South Africa and China have taken their political and economic ties to the next level, signing several trade agreements and agreeing to “consult closely” on issues of common concern within BRICS and other multilateral forums.  Speaking to the media at the Union Buildings during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he and Xi had agreed to adopt a joint approach to global issues of common interest.  This included reforming the United Nations Security Council…

The Jacob G Zuma Foundation has characterised former President Jacob Zuma’s recent release on remission as a strategic instrument to bolster President Cyril Ramaphosa’a’s chances of securing reelection in the upcoming year. Zuma was one of the first 32 individuals released from prison through the presidential special remission on Friday, as part of a nationwide initiative to alleviate overcrowding in correctional facilities. Over 1 500 of the 9 488 non-violent offenders granted remission were released into community correction this past…

The release of former President Jacob Zuma from prison, as part of a nationwide remission of non-violent offenders to ease the overcrowding of correctional facilities across the country, has been met with mixed reactions. While the Democratic Alliance (DA) has labelled President Cyril Ramaphosa a “spineless” leader who moved towards a political solution to save Zuma from another stay in prison, former Public Protector Professor Thuli Madonsela has given thumbs up to the executive decision. “I support the remission of…

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has dismissed concerns that he has created an international storm by chanting “Killer the Boer, Kill the Farmer” at the party’s 10th-anniversary celebration at FNB Stadium in Soweto over the weekend, saying the courts have exonerated him. The chant grabbed headlines globally, prompting Twitter owner Elon Musk to allege that the EFF was calling for a genocide of white people while President Cyril Ramaphosa kept quiet. Moreover, Malema attacked the Democratic Alliance federal…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has weighed in on the Ndhuna Civil Engineering Services’ controversial R134 million Khunotswana contract. It has requested all documents related to the tender as part of a planned investigation into fraud and corruption in the North West.  In a letter sent to Vuisile Joba Dliso, the chairperson of the North West Legislature’s Provincial Public Accounts Committee (PPAC), the SIU in the province requested copies of all records submitted to the committee by the North West…

Angry Limpopo villagers who demanded to know where their family graves have been relocated to peacefully protested outside the venue where President Cyril Ramaphosa was holding his Imbizo on Friday. The Presidential Imbizo took place at the Motodi Sports Complex at Ga-Motodi Village in the Sekhukhune area. According to members of five affected families who spoke to African Times but requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, their graves were moved without their consent to make way for the RH Burgersfort…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been called out for caving into United States of America (USA) pressure not to protect Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was expected to attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month.  The West has also been accused of undermining South Africa’s sovereignty and independent foreign policy, by weaponising trade and resorting to economic blackmail to achieve its foreign policy objectives.   Yesterday, Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that they reached a “mutual agreement” with Putin that he was better…

The imminent collapse of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), is on the lips of every political commentator, agitator and aggregator, including those who were not born when the late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela vacated the Union Buildings on June 14, 1999. To some, especially those with ambitions to be sworn in once the Independent Electoral Commission confirms the final tally of the 2024 elections, it has been written in the stars that President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa…

The upcoming BRICS Summit in Johannesburg next month is important for South Africa, the African continent and the global south. The gathering of the world’s major developing countries is expected to discuss a common currency and admit or agree on criteria to admit new members.  Countries which have either applied or lined up to join the global South economic alliance include regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Pakistan, Mexico, Algeria and Senegal. Formed…

Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka’s legal team has defended the fact that the final report into Phala Phala farmgate ignored evidence that opposition parties submitted to Parliament’s Section 89 panel, which found that President Cyril Ramaphosa had a case to answer. Today Gcaleka absolved Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing, stating that the president did not abuse his power or fail to declare his personal business interests to parliament. Last year, an independent panel appointed by Parliament, led by former Chief Justice…