Egypt and Ethiopia will join the BRICS group of nations, in a decision on expansion made at the 15th summit of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and host South Africa. The two African nations, often at odds with each other, will take up membership in January 2024. Also joining…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the South African nation on Sunday evening, speaking about foreign policy ahead of hosting the leaders of China, India, and Brazil during the BRICS summit, which begins on Tuesday. “This BRICS Summit and the state visit by President Xi Jinping, as well as the many bilateral…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
South Africa’s corrections system is releasing thousands of nonviolent offenders at the direction of President Cyril Ramaphosa, but one of them – former leader Jacob Zuma – is at the center of controversy. Zuma, now 81, was sentenced to 15 months for contempt of court in 2021. The decision followed…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
The deployment of South African Development Community (SADC) troops to Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are to provide security and assist in ending the violent conflict with M23 rebels in the country’s eastern provinces, topped the agenda at an SADC summit held by videoconference on Tuesday. Leaders and high-level…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa says a peace proposal from African leaders who recently wrapped up their diplomatic visits to Russia and Ukraine has “created a foundation for future engagements that will contribute to a road to peace and resolution” to end the conflict. “We met with Ukrainian President…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said an independent investigation is planned to look into allegations that South Africa is providing arms to Russia, a charge made public by Reuben Brigety, the United States Ambassador to South Africa. An unnamed retired judge will lead the inquiry, with Ramaphosa making clear that…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
South Africa will not revoke its participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite comments made by the African National Congress and President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier in the week. That’s according to a statement from the presidency, assuring that South Africa will remain a signatory to the Rome Statute that…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the keynote address on Sunday as the African National Congress marked its 111th year, prioritizing the country’s energy crisis and economic challenges in his speech at Mangaung, Free State. Ramaphosa, re-elected as ANC leader in December despite being the subject of recent corruption investigations,…
Laureen is the editor of Africa Times
In his first address to the nation since Queen Elizabeth’s death, King Charles III paid tribute to his mother’s 70 years of service and promised to continue her commitment in his new role. “As the queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for an inquiry, while expressing his condolences over the mysterious death of at least 21 teenagers at a South African tavern early Sunday. “His thoughts are with the families who have lost children as well as families who are awaiting confirmation of how their children…
Catastrophic flooding that followed heavy rains in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal has claimed at least 259 lives, according to the disaster management agency leading the emergency response. The rains that began late Monday swamped roadways, stressed dams, and brought towering walls of mud and water down on the…
South Africa will lead the way in the effort to begin manufacturing COVID vaccines on the African continent, beginning with an mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub supported by the World Health Organization. WHO said it will work with its COVAX partners, a South African consortium of biotech firms, a network…
A group of global development banks announced an $80 billion commitment to invest in African economies on Monday, following on the closely watched weekend G7 Summit in the United Kingdom. The funding will come from the development banks of the G7 nations, along with the private-sector branch of the African…
As with so many other facets of global wealth (and health) inequality, the rollout of the four Covid-19 vaccines produced by Western pharmaceutical companies and approved by American and European health officials – the “Big Four” of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson – has quickly became yet another…
South Africa must prioritize both the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s economic recovery, especially with an eye toward climate change and the energy sector, the president said during the annual State of the Nation address. President Cyril Ramaphosa compared his nation to the fynbos, a South African…