Guest: Edwin Cleophas, Managing Director of The Social Justice Agency and Anti-racism Activist. 

 

Guest: King Khoisan SA

 

 

Guest: Timothy Walker: Maritime Project Leader & Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies 

 

Guest: Phakamile Mbengashe: Ekurhuleni Municipality Spokesperson  

 

 

13 August 2025

 

1.    Cameroon- France

French president admits to France's repressive war during Cameroon's independence struggle

French president Emmanuel Macron acknowledged that France had led a war in Cameroon during the country’s independence struggle in a document made public on Tuesday. 

Macron wrote to Cameroon president Paul Biya on 30 July to take responsibility for actions of repressive violence against insurgent movements in Cameroon. 

He said this violence took place before and after the country’s independence in 1960. 

This is the first time that France officially uses the word “war” to describe its actions in Cameroon over that period of time.  

 

 

2.    USA- DR Congo

US announces sanctions against armed group and companies profiting from conflict minerals in Congo

The U.S. government yesterday sanctioned an armed group accused of illicit trading in minerals in eastern Congo as Washington tries to spearhead peace efforts there while pushing for U.S. access to the region’s minerals.

A senior U.S. government official who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement said the State and Treasury departments are sanctioning the PARECO armed group, which controlled the key coltan mining site of Rubaya from 2022 to early 2024.

“During this period, PARECO generated revenue by overseeing mining operations, collecting illegal fees and taxes for miners and engaging in mineral smuggling. It also imposed forced labor and executed civilians in mining areas under its control,” the official said in Washington.

 

 

3.South Afrika – Afrika Union 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the African Union-Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025 taking place from today until friday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

The Summit supports implementation of the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that was adopted in February 2021 during the 34th ordinary session of the African Union Summit by the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government.

 

 

4.    In our historical archives, it was on this day 13 August 1965 when Dr Seetsele Silas Modiri Molema, medical doctor, politician and historian, died in Mafeking at the age of 74.

 He was the eldest son of Silas Thelesho Molema, maternal uncle of Chief Montshioa of the Barolong boo Ratshidi. 

He was elected treasurer-general of the African National Congress and was served with banning orders by the government in 1953. He also served on the African Advisory Council, Joint Advisory Council, and the Constitutional Committee that set the Bechuanaland Protectorate on its road to independence as a Republic of Botswana.

 

Guest: Duma Gqubule: Independent Analyst

 

 

Guest: Anja van Beek: Talent Strategist, Leadership and HR Expert and Executive Coach

 

 

Guest: Mary Metcalfe: professor of practice at the University of Johannesburg (UJ)

 

 

Guest: Christo van der Rheede: Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation

 

 

Guest: Tshamano Makhadi: Deputy Chairperson South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef)