For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: ANC welcomes SA’s removal from EU high-risk list; DA asks Lamola to report Iran for human rights abuses; And, South Africa lauds US trade-pact benefits as Senate vote looms

ANC welcomes SA’s removal from EU high-risk list

The African National Congress views the European Union’s removal of South Africa from its list of high‑risk third country jurisdictions as a milestone that forms part of a broader journey of renewal.

South Africa was added to the EU list in August 2023 as an automatic consequence of its greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force.

South Africa’s removal from the list follows its delisting by the FATF in October 2025, after comprehensive reforms to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said this milestone reaffirmed the importance of State capacity, professionalism and ethical governance to advance the vision of the Freedom Charter: that the people shall govern, and the country’s wealth shall be shared.

She said the removal of South Africa from the EU’s high‑risk list was a “technical victory and a political triumph,” underscoring the link between sound governance and national dignity.

DA asks Lamola to report Iran for human rights abuses

The Democratic Alliance today demanded that International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola report Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council for “blatant human rights abuses”, owing to the deadly suppression of civilian protests.

The death toll from the violent crackdown by the Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is reportedly nearing 3 000 as anti-government protests and demonstrations sweep the country.

In a letter written to Lamola, the DA said the use of blatantly deadly oppression against civilians by a sitting government is one of the “most egregious forms of human rights abuse witnessed anywhere in the world” with the party questioning South Africa’s relationship with Iran.

DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith said the principles of freedom, democracy and human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution compels Lamola to execute his sworn duty, as the custodian of the country’s foreign policy, to protect global citizens against autocratic regimes.

And, South Africa lauds US trade-pact benefits as Senate vote looms

South Africa’s government welcomed the approval of a US preferential-trade deal before a key vote in the Senate, where Pretoria has faced opposition to its continued inclusion in the pact.

The House of Representatives approved the three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired in September, by 340 votes to 54 on Monday. 

The legislation, which grants tariff-free access to more than 1 800 products from 32 countries, is expected to go before the Senate early this year before it’s handed to President Donald Trump for his signature.

AGOA has been key to boosting trade relations between sub-Saharan Africa and the US since its inception in 2000. Two-way trade between the US and countries that qualify for market access under the pact exceeded $47-billion in 2023, with US exports at $18.2-billion lagging imports of $29.3-billion.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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