OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
"I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me." – Kwame Nkrumah
Dear President @CyrilRamaphosa,
I write this letter with a heavy heart because no South African should celebrate diplomatic tensions between our country and another African nation. I write as a concerned South African and a Pan-Africanist.
From the outset, I wish to make it clear that this letter is written in my personal capacity. While I am a proud ground force member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), I do not represent the official position of the movement. Likewise, although I serve as the Spokesperson to His Majesty King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, I am not writing on behalf of His Majesty or the AbaThembu Royal Kingdom. The views expressed in this letter are entirely my own. I remain committed to the EFF's principles of Pan-Africanism, African unity, economic freedom and social justice. I have sought to approach this matter fairly because it concerns South Africa's future and its relationship with Africa.
Mr President, reports that Ghana declined or postponed your planned state visit because of concerns arising from xenophobic attacks should concern every South African. South Africa's image on the continent has come under strain, and this is now a diplomatic challenge.
My concern is that if South Africa does not engage urgently with fellow African states, ordinary South Africans may suffer. Our citizens, students, businesses and travellers across Africa could face uncertainty.
For this reason, I respectfully urge you to immediately deploy a high-level South African delegation to African countries to engage our sister nations. The delegation should be led by individuals of unquestionable integrity who are respected across the continent, committed to Pan-Africanism, and capable of building trust through dialogue and diplomacy. It should reassure African governments of South Africa's commitment to human dignity and the rule of law, while seeking assurances for the safety of South Africans across the continent. The delegation should include representatives from government, Parliament, political parties, business, civil society and traditional leaders.
Mr President, South Africa must also have the courage to look inward. There are South Africans with concerns about illegal immigration, crime, border management, public services and unemployment. Those concerns must be addressed through lawful policies, while we continue to uphold the dignity and rights of every person.
We must also be honest that criminality is not confined to any one nationality. South Africans, alongside foreign nationals, are responsible for crimes committed in our country. Our response must target criminals regardless of nationality, while rejecting selective blame.
South Africa's migration policies must be fair, lawful and applied consistently to everyone.
I believe the African Union should also encourage dialogue between South Africa and affected member states. African problems should be resolved through African dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect.
South Africa has an opportunity to rebuild confidence across the continent and reaffirm its commitment to Pan-Africanism. I respectfully urge you to lead through dialogue, diplomacy and decisive action.
Yours sincerely,
Mayibuye Melisizwe Mandela
looks like some people have been sworn in as judges of the Republic of X.
The anti-CIC @Julius_S_Malema and anti-@EFFSouthAfrica brigade have decided that X, Facebook and other social media platforms are now the highest courts in the land. No investigation. No trial. No judgment. Just allegations... then straight to "Guilty!"
Even the evidence presented before the Madlanga Commission struck many people as confusing and far from conclusive, yet some have already written the final judgment from the comfort of their keyboards.
Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? Or is that constitutional principle only reserved for people they support?
A commission of inquiry is not a criminal court. Allegations are not convictions. If your hatred for Julius Malema and the EFF has made you abandon due process, then perhaps it is not the Constitution you are defending, but your political bias.
Some people should stop pretending to be judges. A trending hashtag is not a verdict. 😂✊🏿
[Happing Now] Funeral procession/march to Meydan Azadi (Freedom Square) in Tehran. Over 20 million people following the coffin of the martyred supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his family: assassinated by a US/Israeli air strike.
Iran will rise! 🇮🇷
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula deleted his post after many South Africans challenged his interpretation of FIFA Law 4. Instead of strengthening his argument, the post sparked widespread criticism from people who argued that he had misunderstood the regulations he was relying on. Public leaders should verify facts before making public pronouncements.
More importantly, this campaign against Teboho Mokoena won't succeed. When Bafana Bafana returned home, Teboho acknowledged the @EFFSouthAfrica supporters who had come in numbers to welcome the team. That was simply a recognition of the people who were present. The ANC, despite remaining the largest party in the governing coalition, failed to mobilise its own members to welcome Bafana Bafana at OR Tambo International Airport. You cannot blame a player for acknowledging those who made the effort to be there.
Patriotism is demonstrated through action, not by trying to target an athlete for recognising supporters who welcomed the national team. If the ANC wanted its members to be recognised, it had every opportunity to organise a strong reception for Bafana Bafana. Criticising Teboho afterwards shifts attention away from that failure.
Teboho Mokoena should be judged by his performances on the field and his contribution to South African football, not by an attempt to turn his words into a political controversy.
Hands off Teboho Mokoena. We stand with him. The Red Sea is clear.
I stand with Dr. @MbuyiseniNdlozi.
He attended the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his own political capacity. Let us be clear: Dr. Ndlozi is not a member of the South African government, nor was he representing the Republic of South Africa.
The criticism directed at him is selective and inconsistent.
The @MYANC publicly conveyed its condolences following Ayatollah Khamenei's death. The @EFFSouthAfrica also issued a statement extending its condolences and solidarity with the people of Iran. In @ParliamentofRSA, EFF MPs reiterated those condolences during debates. South Africa has maintained diplomatic relations with Iran for decades, regardless of which political party people support.
If political parties and governments are free to express condolences and maintain diplomatic relations with Iran, why should Dr. Ndlozi be condemned for attending a funeral in his personal political capacity?
You may disagree with his politics, but democracy demands consistency. Freedom of association, political expression and international engagement are constitutional rights. We cannot defend those rights only when they suit our own political preferences.
Today it is Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Tomorrow it could be someone else. Principles must apply equally.
@LeratoPillayZA Despite her nice music, ukhozi fm has never selected any of song for song of the year cause she is Venda. Only Zulu songs make it.Leave Makhadzi alone.
From today onward, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Offices at the Union Buildings, Parliament, and Minister Gwede Mantashe’s Office will be a permanent destination for the youth of South Africa, delivering CVs, until this government takes the crisis of youth unemployment seriously.
When you mention the name EFF at workplaces, they start looking at you like you don’t belong here..
This was made easy by ANC and DA funders, because they understand what EFF brings to our dignity..
This victimisation has now found its home in the SG of ANC Mr Fikile Mbalula..
This article is misleading, and quite frankly blatantly dishonest. Rubbish reporting!
1. The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has not adopted any position on this matter.
2. The High Court did not find that Oscar Mabuyane met the admission requirements, nor did it declare his admission lawful. It just set aside the deregistration decision on procedural grounds.
3. The substantive question of whether Mabuyane lawfully qualified for admission remains to be determined through the University's process.
4. The judgment does not affect the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into the circumstances surrounding Oscar Mabuyane's admission and alleged FAKE qualifications.
Wendy Dondolo of @IOL, as a responsible and ethical journalist, you should know the difference between a resolution of a Portfolio Committee of Parliament, and the personal views of its Chairperson.
This is not a ANC Parliament. Those days are gone. Stop reporting lies. Sies.
Last night we were at Grand Musalla of Tehran, on the ground where the masses of people, millions, have gathered for the farewell ceremony on the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.
His body lies alongside four of his family members killed in the same US-Israeli assassination strike on 28 February this year: his Daughter Sayyida Bushra Hosseini Khamenei; Son-In-Law, Dr. Misbah al-Huda Baqeri Kani, Daughter-In-Law, Zahra Haddad Adel; his 14 months old Granddaughter, Zahra Mohammadi Golpayegani.
The Imam Khomeini Musalla (also called Grand Mosalla or Musalla of Tehran) is a massive religious complex in Abbasabad, Tehran. A site area of Approximately 263 hectares. The Interior/building area is said to be around 223,500 m². The Main Courtyard (central prayer area/sahn) is up to 52,000 m². This is the primary open space where large gatherings and viewings occur.
In the video below, I’m standing on one side of the complex yard. There is still much more, & people are everywhere inside and outside the complex.
The funeral had been delayed due to the war. But finally, Iran has a chance to mourn the painful loss of its martyrs.
Your whole family grew up playing soccer non of them represented the national team, but you call him that. Mampara is your family that played soccer but never got a cent out of it.
I don’t blame the EFF for grabbing their win without compensation. It’s been a tough week for all of us children of African. Ok’salayo uMokoena siyamthanda nathi