Cape Times 2025-12-31

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa says none of the the parties forming the Government of National Unity (GNU) has lobbied him to consider holding a referendum to test public opinion for secession of any part of South Africa. He made the remarks when he dismissed the idea of secession of the Western Cape, the creation of a Volkstaat for Afrikaners and Western Cape independence, during a written parliamentary answer. Ramaphosa said the Constitution obliged him to defend the supreme law of the country and promote unity of the nation. “The founding provisions of our Constitution state that the Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state,” Ramaphosa said. “In line with the constitutional responsibility of the president to uphold, defend, and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the…

THE Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is expected to finalise its investigations into Honours and Masters degree qualifications at the University of Fort Hare before the end of the 2025/26 financial year. This was confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa when responding to parliamentary questions from ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, who asked about the current status of the SIU investigation into the University of Fort Hare academic fraud. “I am informed that the SIU investigation into academic qualifications relating to the award of the Honours degrees in Public Administration has been finalised. “The investigation with respect to the award of the Masters and PhD degrees in Public Administration is ongoing,” Ramaphosa said. “I am informed that the investigation into these academic qualifications is envisaged to be finalised in the third and…

THE advisory panel set up to search for the country’s next National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) and the president have until today to file their court papers in response to an urgent high court application to interdict the appointment of the country’s prosecutions boss. The legal challenge by Law firm B Xulu and Partners Incorporated seeks to halt the appointment process scheduled for January 2026, when the current NDPP, Shamila Batohi, retires. It argues that the advisory panel did not adequately consider the formal objection regarding Advocate Hermione Cronje’s candidacy. The law firm’s director, Barnabas Xulu, had submitted a 99-page objection accusing Cronje of “unlawful information peddling” and sharing confidential state information with external parties during her tenure as the leader of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate (ID) in…

SOUTH Africa’s ambassador to the United Nations, Mathu Joyini, has accused Israel of negating peace with its decision to officially recognise Somaliland. Speaking at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York on Monday, Joyini highlighted the contrast between Israel’s stance and international consensus. “It is ironic and cynical that Israel wishes to be the only state to recognise Somaliland, while at the same time rejecting recognition of the State of Palestine, which the overwhelming majority of UN member states have recognised as being legal in terms of international law,” she told the council. The meeting was convened at Somalia’s request following Israel’s announcement on December 26, that it had become the first UN member state to formally recognise the self-declared Republic of Somaliland as…

POLICE have confirmed they have begun tracing the parents and guardians of the children filmed drinking alcohol in a video that has since gone viral on social media. The video, which appears to have been taken during Christmas celebrations, shows young children, some of them under 10 years of age, consuming alcohol in the presence of an adult woman. The Eastern Cape Department of Social Development said the video highlights a disturbing trend that must be addressed with urgency. “Allowing children to consume alcohol undermines their development and exposes them to a myriad of dangers, including addiction, health issues, and potential legal repercussions. It is troubling to witness adults facilitating such behavior, which sets a poor example and normalises dangerous actions,” said social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta. Her department…

THE Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association (CTMCA) has dedicated its victory against the City to every citizen who believes that their traditions were not for sale. “The judiciary has sent a clear message. The City of Cape Town is now compelled to fulfil its constitutional duty. They are required to assist the CTMCA and ensure compliance, shifting the focus away from private developers and back to the people of this city,” the association said in a statement yesterday. The CTMCA hauled the City to the Western Cape High Court challenging its refusal to issue permits for venues to host the Tweede Nuwe Jaar (The Second New Year) and related cultural celebrations. Their application was brought on an urgent basis on Saturday and heard before the Western Cape High Court on…