Latest news with #SouthAfri
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Cyril, Trump round 2 loading
US President Donald Trump meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 21, 2025. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets Donald Trump on Wednesday amid tensions over Washington's resettlement of white Afrikaners that the US president claims are the victims of "genocide." Image: Jim WATSON / AFP THE ANC has attempted to downplay the tense meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his US counterpart Donald Trump, hailing it a victory for reason over rhetoric, diplomacy over division, and truth over propaganda. Ramaphosa was forced to fend off false claims of white genocide in South Africa when Trump ambushed him with videos and articles to prove his narrative that white farmers were being targeted for their land. The unexpected stunt on Wednesday night turned the usually staid diplomatic setting of the Oval Office into a stage for Trump's contention that white South Africans are being persecuted. It resembled the tense exchange between Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when he visited the White House earlier this year. The South African delegation led by President Cyril Ramaphosa with the US delegation and President Donald Trump at the White House Image: GCIS 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 ✕ In a statement on Thursday, the ANC said the engagement between Trump and Ramaphosa reaffirmed the centrality of diplomacy, mutual respect, and the truth in building durable relations between nations. 'President Ramaphosa used this platform not only to champion South Africa's economic interests, but also to confront and dispel harmful misinformation, notably the false and inflammatory narrative of a so-called 'white genocide'. He reminded the world that South Africa is a constitutional democracy based on the rule of law, declaring: 'South Africa belongs to all those who live in it, black and white'. The world listened - and applauded with envy,' said ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri. She said the bilateral meeting also served as a moment to reset relations between South Africa and the US, anchoring a renewed partnership on the principles of equity, shared development, and mutual understanding. 'While aspects of President Trump's public posture during the engagement may have reflected a confrontational tone, and at times, a reluctance to abandon previously stated misconceptions, President Ramaphosa remained calm, focused and unwavering. His handling of the engagement demonstrated maturity, diplomatic depth, and a steadfast commitment to truth and national dignity, a posture that reflects the values of the movement he leads and the country he represents,' she said. It remains unclear if Trump will attend the G20 summit in South Africa later this year, where he is expected to take over the summit's presidency for 2026. 'President Ramaphosa stressed the importance of sustained US participation in global governance platforms, noting that the G20 itself was co-formed by the US. He extended a formal invitation to President Trump to attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, stating that he looks forward to handing over the presidency of the G20 'not to an empty chair, but to President Trump.' This powerful symbolism reflects South Africa's ongoing efforts to reaffirm its role as a responsible global actor and convener of multilateral dialogue,' said Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri. The two heads of state have agreed to meet again, while deliberations between the US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, will further address the country's position and proposals under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) agreement, according to the South African Government News Agency. 'The issue of AGOA did come up, and it's going to be further discussed in the engagements that we're going to have. The Secretary of Commerce and our Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition are going to be able to take those discussions forward, including some of our proposals that do incorporate the issue of AGOA, because we would like to see ourselves continuing in AGOA. 'Continuing in AGOA really is about prospering our continent. There are 32 countries from Africa that participate in AGOA [according to] the Secretary of Commerce. So, it is top of mind for them as well. We want to continue with those discussions,' said Ramaphosa. Meanwhile the DA remained unmoved by criticism against its leader John Steenhuisen over statements that farm murders were a reality in South Africa, remarks that billionaire businessman Johan Rupert - who was part of Ramaphosa's delegation - moved to dispel by saying the country had a general crime problem, which affected many citizens. In a statement on Thursday, DA spokesperson on agriculture Willie Aucamp and the party's spokesperson on police, said: "The DA reiterates our call for urgent action to address farm murders and rural safety, which continue to threaten lives, food security, jobs, and the stability of South Africa's rural economy. The murder of farmers and farmworkers affects the food security of our nation. These are not ordinary crimes. They are premeditated, cruel and economically devastating." Cape Times
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Lentegeur residents demand action against escalating gang violence
Police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder after two people were shot in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. Image: Leon Knipe A community in Mitchells Plain is calling for drastic state intervention as gang-related gun violence continues to wreak havoc on the Cape Flats. The Lentegeur Community Police Forum (CPF) has now joined the Mitchells Plain CPF in demanding a commission of inquiry into gang violence and the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to stabilise affected areas. The renewed calls follow a deadly shooting on Wednesday night in Linaria Road, Lentegeur, in which a 42-year-old man was killed and a woman wounded. Michael Jacobs, chairperson of the Lentegeur CPF, said the situation has spiraled beyond what conventional policing can manage. 'We had another incident where one person was shot and declared deceased. Another was wounded,' Jacobs said. 'This ongoing violence and deadly shootings within the Lentegeur precinct… we want to once again reiterate the call that normal policing cannot continue under these current circumstances.' Jacobs said police resources remain stretched too thin to deal with the persistent gang warfare gripping the area. Police are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder after a two people were shot in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. Image: Leon Knipe 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 'We need to have an increase in policing resources to assist the station to deal with gang violence,' he said. 'We reiterated our call for the President to institute a commission of inquiry into gang violence on the Cape Flats. Under these abnormal circumstances, not only in Lentegeur but in most areas on the Cape Flats, we are plagued with gang violence and deadly shootings. We call for the immediate deployment of the SANDF to act as a stabiliser.' He stressed that the time for bureaucratic meetings and discussions has passed and warned that action, not promises, is now required. 'We are way past having meetings or conferences for taking resolutions,' he said. 'It is time for the South African Police Services management on provincial and national level, together with the MEC of Community Safety and the national police minister and the deputies, to come to Lentegeur and other communities affected by gun violence.' 'It should not only be a talk shop. We want a commitment that resources will be deployed to the affected communities and that there will be change.' According to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. 'Lentegeur police are investigating the circumstances which led to a shooting incident in Linaria Road, Lentegeur, on Wednesday evening,' Twigg said. 'According to reports, the victim was driving in his vehicle when he came under attack. The 42-year-old male sustained gunshot wounds to his body and was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the female victim sustained a gunshot wound to her leg and was taken to a medical facility for medical treatment.' Twigg added that the motive for the attack is still unknown, and the suspects remain at large and that cases of murder and attempted murder have been opened for investigation.
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Retailers need rapid on-site IT support
Modern retailers looking to build on this need a seamless and reliable technology ecosystem to remain competitive and to serve consumers, especially during periods of high demand, says Nkgwete IT Solutions CEO, Siddika Osman. According to Statistics SA, 2024 retail trade sales increased by 2,5% when compared with the previous year. Beyond this, five of the seven types of retailers as defined by the national agency showed positive year-on-year growth rates. Osman says that while retailers spend a great deal of money investing in point-of-sale (POS) and other operational technologies, it is the daily functioning of all critical infrastructure, POS and end-point devices that can make or break a retailer's success. 'Retailers manage complex technology ecosystems that need to be operating as expected in order to deliver a seamless customer and employee experience. However, as we all know, in the real world issues do crop up and it is precisely when this happens that a retailer needs peace of mind that they have rapid onsite technical support,' explains Osman. Retailers often spend a big part of the year investing in new systems and capabilities to take advantage of key retail periods, such as Black Friday and the festive season, when there are significant upticks in volumes – not just in-store and online, but also stretching inventory management and supply chain processes. 'Certainly from our experience, and our partnerships with key retail technology implementation partners, we understand that there needs to be cost-effective, locally tailored support solutions in place. The best technology only lives up to its promise if it is working. In other words, retailers need partners that complement backend software with frontline support services,' says Osman. Nkgwete IT Solutions has 11 years of experience in corporate IT support, and so when expanding the business to support the retail sector, Osman says the Nkgwete discovered that retailers encountered many shared challenges with other sectors. 'All sectors have critical functions. In retail it is no different. It is essential to provide critical IT infrastructure and POS support to minimise downtime for retail operations. In our experience, and helped in a large part by our extensive national geographical footprint, having on-site technical support in the form of rapid response helps retailers manage complex technology challenges quickly,' she says. This should not only be the preserve of retailers operating in major city hubs, explains Osman. 'Many businesses have stores that are distributed across the country – they need a partner with the national footprint to reach smaller towns and villages. Nkgwete has built up an impressive geographical footprint serving other sectors and so this, combined with a strong understanding of the South African retail sector and general South African operating conditions, we found it was a logical step to provide comprehensive support to this vital cog of the South African economy.' Ngkwete, means 'champion', and the name reflects the culture of professionalism and accountability in the business. Osman says that this is why the business undertook a strategy of hiring an extensive number of engineers across the country with at least national diplomas and CompTIA and certifications. She explains that despite being awarded as the business with the most CompTIA certified engineers in Africa, the orientation is towards ensuring the service promise is fulfilled. 'Ngkwete exists first and foremost to ensure our customers have peace of mind regarding IT support, and we are delighted to be extending this offering to the retail sector,' she says.
