Motshekga backs Ramaphosa for waiting for dust to settle on Mkhwanazi allegations before addressing nation
Last week, Motshekga delivered her department's budget vote, which went from R58 billion in the last fiscus to R57 billion this time around.
The minister said that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was operating at 50% and remained at risk."Even giving them the figures of what as Parliament, but what also Cabinet should do and the president is very conscious and aware of the problems. He's tasked Treasury to engage with us to see what it is we can do urgently, but the envelope is tight."
READ MORE:• Holomisa warns of escalating domestic threats, wants military to enhance SA's internal security
• Motshekga tables defence budget, says dept will do more with 'the little we have'
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7 hours ago
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'GAYTON MUST GO'
In another, he said the slurs were used by coloureds as solely 'descriptive' terms. In one of his posts, he criticised the term 'Black Diamond' and 'Tenderpreneurs' as replacing the k-word as a slur. However, the EFF called this move hypocritical after pointing out McKenzie's use of the K-word in a string of tweets dating back to 2011. McKenzie made headlines last week when he and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) brought criminal charges against the Open Chats podcast for claiming that coloureds are incestuous and are 'crazy'. McKenzie is being accused by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ActionSA and the African Transformation of using the K-word. GAYTON McKenzie is facing calls to fired as Sports, Arts and Culture Minister. Mr President @CyrilRamaphosa , you appointed a Minister who has publicly uttered deeply offensive and despicable words against Black people. Is this really the vision of unity and inclusivity that the GNU stands for? We demand action NOW! Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. In response, the EFF called for the immediate removal of Gayton McKenzie as Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture for his history of hateful, racist Remarks An EFF statement said: 'It is also the height of hypocrisy for McKenzie to demand accountability from others when he himself harbours the same hateful attitudes. 'Recently, when podcasters on Open Chats made offensive remarks about coloured people — calling them 'incestuous' and 'crazy' — McKenzie expressed outrage, opened a case against them, and demanded a public apology. 'While he was right to be offended by prejudice directed at his community, this double standard strips him of any moral or ethical standing to lead on issues of non-racialism and social cohesion. 'Leaving him in office sends the message that the government condones such racism.' The African Transformation Movement (ATM), meanwhile, lodged a complaint against McKenzie to the Presidency, Parliament, and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests. ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula said: '(The) tweets employ language steeped in historical racism, the same kind of degrading rhetoric used to strip black people of their humanity during apartheid and colonial eras.' The complaint asks Parliament's ethics bodies to determine whether the remarks breach the Constitution, the Executive Members' Ethics Act, and the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, and to consider removing McKenzie from his ministerial post. It argues that his continued tenure undermines his office and Parliament. Meanwhile, ActionSA has reported McKenzie to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for the racist remarks he made, which included the use of outdated and degrading slurs from the Apartheid era. However, McKenzie wrote on his X account saying that: 'This whole campaign to find something racist I ever said is hilarious because you have now gone 13 years back and can't bring out one racist thing I ever said. 'I always and still fight that Coloureds and Blacks are one people being treated differently mistakenly.'
IOL News
a day ago
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Celebrating Women's Day: Parliament reflects on the legacy of the 1956 Women's March
National Women's Day is celebrated annually on August 9 to commemorate the 1956 march of 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the apartheid regime's pass laws . Image: Independent Media Archives In commemoration of Women's Day, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza and National Council of Provinces Chairperson Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane pay tribute to the resilience and leadership of South African women. Their honour acknowledges the ongoing fight for justice, equality, and dignity. This year marks the 69th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women's March, when 20,000 women of all races defied the apartheid regime's oppressive pass laws. This was a defining moment in the history of South Africa's liberation struggle. The month of August is commonly known as South Africa Women's Month. This year, Women's Day coincides with South Africa preparing to host the first P20 Speakers' Summit. The P20 is a high-level gathering of Speakers and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries. Women's leadership, economic empowerment and gender-responsive budgeting are at the centre of the African agenda for the P20 Summit. The Presiding Officers said as part of the build-up to the global summit, Parliament canvassed the views of African women legislators through consultations held in collaboration with the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand on July 25. 'The consultations emphasised the need for African parliaments to strengthen collaboration in tackling gender-based violence, advancing reproductive health rights and ensuring equal access to education and economic opportunities. These recommendations will inform South Africa's input to the P20 and signal a united African voice advocating for gender equality as a cornerstone of the G20's policy outcomes,' the Presiding Officers said. Parliament will convene the P20 Women's Parliament in August. This will provide a dedicated platform to elevate the voices of women, particularly young women and girls from marginalised communities. 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. 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'This is a critical opportunity to influence the global discourse and ensure that women's voices actively shape decisions that affect their lives,' the Presiding Officers said. Parliament said while South Africa has made notable progress in entrenching the rights of women through constitutional guarantees, progressive legislation and policies grounded in equality, the lived reality for many women across the country, and the African continent, remains starkly different. African women, in particular, continue to face deep-rooted inequalities, including poverty, economic exclusion, gender-based violence, and systemic sexism. It said Parliament remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing these disparities. Through its legislative and oversight work, it continues to prioritise gender equality and the advancement of women's rights. 'We are committed to creating inclusive platforms that enable women to articulate their challenges, influence policymaking and make meaningful contributions to national and global development. 'As we observe this important day, we must remember the countless women and girls who have lost their lives to gender-based violence – often at the hands of those meant to protect them. We condemn these heinous acts in the strongest possible terms. Let us be reminded that gender equality is not just a women's issue, but a collective societal responsibility and essential for peace, justice, prosperity and sustainable development,' the Presiding Officers said. IOL
IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Why the SANDF defends its R34m Cuba charter flight for student repatriation
SANDF justifies R34m Cuba charter as vital for safely returning 212 students, rejecting DA claims of waste and stressing logistical, security, and protocol needs. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said the chartered flight to Cuba was primarily to repatriate 212 South African military students who had completed their medical and engineering studies under a long-standing bilateral defence training agreement. The defence force emphasised that while the flight coincided with a graduation ceremony attended by SANDF officials, the ceremony was not the purpose of the trip. The Department of Defence stated: 'The officials' presence formed part of formal military protocol, fulfilling representational and logistical responsibilities associated with the safe coordination and return of deployed personnel.' This response follows the Democratic Alliance's statement on 6 August 2025, which revealed that the Department of Defence spent nearly R34 million on a charter flight operated by Cobra Aviation between OR Tambo International Airport and Havana from 13 to 20 July 2025. The DA claimed that the aircraft was equipped with a business-class cabin featuring luxury amenities typically reserved for senior generals and command personnel, while the majority of passengers were students who had already completed their training. The DA also questioned the transport of 19 Cuban nationals on the outbound leg, suggesting that SANDF resources were used to subsidise bilateral logistics. DA spokesperson on Defence & Military Veterans Chris Hattingh described the expenditure as 'outrageous and unjustifiable,' citing ongoing SANDF operational challenges such as non-operational submarines, shortages of boots and uniforms, unpaid suppliers, and deteriorating strategic partnerships. The SANDF explained that the chartered aircraft was procured through the RT61 transversal contract in full compliance with National Treasury supply chain regulations. The defence force said a chartered flight was 'the most efficient method to return a large group over a long-haul route,' given the complexities of scheduling, baggage volume, and security risks involved with individual commercial bookings for more than 200 personnel. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The Department of Defence highlighted that 'broader operational factors ,including the need for group coordination, security management, medical equipment handling, and direct routing ' justified the choice of a consolidated charter service over commercial flights. Regarding the return of Cuban nationals on the outbound leg, the SANDF noted this was part of a 'longstanding bilateral movement coordination' and did not increase the charter cost. The Department acknowledged public sensitivities around such arrangements and committed to 'reviewing procedures to ensure greater transparency and public confidence in future deployments.' The SANDF further clarified that it currently lacks strategic airlift capability necessary for such long-range personnel movements. 'In the absence of appropriate air assets, external charter remains the most viable logistical solution,' the Department said. The SANDF reaffirmed its accountability to the South African public and welcomed 'robust engagement through the appropriate Parliamentary oversight mechanisms.' SANDF reiterated its commitment to managing public resources diligently while fulfilling constitutional and international obligations. 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