US tariffs, a calamity for SA
Ramaphosa gave the closing address at the ANC National Executive Committee meeting in Germiston on Monday.
The ANC had convened a four-day NEC meeting where vital discussions on the party's future and strategic direction took centre stage.
The meeting, convened by key leaders and decision-makers within the party, set the tone for the party's priorities leading up to next year local government elections and beyond.
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The Citizen
27 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa seeks apartheid damages case delay, but victims' families argue perpetrators are dying
The court was told that the government's interest lies in uncovering the truth. President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to stay a damages case brought by families of victims of apartheid-era crimes. However, lawyers for the applicants have warned that the alleged perpetrators are old and dying. The legal action, initiated by 25 families and survivors of apartheid victims – including relatives of the Cradock Four – seeks R167 million in constitutional damages. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa launches commission of inquiry into apartheid-era justice delays The applicants accuse the government of blocking the investigation and prosecution of murder cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Ramaphosa has since established a commission of inquiry chaired by retired judge Sisi Khampepe to investigate the lack of prosecutions. Ramaphosa urges court to delay apartheid damages case On Wednesday, Advocate Timothy Bruinders, representing Ramaphosa and government, argued in court that the commission should be allowed to complete its work before the damages case proceeds. 'There was notice put out by judge Khampepe in which she set out what the progress will be over the next month. 'I think she has just started work on it so it's settled that there is a commission,' he told the court. Bruinders pointed out that both the TRC and the families had previously called for the establishment of such a commission to investigate the apartheid-era crimes. 'The reason for the commission of inquiry is because the facts are as yet unknown,' he said. ALSO READ: Mbeki accused of trying to save his reputation by intervening in apartheid lawsuit Judge Nicolene Janse van Nieuwenhuizen, however, raised a concern about whether it was not the applicants' prerogative to go ahead or withdraw their case. Bruinders responded that the case relied on the commission's findings in order for the court to make a ruling on damages. He argued that former National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli did not provide enough detail to conclude that interference occurred in one of the TRC cases. 'One could conclude from that there was an attempted interference.' Watch the case below: Bruinders added that the government and president sympathise with the families. 'They don't have closure. As they say, the prosecutions haven't happened. 'This is of concern to any government who cares about its citizens and those who died in fighting for what he ultimately sees now in the Constitution.' He emphasised that the government's interest lies in uncovering the truth. 'It is not to fight the families on procedural matters. One can imagine how that would go down politically. I do not think it would go down very well.' Victims' families demand justice Later, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson – representing the families – criticised the government's request to the court to delay the damages case, particularly as it had years to establish the commission. 'The applicants are seeking justice for crimes that were committed 30 and 35 years ago. That's the period we are dealing with. 'The perpetrators of these crimes have either already died or are dying at a rapid rate,' he said, pointing out that most suspects are now likely in their 70s. Chaskalson told the court that the applicants themselves are aging and that some have already died. 'They do not have time to wait indefinitely for the commission of inquiry to report and for relief to be recommended,' the lawyer said, adding that the applicants are entitled to their day in court while they are still alive. He further argued that commissions of inquiry have a tendency to 'drag on and on'. 'It is an extraordinarily optimistic proposition to put forward the idea that this commission will be able to do a thorough job on its investigation and report in four months' time, which is all it has left of the originally six months.' The court has reserved the judgment. NOW READ: Khampepe Commission is the right platform for Mbeki, Mabandla to tell their story, court rules
eNCA
27 minutes ago
- eNCA
Families of apartheid-era victims push for justice
PRETORIA - Justice delayed is justice denied. That's the stance of families of over 20 apartheid-era victims, who say President Cyril Ramaphosa's bid to pause their R167-million lawsuit, is unconstitutional. They're seeking damages for the State's failure to act on cases referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Afrikaner refugee reveals car wash job: 'Be prepared to work!'
Afrikaner 'refugee' Errol Langton has advised South Africans hoping to resettle in the US to accept low-paying jobs. He's also warned them not to have unrealistic expectations about their new lives abroad. The IT business owner and part-time 'leafy green farmer' swapped his life in Johannesburg to live in Birmingham, Alabama. He now works at a local car wash. Langton was amongst the first group of white South Africans who applied for the refugee resettlement programme. In February, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order, granting refuge to Afrikaners or 'minorities', over his claims of 'racial discrimination' and 'persecution' in South Africa. Speaking in an interview with US intelligence expert Chris Wyatt, Errol Langton revealed that he had taken a job at a local car wash in Birmingham. Langton, who owned an IT business in South Africa, advised fellow refugee applicants to 'come over and be prepared to work.' He said, 'Take what you can get now and work on what you want later. Don't get here and want the $50-an-hour job; take the $15-an-hour job so that you can get on your feet. 'Take the low-paying job to start with and then build to what you want. I promise you, in a year's time, you will be there.' Errol Langton stated that the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had given resettled refugees a 'starter loan' and aid to get on their feet. Several of his family members had already secured jobs just days into their stay, he claimed. He continued: 'If you play the victim card, you will not fit in. You will not be a part of society. 'It's not discrediting what has happened to you. If you get that out of your system and show that you've taken the opportunity that you've been given, and you go work hard on it, you can open any door. The opportunities are endless.' He also warned South African 'refugees' not to expect the same lifestyle in the US either. He said, 'There is nobody to clean up after you. If you make a mess, you clean it up. 'I don't care if you're 18 or 80, if you've got to do something, you do it. You can pay someone else to do it, but that is going to cost you'. According to various immigration and recruitment agencies, South African migrants flock to countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, the US, and New Zealand. These first-world countries offer the prospects of high living standards, thriving economies and job markets, and communities of South African expats. For immigrants, or refugees, there is a high demand for skilled labour in sectors like engineering, construction, IT, healthcare, finance, and education. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
