Gwede Mantashe steps in as acting president
President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, as Acting President of the Republic.
This temporary appointment comes as both President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile undertake simultaneous Working Visits abroad.
President Ramaphosa left for the United States and will arrive in Washington, DC, later today, 19 May 2025. Deputy President Mashatile is currently on a separate visit to the Republic of France.
President Ramaphosa's trip to Washington includes high-level engagements aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations between South Africa and the United States.
Among the highlights of the visit is a scheduled meeting to discuss bilateral cooperation, trade, and global peace and security matters.
Officials view the visit as a strategic opportunity to deepen ties between the two nations and foster collaboration within multilateral platforms such as the G20 and BRICS.
According to SABC News , the South African delegation plans to address international concerns and misperceptions, reaffirming the country's commitment to democratic principles, human rights, and constructive global engagement.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
35 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Mashatile defends ‘wasteful' expenditure on international trips
The office of Deputy President Paul Mashatile has defended his international travel expenses which have sparked criticism. In a parliamentary written reply, Mashatile provided a breakdown of his international travel costs for transport and accommodation since taking office last year. He said he has been on international trips to Ireland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Japan which cost more than R2m. During his Japan trip, Mashatile was accompanied by several ministers and deputy ministers, including: minister of sport, arts and culture Gayton McKenzie; minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen; minister of higher education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane; minister of trade, industry and competition Parks Tau; deputy minister of international relations and cooperation Thandi Moraka; and deputy minister of science and innovation Nomalungelo Gina. Among other costs, Mashatile and his wife spent more than R900,000 on four nights' accommodation in Japan, sparking criticism from ActionSA, which called it 'wasteful expenditure' that could be spent on building decent homed for those in need. Mashatile's office clarified the deputy president did not 'misuse state funds or was extravagant in financing the costs of his international travel'. It said the visits were necessary to advance the global agenda. 'The office of the deputy president wishes to reiterate Mashatile undertakes all international working visits not in his personal capacity but on behalf of the government as delegated by President Cyril Ramaphosa. 'Moreover, the most these strategic international visits are aimed at strengthening existing bilateral, political, economic and diplomatic relations between SA and visited countries,' Mashatile's office said. His office reiterated the Japan visit was of the same importance. 'The Japan working visit achieved several key objectives, including representing the first high-level engagement between SA and Japan in the past 10 years, signalling an acknowledgment and appreciation for the long-standing relationship between the two countries based on a wide area of cooperation not limited to trade and investment. 'The visit was beneficial in terms of SA's African Agenda, the confluence of SA's G20 chairship and Japan's hosting of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in August, presenting a unique opportunity for SA to communicate its own and the continent's position and priorities to Japan and the expected support and role Japan could play in this regard.'
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
EFF slams Ramaphosa's call for national dialogue as publicity stunt
EFF said it will engage in the dialogue but insists the country already held one in May 2024. President Cyril Ramaphosa's call for a national convention to set the agenda for a national dialogue has drawn mixed reactions, with the EFF slamming it as a 'meaningless publicity stunt by a limping President'. In his announcement on Tuesday night, Ramaphosa stated that the national dialogue has been discussed by various national leaders and other stakeholders for some time. National dialogue The national convention is scheduled to take place on 15 August. Ramaphosa mentioned that the national dialogue will drive progress toward the country's Vision 2030 and lay the foundation for the next phase of South Africa's National Development Plan. 'We expect that the National Convention will finalise a compact that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all South Africans.' ALSO READ: Ramaphosa announces 'Eminent Persons Group' to guide national dialogue – These are the people appointed National dialogue nothing new The EFF said while it will participate in all aspects of the national dialogue, including attending every government programme, South Africa had its national dialogue in May 2024. 'That national dialogue led to the people of this country reducing the former liberation movement into just one of many political parties in this country without a majority mandate to lead, because they have failed!' 'False impression' The party said the national dialogue is yet 'another attempt to give the country a false impression of work being done.' 'The EFF views the pronouncement of a national dialogue as a meaningless publicity stunt by a limping president who is leading a limping former liberation movement. 'Furthermore, the EFF rejects completely and with contempt the appointed individuals who will form part of what is referred to as Eminent Persons, as there is nothing eminent about most of these individuals,' the red berets said. ALSO READ: 'What has gone wrong?' – Mbeki, Biko foundations call for national dialogue amid 'political crisis' 'Long overdue step' Good Party secretary-general Brett Herron said Ramaphosa's announcement of a national dialogue is a 'long-overdue step toward renewing South Africa's social contract'. 'The president's recognition that South Africans from every sector of society must have a voice in shaping our future is significant. However, we must guard against a process that becomes performative or elite-driven. 'A truly people-led dialogue must reach beyond the boardrooms and podiums, into townships, rural villages, informal settlements, and inner-city blocks, where the most urgent issues are felt most acutely, Herron said. ALSO READ: Mbeki says issue of renewal of ANC 'not an invention' [VIDEO] 'Forging unity' The ANC welcomed Ramaphosa's announcement of a national dialogue, stating the initiative marks an important national effort to 'forge unity, rebuild trust, and renew the country's collective commitment to social and economic transformation'. National spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the ANC has always placed dialogue at the centre of the struggle for liberation and nation-building. 'The ANC calls on its members, alliance partners, mass democratic formations, and all South Africans to actively participate in this National Dialogue. It is through open, principled engagement that we will define a renewed national vision and construct a new social compact anchored in shared responsibility'. Mbeki proposal The national dialogue was first proposed by former president Thabo Mbeki on the eve of the country's national and provincial elections in May 2024. Mbeki, while on the campaign trail, suggested to the ANC that it convene a national convention after the elections to address the country's problems. Diversity Ramaphosa said the national dialogue will represent the diversity of the South African nation, including representatives from government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, sports organisations, women, youth and community voices, among others. The president said South Africans will, in the months following the national convention, be encouraged to be in dialogue to define the nation's path into the future. He stated that the views, concerns, and proposals that emerge from this conversation will be compiled and presented at a second National Convention, scheduled to take place at the beginning of 2026. NOW READ: Ramaphosa defends transformation: 'We must dispel the false notion'
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Elon Musk admits Donald Trump X tirade 'went too far'
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and Donald Trump's former advisor, said on Wednesday he regretted some of his recent criticisms of the US president, after the pair's public falling-out last week. 'I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,' Musk wrote on his social media platform X. Musk's expression of regret came just days after Trump threatened the tech billionaire with 'serious consequences' if he sought to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill. Their blistering break-up – largely carried out on social media before a riveted public on Thursday last week – was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called 'big, beautiful' spending bill, which is currently before Congress. Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk – one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election – to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation. 'He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,' Trump, who also branded Musk 'disrespectful,' told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be. 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. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
