South Africa Reports

2023-05-12 13:27:58 The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has announced that political steps will be taken to reprimand US ambassador to SA, Reuben Brigety, for not following proper diplomatic channels to express his country's concerns over arms allegedly being sent to Russia from SA.

Communicating this, Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said "DIRCO will today démarche the USA Ambassador to South Africa following his remarks yesterday. We'll issue a detailed statement after the meeting."

A démarche is a diplomatic term to summons and protest a representative of a foreign country.

He added that Minister Naledi Pandor would also speak to her USA counterpart, Secretary Antony Blinken, this afternoon on SA's decision to take action against Brigety. Open / Comment

2023-05-12 10:48:01 Rand is trading at 19.43 to the Dollar. It briefly reached 19.51 - a new all time low.

Johann Biermann Open / Comment

2023-05-11 23:58:25 Statement by the President of South Africa on the US Ambassador's claims:

"It is public knowledge that a Russian vessel known as Lady R docked in South Africa. Allegations have since been made about the purpose of the voyage. While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the Government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge." Open / Comment

2023-05-11 23:56:45 US ambassador says South Africa gave weapons, ammunition to Russia for Ukraine war — News24 The US has accused South Africa of providing ammunition to Russia through a Russian ship that docked at the Simon's Town naval base in Cape Town in December last… Open / Comment

2023-05-11 16:16:55 The 5,000-subscriber milestone reached!

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@africaintel Open / Comment

2023-05-11 16:07:55 The rand is but a few cents away from its weakest level ever vs the USD.

Last: R19.27
All time low: R19.35

Johann Biermann Open / Comment

2023-05-11 15:40:02 South Africa Allowed Russian Plane Under U.S. Sanctions to Land at Base — NY Times JOHANNESBURG — South African officials allowed a cargo plane targeted by U.S. sanctions for supporting Russia’s military efforts to land at an air force base near the capital… Open / Comment

2023-05-08 15:28:01 Sasria will no longer provide cover for riot damage if the power grid collapses

SA's special risk state-owned insurer will no longer provide cover for damage to property caused during riots and protests that could break out in the event the country's electricity grid collapses.

The decision by the South African Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria) follows moves by SA's big short-term insurers who have pulled, or plan to remove, grid failure cover from their policies this year.

From 1 June, all Sasria policies will not indemnify people and business from "any loss, damage, cost or expense, directly or indirectly caused by, arising out of, in any way or to any extent contributed to by, or in connection with electricity grid failure". This exclusion applies to "any riot, strike or public disorder (including civil commotion, labour disturbances or lock-outs)" that are directly or indirectly caused by the grid failure.

It will also not cover problems arising from disruptions to water supply, telecoms systems or sewerage, and losses from rotting food.

https://www.news24.com/fin24/companies/sasria-will-no-longer-provide-cover-for-riot-damage-if-the-power-grid-collapses-20230508 Open / Comment

2023-05-05 15:39:14 South Africa Allowed Russian Plane Under U.S. Sanctions to Land at Base — NY Times

JOHANNESBURG — South African officials allowed a cargo plane targeted by U.S. sanctions for supporting Russia’s military efforts to land at an air force base near the capital, Pretoria, last week, a move that could further increase tensions with the United States.

U.S. officials previously said the plane has been known to ship weapons for Russia’s defense forces. South Africa’s Department of Defense said in a statement on Wednesday that the plane had been delivering diplomatic mail for the Russian Embassy. South African officials have declined to say precisely what was loaded on to and taken off the plane.

South Africa’s decision to let the aircraft land runs counter to American efforts to isolate Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/world/africa/south-africa-russia-plane-sanctions.html

https://archive.ph/VQlnr Open / Comment

2023-05-03 13:25:03 DA and ANC on same page about Agoa, but Steenhuisen touts ‘ANC is not South Africa’ to US

The ANC government and the opposition Democratic Alliance have vehemently disagreed with each other over Russia’s war against Ukraine. But they found themselves in Washington over the last few days both urging the US not to drop South Africa from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a delegation under his national security adviser Sydney Mufamadi to lobby administration officials and congressional leaders amid rising concerns about Pretoria’s deteriorating relations with Washington. This over what the US and other Western governments see as the ANC government’s increasingly friendly relations with Moscow.

The immediate concern in Pretoria is that the US could end or reduce SA’s participation in Agoa, which gives duty and quota-free access for most South African exports to the US.

But Steenhuisen said his delegation — which also comprised opposition chief whip Siviwe Gwarube and Dr Dion George, shadow minister of finance — had told the Americans that “the ANC is not South Africa”, that there were prospects for a new government next year and that some areas where the DA already governed, such as Tshwane, where automakers were located and the Western Cape which exported large quantities of agricultural exports to the US, were dependent on Agoa.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-02-da-and-anc-on-same-page-about-agoa-but-steenhuisen-touts-anc-is-not-south-africa-to-us/ Open / Comment