President Ramaphosa to address nation on July 13 over national security concerns
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on July 13 regarding critical national security issues, following public allegations made against senior political leaders and SAPS officials.
This was confirmed by the presidency in a statement released on July 10.
According to the South African Government News Agency, the upcoming address follows a media briefing held by KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on July 6, during which he presented several serious allegations implicating high-level officials.
ALSO READ: Wits School of Governance Dialogue picks President Cyril Ramaphosa's brain
At the time, Ramaphosa was attending the Brics summit in Brazil.
'The president undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, given the implications for national security,' a statement from the presidency read.
It confirmed that Ramaphosa has since been engaged in consultations regarding the matter and will now take the nation into his confidence.
'Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence on Sunday.'
The address will be broadcast on major television and radio channels and streamed across various digital platforms.
South Africans are encouraged to tune in for the official update.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 minutes ago
- The Citizen
UK launches first sanctions in new strategy to deter migrant crossings
The UK sanctioned over 20 people and groups linked to migrant smuggling, using new powers to tackle irregular migration. Migrants try to board a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel off the beach of Equihen, northern France, on June 30, 2025. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP) The UK imposed sanctions Wednesday on more than two dozen people, groups and suppliers from the Balkans, the Middle East and China accused of helping migrants cross the Channel. In what it called a 'landmark' first use of new powers, the move came as the government faces political pressure to stem migrant arrivals on small boats from northern France, at record levels. The asset freezes and travel bans announced target individuals and entities 'driving irregular migration to the UK', and include four 'gangs' and 'gangland bosses' operating in the Balkans, the Foreign Office said. They also hit a small boat supplier in China, so-called 'hawala' money movers in the Middle East, and seven alleged people-smugglers linked to Iraq. Foreign Secretary David Lammy called it 'a landmark moment in the government's work to tackle organised immigration crime' impacting the UK. ALSO READ: Two South Africans, one laptop and a billion-rand travel company 'From Europe to Asia we are taking the fight to the people-smugglers who enable irregular migration, targeting them wherever they are in the world,' he added. 'My message to the gangs who callously risk vulnerable lives for profit is this: we know who you are, and we will work with our partners around the world to hold you to account.' 'Terrorising refugees' Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office a year ago promising to curb the journeys by 'smashing the gangs' that facilitate the crossings, but he has struggled to deliver. Nearly 24,000 migrants have made the perilous journey across the Channel so far in 2025, the highest ever tally at this point in a year. The issue has become politically perilous in the UK, blamed for helping to fuel the rise of the far-right and violence at anti-migrant demonstrations. ALSO READ: Macron turns to politics on second day of UK state visit Protests have erupted sporadically outside hotels believed to house asylum-seekers, with a recent demonstration outside one in Epping, east of London, descending into clashes that injured eight police officers. Riots sparked by the stabbing to death of three young girls in northwestern Southport a year ago also saw suspected asylum-seeker hotels attacked and anti-migrant sentiment on display. As part of its strategy to curb new arrivals, the government is also cracking down on illegal working, which European neighbours cite as a 'pull factor' for UK-bound migrants. It announced late Tuesday a new agreement with delivery firms Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats which includes sharing the locations of asylum hotels to help tackle illegal working. Meanwhile in another new tactic, artificial intelligence technology will be trialled to assess disputed ages of asylum-seekers who claim to be children, the interior ministry said Tuesday. ALSO READ: Dirco slams old travel advisory about terrorism in South Africa 'Far-fetched' Wednesday's designations represent the UK's first use of its new 'Global Irregular Migration Sanctions Regime'. It claims the regime is a 'world first', empowering the Foreign Office to target foreign financiers and companies as well as individuals allegedly involved in facilitating people-smuggling to the UK. In all, it sanctioned 20 individuals, four gangs — two Balkan groups and two of North African origin operating in the Balkans — and Chinese firm Weihai Yamar Outdoor Product Co. It has advertised its small boats online 'explicitly for the purpose of people-smuggling,' the Foreign Office said. Among those facing curbs was Bledar Lala, described as an Albanian controlling 'the 'Belgium operations' of an organised criminal group' involved in the crossings. ALSO READ: No, Malema, the UK is not a bully The UK also targeted Alen Basil, a former police translator it accused of now leading a large smuggling network in Serbia, 'terrorising refugees, with the aid of corrupt policemen'. London hit alleged 'gangland boss' Mohammed Tetwani with sanctions, noting he was dubbed the 'King of Horgos' over his brutal running of a migrant camp in the Serbian town Horgos. Author and researcher Tom Keatinge, of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said the sanctions were 'a new front in the UK's efforts to control a business model that brings profit to the enablers' and misery to victims. 'However, I would caution against overpromising,' he told AFP. 'Talk of freezing assets and using sanctions to 'smash the gangs' seems far-fetched and remains to be seen. 'History suggests that such assertions hold governments hostage to fortune.' NOW READ: UK moves warplanes to Middle East amid Iran crisis – By: © Agence France-Presse
The Citizen
35 minutes ago
- The Citizen
SA cannot have a weak NPA that cannot do its job
Zondo said the fight against corruption could not be won without strengthening the country's law enforcement agencies. Former chief justice Raymond Zondo has called for the resourcing of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure it brings those found to be corrupt to book. The NPA has recently faced criticism after the Gqeberha High Court acquitted Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, of 32 serious charges, including allegations of rape, racketeering and human trafficking, on 2 April. Judge Irma Schoeman said the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Schoeman also criticised the handling of the case by the prosecutors. 'Unfortunately, in this matter, there have been problems, some of which can be classified as unethical conduct or incompetence of the prosecution, even from before the trial commenced, which only came to the fore during the trial,' said Judge Schoeman. ALSO READ: Batohi explains why NPA did not investigate prosecutors in 2021 Omotoso trial 'The cross-examination of the accused was desultory in the extreme. No thought went into it. Similarly ineffectual and superficial was the cross-examination of accused 2 and 3 that amounted to no cross-examination at all.' On Tuesday, Schoeman dismissed the NPA's application for clarification on Omoto's acquittal. The NPA has since launched an internal investigation into the conduct of the first team of prosecutors involved in this matter, which began in August 2024, despite allegations of misconduct against the prosecutors surfacing as early as 2021. Zondo on law enforcement agencies Addressing the South African Council of Churches conference on Wednesday, Zondo said the fight against corruption could not be won without strengthening the country's law enforcement agencies. He addressed the church leaders under the topic, fighting corruption, lessons learned and current dangers. ALSO READ: NPA dealt another blow in Omotoso case He said the Hawks, South African Police Service (Saps), and NPA needed to be strengthened to tackle crime in the country. 'The NPA is critically important in the fight against corruption. We cannot afford to have a weak NPA. We cannot afford to have a weak NPA that cannot do its job. The NPA needs to be given all the resources that it can have in order to play its role in the fight against corruption,' said Zondo. 'But also, it is important that the people at the NPA throughout the country, the prosecutors, be people of integrity. When they decide to charge someone with corruption, we must know that it has nothing to do with anything except a breach of the law. When they say they are withdrawing charges, we must know that it is because, in good faith, they believe they should be withdrawn.' The Saps has equally received criticism recently following KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's allegations against his colleagues. ALSO READ: Churches reject Omotoso's Buffalo City crusade plans On Sunday, 6 July, Mkhwanazi alleged that the judiciary and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, among others, were corrupt and colluding with criminal networks. Mkhwanazi said an investigation with the Gauteng organised crime investigation unit unmasked a syndicate which involves politicians, law enforcement, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors, the judiciary, and is controlled by drug cartels as well as businesspeople. Although Mchunu denied the allegations, he has since been placed on a leave of absence. Corruption and police force Zondo said the fight against corruption would not succeed without a stronger police force. 'We cannot talk about intensifying or strengthening our fight against corruption or making sure that our fight against corruption is effective without a police force that is able to do its job,' he said. ALSO READ: Mbeki on Zuma: 'Either Zondo report is wrong, or we're dealing with entirely wrong person' 'In the early 2000s, we had the Scorpions, which were very effective in fighting corruption. The criminals had begun to fear them. However, at the 2007 ANC elective conference, a resolution was passed to disband them. And they were disbanded. 'The results are there for all of us to see what happened about the levels of corruption, because I don't believe that the Hawks, which were said to have taken their place, are up to their job.' President Cyril Ramaphosa has since announced he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates. READ NEXT: 'They cost us votes' – call for ANC leaders implicated in Zondo, VBS to step aside
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Ex-police officer and three others remain behind bars for alleged murder of popular Pretoria DJ
Ex-police officer and three others remain behind bars for alleged murder of popular Pretoria DJ The case against four men linked to the murder of popular South African DJ and Pretoria businessman Oupa Sefoka, known as 'DJ Sumbody', has been postponed to July 29. The four men arrested include Sandton businessman Katiso Molefe (61), former police detective Michael Pule Tau (55), Tiego Floyd Mabisela (45), and Musa Kekana, who made their first appearance at the Alexandra Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. The National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Phindi Mjondwane, said the case was postponed to allow the state time to profile the accused, who have applied for bail. Mjondwane said the men were arrested in connection with the killing of DJ Sumbody, who was killed in a rain of bullets in Woodmead on November 20, 2022. She said Mabusela and Kekana were already in custody for a separate case involving the attempted murder of actress and media personality Tebogo Thobejane. She is also an ex-lover of controversial businessman Vusi 'Cat' Matlala, and they are linked to the current charges. Mjondwane added that the accused were arrested following allegations that they are hitmen, one of them allegedly ordering the murder of Sefoka. 'The shooting resulted in the deaths of Sefoka, Sibusiso Walter Mkoena and Sandile Shawn Myeza. Two victims died at the scene, while the third was hospitalised and later died,' she explained. Mjondwane also said the accused face charges of three counts of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. 'Separately, the state added another accused in the attempted murder case of Thobejane. Nthabiseng Nzama, now accused number five, is alleged to have facilitated fund transfers between accounts, fully aware that the money originated from criminal activity.' Mjondwane said Nzama made her first court appearance and was granted bail of R10 000. Her case was postponed to August 26, when she will appear with her co-accused. The Sefoka family have requested privacy and space during this difficult time. In a statement by the Be a Sumbody Foundation, the family acknowledged and welcomed the arrest of the suspects linked to the murder of DJ Sumbody. 'We extend our gratitude to the SAPS, Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, and the Political Task Team for their relentless effort to pursue justice.' The family said they remain hopeful for a thorough legal process. 'We thank South Africans for their support, prayers and unwavering love. The development of the arrest marks a critical step towards justice, and the family is reliving the trauma of Oupa's untimely death.' ALSO READ: Tshwane metro pushes Lynnwood BRT contractor for revised timelines Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
