TAKE TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS NOTEWORTHY SPEECH 23 November 2023 Mosab Hassan Yousef, eldest son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef and author of “Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Unthinkable Choices”, spoke out at the UN early this week against the horrors perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli civilians and […]
New Aviation Fuel Levy Condemned
Most alarmingly, this amendment appears to have been enacted without any industry consultation Chris Hunsinger MP – DA Shadow Minister of Transport – 26 May 2023 The DA is concerned about the ramifications of a proposed newly increased levy, particularly its impact on airlines, charters, and passengers. The amendment to the South African Civil Aviation […]
SA Navy frigate and submarine refits less than half funded
Guy Martin, defenceWeb – 23 May 2023 The cost of the refits for the South African Navy’s blue water platforms – its Valour Class Meko frigates and Heroine Class Type 209 submarines – amounts to R4.2 billion, but National Treasury has only made R1.4 billion available to partially address the refit backlog. This is according […]
“Minister Cele, We Will Arm Ourselves!”
Open Letter from Ian Cameron to Bheki Cele Dear Minister Bheki Cele, As concerned citizens of South Africa, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where the safety and well-being of our people hang in the balance, in fact, for most of us, it is on a knifes edge and getting worse by the day. Be sure […]
DA to contest any plan to tie SA to a R200 billion, 20 year Karpowerships contract
Kevin Mileham, DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy – 15 May 2023 Three days after President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested to Parliament that “power ships” were an immediate priority to alleviate the energy shortage, it now appears that he may have known that plans were already under way to force through the 20 year […]
R1.4 billion allocated for SA Navy submarine and frigate refit
Guy Martin, defenceWeb – 28th March 2023 National Treasury has allocated nearly one and a half billion rand to the South African Navy for the refit of one of its three Type 209 submarines and one of its four Meko A200 class frigates. Major General Thembelani Xundu, briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military […]
Russia’s war on Ukraine threatens to redraw the map of world politics – 2023 will be crucial
Putin’s propensity for risk means any action short of war in the so-called “grey zone” is possible, as demonstrated by reports the Kremlin has been supporting a coup attempt in Moldova and aiding Serbian nationalists protesting against closer ties with Kosovo. More broadly that list could include blackmail, cyberattacks, sabotage, and even assassinations on NATO […]
South Africa’s ‘tattered army’
Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus – 20 February 2023 As leader of the FF Plus, I have over the last fifteen years stated numerous times during the Defence budget that more money should be allocated to the Defence Force to ensure that South Africa does not end up with a ‘tattered army’. It did not happen […]
Israel’s observer status in the African Union
South Africa and Algeria have been blamed for being behind an Israeli observer delegation removed during the opening ceremony of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Saturday 18 February 2023. “Israel views seriously the incident in which the deputy for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status […]
Minister must explain mysterious Russian vessel docked at Simons Town naval base
Russian cargo vessel Lady R departed Simon’s Town quietly at 6.30am on 9/12 Kobus Marais MP, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Affairs 8 December 2022 The Minister of Defence and Military Affairs, Thandi Modise, must explain to South Africans what a sanctioned Russian ship is doing at the Simons Town naval base and […]