For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Sane Dhlamini.

Making headlines: Gungubele defends military drills with Russia and China despite broad condemnation, EFF storms Tshwane offices and UK politician says SA needs to find a role for Athol Williams

 

Gungubele defends military drills with Russia and China despite broad condemnation

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele has said that South Africa's military exercises with Russia and China are a sign that the world is able to live in harmony.

This is despite widespread condemnation over the naval drills with Russia at a time when it is at war with Ukraine.

A tri-nation naval exercise will be held in Durban and Richards Bay from Friday until 27 February.

Gungubele spoke at a press conference where he outlined decisions taken during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and could not share which ministers will attend.

This week, the SA National Defence Force defended the drill, arguing that South Africa had undertaken previous training exercises with other nations, including France and the United States.

 

EFF storms Tshwane offices

Economic Freedom Fighters members stormed the Tshwane council offices today and demanded the removal of political staff and mayoral committee members whom the party believed were no longer elected officials.

The EFF believed Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams officially resigned on Monday and that his political staff and mayoral committee members were no longer in charge of the City of Tshwane.

Williams sent two different resignation letters on Monday.

The first stated that his resignation was effective from 13 February while a second letter had an amended date of 28 February, when his resignation would come into effect.

Tshwane Speaker Murunwa Makwarela was asked to seek legal advice on the two letters, and he indicated a special council sitting on Wednesday would shed light on the matter. 

 

UK politician says SA needs to find a role for Athol Williams

Lord Peter Hain, a former UK Cabinet minister with family links to South Africa, has called on the South African private sector to step up and find a role for whistleblower Athol Williams.

Hain said that Williams had shown "incredible bravery".

Hain, whose family was forced to leave apartheid SA in the 1960s, has been meeting with Williams in the UK where he fled in 2021 over fears for his safety.

Williams was hounded out of the country, threatened with his life after giving evidence at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture about links between Bain, former SARS boss Tom Moyane and ex-president Jacob Zuma.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter [@PolityZA]