Latest news with #ArmsDeal
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Jacob Zuma's future looks rocky as court trial looms and MK woes heat up
The National Prosecuting Authority wants to get Jacob Zuma in the dock without further delay, and the former president must also contend with his political party once again being in turmoil. Hours after the High Court in Pietermaritzburg this week dismissed Jacob Zuma's application to have the Arms Deal charges against him thrown out, the former president held a media briefing to announce that his uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party had once again fired a secretary-general. This time, Floyd Shivambu was shown the door. The long-running Arms Deal case involving Zuma and French arms company Thales is set to proceed after Judge Nkosinathi Chili dismissed the two parties' application, which had been brought on the basis that they wouldn't receive a fair trial because the case had dragged on for decades and two witnesses, former Thales directors, had died. The judge said he was not persuaded by their arguments. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the organisation had long believed that this was a 'rehearsed application' and felt vindicated by Judge Chili's decision. The NPA will now apply for the court to begin hearing evidence after the trial resumes in December, regardless of whether Zuma appeals against the decision. 'We hope that there will be no more interlocutory applications that will have an undesirable impact or effect of delaying the trial,' said Mhaga. 'We hope it resumes without any further delays.' Zuma and Thales face charges including corruption, racketeering, money laundering and fraud related to the 1999 Arms Deal. Zuma is accused of receiving payments totalling R4.1-million between 1995 and 2004 from his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and his companies, allegedly to promote Thales' interests. Zuma has repeatedly challenged elements of the case, particularly the involvement of prosecutor Billy Downer, which has led to significant delays. Shivambu's axing Meanwhile, the revolving doors at Zuma's MK party, which he banded together from disgruntled members of the ANC, EFF and IFP, continue to spin. This latest decision to remove former EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu from his position as secretary-general of the MK party leaves a key position vacant as the 2026 local government elections draw nearer. The role of the secretary-general in many a local political party is seen as crucial and powerful as this person is tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring the smooth running of its internal machinery. In MK this position is now vacant after Shivambu recently visited fugitive pastor and self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi. The Enlightened Christian Gathering Church founder faces more than 350 criminal charges in South Africa including fraud, money laundering, racketeering and rape. Shivambu, who will be deployed to Parliament, insisted on an interview on SABC last week Zuma himself had approved the trip, but this was denied. Even now, Shivambu's reasons for the trip remain unclear. The visit violated MK's constitution, national chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko said earlier this week. Some senior members of the party have argued that removing Shivambu was a calculated strategic decision. Others believe it was driven by tribal loyalties, and perhaps most significantly, some view it as part of a succession battle in the MK party. In his influential positions, first as national organiser and then as secretary-general of MK, Shivambu amassed considerable control over key aspects of the party, including political education, governance, building structures and party finances. His rise was increasingly seen as an attempt to position himself as a future MK leader, which some believe threatened the influence of the party's founders. Who will Zuma appoint? The search is now on for MK's next secretary-general – the party's sixth one since its formation in December 2023. According to MK's constitution, Zuma as party president has the prerogative to hire and fire its leaders at will. An insider said: 'It all boils down to what Nxamalala [Zuma] decides.' Daily Maverick understands from sources in the MK party that internal lobbying for the position is taking place. The names of one of the party's founding members, Phumlani Mfeka, and spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela are among those going round as Shivambu's potential successors. Daily Maverick understands that in the past two weeks, Zuma has had meetings with both Mfeka and Ndhlela. Prior to the meetings, Zuma met allied traditional leaders, who expressed their views on who should take over the reins, endorsing Mfeka. Mfeka is a member of the Injeje yabeNguni Council, a traditional leadership body. Earlier this year, he resigned from both MK and his position in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, citing a deviation from the party's founding principles and the sidelining of traditional leadership structures. Prior to his involvement with the MK party, Mfeka was associated with a Pan-Africanist civic group. He later endorsed the Mazibuye African Congress, a pro-Zuma political party. Mfeka was already receiving 'special treatment' as per Zuma's instructions, a source said. Traditional leader Prince Khulekani Dlomo said amakhosi (chiefs) hoped that talk of Mfeka's appointment would become a reality. 'We are in prayers as amakhosi for these murmurs to become a reality. We would be thankful if such a position was taken up by someone with royal blood.' Beyond Mfeka's roots, Dlomo said he was the man for the job, praising his character and commitment to traditional leadership. 'It would bring about much stability and respect in various structures and communities… He is a bright child, a very truthful and principled young man.' But, equally, there is a strong push to have Ndhlela, the nephew of former South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Tom Moyane, take up the position. In 2016, amaBhungane broke a story revealing that a company controlled by Ndhlela had won a R2.2-billion tax collection contract from SARS that could net him around R220-million. Ndhlela has been MK's only national spokesperson since the party's launch. Considering the regular reshuffling, resignations and sackings taking place in MK, this is quite an achievement. For example, the positions of secretary-general and treasurer-general have been occupied by eight individuals in the space of a year. This has all taken place without MK ever holding an elective conference or explaining the party's decisions to its constituency. 'More damage than good' Some party members have welcomed Shivambu's axing. 'All of us are relieved at how things have played out. I think it's safe to say the biggest battle has been won,' one MK insider said. In September 2024, Shivambu led the party's municipal campaign in ward 33 in eThekwini, his first as a national organiser. It should have been a shoo-in for MK in an area where the DA was failing and the ANC was basically dead. The MK party had won more than 45% of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal in May last year, but Shivambu's efforts fell flat as its share of the vote dropped significantly in the by-election. Though MK has improved its votes in several other by-elections, it has struggled to maintain the momentum of the 2024 general elections. The insider said of Shivambu's time as a leader in the party: 'He did a lot more damage than good. We were bleeding people in KZN who are not used to that kind of leadership style. Come elections, we are confident that we will be able to recover lost ground.' Patrick Sindane, a former MK party member who chose to leave, dismissed claims that Shivambu's removal was a strategic decision, as some have suggested. Reflecting on his time in the party as someone with EFF roots, Sindane offered a blistering account of MK's internal dynamics on Radio 702. 'We were still associated and identified as EFF members and life is extremely difficult for you in MK if you come from the EFF, I can tell you from my own experiences,' he said. Whenever those who had defected from the EFF made suggestions about how the party ought to be run, they would be accused of 'bringing an EFF mentality, trying to hijack the organisation, and wanting to take over the organisation'. An MK party source said Zuma was particularly unimpressed with Shivambu's conduct, but feared getting rid of him as this might bring about more instability ahead of the local elections. This led to his redeployment to Parliament. 'It is not a strategic move. The only reason he gets to stay is to try to find some stability and work towards the local government elections, but beyond that, his days are numbered,' the source said. Tough times ahead As Shivambu prepares to make a comeback in Parliament, difficult times await him, particularly because the MK party is led in the house by John Hlophe, with whom he is rumoured not to be on good terms. He will also have to work with the likes of Ndhlela and Zuma's daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who are said to be part of a faction that believes high-profile members who came from the EFF and ANC and were parachuted into senior positions, including Shivambu, Dali Mpofu, Mzwanele Manyi and Willies Mchunu, are destroying what the 'December 2023 crew' had started. On one occasion, Zuma-Sambudla publicly insulted Shivambu, calling him 'useless' and 'the worst thing that happened to MK'. She was later forcedto apologise. Shivambu will also work closely with Colleen Makhubele, who was recently appointed as MK's chief whip. Though Shivambu is more seasoned in parliamentary affairs, Makhubele holds seniority in rank and now occupies one of the top leadership roles in the party's caucus. Before her parliamentary debut, Makhubele led the South African Rainbow Alliance, a fledgling political outfit she had founded in the run-up to the 2024 elections. Despite bold ambitions, it barely made a dent at the polls, securing only 12,450 votes nationwide – a mere 0.03% – and later joined the chorus of voices alleging the elections had been rigged. Beyond these challenges, Shivambu's return also carries the burden of unresolved tensions with former EFF colleagues and the need to prove his political relevance beyond his time in the red berets. His comeback could also revive old rivalries. DM This story first appeared in our weekly DM168 newspaper, available countrywide for R35.
IOL News
6 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Tuesday's court outcome in the arms deal matter means Jacob Zuma has to stand trial – here are some reactions on X
A glum uMkhonto weSizwe Party boss Jacob Zuma contemplates his future after losing his bid to avoid prosecution for corruption relating to the 1999 Arms Deal. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed French arms company Thales' and former president Jacob Zuma's application to have charges against them relating to the 1999 Arms Deal squashed. @ZANewsFlash The Pietermaritzburg High Court has thrown out an application by French arms company Thales and former President Jacob Zuma to have their arms deal corruption trial dismissed. The corruption trial will now proceed as previously planned. @WothiJiba The Jacob Zuma/Thales case has nothing to do with justice. It has nothing to do with the awarding of arms deal contracts nor is there an allegation that he stole money from Government, yet the state has spent hundreds of millions on the case. Wasteful expenditure. @incontroZA It was politically motivated. Ramaphosa is going all out to get rid of Magashule and Jacob Zuma. Their cases won't end. Plus the Unchallenged, sole candidate for President is on the way. @Dumisan01399730 Former premier of Mpumalanga Province Matthew Phosa once said ' hate Jacob Zuma but don't lie about him'. By nature Jacob Zuma is a good person who accommodate everyone else. His good heart has made him to be vulnerable even to those who want to destroy him. @Sthe___Nxumalo It was always obvious that anything that has Adv Dali Mpofu & Jacob Zuma will never win anything in court — even if witness were all dead & evidence is absent, they would still stand trial & be found guilty. They can just always appeal & appeal to kill time! @Theblackjagua12 When was the last time Zuma won a case? @RogerKint69 Medical parole loading... @Lephondo2Mpho Knowing Mr Zuma, he's taking this judgement to the Supreme Court, to delay his date in court. DAILY NEWS
NHK
16-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
NHK Analysis: Trump scores deals on Mideast tour, but no ceasefires
US President Donald Trump is wrapping up a four-day visit to the Middle East on Friday, his first major overseas trip since he returned to the White House in January. The US leader has touted his tour's economic wins, but did he leave diplomatic opportunities on the table? NHK World's Jordan Gravelle reports on Trump's visit from Abu Dhabi: "This was clearly a chance for Trump to score an economic win after the turmoil over his tariff threats. He needed a lay-up, and that's what he got. And that's not surprising. "Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are very wealthy, they already have strong ties with Washington. They also have a lot to gain by investing big in the US, in terms of technology as well as international credibility. Saudi Arabia, in particular, scored a 142-billion dollar arms deal to modernize its military. "For Trump, he gets to show off his ability to make these kinds of deals. That's pretty important since he upended his country's trade relations with much of the world not too long ago. That's what the White House has been promoting on this tour. "On the diplomatic front, regarding ongoing conflicts, the biggest moment was probably Trump's meeting with the interim Syrian leader in Riyadh, and announcing he'll end US sanctions on that country. But the elephant in the room during all these meetings was Israel's conflict in Gaza. It's very close to home for the Gulf states. "Qatar has hosted peace talks between Israel and Hamas. During his tour, we heard Trump reiterate that he wants to bring an end to the fighting. Before he arrived in the Middle East, Hamas released an American-Israeli hostage, which Trump said could be the first step toward peace. But we also know Israel is getting ready to ramp up its military operations in Gaza again over the coming days. So, no real progress, despite reports of the humanitarian situation getting worse and worse for Palestinians. "The other notable thing happening during this tour is the Ukraine-Russia peace efforts in Turkey. Zelenskyy had called on both Trump and Putin to attend. Istanbul is only about a 5-hour flight away from here, and Trump's even teased, at points, that he could still go. He could be testing the waters to see if Putin would be willing to join the talks if all three leaders are present. "That could be why we just heard from a top US official that the only chance for a breakthrough between Kyiv and Moscow is with Trump's direct participation. He's sort of exerting his influence through his absence. If the talks fail, it's because Trump wasn't there, but if Putin changes his mind, he's close enough to swoop in. We just have to see who blinks first."
Arabian Business
14-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Trump in Saudi: The Art of the ‘Gulf' Deal
Within hours of Donald Trump's plane touching down in Riyadh on Tuesday, the art of the deal was in full swing. With golden swords, Arabian horses, and a $600 billion Saudi investment commitment, Trump's return to the Kingdom looked less like diplomacy and more like a victory lap through his favourite marketplace. The contrast with Joe Biden's 2022 visit couldn't be more stark. Where Biden endured that awkward fist bump after calling Saudi Arabia a 'pariah,' Trump re c eived the full royal treatment: warplanes escorting Air Force One, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally greeting him, and even a mobile McDonald's outlet wheeled out for the media (a nice touch for a president famously fond of fast food). US President #Trump #TrumpInKSA #SPAGOV — SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) May 13, 2025 The numbers announced on Tuesday are genuinely staggering. The $142 billion arms deal, dubbed the 'largest defence sales agreement in history,' headlines a shopping list that includes Oracle's $14 billion cloud computing investment, hundreds of thousands of Nvidia AI chips heading to Saudi startup Humain, and AMD's $10 billion collaboration. Trump characteristically declared he wants to double the entire $600 billion commitment. But this isn't just about business. In a surprise announcement that might have caught even seasoned diplomats off-guard, Trump declared he was lifting US sanctions on Syria, giving the war-torn nation 'a chance at greatness.' He's scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday — the first encounter between an American president and Syrian leader since Bill Clinton met Hafez al-Assad in 2000. The author of 'The Art of the Deal' has found his perfect negotiating partner in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Both leaders share an appetite for grand gestures, mega-projects, and the sort of transactional diplomacy that produces immediate, measurable results. Trump's Riyadh speech praised the Crown Prince's transformation of the Kingdom while carefully avoiding the sort of lectures on human rights that characterised previous administrations. From an Arab perspective, Trump's approach offers refreshing pragmatism. As he told the investment forum, 'Far too many American presidents have been afflicted with the notion that it's our job to look into the souls of foreign leaders.' For Gulf leaders weary of Western moralising, Trump's business-first mentality feels like diplomatic relief. But the personal element remains impossible to ignore. Trump's empire spans the region – golf courses in Dubai, developments in Saudi Arabia, and a new luxury resort planned for Qatar. When pressed about potential conflicts of interest, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called such suggestions 'frankly ridiculous.' The optics, however, speak volumes about a president who sees little distinction between personal business and national interest. Trump also secured the release of the last American hostage held by Hamas, Edan Alexander, and offered Iran a stark choice: make a deal or face 'massive maximum pressure.' It's diplomacy by ultimatum, delivered with characteristic bluntness from the comfort of a friendly capital. The four-day Gulf tour – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE – reads like a perfectly choreographed deal-closing roadshow. Elon Musk joined the delegation (Starlink got Saudi approval), Oracle CEO Safra Catz praised Trump's 'decisive leadership,' and tech executives queued up to announce billion-dollar investments. Gulf royals have mastered Trump diplomacy: present him with superlative announcements, treat him like visiting royalty, and watch as he delivers exactly what they want – advanced weapons, cutting-edge technology, and legitimacy on the global stage. And for Trump, the Gulf represents everything he admires about leadership: decisive action, visible wealth, and quick results. His acceptance of a bling-filled 747 from Qatar as a potential new Air Force One perfectly captures the transactional nature of these relationships. It's diplomacy where everyone gets something tangible, immediately. Yet this approach carries risks. By prioritising commercial wins over comprehensive conflict resolution, Trump may be storing up regional instabilities for later. The Palestinian question, Iranian proxy activities, and the broader Abraham Accords framework all require sustained diplomatic engagement, not just investment forums and arms sales. Still, Trump's Gulf strategy reflects a simple truth. Some relationships work better when everyone acknowledges they're fundamentally transactional. The Crown Prince gets his weapons and technology, Trump gets his investment figures and photo opportunities. After decades of complicated Middle East diplomacy that promised much and delivered little, perhaps there's something refreshingly honest about a president who cuts straight to the deal.
The National
06-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Trump's Gulf tour to focus on economic ties, Gaza and Iran
President Donald Trump will head to three Gulf capitals next week for a high-profile visit that is expected to focus on a series of deals. He is expected to present a friendly face to the important regional allies, in contrast to some of the tough rhetoric the President has had for the EU, Ukraine and other countries. The trip will 'obviously be dollar deal-focused', a State Department official told The National. 'We have Saudi, UAE and potentially Qatar announcements as well.' The visit was initially billed as Mr Trump's first foreign trip since taking office in January, but he made an unexpected visit to Rome last month for the funeral of Pope Francis. Mr Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE to 'strengthen ties' with those countries, the White House said. Under his 'America First' approach to foreign policy, Mr Trump has antagonised allies and trading partners, and overturned long-held US policies on critical issues such as climate and the war in Ukraine. But to the Republican President who has vowed to bring economic prosperity to the US, the Gulf region is an area of significant economic investment opportunities. A number of corporate leaders and heads of major defence and aerospace companies are expected to join him on the trip. The UAE has already committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment in the US. In Saudi Arabia, his first stop, Mr Trump is set to seal an arms deal with the kingdom worth more than $100 billion, Reuters reported last month. 'He's under some significant public pressure here in Washington that he probably didn't expect at this level,' said Douglas Silliman, president of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 'So he's going to want to show Americans that he has got close ties, good economic and political, and maybe security relations too.' The investment package with Riyadh is expected to last more than four years and builds on talks held under the previous administration. Former president Joe Biden tried to advance the deal as part of a wider effort to expand the Abraham Accords. But the establishing of official ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been stalled by the continuing war on Gaza following Hamas's deadly attack on October 7, 2023. More than 52,567 Palestinians have been killed since, with more than double that number injured. Much of the coastal enclave has been reduced to rubble and for more than two months Israel has blocked all food and aid from entering. 'The Saudis remained interested in Abraham Accords-type normalisation deal for the vast majority of the war,' a former Biden administration said. 'They were pretty adamant, but also recognised that they could not agree to any such agreement while the war was continuing,' the official added, noting that a framework for the deal had been formulated. Hamas officials last month said intensive negotiations were under way to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement before Mr Trump's visit. But on Monday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a new offensive in Gaza aimed at defeating Hamas, Experts in Washington said the trip's dates suggest there may be no imminent breakthrough for Gaza. 'I don't think he's going with a concrete, diplomatic agenda,' said Khaled Elgindy, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and an expert on US foreign relations in the Middle East. 'He hasn't had a coherent diplomatic approach to the region since he came to office, so I don't see why he would suddenly have one now.' Still, Gulf capitals are expected to discuss the war and hopes to take part in the enclave's eventual reconstruction. They envision Mr Trump will abandon his plan to empty out Palestinian residents and turn the territory into a beach resort. However, Mr Netanyahu said on Monday that the local population will be moved 'for its own protection'. At the beginning of Mr Trump's first term, in 2017, his first foreign trip was also to Saudi Arabia. He stopped in Israel and the Vatican before attending two summits in Brussels and Sicily. Much has changed since, analysts say, both in the US and across the Middle East. The trip comes amid a continuing US-China trade war, renewed US pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme and diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Gulf leaders are likely to seek reassurance from Washington that US talks with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme will succeed. Saudi Arabia and several Arab states have welcomed the negotiations, which are mediated by neighbouring Oman. Gulf states can be optimistic about good relations with the US based on trade, AI development, energy and investments. But there is also cause for concern. Mr Trump last month slapped a 10 per cent tariff rate on the three Gulf states, raising concerns, at least in the medium term, that the levies could hurt their economies. Mr Silliman said Gulf leaders are likely to want to get a better sense of Mr Trump's economic vision, given the impact any slowdown in global trade could have on oil-producing countries. They will also take the opportunity to be the first to host and be heard by the US President. 'I really do think they want to distinguish themselves as the countries in the world that have the closest relationship with the United States,' Mr Silliman said.
