Category: English

By Dikeledi Molobela

Bern, Switzerland – Aboard a special train gliding through the serene Swiss countryside, President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Karin Keller-Sutter of the Swiss Confederation held a working breakfast with Swiss business leaders – a meeting that symbolised shared economic ambition between the two nations.

The early morning journey from Kehrsatz Station to Uzwil unfolded against a backdrop of breathtaking Swiss landscapes, rolling hills, pristine lakes and quaint villages – setting a picturesque scene for a conversation rooted in trade, investment and innovation.

The engagement, attended by representatives of Switzerland’s leading industries, focused on strengthening economic relations and fostering direct exchanges between South Africa and the Swiss private sector. Discussions highlighted opportunities in industrial modernisation, life sciences, logistics, financial services and skills development.

Delivering remarks on the train, President Ramaphosa expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to interact directly with Swiss business leaders. 

“It is really a pleasure for us to be on a moving train and having the opportunity to have breakfast and also to have interactions with people in Swiss government and business leaders. We really, truly value this. 

“This is our second day here in Switzerland. This has been a State Visit of note. It’s unprecedented for us to have this extended level of discussions and being exposed to the business community in the presence of the President and other officials in government,” the President said. 

He said the discussions aboard the moving train represented not only a deepening of ties between governments, but also an invitation for the private sector to play a greater role in advancing shared prosperity. 

“So, we really welcome this. We look forward to a wonderful exchange. Some of you are already invested in South Africa and we are here to appeal for you to invest even more. So don’t think that this is a free train ride, we want more investments in South Africa,” the President said. 

Welcoming the delegates aboard the train, President Keller-Sutter echoed the sentiment, describing the gathering as a continuation of the productive engagements that have defined President Ramaphosa’s State Visit. 

“I would like to welcome you to the second day of the South African State Visit. We are really happy to also welcome the delegation from the Swiss economy; some really fine businesses are represented today. We are happy to have an exchange with you, Mr President, along with your delegation.

“We talked about the excellent relationship we have between South Africa and Switzerland. Yesterday we also saw several memoranda of understanding to deepen our relationship in various fields being signed,” she said. 

As the train coursed through the Swiss landscape, the breakfast meeting became a moving symbol of collaboration, one that not only celebrated the friendship between South Africa and Switzerland but also looked ahead to a future of deeper economic engagement and shared growth. – SAnews.gov.za 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) process to select 5 500 police trainees is still underway, with thousands of applicants still undergoing the first step, which is the psychometric and integrity testing assessments. 

According to SAPS, the process is being undertaken in all nine provinces. 

“The multi-phase selection process also entails a physical fitness evaluation, vetting, and a medical examination to ensure that only the most suitable candidates are enlisted.

“It should be noted, while all young people who meet the basic requirements were invited to apply, preference will be given to those who are in possession of a tertiary qualification on the level of NQF 6 and higher as well as those who are in possession of a driver’s licence,” the police said.

On the closing date, 18 July 2025, SAPS received over a million applications, of which 334 765 are graduates who hold qualifications in policing, law, forensic investigation, and other fields of study. 

SAPS advises all applicants who have applied to remain patient, as recruitment teams will communicate with suitable applicants. 

Training is expected to commence in 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed in due course. – SAnews.gov.za

By Dikeledi Molobela

Bern, Switzerland – President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa is hopeful of reaching a trade agreement with the United States soon, following ongoing text-based negotiations aimed at addressing the impact of steep tariffs imposed under the Trump administration.

Speaking during a media briefing in Bern, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he is undertaking a State Visit, President Ramaphosa confirmed that both South Africa and Switzerland have been among the countries hardest hit by the 30% tariffs. 

“Yes, we are two countries (South Africa and Switzerland) that have unfortunately been hit by very high tariffs. I do understand from my discussions with the President that Switzerland is involved in negotiations with the Americans, and so we are now involved in text-based negotiations with them, and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to reach success in or achieve success in our negotiations,” he said. 

The President said the imposition of the tariffs has forced South Africa to re-evaluate its trade strategy and broaden its global partnerships.

“But more importantly, what these tariffs have done is to make us want to diversify our trade reach, and we, as South Africa, have been looking at spreading our trade wings more effectively to other markets,” he said.

He highlighted South Africa’s growing engagement with Southeast Asian nations as part of this diversification effort.

“We’ve just returned from Southeast Asia, where we visited three countries – Vietnam, Indonesia, as well as Malaysia. We have been trading with these countries, but our engagement with them, I believe, will catapult our trade involvement with them to a higher level,” President Ramaphosa explained.

READ | President Ramaphosa calls for enhanced ASEAN-AU cooperation

The President said the same momentum would now be directed towards deepening economic ties with Switzerland, following what he described as a highly successful State Visit focused on trade and investment.

“Similarly, we expect that we will be able to raise trade dealings with Switzerland to a higher level as well, following on this very successful State Visit focused on trade matters, and our various trade departments and economic departments are going to follow through in many ways,” he said.

While acknowledging the negative impact of the tariffs, President Ramaphosa said the development has also opened new avenues for South Africa to explore broader trade partnerships.

“Whilst imposition of tariffs is quite negative, it also opens up opportunities… We should look at it as an opportunity opener, so that we have more trade possibilities with other countries, and certainly in our case, to do so with Switzerland,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has commended members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) for their outstanding work following a major drug bust in Midrand, Gauteng, which led to the seizure of cocaine valued at approximately R20 million.

On Tuesday, 28 October 2025, a crime intelligence-driven, multidisciplinary operation led by Crime Intelligence Head Office, with the support of the Gauteng Organised Crime Unit, SAPS Johannesburg K9 Unit and Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), resulted in the discovery of 80 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a storage room on a small holding in Blue Hills, Midrand.

The team had been acting on intelligence regarding the storage of illegal narcotics on the premises. Preliminary investigations revealed that the drugs had been brought into South Africa from a neighbouring country and were destined for Cape Town. 

A 56-year-old male, believed to be the owner of the property, was arrested on the scene and is expected to appear before the Midrand Magistrate’s Court later this week on charges of possession and dealing in drugs.

Cachalia commended the operation, describing it as a significant step in the ongoing fight against the scourge of drugs and organised crime.

“This successful operation is yet another example of the dedication and professionalism of our men and women in blue. It demonstrates what can be achieved when intelligence and operational capacity work hand in hand,” the Minister said. 

“The removal of R20 million worth of cocaine from our streets is a major blow to organised criminal syndicates and a massive victory for law enforcement agencies and the long suffering parents whose children have been victims of these drug cartels. 

“We will continue to intensify our efforts to root out drugs and dismantle criminal syndicates that threaten the safety and wellbeing of our people. We commend every member involved in this operation for their relentless pursuit of justice,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African government has expressed serious concern regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for immediate “powerful strikes” on Gaza, citing Hamas’s violation of the truce deal.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the air strikes have already killed over 100 Palestinians on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. 

“It is disheartening to note that these developments happened after Israel recently claimed that it had resumed enforcing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire after conducting dozens of deadly strikes, killing Palestinians, since the Gaza Peace Plan came into effect on 10 October 2025. 

“The Gaza Peace Plan had brought hope that the ceasefire agreement would hold, that adequate humanitarian assistance would be allowed into Gaza, and that Israel’s military offensive would be halted,” the department’s statement read.

Government, through the department, has since called on Israel to adhere to the agreement it signed and to ensure a peaceful resolution to the devastating war in the besieged Gaza Strip. 

“South Africa is further concerned that Israel’s actions come days after the International Court of Justice issued a legal opinion,” said DIRCO.

The legal opinion confirmed, among other things, that Israel, as the Occupying Power, is required to act in accordance with the law of occupation, specifically the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The non-binding opinion issued by the United Nations court last week also stated that any actions taken to protect its security interests must be conducted in good faith and should align with the need to safeguard the rights and promote the best interests of the occupied population.

READ | SA welcomes ICJ’s advisory opinion calling Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza

“South Africa reiterates its call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and calls for full adherence to the ceasefire deal by Israel, as it is vital for preserving the prospects for lasting peace and ensuring regional security.“ – SAnews.gov.za