15 August 2025: 'Guterres blacklists Hamas over tactical sexual crimes' and other world headlines
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TimesLIVE
14 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
We are here to start the dialogue, says Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised his standing amid the wrangling over the national dialogue. Taking to the podium to address the national convention meant to kick off the dialogue, the president maintained he is well within his rights to oversee the process as its convener. 'I have called this first national convention in my capacity as your president, as the head of state. I have done so in line with section 83 of our constitution, which requires the president, as the head of state and head of the national executive, to promote the unity of the nation and that which will advance the republic. 'This is what brings me here. This is why I invited all of you here, to be here and be part of this dialogue,' said Ramaphosa. Despite the dramatic 11th-hour withdrawal from the dialogue by legacy foundations, Ramaphosa insisted there was a need to forge ahead as planned. Thanking them for their work preparing for the dialogue, Ramaphosa said any hesitation or postponement could erode trust in the process by civil society organisations and NGOs invited to share their views. 'For more than a year, various formations of civil society have been working to conceptualise and champion the national dialogue. Central to this effort have been a number of legacy foundations established by and named for stalwarts of our liberation struggle. We express our gratitude and appreciation for the work of these foundations in giving life to the national dialogue.' He said this would open up a space where South Africans confront their realities openly, respectfully and constructively. 'This is not a partisan platform. This is a national platform. Here, no voice is too small and no perspective is too inconvenient to be heard. We are gathered to listen to each other, to understand one another and to chart a common path forward for our country. 'We meet at a time of profound challenges: economic hardship, unemployment, inequality, growing poverty and a crisis of confidence in our institutions. We also meet at a time when the world is rapidly changing and our ability to adapt and renew ourselves will define the next generation. But history teaches us that nations are not defined solely by their difficulties; they are defined by how they respond to challenges they face.' Ramaphosa said the South African struggle was one for freedom from the nightmare of apartheid, one that proved there was unity in diversity. 'It is a powerful force for transformation. Gathered in this hall are people from all across our land, people from all walks of life, people of all races, all classes, all languages and cultures.' Despite the diversity of those participating in forums like the dialogue, one thing that held South Africans together was that they were all 'sons and daughters of the same soil'. 'We share a common past. We share the same inheritance of division, of inequality and of injustice. We share the same pride at ending the crime of apartheid and establishing a constitutional democracy. We also share a common future. And that is why we have chosen to gather here today. Because each one of us, regardless of our differences, is committed to work together to build the future of which we all dream. 'We have chosen to be here because we believe in the power of dialogue and united action. We believe that if we share our concerns and fears, we can conquer them. If we understand the challenges we face, we can overcome them. 'If we know what hurts us, we can heal. If we know what divides us, we can unite.' He said across the length and breadth of South Africa, people would, and should, meet to talk about what worried them, what gave them hope and how they thought their lives and the country could be better.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
SA caught in East-West tug-of-war after military chief's Iran visit
Pretoria's foreign policy under scrutiny amid Iran relations Image: GCIS The South African government's distancing from recent Iran–RSA military cooperation has intensified diplomatic and economic headwinds, just as Western capitals press Pretoria to realign away from Eastern partners. The controversy hinges on remarks by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Rudzani Maphwanya during a visit to Iran, and the government's current posture on the broader foreign policy balance between East and West. The episode began to unfold after General Maphwanya's trip to Iran, a move that has since been disavowed by both the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Department of Defence and Military Veterans. The government maintained that President Cyril Ramaphosa, with DIRCO's guidance, remains the architect of South Africa's foreign policy. 'President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed he would meet the general to discuss his 'ill-advised' trip,' a government source said, signalling that the visit has become a political flashpoint rather than a simple military exchange. DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri declined to comment on potential disciplinary steps against those who disregarded international protocol, noting the department's role in policy implementation rather than battlefield diplomacy. The political weather has grown even cloudier as Western powers press Pretoria to clarify its stance amid fears of mixed messages on the country's alignment. The US Congress has repeatedly questioned South Africa's closeness to BRICS partners and - by extension - its relationships with China, Russia, and Iran. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Political analyst Joe Mhlanga offered a stark assessment: Maphwanya's public remarks about potential military cooperation indicated a broader 'evidence that the country's foreign policy is not solid.' He warned that a pattern of swinging toward the East or West - 'going to the East to do something when they want to go to the West they just do' - could undermine confidence in South Africa's policy coherence. 'What we're saying is that countries seem to be taking positions when it comes to certain issues, so we cannot state that we are a country that is neutral,' Mhlanga said in paraphrase of his analysis. 'We need to have a clear foreign policy stance… You cannot be standing on both legs and stating that you support both Iran and the US.' The domestic response has been swift and pointed. The Democratic Alliance (DA) criticised Maphwanya's remarks as stepping beyond military-to-military dialogue into foreign policy. DA Defence spokesperson Chris Hattingh said: 'This is not the role of a military chief. Foreign policy is the domain of the elected Government of National Unity and must be conducted through DIRCO, not by an unelected general freelancing on the world stage.' The broader concern is that the public dispute over the Iran/RSA relationship comes at a sensitive juncture.
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa emphasises National Dialogue as a platform for tough questions
JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa said the National Dialogue is a platform for South Africans to ask difficult questions to public officials about the state of the country. The President gave a speech on Friday on the first day of the convention to the national dialogue, hosted at the UNISA main campus in Pretoria. The convention serves as a precursor to the dialogues, which are due to take place across the country over the next nine months. One of the difficult questions Ramaphosa said needs to be asked is why South Africa has a high rate of femicide. He further challenged the audience with questions, asking: 'Why do South African women have to live in fear of men?' 'Why do so many people live in abject poverty while so few enjoy lives of opulence?' 'Why, after decades of democracy, are the prospects for a white child still significantly better than those of a black child?' 'Why are women consistently paid less than men for the same work?' 'Why do LGBTQI+ individuals continue to face discrimination, stigma, and harassment despite our bill of rights?
