Lady R in South Africa
The Lady R, a sanctioned Russian vessel, which docked in Simon’s Town in December 2022, has placed South African relations with Russia in the international spotlight.
The Lady R, a sanctioned Russian vessel, which docked in Simon’s Town in December 2022, has placed South African relations with Russia in the international spotlight.
The Frans Mathipa case: Ramaphosa’s ultimate hot potato
The arrest last week of seven members of the SANDF for the murder of Hawks investigator Frans Mathipa raises many questions about the real motive for his murder. But it could also lead to incredibly troubling questions about the situation in the SANDF, and whether its current leadership knew the truth when they denied there was a squad in the force that tortured and murdered people.
Russian Doll revisited: Will the SANDF’s ‘dirty dozen’ expose the top brass?
The assassination of top Hawks official Lieutenant Colonel Frans Mathipa seemed destined, until this week, to remain a cold case – another high-profile murder that is politically simply too hot to handle. This underscores the magnitude of the breakthrough in the case, led by Hawks investigators, that has culminated this week in a prosecution process targeting 12 SANDF officials. They stand charged with the murder of Mathipa, two other unnamed individuals and numerous other crimes.
SA foreign policy in the time of coalition — it’s complicated
The latest apparent spat between the ANC and the DA on foreign policy has led to many claims and accusations. Unfortunately, these are not all grounded in evidence. Rather, this argument should be seen for what it is – different parties with different constituencies having very different views of the world, and thus having different interests. Yet it does raise important questions about party funding.
There’s cause to be optimistic about South Africa’s economic prospects
South Africa’s economic trajectory is steadily changing for the better. It must be underpinned by South Africans acting together to intensify the reconstruction and recovery project.
SA Person of the Year runners-up: Andy Mothibi, Simon’s Town active citizenry and civic campaigner Assad Gaffar
South African patriots and public champions want accountability from those in power.
SA’s fickle foreign policy means it has no principled approach towards global crises
Why has South Africa applied one standard to Russia and another to Israel? To take it a step further, why is South Africa withdrawing diplomats from Israel but working hard to strengthen relations with Iran?
South Africa pins its hopes on an early 2024 US Congress renewal of Agoa
The US trade delegation has used the Agoa Forum, hosted last week in Johannesburg, to reiterate that its economic relationship with South Africa remains ‘strong’ despite the Lady R debacle, differing positions between the two countries on Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas crisis in Gaza.
SA expected to retain its Agoa status despite differences with US
It is almost certain that South Africa’s Agoa status will be renewed despite it and the US often being on opposite sides over geopolitical crises in the past year.
Lady R report is truthful, rational, Ramaphosa tells NCOP – but invokes national security on details
The official report into the Lady R debacle was ‘truthful’ and showed no laws were transgressed, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the National Council of Provinces, taking the national security line on making detailed disclosures about the equipment offloaded.
SA struggles to consign Lady R to the archives, insists won’t demand Brigety recall or apology
National security adviser Sydney Mufamadi says Pretoria won’t demand US Ambassador Reuben Brigety’s recall or an apology.
Why we should worry about the Lady R — and the United States
The US government has apparently chosen to drop the matter and paper over the dispute, seemingly because there are wider strategic, inter-governmental interests at stake.
A Russian Doll, Part Two — Who assassinated Frans Mathipa and how is the SANDF involved?
South African Police Service Colonel Frans Mathipa was shot in the head and killed by unknown assassins on Sunday, 6 August 2023. Were SANDF Special Forces soldiers the skilled shooters who murdered a seasoned investigator in the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State Unit? If they were, could this explain a court application by the SANDF days before his assassination intended to stymie Mathipa’s investigation into the SANDF’s role in two abductions and potentially other crimes? Open Secrets investigates.
Protesters call for ‘horrendous’ arms fair in London to be shut down
Controversial arms fair Defence and Security Equipment International got under way in London on Tuesday and runs until 15 September. From rocket launchers, tanks and helicopters, to missiles, sniper rifles and the latest surveillance technology, it’s a bizarre performative affair that sees the biggest corporate arms dealers rub shoulders with delegates from some of the most repressive regimes in the world, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Qatar and Israel.
Why SA is unlikely to give US Ambassador Reuben Brigety the boot over Lady R saga
Despite calls from members of the ANC and SA Communist Party for the US ambassador to SA, Reuben Brigety, to be recalled or expelled over the Lady R saga, it appears he will almost certainly remain in his position.
The fear of Putin stalks the Russian émigré community – even in South Africa
Speaking to Russians living in South Africa reminded me of the fear that rules Russia. They may have left Putin behind in Russia, but they can never trust that they are free of him – no matter where they go.
UAE’s role in Lady R saga doesn’t make sense, say experts as questions over arms imports continue
Rather than clarifying details of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the docking of the Russian cargo vessel, the executive summary of the Lady R report leaves many thinking whatever was going on was unlikely to have been above board.
Lady R executive summary report: Nothing to see here, folks
The executive summary of the report into the controversial docking of a Russian ship in Simon’s Town last year raises more questions than it does answers.
Zelensky replaces defence minister; Kyiv hopes to increase tempo of southern counteroffensive
Ukraine is hoping that the tempo of its southern counteroffensive will intensify soon, Volodymyr Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff said in an interview, after the president announced his most high-profile Cabinet shakeup during the war. ‘This is not a Hollywood movie, but a very important thing is that it is going on,’ Ihor Zhovkva told Bloomberg TV on Monday.
Panel finds no evidence of arms loaded on to Lady R, claims Ramaphosa – but will still keep the full report secret
An independent panel has found no evidence that weapons were loaded on to the Russian cargo vessel the Lady R, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. But the panel’s report won’t be released to the public, he added.
Subscribe to First Thing to receive the big stories of the day in your inbox, every morning.
If you value the work our journalists do and want to support Daily Maverick, consider becoming a Maverick Insider.