The Albanese Blunder How a Rogue Official Sparked a Diplomatic Drama

Loading player...
During her Nelson Mandela Lecture in Sandton, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese - known for her outspoken stance on Palestine - was confronted by a sheriff attempting to serve her with court papers from the US. The bizarre move, reportedly orchestrated by a rogue official in South Africa’s Department of Justice, set off alarms at the Nelson Mandela Foundation and among organisers, including Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor. It later emerged that the official may have been duped by a US-based Zionist lobby intent on discrediting Albanese through a defamation suit. Human rights lawyer Nicole Fritz joins Phemelo to unpack how a paperwork blunder spiralled into a geopolitical storm.
28 Oct 2025 5PM English South Africa Education · Careers

Other recent episodes

ANC in Tshwane vows to expose corruption - including its own

The African National Congress in Tshwane says it is ready to act as a whistleblower against corruption in the city, even if it involves its own deployees. Regional secretary George Matjila has called for the suspension of Tshwane CFO Gareth Mnisi, accusing him of maladministration and incompetence. Matjila says the…
17 Feb 2PM 16 min

Ekurhuleni suspends two senior officials in governance reset

The City of Ekurhuleni has suspended its Head of Legal Services and Risk, Advocate Kemi Behari, and Head of Human Resources, Linda Qxasheka, as part of what it describes as an institutional renewal programme. Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza said both officials have been served with charge sheets and will appear…
17 Feb 2PM 17 min

HEALTH FEATURE: Reproductive Health Month – Fertility realities

Reproductive Health Month continues - and this week, we tackle fertility later in life. From IVF and donor eggs to the emotional, psychological and financial toll of treatment, fertility specialist and gynaecologist Dr Tebogo Deo breaks down what individuals and couples need to know when trying to conceive at a…
16 Feb 3PM 43 min

Munich moments: What now for Greenland and Ukraine?

The Munich Security Conference has long been the stage for world-shifting speeches - and this year was no exception. From historic clashes between NATO allies in 2003, to Vladimir Putin’s ominous 2007 address, to a fiery attack on European nations by JD Vance in 2025, Munich has repeatedly signalled turning…
16 Feb 3PM 18 min

ActionSA pushes asylum cap: Only 10,000 applications a year

ActionSA is making waves in the immigration debate, proposing a strict annual cap of just 10,000 new asylum seeker applications. The proposal forms part of the party’s submission on the revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, published for public comment by the Department of Home Affairs in…
16 Feb 3PM 14 min