adjournment until further notice. Commission spokesperson Jeremy…

The release of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) interim report into corruption at Tembisa Hospital has unleashed a political storm, with opposition parties accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration of shielding the politically connected while failing to deliver justice for slain whistleblower Babita Deokaran. The SIU report, presented on Monday by head Advocate Andy Mothibi alongside Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, details the extent of the looting at the embattled hospital. Investigators uncovered three major syndicates that siphoned more than R2…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally established an inquiry to determine the fitness of Advocate Andrew Chauke to continue serving as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The announcement, made on Monday, follows Chauke’s suspension in July this year, after a cloud of allegations surrounding his conduct threatened to undermine confidence in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The inquiry has been set up in terms of Section 12(6)(a) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act of 1998, which empowers the President to probe…

The Pretoria High Court has struck off the urgent application by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma, which sought to halt the operations of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. The court ruled on Thursday that the party’s bid is not sufficiently urgent and therefore cannot be heard on its merits at this time. In its ruling, the court found that the MK Party’s case did not meet the threshold of urgency required for…

The highly anticipated trial of three accused in the Phala Phala farm robbery has entered a dramatic phase after a state witness revealed how $580,000 in cash was removed from a farm safe and hidden in a sofa at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private residence. Testifying in the Modimolle Regional Court on Monday, the witness — a former lodge manager at Phala Phala whose identity cannot be revealed for safety reasons — admitted to personally stashing the dollars in a rarely…