Tag: DIRCO

NEW US ENVOY BOZELL’S START IN SA IS UNSAVOURY

South Africa’s fate appears to be like water on the palm of the hand of the US administration. A cursory desktop search has a plethora of examples that shows the utterly lopsided bilateral ties between Pretoria and Washington. It need not be like this. Diplomatic relations between two nations are premised on fundamental ethos such as mutual respect, voluntary cooperation and […]

WESTERN SAHARA PEACE TALKS – HOW DIRCO LET DOWN PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his 2nd State of the Nation (SONA) address under the auspices of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The significance of this was overwhelming. This was only the second time since the dawn of democracy in April 1994 that Mandela’s party, the ANC, has not enjoyed a monopoly on determining the country’s […]

SOUTH AFRICA’S ELECTION TO THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL OF THE AU

On 11 February 2026, during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, South Africa was elected by Member States to serve a two-year term on the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, starting from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028. These pivotal elections took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. South Africa […]

SA MUST JOIN US, MOROCCO AND OTHERS IN SECURING WESTERN SAHARA PEACE DEAL

The Trump administration is moving with turbo-charged speed to settle the Western Sahara conflict. In that expeditious US adventure, there is bound to be winners and losers. South Africa, a long-standing backer of the Western Sahara people’s fight for independence, appears to be caught between a rock and a hard place. SA has historically aligned […]

SOUTH AFRICA DRAWS THE LINE WITH ISRAEL

South Africa’s decision to declare Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata is not just a diplomatic slap on the wrist. It is a calculated way for South Africa to assert sovereignty. And this is a warning shot fired across the bow of a relationship that has been deteriorating in plain sight. In the […]

ISRAELI DIPLOMAT EXPELLED FROM SA

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has informed the Government of the State of Israel of its decision to declare Mr Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy (in Pretoria), ‘persona non grata’ (unacceptable and unwanted). This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which […]

ZELENSKY’S PRAISE FOR MADURO’S KIDNAPPING MUST TEACH SA TO CHOOSE ALLIES WISELY

As most of the international community paused in “shock and awe” of the US whilst staging a brazen military attack on Venezuela – kidnapping and whisking away the country’s president and his wife to a detention centre far away in New York – some celebrated the cowboy drama as a lesson for adversaries. Among the […]

TRUMP BARS SOUTH AFRICA FROM ATTENDING NEXT G20 SUMMIT, STOPS SUBSIDIES

Hardly days after the completion of the first ever G20 Leaders’ Summit to be held on the African soil in Johannesburg, US President has announced that South Africa will not be allowed to attend the next session of G20 to be held in Miami, Florida, in 2026. The Trump administration boycotted the Johannesburg-held G20 summit, […]

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA ARRIVES IN ANGOLA TO ATTEND AU-EU SUMMIT

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Luanda, Angola, this morning, Monday, 24 November 2025, to attend the 7th African Union-European Union Summit from 24 to 25 November. This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) since its 1st Summit in Cairo, Egypt, in 2000. […]

CHINA MEDIA GROUP HOSTS ANNUAL ENGAGEMENT WITH UJ STUDENTS

A vibrant forum hosted by China Media Group at the University of Johannesburg today brought together voices from across sectors to explore innovation, youth empowerment, and media collaboration. The discussions gained added momentum following the adoption of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee — a […]

PRESIDENT PUTIN’S INABILITY TO ATTEND G20 COULD SPELL DANGER TO SA INSIDE BRICS

For the second time in quick succession, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be unable to attend a very important gathering on South African soil. First it was BRICS heads of state summit in August 2023, which was held in Sandton, Johannesburg. This time, President Putin is again unable to attend yet another global event of […]

KENYA MOURNS TOP SA ENVOY

“Your Excellency and Dear Brother, It is with deep sorrow that I learnt of the untimely demise of H.E. Mr. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Kenya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Somalia, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON). On […]