I find it odd that in the past week, the president of RSA spoke to Trump. No curiosity about HOW that call came about? Also spoke to Putin, following Lamola's visit. Again last week, Finance Ministers, Reserve Bank heads, and over 200 CEOs were in DC for WB/IMF Spring Meetings; WB boss made a BIG announcement that developing countries must craft their bilateral deals with USA urgently. No curiosity about HOW far SA is & what is happening behind the scenes and WHO the interlocutors are? What had the Special Envoy been up to since the "non-issue?" And

Question: Mcebisi Jonas said what? In 2016, the US's nominated Ambassador to RSA, Brent Bozell called Trump the "greatest charlatan of them all, a huckster, and a shameless self-promoter." He said “God help this country if this man were president.” In 1987, he also did this: RSA is not blocking him. It is common knowledge that Rubio and Vance also called Trump some colourful pejoratives- "lunatic...con man...Hitler...." yet a private citizen speaking during a heated presidential campaign between Trump & Biden in 2020, when EVERYONE was weighing,

Do you wonder why Trump announced "refugee" as opposed to asylum program for Afrikaners? Are you not curious why a very capable US embassy has not provided you with information but merely advises you to "monitor" the website? It hurts me when people are confused, so let me help: Asylum process allows one to travel anytime and just arrive in the USA. Refugee? Well, the application process can take years. Additionally, the US Refugee Admissions Program was suspended last month, and no waivers have been announced. Here is how refugee applications work.

Been planning this thread all year. I thought I'd wait until election day. A tribute to Leanne Manas. Leanne came to @SABCNews to present a lunchtime business show around 2003. I had heard her voice as a stand in on @KayaON959 when I was presenting the Afternoon Drive in 2000. My Co-Presenter, Lawrence Dube and I, used to gossip and say, Leanne must not stand in but take over from the actual business presenter. She was amazing. I later learnt that an editor at @Radio702
haf told her she would never make it. What a joke, my dears. Leanne Manas is IT. So

CEO of Fire Ops, private company that took part in firefighting op at Charlotte Maxeke, tells @SundayTimesZA that claim that fire "reignited" is a lie. "The reason the fire couldn't be controlled continuously is because the fire hydrants on the premises are out of commission." 🤷🏾‍♀️ He further tells @SundayTimesZA "They are not working because of a lack of maintenance...As it stands, the building is a death trap....The hospital does not have something as simple as an emergency plan." He calls for a complete revamp of the hospital.

The more I reflect on your tweet, the more incensed I become. Why do cabinet ministers speak as if they have no power & authority? You lament same things that unelected citizens lament. "No guarantee of consequences." Why is that? Why do YOU think there'd be no consequences?

https://twitter.com/LindiweSisuluSA/status/1370754632218251268

You are a senior ANC leader & minister. Shouldn't you be telling us what YOU intend doing, to ensure there are consequences for corruption? Throwing in the towel & maligning the judicial commission tasked with hearing evidence of YOUR party and government's rot, is a cynical move

In my latest column, I first make the point that media coverage of the current student protest for free education & cancellation of debt cannot happen without context of what was promised, by whom, when and why. I refer to the recommendations of the Heher Commission. A thread:

https://twitter.com/RediTlhabi/status/1370674072170938376

Covering student protests as a single story is problematic. The latest protests which are not a story but a narrative..a series of MANY stories, which together paint a picture of who is valued by THIS government and who is not. A story misses the narrative of state neglect.

Two things can be true at same time? @Jaqqs 's actions were reprehensible. He behaved like a typical, entitled baas.He lied and abused the privileges of his identity & proximity to a captive audience (do you know who I am type of thing). Is he a good journalist, YES. He exposed Vlakplaas, Eugene De Kock and many apartheid atrocities. He was hated by apartheid state. Under him, investigative journalism at the SABC was thriving (Special Assignment.) He exposed the continued incarceration of innocent black men under a democratic government.

Dear media. NO! Israel is not "wondering why Biden hasn't called yet." Netanyahu is not stupid & his memory works just fine.He remembers games HE played with Obama & Biden; announcing sensitive plans that were still being negotiated. He remembers their differences on key issues: A smart tactical politician, Bibi knows why the call hasn't come. He remembers upstaging Obama and Biden on many issues. He remembers major differences on Iran nuclear deal, status of Jerusalem & response to Arab Spring. There were also power plays and sabotage, by HIM. Remember

I believe her. Even when accused is a respected peer. I believe her. The allegations are too serious to ignore. In keeping with LeadSA antirape initiative Primedia launched, there is room for a stronger statement that doesn't subvert legal process. 1) Because rape is a scourge &

https://twitter.com/ewnupdates/status/1350073119852130305

2) Accusation demands empathy for the victim, suspension pending legal outcome AND deference to legal process. It is not either or, these responses can happen at the same time.) 3) Accused is prominent & senior employees so company's response must reflect that. I believe her.

My father was stabbed to death at age 49. My mom was 35. She was educated, conservative, quiet yet tough. Her parents were educated. He grew up very poor. He turned out to be kind, hardworking & so loving to us. He was loud, streetwise, self-assured & progressive. #Rakgadi He always encouraged mom & took care of us when she worked night duty as a nurse & when she was studying for a BA degree. He was there! His 3 sisters said her absences, due to work & study, meant she was cheating. They remained very close to his ex wife. Fair enough #Rakgadi

Interesting to me how Black, peacetime revolutionaries have inadvertently appropriated white liberalism's definition of Mandela as a cuddly grandpa who "didn't see race" & wanted us to reconcile without context. It is so easy to say "Mandela sold out" when you are using this lens An "apolitical" .."don't see race" Mandela is as fictional as the "sold out" Mandela. Two sides of the same coin. The in-between is far more complex, political, ideological and loyal to the messiness of human temporality. Who are we in & what do we bring to different milieus?

Today's stats don't have any deaths. Yesterday evening, 5 minutes after minister announced stats & 1 death from Western Cape, I received call from Charlotte Maxeke. My husband's cousin Benedict Somi Vilakazi succumbed to #Covid_19 (between 6:30 &7pm). I personally took the call

https://twitter.com/DrZweliMkhize/status/1249384781974056960

A BIG thank you to health care workers at Leratong hospital, who first received our cousin. A BIG thank you to staff at Charlotte Maxeke. We know you did your best & continue to do so for others. Thank you for your courtesy & sensitivity when you guided us through process

@CyrilRamaphosa announces ministers will take one-third cut in salaries for next 3 months. Money will be given to solidarity fund designed to alleviate burden on the poor. Symbolism, optics, leadership by example and connecting along lines of solidarity. Well played. When GLOBAL story of government response to #Covid_19 is told, the world must look to South Africa. We are a country on battered by corruption & arrogant leadership. Add burden of history. But we have shown the world leadership here @WHO @cnni @BBCWorld @SkyNews @Aljazeera

2017 downgrade, they laughed it off. Dudu Myeni, "Let the rand fall & rise & emerge with the masses." Danisa; "Black people were born in junk status & are not bothered." Mokonyane; "It's actually better Western investors pull back & we bring them back on our own terms." So A recession is not a single event. It is the cumulative effect of years of bad decisions. Global factors play a role. Local factors play even bigger role. Note that those who laughed off downgrades are not poor. They get braai packs & make millions of widows' pensions disappear

What an eye opening lecture on RSA defamation law. Thank you. But respectfully, you did confirm some of what I already knew. The plaintiff HAS to take the witness stand & face cross examination. The defendant can subpoena any and ALL records pertaining to the case. AND You also confirmed that the plaintiff MUST demonstrate how his/her reputation was injured. BUT here is a caveat. They must demonstrate that their reputation was intact BEFORE the alleged defamation and that YOU, the defendant did something that was not already done to them.

@mgigaba how do you do it?How do you just come & repeal regulations that barely 3 yrs ago, you were warned were impractical, destructive & untested? We asked for feasibility studies & empirical evidence. Instead you & your minions were labeling & lashing out at anyone who asked &

https://twitter.com/Radio702/status/1044632656087052288

How do you @mgigaba announce changes without context? Without humility to acknowledge the damage you caused? Without even a one line "we thought it would work but we were wrong?" The reason you cannot do it is because you know how you and your team were arrogant & divisive.