Minister defends SANDF chief; Ellis Park not sold out for Boks: Top 7 stories in 7 minutes
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'There is nothing rogue': Motshekga defends Maphwanya's Iran visit and comments
- Defence Minister Angie Motshekga defended General Rudzani Maphwanya's Iran visit, stating it was pre-approved and not a rogue action, attributing the backlash to US-Iran sensitivities.
- Maphwanya's comments about Iran and South Africa being 'anti-colonial allies' caused diplomatic tension, with the Presidency and ANC distancing themselves and calling the trip 'ill-advised'.
- Motshekga argued similar trips to other nations didn't face scrutiny, and the issue is the US-Iran relationship and tariff negotiations, not Maphwanya's actions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has cautioned those who opted out of the first National Convention of the National Dialogue that they could regret it.
Thahasello Mphatsoe/News24
Ramaphosa tells National Dialogue absentees that they'll regret not 'being part' of process
- President Cyril Ramaphosa subtly criticised those absent from the National Dialogue, including former president Thabo Mbeki, suggesting they might later regret their non-participation.
- Ramaphosa defended the dialogue's nonpartisan nature and pledged to minimise costs by avoiding expensive venues.
- He referenced the PAC's historical reluctance to engage in dialogues, suggesting those currently abstaining may eventually realise the value of participation.
'There's no hope': Unpaid salaries push 14 bus company workers to take their own lives
- State-owned bus companies in North West, under business rescue since 2022, have seen their debt surge from R355 million to R1 billion, leading to months of unpaid salaries for employees.
- The dire financial situation has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with at least 14 employees committing suicide and one starving to death, alongside home repossessions and loss of vehicles.
- Legal battles between business rescue practitioners over financial mismanagement and unauthorised accounts are delaying the payment of salaries, leaving 1 500 employee families in desperate circumstances.
Minister plans biggest shakeup of municipalities since 1996
- Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is planning a major overhaul of South Africa's local government system, including reducing the number of municipalities and changing the funding model.
- The new White Paper on local government, expected in March 2026, will propose policy changes such as tighter conditions on infrastructure grants and increased powers for national intervention in failing municipalities.
- Hlabisa aims to improve financial management in municipalities by withholding equitable share funding from those that cannot account for their finances or enforce consequences for financial mismanagement.
Gallo Images/ER Lombard
'Utterly astounded': Court grants Old Mutual access to firm's office after shock revelations
- Old Mutual won a court order to access and copy data at SA Guarantee Specialists (SAGS) after discovering unauthorised foreign guarantees issued in its name, totalling over a billion rand.
- SAGS, an underwriting manager, issued the guarantees despite being restricted to administering insurance within South Africa under its agreement with Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure (Omart).
- The court order allows Old Mutual's forensic team to enter SAGS' offices, by force if necessary, to copy data related to the guarantees, with a temporary suspension to encourage a voluntary agreement between the parties.
Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Ellis Park not sold out for Boks v Wallabies, but SA Rugby boss satisfied
- SA Rugby says they've met their projected crowd targets for the Springboks vs Wallabies match at Ellis Park, despite tickets still being available.
- High ticket prices for Springbok games have been a topic of debate, with previous matches against Italy and Georgia also not selling out.
- SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said they worked on an 85% capacity target and have exceeded it, and will review their programme for future seasons.
DRIVEN | Adriaan Basson sizes up the Hilux GR-S in the Kruger - and compares it to a Ford
- A former Hilux mega-fan tested the new Toyota Hilux GR-S III, hoping to rekindle his love for the brand after being impressed by a Ford Ranger Wildtrak X the previous year.
- While the Hilux GR-S has a sporty exterior and a reliable engine, the author found its multimedia system outdated and lacking features compared to competitors like Ford.
- Despite some technological shortcomings, the author still appreciates the Hilux's trustworthiness and overall build quality, acknowledging its enduring appeal.
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28 minutes ago
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Analysis: Trump's empty threats on Russia sanctions
For years, Donald Trump criticized presidents for empty threats. He often pointed to then-President Barack Obama failing to enforce his 'red line' on Syria using chemical weapons. During his first term in 2017, Trump called it a 'blank threat' that cost us 'in many other parts of the world.' When Trump pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, he intoned: 'Today's action sends a critical message: The United States no longer makes empty threats. When I make promises, I keep them.' When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Trump decried the Biden administration for letting Vladimir Putin off 'with no repercussions whatsoever.' But Monday, as Trump prepares to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a host of European leaders, his own threats to sanction Russia are looking pretty empty. The president last month issued a tight new deadline for Russia to agree to a peace deal or face supposedly crippling economic punishment. That deadline passed 10 days ago with no new sanctions on Moscow, although he did announce higher tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, set to go into effect later this month. And on the day of his sanctions deadline, Trump instead announced he'd be meeting with Putin, which he did on Friday in Alaska. But to the extent we know anything that came of that summit, it seems to be that Trump has not only backed off on his sanctions threat – at least for now – but he's also backed off on his push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He instead wants a full peace deal now – which could take much longer to hash out and could buy Putin time, with little to no public evidence that the Russian president is serious about peace. There is something to be said for being nimble in foreign policy and adjusting to new inputs. But there's also something to be said for making threats that you intend to back up. And Trump's commentary here has been clear. For months now, he's said sanctions were right around the corner. 'If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,' Trump said on social media on January 22. Nearly seven months later, 'soon' apparently still hasn't arrived. When asked in May about a package of Russia sanctions that has widespread support in the Senate, Trump told Fox News it was 'turkey time.' 'That would be crushing for Russia, because they're having a hard time now with the economy,' Trump said. 'Turkey time' was three months ago. Russia still hasn't been crushed. By July, Trump got more explicit with his timeframe. He initially said Russia had 50 days to cut a deal or face sanctions and 'secondary tariffs.' Two weeks later, he tightened that to 10-12 days and then 10 days, with a deadline of August 8. 'So, what I'm doing is we're going to do secondary sanctions unless we make a deal,' Trump said. The planned meeting with Putin appeared to forestall that deadline, at least temporarily. But Trump assured it was a new deadline. Asked last Wednesday what would happen if Putin didn't agree to stop the war after the Alaska meeting, Trump said: 'There will be very severe consequences.' The Russian leader hasn't agreed to stop the war, and the very severe consequences haven't arrived yet. The situation is dynamic, particularly with Monday's meetings at the White House. But the administration appears to be inching back from its threats. Asked about the sanctions Friday night on Fox News, Trump responded: 'We don't have to think about that right now.' Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday actually pitched sanctions as an impediment to a potential peace deal. Appearing on multiple shows, he suggested the administration would wait until there was no hope of peace. 'The minute you issue new sanctions … our ability to get them to table will be severely diminished,' Rubio said of Russia on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' He added on CBS' 'Face the Nation,' 'You've basically locked in at least another year to year-and-a-half of war and death and destruction. We may unfortunately wind up there, but we don't want to wind up there.' While Trump has called economic punishment 'very devastating,' his administration has also recently rather curiously focused on the idea that sanctions on Russia might not even be that effective – noting Putin has dealt with them for years. In other words, it sounds a lot like they're laying a predicate for not following through on these threats any time soon. If that's the case, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise. Trump has a tendency to set deadlines for himself that ultimately fall by the wayside. 'Two weeks' has become an inside joke in DC political circles, owing to the many times the president has promised a decision or announcement and never followed through. Even when Trump announced the 10-day deadline for Russia, I wrote about how we probably shouldn't take it at face value. But as a former version of Trump would seem to agree, major foreign-policy threats are in a different class than promising a policy or personnel decision. Trump got extensive political mileage out of savaging Obama for his red line on Syria, because the stakes were so huge. He pitched the Democratic president as too timid to make good on the threat. The question now is whether Trump is doing the same with Putin. Maybe Trump has reason to believe there are serious prospects for a peace deal that warrant this pause. But Trump has certainly shown a reluctance to truly get tough with the Russian leader before. And some more hawkish Republicans are urging Trump to keep up the pressure. Sen. Lindsey Graham told Fox News' 'Sunday Morning Futures' that Trump can end the war, while re-upping the importance of the threat of sanctions. And perhaps tellingly, he said it required getting 'tough.' 'I'm cautiously optimistic we'll get there, if we're tough,' the South Carolina Republican said. Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, said it was time for the Senate to pass Graham's sanctions bill. 'I know his style in dealing with these dictators; it's the velvet glove,' Pence told CNN's Jake Tapper on 'State of the Union.' 'But I think the hammer needs to come, and it needs to come immediately.' The hammer appears to have been holstered for now. And you could understand if these Republicans worry that Trump's harder line on Putin has been, too.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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U.S. envoy: Israel must 'comply' after Lebanon's 'first step' to disarm Hezbollah
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday that it is now Israel's turn to comply with the cease-fire agreement reached last November to end the war with Hezbollah, now that Lebanon has taken "the first step" toward disarming the Iran-backed militant group. Barrack, who met with Lebanon's top officials in Beirut, hailed the cabinet for endorsing earlier this month the objectives of a U.S.-proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah and for tasking the Army with preparing a plan to enforce a state monopoly on weapons by the end of the year. "This is a Lebanese decision that requires Israel's cooperation," he said after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace. He added, "There's always a step-by-step approach, but I think the Lebanese government has done their part; they've taken the first step... Now what we need is Israel to comply with that equal handshake." Asked whether Israel is then expected to stop its violations and pullout from occupied parts of south Lebanon, Barrack said this was "the next step," noting the need for Israel's "participation" and for an economic plan "for prosperity, restoration and renovation of everybody." "You can't just take something and not give anything," he said. Israel refused to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance with the U.S.- and French-brokered cease-fire agreement of Nov. 27, retaining five strategic positions and continuing to strike suspected Hezbollah sites, resulting in the deaths of additional operatives and civilians. Despite the Lebanese Army taking control of most Hezbollah positions and facilities, pushing the group away from the Israeli border, and preventing any military presence south of the Litani River, Israel continued to insist on Hezbollah's complete disarmament. Hezbollah, significantly weakened during the 14-month war and reportedly having lost the bulk of its military capabilities, refrained from retaliating against Israel's continued attacks but refused to yield to pressure to fully disarm, insisting it would not do so as long as Israel violates the cease-fire accord. Barrack clarified that there has been "no American proposal to Israel and they have not negated anything," explaining that Washington has been discussing first with Lebanon to know its position and was in the process of holding the same discussions with Israel now. He tried to assure Lebanon's Shiite community, saying Hezbollah was part of the Shiite population who "have to see what is in store for them; what's the option and what's a better alternative than the alternative they have." He expressed optimism "to see progress on all sides" in the next few weeks, saying it would mean "a better life for the people" and "at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue" in the region. Lebanon's decision to set a timeline for Hezbollah disarmament was mainly motivated by the risk of another devastating war with Israel and of losing well-needed funds to rebuild its war-devastated regions. President Aoun told Barrack that "the other parties" would need to adhere "to the contents" of the plan agreed upon with Washington; secure greater support for the Lebanese Army and accelerate the internationally backed efforts to launch the reconstruction process in the war-ravaged areas. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who also met the U.S. envoy, emphasized the need for the U.S. to assume its responsibility in pressuring Israel to halt its hostile actions, withdraw from the five occupied points, and release Lebanese detainees captured during the war. Salam stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at the end of this month, highlighting its role in reinforcing stability and assisting the Lebanese Army in extending state authority in the south. He, moreover, called for a clear international commitment to convening a conference to support reconstruction and economic recovery in Lebanon, which the World Bank has estimated at $11 billion, while Lebanese officials put it at more than $14 billion. House Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah's main ally who negotiated the November 2024 cease-fire accord on its behalf, asked Barrack about Israel's commitment to the agreement and withdrawal from south Lebanon, saying: "This is the gateway to stability in Lebanon and an opportunity to begin the reconstruction process in preparation for the return of residents to their towns." The Hezbollah-Israel war, which killed and wounded more than 21,500 people, displaced over 1.2 million people, damaged or destroyed nearly 64,000 buildings and disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students, according to a U.N. report.
Yahoo
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U.S. envoy: Israel must 'comply' after Lebanon's 'first step' to disarm Hezbollah
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack said Monday that it is now Israel's turn to comply with the cease-fire agreement reached last November to end the war with Hezbollah, now that Lebanon has taken "the first step" toward disarming the Iran-backed militant group. Barrack, who met with Lebanon's top officials in Beirut, hailed the cabinet for endorsing earlier this month the objectives of a U.S.-proposed plan to disarm Hezbollah and for tasking the Army with preparing a plan to enforce a state monopoly on weapons by the end of the year. "This is a Lebanese decision that requires Israel's cooperation," he said after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Presidential Palace. He added, "There's always a step-by-step approach, but I think the Lebanese government has done their part; they've taken the first step... Now what we need is Israel to comply with that equal handshake." Asked whether Israel is then expected to stop its violations and pullout from occupied parts of south Lebanon, Barrack said this was "the next step," noting the need for Israel's "participation" and for an economic plan "for prosperity, restoration and renovation of everybody." "You can't just take something and not give anything," he said. Israel refused to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon in accordance with the U.S.- and French-brokered cease-fire agreement of Nov. 27, retaining five strategic positions and continuing to strike suspected Hezbollah sites, resulting in the deaths of additional operatives and civilians. Despite the Lebanese Army taking control of most Hezbollah positions and facilities, pushing the group away from the Israeli border, and preventing any military presence south of the Litani River, Israel continued to insist on Hezbollah's complete disarmament. Hezbollah, significantly weakened during the 14-month war and reportedly having lost the bulk of its military capabilities, refrained from retaliating against Israel's continued attacks but refused to yield to pressure to fully disarm, insisting it would not do so as long as Israel violates the cease-fire accord. Barrack clarified that there has been "no American proposal to Israel and they have not negated anything," explaining that Washington has been discussing first with Lebanon to know its position and was in the process of holding the same discussions with Israel now. He tried to assure Lebanon's Shiite community, saying Hezbollah was part of the Shiite population who "have to see what is in store for them; what's the option and what's a better alternative than the alternative they have." He expressed optimism "to see progress on all sides" in the next few weeks, saying it would mean "a better life for the people" and "at least the beginning of a roadway to a different kind of dialogue" in the region. Lebanon's decision to set a timeline for Hezbollah disarmament was mainly motivated by the risk of another devastating war with Israel and of losing well-needed funds to rebuild its war-devastated regions. President Aoun told Barrack that "the other parties" would need to adhere "to the contents" of the plan agreed upon with Washington; secure greater support for the Lebanese Army and accelerate the internationally backed efforts to launch the reconstruction process in the war-ravaged areas. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who also met the U.S. envoy, emphasized the need for the U.S. to assume its responsibility in pressuring Israel to halt its hostile actions, withdraw from the five occupied points, and release Lebanese detainees captured during the war. Salam stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon at the end of this month, highlighting its role in reinforcing stability and assisting the Lebanese Army in extending state authority in the south. He, moreover, called for a clear international commitment to convening a conference to support reconstruction and economic recovery in Lebanon, which the World Bank has estimated at $11 billion, while Lebanese officials put it at more than $14 billion. House Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah's main ally who negotiated the November 2024 cease-fire accord on its behalf, asked Barrack about Israel's commitment to the agreement and withdrawal from south Lebanon, saying: "This is the gateway to stability in Lebanon and an opportunity to begin the reconstruction process in preparation for the return of residents to their towns." The Hezbollah-Israel war, which killed and wounded more than 21,500 people, displaced over 1.2 million people, damaged or destroyed nearly 64,000 buildings and disrupted education for hundreds of thousands of students, according to a U.N. report. Solve the daily Crossword
