South Africa - The African Mirror

May

18

2023

Did South Africa sell arms to Russia? Only a series of unlikely scenarios could have made it possible

ON 11 May 2023 the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, claimed that South Africa had secretly exported arms to Russia in December 2022. The announcement rapidly fed into a popular narrative that South Africa was increasingly siding with Russia in relation to Moscow’s aggressive war in Ukraine. Author GUY LAMB, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University Brigety’s statements made both South African and international news headlines, including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and the Financial Times. He asserted that based on US intelligence reports, ammunition and/or arms were furtively loaded onto a Russian cargo vessel, the “Lady R”,…

May

15

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa is ‘actively non-aligned’ on Ukraine war, says government

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's presidential security advisor said the country was "actively non-aligned" in Russia's war against Ukraine after U.S. allegations it had supplied weapons to Moscow led to a diplomatic crisis this week. The U.S. ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety said on Thursday he was confident a Russian ship under U.S. sanctions had collected weapons from a base near Cape Town in December. Senior U.S. officials had "profound concerns" about South Africa not respecting its professed policy of non-alignment, he added. Speaking after leading a delegation on a U.S. visit last month, Sydney Mufamadi, security advisor to President Cyril Ramaphosa, emphasised the…

May

15

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa is ‘actively non-aligned’ on Ukraine war

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's presidential security advisor said the country was "actively non-aligned" in Russia's war against Ukraine after U.S. allegations it had supplied weapons to Moscow led to a diplomatic crisis this week. The U.S. ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety said on Thursday he was confident a Russian ship under U.S. sanctions had collected weapons from a base near Cape Town in December. Senior U.S. officials had "profound concerns" about South Africa not respecting its professed policy of non-alignment, he added. Speaking after leading a delegation on a U.S. visit last month, Sydney Mufamadi, security advisor to President Cyril Ramaphosa, emphasised the…

May

12

2023

By THAPELO TSELAPEDI

South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances – it needs Russia, China and the west

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

RELATIONS between the People’s Republic of China and Russia on one hand and the West, specifically the US, on the other have become increasingly tense in recent times. For the US, China and Russia represent authoritarian regimes. For China, the US is the source of global insecurity. Author THAPELO TSELAPEDI, Politics lecturer, Rhodes University With a few exceptions like France and the UK, the West sees the presence of Russia and China in the BRICS bloc (which also includes Brazil, India and South Africa) as contaminating the entire bloc as well as their relations with the individual BRICS member countries.…

May

11

2023

By The African Mirror

Namibia and South Africa’s ruling parties share a heroic history – but their 2024 electoral prospects look weak

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

NAMIBIAN president Hage Geingob used his recent state visit to South Africa to also address a meeting of the national executive committee of the governing party, the African National Congress (ANC). This underscored the ANC’s historic ties to Namibia’s governing party, South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo). According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also heads the ANC, the party had a “wonderful engagement” with Geingob, who posted on Facebook: As former liberation movements, we learn from one another, a manifestation of the deep bonds of solidarity formed during our struggle against oppression. Authors HENNING MELBER, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political…

Mar

30

2023

By The African Mirror

Holders Senegal through to Cup of Nations finals

FOOTBALL

MARK GLEESON DEFENDING champions Senegal, Burkina Faso, South Africa and Tunisia added their names to the list of qualified teams for next year’s African Cup of Nations finals after away successes in Tuesday’s qualifiers. Senegal, who won the tournament in Cameroon some 14 months ago, beat Mozambique 1-0 away to keep up their 100% record and secure the top spot in Group L while a point away from Burkina Faso at Togo in a 1-1 draw was enough for them to progress from Group B. South Africa scrambled a 2-1 away win over Liberia to join Morocco, who qualified without…

Sep

06

2021

By The African Mirror

Nina Stamper empowers with the languages of love

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO LOVE comes in many forms and it often desires one to share how they want to be loved and how they want to love their beloved - that’s where Nina Stamper comes in. A new-age singer and songwriter from Gugulethu, the home of some of the most world’s recognised jazz musicians (like Winston Mankunku Ngozi), in Cape Town, South Africa, Stamper sends the message of what women have gone through all in the name of love whether it be self-love or romance. A feel good song, Language of love, is as inspirational as it is soulful for those…

May

11

2021

By The African Mirror

New video evidence of violence in AKA-Anele’s lives

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE camera pans into the lounge. Evidence of either violence or unkempt house comes into view. The 22-year-old Nellie Tembe, wearing a black crop top, and black leggings storms into a lounge area, running away from a man in a white T-shirt, yelling loudly ”get away from me” as the man tries to calm her down. Tembe then falls to the ground and screams: “Look what he’s doing, you guys don’t know what he’s been doing to me!” The person behind the camera is believed to be rap star AKA (real name Kiernan Forbes), and is heard…

Apr

07

2021

By The African Mirror

#kwibuka27…Rwanda marks 27 years since genocide

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER UNITED NATIONS secretary-general Antonio Guterres has urged the world to heed the lessons of one of Africa’s worst genocides during which over a millon Tutsis were systematically killed. In an special message to mark the the 27th anniversary of the genocide and declared as an International Day for Reflection, Guterres said: “On this day, we honour those who were murdered, we reflect on the suffering and we recognize the resilience of those who have survived. As we join in solidarity with the people of Rwanda, we must take a hard look at today's world and ensure that…

Mar

17

2021

By The African Mirror

Nadia Nakai and Khanyi Mbau joins search for Africa’s next trender

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MPHO RANTAO SOUTH African rapper Nadia Nakai and media personality Khanyi Mbau have been named as two-thirds of a judging panel for a new African show that’s looking for the continent’s next Online sensation. Called ‘The Next Big Trender’, the show will consist of five up and coming African stars completing a set of tasks that will be by a panel that consists of Nakai, Mbau and Nigerian comedian Olalekan “Lekan” Olaleye. The show will be aired on new channel Honey, on Dstv channel 173. Khanyi Mbau and Lekan Olaleye join the judging panel. Picture: Instagram The five contestants are…