Latest news with #FikileMbalula
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
ANC's Mbalula hits back at Ramaphosa detractors following Trump visit
JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has hit back at President Cyril Ramaphosa's detractors following the highly publicised visit to Washington, DC, almost two weeks ago. Ramaphosa met with his United States (US) counterpart, President Donald Trump, at the White House in May in a bid to reset bilateral ties between Pretoria and Washington. ALSO READ: - Zuma: 'We refuse to have our problems fixed by Americans we don't even know' - Cabinet satisfied with Ramaphosa's working visit to US - Ntshavheni The visit came after a small group of Afrikaners relocated to the US, claiming to be persecuted in their home country. The false claims of genocide in South Africa sent Ramaphosa and his delegation of ministers, business leaders, golfers and labour leaders into a charm offensive. Speaking at the funeral service of Andile Zita in the Eastern Cape on Sunday, Mbalula told mourners that the South African delegation did well under the circumstances. "The president went abroad to that mental case in America, with many saying: 'No, don't beg him, don't beg him'. How can he not 'beg' him? Because if that person does something else like this, lots of work done will collapse. The mental case carried on displaying befitting behaviour and the president composed himself."
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First Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
If Pakistan doesn't cull terrorism, India reserves right to act: Op Sindoor delegation in South Africa
South Africa has expressed solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism following the Pahalgam attack of April 22. African National Congress leaders led by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula 'welcomed and appreciated the briefing by delegation and also expressed solidarity with India read more All-party delegation including NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, TDP leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, AAP leader Vikramjit Singh Sahney and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin being welcomed. PTI The all-party delegation in South Africa said that if Pakistan does not nip terrorism in the bud, then India reserves the right to adopt any option available to it to defend itself. Congress MP Manish Tewari, who is part of the delegation led by NCP MP Supriya Sule, said, 'If the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is not culled by the Government of Pakistan then India reserves the right to energise the full spectrum of options available to do it so.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If the terror infrastructure in Pakistan is not culled by the Government of Pakistan then India reserves the right to energise the full spectrum of options available to do it so. — Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) May 30, 2025 South Africa on Thursday expressed solidarity with India in its fight against terrorism following the Pahalgam attack of April 22. African National Congress leaders led by Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula 'welcomed and appreciated the briefing by delegation and also expressed solidarity with India and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,' the India High Commission here said in a post on X. The delegation meeting was attended by ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka, ANC NEC member Andile Lungisa, ANC Youth League Secretary General Mntuwoxolo Ngudle, and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition Mzwandile Masina. Apart from Manish Tewari, the all-party delegation comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, TDP leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, AAP leader Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. Ending the two-day visit to the country on Thursday, Sule said, 'India has always globally led for peace and the deep relationship, friendship we have had with South Africa - two sons (Gandhi, Mandela) of this global soil who have always talked about non-violence. So, we feel very close to South Africa.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
News24
26-05-2025
- News24
The Lead: Derailed - how Prasa fixes trains and then leaves them to rot, with Sipho Masondo
Remember those old yellow and grey Metrorail trains? The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) is shelling out billions of your tax money to refurbish them. But instead of ferrying people to and from work, they are being left to rot in train stockyards across the country. News24 investigative journalist Sipho Masondo is pushing to figure out why Prasa is fixing the old trains but not utilising them: 'When former Prasa executives sent this memo to the former minister, Fikile Mbalula, Prasa was already receiving these new [blue and white] trains from Gibela. What is the business rationale behind this?' Later in the show, we look at a hero's attempt to save a family of seven from a shack fire. And finally, News24 Life debunks the viral claims that cheating could land you behind bars. Listen on YouTube: Listen on Apple Podcasts:
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
ANC urged to fast-track dispute resolution in Limpopo
Leadership battles delay the Peter Mokaba regional conference as ANC branches call for urgent dispute resolution. The ANC regional task team (RTT) in the Peter Mokaba region is pleading with the office of the party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, to enforce the national dispute resolution committee (NDRC) mechanism to fast track resolving disputes. This after disputes were lodged by branches during branch general meetings (BGMs), ahead of the regional elective conferences. The conferences are a build-up to the provincial elective conference, which will then culminate into the national elective conference in 2027. ANC in turmoil over unresolved disputes The conference cannot sit if the disputes are not completely resolved. That is why the conference at the Peter Mokaba region was postponed for the fourth time last weekend. The region is one of the most influential between ANC elective conferences. It has a total of 113 branches and more than a quarter of them lodged complaints with the party's provincial and national dispute resolution committees. ALSO READ: 'Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference This led to Mbalula's office ordering the NDRC to work with speed for the conference to take place. In a letter to the ANC provincial secretary, Vhamusanda Madadzhe, Mbalula confirmed they were working with the NDRC to speed up the process and ensure the conferences go ahead. The Citizen understands out of 31 disputes, the NDRC is left with 10, which are yet to be finalised. 10 of 31 disputes finalised Last week, ANC Limpopo chair Stan Mathabatha told the Norman Mashabane regional conference that conferences should be about branches and not factional slates. Mathabatha urged a faction led by former regional secretary Goodman Mtileni to rally behind the winning faction, called the 'Third Term', led by Pule Shayi. Shayi won the conference on a clean sweep, winning all the top five positions with big margins. ALSO READ: Limpopo ANC conference rocked by membership manipulation claims ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the party's constitution provides that branch members can lodge a dispute to the provincial dispute resolution committee within 48 hours after the BGM. He said it was an ANC tradition that those who have grievances during BGMs must lodge a dispute through party structures. 'It is constitutional to lodge complains through relevant structures of the ANC as provided by the constitution,' he said. Party's constitution 'But in the same breath, it is unconstitutional to take the grievances to a court of law because our structures are more capable of disposing any dispute than the courts.' While many in the ANC are waiting for Peter Mokaba region to conclude its business, the question on everyone's lips is: who will win? Will it be ANC bigwig John Mpe, who is vying for a third term, or it will be Limpopo premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba's crony, Mamedupi Teffo?' ALSO READ: ANC elective conference in Limpopo stalled by disputes Ramathuba is fighting for her group to win all the province's four regional conferences in order for her to be elected the party's provincial chair at the upcoming ANC Limpopo elective conference. She has already won Sekhukhune and Vembe regions, but has lost in the Norman Mashabane region. A win in Peter Mokaba region would ensure her route to the top provincial job. A win for Ramathuba in region would ensure route to top job But if Mpe wins the conference, a different political story would be told and a new chapter for the ANC would be opened. Mpe, who doubles up as Polokwane municipality mayor and the South African Local Government Association provincial chair, is believed by many to be the best contender against Ramathuba.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Is Ramaphosa's US visit crucial for South Africa? Mbalula weighs in
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says President Ramaphosa is not on holiday but working to protect South Africa's interests, reset US relations, and defend the country's sovereignty through diplomatic engagement. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to the United States, saying it is a necessary diplomatic move to protect South Africa's economic interests and reset trade relations with its second-largest trading partner. 'South Africa is a sovereign country, and if things fall apart between us and the United States, it must be explained,' Mbalula said. He added that Ramaphosa's engagement with US President Donald Trump is in the best interest of the country. 'The President is not on holiday. He's going to fight for South Africans. He's going to normalise things in their interest,' he said. He dismissed criticism of the trip, stating that those opposing it 'are sitting on their laurels complaining and proposing things that will not help our economy.'
