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Tag: Southern Africa

Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

African Union calls for peace in South Africa amid deadly unrest

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , 0 comment

– – Firefighters are also cleaning up the mess, helped by local residents wielding brooms. Police have also arrested hundreds of people for the violent unrest as the military makes efforts to bring the rioting under control. South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa met with leaders of political parties on Wednesday to discuss ways to address the unrest. “President Ramaphosa welcomed proposals made by political leaders and said expanded deployment of the South African National Defence Force was being addressed,” a government statement said. The jailing of a former president is…

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Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

At least 45 killed in pro-Zuma violent protests in South Africa

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – At least 45 people have been killed amid the violent protests taking place in some provinces in South Africa over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma. The protests mainly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have led to looting and destruction of some property. Gauteng Premier, David Makhura said on Tuesday that 19 people had died in the province since the start of the violence. 10 of those deaths were due to a stampede at the Ndofaya Mall in Meadowlands, Soweto on Tuesday morning. Meanwhile in KwaZulu-Natal, the Premier…

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Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa: Military deployed amid deadly unrest over Zuma’s jailing

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

Soldiers have been deployed to areas in South Africa where deadly protests have continued to take place over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma. The government is hoping the soldiers can quell the deadly unrest that sparked looting of shops and setting of buildings on fire on Monday. At least six people have been killed and 200 arrested since the unrest began last week. This is the first time such pro-Zuma protests are taking place on the streets after the former leader was processed for prison last Wednesday. He…

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Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa: Violent protests spread over jailing of Jacob Zuma

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – The jailing of a former president is unprecedented in South Africa, which has been gripped by Zuma’s legal turmoil. Mr. Zuma has said that the apartheid government treated him better than the current one after he was last week found guilty of contempt of court. The verdict was delivered by the country’s constitutional court after he failed to appear and participate at the state capture inquiry. Mr. Zuma said going to jail without trial was something he fought against during the white-minority apartheid rule. “Sending me to jail…

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Africa Botswana Business Southern Africa World 

Botswana announces discovery of another huge diamond

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , 0 comment

– – Botswana has announced another discovery of a huge rough diamond, toppling an earlier huge discovery of the stone. The discovery on June 12 was carried out by the Canadian company Lucara and is a 1,174-carat gem. The latest discovered stone now becomes the world’s third largest diamonds. Lucara’s Managing Director, Naseem Lahri told AFP that this is a “historic discovery, for us and for Botswana as well.” “In the hierarchy of large stones, it ranks third,” she said during its presentation to the government in Gaborone. – –…

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Africa Mozambique Southern Africa World 

Mozambique: Inquiry confirms forced prostitution in prisons

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , 0 comment

– – An inquiry in Mozambique has confirmed reports of forced prostitution in a women’s prison. Last month Anti-corruption organisation the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) revealed that female prisoners in the country were being forced into prostitution by staff of prison facilities. The group said for years prisoners from Ndlavela Women’s Penitentiary in the capital, Maputo, have been taken to nearby guest houses to work as prostitutes for wealthy clients. These details were revealed by investigative undercover journalists who also spoke to current and former inmates forced to have sex several…

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Africa South Africa Southern Africa World 

South Africa: Jacob Zuma in prison to serve 15-month jail term

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , 0 comment

– – Former South African president, Jacob Zuma has handed himself over to the police and has now been admitted to prison to serve his 15-month sentence for being in contempt of court. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed on Thursday that the former President was admitted to the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal to begin serving his time. “Mr Zuma will be taken through all the admission processes as per DCS regulations. Other relevant prescripts pertaining to admitting and orientating newly incarcerated persons will also be followed and executed,”…

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Africa Featured Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambia’s ex-president Kaunda buried despite family’s protest

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , 0 comment

– – Zambia’s first president Kenneth Kaunda has been buried at a memorial site for former presidents. He was laid to rest on Wednesday at the Embassy Park national site in the capital Lusaka despite a court appeal by his family members against this arrangement. Kenneth Kaunda who was in office from 1964 to 1991 died on June 17 aged 97. The government decreed that Kaunda would be buried at the Embassy Park where the other past presidents have been laid to rest. But some of Kaunda’s children, grandchildren and…

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Africa Southern Africa World Zambia 

Zambia: Kaunda’s family sues government over burial plans

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , 0 comment

– – Some relatives of former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda have gone to court to try to stop his burial at the Embassy Park national site in the capital Lusaka. The country’s first president who was in office from 1964 to 1991 died on June 17 aged 97. The government later decreed that Kaunda would be buried at the Embassy Park where the other past presidents have been laid to rest. The burial is due to take place on Wednesday July 6 after a 21 day period of mourning. But some of…

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Africa Business South Africa Southern Africa World 

Chatbots: The solution to SA’s service delivery woes?

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , 0 comment

– – Finance Minister Tito Mboweni recently said that communities and businesses are becoming increasingly intolerant of municipalities that can neither deliver basic services nor conduct their administration effectively. With lack of employee capacity being one of the root causes of poor service delivery, Kyle Oosthuizen, Chief Operating Officer at Blue Robot, believes that chatbots could be a solution. He says: “Chatbots offer municipalities a way to service more people faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively.  Anyone who has ever had to apply for anything from a municipal or government department…

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