AmaZulu traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi says he knows nothing about being removed from his position by King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. This comes after media reports on Friday that the Zulu king had removed him as prime minister. 

 

Guest: Prof Musa Xulu - Cultural Expert and Executive Director of the Heritage Development Trust 

 

Guest: Daphne Mokwena – Spokesperson: Eskom 

Against the backdrop of multiple socioeconomic crises, a weakened ANC and a GNU on shaky ground, Ebrahim Harvey writes that there's a foreboding sense that the GNU will fail or have very limited success. 

Guest: Ebrahim Harvey is a political writer, analyst, commentator and author 

A PETITION spearheaded by a group of concerned citizens has highlighted the pressing safety concerns plaguing the N12 highway, which has become notorious for violent crimes against motorists. 

 

Guest: Jacques Broodryk – Spokesperson: AfriForum 

The South African Communist Party decided finally to go alone on contesting elections starting with the 2026 local government elections. There are fundamental legal implications for this decision on the side of the ANC regarding its Constitution, writes Bond Nyoka 

 

Guest: Bond Nyoka - Attorney and analyst 

 

The Morning Brief  

Afrika Update Report 

27 December 2024  

1. Mozambique – Ethiopia  

AU Commission chair Faki Mahamat is deeply concerned about escalating violence in Mozambique, Mozambique opposition leader Venancio Mondlane says police are blowing post-poll unrest and Sasol gas supply to SA disrupted 'to maintain the safety of our people and assets' in Mozambique 

2. France - Chad 

French military base in Chad officially handed over to N'Djamena, after end of defence agreement 

Less than a month after N’Djamena cut its defence cooperation agreement with Paris, a French army base has been handed over to the Chadian army. According to a local source, French troops left the base in Faya and headed to the capital, around 780km southwest. The troops will then travel back to France in the coming weeks. 

 

3. Ethiopia - Somalia 

Ethiopia Expresses Dismay Over Somalia's Foreign Ministry Allegations 

Ethiopia is dismayed by the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia, which makes allegations against the Ethiopian forces for the incident in the town of Doolow, Somalia. 

In its recent statement, Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that the allegation is not true and the incident is instigated by certain elements intent on derailing the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia. 

 

4. Global Conflicts in review 2024 – Afrika and the World at Crossroads  

A Year of Devastation and Uncertain Paths to Justice and Peace in 2025  

Sudan: Civilians Pay the Price, DRC: Displacement Crisis Deepens, Mozambique: Post Electoral Conflict Ukraine: Ceasefire Hopes Amid Shifting U.S. Support, Israel-Hamas Conflict: A Race for Truce, A Question of Peace in 2025 

5.In our historical archives, it was on this day 27 December 2023 when South African playwright, lyricist, composer, and theatre producer of (Sarafina!), Mbongeni Ngema, dies in a car crash at the age of 68. 

 

 

Guest: Bongiwe Beja-Ntsiko - Chartered Development Finance Analyst (CDFA) by profession. She is the Executive Director of Youth Bridge Trust which is a social impact organisation that focuses primarily on youth development across the African Continent. 

Transnet’s freight rail monopoly is about to end following the publication of a rail network statement that allows private operators access to South Africa’s nearly 21 000km rail network. 

Guest: Jan Havenga. Emeritus Professor at Industrial Engineering, stellenbosch university and Director of the Gain Group. 

 

Guest: Andre Snyman – Founder of eblockwatch 

 

Guest: Sanusha Naidu - Senior Research Associate based with the Institute for Global Dialogue