📝 The defence force has problems keeping its equipment operational and has, for instance, only one operational C-130 transport aircraft. It has only a few helicopters available for all domestic and international missions – five Oryx, out of an initial 39, and three Rooivalk, out of 11.

Hence it will not be able to provide the much-needed air transport and air cover for offensive operations. The soldiers will have to use road transport in the DRC. But the country has very limited functional roads, making it especially difficult to operate and move around during the rainy season.

https://theconversation.com/south-africa-to-lead-new-military-force-in-the-drc-an-expert-on-what-its-up-against-219264

Orania on Instagram: "Our children require a place where they can breathe freely and have a future!"

📎 Orania

🏭 South African steel industry evaporates as Arcelor-Mittal closes shop

In a death-blow for South Africa's steel industry, the planned closure of the country's only iron ore-based long products mill is anticipated to lead to a surge in import prices, according to South African steel buyers.

This continues the bloodbath of South African jobs, as several major manufacturers including Volkswagen look to other manufacturing locations amid electrical supply instability and unionised wage rises.

ArcelorMittal South Africa, a JSE-listed company responsible for nearly half of the country's crude steel production, announced in late November its decision to close its steelmaking operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging. The company attributed the closure to structural issues beyond its control, including a 20% demand decrease over seven years, rising energy costs, supply disruptions, and government policies favoring scrap over iron ore-based production.

https://www.capeindependent.com/article/south-african-steel-industry-evaporates-as-arcelor-mittal-closes-shop

South African Member of Parliament calls for execution of Cape independence supporters

Nazier Paulsen, MP for the communist EFF, on X: "I can’t wait to line up all Capexiters in front of a firing squad. Bloody settler colonialists. Filth!"

https://twitter.com/nazier_paulsen/status/1746657484901671033

https://archive.is/uakfy

Two Transnet Freight Rail trains, ferrying tonnes of coal, collided in the Elubana region, near eNseleni, in northern KwaZulu-Natal yesterday morning (Sunday at 6am). One train rear-ended the other, which is believed to have been stationary due to a power outage.

📎 EWN

Jup, an Afrikaner is leading the legal initiative against Israel 🤯

"South African Attorney Wikus Van Rensburg: Proceedings against Israel in the ICJ Are Just a “Precursor” - If They Are Successful, We Will Pursue Civil Action against the United States and Britain"

📎 MEMRI

🛤 Train Collision Disrupts Supplies to Africa’s Biggest Coal Port

Two trains collided on a key South Africa mining-export line, closing a route plagued by issues that have brought railings to Africa’s biggest coal port to a three-decade low.

Workers are trying to clear the trains that derailed in the incident, which occurred outside Richards Bay on the country’s east coast, state logistics company Transnet said in a statement on Monday. No serious injuries have been reported and the collision is under investigation.

The disruption comes as Transnet struggles to improve its performance, particularly on the line that transports coal from mines in South Africa’s Mpumalanga province to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, the biggest facility of its kind on the continent. Volumes have dropped as the state-owned company has had to deal with derailments, equipment shortages, vandalism, corruption and poor weather.

While the problems at Transnet have led it to collaborate with the government and business to address the constraints, those efforts have yet to yield a turnaround in the company’s operations. A tour in November showcasing Transnet’s rail facilities was delayed by vandalism and the theft of copper cables along the tracks, while broken signals forced the train driver to take instructions from the main control room via mobile phone.

All of Transnet's major rail freight categories have dropped in volume

🇿🇦❌ NATO Expansionist, Gunther Fehlinger, supports Cape Independence and calls for the dismantling of South Africa

📎 GunterFehlinger

🇿🇦💵 Delinking from the West is critical for SA, says Godongwana

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has underlined the importance of delinking South Africa’s economy from the West.

Speaking on a panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings in Davos on Thursday, the minister noted that South Africa’s economy has historically been “heavily dependent” on trade with the West.

While China is South Africa’s single biggest trading partner, taken together the United States and Europe are the most significant export destinations for the country.

This year’s WEF meetings take place against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical instability, which has rippled through global supply chains, causing inflation to soar. In this context, a number of countries are looking to diversify their trade to avoid the economic effect of future shocks.

Godongwana was speaking on a panel about the expansion of Brics, which has created an important alliance of 10 emerging market economies. The bloc’s expansion was finalised earlier this month. The alliance now accounts for 25% of global exports.

“So a delinking, for us, is quite critical. In other words, changing the trading patterns,” the finance minister said.

https://mg.co.za/business/2024-01-18-delinking-from-the-west-is-critical-for-south-africa-says-godongwana/

🇿🇦 ⚪️ "In Orania, everyone does not live on their own island. We are a community that gathers regularly, for work but also for leisure, sometimes right in the middle of the street!"

📎 Oraniabeweging

🟦🇿🇦 The DA rejects Netanyahu’s recent statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejects the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state as part a post-war scenario.

During a live address yesterday, Netanyahu claimed that Israel must have “security control” over all territory west of the Jordan river, acknowledging that this “collides with the idea of sovereignty.”

Throughout this tragic war, the DA has remained steadfast in our commitment to a two-state solution that results in the creation of a sovereign and unoccupied Palestine co-existing in peace next to a secure Israel.

A two-state solution is the only way to bring lasting peace to the region – a view shared by the vast majority of the free world.

https://www.da.org.za/2024/01/the-da-rejects-netanyahus-recent-statements