Ryan Smith MP

Member of Parliament 🇿🇦| @Our_DA Spokesperson for International Relations | Honours, International Communications (Wits) | French PIPA Alumni.

[Gareth van Onselen @GvanOnselen]

Today's fun sport: Watching "the DA is a white party" commentators having to painfully re-assess their assumptions in light of the Emfuleni by-election result, or scrape together some desperate justification; alternatively to say congratulations or just keep quiet. Hilarious.

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Fact: If you listened to what 80% of Iranians think, your brutal regime would not be in government…

[Iran Embassy SA @IraninSA]

Dear @geordinhl, congratulations.

We hope for better relations with @Our_DA.

Fact: More than 80% of South Africans support good relations with Iran...

[Geordin Hill-Lewis @geordinhl]

We love the freedom loving people of Iran and hope they can one day live in a constitutional democracy with civil rights, like we do.

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Deeply concerning development in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Will @PresidencyZA or @RonaldLamola condemn this assault on democracy? Zimbabwe’s decline has the greatest impact on South African, and regional security as a whole. As a constitutional democracy, we cannot tolerate this.

[Platform For African Democrats @PADafr25]

The Platform for African Democrats (PAD) strongly condemns the detention of @BitiTendai and other opponents of the constitutional amendments and calls on the #Zimbabwean government to immediately release all of them."

https://t.co/6CykVaW5aA

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Some of these details still do not work. South Africans are stranded in the Middle East while Minister Lamola is on a state visit to the US and Brazil and Deputy Minister Botes is in The Hague. Who is taking the lead to serve South Africans in distress in the middle of a war?

[DIRCO South Africa @DIRCO_ZA]

*** UPDATE ***

ALERT 🚨 | Important information for South African citizens currently in the Middle East region.

#DIRCO
#ConsularService
#SouthAfricansAbroad
#TravelSmartWithDIRCO

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

What peace efforts exactly? Cosying up to Vladimir Putin? Failing to acknowledge that the ‘conflict’ is a brutal invasion and violation of Ukrainian sovereignty? Trying to mediate with a Russian dictator found guilty of trafficking Ukrainian children?

https://t.co/3ShoN6Fq14

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Today marks 4 years since Russia invaded and brutally attacked Ukraine. As the DA we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the principles of freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We call on DIRCO to uphold our constitution and condemn Russian aggression.

[Carlos Amato @CarlosCartoons]

Today’s @News24 cartoon

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Reports of Russian meddling in elections are nothing new, and South African democracy is not immune to attacks from maligned international actors. We must be acutely aware of global influence campaigns that seek to insidiously undermine the freedoms we fought for so fervently.

[Democratic Alliance @Our_DA]

Reports of alleged foreign-linked influence operations targeting the DA are concerning.

Disinformation and fake online amplification aim to mislead voters and threaten the fight against crime, corruption, unemployment, and failing services. - Helen Zille
https://t.co/t3yIJFyl06

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Ironic. The ANC is Russia’s lapdog when Russia wants to unstitch the very democracy for which thousands in the ANC once gave their lives. Has the ANC traded our democracy for influence? Leaked documents show Russian plans to target SA’s Democratic Alliance https://t.co/j6avAp3ySo

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

This is not a conflict. It is a brutal invasion and you’re trying to negotiate with the aggressor-in-chief. Considering that the ANC is funded by Russian money, this is less diplomacy and more public pandering rooted in financial dependency at the cost of our constitution.

[The Presidency 🇿🇦 @PresidencyZA]

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA DISCUSSES PEACE AND SOUTH AFRICA-RUSSIA COOPERATION WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN

President @CyrilRamaphosa has expressed South Africa’s ongoing support to diplomatic and peaceful efforts aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is in line with South Africa’s long stated position during talks with both sides that all wars end through negotiations.

In a telephone call held today, 10 February 2026, President Ramaphosa received a briefing from President Vladimir Putin on the situation in Ukraine and on Russia’s commitment to a diplomatic solution.

On the bilateral relationship, President Ramaphosa welcomed the engagements with Russia aimed at advancing the development of a mutually beneficial trade and investment framework within the Russia-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in key international fora such as BRICS and the G20.

President Ramaphosa and President Putin pledged their support to the process of returning South Africans fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. In this regard, teams from both sides will continue their engagements towards the finalisation of this process.

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

This may provide some insight into South Africa’s increasingly cosy relationship with the Russian Federation through the ANC whose electoral fortunes are already dire. South Africans must know who is behind interference in our democracy to advance global authoritarian agendas.

[Julian Rademeyer @julianrademeyer]

Russian intelligence influence operations in South Africa, Namibia and Angola include efforts to "launch a counter-campaign against the DA", undermine opposition parties in Namibia and block the Lobito Corridor project in Angola.

[HomeAffairsSA 🇿🇦 @HomeAffairsSA]

Home Affairs has launched additional service centres abroad, bringing to 25 the total number of global cities where South Africans can now obtain Passports within just a few weeks! 🇿🇦 All locations: https://t.co/VQaQqb1yMr #DeliveringDignityForAll

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Can @PresidencyZA kindly explain why a minister in the South African government is celebrating a brutal regime that is guilty of massacring thousands of its own civilians for protesting against authoritative rule? How is this in line with the South African constitution?

[Dept of Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities @DWYPD_ZA]

🇿🇦🤝🇮🇷 Minister of @DWYPD_ZA @s_chikunga will deliver the message of support at the 47th Commemoration of the Islamic Revolution Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

📅 Friday, 6 February 2026
⏰ 18:00
📍 Maslow Hotel, Menlyn Time Square, Pretoria

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

What does the presidency classify as 'restraint' when the Iranian government has already massacred close to 3000 protesting civilians?

[The Presidency 🇿🇦 @PresidencyZA]

SOUTH AFRICA CALLS FOR RESTRAINT AND DIALOGUE IN IRAN

The South African government is following the developments in Iran with concern.

The reports of unrest and the subsequent loss of life are concerning, and South Africa urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

South Africa firmly believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are universal human rights that must be upheld without exception.

We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to ensure that citizens exercise their right to protest in peace.

Sustainable peace and stability can only be achieved through solutions that center the agency of the Iranian people.

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

DIRCO has no legitimacy calling for a meeting of the UNSC over concerns of a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty by the USA when it turned a blind eye to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is diplomatic hypocrisy at its finest. https://t.co/uZeP73ZOOK

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

@DavidPKramer @Christo64486953 @ChrisHattingh98 Her half-sister could drop or withdraw the charges. We don’t know how the matter will play out internally. Best to have another set of charges to guarantee continuity in the case.

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

This is an absolute game changer for South Africans living abroad and signals the overhaul of consular services that was so long overdue. Now even citizens living in other countries can access Home Affairs services with ease and efficiency. The DA difference in the GNU! 👏🏻

[Leon Schreiber @Leon_Schreib]

For the first time ever, #TeamHomeAffairs is launching the option of doorstep delivery! From 1 November, citizens abroad will have the option to have their Passport delivered to their home when they use our new service centres abroad. Once the system is stable, we’ll roll this out for all clients in SA - including through our new digital partnership with the banks.

We are delivering 𝘏𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘈𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 @ 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦! 🇿🇦

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Minister @RonaldLamola you sent out this press release before the DIRCO portfolio committee even began its deliberations. What’s the point of parliament if ANC ministers preempt and disregard its outcomes? What committee guidance will you deal with when we have yet to discuss?

[Ryan Smith MP @RSmithMP]

Instead of addressing the looming US tariff crisis and embracing investor-friendly policies to grow the economy, the ANC is attacking the very patriotic South Africans trying to do so. Emma Powell acts with the interests of all citizens at heart. The ANC hasn’t for 30 years.