For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Haydon Whitley.

Making headlines: SAPS rejects 'false' claims over death of Nigerian national in custody; ActionSA escalates Phala Phala battle, accuses SAPS of shielding Ramaphosa; And, DA slams Ayanda Dlodlo’s appointment as Ambassador to France

SAPS rejects 'false' claims over death of Nigerian national in custody

The South African Police Service has strongly refuted claims surrounding the death of a Nigerian national, labelling the reports as misleading and baseless.

This response follows statements from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which alleged that two of its citizens were killed in South Africa, one purportedly by police officers during an interrogation in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The Nigerian government has expressed severe concern over the incidents, linking them to a broader surge in anti-migrant protests in the country and warning of unspecified actions if the situation is not addressed.

According to an official statement released by the SAPS, the tracking of the suspect was purely intelligence-driven and unrelated to public protests.

The SAPS said on 28 June, members of the SAPS Tshwane Drugs Team raided an apartment in Sunnyside, where a Nigerian national was arrested after being found in possession of illegal drugs.

The SAPS explained that while handcuffed and being escorted to a police vehicle, the suspect collapsed, and officers requested immediate medical assistance, but paramedics declared the man dead at the scene.

The recovered narcotics were officially booked into the SAPS 13 store as evidence.

ActionSA escalates Phala Phala battle, accuses SAPS of shielding Ramaphosa

ActionSA has officially approached the Information Regulator in a bid to force the release of crucial evidence in the Phala Phala matter that it believes could implicate President Cyril Ramaphosa in perjury.

This escalation follows the rejection of the party’s Promotion of Access to Information Act applications and subsequent appeals by the South African Police Service.

In June, ActionSA submitted a PAIA application to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, or the Hawks, requesting access to the official affidavit signed by Ramaphosa following the cash theft at his Limpopo game farm and the financial records of Imanuwela David, the alleged mastermind behind the heist.

The legal bid was triggered by National Prosecuting Authority court disclosures revealing that David’s financial records showed transactions in excess of R15-million.

This figure vastly contradicts the R8.7-million ($580 000) that Ramaphosa initially declared as stolen.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont stated that the financial trail raises a strong prospect that the actual amount stolen was significantly higher than what was publicly declared.

And, DA slams Ayanda Dlodlo’s appointment as Ambassador to France

The DA has strongly condemned the appointment of Ayanda Dlodlo as South Africa’s ambassador-designate to France.

The opposition party labelled Dlodlo a "State Capture cadre" and declared her deployment a glaring example of President Cyril Ramaphosa prioritising ANC loyalists over national interests and foreign policy integrity.

Dlodlo steps into the high-profile diplomatic post left vacant by the late Nathi Mthethwa, who died tragically last year in Paris.

DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith argued that Dlodlo’s track record makes her entirely unfit for the role.

Smith highlighted significant controversies in Dlodlo's political past, including allegations from the 2021 State Capture Commission claiming she blocked an inquiry into former President Jacob Zuma’s private intelligence unit, and a Public Protector investigation into her involvement in a R1.7-billion broadband deal in 2019.

"The fact that a key diplomatic and trading partner such as France should have Ayanda Dlodlo as its representative of the South African State is a blight on our foreign service," Smith stated. "It is a stinging insult to the people of South Africa and another blow to our country’s crumbling international reputation."

The diplomatic friction comes at a time of growing economic ties between the two nations. France stands as South Africa’s largest source of foreign direct investment, with French businesses pledging R20.7-billion to the country this year alone.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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