Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Five people have been killed in a surge of xenophobic violence in South Africa, police said on Tuesday, as President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to clamp down and the African Union, Nigeria and Zambia condemned the attacks. Hordes of people — some armed with axes and …
Read More »S.Africa’s Ramaphosa misled parliament: ethics watchdog
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s ethics watchdog on Friday said President Cyril Ramaphosa misled parliament last year over a 500,000 rand ($36,000) donation to his campaign fund from a company facing extensive corruption allegations. The country’s ombudswoman Busisiwe Mkhwebane, said her investigations had shown that the president gave …
Read More »S.Africa’s Zuma tells graft probe he’s a victim of conspiracy
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma on Monday dismissed multiple graft allegations against him, telling a judicial inquiry he was the victim of conspiracies, years of “character assassination” and plots to kill him. In an often rambling monologue, Zuma accused unnamed foreign intelligence agencies and …
Read More »S.African president admits economy ‘extremely weak’
Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday described the country’s economic outlook as “extremely weak” as he vowed to speed up emergency funding for the debt-laden Eskom state power supplier. Ramaphosa delivered a downbeat economic assessment in his first state-of-the-nation address since the ruling …
Read More »Ramaphosa sworn-in as president of South Africa vowing ‘new era’
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Cyril Ramaphosa vowed a “new era” Saturday after he was sworn in as president of South Africa at a colourful ceremony in the capital, as he looks to revitalise his push to revive the economy and fight corruption. Foreign heads of state from more than …
Read More »South Africa: The five labours of Cyril Ramaphosa
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Newly-elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces herculean tasks after he gets down to work after Saturday’s inauguration. They include: – Fixing the economy – South Africa has the most advanced infrastructure in the continent, but its commodities-dependent economy has been in a …
Read More »Ramaphosa to be sworn in as president of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Cyril Ramaphosa takes the oath of office today Saturday as president of South Africa, facing a brew of expectations and scepticism after vowing to reform the country and revive its economy. Foreign heads of state will be among 36,000 people expected to witness the ceremony …
Read More »S.Africa’s Zuma won’t seek MP seat, party list shows
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Former South African president Jacob Zuma will not seek a place in parliament in the May 8 elections, the ruling party has said, surprising those who expected him to try to stage a comeback. Zuma, who has had a fraught relationship with his successor Cyril Ramaphosa and his anti-graft …
Read More »No S.African bailout for Zimbabwe after Ramaphosa visit
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa concluded a much-anticipated visit to Zimbabwe on Tuesday, dashing any lingering hopes that his country would bail out its economically-troubled neighbour. Ramaphosa commended the new administration of Emmerson Mnangagwa for its bid to revive the economy and promised to explore a number of options of financial help. …
Read More »S.Africa imposes severe power cuts ahead of election
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa on Monday introduced its most severe electricity rationing in nearly five years, presenting President Cyril Ramaphosa with a major political challenge just months ahead of a May general election. The debt-laden state power utility Eskom is at the centre of the country’s …
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