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Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
SA govt throws weight behind 2-state solution for peace in Middle East
CAPE TOWN - Government has thrown its weight behind a two-state solution for peace in the Middle East at a high-level conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Addressing the assembly on Tuesday, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola praised France for recognising a Palestine state and called on other UN members to do the same. Lamola said it was not only Israel that had to abide by international law but other member states too. Co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the conference aims to adopt an action plan that will lead to the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation a two-state solution. Minister Lamola told the gathering that South Africa preferred dialogue over war. He said that the security council must condemn genocidal acts in Palestine that threatened to wipe out an entire population. Lamola appealed to Hamas to release all hostages in Gaza, for Israel to release all political prisoners and for it to stop its expansion into the occupied territories. "All obstacles to a two-state solution should be removed. This includes an immediate ceasefire and a commitment to a peace process." Lamola said that last week's motion by the Israeli Knesset to annex the West Bank could bury the goal of a two-state solution. "Peace must reverberate in the Gaza Strip, in the West Bank and the whole of the Palestinian territories, and this is in our hands." Lamola said there was high expectation that this conference will deliver a framework for lasting peace.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Public service in Southern Africa: A New era of collaboration and accountability
South Africa Minister of Foreign Affairs Ronald Lamola (C) is seen during the joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community Ministers on the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict held in Harare, on March 17 2025. In Windhoek, delegates from ten Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states gathered for the SADC Public Service Commissions (PSCs) Forum, marking a pivotal moment for statecraft in the region. This forum, with participation from nations such as South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius, underscores a pressing dedication to redefine the core of public administration across Southern Africa. The consensus is clear: the existing bureaucratic framework, characterised by inefficiency, patronage, and stagnation, must evolve into a contemporary, ethical, and development-oriented public service.A New Vision for Public ServantsProfessor Somadoda Fikeni, Chairperson of South Africa's Public Service Commission, has articulated a bold and much-needed vision for a "new type of public servant." This reimagining calls for public servants to be more than mere functionaries; they must be active drivers of social transformation, characterised by their ethical conduct, technical proficiency, social consciousness, and development-oriented approach. This visionary perspective is long overdue. Challenges Undermining Governance Uneven public service delivery persists across the SADC region, marked by corruption, politicisation, a lack of accountability, and insufficient investment in human capital. Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that seven of the ten forum-participating countries score below 50 out of 100, signifying severe systemic governance challenges. For instance, public trust in Zimbabwe's government services remains critically low due to widespread mismanagement, particularly in vital sectors like health and education. Conversely, Mauritius, with a score of 53, exemplifies how ethical governance and a commitment to public service excellence can foster stability and sustainable advocacy for a revitalised public service is not mere theoretical discourse; it directly addresses systemic issues that have historically impeded progress. The Southern African region experiences some of the world's most severe rates of unemployment and inequality. South Africa, the continent's leading industrialised nation, for instance, reported a striking youth unemployment rate of 46,1% in Q1 2025, according to Stats SA. In such a climate, an efficient public service is not merely advantageous but is fundamental to economic revitalisation, equitable development, and maintaining democratic integrity. The Case for Regional Cooperation The upcoming forum in Windhoek offers a crucial opportunity to transcend the historical siloing of SADC states in civil service reform, fostering greater cross-border collaboration and policy harmonisation. Regional cooperation is pivotal for accelerating policy learning and consolidating limited institutional capacity. For example, Botswana's significant progress in digitising public services, notably its Integrated Public Service Portal, led to a 30% reduction in administrative delays in 2023. This success provides a scalable framework for nations such as Malawi and Lesotho, where digital integration in governance is still in its nascent strategies are essential for addressing cross-border challenges like migration, climate change, and transnational corruption. For example, Zambia and Zimbabwe frequently encounter coordination issues in the management of shared water resources and infrastructure projects within the Zambezi basin. Such inefficiencies could be resolved through a regional public service framework that prioritizes joint training, shared data platforms, and interoperable regulations. Building Capacity for the Future Fikeni's focus on a 'moral compass' is particularly relevant in a region plagued by widespread ethical failures within its civil service. However, ethics alone will not suffice. Tomorrow's public servant must also possess technical expertise and strategic foresight. As AI, climate resilience, and digital transformation reshape governance, traditional bureaucratic models are becoming achieve the African Union's Agenda 2063 and realise the vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a digitally literate, policy-agile, and globally competitive public workforce is essential. The current skills gap is a critical concern: as of 2024, only 19% of public servants in SADC countries have received formal training in data analysis or e-governance, according to the African Capacity Building Foundation. Addressing this deficit is not merely an option; it is fundamental to Africa's prevent the Windhoek forum from being merely a ceremonial summit, its outcomes must incorporate concrete mechanisms. Firstly, a regional public service observatory should be created to monitor reforms, assess service delivery benchmarks, and release annual progress reports. Secondly, a common code of ethics, consistent with the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, ought to be implemented across SADC states. Thirdly, it is crucial to invest in regional public administration schools, emphasising ethical leadership, data governance, and policy Africa, with its rich resources and experience in complex governance reforms, can play a pivotal role. However, distributed leadership is key, with smaller states such as Mauritius and Botswana contributing their best practices and institutional models. The SADC PSCs forum arrives at a critical moment. Southern Africa faces increasing socio-economic challenges, making a capable, ethical, and forward-thinking public service an urgent and essential requirement. It is time for the region to prioritise investment in its governance personnel, rather than solely focusing on policy implementation. This is the only path to achieving a genuinely developmental state that serves its citizens instead of ruling over them. The discussions in Windhoek should not conclude the dialogue, but rather initiate a broader movement.
Mail & Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
SIU investigation into lottery corruption hamstrung by red tape
Narrow terms of the original proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate dodgy procurement at the National Lotteries Commission has hamstrung its investigations, despite the SIU having applied for an amendment to the terms 15 months ago. Photo: Steve Kretzmann Almost 15 months after the The original October 2020 proclamation allowed the SIU to only investigate grants made by the Since then, several independent audits commissioned by the NLC have also uncovered fraud, corruption and extensive circumvention of 'procurement processes' running into hundreds of millions of rand. But the narrow terms of the original proclamation have left the SIU hamstrung and unable to investigate the NLC procurement and appointments of service providers. The NLC is also unable to investigate potentially fraudulent or corrupt grants that fall outside the window of the 2020 proclamation. A backlog of applications for SIU proclamations built up during the tenure of former justice and constitutional development minister A flurry of new proclamations has been granted this year after the appointment of her replacement, But the SIU's National Lotteries Commission application, submitted in April last year, has been gathering dust. Red tape An Institute for Security Studies (ISS) report on the future of the SIU, released last week, found that the proclamation process is mired in red tape. The resulting delays at the justice department 'have sometimes amounted to several years', according to the ISS. 'This has frustrated the recovery of funds, which can be hidden or dissipate quickly,' the ISS says. 'In turn, this might delay the referral of cases to the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority], resulting in the loss of evidence and slow down disciplinary processes for state employees'. The ISS has recommended that SIU motivations for presidential proclamations should rather be handled by the Presidency. Terrence Manase, spokesperson for the justice ministry, said last week that the SIU's amendment application has not yet reached the minister's office. 'The ministry acknowledges the seriousness of the matter and remains committed to ensuring that all allegations of corruption are addressed appropriately, within the confines of the law,' he said. GroundUp reported in 2023 that the SIU was planning to ask for an extension of its mandate. It was submitted in April 2024. Mashudu Netshikwera, who heads up the SIU's team investigating the NLC, told parliament in May that the application for an extension was submitted almost a year earlier in April 2024. Justice department spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said 'the department is currently attending the request for an amendment'. She said the department had 'raised certain concerns with the SIU, which the SIU has since addressed. The department has completed its assessment of the request and will be advising the minister and the Presidency in due course.' Millions in dodgy procurement deals The findings of the independent investigations commissioned by the NLC's new board and executive were key in formulating disciplinary charges against implicated staff, including National Lotteries Commission chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba and former NLC company secretary Nompumelelo Nene. Among the issues flagged in damning reports by the auditor general and the independent auditors were irregular expenditure on information technology and sky-high spending on lawyers. The NLC struggled to answer a written parliamentary question about its expenditure on legal fees, as key files with details of multimillion-rand litigation expenditure have vanished. Another area of concern is the tens of millions of rand in spending on media and communications, with a disproportionate amount paid to the Sunday World newspaper. Millions of rand in dodgy payments were also made to NLC service providers, including a nearly R500,000 payment to service provider Neo Consulting to investigate a computer hack that never happened. ProEthics, which advised the NLC on ethics when the organisation was overwhelmed by rampant corruption, was used to circumvent procurement processes. The NLC paid ProEthics more than R28.4 million. The company, in turn, said it paid other service providers, which it had no part in appointing, on the NLC's instructions. Bureaucracy not required by SIU Act The Institute for Security Studies report says the SIU is 'unnecessarily hampered' by delays in the administrative processing of presidential proclamations. First, the SIU had to assess complaints it received 'against the requirements of the SIU Act to determine whether it had jurisdiction'. If the complaint met these criteria, the SIU must then 'submit a motivation for a proclamation to the president via the justice department. A directorate in the [department] again assesses the motivation to see whether it meets jurisdictional requirements and is feasible,' the ISS report found. 'If so, the directorate sends it to the director general of the [department], who may escalate it to the deputy minister, the minister, and ultimately the president for approval.' These delays 'frustrate the purpose of the SIU Act, which is to provide for the swift recovery of state funds. The process of approvals by different justice department officials has evolved through a series of executive decisions and is not required by the SIU Act.' SIU owed R1 billion Since 2001, 300 presidential proclamations have been issued, the ISS said. 'Of these, 164 (55%) have been issued since 2018, during President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration. In the 2024-25 financial year alone, 49 proclamations were issued. Five proclamations have been reported to date in the current year.' The SIU gets its funding from two sources: a budget from the justice department, and it can also bill the institutions it investigates for the services provided and retain these funds. But many of its clients, which are all state institutions, were not paying for the SIU's services, as they are required to do. As of March 2024, the SIU had a debt book exceeding R1 billion owed by 272 state institutions, the ISS found. This led to the SIU launching Project Khokela in October 2024, with letters of demand being issued to these institutions for prompt debt settlement. 'Given the high number of new proclamations, the SIU is likely to face financial strain over the next 24 months. If unresolved, its financial reserves could be depleted in the foreseeable future.' This story was first published by
IOL News
20-07-2025
- IOL News
South Africans trapped in Thailand: The human trafficking crisis
A large group of South Africans is stuck in Thailand after being rescued from illegal scamming compounds in Myanmar, because they do not have the money to buy plane tickets back home. A counter-human Trafficking NGO Brave To Love, is raising funds to repatriate victims back home. Pictured is International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola. Image: GCIS Close to 200 South Africans are currently stranded in Thailand, having fallen victim to a human trafficking scheme. They were lured by the promise of well-paying jobs, advertised through social media and word-of-mouth. This criminal operation is allegedly orchestrated by a Chinese mafia network. The job scams target young South Africans who are fluent in English, computer literate, and have marketing or IT qualifications. They are promised good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses, and other lucrative benefits. When victims/ targets accept the offer, they are given a one-way ticket to Thailand before being trafficked to Myanmar and forced to work in illegal online scamming compounds operated by Chinese mafia networks. Emma van der Walt, founder and chief executive of Brave to Love SA, a counter-human trafficking NGO, stated that her organisation worked alongside the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Hawks, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Home Affairs & Immigration Services, and Interpol to bring back the human trafficking victims. The South Africans stuck in Thailand were rescued from Myanmar, at the same time as the group of 23 human trafficking victims, repatriated to the country in March 2025. However, the large group remains in Southeast Asia because they don't have the means to purchase plane tickets. 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 ✕ They were subjected to brutal treatment, including intimidation, physical torture, and forced labour, working for 16 hours a day. They were also compelled to engage in illicit activities, including online scams that targeted individuals worldwide. They were frequently beaten or tortured if they refused. They survived on spoiled food and contaminated water without access to medical treatment. In March, the South African government said a ransom of approximately R50,000 was demanded for their release. The online scams where South Africans were forced to work are also known as 'pig butchering scams,' in which victims are cultivated online and eventually fleeced of their assets. Van der Walt, in choosing the first 23, Brave To Love prioritised the most vulnerable individuals in the group, and was followed by three more for whom the organisation managed to raise plane tickets. To date, 26 South African victims who were trafficked to the illegal scamming compounds bordering Thailand and Myanmar have been safely repatriated. She described this as one of the most complex international rescue operations that Brave to Love has successfully assisted in to date. 'Recruiters continue to lure vulnerable young people from South Africa with promises of remote work, marketing roles, or IT positions; only for them to end up enslaved by organised criminal syndicates. 'These operations are well-coordinated and run by transnational networks. They prey on economic desperation and false hope. The need for awareness, prevention, and international cooperation has never been more urgent,' van der Walt said. She said this is a growing crisis. 'Despite these rescues, we are gravely concerned. We estimate that over 200 South Africans remain trapped in similar scamming compounds across Myanmar.' Her organisation is raising funds to bring back home the remaining group and remains committed to the rescue and restoration of every South African still trapped abroad. 'Recruiters continue to lure vulnerable young people from South Africa with promises of remote work, marketing roles, or IT positions; only for them to end up enslaved by organised criminal syndicates. 'These operations are well-coordinated and run by transnational networks. They prey on economic desperation and false hope. The need for awareness, prevention, and international cooperation has never been more urgent,' van der Walt said. She said this is a growing crisis. 'Despite these rescues, we are gravely concerned. We estimate that over 200 South Africans remain trapped in similar scamming compounds across Myanmar.' Her organisation is raising funds to bring back home the remaining group and remains committed to the rescue and restoration of every South African still trapped abroad. Clayson Manyela, Head of Public Diplomacy at Dirco, previously explained that consular assistance offered by the government through embassies is non-financial. He stated that financial matters are covered by individuals travelling or their families, and that the government only gets involved when individuals are destitute and literally have nothing. Monyela stated that South Africans planning to travel to any country, for leisure, business, studies, or work, should get travel insurance. He added that it helps when one runs out of money and needs to travel back. He urged South Africans to find the nearest South African Embassy or Consulate in the country they are going to, and share their details with them. It helps Dirco to locate them and offer consular assistance when they are in distress.
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Hague group announce steps to hold Israel accountable in Bogota summit
They met to coordinate diplomatic and legal action to counter what they describe as "a climate of impunity" enabled by Israel and its powerful allies. State representatives attending The Hague Group summit gather for a group photo at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bogota, Colombia, on 16 July 2025. Picture: X/Getting real A coalition of 30 countries from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas has agreed to a series of unprecedented measures aimed at halting what they described as an ongoing genocide in Gaza and reasserting the primacy of international law. The announcement came as part of an 'emergency summit' in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and South Africa as co-chairs of The Hague Group. Genocide They met to coordinate diplomatic and legal action to counter what they describe as 'a climate of impunity' enabled by Israel and its powerful allies. Many of the participating nations have described the violence as genocide against the Palestinians. In the most ambitious multilateral action since the start of the Gaza genocide 21 months ago, the coalition of cross-regional states agreed to six coordinated diplomatic, legal and economic measures to restrain Israel's assault on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and defend international law at large. Resolution That resolution called on all states to take effective action on Israel's violations of international law — including accountability, sanctions, and cessation of support — within one year of adoption. 'What we have achieved here is a collective affirmation that no state is above the law,' said South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola. 'The Hague Group was born to advance international law in an era of impunity. The measures adopted in Bogotá show that we are serious — and that coordinated state action is possible.' 'We saw 10 children killed while drinking water. There is no way to rationalize what we are seeing in Gaza.' South Africa's FM spox Chrispin Phiri labels crisis in the region a 'genocide' 'By the time the ICJ rules, there may be no Gaza left' — RT (@RT_com) July 16, 2025 ALSO READ: Dirco calls for global action to stop Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza [VIDEO] Measures On the second and final day of an emergency summit, the twelve participants—Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and South Africa—committed to the following measures: Preventing the provision or transfer of arms, munitions, military fuel, related military equipment, and dual-use items to Israel Preventing the transit, docking, and servicing of ships at any port where there is a clear risk of the vessel being used to carry the aforementioned items to Israel Preventing the transportation of such items aboard vessels flagged in participating nations; Launching an urgent review of all public contracts to prevent public institutions and funds from supporting Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and entrenching its unlawful presence Complying with obligations to ensure accountability for the most serious Israeli crimes under international law Supporting universal jurisdiction mandates in national legal frameworks and judiciaries to ensure justice for victims of international crimes committed in Palestine. The future Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla, executive secretary of The Hague Group, said the conference marked a turning point not just for Palestine, but for the future of the international system. 'For decades, states — particularly in the Global South — have borne the cost of a broken international system. In Bogotá, they came together to reclaim it — not with words, but with actions'. Israel's war More than 58 000 people have been killed since Israel launched the assault in October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israeli forces have also imposed several total blockades on the territory throughout the war, pushing Gaza's 2.3 million residents to the brink of starvation. ALSO READ: Israeli strikes kill children collecting water in Gaza
