For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: South Africa accredits new US envoy amid tensions with Trump; DA’s Rasilingwane says Ekurhuleni ‘leadership crisis’ fuels her bid to be a decisive mayor; And, EFF celebrates Iran’s ‘strategic victory’ following ceasefire with Trump

South Africa accredits new US envoy amid tensions with Trump

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted new US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell’s credentials, a month after the diplomat was issued with a formal reprimand for criticising the government and questioning a domestic court ruling.

Bozell and envoys from 19 other nations, including Cuba, Lebanon, Zimbabwe and Ukraine, were formally accredited at a ceremony in Pretoria, the capital, today, enabling them to fully assume their duties.

Relations between the US and South Africa have deteriorated sharply since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year.

Trump has repeatedly accused Ramaphosa’s administration of subjecting White farmers to a genocide and seizing their land, claims that have been widely discredited.

Trump has also offered refugee status to members of the Afrikaner minority, imposed the highest tariffs in sub-Saharan Africa on South African imports, and ordered US officials to boycott Group of 20 meetings hosted by Pretoria last year. He has further criticised South Africa’s ties with Iran, and rejected its Black economic empowerment policies.

Bozell was issued with a démarche last month, after he doubled down on the criticism and warned that Trump is running out of patience with South Africa over its failure to address US demands for changes to its domestic and foreign policies.

DA’s Rasilingwane says Ekurhuleni ‘leadership crisis’ fuels her bid to be a decisive mayor

The Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni Khathutshelo Rasilingwane today vowed, ahead of the 2026 local government elections, to implement strict consequence management, professionalise city institutions, and stabilise finances to revive the metro.

Speaking exclusively with Polity on her campaign priorities, Rasilingwane said she was motivated by the current leadership crisis facing the city, assuring that her leadership would be decisive.

She expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that there were many young people who were still trapped by poverty, adding to her motivation to challenge the status quo in the city.

Rasilingwane stated that her approach to her mayoral nomination was to connect with people by prioritising their needs, regardless of the colour of their skin or their cultural background.

Rasilingwane has promised to prioritise the credibility of institutions, by holding those found wanting accountable, also pledged to end the culture of cadre deployment, promising that departments such as water and electricity would be led by qualified professionals.

And, EFF celebrates Iran’s ‘strategic victory’ following ceasefire with Trump

The Economic Freedom Fighters has reiterated its call for international accountability for US President Donald Trump, as it commended Iran’s “resilience and strategic victory” over the US and Israel.

This after Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, a few hours before his self-imposed deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The party noted Trump’s threats to destroy “a whole civilisation” before ultimately agreed to ceasefire, with the party characterising this reversal as an “extraordinary retreat” by a superpower that began this conflict with threats of annihilation.

Meanwhile, the South African Communist Party called on the international community to remove US interference in the Gulf region and wider West Asia, and to end the war against Iran and Palestine.

The party said Trump’s threats to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure and "a whole civilisation” is unprecedented in its blatant disregard for international law and the rules of engagement.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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