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Ramaphosa Replies Directly to Trump’s Miami G20 Remarks
South Africa on Monday accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of repeating "misinformation and distortions" after a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform that accused the government of "horrific Human Rights Abuses" against white farmers — charges the African nation says it and Afrikaner leaders have long rejected. The South African Presidency said the allegations are being used to justify what it called punitive measures that undermine efforts to reset the bilateral relationship. "It is regrettable that despite the…
Namibia Confirms Deadly Congo Fever Outbreak; Health Officials Warn
Windhoek — Namibian health authorities have confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after a patient admitted to a Windhoek health facility tested positive, officials said Friday. The viral disease, also known as Congo Fever, can be severe and is tracked closely because of its high fatality risk and potential for human-to-human transmission. Health Minister Esperance Luvindao said the single confirmed case required "urgent intervention" given the disease’s severity and capacity to spread. Officials did not…
G20 Summit Concludes with Renewed Pledge to Multilateral Cooperation
JOHANNESBURG — The G20 summit in Johannesburg ended with a broad declaration aimed at addressing climate change, inequality and Africa’s development, marking a diplomatic victory for host South Africa even as the United States staged a boycott, organizers said Friday. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the outcome as a reaffirmation of multilateralism and said the summit elevated African priorities on the global agenda. The declaration commits the group to measures intended to advance renewable energy, strengthen disaster…
South Africa Praises G-20 Results as a Triumph for Developing Nations
Renewed Commitment at the G20 Summit The Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg concluded with a declaration emphasizing multilateral cooperation amidst global challenges. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted this commitment despite significant geopolitical tensions and the absence of the U.S. President. President Cyril Ramaphosa praised the summit's declaration for unity in addressing global issues. U.S. President Donald Trump boycotted the summit due to unfounded allegations against South Africa’s…
G-20 Leaders Approve Key Declaration at Summit in South Africa
Historic G-20 Summit in South Africa Moves Forward Without U.S. The G-20 summit in South Africa made an unprecedented move by adopting its declaration without the United States, which boycotted the event over diplomatic tensions. This break in protocol signals a significant step for the summit hosted in Africa for the first time. The declaration was adopted at the start of the summit, a departure from standard procedure. South Africa positioned this as a victory amid U.S. absence. Key focuses include climate…
Lesotho Chief Justice Halts Appointments to Electoral Commission
Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane has ordered a halt to the recruitment of new commissioners for Lesotho's electoral commission after a high court application challenged the constitutionality of the process. The applicants, who moved to the High Court, raised concerns about what they described as a "peculiar manner" in which an employment consulting firm was procured to assist the commission, and cited other unspecified irregularities that they say have marred the selection exercise. After hearing arguments from the parties,…
South Africa’s Tobacco Legislation Falters Amid Rapid Rise in Youth Vaping
SOUTH AFRICA — South Africa faces what health researchers call a “vaping crisis” among adolescents while a long-promised overhaul of the country’s tobacco laws sits largely dormant. The draft Tobacco Bill published in 2018 — designed to extend smoke-free public spaces, introduce plain packaging and ban point-of-sale displays for both cigarettes and electronic cigarettes — has yet to clear the long road from proposal to law, leaving regulators and public-health advocates alarmed as youth nicotine use climbs. A 2024 study of…
Massive Women-Led Protest in South Africa Reveals Deepening Violence Crisis
Thousands of South Africans joined an online and street-level protest this week calling on the government to declare gender-based violence (GBV) a national disaster, a demand activists say is necessary to match the scale of attacks on women across the country. The movement, which began on social media and crystallised in a coordinated "G20 Women's Shutdown," asked women to withdraw from work and the economy for a day, wear black, and lie down for 15 minutes at noon to honour those killed. Organisers urged supporters to turn…
South Africa Advances with G-20 Agreement Endorsement
South Africa Stands Firm Amid U.S. G-20 Boycott South Africa reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism as the U.S. opts out of the G-20 summit in Johannesburg. Despite Washington's demands to drop the traditional declaration, President Cyril Ramaphosa insists on proceeding with the summit's agenda. South Africa dismisses U.S. requests for a toned-down statement. President Ramaphosa emphasizes the importance of global equality and multilateralism. U.S. diplomats warn against adopting a summit declaration without…
India’s Aid Helps Botswana Alleviate Ongoing Health Crisis
India offers aid as Botswana confronts acute medicine shortages India has offered to assist Botswana in addressing a severe shortage of essential medicines, officials said during a visit by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The offer was announced by Botswana President Duma Boko at a joint media briefing, underscoring the urgency of the country’s health supply crisis. President Boko announced the offer while briefing the media alongside visiting Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Available reports put the stock of essential…