Latest news with #ORTambo
The Herald
04-08-2025
- The Herald
Passengers anxious as more flight delays expected
Flight delays experienced at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday due to air traffic control failure have triggered anxiety among passengers, who now feel compelled to readjust their travel schedules. Barusch Sewduth, a passenger who was stranded for about an hour on Friday, said he doesn't know what to expect any more. Sewduth was due to fly from Durban to Johannesburg when his SAA flight was delayed for about 40 minutes. The flight was then delayed for a further 20 minutes, and no reason was given at first, he told TimesLIVE. 'Once we got on board, the cabin crew announced that the delay was due to the movement of VIPs at OR Tambo, so that delayed the aircraft from Johannesburg to Durban,' he said. He said this was an inconvenience as he had to constantly update his family, who were coming to pick him up, that the flight was delayed. 'When we landed in Johannesburg, we had to wait another 30 minutes for the baggage as well,' he said. Given the lack of communication, Sewduth said the airlines should be more proactive and send out a notification to update passengers on what is happening. 'None of that was given, they just said that the flight was delayed. 'I'm actually quite worried because I am in Abu Dhabi and I'm flying back tomorrow morning, so that's also a stress at the back of my mind because I think I need to get to the airport much earlier than what I would normally do,' he said as he anticipates more delays. On Friday, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) announced disruptions of operations at OR Tambo International Airport due to a system failure. ATNS spokesperson Percy Morokane said system failure was affecting air traffic control (ATC) operations — specifically the flight plan management system. 'As a result, operational disruptions are occurring, and departure delays are expected. ATNS is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to manage the situation and minimise the impact on passengers and airline operations,' he said. Morokane had at the time reassured the public and aviation partners that all safety protocols were being strictly followed to ensure the safe management of air traffic and the swift restoration of the affected systems. 'ATNS apologises for any inconvenience caused and remains committed to providing all stakeholders with timely updates as the situation develops.' he said. TimesLIVE
The Herald
02-08-2025
- The Herald
Disruptions at OR Tambo Airport due to air traffic control system failure
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) says operations were disrupted at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday due to a system failure. ATNS spokesperson Percy Morokane said the system failure was affecting air traffic control (ATC) operations, specifically the flight plan management system. 'As a result, operational disruptions are occurring and departure delays are expected. ATNS is working closely with all relevant stakeholders to manage the situation and minimise the impact on passengers and airline operations,' he said. He reassured the public and aviation partners that all safety protocols were being strictly followed to ensure the safe management of air traffic and swift restoration of the systems. 'ATNS apologises for any inconvenience caused and remains committed to providing all stakeholders with timely updates as the situation develops.' TimesLIVE
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
What South Africa needs now are bold, no-nonsense leaders like Mkhwanazi
Just last week the allegedly handsome Minister of Minerals, Gwede Mantashe, who likes joking around – even while Rome is burning – told the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape that he had no ambitions of becoming the next president of the once-glorious movement, the African National Congress. 'What mess do you want to put me in? I'm too old to be president,' the jokester minister said to raucous laughter from his comrades. It was good to hear the 70-year-old who believes he looks younger due to his handsomeness clear the air about where he stands in the presidential race that's clearly already underway. I must confess, I don't sleep well when he is the country's acting president. Jokes aside, the mess Mantashe spoke about needs tough, no-nonsense leaders – people like KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Unfortunately for poor Mzansi, we have a man of 'processes' in charge of the mess in the ruling party and our mess of a country. That ambitious man came in singing 'Thuma Mina' – send me – promising to clean up every crook and crony. Please blame my spoonerizing of the phrase on the old ANC chairperson who moonlights as a humorist. It's tempting to laugh but the joke is really on all 60-million-plus of us who live in this beautiful country with so much wealth and potential. As they say, you get the government you deserve. Besides the Grand Mess that is the Republic of South Africa, the police crises have been a festering mess for years. The man who fought for years to be president went in with his eyes wide open, fully aware of the mess Mantashe is not prepared to dive into.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
What South Africa needs now are bold, no-nonsense leaders like Mkhwanazi
Kwa-Zulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Archives Just last week the allegedly handsome Minister of Minerals, Gwede Mantashe, who likes joking around – even while Rome is burning – told the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape that he had no ambitions of becoming the next president of the once-glorious movement, the African National Congress. 'What mess do you want to put me in? I'm too old to be president,' the jokester minister said to raucous laughter from his comrades. It was good to hear the 70-year-old who believes he looks younger due to his handsomeness clear the air about where he stands in the presidential race that's clearly already underway. I must confess, I don't sleep well when he is the country's acting president. Jokes aside, the mess Mantashe spoke about needs tough, no-nonsense leaders – people like KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Unfortunately for poor Mzansi, we have a man of 'processes' in charge of the mess in the ruling party and our mess of a country. That ambitious man came in singing 'Thuma Mina' – send me – promising to clean up every crook and crony. Please blame my spoonerizing of the phrase on the old ANC chairperson who moonlights as a humorist. It's tempting to laugh but the joke is really on all 60-million-plus of us who live in this beautiful country with so much wealth and potential. As they say, you get the government you deserve. Besides the Grand Mess that is the Republic of South Africa, the police crises have been a festering mess for years. The man who fought for years to be president went in with his eyes wide open, fully aware of the mess Mantashe is not prepared to dive into. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading President Cyril Ramaphosa had surely heard of many of the smallanyana as well as the giant skeletons in the cupboards of the powermongers, as we all have over the years. And commissions of enquiry have provided proof aplenty, and the Auditor-General regularly confirms to all who care to listen that the mess simply continues. Therefore, everyone thought going in, Mr Thuma Mina had a good plan as well as the necessary gumption and grit. Our great country is sinking fast in this boggy mass of a mess of crime and corruption, decaying at greater and greater speed. Mantashe was correct. This mess is not for old men. It's also not for sissies or compromised renewal cadres obsessed with wealth accumulation.
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Analysts warn DA-led no-confidence vote could topple Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa's future could hang by a balance if the Democratic Alliance (DA), party og GNU, continues with the motion of no-confidence against him. Image: IOL Graphic If the Democratic Alliance (DA) proceeds with a motion of no confidence against President Cyril Ramaphosa, it could mark the end of his presidency. That's according to political analysts. Speaking with IOL News, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu said Ramaphosa previously survived parliamentary votes in the sixth administration because the African National Congress (ANC) held a majority in Parliament. However, the party will no longer have the May 2024 national elections. 'Anything is possible with the DA, because they don't seem to know what they are doing,' Mngomezulu said. 'Both the ANC and the DA are suffering from an identity crisis. The ANC behaves as though it is still the sole governing party, while the DA continues acting as the official opposition. But the reality is that they are now part of a coalition government and should be pulling in the same direction.' He said the DA often second-guesses and 'checkmates' the ANC, creating confusion about its intentions within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Mngomezulu said two main reasons are preventing the DA from leaving the coalition - is the receipt of ministerial and deputy ministerial positions, and its desire to prevent the MK Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) from joining the GNU. His remarks come amid heightened tensions following Ramaphosa's dismissal of Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Andrew Whitfield, a senior DA member, over an unauthorised international trip. The blue party responded by withdrawing from the National Dialogue process, which is a key platform for inter-party consultation. But, the party has not ruled out tabling a motion of no confidence against Ramaphosa. Speaking over the weekend at the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula rubbished DA's threats. 'The DA can pack their things and leave, but on their way out, they will meet others coming in,' Mbalula said. 'Even if the DA walks away, the GNU will not collapse. Other parties are already knocking at the door to join. The GNU is powerful - it finishes you without you realising.' Mbalula warned that any attempt to propose a motion of no confidence would result in the DA's expulsion from the GNU. He confirmed that the ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) would meet Monday afternoon to discuss the matter. Meanwhile, Mngomezulu said if the DA were to proceed with the motion, it would likely find support from smaller parties, including the MK Party, the EFF, and the African Transformation Movement (ATM). 'Even if ActionSA, which also has an identity crisis, were to vote against it, the rest could constitute the two-thirds majority needed, which would mean the end of Ramaphosa,' he said. 'But I don't think it will come to that, because the ANC and DA do discuss issues behind closed doors.' He called on the ANC to address the DA's repeated challenges to its policies, including the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, the Land Expropriation Bill, and its stances on foreign policy. 'They must also discuss the DA's threats to oppose all budget speeches by ministers they disagree with, and the possibility of invoking Section 89 of the Constitution,' Mngomezulu said. 'They must assess what the DA's exit would mean in terms of parliamentary numbers. That is critical.' The ANC's NWC is also expected to address the fate of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who is facing criticism over the controversial appointment of the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board. In addition, Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego echoed Mngomezulu's remarks. 'If the DA were to bring a motion of no confidence against the president, it will definitely succeed,' Mashego said. 'It will succeed because it will have shifted the DA toward the MK and the EFF, because they need MK and EFF for the motion to succeed.' However, he said the DA is unlikely to bring the motion unless it is certain it will pass. 'They wouldn't want to embarrass themselves by bringing a motion that's going to fail, thus spilling the end of their coalition with the ANC while they go out and they've got nothing to show for it,' he said. Mashego said negotiating with the EFF and MK would be difficult, especially because it would require agreement on who would become president if Ramaphosa were removed. 'There is no scenario whereby the MK Party or EFF are going to allow the DA to appoint a president,' he said. 'If the DA also agrees with MK to appoint an MK president, there is no way an MK president will have the DA in Cabinet.' Mashego expressed that the motion is unlikely to happen. 'They might talk about it as a bargaining tool, but they're not going to do it,' he said. 'The recent DA stance is for optics. No South African is looking forward to the national dialogue, so withdrawing from it doesn't change anything.'
