President Ramaphosa to address the nation on Sunday Night

Posted on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to brief the nation on national security matters on Sunday, the Presidency has announced.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 13 July 2025, address the nation on developments arising from a public statement by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that details allegations against senior political and South African Police Service leadership,” the Presidency said on Thursday.

President Ramaphosa was attending a BRICS summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing.

“The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security.
“President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence at 19h00 on Sunday, 13 July 2025,” it said.

The President’s message will be broadcast and streamed on various platforms.

Sports Minister welcomes Caster Semenya ruling

Posted on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has expressed his support for the recent ruling by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) involving Caster Semenya.

This ruling upheld a 2023 decision by the ECHR’s lower chamber, which found that Semenya was denied a fair and effective hearing by the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

According to reports, this was part of the two-time Olympic champion’s seven-year legal battle against the eligibility rules in track and field.

On Thursday, the court’s 17-judge panel ruled in a 15-2 vote that Semenya’s rights to a fair hearing were violated at Switzerland’s Supreme Court, where she had appealed a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in favour of World Athletics.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) believes that the decision marks a critical moment in the long-standing battle for the dignity and human rights of female athletes with differences of sexual development.

“Caster, we as South Africa have always stood by you, and we will continue to do so as the fight for your bodily rights continues,” the Minister said.

From the outset, the department said the South African government stood firmly behind Semenya.

“Through the current DSAC and the former Department of Sport and Recreation, a coordinated and multi-sectoral response was established that included expert panels in the legal, medical, and advocacy spheres.

“The department also launched the #NaturallySuperior campaign to mobilise public awareness and international solidarity, highlighting that Semenya’s natural talents should be celebrated rather than policed."

DSAC committed financially in support of Athletics South Africa’s legal efforts with Semenya and further engaged with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to elevate the matter internationally, leading to a strong resolution on the matter at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“This resolution condemned the current regulations against her as a violation of bodily integrity, equality, and freedom from cruel or degrading treatment.”

While the recent ruling has not overturned these discriminatory regulations, it is an important legal and moral victory, which opens new legal avenues and affirms the right of athletes such as Semenya to be heard on just and equal terms.

DSAC said it will continue working with Athletics South Africa, legal experts, and other African governments and federations to pursue justice through all available channels, including within the structures of World Athletics.

“Caster Semenya has become the face of defiance against injustice in global sport, and this court victory is a victory for every African child. South Africa is proud of her, and we will walk every step of this journey with you, Caster, until justice is not only seen, but felt,” said McKenzie.

“We can’t wait to see you running again,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) said they have noted the judgment handed down by the ECHR.

“The Commission is still studying the judgment. A formal statement on our position will be released in due course,” the statement read.

Central Karoo police clamp down on copper cable theft and seize R-5 magazines

Posted on July 11, 2025July 11, 2025 by

WESTERN CAPE - Heightened visibility and targeted policing to eradicate the distribution of drugs and firearms along the main entry and exit routes in the Central Karoo paid off with the seizure of copper cable, tools, ammunition and R-5 magazines on Wednesday, 09 July 2025.

At about 15:55 members attached to the Central Karoo District Crime Combat Team followed up on information received of drugs being sold at a premisses in Nkosi Street, Mandela Square, Beaufort-West.

Upon their arrival at the address, the members ensued with a search and instead of drugs, discovered one 9mm round of ammunition and two R5 magazines in the bedroom under a mattress. An adult male was arrested on charges related to the illegal possession of ammunition and the possession of stolen property.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Beaufort-West Magistrates’ court, once charged.

In an unrelated incident on the same day, at about 21:30, the members were alerted by a security company who caught two Lesotho nationals in the act of damaging and stealing essential infrastructure at the Weltevrede Railway site in Leeu-Gamka. The members confiscated seven roles of copper cable, two cellular telephones, tools and arrested the 45 and 35 years old suspects who are scheduled to appear in the Leeu-Gamka Magistrates’ Court soon.