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News24
2 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Holomisa's battle to clean up defence – the general's one-year scorecard
Holomisa says the department of defence is still reeling from the effects of state capture. He warns that the SANDF is not equipped to handle climate disasters or peacekeeping missions. He calls on Parliament and the UDM to stop being passive and demand real consequences. In a candid and comprehensive year-in-review report, Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans General Bantu Holomisa, has laid bare the systemic challenges confronting the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and the department of defence, ranging from the lingering effects of state capture to the country's limited response to natural disasters. Addressed to UDM's parliamentary leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, the report, dated 24 June, reflects on the UDM's first year in the government of national unity (GNU), offering an unflinching account of the party's experience within the executive while calling for intensified parliamentary oversight and accountability. Holomisa's reflection noted critical issues, including the SANDF's preparedness and budgetary constraints, and the fallout from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) deployment. The report calls on Parliament, and especially the UDM, to take a stronger stand, drive meaningful reform and ensure accountability where it's long overdue. According to Holomisa, the Auditor-General's report has been instrumental in guiding the new ministry, the joint standing committee on defence and the portfolio committee on defence, providing critical insight into the terrain we are expected to navigate. He wrote: It is clear that the department of defence did not escape the effects of state capture. The ongoing SIU [Special Investigating Unit] investigations initiated through proclamations signed by the president and the fact that the former minister is still before the courts highlight the depth of the challenges we face. Bantu Holomisa Former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is facing several counts of corruption and money laundering after being accused of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to R4.5 million from a defence contractor. 'These realities point to a protracted process of restoring the integrity and capacity of the SANDF, a task further complicated by years of chronic underfunding,' Holomisa added. He mentioned the DRC debacle, which placed the department of defence under intense scrutiny, a matter that garnered considerable public and institutional attention. There were concerns about the overall capacity, preparedness and logistical readiness of the SANDF to effectively carry out its continental peacekeeping and combat obligations. He explained how this matter further brought into question the adequacy of the department's planning processes, resource allocation and strategic command structures in high-risk deployments. 'The DRC episode served as a stark reminder of the urgent need to review and strengthen our defence capabilities, particularly in the context of multinational operations under the auspices of Southern African Development Community or the AU,' read the report. Adding to the ongoing concerns is the increasing impact of climate change, which continues to present new and evolving threats to the country's security and humanitarian stability. According to the report, this changing climate landscape is testing the capacity of the SANDF to respond swiftly and effectively, particularly in the deployment of rescue equipment and disaster relief operations. A case in point is the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape, which tragically claimed the lives of at least 100 people, though the final death toll is yet to be confirmed. Despite the scale of the disaster, only one Oryx of 12 helicopters was deployed for rescue and relief efforts days after the disaster had occurred, illustrating the severe limitations in the aerial response capabilities during emergencies. In the report, Holomisa outlined how this highlights the urgent need to improve the SANDF's disaster response readiness in alignment with the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related events The report was sent to Kwankwa to provide him, as the UDM's parliamentary leader, with a concise reflection on the oversight and executive work Holomisa has undertaken since taking office. It also aims to urge 'in the strongest terms' the reactivation and strengthening of Parliament's role in holding the executive accountable on several unresolved national issues, particularly those long championed by the UDM. After Holomisa was appointed as the deputy minister of defence and military veterans, he faced criticism for allegedly softening his stance on corruption since his appointment to government. Known for his fierce condemnation of the ANC, often calling them 'amasela (thieves)' in previous administrations, some questioned whether he had lost his edge. However, in an interview with City Press, he explained that his strategy of calling out amasela had been effective, as evidenced by the fact that those who had been governing (the ANC) received only 40% in the recent election results. Now that he is in government, his focus has shifted to addressing corruption from within, particularly in the defence department, which has been deeply affected by corruption – with even the minister facing allegations. 'Now, we are trying to clean from within. There are people who have been on suspension for a long time, some are in court, so we are busy addressing that set-up, as well as the procurement problems that were affected by corruption,' said Holomisa. No, I won't be making a lot of noise now. I need to focus on my task. The amasela within the defence department – I'll deal with them, but action will be seen publicly, not through shouting. Bantu Holomisa He also explained that Kwankwa was the one who could continue to say amasela. If the GNU is not doing well, Kwankwa can call it out. In the report, Holomisa said he believed that the UDM's 'principled, consistent and people-centred voice' must now take a more assertive role in ensuring that findings, commissions and legislative frameworks lead to real consequences and reform. He detailed the scope of his official engagements since his appointment in July 2024. The report outlines a demanding schedule spanning parliamentary oversight, departmental coordination, Cabinet involvement and international diplomacy. According to Holomisa, the meetings serve as a record of the work he has undertaken in the execution of his duties. They include: 63 Department of defence-related meetings with entities such as Armscor, Denel and the Defence Secretariat, covering strategic areas such as Auditor-General compliance briefings, logistics planning, HR and command and management information systems oversight, and force design sessions. 42 engagements with SANDF service formations, including operational visits to SA Army HQ, Navy HQ, AFB Waterkloof, Military Police, Defence Intelligence, SA Military Health Service, Logistics HQ and the SF Brigade. 12 meetings with the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, focusing on oversight briefings, acquisition performance reviews, and coordination with Treasury and Armscor. 58 sessions with the portfolio committee on defence and military veterans, centred on oversight of military veterans, departmental annual reports and policy matters. 33 Cabinet and cluster meetings, including engagements in JCPS and ICTS Cabinet clusters, deputy minister forums, Cabinet lekgotla and executive caucuses. 51 international and diplomatic engagements involving countries such as Turkey, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, China, Cuba, India, the US, Japan, France and Russia. These included multilateral platforms such as Brics, AU Peace & Security Council sessions, arms control dialogues, and various conferences. 6 bilateral missions abroad, to Ethiopia, India, Pakistan, Cuba, Japan and France. 19 community and civic engagements, including veteran forums, traditional leadership sessions, Youth Day and Women's Month events, rural civic visits and meetings with local councillors. Holomisa described these engagements as more than a schedule. 'Each meeting represented a deliberate effort to advance the priorities of our defence mandate, strengthen operational efficiency, and respond to the needs of our servicemen and women, veterans and broader society,' he wrote. He emphasised that public office must be anchored in accountability and purpose-driven action and reiterated his commitment to upholding the integrity of the portfolio in a way that is informed, inclusive, and responsive to both national and global contexts. Holomisa outlined how military diplomacy was prioritised to deepen international defence cooperation and open training opportunities for SANDF officers. Holomisa also advocated greater collaboration between South Africa's defence industry and global partners in manufacturing and technology exchange. Far from ceremonial, some of these engagements helped defuse tensions and avoid diplomatic fallout. On the home front, he confirmed that the department of defence had met its deadline to submit the reviewed 2015 Defence Review to the presidency, which includes new strategic frameworks and long-term planning up to 2055. However, the release of the document to Parliament now rests with the president, pending formal clearance.
Axios
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Urban District Market: Everything there is to eat, see and do
Urban District Market is an international food hall at the intersection of NoDa, Villa Heights and Optimist Park known as the Mill District. Why it matters: In addition to food stalls from around the world, the family-friendly spot is known for its weekend events and unique offerings, like its Gashapon machines and Japanese 7/11-inspired "SUPER" market. Catch up quick: At 20,000 square feet, UDM is part of Lintmen's, an adaptive reuse development that is also the site of Seoul Food Meat Co., Charlotte Vintage and MADabolic NoDa. Guests have the option to dine inside, on the patio, or take food to go. Stop by: Urban District Market is at 2315 N. Davidson St., near Seoul Food Meat Co., Charlotte Vintage and MADabolic NoDa. It's open daily from 8am-10:30pm. Food stall hours vary. Parking is available across the street at Seoul Food Meat Co. It's an 11-minute walk to the 25th St station LYNX Blue Line, which will take you straight into NoDa. 💭 Our thought bubble: Located about a mile from Optimist Hall, UDM is a great remote work option for those seeking free Wi-Fi, diverse food and beverage options, and plenty of seating. It's also a great spot for families, featuring a toddler-friendly supermarket setup at the entrance, a larger play area for kids at the center, a splash pad open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and private bathrooms with changing tables for breastfeeding mothers. Food and beverage options UDM has about a dozen food stalls unique to Charlotte and family-owned and operated. Each stall has a self-order iPad at the register. Rangoon Sushi offers made-to-order sushi, poke bowls, and a variety of Thai and Burmese dishes. It opens June 12. Mo:Mo Pasal has authentic Nepali and Indian cuisines like momo, noodles, fried rice and other street snacks. El Dorado Latin Grill specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine, featuring tacos, quesabirria and other Latin-inspired dishes, like Cuban sandwiches. HC Burger Company offers hand-chopped wagyu, steak and beef burgers and fries. It also has Korean street toast and grilled cheese on its menu. Crispy Patty has Katsu sandwiches served with a variety of proteins, including seafood, chicken and beef. It also has Korean corn dogs, fried chicken and salads. Pasuta is a build-your-own pasta stall with freshly made spaghetti, bucatini, tagliatelle and rigate. KaUdon makes its noodles in-house daily and is the first udon-focused restaurant in Charlotte, according to owner Tim Chun. Udon is a thick noodle made from flour, water and salt. Unlike ramen, the noodles aren't made with egg, and therefore are vegan-friendly. Stuffed has savory and sweet dumplings that can be steamed, pan-fried or deep-fried. Bop bop is a build-your-own rice bowl stall with several protein and topping options. & Coffee serves coffee, espresso, tea and specialty drinks, plus pastries like homemade mochi doughnuts, croffles (croissant + waffles) and bingsoo (shaved ice topped with fresh fruit). LaBARatory is a craft brewery and soju distillery with an adjacent event space. SUPER is a Japanese 7/11-style market, offering specialty snacks, drinks, onigiri, bento boxes and other grab-and-go options. Things to do/Events UDM regularly hosts events, including holiday pop-ups, princess-themed brunches and other family-friendly activities. Find their events calendar here. And keep up with their latest happenings on Instagram and Facebook. Asian Night Market: On the first Friday of each month, from 5-11pm, Urban District Market and Seoul Food Meat Co. host local vendors and karaoke outside. Saturday yoga: Habitual Roots hosts the weekly yoga series from 10:30-11:30am. Kids yoga: Hosted on school holidays, breaks and early release days by Making Space: Mindful Movement. Game Night: On Mondays, from 6:30-9:30pm, Charlotte Together hosts game nights. Monthly walking group: Join Pace of East on the second Saturday of each month from 10am-1pm. Friend Matching: Monthly meetup hosted by Filled Cups. Guests complete a questionnaire before coming and are "matched" at tables with similar interests. Festivals: Books on the House Bookpalooza (Oct. 11), and the first annual Kaleidoscope Dance and Movement Festival (Aug. 9) and K-POP Stan Fest (Aug. 30). Outdoor Movie Night: Watch a mix of family-friendly and anime movies in the courtyard between Seoul Food and UDM on Fridays at sunset.
Eyewitness News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
EFF calls on National Assembly to denounce persecution claims by Afrikaners granted refugee status in US
CAPE TOWN - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Tuesday called on the National Assembly to denounce persecution claims by white Afrikaners who arrived in the United States on Monday under the pretence of being refugees. In a statement to the House on Tuesday afternoon, party whip, Poppy Mailola, said that their citizenship should be revoked. The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has equally expressed its condemnation of the group, saying it was untrue that they were fleeing from violence in South Africa. ALSO READ: • Trump says he won't attend G20 meeting unless SA fixes 'genocide' of white Afrikaners • Ramaphosa to hold another meeting with Trump over US granting refugee status to group of Afrikaners The group of 49, which includes families and children, were welcomed at the Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. on Monday by the deputy secretaries of state and homeland security and encouraged to live the American dream. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the group granted refugee status in the US had shared "harrowing" tales of the violence they had endured in South Africa upon their arrival. But on Tuesday, some MPs cast doubt on their stories. Mailola said that by lifting its refugee moratorium to grant entry to the group, the US was trying to delegitimise South Africa's support for the Palestinian cause. "That this House rejects the notion that there's any persecution of any racial group that would warrant refugee-seeking status in any nation, and that redress within the confines of the Constitution and rule of law, does not constitute discrimination." The UDM's Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said the group were suffering from apartheid nostalgia. "They are not refugees. They are fleeing a South Africa that strives for justice and inclusivity. They are running away from a country determined to heal and more equal." On Tuesday, US media reported that the Episcopal Church in the US would not be helping to resettle the group as requested by Trump's administration, saying the church was committed to racial justice and reconciliation and given its historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Russia Today
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Most-followed South African politicians on X revealed
Economic Freedom Fighters' leader Julius Malema is South Africa's most popular politician with over four million followers on social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), while the sitting President Cyril Ramaphosa has been revealed as the most followed government official with 2.95 million followers. A new report by the Decode Communications South African Government Leaders on X Report has assessed how government leaders use X to engage with citizens. Alongside this report, an IOL team has also tracked the influence and the following of political leaders who sit outside government, including the likes of Malema, former Western Cape premier Helen Zille, former president Jacob Zuma and MK Party secretary Floyd Shivambu. In terms of the most followed government leaders, Ramaphosa is first, followed by the Deputy Minister of Defence and UDM leader, Bantu Holomisa with 683,000 followers and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi with 569,000 followers. While the report has named Ramaphosa, Holomisa and Panyaza Lesufi as the government leaders with the most followers, IOL has compiled a list of South Africa's Cabinet members with the most followers as well as a list of the political party leaders that have the most followers. READ MORE: How 2024 changed South Africa forever South Africa has a huge Cabinet, with 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers, from multiple parties who formed the Government of National Unity. The GNU consists of politicians in the executive and in Parliament from the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), UDM, Build One South Africa (Bosa), Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi, Pan African Congress of Azania (PAC), Good, National Freedom Party. Here is the list of the government officials with the most followers on X: President Cyril Ramaphosa - 2.95 million followers Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Bantu Holomisa - 683,000 followers Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi - 569,000 followers Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe - 545,000 followers Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton Mckenzie - 392,000 followers Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen- 245,000 followers Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille - 223,000 followers Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola - 177,000 followers Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa- 158,000 followers Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Buti Manamela - 156,000 followers In terms of the top 10 politicians overall, the top five were mainly made up of politicians who are considered younger, in the likes of Malema, Fikile Mbalula, Mmusi Maimane and the underfire former EFF MP, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and Floyd Shivambu, who was the most searched person on Google South Africa last year after he made the dramatic switch from EFF to MK Party. The rest of the top 10 were made up by older politicians in the ilk of Helen Zille, advocate Dali Mpofu, Herman Mashaba and Bantu Holomisa. Here is the list of leading political party members with the most followers on X: READ MORE: The Western media is dying. What will take its place? EFF leader Julius Malema - 4.2 million followers ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula - 3.1 million followers President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC - 2.95 million followers Leader of Build One South Africa Mmusi Maimane - 2.1 million followers Former EFF MP and spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi - 1.9 million followers Secretary General of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK Party) Floyd Shivambu - 1.59 million followers DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille - 1.53 million followers MK Party member Dali Mpofu - 1.1 million followers ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba - 765,000 followers President of the United Democratic Movement Bantu Holomisa - 683,000 followers The Decode Communications South African Government Leaders on X Report found that Ramaphosa, Lesufi, and Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie topped the list for engagement, while McKenzie, Lesufi, and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have been recognised for their proactive and interactive communication styles. Just 10 of the 34 ministers on X have verified accounts which raises concerns about credibility in an era of rampant misinformation, and four ministers have inactive accounts, including Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and People with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi, and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa. The government leaders report found that crises and controversies drive engagement more than policy announcements or service delivery updates, which highlights that the approach to communication is reactive rather than proactive. A couple of new appointed ministers experienced significant follower growth which demonstrates the public's appetite for fresh voices, including: Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber (200.46% growth) Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube (108.11% growth) Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie (39.99% growth) What South African citizens expect Social media users in SA are looking to government leaders for accountability, honest answers, service delivery updates, genuine connections, and a humane approach to leadership. READ MORE: From Leopold to lithium: How corporations perfected the art of plundering Africa On X, users expect leaders to be present, engaging, and proactive in addressing concerns within their portfolios. While more cabinet ministers are now on the platform, the level of engagement and its impact remains disappointing, according to the report. Lorato Tshenkeng, CEO, Decode Communications said: 'We need leaders that are present. X can't just be used to push announcements and create an illusion of activity.' 'There are burning issues in our country, and we call on our leaders to embrace transparency, empathy, and the courage to have difficult but necessary conversations with the people they serve.' The report serves as a clear call for government leaders to embrace X as a strategic tool for nation-building. Tshenkeng said that beyond any political affiliation, government leaders need to think more about fostering transparency, building trust, and driving meaningful public discourse. 'South Africa deserves leadership that speaks not only to its challenges but to its hope and resilience. It's time to lead the conversation and the nation forward,' Tshenkeng said. First published by IOL
