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Eyewitness News
12 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Bushiris file application in Malawi court to review judgment ordering their extradition to SA
JOHANNESBURG - Self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife, Mary, have filed a review application before the high court of Malawi of the judgment that ordered their extradition to South Africa. In March this year, the chief resident magistrate in Lilongwe ordered that the couple be extradited following a request by South Africa. They were arrested on a string of charges against them, including fraud and money laundering. The controversial pair fled to their home country in 2020 after failing to comply with their bail conditions, leading to South Africa's extradition request. In papers before the high court in Malawi, the controversial couple argued that the chief magistrate erred in law by breaching the fundamental principles of natural justice. They argued that the chief magistrate delivered her final ruling on South Africa's extradition request without affording them an opportunity to defend themselves. This, they argued, was contrary to Malawi's constitution, the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code and the Extradition Act. This, the duo submitted, flew in the face of the audi alteram partem rule, which means listen to the other side. They intend to argue that it would be unjust or oppressive to surrender them to South Africa. EWN has learnt that the pair's review application may be heard in July.
Eyewitness News
17 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa informal settlement sanitation crises to be addressed by next week: Maile
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile is confident that the sanitation crisis at the Ramaphosa informal settlement in Emfuleni will be addressed by next week. Maile made the announcement during the re-tabling of his budget speech on Tuesday. He said that R300 million had been allocated to the Department of Human Settlements to specifically address sanitation issues. This follows an EWN report, revealing that portable toilets at the informal settlement had not been cleaned in four months. Mother of three Frieda Veeris's portable toilet was last cleaned on Valentine's Day. What's even more traumatic for her is having to use a toilet with worms all over the toilet bowl and seat. "I don't even want to go in. What happens if a worm finds its way into my private part? I use a bucket now. There's no other way." Maile said worry no more, as the toilets will soon be cleaned. "After we have presented the budget, go and check next week if the Ramaphosa informal settlement is receiving the service, so that we don't have budgets that are not spent when people actually have got needs." Maile said similar issues in other parts of the province would also be addressed.
![[WATCH] Sundowns set for CAF final against Pyramids FC](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia-cache.primedia-service.com%2Fmedia%2F1fbgirh2%2Fwhatsapp-image-2025-05-23-at-150320.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26height%3D630&w=3840&q=100)
Eyewitness News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
[WATCH] Sundowns set for CAF final against Pyramids FC
Sphamandla Dlamini 23 May 2025 | 13:38 CAF Champions League Mamelodi Sundowns Mamelodi Sundowns players during a training session on 23 May 2025 ahead of their CAF Champions League final against Pyramids FC on 24 May 2025. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
Eyewitness News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Was it a hole in one for Ramaphosa, or did Trump meeting leave him in the rough?
Sara-Jayne Makwala King 22 May 2025 | 12:24 Donald Trump Cyril Ramaphosa The Clement Manyathela Show President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at the White House in Washington, United States, to meet his counterpart President Donald Trump over resetting the two countries' bilateral ties. Picture: AFP Broadcasting from Washington D.C., 702's Clement Manyathela unpacks last night's meeting between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of the United States, Donald Trump. Tshidi Madia, EWN Politics Editor and New York Times correspondent John Eligon join him. Listen below: It was a meeting that many had been anxiously awaiting and one that many agreed was much needed. Considering the precarious nature of South Africa's relationship with the United States (U.S.) in recent months, all eyes were on Washington as the two leaders met on Wednesday. From the American side, several issues have caused much consternation. Primarily, South Africa's genocide case against its ally Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Then, of course, there's the issue of the 'white genocide' the US president seems to have been convinced is taking place here. Add to that the controversial Expropriation Act, and misgivings about America's relationship with South Africa have been at an all-time high. So, one pertinent question remains—did Cyril Ramaphosa do enough to mend and set US-SA relations back on an amicable path (a path that ultimately leads to more investment in South Africa)? Tshidi Madia and John Eligon unpack Wednesday's Oval Office conference between the two leaders. Madia said when South African journalists left for Washington a few days ago, they knew which ministers would form part of the delegation. She says no mention was made at the time of the famous golfers who would also attend the meeting inside the Oval Office. Sporting legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, who are apparently golfing buddies of the US president, were present on Wednesday. Crucially, says Madia, the two were included on the White House invitation list, and did not form part of the official South African delegation: "These are his friends. These are people he plays golf with. These are people who have gone to him to intervene or to have comments on South Africa in one way or another." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN Some of these golfing buddies have even been credited with efforts to ensure South Africa's continued inclusion in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement, explains Madia. However, when asked about the presence of the sports stars, Madia states that Ramaphosa became 'testy'. "What Ramaphosa failed to admit openly was that, [he] didn't bring the golfers, they were given to [him]. Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN But she says government did not feel aggrieved by the presence of Els and Goosen: "They did look at the golfers as people they regard as patriots." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN But patriotic or not, New York Times correspondent John Eligon says Trump used the golfers to make his own case about South Africa: "I thought it was very telling that he got, at the very least, Retief Goosen to the point where he said his mother has been attacked and his family has to live behind and electric fence." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times Notably absent from the meeting - and from the delegation - was Mcebisi Jonas, the newly appointed South African special envoy to the United States (US). Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed to Clement Manyathela that the Trump administration has raised 'displeasure' about Jonas. This, of course, is in relation to previous comments made by Jonas about the US Commander-in-Chief in which he referred to Trump as a racist and a homophobe. "You can't appoint a special envoy and then an opportunity comes to open channels and he's not in the makes absolutely no sense." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN "He [Jonas] was on route to the US - he didn't make it here, but he was on his way." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN ALSO READ: Jonas hopes US buries hatchet over his Trump comments One of the most jaw-dropping moments of the meeting came when President Ramaphosa appeared to be ambushed by Trump, who produced a pre-prepared video montage in his bid to prove the so-called white genocide in South Africa. The video included footage of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema singing 'Kill The Boer' to a packed stadium. Ramaphosa initially looked shocked and confused by the footage, but later led to denials by the delegation, who conceded that crime is rampant but isn't targeted at a specific grouping based on race. "Ramaphosa came ready to approach Trump the way he needed to...I think he did that then this video comes no, President Ramaphosa was not ready for that." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times "Throughout the whole thing he was squirming." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times However, while that particular moment of the meeting was steeped in awkwardness, Eligon says that overall, Ramaphosa held his own well and did what he came to do and what he needed to do. In other words, his well-known charm offensive worked, says Elgion. "He needed to really stroke Trump's ego, he needed to make Trump happy, and he did all those things." John Eligon, Correspondent - New York Times Surprisingly, what had been thought to be one of the more contentious issues for the US, ended up being shrugged off by the US the Oval Office, Manyathela asked Trump whether he anticipated South Africa would withdraw its genocide case against Israel. Trump's response? "I'm not expecting anything, to be honest. They've brought a case, and there's a lot of emotion around it… We'll get a ruling eventually, but it's hard to say what that will actually mean." "If I was Benjamin Netenyahu I would be looking at Trump's response, because that actually tells you so shrugged the question away." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN "That tells you something about a shift in geo-politics, pay attention." Tshidi Madia, Political editor - EWN Eligon says Trump's response to the question around the ICJ case was one of South Africa's big wins.
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mcebisi Jonas blocked from US meeting due to past comments on Trump
Reports states that Special envoy Mcebisi Jonas will not be part of the South African delegation meeting US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. MVEBISI Jonas's previous comments that US president Donald Trump was "a racist, homophobic and a narcissistic right-winger" blocked his inclusion from the South African delegation that visited the White House's Oval Office on Wednesday. Jonas became South Africa's presidential envoy to US but he had to catch the action from the sidelines on the say so of US government officials. THE South African Presidency has reportedly confirmed that Mcebisi Jonas, who was appointed as Special Envoy to the United States, was not part of the meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and former US President Donald Trump due to concerns raised by Trump's administration. 'Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed to me while I was speaking to @JohnPerlman on @Radio702 that part of the reason Mcebisi Jonas (presidential envoy to US) is not here because the Trump administration raised some 'displeasure' about him,' EWN journalist Clement Manyathela wrote on his X platform. According to Manyathela, Mangwenya said the president may had to consider other options should the issues not be resolved around Jonas.
