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Rise Mzansi leaders, Songezo Zibi, Vuyiswa Ramakgopa hold a press briefing to discuss their work in government, 18 August 2025.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has called for the dismissal of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General Rudzani Maphwanya after the comments he made in Iran.
Zibi says his comments undermine the interests of South Africans. He argues that the Minister of Defence is spineless for refusing to hold him to account.
The party’s leader was briefing the media on Rise Mzansi’s 12 months in the parliament and the Government of National Unity (GNU).
“Parks Tau and Ronald Lamola are busy trying to save South African jobs, the US and Iran are enemies, what does this General do? He goes and runs his mouth, undermining the work they are doing; he must be fired,” adds Zibi.
Zibi says the comments made by SANDF chief, General Rudzani Maphwanya in Iran undermines the interests of South Africa. Zibi says he should be fired. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/lZ8IUDP25j
— Natasha Nokuthula Phiri (@NatashaN_Phiri) August 18, 2025
GNU
Responding to the media on the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee’s (NEC) proposed intention to expand the GNU to reduce its reliance on its second largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), Zibi says the structure of the GNU and how it operates needs to be fixed before other parties are invited to join the executive arrangement.
He says the current arrangement needs to change and make it a mutually binding agreement amongst all political parties.
“We have obligations in terms of how we behave. We have obligations in terms of what our minimum political program is going to be, how we’re going to work together, and so on. We cannot repeat the mess that we had with the budget. And you end up with that mess when basically the one party has to keep running between nine different venues to talk to people,” adds Zibi.
Video | Zibi says National Dialogue is a good move for GNU:
