Ramaphosa breaks his silence on DRC conflict

Loading player...
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the presence of South African Defence Force soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not an act of war. "The members of the SANDF that are in the DRC are part of both Southern African Development Community (SADC) and United Nations efforts to bring peace and protect thousands of lives that are constantly threatened by the conflict in the DRC," Ramaphosa said in a statement on Wednesday. His comments come a day after the SANDF confirmed the deaths of four soldiers in the DRC's eastern city of Goma, on Tuesday. At the weekend, nine soldiers were killed while a 10th died later in hospital. As it stands, SA has lost a total of 13 soldiers in the conflict. Refilwe is in conversation with Foreign Policy Journalist, Peter Fabricius, Veteran Africa Correspondent and Author of ‘Do Not Disturb’ a book on Rwanda.
29 Jan 2025 3PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

Venice Biennale jury quits days before opening amid awards controversy

Just days before the Venice Biennale opens, the event has been thrown into turmoil after its prize jury resigned over a controversial decision to exclude artists from certain countries from receiving awards. The move, linked to nations whose leaders face International Criminal Court investigations, sparked backlash - particularly from Israel,…
4 May 4PM 10 min

Soweto residents take on Eskom over soaring electricity costs

Frustration boiled over in Soweto as hundreds of residents marched to Eskom’s Megawatt Park headquarters, demanding urgent relief from rising electricity costs and ongoing power cuts. Protesters are calling for a flat monthly rate of R350, an end to load reduction, and sweeping leadership changes at Eskom in the area…
4 May 4PM 19 min

US moves to escort stranded ships from Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions

The United States is preparing to launch a major operation to guide stranded vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions linked to the Iran conflict disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping routes. President Donald Trump says the initiative - dubbed “Project Freedom” - will deploy military assets…
4 May 4PM 8 min

Kidnapped Vosloorus businessman resurfaces alive as probe widens

Relief and renewed urgency are shaping the investigation into the kidnapping of Vosloorus businessman Mazwi Kubheka, who has been found alive a month after his abduction. Kubheka, a tuck shop owner, walked into the Vosloorus Police Station on Saturday night following community protests demanding his safe return. Authorities say the…
4 May 4PM 26 min