/qnotables22/ - ===Q Notables 2022===

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18103969 (081639ZJAN23) Notable: Final Commodities Bun / David v Goliath court battle on the cards between coal mines (Parts 1&2)

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>>127665

“David v Goliath court battle on the cards between coal mines” – Part 2

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/david-v-goliath-court-battle-on-the-cards-between-coal-mines-2cac2bf7-4f3d-4277-a957-295de5099584

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

RBCT CEO Allan Waller stated in the December 20 letter that given the additional information that OCT had provided, the RBCT board would consider it and provide feedback by January 20 on whether the earlier deadline to block OCT from using the facility still stands. On November 30 last year, RBCT had given OCT until January 31 to cease exporting coal through the terminal.

“In the circumstances, RBCT is not currently in a position to consider agreeing to any further extensions to OCT beyond 31 January 2023, which (was the) extended date you had proposed in October 2022 and confirms that its position set out in its letter to you of, November 30, 2022, stands. We understand that OCT must consider taking whatever lawful steps it deems appropriate and are open to it in the circumstances,” Waller said.

The withdrawal of OCT’s access to the coal terminal would place at risk the jobs of up to 2 000 workers employed by the group of contractors currently conducting limited operations on “mini-pits” as part of the business rescue plan.

The OCT business rescue practitioners, Kurt Knoop and Kgashane Monyela, said in a response to RBCT, dated December 26, that “in the event that RBCT’s position remains unchanged from the one set out in your letter of November 30, 2022, notwithstanding its consideration of the information and submissions made by us subsequent thereto, it will leave the parties with a mere seven working days to finalise an urgent court application that will by necessity have to deal with substantial and possibly complex issues of fact and law”.

“This includes having to finalise the drafting of the application after considering RBCT’s communication of January 20, 2023, serving the application, providing RBCT time to answer thereto, replying to the answering affidavit, dealing with intervention applications that will no doubt be brought, preparing for an argument, allowing the court time to hear the application, consider it and write a judgment on it, all within the space of less than two weeks.”

Knoop and Monyela said that “it will not only be impractical to attempt the above in the time frame imposed by RBCT but may also cause severe prejudice to all parties involved, as well as the court, to attempt to do so”.

“Conversely, should the parties agree to truncated but practical time frames within which to achieve the finalisation of an urgent application, it will not cause any prejudice to any of the parties,” they continued.

OCT intended to launch its urgent application by January 25, then receive answering affidavits from RBCT by February 3 and provide replies five days later. It was expected that the court application would be heard on February 13.

“We submit that the above proposal not only provides for a practical way to deal with the possible urgent legal proceedings that may follow the January 20, 2023 communication but will also curtail the substantial prejudice that will be suffered by the parties and the court if the very unpractical alternative set out above is imposed,” OCT said.

OCT had given RBCT a deadline of Friday to confirm the proposed schedule, however there was no response at the time of going to print.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18109424 (091422ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Eskom loses billions on coal contracts

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>>127665

>Glencore, in which President Cyril Ramaphosa previously served as chairperson

>Ramaphosa was in partnership with Glencore while a director of Shanduka Group, a diversified industrial company with significant coal mining interests including a stake in OCM – later sold to Gupta-owned Tegeta Resources in 2016.

“Eskom loses billions on coal contracts”

https://mg.co.za/article/2019-04-05-00-eskom-loses-billions-on-coal-contracts/

5 Apr 2019

Broke state power utility Eskom is losing billions of rands by paying different prices to suppliers for the same quality coal.

The result of this is a loss of R1.4-billion, at worst, on two contracts alone. Eskom is paying one supplier, Glencore, double the price it is paying another, smaller supplier for the same quality coal.

An analysis of a spreadsheet of some of Eskom’s short- and mid-term contracts entered into last year, and seen by the Mail & Guardian,show a R343.41 difference between Glencore’s R607.01/tonne price for coal (with a calorific value of 20.5) and the cheapest supplier of the same quality coal, Stuart’s Coal, which is priced at R263.63/tonne.

The analysis also revealed Eskom has been paying five different prices to five different companies, including Glencore and Stuart’s Coal, for the same quality coal.

In another example, Eskom contracted Glencore to deliver 21.50CV coal to Kriel power station at R665.85/tonne, but it also contracted Welgemeend Colliery to deliver the same quality coal to Matla power station at R342.28/tonne. The saving on this transaction, had Eskom paid the same, would have been R291-million.

It is critical to note that the prices listed here do not include transportation costs, which, depending on mode of transport and distance between the mine and the power station, could easily add a further R90-R300 per tonne.

“The high price of coal connections”

https://mg.co.za/article/2019-10-11-00-the-high-price-of-coal-connections/

11 Oct 2019

The taxpayer will be burdened with a roughly R10-billion bill over the next six years, because Eskom has failed to negotiate a standard price for the coal it burns to keep the lights on.

The Mail & Guardian can reveal that Eskom has contracted 16 coal-producing companies to provide it with more than 70-million tonnes of coal in the next six years at a cost of more than R38-billion.

But Eskom could have saved about R10-billion — or nearly R4.5-million a day — had it negotiated a better deal.

Responding to M&G questions, Eskom said it was untrue that it has failed to negotiate coal prices but rather it ended up paying higher prices due to a rapid decline of coal stock. [BS! Creating a demand as there are 1 000s of hectares of land in the Lephale area with shallow coal which can be mined. Now the Russia/Ukraine conflict has increased prices global. All orchestrated as crisis are good for big business.]

One former Eskom executive asked: “Why was it wrong when the Guptas were being paid more and it is now okay when it is companies such as Glencore and Seriti?” adding that if there was no reason to pay such high prices then, why now?

A senior Eskom official, who did not want to be named, told the M&G that the prices varied from one mine to another: “Prices from old contracts were cheaper … emergencies created from 2008 and future years pushed prices up. Transport prices are currently inflated to benefit suppliers with connected officials. Some prices are inflated — claiming good quality coal, which is not true.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18109453 (091429ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Eskom officials, police involved in syndicate stealing millions worth of fuel from Kriel Power Station

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>>127664

>Investigations are also ongoing into Eskom being billed for thousands of litres of fuel oil that never gets delivered to its power plants.

“Eskom officials, police involved in syndicate stealing millions worth of fuel from Kriel Power Station – report”

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/eskom-fuel-kriel-may-2022/

16 May 2022

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter says the theft of fuel at Kriel Power Station is disrupting their operations

A sophisticated criminal syndicate has reportedly been stealing millions of rand worth of fuel at Eskom’s Kriel Power Station in Mpumalanga.

Investigative journalism unit, amaBhungane, on Monday, reported that the syndicate worked in cahoots with Eskom officials, police and trucking companies to steal fuel from the coal-powered station.

The syndicate has reportedly been exploiting a design flaw at the station that has to do with a weigh bridge.

Eskom’s Kriel Power Station uses fuel-oil at start-up or during unstable furnace conditions to ignite or stabilise the coal flame. The fuel-oil is reportedly stored in four storage tanks with a combined capacity of 1,350 tons.

A truck driver who spoke to amaBhungane, on condition of anonymity, said unlike other power stations owned by Eskom, the weigh bridge at Kriel was outside the power station and not inside the Eskom yard.

“This gives a chance for trucks to drive to other locations to offload and then come back to weigh,” the truck driver was quoted as saying.

Among the reasons behind the theft of fuel at Kriel were reportedly lax security and officials not playing an oversight role to determine the amount of fuel being ordered.

Three drivers amaBhungane spoke to claimed that a full tanker was usually worth between R500,000 and R1 million, depending on the size of a tanker and the type of fuel.

On the black market, the minimum price for the load would be R250,000.

Cash deposit payments

Sources claimed that Eskom and police officials involved in the syndicate received and made payments via cash deposits at automatic teller machines, which made them difficult to trace.

A truck driver was arrested outside Kriel Power Station on 18 March after he was allegedly caught with a tanker full of stolen fuel.

Douglas Ndivhatzo Ralulimi, 39, is reportedly out on bail of R10,000.

The theft case was taken over by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks.

The Hawks declined to comment when approached for comment by amaBhungane, arguing that the investigation was still active.

Eskom CEO André de Ruyter acknowledged the amaBhungane story during a media briefing on Monday on load shedding.

Without elaborating on the matter, De Ruyter said the theft of fuel by criminal syndicates at Kriel was disrupting their operations.

“That plant currently has two units completely out and partial load losses of 300MW. So that’s another 900MW of capacity we do not have available,” he said.

The Citizen has reached out to Eskom for comment. The story will be updated once comment is received.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18109459 (091430ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Global energy restructuring veteran KW Miller says nothing comes even close to the Eskom disaster (video)

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>>>/qresearch/17910156

>>>>/qresearch/17774332 Global energy restructuring veteran KW Miller says nothing comes even close to the Eskom disaster (video)

“Global energy restructuring veteran KW Miller says nothing comes even close to the Eskom disaster”

https://youtu.be/be4vChJ3E1s

Oct 31, 2022

Now that the ANC government has finally admitted defeat on Eskom by ending its monopoly and last week promising to assume up to ⅔ of its massive debt burden, the facade is being stripped from SA's teetering electricity provider. Global energy turnaround specialist KW Miller, who calls Eskom an "operationally dysfunctional, financially insolvent, unreliable and corrupt entity" says the path forward will be determined by the actions of creditors which own a large chunk of mostly SA government-guaranteed Eskom debt that he says is far higher than the official number of R400bn. Eskom has tapped global bond markets for decades - and according to Miller those who own the debt are now insisting the disaster be urgently addressed. In this powerful interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews.com, media-shy Miller says the only route now open for SA's State-owned electricity provider is for the private sector to take over the productive assets to cut off third-party leeches and criminal syndicates that continue to bleed the utility. Abu Dhabi-based Miller, who rarely grants interviews, says he "made an exception given the importance of the Eskom restructuring to SA citizens."

22:08 – “Many years ago, must be 12 years ago. Howard Buffet, Warren Buffet’s son and very involved in Berkshire Hathaway and Berkshire Hathaway Energy in the United States who had at that stage a farm in South Africa, offered to get involved with Eskom. He even sent over into action with some of the guys at Eskom, I helped them because I knew both sides to put them together and it seemed imminently sensible but nothing came of it because Eskom refused to take outside help.”

25:45 – “By the way for your viewers, I’m going to give you a heads up now. The South African water system is on the verge of collapse up in the Gauteng area. It’s a mess. I think you’re going to see the next crisis in South Africa will be water but we’ll get to that. But water we focus on because it’s needed for power plants. So with that said you come to a point where you can only cannibalize your economy so much. There’s really nothing else to cannibalize. Everything has been stole, Alec.”

26:18 – “The only thing keeping the criminal syndicates alive in South Africa. You want to know the truth? The coal contracts that they skim off of, the diesel contracts, the renewable contracts. All that money gets skimmed off by various actors in South Africa and it completely wrecks the Energy System there. These are the facts that have been going on for many many years and it’s all come home to roost.”

29:54 – “Forensic audit is required. Now I will tell you for a fact that the current government will never allow a forensic audit of Eskom because they will go to jail. Okay, I could swear out affidavits in the Hague and put about 10 to 15 of the senior ANC officials in jail today. If the creditors wanted to do it, meaning we could basically take them into international courts for all the things they’ve done with the creditors’ money. You follow me. That’s international investors but what good is that, they’ve already got billions parked offshore in Mauritius and other places.”

31:18 – “We put out 2 notices, I’m gonna leave this with you because I think everybody needs to understand. One is we declared a state of emergency in the South African energy market. We did that last week. Okay, you’ll hear more about it. Number 2, we’ve declared Eskom the biggest energy industrial Ponzi scheme in global history. The numbers are off the charts. Eskom is a massive Ponzi scheme when you look at how it’s basically been completely undone from within over the years and all of the corruption and fraud that’s ongoing in the contracts today. Even while the wheels are falling off…It’s astounding! It’s something that most people can’t even comprehend.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18109501 (091440ZJAN23) Notable: Final Commodities Bun / Charges against Denel executive may backfire (Parts 1&2)

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>>127644

>The document implicates... Pravin Gordhan

>>127655

>PRAVIN GORDHAN IS AN OLD FRIEND OF WHITE MONOPOLY CAPITAL

>>127651

>https://uncensoredopinion.co.za/pravins-portfolio-shares-reveals-much-state-capture/

“Charges against Denel executive may backfire” – Part 1

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/charges-against-denel-executive-may-backfire-15b090ab-b2a1-4674-abf2-813d4dfbd7b3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

Johannesburg - The disciplinary case of suspended Denel Dynamics CEO Sello Ntsihlele is set to blow the lid on secret deals to sell the state arms manufacturer's assets to politically connected cronies in bits and pieces to dodge intense public scrutiny.

The bulk of the 18 charges served last month on Ntsihlele relates to his refusal to implement “illegal instructions" to enable the alleged crooked sale of valuable assets, including intellectual property, at a dime.

And for his efforts to block taxpayers' money from subsidising cronies of powerful figures with an interest in the sale of public assets under a blanket restructuring plan that lacked detail, and research and was yet to be approved, Denel seeks to dismiss Ntsihlele if he is found guilty.

A prime example is the charge relating to Denel's attempt to sell three properties at its Irene campus for an amount of R189 million. However, at least one of the three properties was valued at R600m.

An insider asked: "It would cost roughly R1.5 billion to build these three properties from scratch, so why would Denel sell these assets for such a cheap amount? Who stands to benefit from this transaction if the public loses so much?"

Among the charges that betray Denel’s witch-hunt is the allegation that Ntsihlele leaked information to the Sunday Independent about an article last November. The story exposed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan's intimidation tactics against Ntsihlele on at least two occasions.

Ntsihlele filed four employee grievances last August, including one against Gordhan – who had attacked him verbally – but the company failed to address his concerns. Instead, some of the senior executives who have pressed charges against Ntsihlele are among the people he had lodged grievances against.

According to the charge sheet, Ntsihlele is accused of gross insubordination relating to an incident where his juniors refused a rushed instruction to transfer "valuable" intellectual property on unmanned aerial vehicle designs to a phantom unit when the restructuring plan was still in the consultation phase with unions and employees.

Having failed to persuade the junior staff, Denel executives turned to Ntsihlele and instructed him to instruct his juniors to comply. But he declined for the same reasons that his subordinates had put forth.

"Their argument was that Denel's group CEO, Michael Kgobe, had sufficient executive powers to override all of them and approve the same instruction if he believed he would have been acting within the bounds of the law.“

In the second related gross insubordination charge, Ntsihlele is accused of refusing to “execute an executive management and board decision relating to the implementation of the restructuring process concerning the relocation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)“, including transferring the intellectual property to a unit called "Air Capability Division," which was only an idea on paper as part of the restructuring plan and awaiting regulatory approval.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18109506 (091441ZJAN23) Notable: Final Commodities Bun / Charges against Denel executive may backfire (Parts 1&2)

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>>127670

“Charges against Denel executive may backfire” – Part 2

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/charges-against-denel-executive-may-backfire-15b090ab-b2a1-4674-abf2-813d4dfbd7b3

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2023

In another incident, reflected in the charge sheet, Denel created work streams in a bid to bypass Ntsihlele's authority and gain access to information that he and others were protecting. When the scheme failed, the senior Denel executive came back to Ntsihlele and instructed him to enable the approval of the process by giving these work streams access to Denel Dynamics ICT resources.

He refused because it was not his task since he was not part of the work streams, said an insider. Also, said the person, "there was an impact study outstanding, which was expected to provide a scientific assessment of whether the move would benefit Denel or not”.

The Sunday Independent learnt that the work streams incident was at the centre of Ntsihlele’s grievance against the executives from the group.

Other charges include:

FAILURE TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE EMPLOYER: Ntsihlele is accused of failing and/ or neglecting to intervene in the disconnection of the Integrated Systems Solutions from the Denel Dynamics ICT system, during December 2021 allegedly by one of his subordinates, known to the publication, who has since left the company.

DISHONESTY: It is alleged that in an act of dishonesty, he claimed ignorance of Denel Dynamics’ decision to terminate one of the subunits' access to ICT services despite having been copied in the email communication regarding the disconnection. It is not clear why this is apportioned to Ntsihlele or his business unit as it would appear that other executives were copied in the said email.

GROSS MISCONDUCT: Ntsihlele is charged for promoting one of his subordinates against a directive from Group HR who apparently passed away sometime in July 2022.

DERELICTION OF DUTY: It is alleged that he signed a teaming agreement with a company co-owned by a former Denel executive who was dismissed by Denel as its Group CFO and financial director.

Kgobe said in the letter accompanying the charge sheet that Ntsihlele “failed to exercise a duty of good faith towards Denel, acted in a matter that infringes upon the trust relationship, and failed to comply with the express, implied and tacit terms of your employment contract, by making yourself guilty of gross misconduct”.

“In light of the aforementioned, you are required to attend a disciplinary hearing. The disciplinary hearing will take place on a date, time and venue to be communicated to you in due course,” Kgobe wrote in a letter dated December 12, last year.

Not leaving anything to chance, Denel has enlisted the services of an upmarket Sandton law firm Clive Dekker Hofmeyr to prosecute Ntsihlele.

“You are invited to obtain legal representation at your own cost. Denel will appoint an independent person to chair the hearing, whose details will also be communicated to you in due course", added Kgobe.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18116174 (101405ZJAN23) Notable: Final Violence and Crime Bun / Police captain accuses Bok scrum-half Faf de Klerk of ‘attempted murder’

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A good example of South African ‘policing’

“Police captain accuses Bok scrum-half Faf de Klerk of ‘attempted murder’”

https://www.iol.co.za/weekend-argus/news/police-captain-accuses-bok-scrum-half-faf-de-klerk-of-attempted-murder-47d0b09f-5a97-4816-a194-dd9637ecc671

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023

Cape Town - Springbok Rugby World Cup-star Francois “Faf” de Klerk has been accused of threatening to use a panga to hack a Stellenbosch police captain to death and for hurling racial slurs.

This is despite the player claiming to have been more than 14 000km away at the time of the alleged incident, which is said to have occurred on December 8 at around 1pm in Stellenbosch.

De Klerk has vehemently denied the claims made by police captain Lesley Smith and maintains that he was in Japan at the time of the so-called “life-threatening” brawl.

But Smith stands by his allegation and claimed that it's not a case of “mistaken identity” and that he slapped the “Springbok scrum-half” with charges, as he “clearly” saw De Klerk drive off in a ramshackle Toyota Corolla, while he allegedly called him a “h***” minutes after he “tried to kill me with a panga”.

Smith also alleged that De Klerk told him “I will f*** kill you”.

De Klerk, 31, who captured hearts for his shoulder-length blonde hair, through his agent, rebutted the claims, stating that he does not even drive a Toyota Corolla.

“Faf has never driven a Toyota Corolla in his life,” maintained his agent Lean Schwartz, adding De Klerk has been out of the country for two months now.

“He left the country with the Springboks for their end of year tour to Europe, where after he left London for Tokyo, Japan to join his new club, Yokohama Cannon Eagles,” he said.

Footage of De Klerk with fellow club members during practice sessions in Tokyo is all over the internet, with date stamps ranging from the end of November up until early this month.

Schwartz said that “30 minutes” after finding out he was accused of trying to murder a police man, De Klerk submitted evidence to prove that the allegations were untrue, including copies of his passport and visa to the police investigating officer.

Weekend Argus obtained copies thereof, including De Klerk’s full itinerary. The itinerary shows De Klerk left London on November 27 just before 2pm for Dubai. After seven hours he landed at 12.40am on Monday, November 28.

Two hours later at 2.55am, De Klerk left Dubai International Airport for Tokyo, Japan. He arrived at 5.20pm the same day. The stamps in his visa correlates with the flight details.

De Klerk hasn’t left Japan since. The metadata of a picture De Klerk took of his visa also showed that it was taken on December 8 in Inagi, Wakabadai, the date Smith claimed he was almost murdered.

Despite this evidence, Smith said he had not withdrawn the attempted murder charges against De Klerk.

Director of SA Rugby and former Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus told Weekend Argus it was not uncommon for such allegations to surface.

“I can tell you we receive various allegations (and) stories that we don’t really react anymore, seeing that the players’ personal life is their own,” he said.

The national rugby team is no stranger to controversy when it comes to the players and their personal scandals.

Former Springbok, Derick Hougaard also made headlines last year after a set of twins accused him of “hiring” the duo for sex.

However, the sisters later admitted that it was a hoax as they were allegedly hired by a third party “to spread the lies”.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18116201 (101416ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / DA says it’s irrational and disastrous to move Eskom to Energy Department

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>>127472

>Mantashe says load-shedding worse than state capture

>>127555

>Sisulu said a decision cooked outside ANC processes saw Mantashe tell MPs to toe the party line.

>>127556 - Bidvest

>“Calls for Gwede Mantashe ‘to be fired’, amid money laundering allegations”

>>127557

>>127571 - Gwede in the ANC top 7

>>127644 - Bidvest

“DA says it’s irrational and disastrous to move Eskom to Energy Department”

https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/da-says-its-irrational-and-disastrous-to-move-eskom-to-energy-department-0f763b7f-ea0c-47d6-a349-d2872c93bd81

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2023

The DA’s Ghaleb Cachalia has described a proposal by President Cyril Ramaphosa to move Eskom from the Department of Public Enterprises to the Ministry of Energy as irrational and disastrous.

The ANC adopted a resolution at its national elective conference last week which specified that state-owned companies operating in specific economic sectors, should be overseen by the relevant government departments.

Eskom is mired in a national energy crisis that has seen the state-owned entity become the greatest inhibitor to economic growth and job creation and constant bail outs have seen it draining the national fiscus.

The country experienced 205 days of rolling blackouts last year.

Cachalia said the country’s official opposition party was against the move and would fight it.

“We share the opinion of Professor Anton Eberhard who has warned that it would be a grave mistake to move Eskom to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) or even a separate energy ministry.

“According to Eberhard, there is an obvious conflict of interest in an energy ministry being Eskom’s shareholder while also having responsibility for competition and regulation in the sector,” Cachalia said.

The DA says if the move takes place, Eskom will never be fully unbundled and will retain its dominant market position “and the envisaged open power exchange and market will not, in all probability be implemented”.

“Private investment will be pushed to the back burner and under an enhanced version of the status quo – back to the future, as it were – corruption and load shedding will flourish again. The move also has potentially significant financial implications which we are busy unravelling.

“The only faction set to gain from this move clearly an outcome of a political deal to keep president Ramaphosa in power for another term,” Cachalia said in a statement.

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter announced his resignation from the power utility late last year but will remain in the position until March until a new CEO is appointed.

Cachalia said in the run-up to De Ruyter’s resignation, Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe’s “destructive influence was on full display, accusing De Ruyter of a raft of unsubstantiated and unconscionable actions”.

“He is on record as saying ‘Eskom, by not attending to load-shedding, is agitating for the overthrow of the state’. This, on top of earlier statements that De Ruyter was acting ‘like a policeman’ at the corruption-riddled entity.

“It would therefore be a grave mistake to move the utility.”

Cachalia said while it is possible to fix Eskom it is necessary to explore and accelerate generation from other multiple sources on a source agnostic/lowest cost basis “while we explore the most suitable, least invasive, energy-dense solution – let alone opening up the sector to private investment”.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18148888 (151546ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Zuma v Ramaphosa: NGO wants to join case as friend of court, targets NPA for alleged bias

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“Zuma v Ramaphosa: NGO wants to join case as friend of court, targets NPA for alleged bias”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/zuma-v-ramaphosa-ngo-wants-to-join-case-as-friend-of-court-targets-npa-for-alleged-bias-21b1a3a5-8855-40ff-9f66-17cdbd3aa421

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2023

Durban - A non-governmental organisation (NGO) calling itself Blackhouse Kollective Foundation (BHK) wants to be allowed to join Thursday’s legal battle between former president Jacob Zuma and President Cyril Ramaphosa as a friend of the court (amicus curiae).

The NGO says it wrote to both warring parties asking if they have any qualms with it joining the battle and only Zuma’s legal team responded, expressing no objection, while Ramaphosa’s team never responded.

In the main, the little-known NGO seeks clarity regarding the role of the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and the powers it has in issuing nolle prosequi (non-prosecution certificates) before any private prosecution could take place.

The NGO’s affidavit setting outs its application was done under oath by Zandisiwe Radebe who identified herself as its co-founder and chairperson.

“As an organisation that was formed to advance, support and defend constitutional principles and values, BHK has an interest in the determination of the competing rights enumerated above.

“If admitted as amicus, BHK’s submissions will include a discussion on the following questions:

“Does the National Prosecuting Authority have a right or role to play (except for the role of the national director in terms of section 179(5)(d) of the Constitution and section 22(2)(c) of the National Prosecuting Authority Act (the NPA Act), and that of the director of public prosecutions in terms of section 13 of the NPA Act) where it has issued a certificate nolle prosequi?” Radebe said in her affidavit to be tabled before the Johannesburg high court on Thursday.

In the case between Ramaphosa and Zuma where the incumbent president wants to set aside summons for private prosecution issued by the latter, the NGO says it appears that the NPA has already taken a side.

“BHK will argue that the facts of this case demonstrate that the requirement of a certificate nolle prosequi may serve as an impediment or unjustified limitation to the Section 34 right of access to courts, especially when the National Prosecuting Authority as in this case appears to have nailed its colours to the mast of the accused person in the form and shape of the president.

“The National Prosecuting Authority has failed to conduct itself without fear, favour or prejudice. On the contrary, it appears to have taken the side of the president and this is a major factor (though not the only factor) that has moved BHK to intervene as amicus curiae,” she added.

The case between Ramaphosa and Zuma would be heard by a full Bench (three judges https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/full-bench-of-south-gauteng-high-court-to-hear-president-ramaphosas-interdict-application-against-former-head-of-state-zuma-ca321dfe-da53-48dd-a774-57845501acf3) on Thursday morning. https://www.iol.co.za/news/zuma-vs-ramaphosa-legal-battle-now-set-for-january-12-ef20338a-fd97-4810-b593-68831d105597

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18148890 (151546ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Zuma v Ramaphosa: NGO wants to join case as friend of court, targets NPA for alleged bias

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>>127675

“Cyril Ramaphosa to know his fate next week after square off with Jacob Zuma in court”

https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/cyril-ramaphosa-to-know-his-fate-next-week-after-square-off-with-jacob-zuma-in-court-b05f5108-4e28-43ac-9f80-af412feb0a4d

Published Jan 13, 2023

Pretoria - The country will have to wait until Monday before it knows if President Cyril Ramaphosa will be forced to appear before the Gauteng High Court, South Division, next week after judgment was reserved on whether he has succeeded in blocking a private prosecution.

Former president Jacob Zuma has instituted private prosecution proceedings against his successor, accusing him of being an “accessory after the fact”.

This after advocate Billy Downer SC and journalist Karyn Maughan allegedly leaked Zuma’s confidential medical information during his arms deal trial.

Yesterday, the president applied to the court to grant him an interdict that would prevent him from appearing on January 19 after receiving a summons from Zuma last year.

Ramaphosa also wants the court to declare Zuma’s private prosecution against him unconstitutional.

Part of the summons states that Ramaphosa should appear as an accused person in the matter against Downer and Maughan, saying that he did nothing about the matter.

In court, presided over by a full Bench composed of Gauteng Deputy Judge President (DJP) Roland Sutherland, Edwin Molahlehi and Marcus Senyatsi, Zuma was represented by advocate Dali Mpofu while Ramaphosa’s legal team was led by advocate Ngwako Maenetje.

Justice Sutherland said the Bench would deliver the judgment at 9.30am on Monday.

The courtroom was filled to capacity with journalists and friends of Zuma, including Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi and Dudu Myeni.

Carl Niehaus, who recently resigned from the ANC, was also there alongside Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

Also present was Zuma’s friend Louis Liebenberg, who is allegedly footing the bill for Zuma’s legal fees.

Speaking outside court, Manyi called for Ramaphosa to step aside.

“They keep dragging us into political stuff and we have been very careful as a foundation to comment on ANC things. In court they bring up the step-aside issue and say that the step-aside should be invoked.

“As is, the step-aside has not been invoked. This is all to run away from step-aside which he actually can’t. As from December 15 President Cyril Ramaphosa became a criminally charged person before the court.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18148922 (151552ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Eskom warns it could implement higher levels of power cuts – Higher than stage 6

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“Eskom warns it could implement higher levels of power cuts” – Higher than stage 6

https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/eskom-warns-it-could-implement-higher-levels-of-power-cuts-4aee8041-2305-4c23-917a-5ba6c1df7a8e

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023

Eskom has warned that it could implement elevated levels of power cuts higher than stage 6 load shedding in a bid to safeguard the national grid if it experiences further multiple unplanned breakdowns.

This comes as the perpetually struggling power utility burnt through six million litres of diesel in one day on Wednesday when it ramped up load shedding to stage 6 indefinitely.

Eleven generators, amounting to 5 084MW of capacity, suffered breakdowns since Tuesday morning, leaving Eskom with 5 739MW on planned maintenance while breakdowns accounted for 18 041MW of lost capacity.

In email correspondence with Business Report yesterday, Eskom reiterated that the country would experience prolonged load shedding over the next few months as major capital projects and repairs reduce the available generation capacity.

The near collapse of the national grid due to unplanned breakdowns amidst the six-month outage of the 900MW Unit 1 at Koeberg Nuclear power station means that Eskom has to burn more diesel to keep the lights on.

Eskom was bailed out by an emergency lifeline supply of 50 million litres of diesel from PetroSA, which is expected to be used in crisis situations only until the end of March when the new financial year kicks in.

The number of days of load shedding per year has grown exponentially, from six days in 2018 to 22 days in 2019, 35 days in 202, 48 days in 2021, and 157 days in 2022. In 2023, load shedding is expected to be implemented for at least 200 days for the first time in history.

As the government prepares to rebuild investor confidence and mobilise investment at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next week, these crippling power cuts will be an albatross around the necks of the SA delegation.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, during a pre-WEF breakfast meeting yesterday, said he would make an announcement in his Budget Speech next month regarding interventions to save Eskom.

https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/experts-call-for-ramaphosa-to-address-the-nation-over-load-shedding-and-power-hike-85390f0f-178b-4047-914d-8ce6fb49222f

Ramaphosa will be joining the WEF Annual Meeting in Switzerland, scheduled to take place in Davos next week.

Dr Garret Barnwell, a clinical psychologist and expert on climate change and mental health, warned of an increase in conflict, violence and mental health crises.

Already this week there was violence on the N4 highway in Emalahleni, in Mpumalanga, when angry residents torched several trucks and cars while protesting that they hadn’t had electricity for a week.

Ansara said Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala’s recent suggestion that Eskom should consider an international candidate to succeed André de Ruyter would not change the way Eskom was structured.

“The problem is the whole structure around Eskom. You can have the best CEO in the world, but if the current way in which the utility is regulated remains in place, then you are not going to solve the fundamental problem. I think the crisis really is at an advanced stage.”

Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe yesterday said that the energy crisis could be resolved in six to 12 months.

However Yelland said: “You have 90 generators that you cannot fix all at once, so you have to do it step by step over a long time. You have to have the spares, the money, plan it, and have the right people. In reality, this is not happening.

“But, oh well, talk is good now – let’s see the action.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18148929 (151554ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / “LEHOHLA: Eskom is headed for privatization (video)

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“LEHOHLA: Eskom is headed for privatization” - https://youtu.be/zhaWQEXncic

Director of the Economic Modelling Academy, Dr Pali Lehohla says, Nersa's decision to grant Eskom an 18.65% electricity tariff hike will pit the poor against the rich considering the country's economic challenges. He says Eskom is headed for privatisation.

5:16 – “If the Russia-Ukraine war didn’t occur, the wool would be pulled over our eyes forever. This was a gift that showed the underlying reasons for closing fire powered coal stations. It’s about money and nothing else. It’s not about climate change or anything.”

“I don’t understand Ramaphosa’s load shedding apology, says former Statistician General Pali Lehohla”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/i-dont-understand-ramaphosas-load-shedding-apology-says-former-statistician-general-pali-lehohla-75051738-df48-4736-a411-ce8262400b91

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2023

Dr Pali Lehohla, former Statistician General of South Africa, told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that there had been a trend of making State entities fail, setting them up for privatisation.

“The president [Cyril Ramaphosa] was in the war room. Financing for regular maintenance was withdrawn. You defund, make sure things don’t work, the people get angry, and then privatise it, sell it for a song. That’s what we are headed towards at the moment,” Lehohla said.

“So, I don’t understand the apology. I mean, the president has been there in the (Eskom) war room. He understands the importance of Eskom. But the decisions that they have taken, particularly in the period of trying to please the world with the just energy transition, were completely foolish.

Lehohla argued that closing the coal-fired power stations like Komati “was all about money, and not about the climate change or anything”.

He said there is an underlying agenda to make Eskom fail, like other State entities, and privatise it ultimately.

“Eskom was corporatised in 2001 or 2002, having performed as the best institution, getting credits higher than the sovereign itself, when it was not corporatised. What was the sickness in Eskom? There was no sickness. The sickness starts with corporatisation, and then subtle privatisation, then the issue of just energy comes,” said Lehohla.

Ramaphosa convened a National Energy Crisis Committee comprising ministers, and various technical workstream leads on December 15, 2022, demanding urgency and speed in the implementation of all priority areas and actions laid out in the National Energy Plan despite some of the progress that has been made.

“To date, Ramaphosa remains seized with finding a sustainable solution to the current energy crisis. The president has been regularly briefed on the situation at Eskom and on the roll out of the National Energy Plan.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18148934 (151554ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Growing calls for government and Eskom to be sued for loadshedding (video)

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“Growing calls for government and Eskom to be sued for loadshedding”

https://youtu.be/zttB3yARL_I

Jan 15, 2023

Many disgruntled citizens have taken to social media to vent their rage as loadshedding worsens with each passing day. Some South Africans from the legal fraternity, political organisations and civil society say they will challenge this matter in court. UDM president Bantu Holomisa says the court must rule on whether loadshedding is not a violation of human rights.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18155636 (161624ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Apartheid is over, don’t be afraid of white people, says Ramaphosa (video)

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>>127623

Making it a political affair… Let’s fuel 'racism' to continue to fight 'racism'.

“ANC January 8 Statement | Ramaphosa speech at the ANC 111-year birthday celebrations” - https://youtu.be/u2KzMOj7m8Q [from about 11:40]

“Apartheid is over, don’t be afraid of white people, says Ramaphosa”

https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2023-01-08-apartheid-is-over-dont-be-afraid-of-white-people-says-ramaphosa/

08 January 2023 - 15:53

Apartheid is over, don’t be afraid of white people.

This was the strong message ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa sent to the Nakedi brothers who fought off racist attacks at a swimming pool in the Free State on Christmas day.

Ramaphosa hailed the Nakedi brothers for standing up to their attackers at the Maselspoort Resort saying their actions were courageous.

The two brothers, aged 15 and 18, were allegedly attacked by several older white men for swimming in a pool they claimed was only reserved for white people.

Ramaphosa invited the brothers as his special guests at the ANC’s 111th birthday celebrations in Mangaung.

He said the courage they showed in fighting back against such a shameful act was commendable as the time for racist white people was over.

“It was such a shameful act to see old white men trying to throttle these young men and to drown them in a pool under water, the most shameful act to perpetrate against young boys like these and that is why they are my guests,” Ramaphosa said.

“I thank you boys, stay strong and not be afraid of white people they no longer have power, their project of apartheid is over.”

Ramaphosa said there was no space for racists in South Africa and those who had not reformed must immediately vacate the country.

“We commend you, and say what happened to you should not deter you. You must be strong as young men, the message I want to give to you is that the spirit of our forebears who fought against the apartheid system must fill you with courage as it does all of us.

“But we also want to send clear message to those in our country who still want to perpetuate racism, and we say today we do not want racists here in South Africa.

“We honour these young men, we thank them and we also thank their parents for having stood firm to make sure that they resist the racist acts and practices being perpetrated against them.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18155647 (161625ZJAN23) Notable: Final Violence and Crime Bun / More high-profile names implicated on graft corruption at the National Lotteries Commission (video)

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“More high-profile names implicated on graft corruption at the National Lotteries Commission”

https://youtu.be/nK_WsOUdc3g

Jan 15, 2023

The number of high-profile names implicated in lottery corruption continues to grow. Kwaito star and music producer, Arthur Mafokate, has now become embroiled in alleged lotto fraud and the SIU has frozen a property linked to him. It comes after it emerged that Terry Pheto who was the lead actress in the Oscar-winning film, Tsotsi, and another Tsotsi star, Presley Chweney-agae were being investigated for allegedly misappropriating funds distributed by the National Lotteries Commission. Money from lotto tickets was meant to be spent on good causes but it seems that many projects that were approved were linked to fake non-profit organisations who never did the work. They took money and some of it was also shared with senior officials from the Lotteries Commission who splurged on luxurious properties. GroundUp Investigative Journalist Raymond Joseph revealed transgressions for years and reported on projects that were never finished including an old age home, a drug rehabilitation centre and a sport stadium. He joins us now.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18155654 (161626ZJAN23) Notable: Updated Jacob Zuma Bun / Zuma foundation slams Ramaphosa interdict

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“Zuma foundation slams Ramaphosa interdict”

https://youtu.be/A8dg87seSxo

Jan 16, 2023

Jacob Zuma Foundation Spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi says President Cyril Ramaphosa remains charged despite the Johannesburg High Court granting Ramaphosa an urgent interdict against his predecessor Jacob Zuma's private prosecution. Newzrooms Afrika's Ziyanda Ngcobo reports

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18155740 (161639ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Ramaphosa’s plan for radical economic transformation and tackling unemployment (video)

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>>>/qresearch/18155726

>undo relations of exploitation through radical economic and social transformation

“Ramaphosa supports radical economic transformation”

https://youtu.be/8mrqqOHOXwU

Apr 20, 2017

Radical Economic Transformation is NOT a new term in South Africa. That's according to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was addressing the Black Business Council in Johannesburg Wednesday night. The deputy president says to transform the economy, government must increase skills, get black professionals to work with government, create more black industrialists and develop SMME's

0:58 – “The economic transformation of our country… is non-negotiable. It has to happen and it is going to happen whether people like it or not. The economy has to be transformed and it will be transformed.”

“Ramaphosa’s plan for radical economic transformation and tackling unemployment”

https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/222155/ramaphosas-plan-for-radical-economic-transformation-and-tackling-unemployment/

31 January 2018

“As we found in Davos last week, many investors are prepared to work with us and our people to build our country,” Ramaphosa said.

Radical social and economic transformation

Ramaphosa said that a core part of this renewed focus on the labour market will be to “convince those who have not yet understood”, that it not possible to grow and sustain an economy that excludes black people – the majority of whom are African and female.

“Radical social and economic transformation is about creating a South Africa where all its citizens, black and white, share equitably in the country’s economy,” he said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18157674 (162238ZJAN23) Notable: South African Navy Set To Welcome China And Russia; SA-China-Russia military exercise: Thandi Modise hits back at critics, says there was ‘no hype’ when US Army came

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South African Navy Set To Welcome China And Russia

Bloomberg January 16, 2023

By Antony Sguazzin (Bloomberg) –South Africa will next month go ahead with naval exercises off its eastern coast with Russian and Chinese warships in a decision that could further strain its relationship with some of its biggest trading partners.

Operation Mosi, which means smoke, will take place from Feb. 17 to Feb. 26. South Africa’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its decision to allow sanctioned Russian vessels to dock at its ports have already ramped up tensions with the US, UK and European Union who are backing Ukraine in the conflict. The country’s biggest opposition party questioned the wisdom of going ahead with the exercises.

“This gives the impression of not being neutral but being biased to one side. Clearly it can alienate us from other important trade partners, the west,” said Kobus Marais, the shadow defense minister for the Democratic Alliance. “This is in the best interests of Russia,” Marais said, calling it “another bad judgment, an embarrassment.”

While the exercise follows a similar event in 2019, it comes about a year after Russia invaded Ukraine, an event that brought into the open South Africa’s close ties with Russia due to historical support for the African country’s liberation struggle and their joint membership of the BRICS group of nations.

The US, Germany, Japan and the UK are leading trading partners for South Africa, while Russia isn’t in the top 15. Spokespeople from South Africa’s defense ministry and navy didn’t answer calls made to their phones or immediately reply to emails.

https://gcaptain.com/south-african-navy-set-to-welcome-china-and-russia/

[Three of the BRICS nations working together? Washington has to be freaked out]

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18167336 (181315ZJAN23) Notable: Konstantin Kisin: This House Believes Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far (video)

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“Konstantin Kisin | This House Believes Woke Culture Has Gone Too Far - 7/8 | Oxford Union” - https://youtu.be/zJdqJu-6ZPo

“US and two foundation funds [Bezos Earth Fund and the Rockefeller Foundation] plan renewable energy credits for the developing nations”

https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/us-and-two-foundation-funds-plan-renewable-energy-credits-for-the-developing-nations-b4b28ed2-4fbb-4cc7-a8d2-11cdf2fccccb

Published Jan 16, 2023

US climate envoy John Kerry on Sunday outlined core principles for a “high-integrity” carbon offset plan meant to help developing nations speed their energy transition, and next steps including establishing a consultative group.

The Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), first announced at last year's COP27 climate conference, is being developed by the US with the Bezos Earth Fund and the Rockefeller Foundation to mobilise private capital.

Kerry told the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi the aim was to create bankable deals to accelerate reduction of emissions, stressing that the ETA was not a substitute for other funding sources and would be time-limited.

“We believe you can have high-integrity, accountable, transparent credit which will help us to be able to put some money on the table,” he said, acknowledging widespread criticism of voluntary carbon offset schemes.

Such schemes, in which companies get emissions credits in return for channelling cash to poor countries that cut their carbon output, have often been riddled with fraud and double-counting.

“There are only two purposes for which we will allow someone to be able to buy a credit - one, to be closing down or transitioning existing fossil fuel facility that is providing power, and two, for the actual deployment of renewables that will replace current dirty sourcing,” Kerry said.

He said ETA principles also called for a near-term, inclusive and comprehensive approach to deliver on broader sustainable development goals and support power sector-wide energy transition.

The Rockefeller Foundation on Sunday published a joint statement with a preliminary list of members of the ETA High-Level Consultative Group which Kerry said would provide a broad cross section of input and would add more participants.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18169949 (182129ZJAN23) Notable: Southern Africa troops face investigation over bodies video: Al Jazeera Newsfeed - Mozambique (video)

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“Southern Africa troops face investigation over bodies video | Al Jazeera Newsfeed” - Mozambique

https://youtu.be/11Xoclko8qg

Jan 13, 2023

A regional force fighting armed groups in Mozambique says it’s investigating a video said to show its soldiers burning bodies.

”Probe launched after video shows soldiers throwing bodies onto pile of burning rubbish”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/probe-launched-after-video-shows-soldiers-throwing-bodies-onto-pile-of-burning-rubbish-c1a81b11-e400-4987-8ac2-cbea9398c9be

Published Jan 10, 2023

The Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) has launched an investigation following a viral video showing soldiers dumping bodies onto a pile of burning rubbish.

In the short clip, at least one man, dressed in SANDF uniform, can be seen looking on and filming the incident on cellphones.

The incident is believed to have taken place in November last year in Mozambique, where South Africa has committed forces as part of the SADC mission in Mozambique

In a short statement, the SANDF condemned the incident.

“The SANDF was recently made aware of a video clip circulating on social media depicting members in a yet unidentified defence force uniform throwing deceased bodies in a pile of burning rubble as well as the SANDF member(s) standing around watching them.”

SANDF spokesperson Brigadier General Andries Mokoena Mahapa explained that once the forces are committed, they form part of a combined force and fall under the command and control of SAMIM. South Africa only supports their mission logistically.

He said the force commander of SAMIM was conducting an investigation surrounding the involvement of its members in this despicable act.

“The SANDF does not condone in any way the acts committed in the video and those who are found guilty of such acts will be brought to book.”

The DA’s Kobus Marais said the contents of the video were unacceptable.

“This must be rejected in the strongest possible way. This is another embarrassment and an international blunder under the leadership of Minister Modise and President Ramaphosa,” he said.

Marais said while soldiers were deployed in Mozambique, they were still members of the SANDF.

“There are international standards and regulations for dealing with the bodies of the dead in a dignified and human way even in a conflict zone. Soldiers must adhere to their code of conduct and international standards and practices,” Marais said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18170170 (182203ZJAN23) Notable: Final Julius Malema & Jacques Pauw Bun / Court dismisses Julius Malema’s bid to appeal AfriForum’s interdict which prohibits him from calling on land grabs

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“Court dismisses Julius Malema’s bid to appeal AfriForum’s interdict which prohibits him from calling on land grabs”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/court-dismisses-julius-malemas-bid-to-appeal-afriforums-interdict-which-prohibits-him-from-calling-on-land-grabs-23eebdc5-7c57-4c78-8d6c-bbf2b1f75265

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023

Pretoria – The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria dismissed Julius Malema and the EFF’s application to appeal against an interdict which AfriForum acquired in 2017, which prohibited him and his party from calling on the public to invade and occupy any vacant land of their choosing.

Malema has been steadfast in his pursuit, calling on people to occupy vacant property however they wish.

In 2014 and 2016, he called on people to occupy vacant land, however, the National Prosecuting Authority instituted charges against him saying he violated section 18(2)(b) of the Riotous Assemblies Act.

Malema took offence to this, he petitioned the high court to declare that entire portion of the legislation illegal insofar as it demanded that someone found guilty of inciting others to commit a crime be punished with the same severity as the one who actually committed the crime.

In 2019, the high court ruled in favour of Malema, however, in 2020, the Constitutional Court overturned the ruling by the high court but found that only a particular section of the act was unconstitutional and invalid.

On Tuesday, Judge Peter Mabuse reinforced and relied on the ConCourt judgment which emphasised the unconstitutionality of incitement to trespass on private property.

“This judgment is a major win for private property rights and a big blow to those who wish to incite criminality, violence or lawlessness,” said AfroForum’s campaign officer for strategy and content, Ernst van Zyl.

“AfriForum welcomes Judge Mabuse’s judgment which adds the necessary emphasis on the serious criminal nature of inciting people to trespass on and illegally occupy private property,” Van Zyl said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18170175 (182203ZJAN23) Notable: Final Julius Malema & Jacques Pauw Bun / Pay back the money: This is how much Julius Malema paid AfriForum

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“Pay back the money: This is how much Julius Malema paid AfriForum”

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/julius-malema-eff-pays-afriforum-thousands-in-legal-cost-18-january-2023/

18-01-2023

The Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and its President Julius Malema lost hundreds of thousands of rands over the years after they lost yet another legal battle against the civil rights group AfriForum with cost.

MALEMA, EFF LOSE THOUSANDS IN LEGAL BATTLES

In 2018 and 2019 Malema and the EFF paid Afriforum legal cost of R344 762.86 in total.

In the latest battle The Northern Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, dismissed Malema and the EFF’s a leave to appeal land invasion case and ordered them to pay AfriForum’s legal cost, on Tuesday 2023.

According to Van Zyl, Malema and the EFF was ordered to pay the civil rights group the sum of R102 092.30.

Since March 2017, AfriForum has obtained five cost orders against Malema and the EFF in five different appearances.

Van Zyl said they had applied these funds to some of AfriForum’s projects.

“We still have to decide what would be the best use of this new amount they have to pay. “We can assure our members and the public that it will go towards a good cause.”

Ernst van Zyl

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18170338 (182223ZJAN23) Notable: Updated Covid & Other Pestilence Bun / COVID-19 | Calls mount to halt vaccination drive (video)

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“COVID-19 | Calls mount to halt vaccination drive”

https://youtu.be/Elu8caWGV38

Jan 18, 2023

#eNCA speaks to Shabnam Mohamed from Transformative Health Justice.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18174065 (191425ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / SA's electricity crisis: Millions of chickens culled (video)

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“SA's electricity crisis | Millions of chickens culled”

https://youtu.be/tRTs90sq7XE

“Chicken shortages loom as load shedding hits poultry industry hard”

https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/entrepreneurs/chicken-shortages-loom-as-load-shedding-hits-poultry-industry-hard-5deae152-2873-4b33-8496-a10483adc839

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

Entrepreneurs who have invested and have directed their efforts into chicken farming are facing a crisis which could lead to a countrywide chicken shortage in the coming weeks.

According to a tweet by the South African Poultry Association, members have had to cull over 10 million 10-day-old chicks due to disruptions caused by constant disruptions caused by persistent load shedding.

This could directly impact poultry farmers' ability to meet the supply demands of the retail sector.

Speaking to the Citizen, Izaak Breitenbach, the general manager of the South African Poultry Association, pointed out that, ironically, there was no shortage of chickens. It was the backlog in the slaughtering of chickens causing the crisis.

“One can actually say there is no shortage of chickens. The chickens are standing on the farm, and we can’t get them through the slaughter process to get them to the restaurants and to get them to the retail. So that is really the issue we have.

“What has happened recently (is that) we had to cull more than 10 million day-old chicks because they have to go into houses that are still occupied by birds that should have been slaughtered.

“And because the load shedding is occurring every day with no respite, producers are just falling further and further behind,” he said.

Another adverse effect of the crisis was the increase in the price of chicken as a result of load shedding. Companies with generators could make up for production using generators.

While this may be a viable solution, there were costs involved. The diesel cost of slaughtering by using generators had an estimated impact of 75c/kg on chicken prices, and the only way for businesses to recoup these expenses was by charging the consumer more.

Former Johannesburg mayor and leader of political party Action SA, Herman Mashaba tweeted “When we start paying R300 plus for a chicken, at least we will know why.”

Attached to his tweet was a video depicting the disposal of a large number of chicken carcases.

Breitenbach, on behalf of the poultry industry, called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene as a matter of urgency. He indicated if interventions were not undertaken to remedy the situation, it could have a negative impact on food security in terms of animal protein supply.

The potential shortages that threatened to affect the retail market had already impacted KFC last December.

Several franchises were temporarily closed, and menu items were limited in other stores as a result of limited stock supply when the country experienced stage 6 load shedding.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18174169 (191503ZJAN23) Notable: Final ANC Bun / [ANC’s] RET faction joins hands with Carl Niehaus in new civil movement (video)

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>>127504

>>127600

>>127601

“Carl Niehaus launches the Radical Economic Transformation Movement (RETMO)” [Jan 14, 2023] - https://youtu.be/Fd0fXLg9EPE

“[ANC’s] RET faction joins hands with Carl Niehaus in new civil movement”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/ret-faction-joins-hands-with-carl-niehaus-in-new-civil-movement-b880cc1e-a6e4-4405-a250-76a0aa4f64d8

Published Jan 5, 2023

The [ANC’s] Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction is throwing its weight behind Carl Niehaus's plans to establish a political movement.

Niehaus recently hinted at plans to establish his own movement following his expulsion and subsequent resignation from the ANC.

A member of the Radical Economic Transformation, Nkosentsha Shezi, declared the faction’s willingness to join hands with Niehaus.

"It is our view that such a movement is necessary and must allow broad participation of our people across political parties and religious divides.

“It must be both a shield to protect our vulnerable people and a spear through which they can attack the remnants of apartheid and injustice that is emitted against the poor marginalised black majority of South Africa,” he said.

Shezi said they are pinning their hopes and dreams of a prosperous and non-racial South Africa on this movement.

“South Africa can never be prosperous and free when the natives of the land are still landless.

“As a people who have suffered colonial apartheid we are the ones who should form a movement that will help the victims of racial thugs who killed our people during July 2021 [making it now a racial affair] Uprising, assist the victims of Marikana massacre, the victims of floods in KwaZulu-Natal most of whom remain without proper housing.

“Most of all, we hope our National assets, state owned enterprises will be saved and not privatised,” he said.

Taking to his social media account on Monday, Niehaus said he is going to launch and build a new broad civil society and political movement that will work for the full liberation of the people of South Africa.

“We are going to show them flames. We are going to work.

“We are going to work day after day, hour after hour, until we have achieved these ideals,” Niehaus said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18174245 (191518ZJAN23) Notable: Final ANC Bun / [ANC’s] RET faction joins hands with Carl Niehaus in new civil movement (video)

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>>127602

>An irony is not lost here, in modern South Africa the African National Congress (ANC) now call this ‘British-Jewish controlled capital’ a new name – ‘white monopoly capital’ and call for the same capture of this elusive capital as a justification for their cause too.

>>>/qresearch/18155726

>She thereby offered reflections that can usefully be taken up and reworked by writers facing continuous and new challenges to undo relations of exploitation through radical economic and social transformation

>>127692

“Mpangazitha [Carl Niehaus] talks about the launch of the Radical Economic Transformation Movement (#RETMO).” [Jan 11, 2023] - https://youtu.be/Wmb145k7wmE

22:53 – “Of course, as always, our message continues to be; “the struggle continues until we have achieved our full liberation.””

“Carl Niehaus seeks support from Jacob Zuma, Ace Magashule, Lindiwe Sisulu for new movement” - Radical Economic Transformation Movement

https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/carl-niehaus-seeks-support-from-jacob-zuma-ace-magashule-lindiwe-sisulu-for-new-movement-24c78b67-0cc6-406c-a644-c8bb247ed9da

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2023

Pretoria - Days after resigning from the ANC, the party he had been part of for 43 years, Carl Niehaus has set his eyes on recruiting former president Jacob Zuma, erstwhile party secretary-general Ace Magashule and Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to his new Radical Economic Transformation Movement.

Niehaus announced the formation of the NPO earlier this month following his resignation from the ANC, during which time he had appealed against his expulsion from the party.

The ANC national disciplinary committee had wielded its axe and expelled Niehaus in December, days before the governing party’s 55th national elective conference. This was after he was found guilty of six counts of misconduct for contravening the ANC’s constitution and bringing the party into disrepute.

Speaking to the Pretoria News yesterday, the former uMkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association national executive committee (NEC) member said all was in order to officially launch his NPO that would bring unity to political parties.

Niehaus said the three senior members of the liberation movement - Zuma, Sisulu and Magashule - were not opposed to the RETMO idea.

Niehaus, a fierce critic of President Cyril Ramaphosa, insisted that his organisation was not a breakaway party from the ANC, like the “others”.

The ANC has had its fair share of disgruntled members forming their own parties, among them the EFF, created after the expulsion of then ANC Youth League president Julius Malema and his spokesperson, Floyd Shivambu.

Cope, formed by former ANC chairperson Mosiuoa Lekota, also broke away from the ANC after the 2007 ANC elective conference that saw Zuma come into power, and booted out then president Thabo Mbeki, paving the way for the fallout.

Bantu Holomisa’s United Democratic Movement was also created out of an ANC breakaway.

But Niehaus said he did not see his new formation as anti-ANC or a reaction to the governing party because it was not a political party, adding that he was in talks with a wide range of senior members within the ANC.

The priority of the NPO was to advance the ideals of Radical Economic Transformation (RET) because after the 55th conference at Nasrec last month, the ANC had lost its focus.

Niehaus was not looking to contest the 2024 national elections, but his focus was to unite political parties and civil society that have RET as an ideal.

“This is to oppose the selling out of the ANC government,” he said.

Calling the ANC an organisation in “favour of new liberalism”, Niehaus said the party had lost its formation for the poor and was an agent for white monopoly capital.

“I left the ANC because the 55th conference confirmed that the party was no longer the ANC that I joined, that was working for full liberation of the people. It has betrayed the RET policy,” Niehaus said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18180780 (201457ZJAN23) Notable: Final Violence and Crime Bun / Cable thieves plunge Mdantsane hospital into crisis mode (video)

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“Standoff between police and Mdantsane community” [Jan 20, 2023] - https://youtu.be/ryn6e-eazQI

0:03 – “Members of the local community forum taking the law into their own hands going from scrapyard to scrapyard saying they are searching for… the cable stolen from the Cecilia Hospital.”

1:35 – “The police officer on camera fired live rounds in front of many people… Community members saying that they don’t want police around them because they are the reason why things have escalated this way. Police have been accused of working with these criminals.”

“Cable thieves plunge Mdantsane hospital into crisis mode”

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-19-cable-thieves-plunge-mdantsane-hospital-into-crisis-mode/

19 Jan 2023

Pregnant women needing C-sections had to be diverted to Frere Hospital, while corpses were sent to another building for refrigeration after mass cable theft at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital on Tuesday.

T he theft of electricity cables at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane, Buffalo City, has plunged the facility into crisis mode.

Eastern Cape Department of Health spokesperson MK Ndamase said cables at the hospital were stolen and vandalised on Tuesday and the hospital had to operate with emergency electricity.

This is the third hospital targeted by cable thieves since late December, with the other two being in Gauteng.

“The Eastern Cape Department of Health worked around the clock to restore power. The cables that supply power to the hospital were badly vandalised, with other cables stolen. The generators on site are functional… the missing cables meant that the electricity generated by the generators could not be conducted to the various parts of the hospital,” Ndamase said.

He said preliminary reports showed that the thieves had dug a hole underneath a fence to gain entry to the facility.

“Mobile generators had to be deployed to the facility to operate critical areas like the adult and paediatric ICUs and the kitchen so patients could have warm food.”

He said contractors had worked through the night and electricity was restored on Thursday afternoon.

The theft and damage, however, resulted in pregnant women being diverted to Frere Hospital for C-sections.

________

“We are fortunate that this time there were no lives lost as a result of this thuggery because we moved with speed to ensure that a contractor was appointed to fix the cables while critical patients were moved to other hospitals,” said the MEC for Health, Nomakhosazana Meth.

“We thank the CEO and his team for working until midnight and early this morning,” she said.

In December 2022, the Intensive Care Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto was cut off from the medical air and oxygen supply at the hospital after the theft of a piece of copper pipe. Patients had to be evacuated to a different part of the hospital.

Earlier in January, R3-million worth of copper piping was stolen from above an operating theatre inside the Charlotte Maxeke hospital in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, copper cables worth R1-million were dug up from an electrical substation in Struandale in Gqeberha earlier this week. Two security guards were held at gunpoint by three men who wore reflector jackets and tied up the guards. They were joined by a further five suspects.

Nelson Mandela Bay’s district police commissioner, Major-General Vuyisile Ncata, said halting the theft of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and essential infrastructure-related crimes remained a priority for the police.

“This damage and theft are tantamount to economic sabotage, therefore, we will make every effort to ensure that these perpetrators are traced, arrested and convicted. We appeal to the communities to provide information on criminals who steal or interfere with and damage infrastructure,” Ncata said. DM/MC

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18180828 (201509ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Diplomatic row after officials ‘invade’ Nigerian Consulate to cut off electricity over unpaid bills to the tune of R400 000

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“Diplomatic row after officials ‘invade’ Nigerian Consulate to cut off electricity over unpaid bills to the tune of R400 000”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/diplomatic-row-after-officials-invade-nigerian-consulate-to-cut-off-electricity-over-unpaid-bills-to-the-tune-of-r400-000-fb21a9fb-3260-4c6d-94e9-52a8da11d602

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

Pretoria – The Nigerian consulate in Joburg has condemned the “invasion” of its premises by City of Joburg’s power utility, City Power, to disconnect electricity at the diplomatic mission.

This week, City Power visited multiple premises around Joburg’s region E, disconnecting electricity to recoup more than R360 million it is owed by entities in the region.

The Nigerian diplomatic mission was visited on Wednesday. City Power told IOL that the consulate owed more than R400 000.

Following the visit, the Consulate General of Nigeria in South Africa issued a statement expressing displeasure, adding that the South African government had to investigate the conduct of the City of Joburg officials.

“The invasion squad, which comprised officials of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and City Power, as well as members of the press, arrived at the consulate without prior notice or appointment and disrupted normal consular services,” the Consulate said.

“The consulate maintains that the action of the officials, no matter the justification, was in complete violation of extant international treaties and conventions, especially the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, which guarantees the inviolability of consular premises.”

The consulate said the actions have annoyed Lagos authorities.

“Consequently, the consulate-general has, through diplomatic channels, conveyed the displeasure of the federal government of Nigeria to the South African government, with a demand for thorough investigation to be conducted into the illegal violation of the premises of the consulate general…”

The Nigerian authorities are also demanding “appropriate remedial measures” to be taken to avoid a recurrence.

“Furthermore, the consulate wishes to express its regret to members of the public for the disruption to services caused by the invasion and hereby assures that normal consular services have been restored at the mission,” the statement concluded.

On Wednesday, City Power told IOL that despite being denied access to the Nigerian consulate in Illovo, it managed to disconnected the electricity supply to the diplomatic mission.

City Power’s spokesperson, Isaac Mangena, said the Nigerian consul-general later visited City Power’s offices and made arrangements to settle the bill by the end of January.

“The consul-general visited our service delivery centre in Alexandra and agreed to pay the deposit, with the rest to be paid by the end of the month,” said Mangena.

“The same with The Catalyst Hotel, even though we realised that the hotel had lodged some queries on the debt, which we will be attending to. However, they paid R400 000 and were reconnected and we will proceed to address their query.”

By Wednesday night, Mangena said electricity had also been restored to the Nigerian consulate.

“Power was restored late afternoon, after the arrangement was made. They owed over R400 000, and they put up a R150 000 deposit,” said Mangena.

Over the past three days, churches and other business have been on the receiving end of City Power’s drive to disconnect electricity to customers whose municipal accounts are in arrears.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18180904 (201528ZJAN23) Notable: Final Commodities Bun / Shift in southern African economic landscape following Zimbabwe’s lithium ban (Parts 1&2)

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“Shift in southern African economic landscape following Zim’s lithium ban” – Part 1

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/shift-in-southern-african-economic-landscape-following-zims-lithium-ban-02d4ce18-d00d-4ba1-8800-ecbe147c7b12

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

Johannesburg - The African continent is seeing a shift in its economic landscape, with Zimbabwe recently banning all raw lithium exports after the government said it was losing €1.7 billion from exporting it as a raw mineral and not processing it into batteries in-country.

Lithium is a mineral used as a component in electronic batteries for mostly cars, cellphones and computers. It is so valuable that it is known as “white gold”, and its price has gone up by 1 100% in the past two years alone.

The alkali metal is found in small amounts in minerals such as spodumene, petalite, lepidolite and amblygonite, as well as in indigenous rocks and waters of some mineral springs. It’s produced through the electric decomposition of molten lithium chloride and potassium chloride.

Zimbabwe holds some of the world’s largest reserves of hard-rock lithium, a vital mineral in the production of clean energy technologies.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said the law had been drawn up following “a beeline of 30-ton trucks full of lithium ore from Sandawana (mine) to the sea en route to different destinations of the world”.

“When the government caught up with the mischief, it looked for an appropriate law to deal with the illicit flow of high-value ore,” he said.

He said the ban came days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa said a new law would target hordes of artisanal miners who were drawn by the mineral’s high prices and invading abandoned mines to dig for lithium-bearing rocks.

Mnangagwa said the raw lithium was being exported through neighbouring countries.

Charamba explained that miners for a long time had been aware of the government's stance on value-addition driven by its long-term economic vision.

"Government has for a long time been having conversations about value-addition, so no one here has been caught unawares. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision is to industrialise the economy, and we have to be serious in terms of value-addition so that we fully industrialise the Zimbabwean economy," he said.

According to him, the paradigm policy shift by the Second Republic is the first by any country on the continent, whereas for years Africa has not benefited fully from its rich natural resource endowment. Hence the government's move demonstrates its determination to industrialise the economy in line with Vision 2030.

Energy experts weighed in on Zimbabwe's ban, saying it was a good move for Zimbabwe in terms of taking control of the raw materials produced by the country.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18180907 (201528ZJAN23) Notable: Final Commodities Bun / Shift in southern African economic landscape following Zimbabwe’s lithium ban (Parts 1&2)

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>>127696

“Shift in southern African economic landscape following Zim’s lithium ban” – Part 2

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/shift-in-southern-african-economic-landscape-following-zims-lithium-ban-02d4ce18-d00d-4ba1-8800-ecbe147c7b12

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2023

“As a CEO of a mining company aspiring to diversify into critical minerals like lithium, just a thought of a possible collaboration in manufacturing lithium batteries in southern Africa is at the centre of Exxaro’s purpose of powering better lives in Africa and beyond,” said Nombasa Tsengwa, CEO of mining company Exxaro Resources.

Prian Reddy, a senior analyst in the sustainable mobility and energy storage department at GreenCape, a non-profit organisation in Cape Town, said this shift was needed.

“It’s interesting to see that Zimbabwe has now banned the export of unprocessed lithium ore in a bid to attract investment in local lithium beneficiation.

“Zimbabwe holds Africa’s largest lithium reserves – the fifth-largest globally. The province of Masvingo is home to the Bikita mine (with reserves amounting to 10.8-11 million tons of lithium ore. With a grading of 1.4%, this would amount to around 0.15 million tons of usable lithium,” he said.

Reddy said this was similar to a move made by Indonesia early last year which banned the export of unprocessed nickel ore.

“Indonesia has approximately 22% of the world’s nickel reserves, and this policy shift also aimed to attract investment towards the local beneficiation of key minerals in the lithium-ion battery and EV value chain.

“South Africa has the world’s largest reserves of manganese, another strategic mineral in the lithium-ion battery value chain. Co-operation with neighbouring African countries that have strategic mineral reserves is imperative if South Africa aims to develop a local lithium-ion cell manufacturing capacity in the years to come,” he said.

According to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, ongoing exploration has indicated there are significant deposits of lithium in the country.

“The Council for Geoscience confirms the presence of numerous sources of lithium-bearing rocks in all provinces in South Africa, all of which are currently the subject of an intensive research programme at various stages,” said a spokesperson for the department, Ernest Mulibana.

Mulibana said the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and the Department of Science and Innovation were in the process of developing a battery minerals beneficiation value chain master plan in collaboration with industry and organised labour.

Once finalised, the master plan will guide the beneficiation of minerals in battery production. To date, only Polarium (a Swedish battery manufacturer) is known to be assembling lithium-ion batteries in South Africa.

“Zimbabwe is a sovereign state that has the right to make its own economic and trade policy decisions informed by national interest.

“Bilateral, regional, continental and international agreements and protocols are in place to ensure that countries balance domestic imperatives with international obligations and compliance,” Mulibana added.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18180973 (201541ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Angry residents protest over three-day long electricity outages in Cato Crest

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>>127617

>“Mbombela residents band together to regain access to electricity”

This is a stark contrast.

“LOOK: Angry residents protest over three-day long electricity outages in Cato Crest”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/look-angry-residents-protest-over-three-day-long-electricity-outages-in-cato-crest-c00bb4b3-757b-4f40-8030-bc62f568ad66

Published Jan 18, 2023

Durban - The ongoing power outages across Durban has led to sporadic and violent protests in various communities. eThekwini Municipality has been publishing a number of updates regarding power outages and faults in various suburbs.

On Wednesday, residents living in Cato Crest took to the streets to demonstrate after being without electricity for three days.

According to community sources, disgruntled groups blocked off Mary Thiphe Road on Tuesday night. They placed tyres and trees along the roadway and set it alight. Residents also threw dirt onto the burning pile.

On Wednesday morning, parents were forced to find an alternate route to the two schools in the neighbouring Manor Gardens community. By the afternoon, fresh piles of burning debris was scattered on the road. The roadway was opened just before 4.30pm after the Manor Gardens Residents and Ratepayers Association, Public Order Policing and private security guards attended to the protest.

Earlier in the week, Phoenix residents closed off roads and staged a protest after going 40 hours without electricity. IOL reported that Durban Metro Public Order Police and police were called to the scene on Sunday. Residents blocked off the Phoenix highway.

Community, Pastor Collin Moodley, said this is an ongoing problem. He said the electricity does not return following the end of load shedding.

On Saturday night, residents living in an informal settlement near Bonela took to the streets to protest after officials disconnected illegal electrical wires.

Dew Force Security's Yusuf Moola said they were alerted to the protest on Saturday night.

He said crowds burnt tyres and debris on the roadway. They also damaged infrastructure and stoned vehicles. There was also a vehicle that crashed in the chaos. Some had pistols and were firing live rounds at police and security personnel.

City spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said they were aware of the protests.

"We are on record denouncing these protests because we are of the strong conviction that there is no number of grievances that will justify these violent service delivery protests," he said.

Mayisela said like many other cities, the city’s electricity infrastructure is bearing the brunt of load shedding.

"Our system is not designed to be switched on and off frequently. This results in many of our mini-substations tripping, leaving some areas without electricity outside of the load shedding schedule. What is also compounding our problems is the issue of cable theft and illegal connections," he said.

The City said the issue of cable theft also leads to malfunctions of mini-substations due to an overload, while some areas are left to wait a little longer for electricity to return after load shedding.

"Following this situation, we are receiving an avalanche of phone calls from the public reporting power outages, and we are grateful of the effort that our personnel is always putting to ensure that power is restored expeditiously," Mayisela said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18181034 (201554ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Phoenix residents protest over 40-hour power outage”; "Politicians are blamed for the strike." (Parts 1&2)

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>>127698

>Earlier in the week, Phoenix residents closed off roads and staged a protest after going 40 hours without electricity.

“Phoenix residents protest over 40-hour power outage”; "Politicians are blamed for the strike." – Part 1

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/politicians-blamed-for-stoking-phoenix-protests-breaking-20-january-2023/

20-01-2023 15:25

Phoenix’s angry residents take it to the streets to protest following a 40-hour power outage. Politicians are blamed for the strike.

•	After a 40-hour power outage in Phoenix over the weekend, angry residents took to the streets protesting and burning tyres.

•	Political opportunism was blamed for stoking the protests.

•	The ward councillor blames ageing and inadequate infrastructure for the power failure.

After a power outage that lasted 40 hours, from Friday to Monday morning, enraged residents and some business owners took to the streets in Phoenix, north of Durban. Tyres were burned and roads were closed. Traffic was disrupted and had to be diverted.

In video footage GroundUp has seen, a passenger recording the protest on Sunday night had his phone taken. When the passenger left the vehicle to retrieve his phone, he was mobbed, assaulted with sticks, and forced to flee.

The protests started on Sunday with about 80 people near the Eastbury grounds. By Monday morning, there were only about 20 protesters, gathered at Grove End.

The power outage was not the first but it was one of the longest endured by residents in recent months. There is also water rationing and there are problems with uncollected garbage.

COMMUNITY POLICE FORUM ON POLITICS MANIPULATION:

Local community police forum (CPF) chairperson Umesh Singh said people were being manipulated by politicians stoking the discontent.

He said the power outage was caused by ageing infrastructure and protests weren’t going to fix a problem that required expertise and time.

He said community groups, such as the CPF, were seeking to assist the “broken” eThekwini Municipality.

Singh said it was a “low mentality” for people to destroy infrastructure they needed for daily survival just to get the municipality’s attention. He said Phoenix was still struggling from the damage to infrastructure done during the 2021 riots.

Ward 49 Councillor Tino Pillay (DA) said power had been restored to three wards by 1:30am on Monday, except for two roads in ward 48 that had additional faults.

He said the power outage over the weekend was not the result of load shedding, but of a cable malfunction, caused by load surges on the lines when the power was switched back on. At the same time, there was a second cable fault 50 metres away, and a third about five kilometres away. He said the process of joining replacement cables was easily a 20-hour job that included manually digging trenches, acquiring parts, and managing surges so that further breaks did not happen.

Pillay also blamed ageing infrastructure and the eThekwini municipality’s “broken system”, which included its supply chain management. He said everyone was aware that the government had not maintained or expanded the infrastructure as the population grew.

He, too, blamed political incitement for the protests. He said the protestors were misinformed.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18181040 (201554ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Phoenix residents protest over 40-hour power outage”; "Politicians are blamed for the strike." (Parts 1&2)

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>>127699

“Phoenix residents protest over 40-hour power outage”; "Politicians are blamed for the strike." – Part 2

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/politicians-blamed-for-stoking-phoenix-protests-breaking-20-january-2023/

20-01-2023 15:25

POLITICS BLAMED

On Sunday, a statement was issued by Inkatha Freedom Party councillor Jonathan Annipen on eThekwini municipal letterhead stating that staff members from the municipality had been removed from Phoenix because of threats to their safety.

Annipen said Maxwell Mthembu, head of eThekwini Municipality, told him a political party had made threats to harm municipal staff. Annipen refused to say who or which party.

The message was not well received by the DA and the Phoenix CPF, who said they had spoken to Mthembu and no staff member had been threatened or taken off site.

Members of the public also criticised Annipen for inflaming the situation.

Speaking to GroundUp on Tuesday, Annipen said that while he stood by his statement, he now viewed parts of it as “alarmist”, and he conceded that he only had hearsay evidence of political threats and he had not actually witnessed threats to municipal staff himself. He said the IFP would not support violent protests that damage property and infrastructure.

Singh said the CPF would have protected municipal staff while they worked had there in fact been any danger.

CALL FOR PROTEST

In a voice note on a private Phoenix WhatsApp group, calls to protest were made by an individual asking residents to join him in protesting against the eThekwini Municipality and the Democratic Alliance. The note claims that members of Action SA were both present and supportive of the protests.

But Action SA KwaZulu-Natal provincial chair Zwakele Mncwango said they knew nothing about the voice note and they did not condone violence. However, he said,

“Protesting is a constitutional right that all South Africans enjoy. Unfortunately, our government [listens] to protest language before doing anything.”

Claims had been circulating on social media that thousands of rands worth of food had to be discarded as Durban temperatures reached above 30 degrees celsius during the outage. Community WhatsApp groups started to call on residents to protest.

POWER OUTAGE DISRUPT PHOENIX SERVICE

A source at First Call Assist, who wished to remain anonymous, said the service was inundated with requests for assistance in Phoenix. He said some residents were dependent on ventilators, others on running their businesses from home, and the power outage was disastrous for them. However, fortunately no calls for medical assistance were received during the outage.

Meanwhile, Pillay said residents could claim for losses caused by the outage through the Sizakhala walk-in centre. He said for a successful claim one had to show receipts of purchase, and it would be best for claimants to visit the centre to receive help in person.

Phoenix has seen a burgeoning of development over the past decade, including blocks of flats that are privately built and let out for rent. Services are strained.

Pillay said the community could expect service interruptions for the foreseeable future and residents should consider alternative solutions like gas, solar and inverter systems.

GroundUp contacted Mthembu and also city manager Mbhele for comment on the claims made by Annipen, but they had not responded by the time of publication.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18202236 (231339ZJAN23) Notable: The Club of Rome and the Rise of the “Predictive Modelling” Mafia (Parts 1&2, videos)

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>>>/qresearch/18188955

>>>/qresearch/18188984

>>>/qresearch/18189004

>>>/qresearch/18162056

>revolution is both a science and an art form

“Dennis Meadows: How the Population Must be Reduced to 1-2 billion, Achieved with Epidemics” [Apr 3, 2022] - https://youtu.be/ojK05pVOlhs

Dennis Meadows, one of the original members of the Club of Rome & co-author of 'Limits to Growth' (1972)

“The Club of Rome and the Rise of the “Predictive Modelling” Mafia” Part 1

https://unlimitedhangout.com/2022/11/investigative-reports/the-club-of-rome-and-the-rise-of-the-predictive-modelling-mafia/

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

While many are now familiar with the manipulation of predictive modelling during the COVID-19 crisis, a network of powerful Malthusians have used the same tactics for the better part of the last century in order to sell and impose their agenda.

The document which became the bible and blueprint of this new anti-humanist movement that birthed today’s Green New Deal agenda was titled Limits to Growth (1972) and today holds the record as the most widely read book on ecology, having sold 30 million copies published into 32 languages.

A recent article celebrating the book’s 40-year anniversary stated “it helped launch modern environmental computer modeling and began our current globally focused environmental debate. After Limits [To Growth], environmentalists, scientists and policy-makers increasingly thought of ecological problems in planetary terms and as dynamically interconnected… It is worth revisiting Limits today because, more than any other book, it introduced the concept of anthropocentric climate change to a mass audience.”

The MIT study itself did not even begin in the USA, but rather in Montebello Quebec in 1971, when Club of Rome-backer Pierre Trudeau allocated tax payer money to initiate the project. A network of Rhodes Scholars and Privy Councillors centered around Alexander King, Maurice Strong, Maurice Lamontagne (founder of Environment Canada), Marc Lalonde (Rhodes Scholar, Trudeau advisor and head of the Prime Ministers Office), Michael Pitfield (Privy Council Clerk and founder of Canada’s CSIS) and Rhodes Scholar Governor General Roland Michener, among others, had presided over that meeting. When the Canadian funds had served their role, the project continued to receive its funding from the Aurelio Peccei’s Volkswagen Foundation, whose Nazi-supporting past should have made some of the MIT statisticians uncomfortable.

Thus, creativity and its fruits of technological progress are acceptable only IF they reduce the assumed conflict between man and nature posited by Lamontagne. “Bad” technology in Lamontagne’s formulation, has the effect of increasing humanity’s material growth (i.e.: powers of productivity). If, on the other hand, we promote technologies of a low energy flux density form, such as windmills, solar panels and biofuels, which reduce the energy available and thus the amount of economic activity in which man can engage, then technology can be defined as a “good” thing” according to this twisted logic.

This concept was echoed by another Club of Rome member and collaborator with Lamontagne on his Senate Report named Omond Solandt. Solandt made his career as the science advisor to Lord Louis Mountbatten (Prince Philip’s pedophile mentor) during WWII and headed Canada’s Defense Research Board until 1957, where he collaborated on MK Ultra alongside the infamous Ewan Cameron at McGill University. Testifying to the Lamontagne Senate Commission in 1970 Solandt said: –“There is no longer any need to advance science. The need is rather to understand, guide and use science effectively for the welfare of mankind.”—

What defines “the welfare of mankind” in the mind of an MK Ultra proponent should give one chills.

Lamontagne stated this in volume one of his report:

“The new wisdom prescribes that the additional R&D effort be devoted to the life sciences and social sciences rather than the physical sciences… to economic and social objectives rather than curiosity and discovery.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18202244 (231341ZJAN23) Notable: The Club of Rome and the Rise of the “Predictive Modelling” Mafia (Parts 1&2, videos)

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>>127701

“Computer predicts the end of civilisation (1973) | RetroFocus” - https://youtu.be/cCxPOqwCr1I

Dr. King, now you’re describing the world as a closed system where all these things are interrelated and yet the government, the control of the system, is by individual nation-states. Now how do you convince them to cooperate?

Dr. King: “The sovereignty of these nations is no longer as absolute as it was. The gradual diminishing, whittling away of sovereignty, little bit by little bit, especially, of course, the smaller countries where it’s more obvious, but the bigger countries have to do a good deal of this by agreeing to international arrangements for the Law of the Seas, or for the limits of fishing or for control of the wavelengths and radio and a hundred and one other things, but especially in a technological field I think. This is going to be increasingly so with the developments next year… the interdependence of countries, on their food and fuels and so on, is leading to an interdependence which has seeds of draining away of sovereignty within it.”

“I think that the enlightened leadership in Australia should see down the road that Australia will have to lose some of its own self decisions in order to acquire something else which may be purely political in a very wide sense, or maybe also security.”

“The Club of Rome and the Rise of the “Predictive Modelling” Mafia” Part 2

https://unlimitedhangout.com/2022/11/investigative-reports/the-club-of-rome-and-the-rise-of-the-predictive-modelling-mafia/

NOVEMBER 21, 2022

The Club of Rome’s 1972 Limits to Growth was the first of its kind to fuse together global temperature with economic variables like population growth, resource loss, and the under-defined category of “pollution”. By utilizing linear equations to extrapolate trends into the future, the Club of Rome had set the stage for two major fallacies:

Fallacy #1 – The fabric of physical space time shaping the discoverable universe is intrinsically non-linear and thus not expressible by any form of linear equations regardless of the computing power involved. Human creative mentation is most explicitly non-linear as it is tied to non-formalizable states of existence like inspiration, love of truth, dignity, and beauty which no binary system can approximate. The Club of Rome programmers ignored these facts and assumed the universe was as binary as their software.

Fallacy #2 – The data sets themselves could easily be skewed and re-framed according to the controllers of the computer programmers who aspired to shape government policy. We have already seen how this technique was used to drive fallacious results of future scenarios under the hand of Imperial College’s Neil Ferguson and the same technique has been applied in ecological modelling as well.

This use of skewed, under-defined statistics, projected into the future in order to “act preventatively on future crises” became a hegemonic practice for the next 40 years and has been used by neo-Malthusians ever since to justify the increased rates of war, poverty and disease across the world.

With the Limits to Growth computer models, a scientific veneer was given to the cultish efforts of fringe neo-Malthusians like Stanford University’s Paul Ehrlich, whose 1968 book The Population Bomb tried to forecast an inevitable global planetary crisis where oil would dry up, arable lands would dry away and resources would disappear by the year 2000. Ehrlich’s cynical thesis won over a cult following but due to its airy generalizations, it didn’t win many converts among policy making or scientific circles. The club of Rome changed all of that, making Ehrlich’s book a best seller by 1972.

In his 1968 book, he wrote:

“A cancer is an uncontrolled multiplication of cells; the population explosion is an uncontrolled multiplication of people… We must shift our efforts from the treatment of the symptoms to the cutting out of the cancer. The operation will demand many apparently brutal and heartless decisions.”

As researcher William Engdahl demonstrated in his 1992 Century of Oil, then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had more of a role in manufacturing this crisis from scratch by keeping hundreds of tankers replete with petrol from being unloaded in the USA and facilitating the 400% increase with the assistance of several high level oil ministers in the Middle East beholden to Kissinger. In recent years, Saudi Arabia’s former OPEC minister at the time corroborated Engdahl’s research, stating:

“I am 100 per cent sure that the Americans were behind the increase in the price of oil. The oil companies were in real trouble at that time, they had borrowed a lot of money and they needed a high oil price to save them.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18202506 (231453ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Former president Jacob Zuma locks horns with King Misuzulu at Isandlwana commemoration over speech that was seen as pro-Ramaphosa

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>>>/qresearch/18202503

“Former president Jacob Zuma locks horns with King Misuzulu at Isandlwana commemoration over speech that was seen as pro-Ramaphosa”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/former-president-jacob-zuma-locks-horns-with-king-misuzulu-at-isandlwana-commemoration-over-speech-that-was-seen-as-pro-ramaphosa-3a146c48-86a2-4f10-bdaa-d351a5e7334f

Published Jan 22, 2023

Isandlwana – A comment by King Misuzulu KaZwelithini of the Zulu at the 144th commemoration of the battle of Isandlwana, which was seen as “protecting Cyril Ramaphosa’s governance failures”, pushed former President Jacob Zuma to promptly respond on Saturday.

Zuma’s immediate response prompted murmurs from Zulu regiments who started chanting “uyayivubela”, an old Zulu battle cry about someone who is starting a war.

During his speech, King Misuzulu said people should be tolerant of Ramaphosa as leading a country is not easy as some would like to believe.

He said constant criticism was not helpful and leaders should be respected.

“He (Ramaphosa) has been chosen by God to be in the seat of the presidency.

“God trusts the President (Ramaphosa) and his leadership of us

“Therefore I am saying we must not criticise, we must not point fingers and say look at him and what he is doing.

“The job he is doing is not an easy one,” he said in Zulu.

In another eyebrow-raising comment, the King also said religion and politics were very divisive to people.

“First, I am not trying to be controversial, but religion divides a nation and politics do divide a nation.

“And many other issues and what I have just counted, I plead with you Zulu people not to allow these things to disrupt our way of life,” he told the over 10 000 people that had gathered at the mountain of Isandlwana to remember the historic victory of the Zulu army against the British on January 22, 1879.

Later when calling for an end to the killing of people living with albinism, the King said the Zulu nation came before politics and religion.

“As Zulus, we have our own way of life, we are older than politics, also, we are older than religion,” he said.

Then came Zuma after the King has spoken.

According to the official programme, Zuma was not billed to speak and royal protocol is clear that after the King has spoken, no one should speak.

It is not clear how Zuma got the opportunity outside the official programme which by the way was sometimes overridden after it was alleged that the provincial government (under the ANC) played politics by trying to exclude the local mayor of Nquthu (under the IFP) from speaking.

Regarding the king’s remarks about Ramaphosa, Zuma appeared to say if leaders want to be respected by the people they lead, they must as well respect them.

He then touched on the issue of religion and politics as divisive factors, saying he wished that he could privately discuss this with the king.

“I wish to discuss the king’s comment on the issue of politics (being a divisive factor), whether is it politics that is wrong or it is people that misuse it, just like the issue of religion,” Zuma said.

Throughout his speech, there were murmurs within Zulu regiments who were questioning why Zuma was speaking after the King has spoken, thus undermining his authority.

As Zuma was concluding his remarks, a regiment believed to be a royal family member led the other regiments in chanting “uyayivubela.”’

That prompted Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi to rebuke the regiments, and called for order and order was restored.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203009 (231625ZJAN23) Notable: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in high-level talks with Minister Naledi Pandor in Pretoria (video)

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>>127541

>>127572

“Talks on second Russia-African Summit on agenda, Lavrov and Pandor discuss bilateral issues | WION” - https://youtu.be/hkwk4Or0Rg0

“PICS: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in high-level talks with Minister Naledi Pandor in Pretoria”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/pics-russias-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrov-in-high-level-talks-with-minister-naledi-pandor-in-pretoria-9c9a346e-ffa6-4757-b2ed-36fb9c10e2e5

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

Pretoria - Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Dr Naledi Pandor is today hosting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov, in Pretoria.

The two ministers will this morning hold bilateral talks. The top diplomats will also exchange views on issues of common bilateral, regional and multilateral issues.

Lavrov is in South Africa on an official visit at the invitation of Pandor. The tour has attracted criticism from some sections, owing to Russia’s invasion of its neighbour Ukraine, given South Africa’s neutral stance in the conflict.

However, South Africa has maintained strong ties with its partners in the BRICS forum – Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa were established on February 28, 1992.

In 2022, South Africa and the Russian Federation celebrated 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation says the historical links between the two countries remain strong.

The former USSR was one of the key supporters of the struggle for liberation in South Africa. South Africa became the first African state to recognise the independence of the Russian Federation post dissolution of the USSR.

The Declaration on a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of South Africa and the Russian Federation was signed on the margins of the 5th BRICS summit that was held in Durban in March 2013 by heads of state of South Africa and the Russian Federation.

That declaration affirmed the strategic partnership between South Africa and Russia and set the principles and framework for an equitable and mutually beneficial partnership that will support the two countries national development priorities, the African agenda and the establishment of a peaceful, just and democratic global governance system. The signing of the Declaration on a Strategic Partnership in 2013 was preceded by the South Africa-Russia Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation that was signed during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to South Africa in 2006.

Political bilateral relations between South Africa and the Russian Federation, which cover a range of issues, are at a strategic level. However, analysts have highlighted that the current economic relations between the two friendly nations do not match the high level of political relations.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203017 (231626ZJAN23) Notable: South African Navy Set To Welcome China And Russia; SA-China-Russia military exercise: Thandi Modise hits back at critics, says there was ‘no hype’ when US Army came

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>>127704

“SA-China-Russia military exercise: Thandi Modise hits back at critics, says there was ‘no hype’ when US Army came”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/sa-china-russia-military-exercise-thandi-modise-hits-back-at-critics-says-there-was-no-hype-when-us-army-came-ff273e1f-5d74-4fa8-9720-0705aa0178c7

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

Pretoria - The Ministry of Defence and Military Veterans has hit back at widespread critics of the forthcoming military exercise where South Africa hosts the People’s Liberation Army Navy of China, and the Russian Federal Navy during a multilateral maritime exercise scheduled to take place from February 17.

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise said the exercise is highly beneficial for the three navies.

In recent months, South African military forces have had engagements with their counterparts including the UK, the People’s Republic of China, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana.

“There was no hype about any of these countries, especially with regard to the United States of America, wherein we held an even longer exercise, known as Exercise Shared ACCORD in KwaZulu-Natal last year regarding our military health capabilities,” said Modise.

She said the SANDF planned and budgeted for military exercises with other nations across the globe, both at bilateral and multilateral levels.

“Exercise MOSI II is no exception, including the Exercise Shared ACCORD we held with our USA armed forces counterparts. In addition, the biennial maritime Exercise Oxide between South Africa and France took place in November last year at the Simon’s Town Naval Base,” said Modise.

“We wish to state categorically that South Africa, like any independent and sovereign state, has a right to conduct its foreign relations in line with its own diplomatic relations and national interests.

“South Africa sees Exercise MOSI II as an opportunity to contribute towards further strengthening the strong bonds that exist between South Africa, Russia and China,” she said.

The former Speaker of Parliament highlighted that contrary to widespread assertions by critics, South Africa was not abandoning its neutral position on the Russian-Ukraine conflict.

“We remain firm in our view that multilateralism and dialogue are keys to unlock sustainable international peace. We continue to urge both parties to engage in dialogue as a solution to the current conflict,” said Modise.

Code-named Exercise Mosi II, the major maritime joint exercise is due to take place in Durban and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal from February 17 to 27.

The exercise will be the second time of such co-operation comprising the three naval forces, with the first one held in November 2019 in Cape Town.

This year’s Exercise MOSI II will see more than 350 SANDF personnel from various arms of services and divisions participating alongside their Russian and Chinese counterparts.

Modise said she was confident that Exercise MOSI II would benefit all three participating nations.

“The envisaged exercise will benefit all countries involved through interoperability of the naval systems, joint disaster systems management enhancement, maritime cooperation and anti-piracy exercises,” she said.

In addition, Exercise MOSI II would serve as a platform for the three nations to share operational skills, expertise and experience.

South Africa enjoyed cordial diplomatic relations with all member states of BRICS (Brazil, Russia and China) at a bilateral level, in addition to the multilateral levels.

“We also enjoy defence diplomatic relations with several countries across all the continents of the world since we have become an integral part of the community of nations and no longer a pariah State,” said the minister.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203021 (231627ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Court battle looms over load shedding, Eskom tariff hike

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“Court battle looms over load shedding, Eskom tariff hike”

https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/court-battle-looms-over-load-shedding-eskom-tariff-hike-507ab7f1-f4ad-46db-b67a-8dcc5d216759

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

Johannesburg - Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) are facing legal action to force the troubled power utility to end load shedding and reverse the recently approved an 18.65% tariff hikes from April 1.

The DA wants to interdict the implementation of the decision to effect the increases pending another application to challenge the government’s implementation of load shedding and its general response to the country’s energy crisis.

In papers filed at the North Gauteng High Court this week, DA leader John Steenhuisen states that part B of the official opposition’s application is a semi-urgent review of various decisions taken by the government in response to the ongoing energy crisis.

"Nersa decided that Eskom is entitled to recover R318 billion from all its customers in the 2023/24 financial year and R352bn in the next financial year. These revenues appear to translate to an increase in electricity tariffs of over 30% in the next two years,” reads the DA’s founding affidavit.

According to the DA, Nersa’s decision is inconsistent with the Constitution and the party wants the high court to declare it as such and to set it aside. It argues that Nersa and Eskom shouldn’t implement the decision to increase tariffs as it is irrational, unlawful and unreasonable.

The DA cites Nersa, Eskom, President Cyril Ramaphosa and a number of his Cabinet ministers and the nine provincial premiers as respondents.

”Nersa’s decision constitutes an irrational, unreasonable retrogressive measure,” the DA said, adding that Eskom’s tariffs had increased by 653% for all customers since 2007.

Steenhuisen said Nersa’s decision was based on the flawed premise that an increase in tariffs will somehow assist the power utility in recovering from its financial circumstances and providing electricity to its customers.

In a separate matter, Mabuza Attorneys, Buthelezi Vilakazi Inc, Makangela Mtungani Inc, Mketsu & Associates Inc, Mphahlele & Masipa Inc, Madlanga & Partners Inc and Ntanga Nkuhlu Inc Attorneys, as well UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, Build One South Africa founder Mmusi Maimane, the IFP, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA and policy analyst Lukhona Mnguni, among others, are demanding an end to load shedding.

"That load shedding will stop with immediate effect, and if not, a full explanation about why the government is unable to stop load shedding with immediate effect.

“In the alternative, we are instructed to demand a specific timetable as to when load shedding will end, and the reasons for the said timetable,” reads the letter from Mabuza Attorneys to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Eskom.

The group is demanding that the state commits to compensating everyone who has suffered quantifiable financial losses because of load shedding.

Gordhan and Eskom were given until yesterday (Friday) to give the undertakings sought by Mabuza Attorneys’ clients or face a court application to secure appropriate relief.

"If we are compelled to bring proceedings which we hope to avoid, papers shall be lodged on January 23, 2023, for urgent relief,” the law firm threatened.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203023 (231627ZJAN23) Notable: Eskom and Water Crisis Bun Part One / Ramaphosa: SA’s current energy crisis a result of a "perfect storm"

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“Ramaphosa: SA’s current energy crisis a result of a ‘perfect storm’”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/ramaphosa-sas-current-energy-crisis-a-result-of-a-perfect-storm-2b80f864-af1c-49fc-b05f-019b16d632f9

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023

Durban - President Cyril Ramaphosa, who cancelled a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos last week in order to deal with the country’s energy crisis, has warned South Africans to buckle up and ride out the load shedding storm as there were no quick fixes to the problem.

Writing in his weekly address to the nation, from The Desk of The President, Ramaphosa acknowledged the Sowetan’s hard-hitting front-page article last week. The article had listed the small businesses that had gone under due to the crippling load shedding.

He said the energy crisis has been many years in the making and had created a “perfect storm”.

“Though it may be easy to blame our present woes on dysfunctionality at Eskom, a combination of factors have contributed to the crisis. It is important to recall the reasons for the current situation so that our response tackles the causes of our crisis, not just the symptoms. Lack of investment in new generating capacity, poor power plant maintenance, corruption and criminality, sabotage of infrastructure, rising municipal debt and a lack of suitable skills at Eskom have all created a perfect storm,” he said.

A long-term sustainable solution would need to address all the factors in combination, Ramaphosa added.

Eskom had imported 300MW of capacity from neighbouring countries. Negotiations were under way to secure an additional 1 000MW. Eskom was also working to buy surplus power from companies, with available generation capacity for three years.

Ramaphosa said the government had signed agreements for 25 projects from bid windows 5 and 6 of the renewable energy programme. The projects would soon proceed to the construction phase. Collectively, they represent 2 800MW of new capacity.

“To increase the overall supply of electricity, in addition to what Eskom provides, we have taken steps to enable substantial investment by private power producers in new generation capacity. The licensing requirement for embedded generation projects has been removed. Since we first raised the licensing threshold to 100MW, the pipeline of private sector projects has grown to more than 100 projects with over 9 000MW of capacity. We have cut red tape and streamlined regulatory processes, reducing the timeframes for environmental authorisations, registration of new projects and grid connection approvals,” he said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203753 (231835ZJAN23) Notable: eSwatini Unrest: Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko killed (video)

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“eSwatini Unrest | Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko killed” - https://youtu.be/pK9s1bfNhR0

3:06 – “[His death] may be a setback but at the same time he is going to be an inspiration for other Swazis to even fight and to push even harder for the attainment of democracy because it is something that he has fought for for a bigger part of his life.”

“UN rights chief urges ‘impartial’ probe after Eswatini killing [of Thulani Maseko (Chris Hani 2.0?)]”

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/africa/un-rights-chief-urges-impartial-probe-after-eswatini-killing-breaking-23-january-2023/

23-01-2023

The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on Eswatini to swiftly and impartially investigate the brutal killing of prominent opposition politician and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.

The United Nations human rights chief on Monday called on Eswatini to swiftly and impartially investigate the brutal killing of prominent opposition politician and human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko.

“Thulani Maseko was a stalwart of human rights who, at great risk to himself, spoke up for many who couldn’t speak up for themselves,” Volker Turk said in a statement.

“His cold-blooded killing has deprived Eswatini, southern Africa and the world of a true champion and advocate for peace, democracy and human rights.”

Maseko was shot dead on Saturday night by unknown attackers at his home in Luhleko, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the capital Mbabane, an opposition spokesman told AFP.

He was shot through the window while he was inside with his family, the spokesman said.

In his statement, Turk called on the Eswatini authorities “to ensure a prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigation is held into his killing… and to hold all those responsible to account in fair trials.”

Maseko, a leading human rights lawyer and columnist, was the founder of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) — a coalition of opposition parties, associations and churches.

In 2014, he was jailed for contempt of court over articles critical of the government and judiciary, but was acquitted on appeal and released a year later.

END OF MONARCH

And he had a pending court battle with King Mswati III over the monarch’s decision to rename the country Eswatini by decree.

The country’s name was changed from Swaziland to Eswatini to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain in 2018.

Maseko’s position was that the king had not followed the constitution in the process.

And at the time of his death, he was the legal representative for two members of parliament facing trial for offences allegedly committed during the civil unrest that rocked Eswatini in 2021, according to the UN rights office.

Maseko’s death came just hours after the king challenged activists fighting to end Africa’s last absolute monarchy.

“People should not shed tears and complain about mercenaries killing them,” King Mswati had said.

In addition to calling for an investigation of Maseko’s death, Turk demanded Monday that the Eswatini authorities “ensure the safety and security of all Eswatini people, including human rights defenders, journalists and political activists and… protect civic space.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203797 (231839ZJAN23) Notable: eSwatini Unrest: Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko killed (video)

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>>127708

>And at the time of his death, he was the legal representative for two members of parliament facing trial for offences allegedly committed during the civil unrest that rocked Eswatini in 2021, according to the UN rights office.

“Eswatini protests: ‘we are fighting a liberation struggle’”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/08/eswatini-protests-we-are-fighting-a-liberation-struggle

Thu 8 Jul 2021 10.00 BST

Dozens have died seeking reforms to African kingdom where many are dubious about authorities’ offer of talks

Authorities in Eswatini have promised a “national dialogue” in an attempt to avert further unrest after dozens died and hundreds of businesses were burned down in weeks of protest in Africa’s only remaining absolute monarchy.

The move has been greeted with scepticism by opposition leaders and analysts, with fears of further violence in the landlocked country of 1.3 million if there are no significant reforms to the autocratic political system.

The UN expressed deep concern on Tuesday at the reaction of authorities in Eswatini, which was formerly known as Swaziland, to recent protests and sporadic looting, calling for an independent investigation into allegations of “disproportionate and unnecessary use of force, harassment and intimidation” by security forces.

The allegations include “the use of live ammunition by police”, a UN spokesperson said, adding that the organisation was worried by “the potential for further unrest”.

Protests by mainly young people in Eswatini, which has been ruled by 53-year-old King Mswati for 35 years, started when a law student was murdered in May in circumstances that suggested police involvement. [Seem to be a common theme across the world] But unrest intensified dramatically last month when authorities said they would refuse any further “petitions” to the king, closing one of the few ways in which complaints and grievances could be expressed in the kingdom.

Protests that followed led to a more general breakdown in law and order, with sporadic arson and looting. With police overwhelmed, the army was deployed “to regain the rule of law, [restore] peace and to protect all”, said acting prime minister Themba Masuku in a statement.

Observers say there are echoes in Eswatini of protests and violence elsewhere in Africa which have pitted educated and connected urban youth against long-standing rulers and elites. In Uganda, where the median age is 17, Bobi Wine, a popular singer turned politician, has challenged the rule of veteran president Yoweri Museveni and provoked harsh repression. In Nigeria too, a youthful population with new aspirations of prosperity, security and freedom have taken to the streets to protest and been met with violence. [Also coincidentally, just prior to South Africa’s unrest https://www.accord.org.za/conflict-trends/the-july-2021-protests-and-socio-political-unrest-in-south-africa/]

“We are fighting for democracy, freedom, jobs and for food. Yes, there were some people who tried to exploit the protests for their own agenda but … they were not our people. We are fighting a liberation struggle, not stealing,” said one 26-year-old student leader contacted by the Guardian in Eswatini, who requested anonymity for fear of arrest.

Though some local-level representatives are elected, the king effectively choses MPs, controls parliaments and appoints ministers, analysts say. Dissidents have long been silenced by a raft of repressive laws, with the largest opposition party, People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), banned under terrorism laws.

Officials admit that at least 27 people had been killed, some by police, others by security guards hired to prevent looting. Opposition leaders say at least twice as many have died. More than 150 are thought to have been injured.

Officials in Eswatini admit there are problems in the kingdom but say the unrest was due to “terrorists” and “rabble rousers” from South Africa.

Khumalo said that security forces had intervened when authorities “had been made aware of a grand plan to sow a trail of destruction” in Eswatini. Without offering evidence, he alleged the plan involved the Economic Freedom Fighters, a radical leftwing political party in neighbouring South Africa.

“The EFF was bringing in people to lead the destruction and who would train and mentor its local branch to do this … We were able to intercept the plan on the internet. We had to protect business and security for all citizens. It was beyond a protest,” the minister said.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203841 (231844ZJAN23) Notable: eSwatini Unrest: Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko killed (video)

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>>127708

>Maseko, a leading human rights lawyer and columnist, was the founder of the Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) — a coalition of opposition parties, associations and churches.

>>127586

>PUDEMO (Peoples United Democratic Movement)

>>127709

>Dissidents have long been silenced by a raft of repressive laws, with the largest opposition party, People’s United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), banned under terrorism laws.

“Eswatini pro-democracy groups elect Gays and Lesbians leader as MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF)Deputy Chairperson.”

http://www.swazilandnews.co.za/fundza.php?nguyiphi=3558

Sunday, 18th December, 2022

NELSPRUIT:Sisandza Mavimbela,Coordinator of the Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities(ESGM)has been elected as the Deputy Chairperson of the pro-democracy MultiStakeholder Forum(MSF).

The MSF is a coalition of pro-democracy groups collectively fighting for democracy in the Kingdom of eSwatini.

Speaking to this Swaziland News shortly after the Elective Conference held in Nelspruit, South Africa this weekend, human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the MSF Chairperson said as an organization, they strive to build a new democratic dispensation in Swaziland.

“The idea is that we need to bring into the center those among the people, who are marginalized. We don’t want to talk about inclusivity and diversity, just as a slogan. We are seeking to practice what we want to achieve in our attempt to build a new society, everybody must feel comfortable,” said the MSF Chairperson.

Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, the former Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations(CANGO) was elected as Treasurer General.

Former teachers union boss Sikelela Dlamini was elected as MSF Secretary General,his Deputy is Zodwa Mkhathazi Mkhonta, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO).

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18203886 (231850ZJAN23) Notable: eSwatini Unrest: Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko killed (video)

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>>127710

>Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, the former Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations(CANGO) was elected as Treasurer General.

EMMANUEL NKOSINATHI NDLANGAMANDLA – Biography

https://nhridconference.org.sz/speaker/emmanuel-nkosinathi-ndlangamandla/

A professional nurse who has a Masters Business Administration Degree.

Boasts of 34 years of working experience in health and development and 17 years in Executive Director Position and have been Executive Director for the Coordinating Assembly of NGOs (CANGO) since 2004.

Established and having oversight for a Grants Management Unit at CANGO that has managed PEPFAR Funding and now manages Global Fund Funding as a Civil Society Principal Recipient.

Have been working on HIV/AIDS since the 80s. Established the HIV/AIDS Consortium to facilitate coordination of civil society response to HIV/AIDS as well as advocacy.

Have established various Consortia at CANGO to facilitate Coordination and Advocacy including Gender, Children, Human Rights and Governance, Media, Children, Gender, Youth, Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

Leading the Civil Society Organization’s National Budget Analysis and Advocacy for allocation of more resources to social sectors including education, health, water, and sanitation and social grants for vulnerable groups.

Established a Social Protection Platform at CANGO that is affiliated to the Africa Social Protection Platform.

Currently Secretariat for the Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Network (FANRPAN) Eswatini Node which is part of the Network that is now present in 17 countries across Africa and is coordinated by the Secretariat in Pretoria.

Has been a member of various Boards which include NERCHA, Treasurer for SADC Council of NGOs based in Botswana and Global Treasurer for International Council on Social Welfare

Facilitates capacity building for NGOs Board on governance – role of Boards and management as well as development of policies.

A member of the Steering Committee that plays an oversight in United Nations 5-year plan in Eswatini

Currently Chairing the Health Cluster of the COVID 19 Response

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18204935 (232149ZJAN23) Notable: Final ANC Bun / “Cadre deployment: ANC has a right to appoint whoever it wants in public service positions, says party counsel” (video)

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“ANC defends cadre deployment” - https://youtu.be/Q6OaDWWV_Ss

“Cadre deployment: ANC has a right to appoint whoever it wants in public service positions, says party counsel”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/cadre-deployment-anc-has-a-right-to-appoint-whoever-it-wants-in-public-service-positions-says-party-counsel-702c6d72-65d5-40e1-a5a3-b9287de6dffc

Pretoria – Counsel for the ANC has defended the political party’s cadre deployment and development policy saying it’s unconstitutional to prejudice an employee based on a political party they are affiliated with.

The argument was made on Monday at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, after the DA approached the court to get the ANC policy declared unlawful and unconstitutional.

The counsel further argued that It's impermissible to challenge the deployment policy for its existence because of an appointment of an unskilled candidate.

Instead, he said what should be challenged, is to find fault in the person who had the authority of hiring the person who had no experience.

He also submitted that the ruling party is practising its right to freedom of speech when it indicates who it wants to be appointed to a position in the public service position.

“The ANC is allowed to have their policy under it seeks to have as many people who are affiliated with its principles and ideologies in public administration,’’ he said.

The counsel said the case made by the DA is ill founded and opportunistic political act.

“It is divorced from the facts and would lead to an absurd outcome.”

The second counsel argued that political involvement is warranted in running government, because the ruling party has to ensure that policies derived from its manifesto, are implemented.

He said that the ANC took over an administration which was hostile to its policies, and it made sense for the party to come up with a cadre deployment policy to ensure that their policies are represented.

Earlier, the DA argued that the State and political parties are distinct entities and that political parties should not be able to influence who is appointed to public services.

The opposition party said the ANC’s policy is inconsistent with Sections 195 and Section 197 of the Constitution - which requires the public service to be professional and career-orientated, and free from political interference.

Meanwhile, AfriForum has backed the DA's legal challenge to the ANC’s policy on cadre deployment.

The civil rights organisation has joined the case as friends of the court.

The lobby group said the ANC’s policy is discriminatory as those who support other parties were unlikely to be appointed.

The matter will continue on Tuesday.

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18204970 (232156ZJAN23) Notable: Final ANC Bun / “Cadre deployment: ANC has a right to appoint whoever it wants in public service positions, says party counsel” (video)

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>>127603

>>127712

>>>/qresearch/18155828

>“I feel this is my political responsibilities as a white person, the complete rejection of the meritocracy.”

“DA vs ANC court battle over cadre deployment”

https://youtu.be/eWJi1-piNyE

Jan 23, 2023

Mark Oppenheimer presents argument on behalf of AfriForum before the full bench of the Pretoria High Court.

7:58 – “In other words, it’s not become excellent in a particular domain, work your way up through a meritocracy and workout how to run Eskom or Transnet. No, it’s to ingratiate yourself with a political party.”

Originally posted at >>>/qresearch/18221568 (251310ZJAN23) Notable: Final Phala Phala & Ramophosa Bun / Public Protector's office wraps up Phala Phala investigation

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“Public Protector's office wraps up Phala Phala investigation”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/public-protectors-office-wraps-up-phala-phala-investigation-88100d41-65da-43a4-b3a3-d2e4cea54e28

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2023

The Public Protector’s office has confirmed its completion of an investigation into whether President Cyril Ramaphosa violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Act in the Phala Phala saga.

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) lodged a formal complaint through its leader, Vuyolwethu Zungula that Ramaphosa violated his office following the theft of millions of US dollars during an incident at his Phala Phala farm in Waterberg in Limpopo in February 2020.

In the letter, signed by acting executive manager of the investigations branch, Vusumuzi Dlamini, stated that an interim report has already been drafted by the investigation team.

"The interim report has been scheduled to serve through the internal review structures for quality assurance purposes.

"Once the quality assurance process is completed, the interim report shall be served to the relevant parties, in line with the Rules Relating to Investigations by the Public Protector and Matters Incidental thereto, 2018, as promulgated under Section 7(11) of the Public Protector Act, to afford them an opportunity to comment on the intended findings before the report is made final," the letter said.

The PP's office said further progress or new developments on the matter will be communicated to the ATM in due course.

IOL previously reported that Zungula tabled an official motion on June 14, 2022, that parliament investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa by forming a Section 89 Committee Inquiry over allegations the latter had violated section 89 of the Constitution.

Last month, retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo’s three-member Independent Section 89 Panel has found that President Cyril Ramaphosa had violated his oath of office. Despite the scandal hanging over his head, Ramaphosa consolidated his power in the ANC after winning a second term as ANC president during the party’s elective conference that began on December 16 and ended four days later.

Follow-up thread

>>120565

>>120565

Follow-up thread