Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
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Person

Cyril Ramaphosa

Also known as: Ramaphosa · president Cyril Ramaphosa · President Ramaphosa · South African president Cyril Ramaphosa · South Africa's President Ramaphosa · South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa · the SADC chairperson · the South Africa president · South African President

President of South Africa; appointed Roelf Meyer as US ambassador and declared foot-and-mouth disease a national disaster.

World & Region

Ramaphosa calls for SADC unity on Liberation Day

The News

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as SADC chairperson, marked Southern Africa Liberation Day on 23 March 2026 by reflecting on regional liberation struggles, honouring freedom fighters and international allies like Cuba, and urging member states to remain united and vigilant in advancing the region's common agenda while supporting self-determination movements including the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 March

  1. Ramaphosa calls for SADC unity on Liberation Day

    South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as SADC chairperson, marked Southern Africa Liberation Day on 23 March 2026 by reflecting on regional liberation struggles, honouring freedom fighters and international allies like Cuba, and urging member states to remain united and vigilant in advancing the region's common agenda while supporting self-determination movements including the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

    24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 23 March

  1. South Africa: ANC signals mayoral strategy for Johannesburg election

    President Ramaphosa's comments suggesting retention of Johannesburg's current mayor signal possible ANC plans to impose a national candidate on the region, while the party's recent march focused on defending national sovereignty appears designed to shift campaign messaging away from local service delivery failures to broader anti-Trump and liberation movement themes.

    23 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 13 March

  1. South African police general faces corruption allegations at Madlanga Commission

    Major general Richard Shibiri, the SAPS head of organised crime, testified at the Madlanga Commission about how criminal syndicates infiltrate police, but now faces damning allegations that he himself accepted a R70,000 loan from an organised crime accused in September 2024. The case underscores widespread institutional compromise and systemic vulnerabilities in South Africa's criminal justice system.

    13 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 12 March

  1. ANC appears unfocused ahead of upcoming local elections

    According to The Namibian opinion analysis, South Africa's ANC faces upcoming local elections with little apparent focus on governance messaging or strategic preparation, while the party confronts internal disputes, municipal service delivery failures, and dwindling support from coalition partners that could further erode its electoral standing.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  2. South Africa summons US ambassador over judicial criticism

    South Africa's government formally protested and summoned the new US ambassador after he dismissed the country's constitutional court ruling on an anti-apartheid chant, saying he did not care what the courts said. The ambassador later clarified his remarks and apologized, expressing regret for comments that were seen as disrespectful to South Africa's legal system.

    12 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. South African former defence minister Mosiuoa Lekota dies at 77

    Mosiuoa Lekota, a prominent anti-apartheid campaigner who served as South Africa's defence minister and ANC chairperson before founding the rival Congress of the People party, has died after a period of illness. He was imprisoned on Robben Island during apartheid and broke from the ANC in 2008 over corruption concerns.

    5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Namibia advises citizens in Middle East conflict zone

    Tension is escalating in the Middle East following military exchanges between the US, Israel, and Iran. The Namibian Embassy in Egypt has assured citizens in the region that their safety is a priority and advised them to exercise caution, avoid high-risk areas, and follow local authorities' instructions.

    3 March 2026 · New Era →

  2. South African health officials arrested for R1m fraud and theft

    The Director-General of South Africa's National Department of Health and two other senior officials were arrested on charges of fraud and theft involving over R1 million, allegedly linked to irregular appointments of service providers paid from Global Fund resources intended for Covid-19 support. The three officials appeared in court and were released on bail pending further investigation.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

  3. South Africa declassifies Phala Phala police report but keeps it private

    South Africa's acting police minister confirmed that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's report into a 2020 burglary at President Ramaphosa's farm has been declassified but remains inaccessible to the public, available only through formal legal channels under the Promotion of Access to Information Act. The report originally investigated allegations that VIP protection officers conducted questionable searches in Namibia following the theft of US dollars at the president's Limpopo property.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 February

  1. South Africa's immigration system exploited for corruption and profit

    South Africa's Special Investigating Unit has revealed that Department of Home Affairs officials allegedly turned the visa and residence permit system into a marketplace, with four officials earning under R25,000 monthly receiving over R16 million in deposits. The scheme involved document fraud, visa manipulation, and facilitation networks that enabled unauthorised entry, including cases involving controversial preacher Shepherd Bushiri and Nigerian rapper 3GAR.

    24 February 2026 · The Namibian →

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