All articles tagged with #south africa
South Africa said 11 of a group of 17 men lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine are set to return home, with two remaining in Russia (one in a Moscow hospital). Ramaphosa raised their fate in a call with Putin as reports grow of African recruits being lured into Russia’s war effort. Under South African law, citizens are prohibited from joining foreign armies without authorization.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa thanked Vladimir Putin after the SA government helped secure the return of 17 South Africans who allegedly joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine war; four have returned, 11 more are on their way home and two remain to be processed or are in transit; Ramaphosa spoke to Putin on February 10 and said the gesture would facilitate their repatriation, with SA’s embassy in Moscow continuing to monitor the one person still in hospital as recruitment investigations proceed; it is illegal in South Africa to fight as a mercenary without government authorization.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe and co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze appeared in a Johannesburg court on charges including attempted murder, obstructing justice, illegal firearm possession, immigration contraventions and theft after a 23-year-old man was shot in the back in Hyde Park; the gun has not been recovered, the victim remains hospitalized, and bail applications are planned for 3 March.
CBS aired a delayed 60 Minutes piece examining Trump’s claim of “white genocide” in South Africa, a report long-stalled amid Bari Weiss’s editorial influence and ongoing CBS turmoil that coincides with Anderson Cooper’s exit from the program. The segment features interviews with South African farmers and officials who push back on the genocide claim, notes that independent experts find no evidence of genocide, and places the airing in the broader context of leadership changes at CBS.
A reported discovery of gold particles in a cattle pen has sparked a mass, illegal gold dig in Springs, near Johannesburg, with hundreds sifting soil, risking ground instability and environmental damage as authorities warn and police crack down on zama zamas; some diggers have reportedly sold gold on the black market, highlighting ongoing challenges of illicit mining in South Africa, even as security measures are considered.
On Feb 17, 2025, the Moon is in the New Moon phase, leaving the sky dark, as an annular solar eclipse occurs—visible in full from Antarctica and as a partial eclipse in parts of South Africa; the next Full Moon is March 3, following the Feb 1 Full Moon.
In February 2026, an annular solar eclipse—the so-called ring of fire—will trace a narrow path over Antarctica, with a partial eclipse visible across the continent, Africa, and parts of South America. Concordia Station, Antarctica, is the prime viewing spot where annularity peaks around 7:47 p.m. local time, and the event will last about two hours overall. Since only a slim path shows the ring, many observers will rely on livestreams or safe viewing methods; eye protection with certified eclipse glasses is essential. The next annular eclipse is February 6, 2027, and the next U.S. viewing opportunity isn’t until 2039.
US funding for South Africa’s HIV response has been cut, risking about $400m a year and threatening testing, treatment and prevention services. SA offered emergency funds and a bridge plan, but experts warn gaps could raise new infections if mobile clinics and data systems shut down. Rollouts like Lenacapavir and CAB-LA depend on sustained funding, and the government is seeking additional support from the Global Fund and other donors as Washington signals a permanent shift to 'America First Global Health Strategy'.
John Steenhuisen says he will not seek re-election as leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance in April, opting to focus on his agriculture minister duties amid controversy and a severe foot-and-mouth outbreak; the move could affect the DA-ANC coalition’s stability, with Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis seen as a potential successor.
South Africa expelled Ariel Seidman, Israel's deputy ambassador in Pretoria, within 72 hours for insulting President Cyril Ramaphosa on Israeli social-media posts and violating diplomatic norms, declaring him persona non grata; Israel retaliated by expelling a South African diplomat, as tensions over Gaza and related legal actions continue to strain ties.
South Africa ordered Ariel Seidman, the Israeli chargé d’affaires, to leave within 72 hours after accusing him of undermining relations with insulting social-media posts about President Cyril Ramaphosa and breaching diplomatic norms. In response, Israel expelled a senior South African diplomat, signaling a tit-for-tat move as tensions between the two countries remain high amid broader disputes over Gaza and the ICJ case.
South Africa declared Ariel Seidman, the Israeli embassy’s chargé d’affaires, persona non grata and ordered him to leave within 72 hours after accusing him of violating diplomatic norms—attacking President Cyril Ramaphosa on official channels and inviting Israeli officials without SA permission—as ties between the two countries remain strained following SA’s genocide claim at the ICJ; Israel currently has no ambassador in Pretoria.
Melania Trump’s documentary, produced by Muse and licensed to Amazon for a global release, saw its overseas rollout halted in South Africa when local distributor Filmfinity pulled the film at the last minute, citing recent developments and denying external pressure. Plans for a 20+ country rollout ahead of the North American debut were not carried out as announced, and Amazon and partners continue to pursue international release without a clear timetable.
A Melania Trump documentary titled Melania will not be released in South Africa after distributor Filmfinity decided against a theatrical release, citing a “current climate” with no specifics. Showtimes are not listed on major SA cinema sites, and some cinemas were told not to list the film. Amazon reportedly spent about $35 million on marketing and around $40 million for rights. The film covers the 20 days leading up to Trump’s 2017 inauguration, while US-South Africa tensions have grown, though the article notes no direct link to the release decision.
South Africa’s local distributor Filmfinity has pulled the Melania Trump documentary from cinemas, citing recent developments. The Brett Ratner–directed film, a roughly $40 million Amazon MGM project slated for a worldwide release, will not play in South Africa amid ongoing political controversies and tensions between the U.S. and SA.