De Beer: Trump, Malema, Zuma – what’s next…
In this interview with BizNews, Neil de Beer, President of the United Independent Movement (UIM), speaks about the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump and the iconic photo of him pumping his fist with blood streaming down his face and the US flag fluttering behind him. "…this scenario, I can tell you now, is going to play off like an unbelievable movement of seismic proportionality, think, in the Trump favour." Back in SA, he describes the leaked affidavit on corruption in VBS Bank as "a nuclear explosion" that could impact the futures of Economic Freedom Fighters Commander-in-Chief Julius Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu. He also reveals the plans of former President Jacob Zuma's MK, saying: "And their next strike is to go for every municipality in this country in about 18 months when we start building up the 2026 municipal elections. Meanwhile, De Beer says their is a problem brewing in the Cabinet lekgotla because "if you look at the people sitting in that room, this is a festivity of people, not all of them, but people that have criminal intent, that have got an absolute diverse of ideology, and that are covering up."
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Highlights from the interview
In a recent interview with Chris Steyn, Neil de Beer, President of the United Independent Movement, discussed several pressing political issues. De Beer emphasized the rapid pace of political developments and shared breaking news about an attempted assassination on Donald Trump. He expressed astonishment at Trump's survival, noting the quick response of the Secret Service and the dramatic aftermath, which saw Trump defiant despite being injured.
The conversation shifted to South Africa, where de Beer reviewed a detailed affidavit on the corruption scandal at VBS Bank. He highlighted the implications for political figures like Floyd Shivambu and Julius Malema, stressing the judiciary's critical role in addressing such high-profile corruption cases.
De Beer also addressed corruption within the African National Congress (ANC), criticizing the pervasive culture of corruption that has undermined public trust. He underscored the need for accountability and integrity among public officials.
The interview then covered regional issues, including the tragic death of a senior South African National Defense Force soldier in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. De Beer criticized the lack of proper support for soldiers and called for better treatment of military veterans.
De Beer defended Ian Cameron, the new Chair of the Parliamentary Police Committee, against accusations of racism, praising his integrity and commitment to fighting crime.
On energy policy, de Beer discussed South Africa's potential move towards nuclear power, questioning the government's handling of alternative energy sources and emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions.
Finally, de Beer commented on the reported upcoming marriage between King Mswati III of Eswatini and one of former President Jacob Zuma's daughters, reflecting on the political implications and Zuma's strategic manoeuvres within South Africa's political landscape.
Edited transcript of the interview ___STEADY_PAYWALL___
Chris Steyn (00:01.625)
If a day is a long time in politics, a week seems like an eternity. But if it's Sunday, it must be Neil de Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement. Welcome, Neil.
NEIL DE BEER (00:14.712)
Yeah, Chris, good morning. I think an hour in politics have become those 60 seconds that are an intrusive matter of taking so long. But here we are on our weekly review. So many things, so much to talk about, and specifically being woken up this morning at 3 o'clock from a colleague in the United States with breaking news in America; an attempted assassination on Donald Trump.
Chris Steyn (00:42.396)
Those few seconds could have changed the history of the country and possibly parts of the world as well. What's your take, Neil?
NEIL DE BEER (00:50.806)
Well Chris, funny enough, I said to a person about three and a half years ago, when we were talking about matters of VIP protection, matters of state security, matters of politicians that stick out and are quite the norm of not being the norm, and he said, the fact that that man is still alive today in America is a wonder and I said to him, yeah, it's been unbelievable and our words were not cold in a couple of months and there they go.
So what a person has to look like is a lot of stuff I've dissected it now this morning. Again, the fact of the matter was people were actually, and it's coming out in the testimonies, people were actually screaming to certain outerlining state police, there's someone on the roof with a gun. So they actually saw the man three minutes prior to this volley of shots. And apparently the people did not heed. And the shots then came from an east to west direction if Donald Trump was looking north and struck him apparently on the side of the face. Unfortunately, also killing one member on the podium and also severely injuring another.
What happened was obviously though in front of everybody the machine of the Secret Service, having been a person in VIP protection that looks after the principal, the normal thing they do is they call it SMENs. We are trained to do SMENs. Shoot, Move, Evaluate, Neutralise, Scan. And that's what you do when the shot is fired. You shoot, you move, you evaluate the surrounding, you neutralise whatever the threat is, you scan and then you evacuate. So if you look at the normal principle of, can I call it, international standard of VIP protection, the Secret Service is absolutely trained to do so. But you can see though, that they call them overlords and those were the guys that came out with the long guns, the guys that came out in combat uniform.
NEIL DE BEER (03:15.724)
They are a special task force that are embedded in the Secret Service. So when the real deal gets down, you will see them appear.
Now funny, we've had them as well, and we've had a little bit of a showcase of them. I think people can remember when the EFF stormed Cyril Ramaphosa at the last SONA, there were the first time pictures of our overlords coming up. They were five or six guys in camouflage with balaclavas that suddenly appeared in front of the President as the inner ring of steel. They are normally people from the specialised Task Force or specialised units.
So on a matter of security, they really did well. They got him down. They moved him. And then Trump just gets up and says in the listening to all of this, instead of being force moved, he says, no, wait, I want to get my shoes. He puts on his shoes and then pumps his fist into the air with the words now that people are looking at where he says, fight, fight, fight. And this scenario, I can tell you now is going to play off, Chris, like a unbelievable movement of seismic proportionality, I think, in the Trump favour, because here's a man who is a an outspoken man, who if you like him, you like him, if you hate him, you hate him. But nevertheless, that now famous photograph of him bleeding, but you should see the photo, it's going to become world famous. His Secret Service guy's having him, and then right on top of them, the American flag. And as you know, Chris, the Americans love picture, frame, and they like the message. So, yeah, incredible stuff happening there. And this is not even the start of their march to the November elections. Very interesting.
Chris Steyn (05:26.235)
Back in South Africa, Neil, have you had a chance to look at that affidavit on corruption at VBS Bank?
NEIL DE BEER (05:35.384)
Ja, 296 pages. I must tell you I'm not a very good reader anymore. I think my focus concentration, but the only thing that jumps out of this is Gotcha! Gotcha! And now there are people sitting back and going Told you so, Told you.
What a nuclear explosion within the mere fact that we can now possibly see Floyd Shivambu and that man who says he's Teflon, Mr. Julius Malema, sell-out, being sold out by the exact man who is now incarcerated and seemingly has sung a absolutely massive piece of music that spins down to guilty.
Now, everything in that affidavit is assumed. It's allegations, but when you go read it, this is a wicked wing of a trilogy of a story of absolute deplorable carnage of a carcass of a bank so that other people can live the life of Porche and Louis Vuitton.
And this is going to be probably, Chris, the biggest test of the judiciary to stand up and say to two of the most senior members in a volatile, national, political party who bases themselves on revolution and for the poor, who continually tells the people that they want to bring back the marginalised, strike down the fact that there should be jobs and work for everybody, yet feasted on caviar, champagne and Rolls Royce.
Chris Steyn (07:42.245)
Meanwhile, Neil, there are African National Congress members of Parliament who are sitting at the Cabinet Lekgotla now, who also have allegations of corruption or corruption charges hanging over their heads.
NEIL DE BEER (07:57.186)
This was a corruption buffet. They all arrived at Hotel Corruption and they just had a eat-as-much-as-what-you-want. Chris, what is shocking to people like me that dabbled in politics for the right reason, that went in and said we need to go and sell a new beginning for this country, for the betterment of the people. People like ourselves that were standing there and selling our soul for righteousness are now finding out where this luscious tents, unbelievable black cars, blue lights, body guards, and huge stadiums filled with ballooons are now coming from. And we now see to ourselves that this opulence, hierdie gedrog, this animal that have been presented here does not just cut it to the people that were red, it's moving into other places and parties that are as guilty and that have as been accused.
And here we sit, Chris, with a scenario that within government, we have got people there that are still accused number one. En wragtig. It's been years since Zondo. It's been a 3 billion Rand process, thousands of papers probably 800 times more than the VBS scenario and they have got the gall and the guts to walk and to be sworn in under Almighty God. There they sit. And they have…My Ouma so se: Het jy geen skaampte nie. Have you no shame?
And that is what I hope…I'm sorry, they must be brought under the book, they must be cost in justice, and then they must go visit Peter Groenewaald in their facilities, sooner than later.
Chris Steyn (10:07.665)
Just to go a little regional, Neil, a senior South African National Defense Force soldier has been killed in the DRC.
NEIL DE BEER (10:21.592)
Another tragedy Chris, The Defence Force, the military, military veterans very close to me. So let's unpack that quickly. This is now the umpteenth soldier of the SANDF dying in Congo. They've been dying everywhere else.
But the shocking story that's now coming out is threefold and Angie Motshekga better get up on her battle horse, which I doubt she will, because in her interview when she was asked when she moved from Education to the Defense Force, she was asked, are you ready and are you absolutely occupying the space and can you? She said, well, I'm not a soldier. I'm not going to go to the bush. So I don't have to understand the military. I'm a policy person. You know, if you ask her probably to define the concept of defense, she'll tell you it's the thing around the house. So here we go.
This is absolutely why I said when we put someone into Defence, Police, into Health and Education, may they please come from that sector.
Because there are three things collapsing clearly in our Defense Force.
Number one. There is a total disintegration of infrastructure like the rest of the country. But here's the difference Chris, when you can't fly your Oryx helicopters anymore, when you can't land your planes anymore, when you can't give your battle group on the ground their rat packs and their food anymore, when logistics fail and when command and control collapses, the difference is people die, they die.
Secondly, they are putting people, clear, there's evidence to this, they are putting people into combat without support. I mean, there are people that are telling me that they don't have enough fuel. Now, coming from there, Chris, if you don't have air support, in other words, logistical support, the men on the ground will die.
NEIL DE BEER (12:48.716)
So secondly, we have to change the total attitude of the construction of the Defense Force.
And thirdly, we now hear, and this is coming out only today, that he was not killed, this is now the major, was not killed, this is only an apparent story, we will follow this, that he wasn't killed in an accident, that in actual fact they're calling it murder.
Now, take everything together Chris, and you look at the current military veterans of this country. People like me, I am a military veteran. In other countries the military veterans are absolutely respected and taken in high regard because it's those people that allow ourselves to live in a country where there is a Constitution. Blood was spilled and it wasn't just spilled by APLA, it wasn't just spilled by Umkhonto we Sizwem it wasn't just spilled by SAND, it was spilled by men and women. And no matter how we want to take it, the military veterans in this country are treated like sub-human beings.
And that's why I can tell you today, the reason MK Party, yes, the reason the MK Party had a boost like never before, was because the MK soldiers that delivered freedom to this country, not just the bureaucrats, they are becoming more and more, everyday disillusioned. No one looked after them. And you can see what happened in Zimbabwe. When you don't look after military veterans, they take back the land that they actually gave to liberty. And we better sort that out.
And Chris, this is a mission I've got is to find out how do we look after the military veterans in this country better. Almal van hulle. Not one, not two, everybody. But Angie Motshekga must get up and not hold her 30% viable of saying to herself that she is not competent in the area of defense. We're not going to stand for that. It's a huge part of the critical lines within this country.
Chris Steyn (15:01.041)
From defense to police of the new Parliamentary Committee Chair, Ian Cameron, has faced attack by people who perceive him to be racist. You know him. What do you say?
NEIL DE BEER (15:17.666)
Yes I do, hands off Ian Cameron. Finnies en klaar. You know, when you get someone and you see someone that is now in public, like me, because when I went into public, well there's never probably been a time that I've not been public. But I'm telling you, you go through your scrutiny and you've got your past. I want to know who has not got a past in this country.
But if you look at certain of the people currently that are sitting in political public seats, it's shocking that they are there.
Here comes a man, I know him. In actual fact, I've shared platforms with him, where you can look at this young man, who's worked for more than a decade in fighting crime. No, no not sitting and reading stats. Not just talking and telling, Bheki Tafeltjie Stoeltjie Cele, to go to hell. But that actually takes a bib, a bulletproof, and goes into the community, into the community for the past 10 years. And more than that, that has attended court case by court case of people who have loved so many people in their own family lives and when they die, they get left alone. And he was there.
So Action Society, which he was the leader, I think was just a preface for him to move on. There were many rumours that said he should be the Minister of Police. I did not agree with it because I thought that he needs a little bit more time. He's young. And to find out the intricacies of policing, I think he needs more time. But now he's in a position of the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, where the wealth of his past 10 years from the street policing and understanding can be brought to the front.
NEIL DE BEER (17:24.716)
And as I know Ian Cameron, he is not going to leave a stone unturned. You can say much of that young man, but there's two things you won't. He's a man with integrity and he has guts. So give him space. To continually going back and telling him that he was a racist, that he was part of activation, that he put Black Like Me over your face, that that was an insult and an act of racism.
Rubbish. Absolute utter nonsense because if you went to go study that you'd find that he's doing what he did was against racism from the other proportionate side, but he said what has that got to do with my current role? I loved it. Let him be and let him be supported and if he fails in this task, then we give him hell, Chris.
But right now I can already see what he's speaking about, his pronouncements, the way that he's talking about effective detectives, making sure the units are supported, we're behind him. So go, Ian, go. That's my opinion.
Chris Steyn (18:35.909)
Neil, if I may jump to energy generation, it looks like South Africa is definitely going nuclear.
NEIL DE BEER (18:45.59)
Yeah, here we go with the debate again. You know, electricity and energy in this country is still seen, in my opinion, as a very key and core function of State to deliver that, because we don't have an alternative to that. And here we hear this past week that we are now revisiting the potential matter of nuclear to supply energy to this country.
Now, Chris, I'm not an electricity boffin. I just put it into my little keypad and it becomes. But if you look at the grander scale, and that's why I'm giving a comment, is I'm watching Dr Ramokgopa and I'm looking and I'm saying, you are now going back to nuclear, you're now going back to fossil fuel, you are going back again, taking the country to rehash what we've had.
But my question is, where are the gabillion dollars, gabillion dollars that this government was given by many states from across the world to boost natural creation of energy?
I had very interesting talk this week to a group of specialists, Chris, that actually do solar power. They do the green energy. And sitting for three hours listening to a presentation of how they can, for years and years on end, create energy, and in maybe the process of four five years, take this country off the via, for example, solar energy.
You then understand why the battle for Eskom is going. And the problem that you've got, Chris, is the sun is free. Diesel and coal are not. And coupled to diesel and coal are the tenders and the contracts to continue supplying all of that. Who's got the trucking contract? Who's got the diesel contract? Who's got the coal contract? That is, in my opinion, if you really go delve and you read André De Ruyter a little bit, like the VBS statements are coming out now, there, in my opinion, was an absolute methodology of sabotage never to stop those coal plants or us getting diesel. So very interesting now how the nuclear synopsis is coming in…
NEIL DE BEER (21:10.69)
But again the total rejection of allowing solar energy to actually couple us and make the difference. So I'll be watching that on a very, very, very daily clear platform.
Chris Steyn (21:25.571)
Meanwhile, wedding bells will be ringing soon in the Nkandla and across the border in eSwatini. Have you heard that King Mswati III is going to marry one of former President Jacob Zuma's daughters, take her as his 16th wife?
NEIL DE BEER (21:44.908)
Yeah, sure, dictator to dictator, just making sure that there's a bloodline between the two. I mean, if you really go look at how King Mswati and the new country of eSwatini, if you look how they run, it's a dictatorship, it's a Kingdom, call it what you want to.
And I don't know, but I'm getting the sense that Jacob Zuma has been put into the same parallel as being the governor, the leader, the King of MK.
And I think today was funny when I read this week preparing for the show, Fikile Mbalula's opinion, and again, one should always watch what you take from that. But he said that Jacob Zuma is acting like a KGB agent. And I went, like a KGB agent or was a KGB agent? And then you look at it and you go, do people not understand that Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Msholozi Zuma was the head of the ANC's Umkhonto we Sizwe Intelligence Division. And that's why Chris, if you really look at it, Jacob Zuma wakes up in the morning. You wake up no matter how early, too late. He is a chess player like you cannot believe. He gets under your skin because he's charismatic. This guy brought a party to the front. And it was not done a week before the elections. MK party is funded, well nourished, supported, articulated, not by the people inside, but by handlers who have a definite plan, piece by piece.
And their next strike, hear me well. MK is preparing for their next strike. And their next strike is to go for every municipality in this country in about 18 months when we start building up the 2026 municipal elections. I know this. One of them told me that that is their next battleground. So if they can control local government and have now access as as the third largest party in Parliament.
NEIL DE BEER (24:09.684)
Chris, what a move. What a move.
Chris Steyn (24:19.858)
Now when you were in intelligence Neil, did you ever have sight of former president Jacob Zuma's file?
NEIL DE BEER (24:28.63)
I think many of us have. I think the thing about Jacob Zuma is everything's on the table.
Here's the thing, Chris, that bothers me. And I'm here. I do this programme with you every Sunday to reflect not on what other people reflect on, but the truth, So help me God, and to tell the normal citizen, the business acumen, the people that listen to us the truth. So that's why we unpack Sunday. And I'm not here to polish it. I'll say it like it is, without fear or favour.
We have a brewing problem in this lekgotla that's happening currently, because if you look at the people sitting in that room, this is a festivity of people, not all of them, but people that have criminal intent, that have got an absolute diverse of ideology, and that are covering up.
So let's say it now. And I'm also laughing because I got a little clip sent to me today to say that our Secret Service, the SSA, has now started a unit that are now going to just function and look at social media and look what people say on social media. So here you are. Record and tape, come on.
Chris Steyn (25:50.872)
I'm looking forward to your next post on X, Neil. With the services, along with the services, we'll both have a look at that. Thank you. That was Neil de Beer, the President of United Independent Movement, taking BizNews viewers through a week of international, regional, and local politics. Thank you very much, Neil, and I am Chris Steyn.
NEIL DE BEER (26:16.642)
Thank you.
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