Cyril Ramaphosa - The African Mirror

Aug

2020

South African speakeasies boost calls for end to COVID booze ban

TANISHA HEIDEBERG and EMMA RUMNEY IN an Italian bistro in an upmarket Johannesburg neighbourhood, smiling patrons chat at candle-lit tables in a scene reminiscent of less-troubled times before the COVID-19 pandemic. But there's no alcohol on the menu. Instead, diners order red or white "coffee" served in grey mugs, the tell-tale sign of a modern-day South African speakeasy. Under one of the world's strictest lockdowns, South Africa banned alcohol to lower hospital admissions for injuries from drink-related violence and accidents and ease the burden on healthworkers facing the worst coronavirus outbreak in Africa. But businesses from wine makers to restaurants…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Repression in Zimbabwe exposes South Africa’s weakness

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

ROGER SOUTHALL, University of the Witwatersrand SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s despatch of envoys to Zimbabwe in a bid to defuse the latest crisis, in which the government has engaged in a vicious crackdown on opponents, journalists and the freedoms of speech, association and protest, has been widely welcomed. Such has been the brutality of the latest assault on human rights by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime that something had to be done. And, as the big brother neighbour next door, South Africa is the obvious actor to do it. It may be guaranteed that Ramaphosa’s envoys – Sydney Mufamadi, a…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Tributes for Mandela-era liberation stalwart

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has led nationwide tributes to John Nkadimeng, the ANC liberation stalwart and veteran trade unionist who has died, aged 95. To honour Nkadimeng, Ramaphosa has declared a special official funeral for him and ordered that the national flag must be flown at half-mast until the evening of August 14. Nkadimeng was among the 156 Congress activists who were detained during the Defiance Campaign in 1952 and charged with treason in the 1956 Treason Trial. He also went to exile, taking refuge in numerous neighboring countries. Ramaphosa said: “We have lost a remarkable…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

EXCLUSIVE – South Africa tries to recover over $23 million from SAP for ‘unlawful’ contracts

NEWS

ALEXANDER WINNING SOUTH African investigators are seeking to recover more than 400 million rand ($23 million) from German software firm SAP for two government contracts they allege were entered into unlawfully, court documents seen by Reuters show. Although the amount of money sought is small for a company with a market value of around 162 billion euros, the move by the authorities is another headache for SAP, which in 2018 admitted to misconduct over deals with South African state firms during former president Jacob Zuma's tenure. SAP, a major global business software company, had said it was reviewing all its…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

South African police and protesting Zimbabweans clash

NEWS

SOUTH African police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd that had gathered at Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Pretoria in a protest to highlight police brutality, detentions and torture in that country. The protesters, mainly Zimbabweans in the diaspora organised under the banner of #Notinmyname carried placards calling for an end to human rights violations. The demonstration came hours after South Africa has appointed two veteran politicians as special enjoys to Zimbabwe, in an effort to broker a political solution to a growing internal strife, marked by police brutality, detentions and torture in that country. Former cabinet minister…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa sets up body to probe COVID-19 corruption

NEWS

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has set up a ministerial committee to investigate alleged corruption in state tenders in the fight against COVID-19, his office has said, including with businesses supplying protective gear. Reports of suspect deals between government officials and businesses providing medical equipment, as well as food aid parcels to the poor, have sparked outrage in South Africa, where more than half a million cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 to make it the fifth-largest outbreak in the world. South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog said on Monday it was investigating irregularities in these contracts, the latest in a…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

South African corruption watchdog probes COVID-19 tenders

NEWS

ALEXANDER WINNING SOUTH Africa's anti-corruption watchdog has announced it was investigating irregularities in coronavirus-related tenders, the latest in a series of scandals that trade unions said showed the government's failure to tackle graft. The probes by the Public Protector come soon after investigators launched separate inquiries into the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Gauteng province, the country's economic heartland. President Cyril Ramaphosa staked his reputation on tackling graft when he replaced Jacob Zuma as head of state more than two years ago, but he is on the back foot after news reports alleging that politically connected individuals have…

Aug

2020

By The African Mirror

Ramaphosa threatens decisive harsh action against COVID-19 scavengers

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in the face of corruption allegations faced by a senior official in his office and others in his party, the ANC, again threatened harsh and swift action against those involved in corruption in the R500-billion emergency COVID-19 relief package. In his weekly “Letter from the President”, Ramaphosa said corruption during a national disaster was a particularly heinous crime. The perpetrators, he promised yet again, would be dealt with decisively and harshly. Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko is on special leave after it emerged that her husband, Thandisizwe, had secured a R125-million tender…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

Renew the ANC in honour of liberation hero – Mbeki

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FORMER South African president Thabo Mbeki has made a passionate plea for the renewal of the ANC as a tribute to the political stalwart and hero Andrew Mlangeni, who was buried today. In a virtual tribute delivered to mourners at Mlangeni’s funeral, held in Soweto, Mbeki supported the calls for a consultative conference to deal with the challenges facing the ANC and to assist the party to grapple with its role as a governing party. Mlangeni, who passed away a week ago after a short illness, was buried at the Roodepoort Cemetery in Soweto, following a dignified…

Jul

2020

By The African Mirror

COVID-19 tender scandal: Presidential aide goes on special leave

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER FOUR days after South African president Cyril Ramaphosa spoke tough on corruption in the multi-billion package to provide COVID-19 material, his spokesperson has taken a leave of absence in the face of a procurement scandal. Presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko has temporarily left her job following allegations that her husband’s company got an R125-million tender to provide personal protection equipment in Gauteng. Diko and her husband Thandisizwe, have denied the allegations. A statement from the presidency said: “The Spokesperson to the President, Khusela Diko, has requested the Presidency to allow her to take leave of absence from all…