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International Q Research Threads

>>19487470 ——–——– Australia #32

>>19601701 ——–——– Canada #47

>>16694358 ——–——– France #7

>>18551332 ——–——– Germany #105

>>19529888 ——–——– Japan #18

>>16694250 ——–——– Nederland #10

>>17784579 ——–——– QAJF #1

>>17352350 ——–——– Scotland #8

>>18158921 ——–——– UK #50

Alternate South Africa bread on midnightriders

https://8kun.top/midnightriders/res/147928.html

Alternate South Africa bread on Endchan

https://endchan.gg/qrbunker/res/73076.html

Notables are NOT Endorsements

#11-A

>>18801509 President Ramaphosa reveals that a health revolution is on the way (video)

>>18816521, >>18816539 National Health Insurance Plan for South Africa” (2009) -- funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (video and .pdf)

>>18830125 Meet Dr Patrick Moore: Greenpeace co-founder who left the organisation hijacked by political left (video)

>>18830765 AfriForum wins order against Rand Water with costs

>>18842617 (from Canada #42) Secrets of Manufactured Consent

>>18846292, >>18846295, >>18846297 How South African weapons are fuelling war crimes in Yemen (Parts 1-3)

>>18916836, >>18916842, >>18924629, >>19110654, >>19110660 Webber Wentzel law firm

>>18916863, >>18916868, >>18924517, >>18924528 How Middlemen and Corporations Armed the Rwandan Genocide - Armcor

>>18935804, >>18935811 Solidarity to companies -- you do not have the right to obey injustice (with .pdf)

>>18983193 ‘If this was about a bailout, they would be here’: Denel board snubs Scopa

>>18999706 US Cracks Down On Entities Training Chinese Pilots, Including Erik Prince's Frontier Services Group - South Africa mentioned

>>19017498, >>19017499, >>19017506 Parliament has passed NHI Bill

>>19027267 Another vote of no confidence for the new Johannesburg mayor scheduled for 20 June 2023

>>19032975, >>19038744 SA hosts high-level foreign delegations (video)

>>19064930 Covid Is Genocide - A Biological Warfare Crime - Dr. David Martin Speaks To The European Parliament (video)

>>19064964 Okeefe Media Group: BlackRock Recruiter Who ‘Decides People’s Fate’ Says ‘War is Good for Business’ (video)

>>19064964 BlackRock Recruiter Who ‘Decides People’s Fate’ Says ‘War is Good for Business’ (video)

>>19117473 ANC Bun | Brazzaville Foundation Bun

>>19117487 G4S Security Company Bun

>>19117497 Jackie Selebi Bun | Violence and Crime Bun | Webber Wentzel Bun

>>19126731, >19140862, >>19140873 Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC)

>>19126855 Same players seen in both Selebi and Zuma’s trials

>>19134665 Acting public protector denies Phala Phala report was a 'whitewash' (video)

>>19134701 Zuma 'likely' to appeal ruling against the private prosecution of Ramaphosa

>>19140873, >>19140923, >>19141022, >>19141022 Kropz

>>19279341 Mark Suzman, CEO, Board Member, Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation and Helen Suzman’s nephew (video)

>>19298258 Durban Port and ICTSI Bun

>>19298260 Updated Judge Meyer Joffe Bun

>>19315241, >>1931526, >>19315252 Julius Malema Speech and others at EFF 10th Anniversary (video)

>>19340689 Horace Campbell [Global Pan-African Movement, Chair] on Opposing Military Intervention in Niger & Disastrous U.S./French Role in Africa (video)

>>19355884, >>19355885 Iqbal Survé Biography; “founding member of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)” and “founding member of the BRICS Business Council (Parts 1&2, video)

>>19355888, >>19355895, >>19363794, >>19363800 South Africa’s Mail & Guardian

>>19356343, >>19356350 All the companies Naspers owns (Parts 1&2)

11-B

>>19356771, >>19356774, >>19357509 Convicted paedophile Gerhard Ackerman sentenced on 12 life terms, asks court for retrial

>>19357471 Niger military says it will prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for treason (video)

>>19363862, >>19363905 The Rand Daily Mail: Anglo American and Harry Oppenheimer

>>19505959 Islamic banking continues to grow in South Africa (from 2021)

>>19530741 (from Canada #46) G20 admits African Union as permanent member

>>19542376 Floyd Shivambu warns IFP against infighting after Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s death (video)

>>19552219 Updated BRICS Summit Bun

>>19552225 Castleton Commodities International Bun

>>19552227 Updated Covid & Other Pestilence Bun

>>19552228 Updated Eskom Bun

>>19552251 Updated Russia and Ukraine Bun

>>19552253 Taxi Strike Bun

>>19612958 BizNews: “President” Trump will want his pound of flesh from SA… Tough renegotiations of AGOA likely” - Dr Edward Mienie (video)

>>19627135 AfriForum presents politically inconvenient facts about land and land reform before parliament (video)

>>19635994 Final ANC Bun

>>19366002 Final Banksters Bun

>>19636006 Le Cercle Bun

>>19636010 Final Commodities Bun

>>19636018 Final Johannesburg Bun

>>19636019 Final Lady R Probe Bun

>>19636028 Final Violence and Crime Bun

Two Top Execs at South Africa's Port and Rail Operator Resign

Published Oct 2, 2023 9:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

The CEO and CFO of South African state logistics company Transnet resigned last Friday. The departure of Transnet’s CEO Portia Derby was a culmination of pressure from business and labor groups, which have expressed concern over a deepening operational crisis at the company.

One of the major pain points for Transnet has been with its rail management division. Shortages of freight trains and destruction of railway infrastructure have resulted in massive disruptions, especially for the iron ore industry, which relies on rail to deliver its product to seaports.

According to recent data by the lobby group Minerals Council of South Africa, the country’s mining output has fallen to below pre-pandemic levels with electricity outages and rail disruptions cited as the leading causes. Mining output and sales for the 12 months to May 2023 were down by an average of four percent year-on-year.

These problems saw Transnet declare an annual loss of $302 million in the 2022/23 financial year. Transnet said the financial year was challenging with cable theft and vandalism of railway infrastructure reaching “crisis levels.”. Operational inefficiencies have also become common especially at Durban, South Africa’s largest container port. Trucks congestion at the entrances of major ports is now a huge barrier to movement of goods.

Displeased with Transnet services, the Durban Chamber of Commerce recently wrote to the Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan requesting the resignation of the company’s senior management team.

“We would like to bring to your attention our concern regarding the current CEO and her executive team. The business community of e eThekwini has reached a point where we can no longer tolerate poor service delivery at the Port of Durban,” wrote the Chamber.

In the wake of Portia Derby’s resignation, Transnet Group said Michelle Phillips - currently the head of Transnet Pipelines - would take over as the acting CEO. In addition, Transnet’s chief financial officer Nonkululeko Dlamini also departed, taking up the same position at South Africa’s telecommunications company Telkom.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Portia Derby in 2020 to head Transnet, filling a position which had remained vacant for almost two years. In 2018, Transnet fired its former CEO, Siyabonga Gama, for what the board described as “serious violations of his financial, procurement and fiduciary responsibilities.” Gama has denied the allegations.

https://maritime-executive.com/article/two-top-execs-at-south-africa-s-port-and-rail-operator-resign

“Israeli businessman Shafiq Nasser killed in Cape Town” - https://youtu.be/x0tQOvqrfHY

Police in the Western Cape are on a manhunt for the killer of Israeli businessman Shafiq Nasser. According to reports, a gunman on a motorbike shot and killed Nasser near Montague Gardens, in Cape Town yesterday. His cousin was also killed almost a year ago while visiting him in South Africa.

The businessman and some family members fled Israel following accusations of being involved in criminal activities.

“Property developer Shafiq Naser killed by assassins on superbikes in Cape Town”

https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/property-developer-shafiq-naser-killed-by-assassins-on-superbikes-in-cape-town-c277a34c-1ed1-448a-9c59-b9d100e2e9bc

Published Oct 5, 2023

A Palestinian property developer is dead after two gunmen on motorbikes fired several shots at him in peak-hour traffic close to his home in Sandrift, Milnerton.

The killing of Shafiq Naser comes almost a year after his brother, Abdel Fattah Nassar, was shot dead in a gun battle near the V&A Waterfront.

Nassar is believed to have been involved in the Israeli underworld and had, according to reports, sought refuge in Cape Town from the gangland killings in that country.

Naser owned Naser Construction, based at Century City, and had been involved in the development of buildings in and around Cape Town according to filings with the City council.

The latest killing comes after the Global Organised Crime Index showed that South Africa ranked seventh in the world, and was a hotbed for organised criminal activities, including drug trafficking, cash-in-transit operations, poaching syndicates and robberies.

Mafia-style groups, well-armed and associated with high levels of violence, are increasingly prominent, particularly in major cities such as Cape Town, Joburg and Durban.

On Wednesday, Naser was driving his Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV on Bosmansdam Road when two gunmen on two motorcycles shot at him after the traffic lights on Freedom Way, adjacent to the Sable Square shopping centre.

Milnerton Community Policing Forum vice chairperson Jacqui Pember said Naser's assassination had left the local community in shock.

"The Milnerton CPF finds it quite disturbing that an incident like this has occurred in broad daylight with such blatant disregard for anyone else who may be in the vicinity.

>>19636071

>>19505959 Islamic banking continues to grow in South Africa (from 2021)

“Africarare Ubuntuland Partners with HAQQ to Innovate Sharia Law Education and Ethical Community Engagement in Mixed Reality”

https://southafricatoday.net/business/africarare-ubuntuland-partners-with-haqq-to-innovate-sharia-law-education-and-ethical-community-engagement-in-mixed-reality/

October 5, 2023

Africarare, the AI-powered mixed reality platform, is set to redefine ethical finance education through a pioneering collaboration with HAQQ. This ethics-first L1 blockchain brings together sustainability-focused developers, validators, open-source contributors, and Muslim innovators in sustainable finance.

This strategic alliance aims to elevate Africarare’s immersive experiences within Ubuntuland by seamlessly integrating ethical finance principles with community-driven decentralised technologies. Simultaneously, it bolsters HAQQ‘s presence in Africa, a burgeoning region for blockchain and cryptocurrency, by empowering local communities through Sharia-compliant financial literacy.

Africarare’s Ubuntuland will host two distinct 12×12 virtual villages, a hallmark of this groundbreaking venture:

1. Sharia Law Education: A dedicated zone within the virtual villages will offer users immersive encounters with Sharia law within the realm of ethical digital finance. Through interactive AI agents and mixed-reality settings, users will gain a deep understanding of this crucial aspect of financial ethics.

2. Exhibition Area: Showcasing HAQQ‘s network partnerships and projects, this virtual space will vividly highlight the global impact and collaborative achievements that HAQQ has garnered over time.

3. Auditorium for Live Events: A cutting-edge virtual auditorium will be erected to host live events, seminars, product unveilings, and assorted initiatives. This platform will serve as a global stage for thought leadership in ethical digital finance.

Expressing excitement about the partnership, Africarare CEO Mic Mann stated, “Our collaboration with the HAQQ Network is a significant stride towards Futureproofing Africa. It allows us to provide valuable insights and education on Sharia Law and the evolving landscape of the digital economy.”

Echoing this sentiment, HAQQ‘s CEO, Alex Malkov, remarked, “Our partnership with Africarare Ubuntuland marks the establishment of an unparalleled educational hub. Together, we amplify the message of ethical finance and innovation across Africa and beyond. At HAQQ, we remain steadfast in our commitment to driving change while upholding our ethical principles.”

The Africarare Ubuntuland and HAQQ partnership ushers in a new era of mixed reality, merging ethical digital finance education with community engagement on a platform engineered to revolutionise learning, connections, and growth within a Sharia-compliant ecosystem.

About Africarare Ubuntuland

Africarare is an inclusive AI-powered web3 platform that enables connection, collaboration and e-commerce amongst individuals, brands, and communities by leveraging AI and mixed reality, uniquely positioned in the high-growth African market. Africarare has a bold vision to serve over a billion people and break barriers by leveraging the power of AI and mixed reality. With a focus on Africa and communities worldwide, Africarare aims to create an inclusive platform that empowers individuals, brands, and communities to unleash their potential. Learn more at www.africarare.io

About HAQQ

HAQQ is an ethics-first L1 blockchain that brings together sustainability-centred developers, validators, open-source contributors, and Muslim innovators in sustainable finance with its native asset – Islamic Coin. As an EVM-equivalent chain built using the Cosmos SDK, HAQQ‘s innovative technology allows for the seamless deployment of smart contracts from other EVM chains. HAQQ aims to create a fairer, more sustainable financial system by balancing Shariah-compliant philosophy with cutting-edge technology using Shariah Oracle – an on-chain registry of Halal Certificates that assures compliance with Islamic principles. HAQQ ensures that its users interact exclusively with whitelisted Shariah-compliant dApps, minimising unethical or Haram activity within the network. Learn more about HAQQ at haqq.network.

>>19692436

“South Africa: The Halal Kingdom”, “Although it holds the world’s smallest percentage of Muslims”

https://jamiat.org.za/south-africa-the-halal-kingdom/

Although it holds the world’s smallest percentage of Muslims, there are grounds for asserting that South Africa has a highly advanced halal certification programme. The Rainbow Nation is considered one of the five largest producers of halal products worldwide.

And because it comprises 25 per cent of the African continent’s gross domestic product (GDP), significant opportunities exist for halal trade.

The story of this development is intricately entwined with South Africa’s unique and painful history, as the fight against apartheid gained momentum in the second half of the last century.

Halal certification was introduced in the 1960s, under the supervision of the Ulama (religious leader of the Muslim community), but was limited to meat slaughterhouses and abattoirs. In the 1970s, oversight was extended to poultry, and in the 1980s to other consumables. In 1996, the South African National Halal Authority (SANHA) established itself as the pre-eminent halal certification body.

This is despite the fact that South Africa’s Muslim community is not large. For instance, Pretoria, one of the country’s three capital cities, is home to a population of around 50 million, of which 79 per cent are Christian, two per cent Muslim, 0.1 per cent Jewish, 1.2 per cent Hindu, 3.7 per cent other beliefs, and 14 per cent with no religious affiliation. The Muslim population is estimated to be 1.2 million officially, and over two million unofficially.

>>19692436

>>19692443

“[South] Africa Might Emerge As A Major Supplier Of Halal Food”

https://news.africa-business.com/post/africa-supplier-of-halal-food

With the Belt and Road Initiative poised to transform market access across Asia, potential partnerships with African companies are opening as they seek to target Asian consumers. In particular, many South African halal food producers have high hopes that Hong Kong could prove the ideal gateway for boosting their exports across the region.

By 2030, the global Muslim population is estimated to number some 2.2 billion, representing about a quarter of the world’s consumers. This substantial demographic shift will result in increasing demand for halal products. The global halal food industry is estimated to be worth US$2.3 trillion, and South Africa is among many countries hoping to capitalise on this rapidly expanding market.

Despite its relatively small Muslim population, South Africa is a world-leader in producing and – importantly – certifying halal products. The country’s exporters see Asia as one of the fastest-growing markets for halal goods; by 2030, it’s projected that Asia will be home to 80 per cent of the world’s Muslim population.

“South Africa has long had a significant number of domestic producers of halal food,” said Ebi Lockhat, a spokesman for the South African National Halaal Authority, the country’s leading halal certifying body. “Those manufacturers are now starting to become active internationally. This has seen many of them attend trade events across the Muslim world, while looking to establish a firm presence in the international markets.”

South Africa’s halal production system is subject to high certification standards, ensuring compliance with the requirements of Muslim consumers. Eating only properly-certified food is mandatory for practising Muslims, with such proof of compliance providing an assurance that all such foodstuffs have been produced according to Islamic law.

In line with this, plans are now in place to further enhance South Africa’s position within the sector. This includes the launch of a government-backed US$67 million halal food-processing industrial park. This new facility will ramp up South Africa’s halal food export capacity, with the aim of doubling its share of the global market. A feasibility study is underway in the Cape Town area to determine the best location for the proposed park.

When completed, the park will comprise a cluster of halal manufacturing and service firms. South Africa’s Western Cape provincial government also hopes to attract a globally recognised halal certifying body to operate out of the site.

Halal Food Industry In Africa

For the provincial government, growing the halal industry is now a key focus as it looks to boost growth and create new jobs in the region. “This industry is growing at an estimated annual rate of 20 per cent,” said Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities. “This is why we are now looking for significant growth in the size of the province’s halal industry.

“Certification is also hugely important. In addition to developing a guide to the current certification standards, we will work with the appropriate certification bodies in order to try and establish a single standard, one that is in line with global market demands.”

The new park is being planned in collaboration with the Malaysian government, which has itself identified a shortfall in the provision of halal food for the world’s growing Muslim population.

As a result, the Western Cape Fine Food Initiative, another partner in the proposed park, and the Malaysian Industry Government Group for High Technology signed a long-term cooperation agreement to foster partnerships between the two countries’ halal industries.

The Market For Halal Food

China is also looking to increase its share of the global halal food market. This move has been partly spurred by the country’s adoption of the far-reaching Belt and Road Initiative. Significantly, many of the countries along the proposed Belt and Road routes have substantial Muslim populations.

>>19692436

>>19692443

>>19692449

Is it then coincidence that…?

“‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Jihadist] terror funding” – Part 1

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa-isis-jihadist-terrorism-funding-money-laundering-organised-crime-latest/

13 Jun 2023 11:01 am

South Africa has never been touched by Islamist attacks. Its three-decade-old democracy is solid, and its financial system is respected.

Yet experts say the continent’s most industrialised nation is now a nerve centre for jihadist financing in Africa.

South Afica ‘now a hub’ for transfer of money to IS branches

“South Africa is open hunting ground,” Pretoria-based counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman told AFP.

Islamist financiers gather money in the country and transfer it into “the hands of terrorism,” she said, adding it was internationally recognised “that we are now a hub”.

It’s a stark indictment for a country that, apart from the odd alerts issued by the US embassy, hardly registers on the radar of extremist activities worldwide.

Yet Opperman’s assessment is widely shared by analysts across Africa, Europe and the United States (US).

Red flags were first raised last year when the US government levied sanctions on several South Africans it accused of belonging to an Islamic State (IS) cell.

The group facilitated the transfer of money to IS branches across Africa, according to Washington.

It “provided technical, financial, or material support to the terrorist group,” the US treasury said in November.

Complacency by SA authorities

Some analysts have suggested that jihadist financing flourished because South African authorities grew complacent at the lack of visible Islamist activity.

“I don’t think South Africa realised it. It was the Americans who said, ‘something not okay is going on in your country,'” Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter-Extremism Project think-tank, told AFP.

“The entire government is now put to task,” he said.

South Africa grey-listed

One of the clearest signs something was amiss came in March this year when the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global illicit cash flow watchdog that aims to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, placed South Africa on its “grey list” over gaps in monitoring and stemming illegal financial activities.

A cocktail of conditions, including a functional financial system, liberties, porous borders, corruption and criminality have made South Africa fertile ground for Islamists to raise funds, experts say.

A lot of the money comes from organised crime syndicates which raise funds through drugs and precious minerals trafficking, as well as kidnapping for ransom.

Extortion, with the use of fake Tinder profiles to lure victims, is also widespread.

>>19692458

“‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Jihadist] terror funding” – Part 2

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa-isis-jihadist-terrorism-funding-money-laundering-organised-crime-latest/

13 Jun 2023 11:01 am

‘Organised crime is rife’ in South Africa

Kidnapping cases doubled to 4,000 between July and September last year, compared to the previous quarter, police statistics show.

“Organised crime itself is rife in South Africa,” said Opperman.

To avoid detection, the money is then transferred to Islamist cells across the continent in small remittances that don’t raise eyebrows.

Some R6.3 billion was wired from South Africa to Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria and Bangladesh through mobile money transfer using nearly 57,000 unregistered phone SIM cards between 2020 and 2021, according to an investigation by a South African weekly newspaper, the Sunday Times.

The hawala system, an informal method of payment based on trust that is far more difficult to trace than bank transfers, is also used to siphon money away.

Some money sent abroad is genuinely aimed at supporting family, and it’s unclear just how much jihadists raise.

But experts believe they are awash with cash, likely making “more money than they need,” Schindler said.

IS internal documents seen by experts show that of the money raised on the continent, the IS in Somalia keeps 50% while 25% is split between cells in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the balance going to IS central.

‘Waiting for proof’ – Farhad Hoomer

One of the suspects listed by the United States as an IS cell leader is Durban-based Farhad Hoomer, 47.

He was sanctioned last year for “playing an increasingly central role in facilitating the transfer of funds from the top of the Isis hierarchy to branches across Africa”.

Hoomer denied being an IS cell leader, telling AFP by phone from Durban that he “was surprised” by the sanctioning.

“I’m waiting for the proof. It’s one year waiting for the proof,” he said.

Hoomer was arrested by South African police in 2018 for allegedly planning to deploy improvised incendiary devices near mosques and retail shops. Authorities brought dozens of charges against him, which were however later dropped.

Terrorists ‘exploit democratic nature’ of South Africa

Tore Hamming, a fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation, told AFP those involved in jihadist financing were “pretty well-known extremist figures from South Africa who have been active in the extremist milieu for a good number of years.”

The jihadists capitalise on “open financial structures”, he added.

Martin Ewi, a regional organised crime observatory coordinator with the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies, said a number of individuals were currently being investigated, with detectives “digging” up cases as far back as 2017.

“Terrorists have exploited the country’s democratic nature… to use it as a hub for mobilising financing” and other resources, Ewi told AFP.

In a recent note the US-based intelligence and security think-tank Soufan Center concluded that South Africa has “emerged as a financial hub for Isis in Africa”, using another name for IS.

>>19692458

>>19692463

“‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Jihadist] terror funding” – Part 3

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa-isis-jihadist-terrorism-funding-money-laundering-organised-crime-latest/

13 Jun 2023 11:01 am

‘Increase of funds’

Cells based in the country are backing the “operational work” of IS “more widely”, said the Soufan Center.

These revelations come as the continent is increasingly becoming a favoured sanctuary for the jihadist group after the 2019 loss of the “caliphate” following US-led international counter-offensives in both Iraq and Syria.

IS has seen its most striking rise recently across Africa, with a presence in the Sahel region, through to Lake Chad, all the way to the DR Congo, Mozambique and Somalia.

“In the last five years, Africa itself has become more and more important for ISIS,” said Schindler.

But South Africa’s role in international terrorism dates back more than a decade, according to Ryan Cummings, analyst with the Cape Town based Signal Risk security advisory firm.

It has been a “perceived financial hub for extremist groups for quite a while,” he said citing intelligence evidence that suggested Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab used South Africa to move funds after the 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Kenya’s capital.

There are reports of “an increase of funds… flowing from South Africa” to Mozambique, and the IS affiliate in the DR Congo, said Cummings.

Laws to bolster fight

South Africa is now boosting efforts to get off the FATF grey list.

Several pieces of legislation have been rushed through parliament in recent months, notably one on anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing.

On 19 May, Security Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told lawmakers that her office, along with other agencies, will “continue to develop and implement… measures to ensure that South Africa’s territory is not used to plan, facilitate or carry out acts of terrorism and acquire, move, store and use funds in support of terrorism”. [More lip service]

General Research #24226 >>19730150

Eight UN peacekeepers detained over sex abuse claims in DR Congo

The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) announced on Wednesday that it had taken "strong measures" against peacekeepers suspected of "serious misconduct".

According to internal documents of the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission, seen by AFP, the eight peacekeepers deployed in Beni, eastern DR Congo, were arrested on October 1 and an officer suspended a week later in connection with alleged sexual exploitation and violence.

All belong to the South African contingent of the UN force, and may be involved in what internal reports describe as a "systematic widespread violation" of UN rules.

"The Office of Internal Oversight Services has been apprised and precautionary measures have already been taken in accordance with the UN Secretary-General's zero-tolerance policy," MONUSCO said in a statement late Wednesday.

The measures taken "include the suspension, detention and confinement of the peacekeepers concerned", the UN force said, adding that it "strongly condemns such behaviour, which is unworthy of UN personnel".

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20231012-eight-un-peacekeepers-detained-over-sex-abuse-claims-in-dr-congo

>>19773073

非常にホモな感じ

“South Africa and the Cuban communist project”

https://youtu.be/QAtrcf7d7zI

Oct 20, 2023 #communism #cuba #southafrica

A recent report found that South Africa is not only spending extravagant amounts of money on Cuba, but also that these expenditures are irrational as it carries not benefit to South Africa. In this video I discuss some of what was found in the most recent report and I explain why this makes perfectly sense if you consider South Africa's commitment to the Cuban communism strategy.

>>19782011

>Patrisse Cullors, Co-Founder Black Lives Matters: “Palestine is our generation in South Africa”

>>19782005

>“South Africa and the Cuban communist project”

>>19692458

>“‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Jihadist] terror funding”

“ANCYL President Collen Malatji has told President Cyril Ramaphosa to close the Israeli embassy”

https://youtu.be/b8Dt0y638AY

0:29 – “We are in a revolution.”

0:36 – “All we do is to protest and walk around. The days of protesting and walking around went to an end. We’re saying that we must stand up and act like the people of Palestine.”

0:54 – “The ANC is the ruling party here… Every time you vote for the DA and the PA, you must know you are voting for Israel Apartheid.”

“WATCH: ANC calls for Israeli embassy to be shut”

https://www.jacarandafm.com/news/news/watch-anc-calls-israeli-embassy-be-shut/

Updated Oct. 20, 2023, 7:01 p.m.

Excerpts below

The ANC and its alliance partners have called for the Israeli embassy in Pretoria to be closed amid the country's ongoing war with Hamas

The ANC, SACP, Cosatu, joined various civil society and faith-based organisations in a march to the embassy on Friday.

The South African government has expressed solidarity and support for the people of Palestine while also condemning the killing of civilians on both sides.

The governing party has over the years held pickets outside the Israeli embassy in support of Palestine.

In May 2021, the then deputy secretary-general, Jessie Duarte who was leading the picket called on the Israeli government to “take their knees off the Palestinians” or close their embassy in the country.

ANCYL President Collen Malatji has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to close the Israeli embassy in Pretoria.

"We are here today, and we are told that the Ambassador of Israel is not here. Now we are calling upon the president of the ANC and that of the country Mr Cyril Ramaphosa to immediate expel them.

"This embassy here must be removed with immediate effect.

"If the president doesn't remove them by Friday, we are coming back here on Friday to occupy these buildings.

"We are calling upon all companies of Israel to immediately leave South Africa, starting with that Woolworths that you love so much," said Malatji.

>>19782021

>The ANC, SACP, Cosatu, joined various civil society and faith-based organisations in a march to the embassy on Friday.

>The South African government has expressed solidarity and support for the people of Palestine while also condemning the killing of civilians on both sides.

Yet South Africa remains neutral concerning the Ukraine/Russia conflict…

“Africa Day | President Ramaphsoa defends SA's position on Russia's war with Ukraine” - https://youtu.be/I8pnd2gwM4A

“Ramaphosa Rules Out South Africa Abandoning Neutral Stance on War in Ukraine”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-25/ramaphosa-rules-out-south-africa-abandoning-non-aligned-stance#xj4y7vzkg

May 25, 2023

South Africa’s president insisted his country won’t be drawn into taking sides in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, even as it faces pressure from some of its main trading partners to change course.

“Some countries, including our own, are being threatened with penalties for pursuing an independent foreign policy and for adopting a position of non-alignment,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech on the outskirts of Johannesburg on Thursday. “We will maintain our position on the peaceful resolution of conflict wherever those conflicts occur.”

>>19822365

There's been a lot of things in the South Africa breads but don't recall anything NANTSA

Do you have info on them that does not come from George Webb?

Chronic congestion building along the east coast of South Africa

Sam Chambers November 21, 2023

Massive ship queues are forming off the east coast of South Africa where dire handling capabilities at the ports of Durban and Richards Bay are causing consternation.

At Durban, which ranks among the poorest boxports productivity-wise in the world, there are 63 ships backed up with Transnet, the country’s port operator, warning it could take up to February to clear the backlog.

Liners have instituted congestion surcharges as well as announcing some dropped calls to South Africa in the wake of the growing queues which sees more than 70,000 containers stranded off Durban.

“The problem of port congestion is a complex one and it is something that was due to happen at some point, as a result of many years of underinvestment in equipment and its maintenance,” said Transnet chairperson, Andile Sangqu. “We need to caution that this is going to take some time as the lead times for some of the equipment is anything from 12 to 18 months.”

Transnet group CEO Michelle Phillips described the ongoing crisis at the port of Durban as “Rome is burning”. She said a damaging combination of a lack of maintenance and inadequate investment in infrastructure meant the old equipment simply could not withstand the weather.

At Richards Bay, meanwhile, a key dry bulk export terminal, Transnet is holding an emergency meeting today with port officials and the industry to work on a plan to address the port’s many problems.

The country’s Road Freight Association said this week the truck congestion at Richards Bay was a consequence of the country’s failed rail system, which should be used to transport goods.

This comes after Transnet suspended the receiving of goods at the port from trucks due to heavy traffic on the roads.

https://splash247.com/chronic-congestion-building-along-the-east-coast-of-south-africa/

General Research #24583 >>20027306

Harvard’s Shocking Admission: Affirmative Action and Critical Race Theory Killed South Africa

November 29, 2023

On those bleak corners of the Internet that fret about economic growth, social cohesion, and other boring stuff, there’s a common question: What the heck happened in 1971?

On one chart after another for the United States, there is a pattern of steady growth and improvement in life that suddenly goes haywire right around 1971. Wage growth stagnated for all but the richest Americans. Inequality explodes. Housing prices began a long upward march that has yet to level out. Fertility rates crashed while illegitimacy surged. And so on, and so on.

Many other nations have data that tells a similar story, around a similar time. But one nation has a very different year that marks a shift in fortunes. In South Africa, the question could well be, “What the heck happened in 1994?”

In that country, life expectancies grew until the early 1990s, when they suddenly went into reverse, driven heavily by an explosion of AIDS.

Primary school enrollment in the country peaked in the early 1990s but then started to go down, reaching only the low 80s by the mid-2010s.

From 1997 onward, South Africa has never come close to matching the (already high) unemployment rate it had in 1994.

Man, what the heck happened to South Africa in the early 90s?

Not too long ago, South Africa was a darling of the global neoliberal order. The nation hosted a soccer World Cup (where its fans ruined things with the abominable vuvuzela). It had that schmaltzy feel-good movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman. The BRIC countries of Brazil, Russia, India, and China gave South Africa a sympathy invite to join the newly-renamed BRICS cabal. South Africa was the nation that would prove a post-colonial, post-European majoritarian multiracial democracy would astonish the world.

A new report from Harvard sums it up thusly:

The early 1990s marked a victory for generations of freedom fighters, and the future of an inclusive South Africa was set in motion. There was no telling what could be accomplished with the full force of South Africa’s human capabilities, creativity, and resilience in combination with its industrialized economy and established comparative advantages in global trade. […] The Rainbow Nation seemed poised to leverage its substantial economic assets at full strength. In 1995, South Africa supported the 47th most complex economy in the world — on par with China (ranked 46th) and far ahead of any other African nation (Tunisia was next at 66th). There was good reason to believe that the economy would grow rapidly, and opportunity would expand to many more South Africans.

Uh, yeah, about that.

You all know how well things went. But what’s incredible is that now even Harvard is giving up on the country.

Courtesy of the university’s “Growth Lab” at the Center for International Development, we have a lengthy 178-page paper titled “Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa.” But despite the title, the paper is actually about how the drive for “inclusion” has caused growth to disappear from the unfortunate country:

South Africa’s economy is stagnating and, in fact, losing capabilities, export diversity, and competitiveness. While the racial composition of wealth at the top has changed, wealth concentration in South Africa has not and remains very high. Moreover, the broader structures of the economy have not allowed for the inclusion of the labor and talents of South Africans — black, white, and otherwise.

The report is a gruesome, piece-by-piece dissection of South Africa’s failed economy, dressed up in just enough euphemisms to be publishable while allowing the more alert and informed to see the truth.

More:

https://revolver.news/2023/11/harvard-report-reluctantly-tells-the-truth-about-what-killed-south-africa/

Anons actually in Africa heard of this?

Canada #50 >>20053307

Here We Go: CDC Issues Health Alert Over Deadly, Fast-Spreading Strain of Monkeypox

by Jim Hᴏft Dec. 9, 2023

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert on Thursday to inform clinicians and health departments nationwide about the emergence and spread of a deadly subtype of the monkeypox virus, known as Clade I, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

This health advisory, part of the CDC’s Health Alert Network (HAN), underscores the necessity for heightened vigilance, particularly among travelers returning from the DRC. Clade I, distinguished as a distinct genetic grouping of the monkeypox virus, has not been reported in the United States to date, according to the health alert.

There is currently an outbreak of deadly monkeypox in 22 out of 26 provinces, including urban areas in Congo.

However, the possibility of its appearance in travelers necessitates increased awareness and diagnostic readiness among healthcare professionals.

Symptoms of Clade I mpox resemble those of other forms of the virus, including a widespread rash and lymphadenopathy. Clinicians are urged to promptly notify state health departments upon encountering patients exhibiting these symptoms, particularly those with recent travel history to the DRC.

The CDC also emphasizes the importance of lesion specimen submissions for clade-specific testing in such cases.

Though vaccine coverage in the U.S. is low, the CDC reasserts that vaccines such as JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 are expected to be effective against both Clade I and Clade II MPXV infections. Medical experts are urged to recommend vaccination for all eligible patients.

In a separate travel advisory, the CDC has strongly advised travelers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to exercise heightened caution. Key recommendations include avoiding contact with individuals who are ill, maintaining a distance from wild animals, and refraining from consuming or handling game meat.

New York Post reported:

A deadly, fast-spreading strain of the monkeypox virus has the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on high alert.''

The variant of the virus, which causes the severe disease known as mpox, kills up to 10% of the people who are infected, according to the World Health Organization.''

“The virus variant is known to be more virulent. If it adapts better to human-to-human transmission, that presents a risk,” Rosamund Lewis of the WHO’s mpox surveillance team told Reuters.

Last year, a less-deadly variant of the monkeypox virus known as Clade II spread worldwide (a clade is a genetic subtype of virus). More than 31,000 Americans were diagnosed with mpox during last year’s outbreak, and 55 died.

But now, the rapid spread of the deadlier Clade I subtype of the virus has been reported by health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease has spread to 22 of the DRC’s 26 provinces.

In the same week, CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen issued a new alert for the COVID “Pirola” variant and recommended masking up for those who are feeling symptoms.

“Respiratory viruses commonly cause illness such as flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), especially in the fall and winter. There are actions you can take to protect yourself and others. Learn about how to reduce your risk of getting sick from these viruses, and if they are spreading in your community,” the CDC stated.

We can really tell that it is now election season.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/12/here-we-go-cdc-issues-health-alert-deadly/

General Research #24627 >>20065132

West sees BRICS expansion as direct threat analyst

The growing alliance is forcing neocolonial powers to rethink their ?parasitic? relationship with the Global South, Jackie Shandu told RT

The West views the expansion of BRICS as an existential threat because a larger alliance jeopardizes the West's "parasitic" relationship with the Global South, independent analyst Jackie Shandu told RT on Sunday.

Cooperation between BRICS and the EU, as proposed earlier this week by South Africa's chief representative to the EU, Tokozile Xasa, means "the West will no longer be able to enjoy all the wealth and riches that it does directly at the expense of the rest of the world," Shandu said.

Because exploiting weaker countries has "kept the West in this position of being highly industrialized, high-income, and very wealthy economies and nations," the expansion of BRICS, which has allowed the developing world, particularly Africa, to hold its own on the global stage, "poses a direct threat to that very parasitic relationship," he explained.

BRICS envisions itself as a competitor to "the current western-dominated global economic order and the military industrial complex," which provides that order with a "monopoly on being able to mete out brute force," Shandu continued.

"A more organized BRICS takes more than half the world away from the undemocratic dictatorship of institutions such as the IMF [and] the World Bank" and makes the UN Security Council more democratic, he said.

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274060819/west-sees-brics-expansion-as-direct-threat-analyst

Canada #50 >>20109732

Oil Tumbles After Angola Announces It Is Leaving OPEC

BY TYLER DURDEN THURSDAY, DEC 21,2023

Confirming a move which had been widely expected after the internal acrimony at the last OPEC+ meeting, moments ago Angola - also known as China's gas station in Africa - announced it was leaving OPEC, the country's news agency ANGOP reported on Thursday, quoting the African producer’s oil minister Diamantino de Azevedo.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Council of Ministers, led by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, the news agency noted. Jornal de Angola also reported the news.

As OilPrice notes, Angola and another African OPEC member, Nigeria, had a spat with the other cartel members before the latest meeting regarding their oil production quotas.

At a meeting in June, Angola and Nigeria were given lower crude oil production quotas as part of the OPEC+ agreement, after the two producers had underperformed and failed to pump to their quotas for years, due to a lack of investment in new fields and maturing older oilfields.

The most recent spat within OPEC about the African countries’ quotas was one of the reasons for the cartel to postpone its latest meeting within a few days.

African OPEC members Angola, Congo, and Nigeria were forced to commit to lower output in 2024, and the originally scheduled November 26 meeting could potentially have pressured them to make further production cuts, as the Saudis expressed discontent over compliance with the deal as it shoulders the bulk of the burden.

Before the meeting at the end of November, Angola said it was not considering quitting the cartel.

“There’s no thinking in that direction,” Angola OPEC governor Estevao Pedro told Bloomberg at the time, assuring markets that Africa’s second-largest producer had no intentions of rocking the boat to that extent.

However, it seems now that Angola doesn’t see an OPEC membership as beneficial anymore after the recent spats over its production quota.

Angola, which joined OPEC in 2007, holds untapped oil and gas resources estimated at 9 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and 11 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves.

The news sent oil, which had caught a bid in recent days on fears about a protracted Red Sea blockage, sharply lower and back to Tuesday levels.

https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/oil-tumbles-after-angola-announces-it-leaving-opec

Red Sea Ripples: Prolonged Voyages, Soaring Fuel Costs, and Escalating Carbon Emissions Concerns

John Konrad December 22, 2023

by John Konrad (gCaptain) South African bunker traders are facing a unique challenge as an influx of ships, diverted from the Red Sea due to threats from Houthi rebels, are overwhelming African ports. This situation has extended voyages between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe by up to two weeks, making stops at South African ports like Durban and Cape Town essential for ships to top up their fuel. This situation has raised significant concerns regarding the escalating costs and availability of fuel, as well as growing apprehensions about carbon emissions.

Carbon Intensity

The diversion of maritime traffic from the Red Sea, driven by security concerns, leads to a significant, albeit unintended, environmental consequence: heightened carbon emissions. This could be challenging for ship owners because, starting January 1st 2024, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will require all ships to meet new the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements. This system is designed to evaluate ships’ carbon emissions and apply corresponding financial rewards or penalties. To adhere to these standards, numerous vessels are planning to operate at reduced speeds. However, the longer journey necessitated by rerouting around Africa – approximately 12,000 nautical miles – might compel ships to increase their speed to compensate for delays, potentially contravening emission targets.

Additionally, a 2020 mandate from the IMO stipulates the use of very-low-sulfur fuels (VLSFO) or the installation of emission scrubbers on ships. This regulation restricts fuel choices for vessels that haven’t invested in scrubbers and limiting the options for ships trying to refuel in overwhelmed ports.

As of now, there’s no official statement from the IMO or other regulatory authorities regarding any potential suspension or modification of these carbon-related mandates in light of the new routing challenges.

Fuel Stocks

While there is confidence in major South African ports like Durban having sufficient fuel stocks, including high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO), very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), and marine gas oil (MGO), the costs are a major concern. Fuel prices in South Africa are significantly higher than major bunkering ports like Singapore and Rotterdam due to the heavy reliance on imported fuels and limited local production. For instance, Durban’s pricing for HSFO (High Sulphur Fuel Oil) is approximately a thousand dollars higher per ton compared to Singapore, whereas the price difference for VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) between the two cities is under one hundred dollars.

An additional challenge comes from the shutdown of offshore bunkering operations in Algoa Bay, near Port Elizabeth, after revenue service officials arrested tankers servicing the facility on tax evasion charges, causing a shift in demand to other ports. The situation is further complicated by South Africa’s sole oil refinery near Cape Town, which is inadequate to meet the increasing demand. The vast majority of the marine fuels used in the country’s ports are imported, leading to higher costs. These costs could skyrocket as tanker market rates rise due to the Red Sea disruption.

A report by Linsen Nambi Bunkering Services sheds light on the decline in the bunker market over the past 15 years in South Africa, with a 61% decrease in bunker supplies. This is attributed to insufficient investment in both local refineries and terminal infrastructure, impacting the ability to produce and deliver marine fuel efficiently. South Africa is also suffering from a slow decline in the reliability of the electrical grid and infrastructure serving ports.

Despite these challenges, bunker fuel manager Gavin Naidoo from Linsen Nambi told Tradewinds that the existing infrastructure can cope with the surge in demand, with Durban operating at only 20% of its capacity. However, he noted that the response to this demand surge also hinges on whether oil companies can provide adequate fuel supplies.

The congestion from an excess of ships seeking to refuel could further escalate operational expenses, as South African ports struggle to cope with the overwhelming demand.

https://gcaptain.com/red-sea-ripples-prolonged-voyages-soaring-fuel-costs-and-escalating-carbon-emissions-concerns/

Canada #51 >>20175908

Saudi Arabia officially joins BRICS -- state media

The group has welcomed five new members, with further expansion expected later this year

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday officially announced that it has joined the BRICS+ group, with the news carried by state TV.

Riyadh has been in negotiations on its accession to the group for months, with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stating last August that all the details on the move would be evaluated before an “appropriate decision” was taken.

At the time, the foreign minister said the BRICS group was “a beneficial and important channel” for bolstering economic cooperation between member countries.

The group, which until January 1 included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, welcomed five new members on New Year’s Day. Apart from Saudi Arabia, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE. Another prospective member, Argentina, made an abrupt U-turn on its accession plans after the presidential election in the country was won by Javier Milei late last year.

The group is expected to grow even larger later this year, with Venezuela seeking to become a permanent member at the next summit in Russia in October 2024.

Moscow has assumed the one-year rotating presidency of the group, with President Vladimir Putin pledging to “facilitate the harmonious integration” of new partners. Some 30 other countries have already expressed their intent in participating in the group’s activities in one form or another, Putin noted.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro spoke on the matter with the Spanish-language edition of Le Monde Diplomatique in an interview published on Monday, arguing that the group represents “humanity’s future,” given its vast economic power.

According to the IMF figures, the expanded BRICS now surpasses the G7, an informal group of the leading Western countries, in terms of GDP at purchasing power parity, accounting for 36% of the world total.

Maduro also slammed the move by his Argentine counterpart, arguing that the decision to scrap the BRICS+ plans was “one of the clumsiest and stupidest things Milei has done” to his country to date. With his decision, Milei has effectively taken the country back to the 19th century, seeking to turn it into a “vassal of the imperial unipolar world,” Maduro suggested.

https://www.rt.com/news/590048-saudi-arabia-joins-brics/

Canada #51 >>20226282

Israel Calls South Africa The "Legal Arm Of Hamas" After 1st Day Of Hague Genocide Case

by Tyler Durden Thursday, Jan 11, 2024

After the opening day of hearings at The Hague for South African's genocide case against Israel, the Israeli Foreign Ministry blasted the South African government, saying it is "functioning as the legal arm of Hamas."

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lior Haia further called the proceedings "one of the greatest displays of hypocrisy in history" soon after the first day wrapped up.

He also said that South Africa "seeks to allow Hamas to return to commit the war crimes, crimes against humanity and sexual crimes they committed repeatedly on October 7," in a statement posted to X, additionally calling South Africa's lawyers "the representatives of Hamas at the court."

For the first day of its International Court of Justice case (ICJ, or also commonly called the World Court), South Africa urged an "end to the targeting of healthcare workers, facilities, ambulances and civilians, including women and children" and "a permanent ceasefire and a diplomatic solution for lasting peace."

Despite it having no power to actually make this happen, other than symbolic censure, Pretoria is demanding that the court impose an order for Israel to immediately halt fighting and abide by a ceasefire.

According to a summary of South Africa's filing at the court:

The case lists the killing of Palestinians in Gaza in large numbers, especially children; the destruction of their homes; their expulsion and displacement; and a blockade on food, water and medical assistance to the strip as acts of genocide. It also includes the destruction of essential health services crucial for the survival of pregnant women and babies as further crimes of genocide against Israel.

Israel denies the allegations of genocide and says it launched the bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza to destroy Hamas, which killed 1,139 people in attacks on October 7 in southern Israel.

To be sure, there is a minority view in South Africa— mostly among the small white community — that is more sympathetic to Israel. "The comparison to South African apartheid is fully embraced by some but rejected by others," said 28-year-old Mark du Plessis, a Cape Town-based multimedia producer who requested that his real name be withheld in South Africa’s charged atmosphere over the war.

Starting last month, Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a blistering rebuke in response, rejecting the filing "with disgust" and called Pretoria's accusations a "blood libel" - essentially saying the South African government's charge is being fueled by antisemitism.

"The first genocide in history where its victims are broadcasting their own destruction in real time in the desperate, so far vain hope that the world might do something."

Blinne Ni Ghralaigh at the ICJ in the Hague pic.twitter.com/WGU1e8M23y

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) January 11, 2024

Israel has gone on a full-court diplomatic press pushing back against the case. There's not much that the court can enforce in terms of action regardless, but a ruling against Israel would be a huge reputational black eye. International boycotts of Israeli goods could also grow as a result.

"We call on the International Court of Justice and the international community to reject the baseless claims of South Africa out of hand," a prior formal government response stated. Major US mainstream networks largely ignored Thursday's World Court proceedings, while Al Jazeera streamed most of it live.

Watch the day one oral arguments...

THE HAGUE: South Africa v. Israel - DAY 1 - S.A. Oral Arguments - International Court of Justice https://t.co/MRbMg5k9Xi

— Consortium News (@Consortiumnews) January 11, 2024

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-calls-south-africa-legal-arm-hamas-after-1st-day-hague-genocide-case

South Africa seeks emergency external help to remedy dire situation across the nation’s ports

Sam Chambers January 10, 2024

The dire situation at South Africa’s ports, which have some of lowest productivity levels in the world, has seen the authorities seek external help.

Transnet National Ports Authority, which oversees the country’s top ports, is seeking terminal operators to come in for a period of three years to close what it describes as “port operational gaps” at its eight commercial seaports where termini operators contracts have been suspended or terminated.

The ports include Durban, Cape Town, Richards Bay, Ngqura, Saldanha Bay, Port Elizabeth, East London and Mossel Bay.

“This approach is part of the ports authority strategy of fulfilling its port landlord role,” said Anthony Ngcezula, Transnet’s general manager for commercial services. “This will lead to decreased cargo losses and ensure that we provide our customers with a cost-effective and sustainable freight logistics solution.”

Splash has reported repeatedly on the queues of ships that have built up at ports across South Africa, with the country’s terminals repeatedly polling among the lowest productivity-wise in surveys carried out by the World Bank.

https://splash247.com/south-africa-seeks-emergency-external-help-to-remedy-dire-situation-across-the-nations-ports/

“SPECIAL EPISODE: Adv. Mark Oppenheimer on SA’s Genocide Case at the ICJ”

https://youtu.be/bShuZp9v3us

Jan 12, 2024

3:53 – “South Africa has very little regard for international law. It has threatened to withdraw from the Rome Statute on a number of occasions which is the statute that would bind it to the decisions of the ICC. By the way, the Rome Statute is the statute that declares Apartheid a crime against humanity so there’s a real interesting irony that happens in this.”

11:18 – “One of the interesting ironies of the presentation so as I said there’s this gigantic team. One of the members of that team is Tembeka Ngcukaitobi whose role was to argue around genocidal intent and he sites a song sung by Israeli soldiers where they say we must wipe out the seed of Amalek. Now some of you might recall that Tembeka was involved in the “Kill the Boer” case where he said the song “Kill the Boer” is merely metaphorical and we shouldn’t take it seriously despite the fact that you have a mother and a daughter who were raped with broken bottles and killed and “kille the Boer” written in blood on their walls.”

>>20236804

>Jews were strong supporters of the ANC and helped them during their ‘struggle’ even though they murdered civilians… Harry Oppenheimer

Don’t forget

Harry Oppenheimer; did business with the Soviet Union (who trained and supported the ANC) during the Cold War and used Hollywood and the Royal Family to promote diamonds

https://youtu.be/DOXp1iUvYvE

Harry Oppenheimer did business with the Soviet Union during the ‘Cold War’. In turn, the Soviet Union supported and trained the ANC. Hollywood and the Royal Family helped him to promote diamonds which is in abundance across the world. Incidentally, one of ANC headquarters was in London when they were in exile [https://antiapartheidlegacy.org.uk/heritage-arts-culture/history/the-anti-apartheid-centre-of-memory-and-learning/28-penton-street/] but did not have one in the Soviet Union.

>>20236804

I want to highlight the quote in your attached image especially when transgenderism is being pushed around the world.

Pieter-Dirk Uys also known as Evita Bezuidenhout

“Part Afrikaner and part Jewish, Uys used his talents as a satirist for social activism, consistently lampooning the Apartheid government and using drag to create the well-know character Evita Bezuidenhout; an Afrikaner socialite. When the ANC came to power, Uys televised intimate interviews with prominent members such as Nelson Mandela and Joe Slovo.”

[“Evita Bezuidenhout in PE for her "State of the Nation Address"” (Feb 18, 2017) - https://youtu.be/xh4mvEQP-NI]

>>20236804

>Then there is Bishop Trevor Huddleston who has been accused of child molestation.

>>20236810

>PW Botha rightfully stated in 1998 that Nelson Mandela “is a captive of the cabal and he is a captive of interests from which he cannot escape. He is a decoy dove”.

>>20242629

Hollywood and artists were used to push the political agenda. Now South Africa has an ever increasing murder rate; 2019/2020 had 58 murders/day and 2022/2023 had 75 murders/day. We supposedly don’t have a war and now the ANC led government is taking Israel to court for genocide? The ANC was regarded as a terrorist organisation which killed civilians in the most brutal way. It is interesting that Israel is not highlighting the ANC’s past.

Tony Hollingsworth got Bishop Trevor Huddleston’s ‘blessing’ to hold a concert in 1988 for the release of Nelson Mandela to influence the world – Part 1

https://youtu.be/xuyeqMD01Cc [Embedded] - “We’re not allowed to do politics. Is it politics? I said no, no… Is it for the ANC? I said no… Is it for the Anti-Apartheid? I said no… Will it call for sanctions? I said no… Will it call for the release of all political prisoners? I said no… The global broadcast event which was live, of course… musicians can say what they wish to say. So of course it was for sanctions, of course it was for the release of all political prisoners, of course it was all of that as well.”

https://tonyhollingsworth.com/?q=content/nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute

The Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute global broadcast event at Wembley Stadium on June 11 1988 was probably the most politically influential of any concert held in the UK. It was also one of the biggest and most spectacular pop-musical events of all time.

The estimated audience for the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute of 600 million in 67 countries was arguably an underestimate in that several broadcasters in Africa were given a free licence. Not surprisingly, the apartheid government refused to allow the event to be broadcast in South Africa. However, soon after, younger political detainees with Mandela smuggled in a video of the event in the guise of an educational video. During the event itself, Mandela’s wife Winnie heard snatches of the music in the background when Oliver Tambo, head of the African National Congress and a VIP at Wembley, phoned to tell her how well the global broadcast event was going.

The event had a strong effect across the world, first among ordinary people, then among politicians, increasing pressure on the South African government to release Mandela. It became increasingly likely that he would be released, albeit 20 months after the Birthday Tribute and 27 years after he was imprisoned. Shortly before the release, Mandela's lawyer asked Hollingsworth and Terry to meet him to plan another broadcast event at which Mandela himself would speak and call for the end of apartheid.

>>20242709

Tony Hollingsworth got Bishop Trevor Huddleston’s ‘blessing’ to hold a concert in 1988 for the release of Nelson Mandela to influence the world – Part 2

https://youtu.be/3S6aJEfvs-Q [Embedded]

https://tonyhollingsworth.com/?q=content/nelson-mandela-70th-birthday-tribute

Performers and speakers (by order of appearance)

Farafina Drummers

Harry Belafonte- Opening address and introduction for Sting

Sting Set them Free, They Dance Alone, Every Breath You Take, Message in a Bottle

Lenny Henry Introduction for George Michael

George Michael Village Ghettoland, If You Were My Woman, Sexual Healing

Sir Richard Attenborough (Speech)

Whoopi Goldberg and Richard Gere (Speech)

Richard Gere Introduction for The Eurythmics

Eurythmics– I Need a Man, There Must Be an Angel, Here Comes the Rain Again, You Have Placed a Chill in my Heart, When Tomorrow Comes, Sweet Dreams, Brand New Day

Graham Chapman (Speech)

Arnhemland Dancers

Whoopi Goldberg (Speech)

Amabuto

Lenny Henry Michael Jackson parody

Lenny Henry Introduction for Al Green

Al Green Let's Stay Together

Joe Cocker Unchain my Heart

Jonathan Butler True Love Never Fails

Freddie Jackson Jam Tonight

Ashford & Simpson Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Natalie Cole Pink Cadillac

Al Green, Joe Cocker, Jonathan Butler, Freddie Jackson, Ashford & Simpson, Natalie Cole He’s Got the Whole World in his Hand, Higher and Higher

Lenny Henry Introduction for Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie

Fry & Laurie (Stand-up comedy)

Tracy Chapman (first appearance) Why?, Behind the Wall, Talking 'Bout a Revolution

Daryl Hannah Introduction for Wet Wet Wet

Wet Wet Wet Wishing I was lucky

Tony Hadley A Harvest for the World

Joan Armatrading Love and Affection

Midge Ure, Phil Collins Peace and a Restless World

Paul Carrack How Long

Fish Kayleigh

Paul Young Don't Dream It’s Over

Curt Smith Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Bryan Adams Somebody

Bee Gee You Win Again, I've Gotta Get a Message to You

Ali McGraw, Philip Michael Thomas Introduction for Jonas Gwangwa

Jonas Gwangwa

Lenny Henry Introduction for Salif Keita

Salif Keita

Youssou N’Dour Pitche Mi

Jackson Browne, Youssou N’Dour When the Stone Begins to Turn

Sly & Robbie, Aswad Set Them Free

Mahlathini, Mahotella Queens

Gregory Hines Introduction for UB40 and Chrissie Hynde

UB40 Rat In Mi Kitchen, Red Red Wine

UB40, Chrissie Hynde I Got You Babe, Breakfast in Bed, Sing our Own Song

Whoopi Goldberg One Woman Show

Tracy Chapman(second appearance) Fast Car, Across the Lines

Billy Connolly (Speech)

Hugh Masakela, Miriam Makeba SowetoBlues

Miriam Makeba Pata Pata

Courtney Pine, IDJ Dancers

Emily Lloyd, Denzel Washington Introduction for Simple Minds

Simple Minds Waterfront, Summertime Blues, Mandela Day, Sanctify Yourself, East at Easter, Alive and Kicking

Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds Biko

Steven van Zandt, Simple Minds, David Sanborn Sun City

Jerry Dammers, Simple Minds Free Nelson Mandela

Harry Enfield (Stand-up comedy)

Amampondo

Corbin Bernsen, Jennifer Beals Introduction for Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston Didn't We Almost Have It All, Love Will Save the Day, So Emotional, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, How will I know, He/I Believe (duet with her mother Cissy Houston), I Wanna Dance with Somebody, The Greatest Love of all

Meat Loaf Introduction for Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-N-Pepa Push it

Derek B Free Mandela

Stevie Wonder I Just Called to Say I Love You, (Speech), Dark 'n 'Lovely

Fat Boys, Chubby Checker The Twist

Harry Enfield (Stand-up comedy)

Billy Connolly (Stand-up comedy)

Billy Connolly Introduction for Dire Straits and Eric Clapton

Dire Straitswith Eric Clapton Walk of Life, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet, Money for Nothing, Brothers in Arms, Wonderful Tonight, Solid Rock

Jessye Norman Amazing Grace (concert finale)

There were also appearances by Grupo Experimental de Dansa, H. B. Barnum, Mick Karn, Mark Kelly, Ray Lema, Johnny Marr, Steve Norman.

>>20236804

>What is the play here? Taking into account; Israel vs South Africa, ANC and Jewish ties, pedophile connections

>>20242709

>The ANC was regarded as a terrorist organisation which killed civilians in the most brutal way. It is interesting that Israel is not highlighting the ANC’s past.

“ANC sponsored violence in South Africa”

https://youtu.be/rJkTkUXbn0c

Nov 21, 2023

The New York Times recently published an article in which it was suggested that the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa explicitly rejected the use of violence in its armed struggle for power. In this video I respond to the media's continued distortion of the facts regarding South Africa.

Links referenced in the video:

The NY Times article: www.nytimes.com/2023/10/14/opinion/palestinian-ethical-resistance-answers-grief-and-rage.html

Munk debate: https://youtu.be/nvaf7XOOFHc

Piers Morgan / Lowkey interview: https://youtu.be/KEUElq-T5TI

New York Times correction 1: https://afriforum.co.za/en/south-african-farmers-indeed-serious-crisis-ernst-roets/

New York Times correction 2: https://afriforum.co.za/en/afriforum-responds-new-york-times-article-containing-south-african-land-debate-inaccuracies/

New York Times correction 3: https://www.politicsweb.co.za/opinion/tucker-carlson-a-reply-to-the-new-york-times

Books listed (All found on Amazon and links provided in the video as I am unable to post them here):

People's War

Inside Quatro

ANC A View from Moscow

The Liberal Slideaway

Anatomy of a Miracle

The Bang Bang Club

Tainted Heroes trailer: https://youtu.be/34S_f00sLxw

Watch Tainted Heroes at: https://afriforumtv.co.za/

I also want to include;

ANC VIPs of Violence Full [1980s documentary]: https://youtu.be/BniyOkX09G8

>>20242786

Those artists performed these songs at the 1988 concert.. View the 10 hour video of the concert which was broadcast throughout the world to aid a terrorist organisation.

>>20231254

>Rome Statute

>>20236810

>[Nelson Mandela] is a decoy dove

>>20242815

>ANC sponsored violence in South Africa

It is curious that the Chicago Tribune posts an article written by Ivor Ichikowitz, an arms dealer [https://www.intelligenceonline.com/insiders/africa_central-asia_middle-east/2016/09/07/ivor-ichikowitz-the-worldwide-connections-of-the-south-african-arms-magnate/108179801-beg; https://youtu.be/GvFsTNMcAZ4] and then I discovered that they have an office in South Africa, https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/foreign-media/chicago-tribune.

The irony, weapons are used in genocide.

“Ivor Ichikowitz: South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is rank hypocrisy”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/commentary/ct-opinion-south-africa-united-nations-genocide-accusations-israel-gaza-20240116-vj7o5smsdfd2vbytncfyvf7mqe-story.html

Jan 16, 2024

Excerpts below

South Africa made history when it took Israel to the International Court of Justice — the United Nations’ highest court — and accused it of waging genocide against Palestinians while asking the court to order an immediate cease-fire.

It might turn out to be the worst decision the country has ever made.

Once, South Africa, especially the post-apartheid beacon fashioned by onetime leader Nelson Mandela, would have had the obligation to call out oppression and champion the vulnerable, but it hasn’t lived up to Mandela’s expectations for a long time.

The world will not forget South Africa for its failure in 2015 to execute an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, another tribunal, against then-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The South African government’s response was to threaten to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, despite the Mandela administration being one of the original signatories to the Rome Statute that created it.

It is rank hypocrisy: South Africa is quick to call out injustice in some parts of the world but not in others. It is blinded to its own failings. More than 23,000 people have died in Gaza since Oct. 7, according to health officials. In comparison, 27,494 South Africans died by homicide from 2022 to February 2023.

I am a proud South African. I have also been a member, a supporter and a fundraiser for the African National Congress for more than three decades, but I’m also a Jew. I believe that the ANC has much to be proud of in terms of what it has achieved for South Africa as a whole. I believe, too, in the power of the ANC and its leadership to be a force for good on the international stage.

I feel betrayed. I feel that Jewish South Africans have been rendered second-class citizens in the land of their own birth [What about the ‘white’ South Africans who are discriminated against because of the BEE laws?]. The government did nothing to commiserate with the South Africans slain on Oct. 7 and did little to try to repatriate those caught in the conflict thereafter.

Most of all, I am disappointed that the party of Mandela has failed on the world stage to make a difference, instead of just trying to make a statement.

What was once the ANC’s strength — a broad church where all who shared its ideals were once welcome — has become its greatest weakness. The party of today has become hijacked by minority interests at odds with its traditional credo.

The Oil Market Is Making Plans For Red Sea Chaos To Last Weeks

By Alex Longley, Sherry Su and Bill Lehane January 20, 2024

Jan 20, 2024 (Bloomberg) –The oil market is bracing for a weeks-long disruption to shipping in the southern Red Sea, where Houthi militants have for months been attacking merchant vessels in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

Charters of tankers to haul crude and fuels — which for some vessels are arranged up to a month in advance — reveal growing numbers of the vessels are being hired for routes that will avoid the danger zone, according to shipowners, brokers and traders.

Airstrikes in Yemen on Jan. 12 by the US and UK have heightened a sense of chaos for ships in the area, especially after western navies subsequently warned vessels to stay away. With the Houthis pledging to strike back against both nations’ commercial fleets, numerous owners elected to stay away from a route that normally handles about 12% of global seaborne trade.

“More and more owners are avoiding the area,” said Alexander Saverys, Chief Executive Officer of Euronav NV, whose own fleet can transport more than 50 million barrels of oil. “What looked like something that could be solved within weeks, now could indeed have consequences for many months.”

Tankers to move fuel cargoes are instead being hired to sail to Asia instead of Europe, sparking a surge in earnings. At the same time, several Iraqi crude shipments have been booked on tankers that will take a thousands-of-miles detour around Africa.

Earnings Rising

Danish tanker owner Torm said in a statement that there’s been an increase in voyages to Asia for transporting refined fuels.

That has helped pushed earnings on the so-called relatively large tankers that ship oil products from $35,000 a day to $60,000 a day over the past week.

In addition, there’s also been a significant volume of Iraqi crude cargoes booked to sail from the Persian Gulf to Europe around Africa, according to people involved in the market.

Some are jointly loading smaller cargoes onto bigger ships to make the journey more cost-effective, one of the people said.

Although crude flows from the Persian Gulf to Europe are less common than ones to Asia, the shipments nevertheless reveal owners’ attitudes to transiting the Red Sea.

More Detours

Container shipping, where many Houthi attacks had initially been concentrated, had already largely diverted before the US and UK airstrikes. Increasing numbers of tankers and bulk commodity carriers followed suit.

Some crude tanker rates have been climbing too in recent weeks too.

Aframax ships that haul about 700,000 barrels more than doubled to hit almost $80,000 a day since the middle of December.

Suezmax ships — so-called for their ability to sail full through the canal that links Asia and Europe — are up about 50% to almost $70,000 a day.

https://gcaptain.com/the-oil-market-is-making-plans-for-red-sea-chaos-to-last-weeks/

>>20236810

>What is the play here? Taking into account; Israel vs South Africa, ANC and Jewish ties

Muslim radicals were also able to easily attack Israel who had the tightest security in the world, etc.. Let’s look at the following…

“Jews and Communism in Lithuania (1918 to June 1941)”

https://karlradl14.substack.com/p/jews-and-communism-in-lithuania-1918

JUL 24, 2023

Excerpts below

It is well-known that jews were significantly over represented among the leaders and activists of the Russian Social Democratic Party that went on to split into two elements whose names are better known: Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks under their part-jewish leader Lenin were - as I am sure most of my readers know - victorious in the power struggle that derived from the February Revolution of 1917 and which ended with the October Revolution that same year.

What is less well-known is that jews were also significantly over-represented in parties set up in an attempt to imitate the Bolshevik success, otherwise known as the (official) communist parties, across both Europe and North America. Notable examples of heavily jewish communist parties, well out of proportion to the size of the local jewish population, were the CPUSA (USA and Canada [for a time]), CPP (Poland), PCF (France), CPN (Netherlands), CPB (Belgium), CPM (Hungary), CPR (Romania) etc. [We can include the SACP (South Africa)]

What is usually ignored when we look at this over-representation are the smaller countries that bordered the, then emergent, Soviet Union and how deeply jews were involved in communism in those countries. One such state bordering the emergent Soviet Union was Lithuania and in many respects it affords a textbook example of the scale of jewish involvement in Communism as well as its governance and terror apparatus.

jews played a key role in attempting to snuff out an emergent independent Lithuania since one of the two principle architects of the policy was jewish. Out of two of the eight members of the Politburo of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic were jewish. If we discount the key background players Joffe and Manuilsky that leaves us with a quarter of the Politburo being jewish, which in turn is clearly in massive disproportion to the minority jewish population in Lithuania at the time.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania between them only had approximately 265,000 jews by 1940, (1) which in turn breaks down as: (2)

Estonia: 4,434 jews (0.4 percent of the population) in 1934.

Latvia: 93,479 jews (4.8 percent of the population) in 1935.

Lithuania: 153,745 (7.6 percent of the population) in 1935.

The following excerpt was found on the Wayback machine regarding the “History of Lithuanian Criminal police” as it was removed from their website.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190321101137/https://lkpb.policija.lrv.lt/en/about-us/history-of-criminal-police/

The first activities of the criminal police (called militia at that time) in Lithuania were started to be organised on 27 October 1918. The first criminal police staff comprised three Jewish, two Polish, three Russian, one Belorussian and two Lithuanian employees none of whom spoke Lithuanian.

>>20340428

>Lithuania… respects it affords a textbook example of the scale of jewish involvement in Communism as well as its governance and terror apparatus.

>>20252093

Take note…

“The peculiarly South African story of kitke [Challah]; Jewish ceremonial braided bread”

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-02-25-the-peculiarly-south-african-story-of-kitke/

25 Feb 2022

the Jewish ceremonial braided bread that South Africans often call kitke and the rest of the world generally refers to as challah.

I began by establishing the origins of the internationally understood term challah. Writing in The New York Times, Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Moskin observes that, “The bond among Jews, God and bread goes back to the first five books of the Bible. As the Israelites are about to end their exile, God commands them to show gratitude by setting aside a portion, (‘challah’ in Hebrew), of all the bread they make after entering the Holy Land. But nowhere in Jewish scripture is it written that challah is the braided, sweet, yellow, deliciously squishy bread of the kind familiar to most American Jews, which comes from the rich tradition of Eastern European baking.”

So, having established that while all kitke are challah, not all challah are kitke, I moved on to querying the origin of this seemingly South African specific term.

Kitke is listed as the Litvishe Yiddish dialect term used within what was the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Since the vast majority of South African Jews have Lithuanian ancestry it is safe to assume that they brought the recipe and its regionally specific name with them. [90% of South African Jews are Litvaks. https://vilnews.com/2011-01-litvaks-in-south-africa] Further evidence of its epicurean ancestry came when Chef Yoskowitz kindly connected me with the owners of Beigelių Krautuvėlė, a Jewish revival bakery in Vilnius who wrote that: “Yes, we know kitke, it is literally ‘braided’. We use it as a verb.”

If you are too busy to bake, Fordsburg is your best bet. Many bakeries in this predominantly Muslim neighbourhood make and sell kitke [it is interesting that Muslims will sell Jewish bread especially when there is supposedly so much animosity between them.] from recipes that would not be out of place in a Kosher kitchen.

Mass participation, international link up events such as the Shabbos Project’s Great Big Challah Bake at Johannesburg’s Norwood Mall show that many younger South African Jews use the word “challah” rather than kitke. This suggests an increasingly international identity linked to the use of the Hebrew term rather than a Yiddish and shtetl specific kitke culinary identity.

>>20340428

>>20340445

>>20242815

>ANC sponsored violence in South Africa

>>20236804

As George Halloway states that Jews helped the ANC. https://youtu.be/6jfTaIW8mqg

Keep in mind the brutality of the ANC during their ‘struggles’ and heavy involvement of the Jews in the organisation.

“South African Jews Struggle With Legacy of Apartheid”

https://forward.com/news/143231/south-african-jews-struggle-with-legacy-of-aparthe/

September 22, 2011

Excerpts below

Exiled in Israel: Anti-apartheid activist Arthur Goldreich had to flee to Israel from his home in South Africa over his support for African National Congress freedom fighters.

But rather than salving old wounds, the SABJD’s posthumous granting of a human rights award to anti-apartheid hero Arthur Goldreich has torn at the community’s scabs.

The day before the award was given, the board hosted a preliminary event, at Liliesleaf, the legendary farm outside Johannesburg where, in the early 1960s, Goldreich sheltered fugitive guerrillas who belonged to the military wing of the anti-apartheid African National Congress, including Nelson Mandela.

Goldreich, who died in May, was a lifelong Zionist who fought in Israel’s 1948 independence war in a unit of the Palmach, the young country’s military shock troops, and then returned to South Africa to join the struggle against apartheid. With his Palmach training, Goldreich brought to Umkhonto we Sizwe, the ANC’s young underground military wing, a veteran’s invaluable expertise in warfare. As a white man free to come and go, he traveled to Communist China and elsewhere to obtain designs for homemade military weapons for the group, such as hand grenades and landmines. Meanwhile, in public Goldreich played the role of a prosperous designer for a Johannesburg department store who owned a rural estate maintained by an outwardly subservient black staff that included key ANC leaders. Mandela was a gardener known as “David.”

“Arthur was the convenor of our Logistics Committee of the High Command,” Dennis Goldberg [“whose family had Lithuanian Jewish origins”, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/denis-goldberg-obit-1.5551033], a senior ANC official and frequent Liliesleaf resident who helped organize the ANC’s guerrilla effort, wrote in an obituary to his friend.

Arrested in a raid on Liliesleaf in 1963, Goldreich and his co-conspirator, lawyer Harold Wolpe, escaped from prison before they could be put on trial with Mandela and other ANC leaders captured in the raid. Goldreich then eluded a nationwide manhunt and eventually returned to Israel, where he became the head of the Industrial and Environmental Design Department at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Art and Design — and a vigorous campaigner against the strong ties that grew between Israel and apartheid-era South Africa.

The SABJD sought to use its celebration of Goldreich — a centrepiece of its conference — to, among other things, reach out to the many Jewish veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle from whom the South African Jewish establishment has long been estranged. But many of those anti-apartheid veterans assailed the SABJD’s effort as but one more attempt at historical revisionism by a leadership that, at the time, disowned them and strongly distanced itself from the country’s black majority. Many of the activists who were invited boycotted the Liliesleaf gathering, which ended up being sparsely attended.

>>20340428

>>20340445

>Many bakeries in this predominantly Muslim neighbourhood make and sell kitke [Jewish ceremonial braided bread]

>>20340560

“‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Islamic] terror funding”

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa-isis-jihadist-terrorism-funding-money-laundering-organised-crime-latest/

13 Jun 2023

Excerpts below

South Africa has never been touched by Islamist attacks. Its three-decade-old democracy is solid, and its financial system is respected.

Yet experts say the continent’s most industrialised nation is now a nerve centre for jihadist financing in Africa.

South Afica ‘now a hub’ for transfer of money to IS branches

“South Africa is open hunting ground,” Pretoria-based counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman told AFP.

Islamist financiers gather money in the country and transfer it into “the hands of terrorism,” she said, adding it was internationally recognised “that we are now a hub”.

It’s a stark indictment for a country that, apart from the odd alerts issued by the US embassy, hardly registers on the radar of extremist activities worldwide.

Yet Opperman’s assessment is widely shared by analysts across Africa, Europe and the United States (US).

Red flags were first raised last year when the US government levied sanctions on several South Africans it accused of belonging to an Islamic State (IS) cell.

The group facilitated the transfer of money to IS branches across Africa, according to Washington.

It “provided technical, financial, or material support to the terrorist group,” the US treasury said in November.

‘Organised crime is rife’ in South Africa

Kidnapping cases doubled to 4,000 between July and September last year, compared to the previous quarter, police statistics show.

“Organised crime itself is rife in South Africa,” said Opperman.

To avoid detection, the money is then transferred to Islamist cells across the continent in small remittances that don’t raise eyebrows.

Some R6.3 billion was wired from South Africa to Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria and Bangladesh through mobile money transfer using nearly 57,000 unregistered phone SIM cards between 2020 and 2021, according to an investigation by a South African weekly newspaper, the Sunday Times.

The hawala system, an informal method of payment based on trust that is far more difficult to trace than bank transfers, is also used to siphon money away.

IS internal documents seen by experts show that of the money raised on the continent, the IS in Somalia keeps 50% while 25% is split between cells in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the balance going to IS central.

>>20340605

>‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Islamic] terror funding

“MTN Sued For Funding The Iranian Regime. It involves Cyril Ramaphosa, SA President, when he was MTN’s Chairman”

https://youtu.be/SJXIUe6Fi74

1 February 2024

“MTN faces lawsuit under US Anti-Terrorism Act”

https://www.southafricanlawyer.co.za/article/2023/10/mtn-faces-lawsuit-under-us-anti-terrorism-act/

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

In what The Star calls a ground-breaking legal decision, the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York has given the nod for a high-stakes Anti-Terrorism Act lawsuit against Africa’s telecoms giant, MTN Group, to advance to the discovery stage.

This ruling comes as MTN Group wasted no time in submitting an appeal, setting the stage for a precedent-setting legal battle that could rattle court and boardrooms alike for years to come.

In a federal lawsuit filed in New York, more than 50 Americans claim MTN and other technology companies did business with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), even though they knew the transactions would help finance, arm and support the Iranian group’s terror campaign in neighbouring Iraq.

As a result, thousands of Americans were injured or killed between 2011 and 2016, according to the suit.

The court’s ruling was multi-faceted, dealing with counts of aiding and abetting liability under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, civil conspiracy liability, and aiding and abetting terrorist acts in Afghanistan.

The Star reports MTN managed to fend off two of the three counts, but the court determined that the plaintiffs had sufficiently stated a claim for aiding and abetting liability against MTN in Iraq.

The report says what makes the ruling particularly remarkable is that it marks the first time a US court has allowed for the possibility of corporate liability under the Anti-Terrorism Act for direct aid to the IRGC.

Notably, the judgment also highlighted that even after the IRGC was officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 2019, MTN retained its commercial ties.

>>20340428

>>20340445

>>20340560

>>20340605

>>20340636

“Morality provision removed from Jewish prayer After Ramaphosa replaced Zuma - Chief Rabbi”

https://youtu.be/2BmlZyRZmDY

Sep 13, 2018

https://www.news24.com/News24/morality-provision-removed-from-jewish-prayer-after-ramaphosa-replaced-zuma-chief-rabbi-20180913

Ramaphosa heard the prayer for government when he joined Rosh Hashanah celebrations at the Gardens synagogue on Wednesday night.

It was a full house and he received bursts of applause during the event.

"As part of one of the traditions of Judaism, we pray for the welfare of the president, deputy president and government, that God should guide them and their work should be blessed for the sake of the country," [Chief Rabbi Warren] Goldstein explained.

Last year, a section was added to state: "Bless us with a president who is morally worthy of this nation of heroes, a president and government of integrity and honesty, dedicated with selfless devotion to the service and upliftment of all the people of South Africa."

Towards the end of Zuma's rule, Goldstein felt a distancing from the presidency and had joined in marches calling for his resignation and an end to state capture.

He felt state capture was a real threat to the future of the country, and he could not stand by the "sheer immorality" of a few people stealing from millions of people and causing human suffering.

Ramaphosa's address on Wednesday invited the Jewish community to work with government in its drive for investment and job creation.

He also sought to allay fears about land reform and assured that his government was fighting corruption.

He added that South Africa stood ready to play a constructive role in the peace process in the Middle East.

>>20341195

“President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses Jewish Community New Year’s prayer session”

https://youtu.be/hV5Rjv5md18

Sep 13, 2018

President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the South African Jewish Community in Cape Town on 12 September 2018.

>>20252093

>>20340428

>>20340445

>>20340560

>>20340605

>>20340636

>>20341195

>Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein

Now there is a back lash.

“ICJ verdict: SA Chief Rabbi's call to fight back” [Chief Rabbi Goldstein]

https://youtu.be/9QsMxXjoO6g

Jan 28, 2024

“The International Court of Justice has delivered its interim judgment. Even a political body appointed by the United Nations General Assembly, whose members are mainly non-democratic states, couldn’t bring itself to order Israel to ceasefire, but we should not be grateful for that. They had no moral right to order Israel to cease its just war of self-defense in the first place.”

1:44 – “And God has given us another blessing. While around half of the Jewish world live in the sovereign State of Israel , another 95% of the other half, Jewish diaspora live in free democracies where we have built strong, proud, vibrant Jewish communities. Enjoying full political and civil rights, we are flourishing as contributing members of our societies wielding influence and power, playing vital roles in changing society for the better. We the Jews of the diaspora have the right, the resources and the capacity to support and defend the interests of the State of Israel and the Jewish people in this just war of self-defense [the ANC used the same words when they were terrorists].”

5:07 – “We were at the forefront of the anti-apartheid movement to liberate South Africa from its racist regime and since the birth of freedom and democracy in 1994, we have contributed disproportionately to our relatively small numbers in advancing the new South Africa in every field of human endeavor; business, law, medicine, politics and the arts.”

5:46 – “The ANC is not the people of South Africa. In the same way that we as Jews have been betrayed by the ANC, millions of other South Africans have been betrayed by the ANC corruption and incompetence.”

8:03 – “The South African press is already investigating the corrupt business and financial ties between the ANC and Iran. Amid allegations that it initiated the ICJ application in exchange for funding to clear its debts and prepare for elections this year.”

8:39 – He talks about MTN.

9:29 – “And now the latest story broken by the Jerusalem Post is one in which the accuse South African banks; Nedbank, Standard Bank and ABSA of providing funding platforms for Hamas.”

Keep in mind. Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein also stated this…

https://www.thejc.com/lets-talk/this-is-a-momentous-time-for-south-africa-dqe0sn8l

December 21, 2017 12:53

South Africa's Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein hails Cyril Ramaphosa’s election as ANC leader

Let us reflect on the momentous history we witnessed during the past few days.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s election as ANC leader and the repudiation of Jacob Zuma’s preferred candidate is a great victory for freedom and democracy in South Africa.

I use the word “attempted” because society rose up to defend its freedom and its institutions’ integrity.

When a society is truly free, like South Africa is, it is ultimately able to overcome great challenges.

Now, the election of Cyril Ramaphosa is another victory in the fight for a South Africa that stands for openness, integrity and good governance.

Let us thank Hashem for the great blessing of freedom and the strength that he has given South African society, a nation of heroes, to stand up to the tyranny of corruption.

>>20340428

>>20340445

>>20340560

>>20340605

>>20340636

>>20341195

>>20341222

As NPR state;

“It's been called the Democracy Super Bowl. More than half the world is set to go to the polls in 2024 - regional elections to national leaders. Eighteen of those elections are in Africa, where South Africa's ruling National Congress party, the continent's oldest liberation party, embodied for so long by Nelson Mandela, faces its most competitive electoral challenge since the end of apartheid in 1994.“ https://www.npr.org/2024/01/13/1224585588/more-than-half-the-world-goes-to-the-polls-in-2024-south-africa-is-one-to-watch

“Ramaphosa warns of political repercussions following SA's genocide case against Israel”

https://youtu.be/J-M7GLFcW_k

Jan 31, 2024

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned of political repercussions following South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

He was closing the ANC's NEC Lekgotla in Boksburg

0:22 – “ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he expects a full-blown fight back from the Israelis. “The fight back may also focus on our domestic politics and our electoral outcomes in order to pursue a regime change agenda. Some people have said this was David and Goliath type of contest so we must be aware that whilst we have done what we believe was driven by our conscience and our principles and whilst we also went and did the right thing and take this matter to the courts that were setup by those who were there in 1948 or so as they setup that court. We are being blamed for taking the matter to the very court that they set up”.”

Corruption in South Africa WORSE than under Zuma | Ep 161

https://youtu.be/ddma7OqSI0A

Feb 4, 2024

Corruption in South Africa now worse than under Zuma

https://dailyinvestor.com/south-africa/42894/corruption-in-south-africa-now-worse-than-under-zuma/

30 January 2024

excerpts

South Africa dropped further in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, showing that corruption is not only entrenched in South Africa but allowed to thrive.

Transparency International’s (TI) 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) saw South Africa score 41 on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Since Corruption Watch (CW), Transparency International’s local chapter, started tracking its progress on the index 12 years ago, South Africa has never scored as low as 41.

This score is a decline from the previous low of 42 in 2013 and two points below its maiden score of 43 in 2012. This was during the state-capture years under former President Jacob Zuma.

South Africa is one of 23 countries that reached their lowest-ever scores this year and now fall into the category of “flawed democracies”. South Africa’s score of 41 also means it has dropped below the global average.

It said the global trend of weakening justice systems creates an environment of impunity for and reduced accountability of public officials involved in corruption.

“It is frustrating that, in a country like South Africa, where the corrupt have been exposed for all to see in such public processes as the Zondo Commission and robust media investigations, so few of the implicated parties have been brought to justice,” said CW executive director Karam Singh.

“There is an urgency to our corruption problem, as citizens witness the unravelling of cities and infrastructure because of years of impunity and state capture.”

“With elections looming in a few months, the need for accountable leaders of integrity could not be more critical.”

South Africa achieved the same score as Burkina Faso and Vietnam and now ranks just below Cuba, China and Hungary.

8 things you need to know about farm murders [in South Africa]

https://youtu.be/ALHHCosJZ_E

Feb 4, 2024

In this video I discuss eight factors relating to the farm murders crisis in South Africa. A few days ago, 5FM Breakfast Show host, Dan Corder uploaded a video on YouTube in which he attempted to discredit the campaign against farm murders. He made several good points, but overall, the video was misleading. This video is only partly a response to Corder's video, because the main focus is to shed more light on the extent and reality of farm murders in South Africa.

I discuss eight issues relating to farm murders:

1. Numbers

2. Brutality

3. Impact

4. Unique circumstances

5. Political reality and reaction

6. Hate speech

7. Media reporting

8. The way forward

SACP slams Zuma for 'opportunistic' use of MK name

https://youtu.be/V-LCQj4KRTk

UMKHONTO WESIZWE'S REAL FOUNDERS TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES: SACP ON ZUMA, MK PARTY

https://web.archive.org/web/20240107120434/https://ewn.co.za/2024/01/07/umkhonto-wesizwe-s-real-founders-turning-in-their-graves-sacp-on-zuma-mk-party

https://ewn.co.za/2024/01/07/umkhonto-wesizwe-s-real-founders-turning-in-their-graves-sacp-on-zuma-mk-party

07 January 2024 10:22

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Communist Party (SACP) said the real founders of uMkhonto weSizwe – the armed wing of the liberation movement, including its former general secretary Joe Slovo are turning in their graves because of former African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma’s MK [/uMkhonto weSizwe] party.

The communist party commemorated the 29th year anniversary of Slovo’s passing in Soweto on Saturday.

Its current general secretary, Solly Mapaila described the new outfit, which is using Zuma as the face of its campaign ahead of the fast-approaching seventh democratic elections as a wolf in sheep's skin.

As former president Zuma campaigns for the MK party in Mpumalanga where the ANC, an organisation he led for two terms prepares for its 112th birthday celebration in the same province, the SACP, which co-founded the original MK 60 years ago is calling his bluff.

Zuma’s name and the word imposter were used several times on Saturday. This as he was accused of betraying the country and being an exposed emperor.

The SACP’s Mapaila said if Zuma had any sense of honour left in him, he would remember his own disapproval of a faction in the ANC that left to form the Congress of the People (COPE) following the 2007 Polokwane conference.

Dan Hato, from the MK was also given an opportunity to speak – he said Zuma must be addressed in honour of the likes of Joe Slovo.

“Let us expose the nakedness of the emperor from Nkandla, who wants to deny that during his tenure, our organisation was mired in countless corruption scandals, factionalism and infighting."

The SACP also raised concerns about the state of the country, warning that additional progress faced a genuine threat of erosion.

>>20252093

>I feel betrayed. I feel that Jewish South Africans have been rendered second-class citizens in the land of their own birth [What about the ‘white’ South Africans who are discriminated against because of the BEE laws?].

>>20362804

>>20362731

The infamous apartheid-era "Kill the Boer" song (1990)

https://youtu.be/a6NJitdq8Bk

Lyrics below, sung in a school.

Here is a message from Joe Slovo

Comrade units survive

Street committees survive

Kill the Boers – our father

Kill the Boers – young man

Communist party – victory

Joe Slovo – our father

Life in exile

Tambo in exile

“That’s no white man. That’s Joe Slovo.”

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/mandelas-jewish-helpers

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

Yossel Mashel Slovo, known as Joe, joined the Communist Party in 1942 and then lied about his age to join the South African army, with which he fought in Italy. After the war, Slovo became active in the radical Springbok Legion veterans’ association and studied law at Wits, where he met Mandela. Just before graduating, he married Ruth First, the daughter of a Communist Party leader. “We took off half an hour from our respective offices to get married,” he later wrote in an unfinished autobiography, according to the recent book Ruth First and Joe Slovo in the War Against Apartheid. Their home served as a center for radical organizing, discussion, and parties. When the police conducted one of their regular searches of the house in the 1950s, they confiscated a copy of Stendhal’s The Red and the Black solely because of the title. Indeed, Joe was the primary link between the Communist Party and ANC in the late 1950s and was Mandela’s partner in organizing the Umkhonto we Sizwe militia. Both Slovo and First were arrested and prosecuted in the Treason Trial of 1956, which was partially conducted in a converted Pretoria synagogue—the only record of either First or Slovo having ever entered one. Abroad at the time of the Liliesleaf raid in 1963, Slovo was eventually joined in London by First and their children. Though in his early years he was an ardent Stalinist—much more so than First—by the late 1980s Slovo had become more critical of “socialism without democracy.” Returning to the country in 1990 after Mandela was released and the prohibition on the Communist Party was lifted, Slovo crafted the power-sharing agreement credited with making the transition to majority rule after the end of apartheid in 1994 relatively smooth. Mandela, Slovo’s last visitor the night before he died in 1995, delivered an emotional eulogy at the memorial service. At the gathering, Khoisan X, a black activist a generation younger than Mandela, recalled hearing his son’s friend once ask, after seeing a photo of him and Slovo together, “Why is your father shaking hands with a white man?” The son answered: “That’s no white man. That’s Joe Slovo.”

>>20367850

>After 1948 the National Party government set about politicising this day to legitimise their apparent uniqueness and historical relationship with God. Hence in 1952 Dingane's Day officially became the Day of the Covenant or the Day of the Vow [because of the Battle of Blood River in 1838]… The ANC led Congress Alliance launched its armed struggle (military wing), 'Umkhonto we Siwze: the Spear of the Nation', on December 16th 1961.

>>20367951

>Kill the Boers – our father

>Kill the Boers – young man

>Communist party – victory

>Joe Slovo – our father

“The Children of 464 Men ~ Dean Chancy”

https://youtu.be/v7qDbcHxj4U

This song of Dean Chancy tells the story of the day of the vow that takes place on 16 December every year. The song is written to all the children of the 464 men, the Boer people.

Thank you, Dean, for writing this song and promoting our Boer cause. May this song impact our people, the way you intended it to!

"I would like to express a special thank you to everyone who participated in the video. God bless you, and God bless the Boer people!" ~ Dean Chancy

>>20341240

Something is not right

If the ANC got so much support over the decades, and iirc the De Klerk government got Israeli assistance to build nuclear weapons, then why did South Africa file that case to start with?

With all the problems with Eskom, Transnet, and the Port of Durban I would think Ramaphosa would be too busy to care about Gaza. Somebody else came up with the idea

I'm looking at Mossel Bay again today in regards to the tankers for Eskom diesel power thing like in >>19821993 and I only see two. A Kuwaiti-flagged chemical/oil products tanker name MUTRIBA that might be carrying diesel fuel and a Chinese-flagged oil products tanker (again, maybe diesel cargo) named YONG AO. I rather doubt Eskom has thse coal plants back up to capacity so no idea from where I sit what towns are completely without power because of load shedding

So "carrot and stick?" Diesel fuel and or fuel rods for the reactors? End of AGOA aid?

Who has the most to gain?

Houthis shooting at ships with Iranian weapondry because of Gaza messes up the Suez Canal. Russia and China transit through there as well, and the recent attack on a Russian ship means the Houthi promise not to attack Russian or Chinese ships is meaningless. That whole Operation Prosperity Guardian has not been all the great. France decided not to accept US command since they have their own operation ongoing starting with Somali pirates and extending to protecting French ships. So much for NATO unity. Going around Africa the long way means added costs for everybody (except Iranian tankers heading for Venezuela) so the EU is out as the rising costs of everything and the Climate Change regulations are causing the farmers all over the EU to take to the streets. China I don't see since all they are getting right now is intelligence on how NATO ships deal with air threats. There was one Chinese Navy ship supposed to be heading into the Red Sea, but one ship and a flotilla are worlds apart

Two players stand to gain in this crap, Iran and the United States. Iran is having their weapons sytems combat tested and keeping up their old campaign of causing trouble in the Region. Other than oil and oil products, I don't see Iran as having anything South Africa would want. Question is how much would Iran be sending?

The USA needs to distract the populace from the Border invasion, the rising costs of everything due to shitty economic policies. Add in parents are getting real sick of the LGBT&#%$@ and "transition the kids without parents having a say" bullshit. "Jobs Reports" where these nice numbers are broadcast, but nobody has actually seen where these new jobs have happened. The vaunted Bi-partisan Infrastructure legislation where millions were earmarked, but nobody has seen a roads or bridges or rail lines actually upgraded. Don't forget the provisions for Diversity Hires so the ones who would do the work are mostly clueless such as the case of Boeing.

>>20369297

>Something is not right… I don't see Iran as having anything South Africa would want. Question is how much would Iran be sending?

There are claims…

“Paul Hoffman [of Accountability Now] - South Africa is looking like the 'useful idiot' for Hamas, Iran” - https://youtu.be/eyfXK_pRG-U

“Did Iran fund South Africa’s approach to the ICJ over Israel?”

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-01-25-iran-fund-south-africa-icj-israel-palestine-fact-check/

25 Jan 2024

The reason this claim is difficult to conclusively fact-check is because we don’t have access to the ANC’s balance sheets, so there’s no way of categorically refuting the idea that the party has just received a massive donation from Iran.

This is a difficult claim to fact-check, as will be seen, but it’s an important one because it has been repeated by some fairly high-profile public figures and has found quite a bit of traction on social media.

The allegation is essentially: The ANC, which for years has been teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, announced in early January that it had managed to stabilise its finances. It didn’t really give any specifics on how this had been accomplished.

In the same week, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague to ask that Israel’s actions in Gaza be classified as genocide.

To some people, the timing of these two events is suspicious. And so the rumour was born that Iran, an enemy of Israel, had essentially paid the ANC to litigate against Israel in the ICJ.

The major person who spread this claim appears to have been Frans Cronje, the former CEO of the Institute of Race Relations, in an interview [https://www.chaifm.com/podcast/2024-01-12-dr-frans-cronje-former-ceo-of-the-south-african-institute-of-race-relations-irr-discussing-his-thoughts-on-the-icj-application-by-the-south-africa-government/] with the Johannesburg radio station ChaiFM. A similar claim was made by advocate Paul Hoffman from Accountability Now in an interview with BizNews editor Alec Hogg [embedded].

We asked ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu straight up: Has the ANC received money from Iran? She replied: “Unlike other parties, or even NGOs for that matter, the ANC does declare where its funding is derived.”

>>20372567

>“Paul Hoffman [of Accountability Now] - South Africa is looking like the 'useful idiot' for Hamas, Iran”

Accountability Now seemed to have protected President Cyril Ramaphosa

“Accountability Now lays charges against public protector [Busisiwe Mkhwebane]” [Aug 6, 2019] - https://youtu.be/FvDC7sfGEFM. He states that “she is seen as a tool of the Zuma faction in the ANC which is making life miserable for inter alia, Pravin Gordhan and the President himself.”

“Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has had to clarify the scope of her office’s investigation into Cyril Ramaphosa after reports came out alleging that the president was being investigated for money laundering.” The article mentions Gavin Watson who later died under suspicious circumstances. [25-06-2019 09:37] https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/busisiwe-mkhwebane-clarifies-scope-investigation-cyril-ramaphosa/

“The Constitutional Court has found that President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to suspend Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane was lawful and rational. The Western Cape Division of the High Court had ruled the suspension illegal in September 2022, but the ConCourt has now unanimously overturned that ruling.” [13 Jul 2023] https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-13-concourt-on-mkhwebane-suyspension-no-bias-by-ramaphosa/

https://accountabilitynow.org.za/team/

Trustees

Ghalib Galant

Judge Lee Bozalek… He is best known for the decision in the case concerning the invalidity of nuclear power procurement from the Russians.

Jonathan Mort

Judge Ian Farlam is a retired Judge of Appeal who is best known for his work on the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. [Read Marikana controversy at https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/marikana-what-did-cyril-ramaphosa-do/]

[Former judge] Richard Goldstone… He was on the original Constitutional Court Bench in the new SA after 1994 and was involved in setting up the ICC in The Hague. [“After subsequent service at the international criminal tribunal, Goldstone was asked in 2009 to head a four-person team investigating allegations that Israel had violated international human rights during the Gaza incursion… [H]e felt compelled to recant his opinions about the 2008-09 Israeli invasion of Gaza in public.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/05/richard-goldstone-judge-gaza-report… Also “Richard Joseph Goldstone was born on October 26, 1938, in the Boksburg area near Johannesburg, South Africa, to a Jewish family of mixed English and Lithuanian ancestry, where his maternal grandfather was an Englishman and his paternal grandfather was a Lithuanian Jew who immigrated in the 19th century… From 1991 to 1994 he served as chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Public Violence and Intimidation, which became known as the Goldstone Commission, an independent judicial commission that investigated activities and people who posed a threat to the restoration of civil rights during the transition to post-apartheid South Africa… Goldstone presided over the International Tribunal from 1994 to 1996 and investigated war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda.” https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2022-10-25-richard-goldston—the-judge-who-confronted-the-apartheid-regime-in-south-africa-and-angered-israel-in-the-gaza-strip.H1g315UrNj.html#google_vignette]

Directors

Paul Hoffman

Guy Lloyd-Roberts

>>20341222

>>20341195

>>20372592

>>20372567

>>20340428

>Muslim radicals were also able to easily attack Israel who had the tightest security in the world

Chief Rabbi Goldstein used the same term, ‘useful idiots’… Smoke and mirrors? Is Iran being used as a scapegoat? Or even President Cyril Ramaphosa?

“Ever since October 7th, commentators, scholars, politicians, and Israeli officials alike have referred to the terrorist attack as a hyper-charged version of “Israel's 9/11.”” https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/11/why-the-oct-7-attack-wasnt-israels-9-11.html

“You are Iran’s 'useful idiots' - Chief Rabbi to SA government and global opponents of Israel”

https://youtu.be/5R_FfrRrQ-4

Nov 9, 2023

In a sweeping address, Chief Rabbi Goldstein confronts what the Israel-Hamas conflict is really about – Iran’s plans to destroy Israel and spread global jihad. Pinpointing how the South African government and those marching against Israel in the world’s capitals are Iran’s “useful idiots”, he addresses multiple issues ranging from jihadi terror in Africa to the ANC’s betrayal of biblical and basic moral values.

Chief Rabbi Goldstein also explains how the baseless accusations of colonialism, apartheid and genocide levelled against the Jewish state are the latest in a long line of nefarious, anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, a 21st century version of the blood libel and the “Protocols of Zion”.

“Professor Dire Tladi sworn in as a new judge at ICJ”

https://youtu.be/XTkX0L7iNfg

Feb 6, 2024

Professor Dire Tladi has been sworn in as a new judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The South African legal mind on international matters has taken his place at the World Court in the Hague. Professor Tladi was elected by the United Nations, and is the first South African to be a permanent judge at the court.

https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/judge-dire-tladi-begins-his-term-at-icj-after-swearing-in/ar-BB1hRo9p

Tladi and three other judges from Romania, the US and Mexico replace four judges who are retiring, and they include the ICJ President, Joan Donoghue from the US, Vice President of the ICJ, Kirill Gevorgian from Russia, Judge Mohamed Bennouna from Morocco, and Judge Patrick Robinson from Jamaica.

Tladi was sworn with Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo of Mexico, Sarah Hull of the US and Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu of Romania.

>>20341222

>Even a political body appointed by the United Nations General Assembly, whose members are mainly non-democratic states, couldn’t bring itself to order Israel to ceasefire, but we should not be grateful for that.

This is a good question

Gaza war: Why did Arab states not join South Africa's case against Israel in the ICJ?

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/why-did-arab-states-not-join-south-africas-case-against-israel-icj

Published date: 20 January 2024 09:25 GMT

South Africa's historic case against Israel has raised a debate in the Arab world about why Arab states did not join in this action or file a similar case at the ICJ to protect Palestinians

According to the ICJ's statute, all UN member states can file cases against any state. Any Arab state could have filed a case against Israel in the ICJ or at least asked South Africa to join its case before it was officially filed on 29 December.

This includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Tunisia, Jordan, UAE, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Yemen, and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Indeed, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took every possible step to bolster ties with Israel because of his belief that Tel Aviv played a significant role, alongside Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in convincing the Obama administration not to object to the coup he led in 2013.

Saudi Arabia was also in the process of negotiating a deal with Israel to normalise their relationship in exchange for a special US defence pact.

Due to their severe violations of international human rights law, Arab governments would not face Israel before the ICJ or ICC to avoid facing similar charges [Yet the South African ruling party, ANC, had/has committed human rights violations which continues to be ignored.]

Saudi Arabia has also been accused of serious war crimes in Yemen [and South Africa supplied the weapons, https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/south-africa-saudi-arabia-weapons-yemen-war/].

All Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, have issued many statements condemning Israel's assault on Gaza, but they did not take any further action. Saudi Arabia and the Arab League waited for more than a month of onslaught in Gaza to hold a summit in Riyadh to discuss the issue.

The summit decided to break the siege and blockade, but Arab countries never turned this resolution into action. Instead, Egypt obeyed Israeli commands and refused to give access to move injured civilians for treatment outside of Gaza unless Israel approved their names.

Media and eyewitnesses confirmed that Egyptian brokers forced Palestinians in Gaza to pay up to $10,000 as bribes to officials to obtain access through Rafah Crossing. Egypt also agreed to send all aid trucks to be checked by Israeli security at the Karm Abu Salem commercial crossing, which caused delays in the arrival of aid and complicated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Egypt justifies its position by saying that it would risk the bombing of the trucks by the Israeli Air Force if they were not sent through the Israeli checkpoint. Meanwhile, an Israeli lawyer before the ICJ claimed that Egypt was responsible for the Rafah crossing and for preventing aid vehicles from entering Gaza.

Although Israel threatened to attack any aid entering Gaza without its permission, Egypt can only respond to Israel's accusations against it by opening the borders for injured people and patients to exit and for aid and commercial trucks to enter and prove that Israel was responsible for the disaster.

“Dilemmas of Humanity Conference I The world can't ignore Palestinians' suffering: [Naledi] Pandor” Part 1

https://youtu.be/NoD_0Wnehtk

Oct 14, 2023

The Minister of International Relations Dr Naledi Pandor says the world can not look away while millions of Palestinians are suffering in the Middle East.

Addressing delegates at the Dilemmas of Humanity Conference hosted by the labour organisation National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), Dr Pandor says she will oppose Israel being granted observer status at the African Union.

This comes at the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

1:47 – “The world is a very troubled place and I don’t want us to pretend that it is easy. It is not. We are faced with a very challenged world. I realised this when, in 2021, I was sitting in a summit of the Executive Council of the African Union and it was whispered to me that the African Union Commission Chairperson had issued an invitation to Israel to become an observer at the African Union. Imagine my horror. I decided at that moment that I would raise my arm and would propose that this decision be rescinded. I walked around the room seeking supporters. Of the 54 nations, I got 3 and I include SADC in that but I said nevertheless this is not going to happen. I therefore lifted my arm and said I wish to table a matter. I have learned of this and as South Africa we object to it and it must not be implemented. We want our leaders to discuss it and we will never accept it as South Africa. While we appreciate the role that the organisation of African Unity played in us achieving our freedom as South Africa, this decision of the AU Commission Chairperson will make us consider whether we can be present in the African Union. I thought I would get support from many of the countries gathered in the room but what I discovered is that countries that are oppressors, that continue to be colonial occupiers, are using financial muscle to provide grant in aid to African countries and secure the depoliticized support of African countries for these oppressive nations. Among them, Israel and Morocco. They’re playing a very negative role in Africa and comrades I’m being frank here because you in this room, you are supposed to be trade union leaders… or lead progressive organisations and you are failing in your duty to convince governments in Africa and all other countries of the South that they cannot tolerate such situations. It can’t be left to us as members of government to be the ones that take up these issues. With no word from progressive organisations. This is intolerable and cannot continue. So I’m hoping out of this conference that you are going to decide. Rise up. Rise up. Rise up… You should be talking to all progressive unions worldwide. The unions in the United States of America, weak or strong, should be making it clear to President Biden they don’t appreciate his statement which has led to the slaughter we are seeing today. The union movement in the United Kingdom should be doing the same… I have no idea what has happened to our organisational capability because as South African leadership, our trade union movement was able to marshall under the worst oppressive chains, we were able to marshal international solidarity of a kind that has not seen since the struggle against Apartheid. Where have all these progressive leaders gone? And why? Why are we not able to organise? Why are we only sitting in a room as 300? There should be 3 000 here. There’s something wrong and that’s why I’m saying we’re in a troubled world… What has happened is in a determined fashion, progressive values and principles have been hacked and hacked and hacked and it is now difficult to find a voice of the left. And we need to revive, we need to organise, we need to be smart, we need to be strategic… Say as South African trade union movement, let us lead, let us agree for one month, none of our unions are going to life any Israeli goods out of any transport. Just one thing…”

>>20379812

>https://youtu.be/NoD_0Wnehtk

This is the wrong link, below is the right one.

“Dilemmas of Humanity Conference I The world can't ignore Palestinians' suffering: [Naledi] Pandor” – Part 2

https://youtu.be/CMIm5TnvgQ0

Oct 14, 2023

20:32 – “Despite the fact that I’ve been called all kinds of names because I refused to call Russia an occupying power of Ukraine. I have always objected to double standards. These type of double standards are the result of a global system which is skewed in favour of the powerful to the detriment of those fighting for their rights and self determination.”

23:01 – “Afriforum is decimating all the progressive gains we have made in South Africa including affirmative action and we are allowing it to happen while we live. We are also articulating calls that we should overhaul the current global financial and trade architecture and much of the world is joining us in this call. We believe we need a fundamental reset of the Brettonwoods Institutions including the IMF, the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation. Multilateral development finance institutions need to be redesigned to respond to the challenges we are confronted with and to assist countries to meet the sustainable development goals. The must help us respond effectively to public health emergencies and to mitigate climate change.”

26:24 – “In 2025, South Africa will be chair of G20 and again we must strengthen the progressive ground. With leading countreis of the global South able to set the world agenda, this ia an opportunity for all of us to push for real change. Let’s not waste it.”

30:36 – “This pillar of international solidarity made an immense contribution to our victory against Apartheid to the extent that some analysts have even tried to elevate it above other very important pillars such as underground, the armed struggle which comrade [Ronnie Kasrils} referred to and the mass struggle which we must never forget. These four pillars of the struggle complemented and reinforced each other to deliver the death of the Apartheid regime. So again we need to revive international solidarity as a pillar, we need to revive underground as a pillar, we need to revive armed struggle as a pillar and we need to ensure mass struggle as a pillar. The international struggle against Apartheid embodied humanity struggle against discrimination and social exclusion. Our post-Apartheid South Africa has attempted to continue this tradition of active internationalism on the continent and globally. We’ve tried to play our part in the renewal of Africa… striving for the transformation of the global system of governance. We know we benefited and we are trying to use our benefit in the interest of others. We believe that today internationalism is going to be decisive in crystallizing new forms organising political forces for meaningful transformation but as I said earlier we need a strategic approach to the search of a better international order. One that is equitable, just, humane, inclusive and democratic.”

34:04 – “Across the global south, the progressive community has begun to rally. We look forward to the expansion of brave, united, vibrant, social movements. As the great revolutionary leader of Cuba, President Fidel Castro said, “We need to unite today to build the tomorrow we yearn for, to vindicate the always excluded and to rescue faith in humanity.”

>>20379826

>This pillar of international solidarity made an immense contribution to our victory against Apartheid to the extent that some analysts have even tried to elevate it above other very important pillars such as underground, the armed struggle which comrade [Ronnie Kasrils] referred to and the mass struggle which we must never forget. These four pillars of the struggle complemented and reinforced each other to deliver the death of the Apartheid regime. So again we need to revive international solidarity as a pillar, we need to revive underground as a pillar, we need to revive armed struggle as a pillar and we need to ensure mass struggle as a pillar.

“Ronnie Kasrils addresses the III International Dilemmas of Humanity Conference”

https://youtu.be/9QmFtcC60dM

Oct 14, 2023

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA is hosting the third International Dilemmas of Humanity conference in Johannesburg.

The Dilemmas of Humanity process began in 2004 when popular organizations and movements from all over the world came together to confront the crisis of humanity caused by capitalism with concrete alternatives and solutions.

0:26 – “We are for humanity which is why we are for socialism and why we are here, dilemas of humanity at an inflection point which way to be slaves or to be free and Palestine is at the center of the struggle. It’s at the center as the people have been saying for so many years.”

2:32 – “We are all Gaza! We are all West Bank! We are all 1948 Palestine. We are the refuges in the camps! We are Palestine and we stand with Palestine!”

3:31 – “We have in such pride to be here with our sister, the great warrior of Palestine, Leila Khaled, and we rise to Leila. We rise to you as we did with Naledi Pandor’s father who was a mentor of mine in exile. A leader of our Communist Party then and of the ANC and I was saying to our brave foreign minister who was a child at the time… When Leila Khaled stood up and delivered a blow back in 1970 or so, we had Leila a solidarity meeting in Red Lion’s Square in London and her father was speaking and praising you, praising you because we recognize comrades in the Palestinians what we wer!. What we came from! Our disposition! Our right and humanity’s right to stand up and to resist that oppression, that slavery and in international law you have the right to rise up against occupation. Remind America. Remind the United Nations.”

12:58 – “We have on our agenda, comrade Andrew, a huge task ahead to stand by Palestine, to prevent the extermination of the Palestinians, to protect our own future and that of our own children.”

>>20340428

>>20379836

Bisho Massacre [Cyril Ramaphosa was there as shown in the video] - https://youtu.be/xl_MWEmM5tE

”Profile : ANC Leader [Ronnie Kasrils] in Ciskei Protest Is a Veteran of Brinkmanship : His role in the massacre may have alienated some supporters. But his passionate dedication still makes him a beloved anti-apartheid leader.”

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-15-wr-733-story.html

Sept. 15, 1992 12 AM PT

Last week, the burly 54-year-old was again at the forefront of the black liberation struggle. He led ANC protesters on a dangerous end run to Bisho, capital of the Ciskei homeland created by the South African government, that triggered a fusillade of gunfire.

Kasrils, head of the ANC’s campaigns department, and other leaders had planned to lead the 20,000 protesters only into the homeland’s soccer stadium, under a compromise with the homeland government.

But Kasrils had checked out the stadium and spotted a large hole in its fence. In a meeting of ANC leaders the night before, Kasrils volunteered to lead a small group of protesters through that hole to Ciskei’s government offices, 300 yards away.

When Kasrils and his group emerged from the opening, though, Ciskei troops opened fire on them–and on all the demonstrators waiting to enter the stadium. Kasrils dived for cover as the bullets whizzed overhead, striking some of his compatriots.

Afterward, the government and an array of liberal whites, including major newspapers, charged that Kasrils provoked the shootings and callously used ANC supporters as “cannon fodder.”

Indeed, he and other ANC leaders now admit they may have miscalculated. They had thought they could outflank the Ciskei soldiers, and they also thought many soldiers would join them in ousting Ciskei’s military ruler, Brig. Gen. Oupa Gqozo.

He is a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the South African Communist Party.

His role in the Ciskei massacre may have alienated some supporters.

Although he was head of military intelligence for the ANC guerrilla army during the 1980s, Kasrils was little-known outside the close circle of exiled leaders until he returned to South Africa when the ANC was legalized in 1990.

Kasrils was born in Johannesburg and grew up in the lower-middle-class suburb of Yeoville. His parents were Jews from Lithuania, and his father worked as a traveling salesman for a candy factory.

While working as an advertising copywriter, he joined the Communist Party, then a mostly white organization that had and still hasstrong links to the ANC. And he helped found the ANC’s underground guerrilla army, Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation).

>>20379836

>>20379849

>>20379919

“The Jewish Top Spy [Ronnie Kasrils] Who Advised Hamas”

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/talk-to-al-jazeera/2017/9/2/the-jewish-top-spy-who-advised-hamas/

2 Sep 2017

He is a white, South African Jewish man who fought apartheid and advised Hamas. Ronnie Kasrils tells us his story.

Fifty years ago, the state of Israel seized the remaining Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights, and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in a matter of six days.

In a conflict with Egypt, Jordan and Syria, known as the 1967 War, Israel delivered what came to be known as the “Naksa”, meaning setback or defeat, to the armies of the neighbouring Arab countries and to the Palestinians who lost all that remained of their homeland.

When the Naksa took place, many countries started questioning their support for the Jewish state.

A UN resolution calling for the return of captured Palestinian territories accelerated a process of political isolation that grew stronger as the Israeli occupation went on.

At the same time, an organised Palestinian resistance was taking shape. The Israelis turned to a country it had long counted on for friendship: South Africa. And so in the 1970s, a more extensive economic and military relationship developed.

The Palestinians, however, also had friends in South Africa. Just when the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) began its armed resistance, they found support in the African National Congress (ANC), the black movement fighting apartheid.

One man found himself squarely in the centre of this historic movement: a Jewish South African-born communist who fought with the ANC against the white regime.

Later in life, when he was a cabinet minister in the South African government, Ronnie Kasrils was scorned by Israel and some of his Jewish countrymen when he advised Hamas.

“There are Jews in this country, not just me … who are decrying what Israel is doing … and standing up for Palestinian rights, and then, of course… [we are later] condemned as traitors,” he says.

For many years, Ronnie Kasrils, fought side by side with President Zuma. They worked together to build the ANC intelligence service. When asked for his impression of Zuma, Kasrils responded:

“He is a completely different person. I worked with him when he was in exile from Mozambique and Zambia … I wonder to what degree, at that stage, he had thoughts and ambitions of power and wealth. Because the behaviour from the moment he came back into South Africa, right from the very start 1990 or so, was the acquisition of favours from benefactors, and it just grew and grew out of proportion,” he says.

Today, as Israel, the wider Middle East and his own homeland confront deep existential questions, South Africa’s former intelligence minister, and one of the country’s original freedom fighters, Ronnie Kasrils talks to Al Jazeera.

>>20379836

How to declare jihad without openly saying jihad so the jihad does not boomerang back on your faces?

>>20379812

>>20379826

Liberation movements use religions and the ‘success’ of South Africa to achieve their goals.

Address by South African Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Naledi Pandor: Al-Quds Mosque in Cape Town

https://youtu.be/KzpkH6rFiW0

Feb 4, 2024

11:18 – “It’s important for me to say this that I have referred to of the promotion of fairness, justice and solidarity with the oppressed are to be found in Judaism and Christianity. The South African Jews for a Free Palestine, the SAJFP, recently circulated a statement distancing themselves from the statements of the Chief Rabbi of South Africa.”

13:32 – “Liberation theology is a major component of progressive Christian practice and has always been associated with aligning with the aspirations of oppressed peoples. Some who don’t understand Islam, will wonder why I quote other great religions but we as Muslims, we respect all of the book and it’s important that we all understand this. We have seen how Christian Liberation theology is active in struggles against poverty, inequality, racism and colonialism. This point was brought home very powerfully when in the presence of South African clergy and activists in a church in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve last year, Reverend Munther Isaac said the following, “Jesus, may peace be upon him, was born among the occupied and marginalized. He is in solidarity with us in Palestine, in our pain and brokenness.” Reverend Munther went on to criticize the complicity of the western world and others in the unfolding genocide in Gaza. He said, “Let it be clear, silence is complicity. An empty calls for peace without a ceasefire and an end to occupation and the shallow words of empathy without direct action are all under the banner of complicity. The progressive and liberatory nature of the 3 Abraham religions has found pride of place in the values and principles of the South African Constitution as these constitutional values were shaped by the values born out of our struggle against colonialism and Apartheid. These values have shaped much of our foreign policy and they call on us to be on the side of the oppressed always. Siding with the oppressed, especially the Palestinians, has been criticized by some here in South Africa as being reckless and jeopardizing our economic interests. We say, that standing on the side of justice, ending impunity and working to stop mass killing in a genocide, is very much part of our national interests. Those advocating for economic reprisals against South Africa for not being complicit with genocide are,” as Reverend Munther pointed out, “perversely actively complicit in the genocide in Gaza.” These are the values and principles that inform South Africa’s decision to firstly charged the leaders of Israel with individual criminal liability for the atrocities in Palestine through petitioning the international criminal court.”

17:34 – “South Africa acted to end the killing of Palestinians particularly of children, women and men.” [Yet violence against women and children increase in South Africa.]

25:42 – “Essentially if the case proceeds as we anticipate and it is found that Israel committed genocide, all those who were complicit are as guilty as Israel.”

26:44 – “It is truly tragic that this convention which was drafted following the Holocaust against Jewish people in Europe that it is the very people who then moved to Palestine who are offending this convention. It’s tragic.”

28:45 – “I trust that you all continue to be guided by Islamic values that place a premium of justice, fairness and solidarity with the oppressed. I thank you as the South African Muslim ummah for not forgetting that although we have won our freedom from the oppression of Apartheid, it is our duty to seek that freedom for all humanity for all who are oppressed. This is our duty and we must carry it out.”

29:45 – “We know, through you, that we as the people of South Africa, while we waged the mighty struggle against Apartheid, our leaders went from country to country across the world and asked for support and the international community joined in in developing a concept some of us forget called international solidarity… Your task today is to join the world in fighting for the people of Palestine until they are free. This is what we must do.”

38:11 – “You will remember Pik Botha. He said there’ll never be a black president. We had Nelson Mandela first… We know that situations of conflict will end by negotiations… So yes, we do believe that there must be a two-state solution and that it cannot be based on none contiguous pieces of land. That’s not a state. That’s a Bantustan, >>20379919, >>20236804. That’s not what we support.”

>>20379812

>>20379826

>>20395003

“South African foreign minister alleges intimidation by Israel after ICJ case”

https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2024-02-09/south-african-foreign-minister-alleges-intimidation-by-israel-after-icj-case/

9 February 2024

Johannesburg, Feb 9 (EFE).- South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor accused Israeli intelligence of attempting to “intimidate” her, after South Africa accused the Jewish state of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the war in Gaza.

Pandor said she was concerned for the security of her family and had asked the country’s Police Ministry to beef up her security after receiving threatening messages, local media reported on Friday.

“But this is par for the course. The Israeli agents, the intelligence services, (this) is how they behave, and they seek to intimidate you, so we must not be intimidated. There is a cause that is under way.”

She underscored that the South African government was determined to continue with its ICJ case as a “moral course” and support the Palestinian people in their quest for peace.

On Thursday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that his country had taken up the “Palestinian cause” to the top UN court to prevent “further deaths and destruction” in the Gaza Strip.

“We have welcomed the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must take all measures within its power to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians,” he said during his State of the Nation address to Parliament in Cape Town.

South Africa “condemns” the killing of civilians on “all sides” and calls on parties involved in the conflict to commit to a peace process that would deliver a “two state solution,” the president added.

In its ruling on Jan. 26, the court ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of genocide” in Gaza and adopt “immediate and effective measures” to facilitate the provision of aid to the besieged enclave.

However, the ICJ did not explicitly call for a “ceasefire” as a precautionary measure.

The South African government has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

The ruling party, the African National Congress, often draws parallels between the Palestinian cause and its historical struggle against the apartheid regime (1948-1994). [Yet their 'struggles' started way before then >>20368101. the ANC was founded in 1912.]

>>20395018

>South Africa “condemns” the killing of civilians on “all sides” and calls on parties involved in the conflict to commit to a peace process that would deliver a “two state solution,” the president added.

The same President who stated that there are no farm murders in South Africa while South African police are losing “the war on crime”.

"No Farm Murders" | Cyril Ramaphosa | South Africa (2018)

https://youtu.be/IlppxlMpkks

Sep 27, 2018

“As police lose the war on crime in South Africa, private security companies step in”

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/07/1223358578/as-police-lose-the-war-on-crime-in-south-africa-private-security-companies-step-

JANUARY 7, 2024 10:12 AM ET

It's an all-too-common story in South Africa, a country that in the past year has seen an average of 75 killings and 400 robberies with aggravating circumstances every day, according to official statistics. While it may be Africa's most developed country, it also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.

Even…

In 2018, “Police Minister Bheki Cele says South Africans are living in a war zone where 57 citizens are murdered every day.” https://web.archive.org/web/20180912121226/https://ewn.co.za/2018/09/11/crimestats-south-africans-are-living-in-a-warzone-cele

>>20395003

>So yes, we do believe that there must be a two-state solution and that it cannot be based on none contiguous pieces of land. That’s not a state. That’s a Bantustan. That’s not what we support.

>>20379919

>Despite the fly-leaf stating that it is a comprehensive history of South Africa, you will not find in it more than a passing mention, and certainly no discussion, of the history of the independent Republics of Transkei and Ciskei, or of their leaders.

>>20395003

>So yes, we do believe that there must be a two-state solution and that it cannot be based on none contiguous pieces of land. That’s not a state. That’s a Bantustan. That’s not what we support.

>>20236804

>Sol Kerzner (of Jewish descent) is in Jeffrey Epstein’s Little Black book. He owned Sun City, also known as Sin City, in former South Africa’s Bantustan, Bophuthatswana

Consider 1989 Corruption Scandals, just prior to South Africa’s “transformation’ – Sol Kerzner, politicians, etc.

https://mg.co.za/article/1989-01-20-00-a-lesson-from-sol-its-ok-if-its-over-the-kei/

20 JANUARY 1989

Below are excerpts

That's the message of this week's extraordinary series of corruption exposes. Stories of corruption in South Africa have been rife for some time, particularly in relation to the homelands. This week, however, it became clear for the first time how acceptable these practices have become. Hotel magnate Sol Kerzner this week blandly admitted giving R2-million to a homeland leader in order to secure casino rights in the Transkei.

A year ago, he and his company had indignantly denied reports of this, and had forced one newspaper to withdraw such a report and apologise. In an extraordinary move this week, the company boards on which Kerzner serves – Safren, Kersaf Investments and Sun International – resolved unanimously to give him their full support. And the Johannesburg Stock Exchange said it would take no action against Kerzner. "We have a very limited jurisdiction," JSE president Tony Norton said.

This week's developments also drove home the picture of the homelands as hotbeds of corruption. Several other prominent East Londoners were also implicated in the Harms Commission report around activities in the Ciskei. The report recommended that charges ranging from fraud to corruption also be investigated against Ciskei's; former ambassador plenipotentiary Douw Steyn, former East London mayor Robert de Lange and former city councillor Phillip Rothbart. The report also slammed the apparent willingness of Ciskei officials to involve themselves in corrupt dealings. It said there was information pointing at "high level corruption" in Ciskei. Kerzner's statement explaining his position was based on the argument that corruption was an accepted homeland practice.

>>20395068

>>20395003

>Liberation movements use religions and the ‘success’ of South Africa to achieve their goals.

Then consider this research paper.

“Elites and economic policy in South Africa’s transition and beyond”

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02692171.2023.2268558

Received 28 Sep 2022, Accepted 28 Sep 2023, Published online: 20 Oct 2023

Below are excerpts

We build on and critique previous literature on economic policy configuration during the transition from apartheid to democracy (1990 to 1994) in South Africa (SA). The contribution of this article, and our critique of much influential literature on economic policy formation during the transition, is that the powerful corporate elites were not just stakeholders in negotiations between the apartheid government, the African National Congress (ANC) and other parties. We adopt a structural approach that highlights the crucial role of corporate elites and their active manoeuvring to manage and control economic policymaking during the transition to ensure continuity of the ostensibly free market economic policies they designed during the late-apartheid period… Ultimately, the corporate elite’s exertion of their state-expanded powers, their co-option of selected members of the black political elite and the ANC’s economic policy self-emasculation has further strengthened multinational corporations’ domination of SA’s markets, which were already highly concentrated, and limited present and future possibilities for inclusive development of the SA economy.

4. The term ‘free market’is not about reducing the role of the state. Without laws, policies, security and courts, market freedom is neither possible nor guaranteed (Fine and Saad-Filho Citation2017, 694–695). In the neoliberal frame, the free market entails redirection and transformation of the control and role of the state in social and economic reproduction. Macroecomic policies are aligned to the prescripts of both the Washington and Wall Street Consensus (Hickel Citation2021).

9. The relationship between the western powers and the elites of SA’s large corporations during the intensification of the Cold War in southern Africa deserves lengthy discussion… The corporate elites shared close ties with western governments whom they viewed as key allies in the southern Africa's Cold War. The election of Jimmy Carter to President of the USA (1977 to 1981) provided a boost to SA’s corporate elites. The Carter administration was against escalating sanctions against SA but launched a ‘serious reform initiative’ (Minter Citation1986, 281–282). At this time, the USA’s ambassador to the United Nations, Andrew Young, was in contact with Harry Oppenheimer. They opposed economic sanctions, and publicly declared that businesses acting together could end apartheid (Minter Citation1986, 282; Young, Citation2017: 169–70). In May 1977, Oppenheimer invited Young to address the South African Chamber of Commerce and to reside in his home. After the SA visit, Young met with ‘African leaders’ in Mozambique and secured agreement on the Carter’s administration’s southern African plans to arrest the ‘communist scouge in Africa’ (Young, Citation2017: 171). The positive responses from Oppenheimer and the SA business sector, encouraged President Carter to proceed with their plans. The Carter administration entered into ‘aggressive partnerships’ with the ‘frontline states’ -– -neighbouring countries who provided the ANC military training sites and served as launching pads to infiltrate SA (O’Malley, nd.) – to mediate between business people and freedom fighters (Young, Citation2017: 171).

10. …Many ANC leaders very quickly developed close relationships with wealthy businesspeople during the transition. For example, Douw Steyn, the insurance and real estate magnate, housed Mandela in his mansion after his divorce from Winnie Mandela in 1990. Steyn later built a villa for Mandela and Graca Machel on his private game reserve. According to Bantu Holomisa, former head of the Transkei Bantustan, Thabo Mbeki’s lavish fiftieth birthday party, in 1992, was sponsored by Sol Kerzner, the casino magnate, who allegedly in exchange wanted assistance to quash his corruption trial in the Transkei (Brummer Citation1996).

12. By 1980, Anglo was the largest foreign investing company in the US, larger than Volkswagen and British Petroleum (Innes Citation1984). The importance of South African big business within the Carter administration’s Cold War plans for the southern African region is discussed in endnote 9.

>>20395003

>11:18 – “It’s important for me to say this that I have referred to of the promotion of fairness, justice and solidarity with the oppressed are to be found in Judaism and Christianity. The South African Jews for a Free Palestine, the SAJFP, recently circulated a statement distancing themselves from the statements of the Chief Rabbi of South Africa.”

>>20341222

>>20372630

“SAJFP [South African Jews for a Free Palestine] Says Not in Our Name to “Chief Rabbi’s” Racist Rhetoric”

https://sajfp.org.za/sajfp-says-not-in-our-name-to-chief-rabbis-racist-rhetoric/

Jan 31, 2024

Dr. Warren Goldstein, who currently occupies the position of Chief Rabbi of South Africa, has released a number of videos using racist language to defend Apartheid Israel’s crimes. SAJFP distances itself from this unelected official who, by virtue of this title, may be taken to represent the South African Jewish community. In fact, Goldstein has repeatedly shown his disregard for large parts of this community.

Since October 2023, Rabbi Goldstein has recorded regular diatribes defending Israel’s genocide in Gaza. It is telling that in many, including the January 28 video on the ICJ verdict, Goldstein has used colonialist language and racist dog whistles. He refers to Israel and its defenders as “civilised nations” with “liberal Western values” fighting the “forces of barbarism”, using this framing to justify the murder of more than 27 thousand Palestinians, almost half of whom are children, and the starvation of hundreds of thousands more. This is the same rhetoric that has been used over millennia by colonial empires that dispossessed and subjugated peoples they considered “uncivilised”.

Marek Edelman, a Polish political and social activist and the last surviving leader of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, said that “[t]o be a Jew means always being with the oppressed, never with the oppressors.” In this spirit, SAJFP rejects Rabbi Goldstein’s racist and colonial polemic, which goes against the basic humanist values of respecting the inherent worth of every person and undermines the long and diverse history of Jews fighting for equality.

Not only has Rabbi Goldstein himself refused to attend events that have platformed non-Orthodox rabbis and leaders but he has also implored other Orthodox Jewish leaders to do the same in the spirit of rejecting pluralistic attitudes. These include events with talks and panels on topics including Progressive Judaism, LGBTQ+ belonging in the context of Torah, and gender egalitarianism – which might be considered among the “liberal values” he claims that Apartheid Israel defends. Rabbi Goldstein’s reluctance to engage with these issues within the context of Orthodox Judaism, and his support for the active suppression of this engagement, only serves to uphold the legacy in many Orthodox Jewish communities of exclusion, queerphobia and misogyny. This environment has led to many queer Orthodox Jews having to leave their families to find belonging, and at least one recent case of death by suicide.

Canada #53 >>20396104

South Africa’s Racist EFF Leader Vows to Take the Farmlands and Redistribute to “Our People”

by Jim Hoft Feb. 10, 2024

Malema delivered the party’s election manifesto at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday. During his speech Malema called for taking the farmlands from the (white) owners and redistribute it to “our people.”

Joseph Stalin made similar promises during his reign of terror in Soviet Russia.

Joseph Malema: This manifesto is a product of the people. This is a manifesto from the domestic workers. This is a manifesto from security guards. This is a manifesto from teachers. This is a manifesto from all those who are swimming in the pool of poverty. What is our commitment? We are going to take the land and we’re not going to pay a cent. Whether they like it or not, the land will be turned in the hands of our people.

The Gateway Pundit has been covering this South African racist leader for over a decade now.

In 2011 South Africa youth leader Julius Malema told his supporters that the white farmer’s land must be shared by all black Africans.

Malema was arrested for playing “Kill the Boer (white man)” song at his rallies.

Julius Malema later founded the Economic Freedom Fighters, a South African political party.

In February Malema called for new law to confiscate land from white farmers.

It’s relevant and important to share CiC Julius Malema speech on expropriation of land without compensation #LandExpropriation #EFFMotion pic.twitter.com/NEhV8JeXxY

— Azania Afrika (@SAYoungLion) February 27, 2018

The South African Parliament agreed with Malema and voted to confiscate land from white farmers without payment in February.

In March Julius Malema called on his followers to go after the white man and cut the throat of whiteness.

In August Julius Malema called for a united African continent.

Earlier this week Julius Malema said racism and white privilege are preventing white people from giving up their property without compensation in South Africa.

Times Live reported:

Malema noted that white people who participated in the public participation process of the committee, whether rich or poor and even the landless, were in unison in opposing expropriation of land without compensation. He said this was because when white interests and privilege were threatened, white people protected each other.

“Why would people think alike like that, if it is not an issue of racism and privilege which seeks to perpetuate landlessness among those who were conquered by criminals who came into our country and took our land?”

He said that among black people, and Africans in particular, there were different views as they did not come from a process that sought to isolate anyone. Rather, he said, it came from a background that sought to win a debate through an honest engagement.

“Here you have got a group of people who 90% of them vote for the same party. This is white privilege, this is in defence of white privilege which seeks to perpetuate landlessness among our people,” said Malema.

He called for black unity, saying this was very important when it came to the matter of land.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/south-africas-racist-eff-leader-vows-take-farmlands/

>>20395018

“Battle Continues - South Africa's President and Palestine Just Met”

https://youtu.be/zKsdpTxDWQU

Feb 12, 2024

2:10 – “We have said to them and to the world that we are following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela who said to us and who taught us that our freedom will not be complete until the freedom of Palestinians is also achieved. So we too are not entirely free until the Palestinians are free and we will stand by them. We will struggle with them and that is why we went to the International Court of Justice. We were led there by Minister Ronald Lamola and Minister Naledi Pandor. So today [11 February 2024] we also remember the day on which the father of our nation, Nelson Mandela, was free and we say thank you very much to the Palestinian [soccer] team for being here. ”

>>20403282

“Nelson Mandela's pro-Palestinian legacy lives on”: Mandla Mandela

https://youtu.be/IMN95KKZKmg

Dec 5, 2023

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's anti-apartheid icon held unwavering pro-Palestinian support, that remains relevant even after a decade of his death. Here’s a look at his relationship with then Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

1:35 – “This month, Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela hosted a conference in Johannesburg calling for solidarity with Palestinians.”

“South Africa: Mandela’s grandson [Mandla Mandela], convert to Islam gets married in Muslim ceremony”

https://muslimnews.co.uk/news/religion/south-africa-mandelas-grandson-convert-to-islam-gets-married-in-muslim-ceremony/

9th Feb 2016

CAPE TOWN, (AA): The grandson of former South African late president Nelson Mandela has married Rabia Clarke in a traditional Muslim Nikah ceremony held in Cape Town. He converted to Islam two months ago.

Nkosi Zwelivelile “Mandla” Mandela released the following statement Sunday evening. “I am honoured and delighted to announce my marriage to Rabia Clarke, in Cape Town, on 6 February 2016. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Rabia’s parents, her extended family and the Muslim community, for welcoming me into their hearts.”

Influential Islamic leader Sheikh Ebrahim Gabriels, who wedded the two, informed Anadolu Agency that Mandla embraced Islam two months ago. Mandla is currently the Xhosa traditional chief of Mvezo, Nelson Mandela’s birthplace, while Rabia Clarke is from a Muslim household in a Southern suburb of Cape Town.

“Although Rabia and I were raised in different cultural and religious traditions, our coming together reflects what we have in common: We are South Africans,” Mandla said.

Hotel staff were sworn to secrecy and were not allowed to speak of the wedding. Little is known of the new bride.

In 2013, family disputes raised to the surface only months before Nelson Mandela’s death. The feud erupted and led to questioning of Mandla’s leadership legitimacy as head of clan.

Mandla has been married three times previously. In 2004, he married Tando Mabuna-Mandela in a civil ceremony.

He is still legally married to her and has been in a longstanding divorce struggle centered on community property disputes.

In 2010, he married Anais Grimaud in a traditional ceremony. Three years later he accused his wife of having cheated on him with his younger brother, Mbuso Mandela and their marriage was annulled.

His third marriage to Mbali Makhathini was declared null and void by the courts in 2014.

Why highlighting the obvious only now?

“BREAKING: US congress receives bill to review SA relations following ‘politically motivated’ ICJ case” Part 1

https://mg.co.za/politics/2024-02-10-breaking-us-congress-introduces-bill-to-review-relations-with-south-africa-following-politically-motivated-icj-case/

10 FEBRUARY 2024

Abill has been submitted to the United States congress calling for a full review of the country’s bilateral relationship with South Africa following the International Court of Justice ruling that found it plausible that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Gaza.

The bipartisan bill which was introduced by US Republican congressman John James and Democratic Party congressman Jared Moskowitz this week could threaten South Africa’s prospects to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The bill will still need to be discussed and passed by congress.

It states that not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, US President Joe Biden in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees and release publicly an unclassified determination explicitly stating whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.

It further states that the US government must provide an unclassified report submitted to the appropriate congressional committees justifying the determination upon its certificate.

US Embassy mission spokesperson David Feldmann declined to comment. The ANC and the government’s response will be added when received.

The bill accuses the ANC of acting inconsistent with its publicly stated policy of nonalignment in international affairs.

It states that the South African Government has a history of siding with malign actors, including Hamas and the Russian Federation.

The US congress bill argues that the South African government’s support of Hamas dates back to 1994, when the ANC first came into power, taking a hardline stance of consistently accusing Israel of practising apartheid.

The ANC and the South African government have however been known to have ties with the Palestine Liberation Organisation dating back to former president Nelson Mandela’s term in office.

“Following Hamas’ unprovoked and unprecedented horrendous attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, where Hamas terrorists killed and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis, members of the South African Government and leaders of the ANC have delivered a variety of anti-semitic and anti-Israel-related statements and actions,” it reads.

The US congress states that some of the anti-semitic remarks include President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statements accusing Israel of genocide.

It said that the anti-semitic statements also include International Relations and Cooperations Minister Naledi Pandor’s statement expressing concern about escalating violence, urging Israel’s restraint in response.

>>20403291

“BREAKING: US congress receives bill to review SA relations following ‘politically motivated’ ICJ case” Part 2

https://mg.co.za/politics/2024-02-10-breaking-us-congress-introduces-bill-to-review-relations-with-south-africa-following-politically-motivated-icj-case/

10 FEBRUARY 2024

It adds that Pandor implicitly blamed Israel for provoking the attack through “continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.

It accused the ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri of anti-semitic remarks after stating that the decision by Palestinians to respond to the brutality of the settler Israeli apartheid regime is unsurprising.

“On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed a politically motivated suit in the International Court of Justice wrongfully accusing Israel of committing genocide. The South African Government has pursued increasingly close relations with the Russian Federation, which has been accused of perpetrating war crimes in Ukraine and indiscriminately undermines human rights. South Africa’s robust relationship with Russia spans the military and political space, including allowing a United States-sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, to dock and transfer arms at a South African naval base in December 2022,” the bill stated.

It also cites that South Africa dispatched multiple high-level official delegations to Russia to further political, intelligence, and military cooperation.

The congress bill states that South Africa and the ANC’s relationship with the Chinese government and its ruling Chinese Communist Party(CCP) – which is committing gross violations of human rights in the Xinjiang province and implementing economically coercive tactics around the globe – undermine South Africa’s democratic constitutional system of governance.

These acts include what it says are ongoing ANC and CCP inter-party cooperation; recruitment of former United States and NATO fighter pilots to train Chinese People’s Liberation Army pilots at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa; South Africa’s hosting of 6 Chinese government-backed and CCP-linked Confucius Institutes; South Africa’s participation in a political training school in Tanzania funded by the Chinese Communist Party, cooperation with the Chinese global Belt and Road Initiative; and the widespread presence in South Africa’s media and technology sectors of PRC state linked firms.

“The ANC-led South African Government has a history of substantially mismanaging a range of state resources and has often proven incapable of effectively delivering public services, threatening the South African people and the South African economy,” the bill stated.

The bill accuses Ramaphosa of having declared the national state of disaster over the worsening energy crisis, “the worsening, multi-year power crisis caused by the ANC’s chronic mismanagement of the state owned power company Eskom, resulting from endemic, high-level corruption”.

It states that the persistence of Transnet’s insufficient capacity, an on-going outbreak of cholera, a failure to provide clean water to households and rampant state capture are part of ANC governments mismanagement of the state.

Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said that relations between the two countries are warm and mutually beneficial.

“We know for a fact that the USA government doesn’t share the views of the individuals behind this bill. We are confident that it won’t go anywhere. We continue to engage, share information, and cooperate with the USA at bilateral and multilateral fora to deepen the already strong ties between our two countries politically, economically, and work together to respond to global developments, ” he said.

>>20397875

The video title may say that it is Malema’s full speech but it is not. From about 55:40 – Snot started running from Malema’s nose and people started leaving the stadium.

“EFF Manifesto Launch 2024:Julius Malema Full speech.”

https://youtu.be/oCReLw1-AJY

Feb 10, 2024

0:48 – “Forward to Socialism. Forward. Forward to Socialism. Forward.”

6:21 – “We send and salute all the Marxist, Leninist, Socialist, Communist parties in all parts of the world, in particular the Communist Party in China, Cuba and Vietnam.”

6:50 – “We can say without fear of any contradiction that this province [KwaZulu Natal] is the home of the EFF.”

10:05 – “This province also produced one of the most outstanding predecessors in the Congress Youth League, Anton Muziwakhe Lembede, the first president of the [ANC] Congress Youth who died 77 years ago at the age of 33. We take this opportunity to assure President Anton Muziwakhe Lembede that we continue to be under his ideological, political and visionary guidance of achieving freedom in our lifetime. The generation and struggle of economic freedom in our lifetime is definitely inspired by the generational mission and struggle led by Anton Muziwakhe Lembede who in 1944 [prior to Apartheid] proclaimed freedom in our lifetime. We take this opportunity to report to President Anton Muziwakhe Lembede to President Robert Sobukwe… to all the heroic fighters of the freedom in our lifetime generation that we are here in the province of KwaZulu Natal to unveil and launch a manifesto that is going to bring about true freedom to the majority of our people.”

11:52 – “We are the Economic Freedom Fighters. A fearless, militant, radical and revolutionary economic emancipation movement founded here in South Africa and expanding to various parts of the African continent. We are a socialist, a pan-african movement that unapologetically fight for the reunification of the African continent. We are the most dependable and reliable weapon in the hands of the oppressed masses of our people.”

20:52 – “We are fighting black people who are standing on our way being black outside and white inside. Those are sellouts, like Ramaphosa. When we fight him, we make no apology. We know that we are fighting an evil spirit of a white settler inside Ramaphosa.”

35:53 – “Comrades, we going to insource security guards and create State owned security company that will create 1 million jobs within a year. [to reinforce tyranny]”

42:08 – “EFF will introduce free decolonized education for all and introduce subjects that incorporate indigenous knowledge and economic freedom. The EFF will criminalise all parents who don’t take their children to school because education [brainwashing] is going to be free and compulsory.”

53:52 – “Comrades, we are going to increase social grants.”

56:15 – “Comrades, in the EFF, there is no lesbian, there is no gay. We are all human beings, the rights of the lesbians and the rights of the gays and all LGBTQIA+ are human rights. If you are EFF and you isolate and discriminate LGBTQIA+, you are not a fighter. You are a sellout.”

>>20242815

How liberators turn into oppressors: a study of southern African states

https://theconversation.com/how-liberators-turn-into-oppressors-a-study-of-southern-african-states-57213

Published: April 11, 2016 5.44am CEST

Excerpts below

Since coming to political power, the anticolonial movements of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa have remained in control of the former settler colonies’ societies.

At best their track record of running the countries they helped liberate is mixed. From the “oiligarchy” in Angola under José Eduardo dos Santos and his family clan and the autocratic “Zanufication” under Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to the presidential successions in Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, all movements embarked on what could be termed “state capture”.

This is true of all five: the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU PF), Namibia’s South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) and the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.

During the years of organised resistance, activists in the liberation movements often internalised a “we-they” divide that categorised people as comrades or enemies. This was true in exile politics and armed struggle, as well as militant internal underground mobilisation.

The repressive regimes the liberation movements opposed were based on human rights violations as an integral component of minority rule. To have a chance of success against them, the struggle mainly operated along the lines of command and obedience. Operating in exile or for a banned organisation at home left no room for complacency. Suspicion was required for survival. It is normal for resistance movements to adopt rough survival strategies and techniques

Unfortunately that culture takes root and is permanently nurtured. Such confrontational mentality has become entrenched in an authoritarian political culture that is based on the claim that liberators have an entitlement to rule within a new elite project. This has happened much to the frustration of those who believed that the struggle against settler colonialism was also a struggle against a range of other things. These include economic exploitation, redistribution of wealth, plural democracy and respect for human dignity, rights and civil liberties.

There is also nothing new about militant movements that are supposedly justified in ethical and moral terms losing their legitimacy quickly when obtaining power. Since the French Revolution, liberators have often turned into oppressors, victims into perpetrators. New regimes often resemble features of the old one [actually they become much worse].

It bears repetition that the unscrupulously violent character of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) regime had already revealed itself in the early to mid-1980s. Already during the exile years internal power struggles led to assassinations and showed the brute force inherent in liberation struggles, even within their own ranks. This willingness to resort to violence was seen on a massive scale after independence as it was turned against political opponents and their support base.

>>20407571

>Already during the exile years internal power struggles led to assassinations and showed the brute force inherent in liberation struggles, even within their own ranks. This willingness to resort to violence was seen on a massive scale after independence as it was turned against political opponents

Political Assassination Rocks South African Province: A Call for Justice

https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/political-assassination-rocks-south-african-province-a-call-for-justice

09 Feb 2024 06:35 EST

The brutal killing of IFP Councillor Ndukwenhle Duma has sparked outrage in a South African province [KwaZulu Natal]. As the community demands justice, questions arise about the role of political motives in the tragedy that also claimed the lives of two innocent children.

The incident transpired as Duma was en route to a meeting, his journey interrupted by a hail of bullets. The assailants, their identities shrouded in mystery, struck with precision and merciless intent. But the carnage did not end there. In a cruel twist of fate, a nearby taxi, filled with children returning from school, was caught in the crossfire.

Two of these young souls were claimed by the indiscriminate gunfire. Another three were left nursing injuries, their innocence shattered amidst the chaos. The question lingers, haunting the community - were these children casualties of stray bullets or victims of a more sinister plot to eliminate potential witnesses?

In the aftermath of the tragedy, a voice emerged from the shocked silence. Local resident Seepe, echoing the sentiments of many, expressed his dismay at the persistent issue of political assassinations that continue to plague the region.

"The root causes of these crimes remain unaddressed," Seepe lamented, his words carrying the weight of a community's collective grief and frustration. He criticized the police for focusing solely on investigating the murders rather than delving into the deeper political motives behind them.

The IFP, Duma's political party, has since issued a statement condemning the violence and demanding action. They have called upon the police to shift their focus from merely investigating the murders to apprehending the suspects, including those who orchestrate these heinous acts from the shadows.

As the party grapples with the loss of one of their own, they find themselves in the unenviable position of determining whether Duma's death was politically motivated. The police, meanwhile, are tasked with untangling the complex web of events, now investigating two cases of murder and two of attempted murder.

As the dust settles on this horrific incident, the echoes of gunfire serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle against political violence. The community, bound by shared grief and determination, waits with bated breath for justice to prevail.

Resilient voices - Farm attack survivors tell their stories: Ep 2

https://youtu.be/1wCDAUYdXHg

“We have done what we wanted to do,” fiancée heard after farm murder

https://www.wereldwyd.co.za/en/survivors-of-farm-attacks-tell-their-horrific-stories-in-new-documentary-series/

FEB 2, 2024

“We have done what we wanted to do.” This is what Mariaan Brits had to hear shortly after her fiancé, Robert Stander, was shot and killed in a 2021 farm attack in Muldersdrift. In yet another attack, this time in 2020 on a farm east of Pretoria, Joey and Leon Kruger had to watch as an attacker held a gun to their crying seven-year-old son’s head and threatened to shoot him. These and other emotionally loaded stories – as told by the survivors of farm attacks – form part of a new five-part documentary series that has just been released by AfriForum. The first two episodes are already available on YouTube and the complete series will be available on AfriForum TV on 16 February.

In this series, titled Resilient voices: Survivors of farm attacks tell their stories [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwwV5tfwH29TwOPTmHYZbl5IoJmB05_P-], the experiences of victims of violent farm attacks in South Africa are revealed in shocking detail.

“Farm attacks and murders are a harsh reality in South Africa. It’s shameful that we have a government who denies or downplays these crimes, while we have political parties like the EFF who openly chant ‘Kill the Boer, kill the farmer’ at political rallies,” says Jacques Broodryk, director of the series and Chief Spokesperson at AfriForum’s division for Community Safety.

According to Broodryk, it is essential to tell these stories and for the international community to take note of victims’ experiences in these unimaginable violent attacks. “These are real people who suffered real horrors,” concludes Broodryk.

AfriForum has established 172 civilian safety structures countrywide and will continue to empower rural and urban communities to take their safety into their own hands, in collaboration with the authorities and within the confines of the law. The organisation also offers trauma counselling to victims of farm attacks.

Farm murders and farm attacks have become a bigger crisis than ever before. There has been an increase in farm attacks lately, and the government’s inability to address this problem is clearly visible.

For this reason AfriForum has decided to take the bull by the horns by launching a campaign that focuses on safeguarding farms.

The “Safeguard a farm” campaign will specifically address the following:

• assessing the safety of farmsteads;

• basic first-aid training;

• musketry training; and

• supplying an analogue radio system, including radio training.

The aim of this campaign is not only to safeguard farms and those living on farms, but also to empower the broader community in specific areas to be able to live freely, safely and prosperously.

South Africa makes urgent request to ICJ on Israel’s Rafah offensive

https://youtu.be/xn4HNDyy5F4

Feb 13, 2024

The government of South Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel’s plan to extend military operations in Rafah “requires that the court uses its power to prevent further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza”.

It said in a statement that “the Court may at any time decide to examine proprio motu whether the circumstances of the case require the indication of provisional measures which ought to be taken or complied with by any or all of the parties”.

The South African government added it was gravely concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm and destruction, the statement said.

“This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court’s Order of 26 January 2024. South Africa trusts this matter will receive the necessary urgency in light of the daily death toll in Gaza”, it added.

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller has the latest from Johannesburg.

The World is beginning to find out

Canada #53 >>20406484

South Africa: White Farmers Arrested for Protesting, Which is “Inciting Violence”

by Richard Abelson Feb. 13, 2024

The authoritarian left-wing attack on conservatives around the world is picking up steam: Five well-known Afrikaner activists are now on trial in South Africa for the crime of protesting, which the government calls “inciting violence.”

Political prisoners being persecuted worldwide include Tommy Robinson (now on trial in UK for eating breakfast in London), Julian Assange (facing his last extradition hearing for the crime of embarrassing Hillary Clinton, a capital offense) plus Peter Navarro, Rudy Giuliani, Owen Shroyer and all the J-6 political prisoners and persecuted Christians in the USA. US YouTuber Gonzalo Lira was tortured in prison and died in Ukrainian custody Jan 11. Bestselling German-Turkish author Akif Pirincci was sentenced to 9 months in prison Feb. 5 for “inciting hate” by criticizing mass illegal immigration.

Now five Afrikaner activists are being charged with “inciting violence” for protesting outside a courthouse in Groblersdal, Limpopo (former Northern Transvaal) Jan. 24. Three of the five appeared in court Monday, the fourth claiming medical grounds for not appearing. The fifth was arraigned Feb. 8.

The accused include prominent YouTuber Willem Petzer and the son of top Afrikaner country music star Steve Hofmeyr, Devon Hofmeyr. Devon is co-director of the Bittereinders civil defense movement, named after the Afrikaners who vowed to fight to the “bitter end” in the Second Boer War 1899-1902. Co-defendants are Tewie Wessels and Dries Olivier, who claimed medical reasons for not appearing in court.

For a Limited Time: Deals At The Gateway Pundit Discounts Page At MyPillow Now Come With Free Shipping On Your Entire Order

Petzer, Hofmeyr and the Bittereinders had called for protests outside the trial of farmers Piet Groenewald (63) and son Stephan Greef (27), who stand accused of sic’ing a dog on a black farm worker in Grobersdal in a violent altercation Jan. 17. The farmers claimed the farm worker Veneruru Kavari (30) was drunk and destructive, and attacked them with a panga (machete) and a pick axe handle.

Without any reports of altercations or violence, police accused Petzer, Hofmeyr, Wessels and Olivier with “inciting violence” and called for their arrest. The four decided to surrender to police and face trial voluntarily, as Petzer said in video Monday morning.

The other Bittereinders co-director Francois van der Merwe (25) was arrested for protesting outside the courthouse as well and arraigned Feb. 8. Van der Merwe was initially charged with assault for protesting outside the courthouse, but the charges were then reduced to “inciting violence”.

Van der Merwe said in an affidavit the police tried to prevent him from “protesting in a peaceful manner and with permission”, rnews reports.

On the morning of Feb. 12, Willem Petzer posted a video on Facebook announcing he was driving to surrender to police, and “this will probably be the last video you’ll see of me in quite a few weeks.”

Van der Merwe’s hearing was delayed Feb. 8 because of blackouts. South Africa is now without power 9 hours a day or more.

“The Afrikaner’s last democratic instruments are slowly being stripped from him”, country star Steve Hofmeyr wrote of his son’s arrest. “Our right to protest is being called terrorism. We are being made an example of while the killers are exonerated. They did it to me. They will do it to our sons, too.”

Die BoereAfrikaner se laaste demokratiese instrumente word stadig van hom gestroop. Sy reg op protes en betoog word as terrorisme bestempel. Hy word ‘n voorbeeld van gemaak terwyl ander bloeddorstiges gevrywaar word. Hulle doen dit aan my. Hulle sal dit aan ons seuns ook doen.

— Steve Hofmeyr (@steve_hofmeyr) February 12, 2024

Hofmeyr Senior played the lead role in South African movie Treurgrond (“Mourning Ground” 2015) about farm murders, which won Best Foreign Film at the 2018 International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in Amsterdam.

Crime has risen dramatically in South Africa, with 27,272 homicides 2022, or 46.6 per 100,000, making South Africa the most violent country in the world after Jamaica.

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Homicide rates among the farmer community are even higher. There were 182 Farm attacks and 45 farm murders in 2023, up from 156 Farm attacks and 39 farm murders 2022, South Africa Today reports. With a farmer population of roughly 25.000, that would mean a murder rate of 180 per 100.000.

Farm attacks were up 21% in the third quarter of 2023. According to AfriForum Spokesperson for Community Safety Jacques Broodryk, the third quarter 2023 saw the highest number of recorded farm attacks for the year.

More:

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/south-africa-white-farmers-arrested-protesting-which-is/

>>20397875

>>20406078

“We Read The EFF Manifesto (260 pages).”

https://youtu.be/GMqx3fUtjfs

Premiered Feb 14, 2024

Eff Manifesto 2024

https://effonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/A5-EFF-2024-Manifesto-full-version.pdf

>>20410783

>The authoritarian left-wing attack on conservatives around the world is picking up steam: Five well-known Afrikaner activists are now on trial in South Africa for the crime of protesting, which the government calls “inciting violence.”

Encouraging racial divide? While people are "Getting away with murder in South Africa", https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/677737/getting-away-with-murder-in-south-africa/.

>>20341240

>ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says he expects a full-blown fight back from the Israelis. “The fight back may also focus on our domestic politics and our electoral outcomes in order to pursue a regime change agenda.

The ANC Is Shivering! [MK Party gaining strength] - https://youtu.be/fOPkN4bk-Hc

Does the ANC want to declare a state of emergency to prevent elections in South Africa?

https://www.iol.co.za/news/explained-what-will-it-take-for-sa-to-declare-a-state-of-emergency-a4d79fbe-94e2-4b37-b16b-0e930328bdbe

A state of emergency gives the state power to temporarily suspend certain rights and allows it legal authority to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens.

The Constitution holds that a state of emergency can be declared to restore peace if the nation is threatened by war, disorder, civil unrest, or natural disasters.

Constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos says for a country to declare a state of emergency, there is an “exceptionally high threshold to meet”.

“An armed insurrection, an attempted coup d’état, or some other catastrophic event that endangers the continued functioning of the democratic state might in some circumstances warrant such a declaration, but only if there are no other ways to deal effectively with the threat,” he said.

De Vos said that during a state of emergency, President Cyril Ramaphosa will be allowed to issue “draconian” regulations, authorise detention without trial and implement various forms of censorship.

“In the wrong hands, such powers will be abused, not only against insurrectionists and looters, but also against others whose actions displease the security forces and their political principles,” he said.

A state of emergency has its legal authority in Section 37 of the Constitution, to be declared for no more than 21 days and the National Assembly may extend a declaration of a state of emergency for no more than three months at a time.

“Islamic State lead deadly attack on Mozambique troops as Total gears up for LNG project”

https://www.biznews.com/africa/2024/02/14/islamic-state-attack-mozambique-total-lng-project

14th February 2024

Excerpts

Islamic State-affiliated insurgents launched their deadliest attack on Mozambican troops in Mucojo, posing heightened security risks as TotalEnergies SE plans a $20 billion LNG project. The assault, 85 miles from the project site, resulted in the reported death of 25 government forces. The casualties mark the highest in a single battle since 2021. Analyst Tomás Queface expressed concern, emphasising insurgents’ increasing strength. Recent attacks signal a resurgence of violence, challenging gains made in the six-year conflict. TotalEnergies’ potential return would bolster regional stability and impact ExxonMobil Corp.’s LNG project approval.

“The insurgents are gaining more strength,” Queface said by phone from Maputo, Mozambique’s capital. “It’s very worrying.”

A string of attacks since December has marked a resurgence in violence after Mozambican and regional forces last year announced major gains in the six-year war that’s left at least 4,849 people dead. Government forces had killed senior leaders, and dislodged the militants from hideouts deep in the forests of Cabo Delgado. The improved security situation provided a TotalEnergies-led consortium with the confidence to consider resuming the gas project by the middle of this year after halting it in 2021.

The return of TotalEnergies would also help clear the path for a group led by ExxonMobil Corp. to approve an even-bigger LNG project in the region.

The coastal stretch around Mucojo has growing significance for the insurgency, which Rwandan troops forced southward after they joined the war in 2021. Rwanda has been responsible for protecting the area around the LNG project and the town of Mocimboa da Praia to the south, the previous epicenter of the conflict.

Separately, a regional bloc, which Rwanda isn’t part of, in 2021 also sent hundreds of troops to help Mozambican forces secure areas including Macomia district, which includes Mucojo. The 16-member Southern Africa Development Community plans on withdrawing that deployment by July, around the same time that TotalEnergies hopes to resume work.

https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-terrorists-kill-25-mozambican-soldiers-in-cabo-delgado-aim-253866/

6:45 CAT | 12 Feb 2024

This figure is higher than that claimed by the terrorists themselves. The propaganda channels of the self-styled “Islamic State” claim that 20 soldiers were killed in the clash. The jihadists also boasted of beheading a soldier after several hours of interrogation.

This is the second time in less than two months that terrorists have attacked and occupied the Mozambique Defence Forces position in Mucojo.

The terrorists also killed a minibus-driver in Meluco district and burned down churches in Chiure district.

>>20423234

>>20407598

>"The root causes of these crimes remain unaddressed," Seepe lamented, his words carrying the weight of a community's collective grief and frustration. He criticized the police for focusing solely on investigating the murders rather than delving into the deeper political motives behind them.

>>20395003

>We know that situations of conflict will end by negotiations

>>20379812

>>20379826

>>20379836

>>20379966

“South Africa a growing conduit for Islamic State funds, says new UN report”

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-07-22-south-africa-a-growing-conduit-for-islamic-state-funds-says-new-un-report/

22 Jul 2022

Excerpts

South Africa is continuing to provoke international concern because of its allegedly expanding role as a conduit of funds from the leadership of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) to its affiliates in Africa. This emerged from a new United Nations report this week which says that after Isil’s loss of its territorial caliphate in Syria and Iraq in 2016, its affiliates in Africa have emerged as among its most important battlegrounds.

The report to the UN Security Council by a team of experts monitoring Isil and Al-Qaeda says one UN member state “highlighted the emerging importance of South Africa in facilitating transfers of funds from Isil leadership to affiliates in Africa. The Monitoring Team is aware of several large transactions totalling more than $1-million.”

Although the most violent and deadly jihadist group in Somalia, Al-Shabaab, is an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the report says Isil’s Al-Karrar office in Somalia is active, covering Somalia, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Ahlu-Sunna Wa-Jama’a (ASWJ) jihadist insurgency in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province has been affiliated with Islamic State (IS) for the past three years but the precise organogram is not clear. The US has previously described ASWJ — as well as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which operates mainly in the DRC but also in Uganda — as affiliated with IS through “Islamic State — Central Africa Province”.

The UN report’s citation of South Africa as a growing conduit for IS funding echoes similar concerns by the US and may reflect the same circumstances. In March this year, the US slapped sanctions on four individuals in South Africa for various activities in support of IS, including financing its affiliates elsewhere in Africa. It said one of the four, Farhad Hoomer, was a recruiter, trainer and the leader of a Durban-based IS cell who “raised funds through kidnap-for-ransom operations and extortion”.

It added that Hoomer “was in contact with members of Isis-Democratic Republic of the Congo … and Isis supporters throughout South Africa”.

Hoomer was charged in 2016 with leading an IS cell that attacked a Shi’a mosque in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, killing one man; planting incendiary pipe bombs in shops and kidnap-for-ransom and other offences. A magistrate later withdrew the case because it was poorly presented.

The Financial Intelligence Centre reported to Parliament in February that the government’s reluctance to acknowledge the existence of terrorism in South Africa “indirectly impacts on their ability to investigate and prosecute potential [terrorist financing], including to identify financing networks and other financing activities. [SA] has failed to demonstrate that [it is] effectively identifying the specific roles played by terrorist financiers.”

>>20423259

>Islamic State

“Maldives Grapples with Repatriation Amidst Rising Religious Extremism”

https://thediplomat.com/2024/01/maldives-grapples-with-repatriation-amidst-rising-religious-extremism/

January 29, 2024

Excerpts

The Muizzu government will repatriate 21 Maldivians, primarily widows and children of foreign terrorist fighters, from a refugee camp near the Turkey-Syria border.

Recently, the Maldives has garnered significant media attention due to its government’s escalating tensions with India and increasing engagement with China. However, media and pundit speculation about a potential shift in Maldivian foreign policy, moving from an “India First” approach to a more China-leaning stance, has overshadowed an important domestic development: the decision of the Muizzu administration earlier this month to facilitate the repatriation of 21 Maldivian nationals from five families who had been residing in a refugee camp near the Turkey-Syria border.

This group primarily consists of widows and children of foreign terrorist fighters who had previously left the Maldives for Syria to join the country’s civil war.

Currently, it is estimated that over 100 Maldivians, consisting of widows and children of deceased foreign terrorist fighters of Maldivian origin, are living in refugee camps near the Turkey-Syria border. Some of these individuals have reached out to relatives in the Maldives, using them as intermediaries to request government assistance for repatriation.

Under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (2018-2023), the Maldives decided to facilitate the repatriation of all its nationals stranded in war zones, a policy continued by the current administration. This decision includes a commitment to ensure that returnees undergo necessary deradicalization programs, aiming to rehabilitate them and prevent the spread of extremist views within the general population. Additionally, if required, they would face criminal charges. To achieve these objectives, the Solih government significantly amended the country’s anti-terrorism legislation and established the NRC to temporarily house returnees

There is an urgent need to understand the allure of extremist ideologies, the factors that drive individuals to participate in foreign conflicts, and the willingness of some radicalized individuals to commit acts of violence both within the Maldives and in foreign conflict zones. Alarmingly, from 2013 to 2018 coinciding with the administration of former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom, the Maldives had the grim distinction of having the world’s highest per capita rate of its citizens joining foreign terrorist groups — over 250 from a population of less than 500,000. Many were initially emboldened by the Islamic State’s 2014 declaration of a caliphate; several have since been killed, including by rival terrorist groups.

Domestically, the Maldives has experienced a series of increasingly brazen and violent terrorist acts.

Additionally, in July 2023, the United States Treasury Department blacklisted nearly 30 Maldivian companies suspected of financing terrorist entities including al-Qaida and the Islamic State.

Thus, as the Maldives confronts the challenges of repatriation and stemming the flow of terrorist fighters, it becomes clear that these are symptoms of a much wider issue of religious extremism, a problem that successive Maldivian administrations have struggled to fully address.

>>20425381

Islamic extremism in the Maldives

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/national/opinion-south-asia-restless-over-islamic-extremism-in-the-maldives-4525710

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Excerpts

In the Maldives, Islam is not only the state religion; citizens are expected to practice it per the country's new Constitution from 2008.

Article 9 (d) of the Constitution declares that "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives," whereas "Islam is the religion of the State of the Maldives and the basis for all Maldivian laws would be Islam," stated Article 10(a).

Under the leadership of President Solih, the Maldivian government implemented the 'Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy' of the United Nations to combat terrorism and violent extremism. The country has also joined the Saudi-led 'Islamic Military Alliance' to fight terrorism.

Following the "Prevention of Terrorism Act," the Maldivian government published a "watch list" of 17 terrorist organizations on 19 September 2019. Organizations like the Islamic State (IS)/ISIS, al-Qa'ida, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Harkat ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI) are among those on the list, based on recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and endorsed by former President Solih.

The committee study also disclosed that the Maldives' security establishments, including the police, military, immigration division, and education ministry, were being targeted by both al-Qa'ida and the Islamic State (IS), two global terrorist organizations. The Maldivians' ties to al-Qa'ida and IS began in 2008 and 2014, respectively. In 2014, several Maldivians responded to the call made by the first self-styled caliph of the IS- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and did hijra (emigration) to IS-controlled territory in Iraq.

Unlike strong ties between India-Maldives under the leadership of former President Solih, the bilateral relationship is facing a tough time under President Muizzu's leadership. Like former President Abdulla Yameen's "India Out" campaign, Muizzu's "India-Out" campaign refreshed the memories of the 2013 elections. Having pro-China sentiments, Muizzu's campaign was supported by China to counter India's presence in Maldives' security environment.

During a press conference in January 2024, President Muizzu targeted India by saying, "We may be small, but this does not give them the license to bully us". His comment came after he visited China and met with Xi Jinping. Under the influence of China, Muizzu announced the relocation/withdrawal of Indian Army personnel from one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by 15 March 2024. Anti-Bharat statements and actions by President Muizzu will further deteriorate bilateral relations between Bharat-Maldives and jeopardise the security milieu of the Island nation.

A report by the European Election Observation Mission on "Presidential Election Maldives 2023" revealed that in an attempt to influence public opinion and manipulate election results, the present Maldivian government, which is a coalition of the People's National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM), carried out misinformation campaign on social media platforms with an emphasis on anti-Bharat sentiments.

The presence of al-Qa'ida in the Maldives was revealed via the Meta/Facebook page of Bilad al- Sham Media (BaSM), an extremist group linked with Jabhat al-Nursa (JN). The BaSM claimed to be the media representative for Maldivian foreign (terrorist) combatants in Syria.9 In 2009, hundreds of Maldivians were recruited by terror groups such as the Taliban and al-Qa'ida affiliates in Pakistan and Afghanistan.10 In November 2009, al-Qa'ida's media wing published a film featuring Ali Jaleel, aka Musab Sayyid-a Maldivian native who had joined a pro-Taliban organisation in Pakistan, killed after a suicide attack on the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) HQ in Lahore on 27 May 2009.

>>20425381

>>20425392

“USAID to Provide Additional $7.2M of Assistance to Maldives”

https://mv.usmission.gov/usaid-assistance-maldives/

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Maldives signed an amended agreement for an additional $7.2 million in U.S. support over the next year.

The Development Objective Grant Agreement amendment was signed in a ceremony on June 5th, 2023, by Gabriel Grau, United States Chargé d’Affaires for Maldives, and Ahmed Khaleel, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Maldives.

The new amendment will add an estimated US$7.2 million (110.8 million Maldivian Rufiyaa) of U.S. assistance to Maldives. It brings the total U.S. support to the island nation since the initial development agreement was signed in 2019 to approximately US$36 million (554.4 million Maldivian Rufiyaa). These funds will support programming to strengthen democratic governance, individual and community resilience, environmental conservation, and climate change adaptation.

“This comprehensive agreement will enable us to broaden our cooperation with the Maldivian people and their government to advance joint U.S.- Maldives priorities and reinforces our support to the people of Maldives to realize their aspirations for a more stable and prosperous future,” Chargé Grau said.

>>20425407

>Gabriel Grau

>>20425392

>>20425381

There is no mention of terrorism below.

“Administrator Samantha Power at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Incoming Mission Director for Maldives Gabriel “Gabe” Grau”

https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/speeches/jun-13-2022-administrator-power-swearing-ceremony-incoming-mission-director-sri-lanka-maldives-gabriel-grau

Monday, June 13, 2022

Excerpts

And I should say that Gabriel Sr. is himself a lifelong public servant. He worked initially as an engineer in Colombia, but then was recruited, plucked by the World Health Organization, went to FAO, and made a major contribution within the UN family.

But Gabe worked hard at his languages, and his skills came in handy when he was drafted into the Colombian army as a high school senior. Thanks to his strengths in English, he was sent to the Sinai Peninsula, where he worked as an English-Spanish translator for a high-ranking military official.

His time in the military, his knack for languages, and his childhood spent traveling and living in diplomatic communities around the world deepened his love for diplomacy and international work. And it led him, eventually, to USAID as a career Foreign Service Officer. His 21 years at the Agency have taken him to Thailand, Bangladesh, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Djibouti, Peru, and Afghanistan.

Nowhere was that more evident than in Afghanistan, where Gabe served as our Deputy Mission Director. From the moment he arrived, Gabe got to work strengthening the Mission’s relationship and engagement with our Afghan Foreign Service Nationals. He re-initiated the Foreign Service National Committee and worked to help make sure women colleagues had a voice in that forum. He served as our local staff’s main point of contact in the leadership of the Mission.

Last fall, after we evacuated most of our Afghan staff, Gabe worked around the clock to help 140 of our team find refuge in the United States. All of them had to leave behind possessions, homes, and most importantly, family members, arriving on American soil at one of eight camps before finding homes across the country.

Gabe’s work in Afghanistan is just one powerful example of his deep commitment to his work at USAID and the Agency’s broader mission—a commitment that makes him a perfect fit for this new role: Mission Director for USAID Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Meanwhile, Maldives faces crises of its own. A small nation spread across dozens of islands and atolls, Maldives is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing a rising threat of sinking into the Indian Ocean. Economically, development across the atolls is far from uniform, requiring a range of community-specific economic solutions and efforts to strengthen local governance and inclusivity.

American engagement is expanding in Maldives as well. Originally small and mostly focused on environmental issues, our USAID Mission has since grown to include programs supporting democracy and governance and fostering economic growth and resilience. The U.S. has just announced a new embassy in Maldives, and the first ever U.S. Ambassador to Maldives will be named while Gabe is Mission Director.

Both Sri Lanka and Maldives are going through times of immense turmoil and change.

>>20425438

>Maldives is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing a rising threat of sinking into the Indian Ocean.

“Egg on Their Faces: The Maldives Still Above the Waves 30 Years After Environmentalist Prediction”

https://pjmedia.com/tyler-o-neil/2018/09/21/egg-on-their-faces-the-maldives-still-above-the-waves-30-years-after-environmentalist-prediction-n61028

TYLER O'NEIL | 2:04 PM ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

On September 26, 2018, all 1,196 Maldives Islands will be under water, or so our environmentalist betters told us in 1988. Next week, the Maldives will go “poof,” just like Atlantis. Here’s the thing — the islands are actually getting bigger, and the climate alarmists have egg on their faces.

Very interesting discussion

Tucker Carlson 2/16/24 | Tucker Carlson February 16, 2024; Mike Benz Discusses Rick [Richard] Stengel

https://youtu.be/jpGU2NzVwgg

https://twitter.com/i/status/1758529993280205039

22:43 – “Can you give us an example of how… the National Security State lies to the population, censors the truth in real life? So we have this State Department outfit called the Global Engagement Center which was created by a guy named Rick Stengel who described himself as Obama’s propagandist and chief. He was the Under Secretary for Public Affairs which is essentially the liaison office role between the State Department and the Mainstream Media. So this is basically the exact nexus where government talking points about war or about diplomacy or statecraft get synchronized with mainstream media… He [Stengel] made the argument … that essentially the Constitution was not prepared for the internet and we need to get rid of the First Amendment accordingly… He started something called the Global Engagement Center which was the first government censorship operation within the federal government. It was foreign facing so it was okay.”

He had so much more to say about Rick Stengel.

https://factsbuddy.com/richard-stengel/

He was born to his parents in New York City. Richard was brought up by a Jewish family in Westchester County.

He is happily married to a native of South Africa called Mary Pfaff… Richard and Mary met while he was in South Africa working on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography. Mandela was godfather to the couple’s oldest son, Gabriel.

https://richardstengel.com/

Richard Stengel is the former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs in the Obama administration. Prior to serving in government, Stengel was the Editor of TIME for seven years. He was also the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center. In the 1990s, he collaborated with Nelson Mandela on the South African’s bestselling autobiography, “Long Walk to Freedom.” The many hours of taped interviews from that time were the basis of Stengel’s 10-part award-winning audiobook, “Mandela: The Lost Tapes,” from Audible. Stengel is the author of a number of books, the most recent of which is “Information Wars: How We Lost the Global Battle Against Disinformation.” He is also a political analyst for MSNBC.

Under his leadership, TIME won the National Magazine award for Magazine of the Year in 2012, the only time it has ever done so. In that same year, Stengel received an Emmy award for his work as executive producer of TIME’s documentary, “Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience.” In addition to “Information Wars,” Stengel is also the author of “January Sun: One Day, Three Lives, a South African Town,” “You’re Too Kind: A Brief History of Flattery,” “The Constitution: The Essential User’s Guide” from TIME, and “Mandela’s Way,” a NYT-bestselling memoir of his time working with the South African leader. Stengel is on the board of CARE, the global poverty relief organization. He attended Princeton University where he played on the 1975 NIT championship basketball team. He then studied English at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

“The "Old Money" Family That Controls Africa: The Oppenheimers”

https://youtu.be/AtdpTRQwFeY

Jan 5, 2024

In this video, we dive into the remarkable story of the Oppenheimer family, a dynasty whose influence has extended far beyond the shores of Africa, shaping the global diamond industry and beyond.

His revolutionary marketing strategies transformed the diamond industry, and his political influence is examined, particularly in the context of apartheid-era South Africa.

We then shift to the controversies and ethical issues surrounding the diamond industry, particularly the accusations of monopolistic practices and the impact of cultural references like the film "Blood Diamond" and Kanye West's song "Diamonds From Sierra Leone."

These cultural phenomena brought increased scrutiny to the ethical and environmental implications of diamond mining.

The story culminates with the Oppenheimer family's strategic decision in 2012 to sell their stake in De Beers, marking the end of their direct involvement in the diamond industry but not their influence in global business.

We explore their subsequent investments in diverse sectors, highlighting their continued economic impact in Africa and beyond.

>>20407809

“ICJ REJECTS South Africa's plea to intervene in Gaza”

https://youtu.be/8ZsqzwOqNSo

Feb 16, 2024

“ICJ to hold public hearings tomorrow”

https://youtu.be/rvf5rX6hWfU

Feb 18, 2024

Public hearings in the advisory proceedings on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, will commence on Monday at the International Court of Justice.

This is a separate case from the one brought by South Africa against Israel questioning its compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention concerning its current military offensive in Gaza.

The United Nations General Assembly voted in December 2022 to request an advisory opinion from the World Court.

>>20434939

>The United Nations General Assembly voted in December 2022 to request an advisory opinion from the World Court.

That's nice, their "advisory opinion" is meaningless

The public hearings are nothing more than a stage, watch how many of those Palestinian Statehood groups show up

>>20407598

>>20407571

“KZN SALGA decries increase in political killings”

https://youtu.be/5fafjAEe89Q

Feb 14, 2024

2:59 – “You would remember that in September that inter-ministerial task force that was in the province to deal with these political killings. We heard the provincial police commissioner in the province in […] speak about the fact that one of the major things that they discovered as they were busy investigating these political cases is that some of their own were involved and it’s not only just illegal firearms that are being used but firearms that are also belonging to certain police personal who belong within their ranks.”

4:50 – “So he’s saying another major issue is the issue of arrest where they are arresting the hitmen but their handlers are essentially not being arrested.”

‘Killings a direct attack on democracy’

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/political-killings-concern-over-politicians-inflammatory-language/

14 Feb 2024 03:22 pm

The local government oversight body in KZN has questioned the effectiveness of the police.

The South African Local Government Association (Salga) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has expressed concern over political killings as this year’s elections edge closer.

Speaking in a media briefing, KZN Salga chairperson Thami Ntuli said the sudden surge in political killings was “worrying”.

“What is increasing our worry as Salga in KwaZulu-Natal is the heavily contested political reign in the province [which] has a history of black-on-black violence,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“What is also not helping is some of our political leaders who are using inflammatory language during their campaign instead of sticking to political diplomacy while wooing voters, thus, the incidents of the past few weeks are worrying and something should be done by the police and those in power to arrest this situation.

“If we fail to act now, we will become like countries like Colombia where politicians are killed everyday,” the Salga provincial chair said.

He also said the fact that no one has been arrested for any of the four killings that happened in parts of KZN last month raised concerns about the effectiveness of the police.

“In countries where law enforcement officers are effective, these cases would have been cracked long ago and the alleged killers facing justice,” Ntuli continued.

“We all know that out of the many councillors killed since the current term of office that started in 2021, only a few cases are in court. The rest have virtually become cold cases.

“All these political killings should be viewed as a direct attack on our democratic system. They are meant to weaken and render them ineffective. Killers and their handlers have turned politicians into sitting ducks and instilled fear in municipal workers who dare stand up when they see acts of corruption.”

He added: “The brazenness of the criminals who kill them shows that they knew there will not be any consequences for their actions.”

“Explosive claims against some of South Africa's magistrates”

https://youtu.be/YaVHyxs-d-k

Feb 18, 2024

DA MP Glynnis Brytenbach says there is no room for any judicial officer to manufacture evidence for or against anybody.

Breytenbach was reacting to explosive reports which included some magistrates, ranging from non-existing court proceedings, threats to journalists to having informants for intelligence units.

She says she has faith in the Magistrates' Commision to cleanse itself.

“Oppenheimer’s granddaughter backs RISE Mzansi with R15m”

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/oppenheimers-granddaughter-backs-rise-mzansi-with-r15m/

18 Feb 2024 01:22 pm

RISE Mzansi leader, Songezo Zibi, has confirmed the receipt of a R15m donation from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.

Rebecca Oppenheimer, the granddaughter of De Beers founder and former chair of the diamond company Harry Oppenheimer, has reportedly donated R15 million to newly registered party political party RISE Mzansi.

Rebecca is a board member of the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, where she is able to contribute to her family’s philanthropic endeavours in South Africa.

Party leader Songezo Zibi confirmed the receipt of this donation during an interview with the SABC this week.

RISE Mzansi was established in April 2023 and was officially register by the former editor of Financial Mail and the Business Day in October last `year.

The party has since been gaining a massive amount of support and donations following its inception. It also received just over R500 000 from Kairos Communications.

Other donors to the party that has been declared, are businesses Main Street and Injozi Design.

https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/rise-mzansi-receives-r167-million-in-funding-with-oppenheimer-pumping-in-most-of-the-money-3b425d57-0f4b-42fc-8d0f-8b27ddeea4ec

Oppenheimer, who is the granddaughter of mining magnate Harry Oppenheimer, has over the last few years been donating to the DA and ActionSA.

“Understanding Vaal's water lettuce crisis”

https://youtu.be/uJYHYvaxQWY

1:10 – “Under ideal conditions as we have at this point in time, we have really good weather… and unfortunately the water is polluted significantly. That pollution comes from either wastewater treatment plants that are working inefficiently upstream.” [Why not address the cause? ‘A Tsunami of Human Waste’: Half of South Africa’s Sewage Treatment Works Are Failing, Says Report, https://www.circleofblue.org/2022/world/a-tsunami-of-human-waste-half-of-south-africas-sewage-treatment-works-are-failing-says-report/]

“Spraying of controversial herbicide on Vaal River water lettuce begins – critics urge caution” 1 of 2

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-15-spraying-of-controversial-herbicide-on-vaal-river-water-lettuce-begins-critics-urge-caution/

15 Feb 2024

As the invasive water lettuce continues to multiply along the Vaal River, Rand Water has begun an integrated response to halt the growth, spraying herbicide on the plants and releasing weevils as biological control agents. While the response is seen by some as necessary to urgently address socioeconomic implications, it’s seen as controversial by others.

Rand Water was given an urgent general authorisation by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to begin an integrated approach to manage the water lettuce, which includes physical removal, biocontrol and chemical application, as advised by experts by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE).

Glyphosate-containing herbicide was sprayed on the invasive water lettuce in sections of the Vaal River on 13 February in a sub-lethal dose. Rand Water said specific formulations of the glyphosate that were recommended are made based on DFFE expert opinion and research and this work is being monitored for compliance.

This has caused some controversy with many people concerned that using glyphosate-based herbicides – which is the most heavily applied herbicide in the world – would affect human health and drinking water.

Bettina Genthe, an independent consultant, previously at CSIR, has 40 years of experience in environmental health related to water quality. Genthe told Daily Maverick that she was concerned to hear they were using glyphosate because recent studies had shown that this widely used chemical herbicide could contaminate drinking water sources and air, could cause neurological diseases, and had been categorised by the World Health Organization as a probable human carcinogen.

However, Genthe said, “the dose is everything,” and that if Rand Water was using glyphosate only as an interim measure, and not routinely spraying the chemical, the exposure length would be less harmful. If the dose was repeatedly sprayed, it resulted in a higher dose in total, “because there would be adverse health effects in higher doses and on a prolonged basis”.

>>20445866

“Spraying of controversial herbicide on Vaal River water lettuce begins – critics urge caution” 2 of 2

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-15-spraying-of-controversial-herbicide-on-vaal-river-water-lettuce-begins-critics-urge-caution/

15 Feb 2024

The area that is currently being affected by the water lettuce is below the abstraction points for Rand Water (Rand Water extracts from Vaal Dam). However, downstream of the spraying is a supply source for a major crop irrigation project (the Vaal-Harts government irrigation scheme).

Dr Ferrial Adam, executive director of citizen science organisation WaterCAN, said “while glyphosate may not have been sprayed in close proximity to Rand Water’s extraction areas, concerns arise regarding downstream water users’ potential impact”.

Dr Samuel Motitsoe, an aquatic ecologist based at Wits University, said, “I think we should, by all means, stay away from chemical control/spraying in any dose because this is simply a quick fix and never sustainable.

Professor Anthony Turton, a water resource management specialist at the University of Free State, holds similar views, stating that he is opposed to the use of glyphosate and that its use is irresponsible.

Turton said that along with glyphosate having an international reputation for being extremely controversial, he noted that the Water Research Commission’s 2023 study on glyphosate levels in SA cautioned that there were human health impacts that were as yet not fully understood.

“The report suggests that there is a very strong possibility of intergenerational impacts from the DNA-altering characteristics of this chemical,” said Turnton.

Adam also advocated against continued spraying of glyphosate, which has been banned in many countries around the world, and for bioremediation efforts.

“Red flags in SA DRC deployment: R2B, operational constraints, strategy, Rwanda - Prof Esterhuyse”

https://youtu.be/a_SETG1IxDY

Feb 14, 2024

South Africa’s military is leading a mission of troops in collaboration with the Southern African Development Council (SADC), to neutralise M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after the withdrawal of 2000 United Nations peacekeepers. The deployment of 2,900 soldiers to the eastern part of the DRC will cost over R2 billion this year. President Cyril has said that the deployment of the force is South Africa’s international obligation. However, Prof Abel Esterhuyse from the Department of Strategic Studies at Stellenbosch has identified several red flags. He said although there is a broader issue of stability in Africa and for SADC, it is not clear what the national interest in the DRC conflict is. Prof Esterhuyse stated that South Africa is facing extremely difficult logistical and operational challenges for the DRC mission, which is not essentially a peacekeeping mission. A lack of infrastructure means no trains or roads for logistical support and airlifts would be needed to sustain the force which South Africa does not have. Additionally, there is a clash of interests with Rwanda, equipment incompatibility between the different SADC forces and a potential soldier morale problem as medical support would be complex. The military involvement is also taking place against a backdrop of severe SANDF funding constraints. Prof Esterhuyse pointed out that South African Military (SAMIL) trucks date back to 1981. He also wanted to know whether the R2 billion for the DRC mission would come out of the already challenged Defence Budget of R50 billion and whether the government has an exit strategy. Commenting on global tensions, he said, “The bigger picture is that we are increasingly seeing the kind of divide we saw in the 1930s with the democratic world on the one side and the autocratic world on the other, and there is growing tension between the two worlds.”

4:58 – “We’re sitting in essence with a complex emergency if I could call it like that with the main agent at the moment the M23 rebels but the M23 rebels is supported by the Rwandese and a number of countries within the Great Lakes region and so that makes it a very very complex situation. I mean keep in mind that we are supposed to work with the Rwandese in solving the issue in Mozambique… So here we ‘re sitting with a bit of what I want to call clash of interest between South Africa and Rwanda, yet we working together with one another in Mozambique.”

https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/two-sandf-members-killed-three-hospitalised-in-drc/

“Two SANDF members killed, three hospitalised in DRC”

15 February 2024, 11:27 [SAST]

>>20445882

>We’re sitting in essence with a complex emergency if I could call it like that with the main agent at the moment the M23 rebels but the M23 rebels is supported by the Rwandese and a number of countries within the Great Lakes region and so that makes it a very very complex situation. I mean keep in mind that we are supposed to work with the Rwandese in solving the issue in Mozambique… So here we ‘re sitting with a bit of what I want to call clash of interest between South Africa and Rwanda, yet we working together with one another in Mozambique.

“Rwanda Just Warned & Blocked UN Support For South Africa-led Force in Congo!”

https://youtu.be/pC5Bo41PvQ4

Feb 19, 2024

Rwanda has written to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warning the international body that it could spark a regional war if it provides any support to the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).

A peaceful solution is the best alternative to the crisis in the eastern DRC, it said.

1:15 – “The roots of the [DRC] conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 [and South Africa got a new government]. The genocide which resulted in the mass killing of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda, led to an influx of refugees including both perpetrators and victims into the eastern regions of the DRC.”

4:31 – “During the first and second Congo wars, Rwanda and Uganda South sought to support rebel movements and install leaders sympathetic to their interests in the DRC. Control over valuable natural resources in the eastern DRC including minerals like coltan, gold and diamonds has been a significant motivation. Some experts have argued that Rwanda among other neighbouring countries, has been illicitly exploiting these resources contributing the perpetuation of conflict.”

5:35 – “The tensions have accelerated after the United Nations Security Council’s plan to support the South African led forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

6:42 – “The involvement of external forces in the DRC, especially those led by South Africa under the SADC umbrella, is viewed by Rwanda as an interference that could exacerbate the already complex regional dynamics.”

“Rwandan government tried to silence opponents, Human rights watch report claims”

https://youtu.be/GAGbPKxB_r4

Jan 26, 2024

“Exiled Rwandan politician shot dead in Cape Town”

https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/exiled-rwandan-politician-shot-dead-in-cape-town-46f2ffb9-0e96-4c09-af25-83e4eaf3e432

Published Feb 22, 2021

A Rwandan opposition politician, Seif Bamporiki, living in exile in South Africa, was shot dead while delivering a bed to a client in Nyanga on Sunday afternoon.

It is not clear whether the murder was politically motivated, but a Twitter user alleged Bamporiki, co-ordinator of the Rwanda National Congress [an arm of the African National Congress?] of General Kayumba Nyamwasa, was ’’assassinated by Rwanda’s external intelligence operatives using silencer handguns’’.

In May 2019, Camir Nkurunziza, a Rwandan refugee and political activist living in South Africa, was shot dead in Cape Town.

The car of the former member of the Rwanda National Congress, who had fled Rwanda after serving the presidential guard, had been hijacked before he was shot.

In 2013, one of the Rwanda National Congress’s founders [Rwanda's former intelligence chief], Patrick Karegeya, was killed in his hotel room in Johannesburg.

Another opposition figure, Kayumba Nyamwasa, survived an alleged assassination attempt in 2010 in South Africa.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-56119088

Another RNC founding member, former army chief Gen Faustin Nyamwasa was shot and wounded in Johannesburg in 2010.

The attacks caused a huge diplomatic row between South Africa and Rwanda in 2014.

South Africa expelled three Rwandan diplomats after accusing them of links to the murder and attempted murder of Rwandan dissidents living in the country.

Rwanda's government dismissed the allegation.

>>20407571

> Already during the exile years internal power struggles led to assassinations and showed the brute force inherent in liberation struggles, even within their own ranks. This willingness to resort to violence was seen on a massive scale after independence as it was turned against political opponents

>>20446076

>The roots of the [DRC] conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 [and South Africa got a new government].

>>20446222

“Rwanda's disappearing dissidents” 1 of 2

https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-the-mysterious-deaths-of-political-opponents/a-59182275

September 15, 2021

DW has put together a list of mysterious deaths and disappearances of people critical of Rwanda's government. Monday's killing of businessman Revocant Karemangingo in Mozambique is the latest.

The death of former Rwandan lieutenant Revocant Karemangingo, a critic of President Paul Kagame, is the latest addition to a list DW has compiled of Rwandan opposition voices that have died under suspicious circumstances.

The regime of President Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda since 1994 in effect, is accused of suppressing dissenting views.

International rights groups claim that opposition politicians, journalists, and activists both in Rwanda and abroad have also been killed or made to disappear after criticizing Kagame or his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party.

Mysterious deaths

Revocant Karemangingo, 2021

Millionaire businessman Revocant Karemangingo was sprayed with bullets by gunmen near his home in Maputo. The outspoken Kagame critic had settled in Mozambique after being ousted from his home country in 1994. The Rwandan government has denied any involvement in the killing. However, Cleophas Habiyaremye, president of the association of Rwandan refugees in Mozambique, rejects the denial. "If there is any real independent inquiry, Kagame and his government should be held responsible," Cleophas Habiyaremye told DW.

Ntamuhanga Cassien, 2021

Rwandan journalist Ntamuhanga Cassien disappeared in Maputo in May after being taken into custody by Mozambican police, and has not been heard from since. There are rumors he was handed over to Rwanda.

Abdallah Seif Bamporiki, 2021

The leading Rwandan opposition politician and member of the Rwanda National Congress was shot dead in South Africa, where he was living in exile. South African police initially said they were treating the killing as a robbery. A week before his murder, Bamporiki had led a memorial service for Rwandan opposition activists killed worldwide.

Kizito Mihigo, 2020

The singer and government critic died under suspicious circumstances in police custody. Police claim Mihigo strangled himself — but days before his arrest, hereported to Human Rights Watch that he was being threatened.

Anselme Mutuyimana, 2019

The assistant to Victoire Ingabire, president of the opposition United Democratic Forces (FDU-Inkingi) party, was found dead in the woods in 2019. The year before, Mutuyimana had been freed from a six-year prison sentence for "political activism."

Jean Damascene Habarugira, 2017

The opposition politician disappeared after being called to a meeting with an officer responsible for local security. A few days later, authorities called Habarugira's family to collect his body from a local hospital.

>>20446234

“Rwanda's disappearing dissidents” 2 of 2

https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-the-mysterious-deaths-of-political-opponents/a-59182275

September 15, 2021

Illuminee Iragena, 2016

The opposition activist went missing in 2016, and has not been seen since. There are fears she was forcibly disappeared.

Patrick Karegeya, 2014

The former Rwandan intelligence chief was found dead in a hotel room in South Africa. He had fled to South Africa in 2007 after allegedly plotting a coup against President Kagame. According to a 2019 article in The Guardian, before his death, several Rwandans in South Africa had warned Karegeya that Rwanda's military intelligence was looking to hire contract killers.

Theogene Turatsinze, 2012

The former head of the Rwanda Development Bank was found dead in 2012 in a river near Maputo, days after he went missing. Before he was fired from his position, Turatsinze was believed to have taken with him to Mozambique a list of clandestine payments made by top Rwandan government officials.

Charles Ingabire, 2011

The Rwandan reporter founded Inyenyeri News site, which was highly critical of Rwanda's government. Ingabire was shot and killed in Uganda, where he lived as a political refugee.

Andre Kagwa Rwisereka, 2010

The deputy chairman of Rwanda's Democratic Green Party was found murdered and partially beheaded in Rwanda in 2010. An inquiry into his murder by Rwanda's Bureau of Investigation never saw the light of day.

Jean-Leonard Rugambage, 2010

The journalist was shot dead in 2010 after he published an online article about the attempted murder of a former army chief, Lieutenant-General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa. Rugambage was viewed as highly critical of  Kagame's government.

Seth Sendashonga, 1998 

A moderate ethnic Hutu involved in the post-genocide unity government with Kagame's RPF party, Sendashonga served as interior minister until he fell out with the RPF before Kagame became president in 2000. Sendashonga survived an attempt on his life while in exile in Kenya, but was subsequently killed by unknown gunmen in 1998.

Theoneste Lizinde, 1996

The former intelligence official was found dead in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1996.

Suppressing the opposition

Opposition politician Victoire Ingabire, who served eight years in prison, told DW in 2020 that the "political space in Rwanda is closed."

At the time of the interview, Ingabire was the leader of the FDU-Inkingi opposition party.

"I was in prison and spent eight years [there], and when I was released, I thought the government of Rwanda was ready to open up the political space. But one month later, our vice president disappeared. Four months later, my assistant was killed. In July, our representative in [an] eastern province disappeared; yesterday, our national coordinator was murdered," Ingabira said in a 2020 interview with DW.

Although Ingabire did not blame President Kagame for the murder of her party members, she said the killings were politically motivated, and warned that many more would die under the regime she described as a dictatorship.

“11th World Governments Summit |One-on-one conversation with President Kagame”

https://youtu.be/YX43v0N262c

Paul Kagame

https://www.weforum.org/people/paul-kagame/

Made an early commitment to fight for national liberation and led a military struggle that ended the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. 18 August 2017, sworn in for third term as President of the Republic of Rwanda. Has transformed Rwanda into a nation that is progressing rapidly towards its ambitious vision for socioeconomic development, peace and reconciliation. 2010-15, Chair, United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Group on the Millennium Development Goals. Co-Chair, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Broadband Commission. July 2016, appointed by African Union member states to lead the ongoing reforms process aimed at transforming the African Union into an efficient, productive and financially independent institution. Addresses regional and international audiences on a range of developmental and leadership issues. Recipient of honours and awards for leadership in peace building and reconciliation, development, good governance, promotion of human rights and women’s empowerment, and advancement of education and information and communications technologies. Interests: tennis; football.

https://moneyinc.com/richest-president-in-the-world/

Updated on November 20, 2023

• Country: President - Rwanda

• Age: 66. (2023).

• Net Worth: According to CA Knowledge, the net worth of Paul Kagame exceeds $510 million. (2023)

• Source of Wealth: Paul Kagame's personal wealth is not publicly disclosed in great detail, so it is speculated that his role as president and the benefits of his political role played a significant role in the collection of his wealth.

Paul Kagame is a Rwandan politician who has been Rwanda's president for more than two decades. He was born in southern Rwanda – in Tambwe, to a Tutsi family, but his family was forced to flee to Uganda, where he spent his childhood. He is also a former Rwandan military officer of the Rwandan Patriotic Front – the armed rebels that ended the Rwandan genocide during the country's civil war. Rwanda's economy has grown rapidly under Kagame's presidency as his economic policies were based on the objective of liberalizing the nation's economy and reducing required red tape for businesses.

>>20445882

>>20446076

>>20446222

>>20446234

>>20446240

>>20446459

Guess what the outcome will be.

“Rwanda's Kagame says he will run for fourth term • FRANCE 24 English”

https://youtu.be/vnTLHEOGEvQ

Sep 21, 2023

0:05 – “The Rwandan President has been holding the highest office for over 23 years.”

0:34 – “Last April, Kagame was re-elected as the head of his party, RPF, with 99% of the votes. The same score was also seen in the last Presidential elections in 2017, marking the beginning of his 3rd term after amending the Constitution in 2015 to allow for his re-election… This long stay in power… has always been criticized by his opponents, NGOs and Western diplomats.”

https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2015-12-30/rwanda-referendum-approves-extended-presidential-terms/

(Dec. 30, 2015) On December 19, 2015, Rwandan citizens approved a referendum to amend the country’s Constitution. Reportedly, 98% of the voters agreed to the revision of article 101. The change will permit the current president, Paul Kagame, to remain in office for a third seven-year term beginning in 2017, to be followed by two possible five-year terms. (Bradley McAllister, Rwanda Voters Approve Constitutional Referendum to Extend Presidential Term Limit, PAPER CHASE (Dec. 19, 2015).)

>>20446222

>>20446240

>Patrick Karegeya

>>20446076

>The roots of the [DRC] conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994

“The Dark Side of Rwanda’s Rebirth” 1 of 2

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/29/the-dark-side-of-rwandas-rebirth/

MAY 29, 2021, 6:00 AM

Michela Wrong’s Do Not Disturb: The Story of Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad is the fascinating account of how Kagame and his regime have come to embody this macabre dialogue between the dead and the living, which continues to haunt the region.

Conflict in the region has killed millions of civilians over the years. The drivers, however, remain the same: exclusion and marginalization of citizens, power abuses, and disregard for human life—a situation that in the name of peace and stability the United Nations and Western powers have often been complicit in.

Wrong’s book achieves the rare feat of being both a historical chronicle and a rigorous analysis of current events. She anchors the book around the killing of Col. Patrick Karegeya, the exiled former head of the Rwandan External Security Organization who was strangled in his Johannesburg hotel suite on Dec. 31, 2013. Wrong weaves a trail of failed attempts and assassinations of high-profile Rwandans at home and abroad who had fallen out with the regime in Kigali.

Uganda is at the center of this story—and it is crucial to understanding what later happened in Rwanda. Wrong introduces her readers to Uganda’s turbulent political history through the power wrangling of the Milton Obote years from 1966 to 1971 and again from 1980 to 1985, the 1971 coup by Gen. Idi Amin Dada, and the travails of Gen. Tito Okello’s army of northerners from 1985 to 1986.

The Ugandan Bush War, waged by Gen. Yoweri Museveni and his National Resistance Army (NRA) from 1980 to 1986, offers lessons in guerrilla warfare reminiscent of Fidel Castro’s battle to topple Cuban President Fulgencio Batista. For a moment, the reader also gets a glimpse of a fleeting Pan-Africanism, which brought in support from Mozambique, Tanzania, and Libya.

The NRA’s success, however, also depended on the critical contribution of Banyarwanda refugee youths who had joined the group in significant numbers from its inception. Composed of Tutsis, Hutus, and Twas, the Banyarwanda community originated from Rwanda and settled in Uganda in waves dating back to the turn of the 20th century.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, during the pogroms of the Hutus against the Tutsis that took place from 1959 to 1964, between 40 and 70 percent of Tutsis left Rwanda. Of those fleeing, 50,000 to 70,000 went to Uganda, where they joined a larger community of Banyarwanda who had migrated to the area in the early 1900s and considered themselves fully Ugandan. The rest scattered across the region to Burundi, Tanzania, and Congo.

>>20451268

“The Dark Side of Rwanda’s Rebirth” 2 of 2

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/29/the-dark-side-of-rwandas-rebirth/

MAY 29, 2021, 6:00 AM

Among the early recruits was the teenager Emmanuel Gisa (nom de guerre Fred Rwigyema), who trained with Museveni in Tanzania and Mozambique. His family fled Rwanda in 1960 when he was 3 years old. One of Museveni’s original 27 fighters, Rwigyema participated in all the guerrilla war’s major and critical campaigns. The much-celebrated and decorated fighter would eventually become a major general and deputy commander of the NRA, the national army. Rwigyema recruited [Paul] Kagame—who had arrived in Uganda at the age of 2—into the NRA, where he served in intelligence. As a major after the war, Kagame attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

When Museveni took power in 1986, he faced instant, mounting public discontent over his reliance on the Banyarwanda, having rewarded them with key, sensitive positions. The backlash placed the president in a precarious situation and threatened his legitimacy in the eyes of the population.

For the Banyarwanda, service in the NRA did not shield them from xenophobic abuses. And for the refugees, it was a constant reminder that Uganda was not home. As Kagame once summed it up for a biographer, “You were always reminded, in one way or another, that you didn’t belong here. You have no place that you can call yours.”

In Rwanda, the Hutu regime of Juvénal Habyarimana refused to consider the return of the Banyarwanda, claimed that the country was full, and stripped them of their citizenship. For the Tutsis, the specter of ethnic cleansing remained ever present.

But the sons and daughters of refugees and migrants had had enough of the abuses and second-class citizenship in Uganda and set out to reclaim their rights and home in Rwanda.

For Museveni, there was only one optimal choice: support the exodus and arm them.

Wrong details the rise of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the world’s first refugee insurgency, under the command of Rwigyema, who was killed on the second day of the invasion and later replaced by Kagame.

The shooting down of Habyarimana’s plane on April 6, 1994, triggered the genocide and ended that peace process. The RPF eventually won the costly war, but 27 years later, a democratic Rwanda has yet to materialize.

The insurgency, and later the army and its Congolese allies, left a trail of alleged revenge killings of Hutus in Rwanda and in Congo and other crimes documented in series of reports, including the Gersony Report, the United Nations Mapping Report, the Garretón Report, and Alison Des Forges’s book Leave None to Tell the Story. Today, as a ruling party, the RPF has a firm grip on the country. It is also prone to regional adventurism.

>>20451271

>The shooting down of Habyarimana’s plane on April 6, 1994, triggered the genocide and ended that peace process.

“Rwandan President Kagame 'sparked 1994 genocide'”

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15165641

4 October 2011

A former ally of Rwandan President Paul Kagame has accused him of complicity in the death of a former president which sparked the 1994 genocide.

Theogene Rudasingwa said he heard Mr Kagame boast in 1994 that he ordered the shooting down of the plane carrying President Juvenal Habyarimana.

"By committing that kind of crime Kagame has the responsibility in the crime of genocide," he told the BBC.

President Kagame has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack.

Mr Rudasingwa, who lives in the US, has fallen out with Mr Kagame in recent years and was sentenced in absentia in March to a 24-year jail term for threatening state security and propagating ethnic divisions.

>>20451271

>For Museveni, there was only one optimal choice: support the exodus and arm them.

>Wrong details the rise of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), the world’s first refugee insurgency, under the command of Rwigyema, who was killed on the second day of the invasion and later replaced by Kagame.

Will Kagame and Museveni resolve their dispute?

https://youtu.be/AD2lMyp6nxE

Feb 21, 2020

“Can Museveni [Uganda] and Kagame’s [Rwanda] renewed bromance inspire regional peace?”

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/4/27/can-museveni-and-kagames-renewed-bromance-inspire-regional-peace

27 Apr 2022

Kampala, Uganda – Last weekend, Rwandan President Paul Kagame visited Uganda for the first time in nearly four years, a clear sign of thawing relations between the two countries.

Kagame was in Entebbe to attend a birthday dinner hosted by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni for his son, Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, 48, commander of land forces in the country’s army and a special presidential adviser.

The weeklong birthday celebrations across the country were full of pomp and grandeur.

Kainerugaba, increasingly seen as successor to his father who has been in power since 1986, said he was celebrating partly because of improved relations between both countries.

The younger Museveni has been at the centre of attempts to mend relations between both countries, having visited Rwanda twice in the past two months and held talks with Kagame whom he calls his uncle.

Those visits led to the reopening of the Katuna border in southwestern Uganda, the busiest border point between the two countries, which Kagame closed in January 2019.

Ties between Museveni and Kagame date back to the late 1970s. The latter was one of 27 rebels who launched a bush war in 1981, that brought Museveni to power five years later.

Until 1992, when he and other refugees launched a war that ended in his capture of power in his homeland, Kagame served as a senior military officer in the Ugandan army under his mentor, Museveni.

Since then, the Museveni-Kagame relationship has oscillated up and down. Some analysts have said the disagreements between the two heads of state are ideological, military and a feeling of lack of respect for each other.

Others have argued that the disagreement dates back to the 1980s, when Rwandan refugees felt they were never truly accepted and appreciated for their role in Museveni’s ascendancy to power.

Perhaps the earliest signs of a deterioration in their relationship came in 1999. Their armies fought each other in Kisangani, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after disagreeing on a strategy of deposing its leader Laurent Kabila whom they had helped become head of state in 1997.

In 2000, Uganda officially declared Rwanda a hostile state. Both states deployed personnel at border points in anticipation of attacks; Kampala hosted Rwandan citizens considered hostile to Kigali and vice versa.

It took the diplomatic intervention of Clare Short, the then British minister for international development, to get the duo back on good terms.

>>20446076

>The roots of the [DRC] conflict can be traced back to the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide in 1994

>>20451271

>But the sons and daughters of refugees and migrants had had enough of the abuses and second-class citizenship in Uganda and set out to reclaim their rights and home in Rwanda.

“Explainer-Why fighting is flaring in eastern Congo and threatening regional stability”

https://www.aol.com/news/explainer-why-fighting-flaring-eastern-161001739.html

February 19, 2024 at 11:10 AM

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Violent clashes have escalated between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s army and Rwandan-backed M23 Tutsi-led rebels in eastern Congo, killing scores and displacing hundreds of thousands.

The fighting, in a war that has lasted decades, has increased the risk of an all-out conflict between Congo and Rwanda that could suck in neighbours and regional forces including South Africa, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi.

In the capital Kinshasa, and the North Kivu provincial capital Goma, Congolese have taken to the streets to protest against deteriorating security in the east and have accused the international community of not doing enough to hold Rwanda to account for its support for the rebels.

WHAT IS THE M23?

The M23, which refers to the March 23 date of a 2009 accord that ended a previous Tutsi-led revolt in eastern Congo, is the latest in a series of groups of ethnic Tutsi-led insurgents to rise up against Congolese forces.

The group has accused the government of Congo of not living up to the peace deal to fully integrate Congolese Tutsis into the army and administration. It also vows to defend Tutsi interests, particularly against ethnic Hutu militias like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda after participating in the 1994 genocide of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

In 2012 and 2013, M23 seized large parts of eastern Congo and entered Goma, a strategic economic hub, before they were chased out by Congolese and U.N. forces into Uganda and Rwanda.

In March 2022, the group launched a series of attacks and seized large areas of eastern Congo, saying the move was a defensive response to attacks by the FDLR, which it said was collaborating with the Congolese army. The Congolese army has denied working with the FDLR.

The government of Congo, U.N. officials and Western powers including the United States and Belgium have accused Rwanda of providing support for M23, including arms and soldiers, despite Rwanda's repeated denials.

Rwanda and Uganda have a long history of military intervention inside Congo. The two countries invaded in 1996 and 1998, claiming they were defending themselves against local militia groups.

>>20451317

>>20451271

>Rwigyema recruited [Paul] Kagame—who had arrived in Uganda at the age of 2—into the NRA, where he served in intelligence. As a major after the war, Kagame attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

“Anti-Rwanda protests spread throughout eastern DRC”

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/anti-rwanda-protests-spread-throughout-eastern-drc–4526998

Friday, February 16, 2024

• M23, or March 23 Movement, a largely Tutsi group, has been on the offensive over the past two years in Nord-Kivu, with combat recently intensifying around the provincial capital Goma

• Demonstrators called for the closing of the borders with Rwanda and Uganda, which has also been accused of supporting the rebels.

• Some also called for breaking off relations with the United States, France and Britain for their presumed connivance with Rwanda.

Protests against Rwanda and Western countries spread throughout eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, with demonstrators accusing them of complicity with a rebel group that wreaked havoc in the region.

“The years pass, the dead, the suffering and the trauma multiply in this part of the country,” said Adrien Zawadi, president of a local civil society organisation. “It must end.”

Western governments and the United nations accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23, though Kigali denies the claim.

Demonstrators called for the closing of the borders with Rwanda and Uganda, which has also been accused of supporting the rebels. Some also called for breaking off relations with the United States, France and Britain for their presumed connivance with Rwanda.

A similar demonstration in Kisangani in Tshopo province called for a declaration of war against Rwanda and breaking off relations with allegedly complicit Western countries.

Several hundred women on Wednesday marched in the capital Kinshasa to call for an end to the war, while a few youths burned cars and tyres outside Western embassies and United Nations offices.

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/protesters-tear-gassed-as-they-target-embassies-in-dr-congo-4523320

February 13, 2024

The M23 has seized vast swathes of North Kivu since emerging from dormancy in late 2021, in an area wracked by violence for decades following regional wars in the 1990s.

DRC authorities on Monday stepped up security outside embassies and UN buildings after they were targeted by protesters accusing the West of supporting M23.

On Saturday, embassy and United Nations vehicles were targeted by demonstrators. Protests broke out last week in Kinshasa and the southeastern city of Lubumbashi.

On Friday, dozens of youths demonstrated outside the French and British embassies and earlier in the week, in front of the US embassy.

Some more lip service.

“UN Security Council sanctions rebels in DR Congo as violence escalates”

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/un-security-council-sanctions-rebels-in-dr-congo-as-violence-escalates

21 Feb 2024

The United Nations Security Council has sanctioned the leaders of six armed groups fighting in the Democratic Republic of the Congo amid escalating violence in the country’s restive northeastern region.

“We are pleased that as of today, six additional armed group leaders will be designated by the UN DRC Sanctions Committee,” said Robert Wood, the United States deputy permanent representative to the UN, in a statement on Tuesday.

“These individuals are responsible for numerous abuses,” Wood said.

The committee imposed an arms embargo, travel ban, and asset freeze on two leaders of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), one leader from the Twirwaneho armed group, and one from the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC) rebels.

Also added to the UN list were the military spokesperson for the M23 Tutsi-led rebels and a leader with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), founded by Hutus who fled Rwanda after taking part in the 1994 genocide of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Tuesday’s decision comes as violence in the country’s northeast has displaced nearly seven million people in the past three decades as more than 120 armed groups vie for the mineral-rich region’s control. Civilians fleeing from fighting describe harrowing accounts of these groups’ violence, from summary executions and abductions to sexual violence.

Fighting there has renewed in intensity since the M23 rebel group picked up arms again in 2021 after being dormant for nearly a decade.

Kinshasa, alongside the US and the UN, accuses neighbouring Rwanda of backing the group. Kigali denies the allegations.

“Rwanda and the DRC must walk back from the brink of war,” Wood said.

While

“Rwanda and Uganda Commence Power Trade Through the 220kV 172 km Shango – Mbarara Power Interconnection”

https://www.topafricanews.com/2024/02/18/rwanda-and-uganda-commence-power-trade-through-the-220kv-172-km-shango-mbarara-power-interconnection/

18 February 2024

Following completion of interconnection and synchronization of the power grids of Rwanda and Uganda in June 2023 through 220kV 172 km Shango –Mbarara Interconnection, the two nations commenced trading of power in October 2023.

The Shango – Mbarara inter- connection was first conceived under the Northern Corridor Integration Infrastructure Projects. The project was taken up under NELSAP-CU led Inter- connection of Power Grids of NEL Countries project, which aimed to interconnect the power grids of five countries (Burundi, D.R Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda) through a 946km 220kV and 400kV Over-Head Transmission Lines (OHTLs) and 17 associate substations.

NELSAP-CU conducted Feasibility Studies and provided technical support during construction and synchronization of Rwanda-Uganda power interconnection. To facilitate completion and commissioning of this project NELSAP-CU, the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP), and the two countries, put into place working groups that consisted of planning, dispatching, protection and telecommunications engineers from the countries.

Rwanda and Uganda, through their national utilities Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) then signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to guide this power exchange process.

This transmission line was funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) General Outlook of Power Interconnections in the NEL Region The electric grids of Kenya and Uganda are in synchronized operation and a second transmission line running from Lessos in Kenya to Tororo and Bujagali is under implementation through NELSAP-CU. Grids of Rwanda and Burundi and part of Eastern D.R Congo are also connected at Ruzizi.

Rwanda-DRC interconnection has been in operation for six years through Gisenyi-Goma line. The grids of Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania are being connected through the 80MW Rusumo Hydroelectric Power Project.

Kenya and Tanzania are connected through ZTK Interconnection that runs from Isinya in Kenya to Arusha and Singida in Tanzania and onwards to Kabwe in Zambia. NELSAP-CU completed feasibili- ty for ZTK Interconnection in 2017 and organized a donor’s conference for its funding. The interconnection between Rwanda and Uganda was one of key missing links, whose commissioning has realized an integration of the electric grids of the five countries namely, Burundi, D.R Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Currently Feasibility studies are ongoing through NELSAP-CU for interconnection between DRC-Uganda and South Sudan-Uganda.

>>20242709

>Now South Africa has an ever increasing murder rate; 2019/2020 had 58 murders/day and 2022/2023 had 75 murders/day.

>>20395025

>In 2018, “Police Minister Bheki Cele says South Africans are living in a war zone where 57 citizens are murdered every day.”

“MORE lies from Bheki Cele: South Africa's Nightmare Unveiled in Q3 Crime Stats! | Ep 165”

https://youtu.be/RttloQosJNM

Feb 20, 2024

“REVEALED: A total of 86 people are KILLED every day in SA”

https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/revealed-a-total-of-86-people-are-killed-every-day-in-sa/ar-BB1ipR1E

17 February 2024

The recently released crime stats REVEALED that a total of 86 people are KILLED every day in South Africa. At the same time, a further 169.8 people are sexually assaulted every day in South Africa.

Despite these alarming stats, Police Minister Bheki Cele nonchalantly said the efforts by police ‘to prevent, combat, and arrest criminals are proving to be effective.’

CELE NONCHALANTLY SAID EFFORTS BY POLICE ARE PROVING TO BE EFFECTIVE

According to the SAPS’ report, the period between 1 October 2023 and 31 December 2023 saw South Africans suffering:

• 7,710 Murders (85,7 per day);

• 15,284 Sexual Offences (169,8 per day);

• 7,927 Attempted Murders (88 per day);

• 53,513 Assaults (GBH) (594,6 per day);

• 52,965 Assaults (common) (588,5 per day);

>>20451331

>African Development Bank (AfDB)

“South Africa: AfDB boosts Ramaphosa’s investment drive, eyes $27bn Just Transition fundraising” – Part 1

https://www.theafricareport.com/187429/south-africa-afdb-boosts-ramaphosas-investment-drive-eyes-27bn-just-transition-fundraising/

Posted on March 25, 2022 17:40

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has thrown its hat in the ring with Group of Seven (G7) partners to establish a Just Transition Facility to help South Africa raise $27bn for the country’s energy transition.

AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina, who is on a three-day charm offensive in South Africa that started on Tuesday, also came bearing a R42.5bn pledge from the multilateral financier on Thursday for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Investment Conference. This was the largest pledge made at the conference across all segments.

“Net zero cannot be done with zero financing. We supported [Eskom’s] Medupi coal power plant, now we will support the drive towards renewable energy for South Africa in its drive towards net zero emissions,” said Adesina in an address delivered at the fourth edition of the Investment Conference held at the Sandton Convention Centre.

A Ramaphosa brainchild, the conference first kicked off in 2018 with the aim to raise R1.2 trillion in investments over five years from domestic, regional, and international investors.

As part of his three-visit, Adesina held meetings with President Ramaphosa, G7 ambassadors credited in South Africa, and the African chapter of the Ambrosetti CEO Community, as well as made the address at the Investment Conference.

Adesina has been accompanied by a high-powered delegation of the bank’s senior executives: Swazi Tshabalala, Solomon Quaynor, Yacine Fal, Kevin Kariuki, and Leila Mokaddem.

“The … [AfDB], working in partnership with international partners, especially the G7 countries, plans to establish a Just Energy Transition Facility that will support South Africa to raise at least $27bn in support of its energy transition into renewable energy,” said Adesina to rousing applause at the Sandton Convention Centre.

“We will do it, without South Africa getting into debt,” added the AfDB president.

“I am delighted to announce that the … [AfDB] will commit R42.5bn in South Africa over the next five years. The African Development Bank believes in South Africa,” Adesina said.

The AfDB’s financing will support public and private sector investments in agriculture, renewable energy, transport, youth employment, health, vaccines, and manufacturing.

>>20452927

“South Africa: AfDB boosts Ramaphosa’s investment drive, eyes $27bn Just Transition fundraising” – Part 2

https://www.theafricareport.com/187429/south-africa-afdb-boosts-ramaphosas-investment-drive-eyes-27bn-just-transition-fundraising/

Posted on March 25, 2022 17:40

The AfDB’s current portfolio in South Africa totals $3.2bn:

• Financing to the private financial sector amounting to R16.5bn ($1.1bn), including support to the Development Bank of Southern Africa and lines of credit and trade finance facilities for leading domestic banks.

• A R6.2bn ($413m) loan to Transnet, the state-owned freight rail and logistics company that operates the country’s ports and port terminals.

• A total of R48bn ($3.2bn) for the energy sector, including Eskom’s capital expenditure and the Medupi power project.

To prepare for South Africa’s energy transition, Ramaphosa has set up a Presidential Climate Finance Task Team to lead the mobilisation of funds.

Daniel Mminele, a career central banker and the former CEO of big four bank Absa, will head the task team. The task team will lead engagements on the R131bn just transition partnership with the European Union, France, Germany, UK and the US.

Ramaphosa also revealed that the fourth instalment of the Investment Conference has helped his administration reach 95% of the R1.2-trn target.

Some of the largest pledges received at Thursday’s Investment Conference by sector came from: Scatec, R16bn in the energy sector; Ford, R16.4bn in the automotive sector; Renergen, R14bn in the mining beneficiation sector; Biovac, R2.5bn in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector; Telkom, R7bn in the infrastructure, property and logistics sector; and the New Development Bank, R21.7bn in the development finance institutions sector.

“With just one year left to go, we have now reached 95% of the ambitious target we set,” said the South African president.

>>20452927

>As part of his three-visit, Adesina held meetings with President Ramaphosa, G7 ambassadors credited in South Africa, and the African chapter of the Ambrosetti CEO Community

[Hillary Clinton at 0:39]

“The European House - Ambrosetti - Who we are”

https://youtu.be/9uwSTogTxgY

Jan 23, 2024

The European House - Ambrosetti is a professional Group, with 300 professionals, operating since 1965, which has grown significantly over the years, thanks also to the contributions of many of its Partners, developing numerous activities in Italy, Europe and the rest of the world. Today the Group has three offices in Italy and many abroad, in addition to other partnerships around the world. What distinguishes it is its ability to provide support to companies in the integrated and synergic management of the four critical aspects of value-creating processes: Seeing, Planning, Achieving and Optimizing. For over 50 years we have been working alongside Italian businesses and each year we provide consulting to about 1,500 clients, including more than 350 strategic scenarios and studies aimed at Italian and European institutions and companies, and around 120 governance pacts for family-run businesses. In addition, each year about 3,000 Italian and international experts are involved in more than 750 events we organize for over 18,000 managers whom we follow in their personal and professional paths to growth. The Group vaunts an invaluable international network of contacts on the highest level in the sectors in which it operates, including top-level decision-makers within multinational institutions and on an individual country level. Since 2013 The European House – Ambrosetti was named — in the category Best Private Think Tanks — the no. 1 think tank in Italy, the no. 4 think tank in the European Union and among the most respected independents in the world out of 11,175 on a global level (source: “Global Go To Think Tanks Report” of the University of Pennsylvania). The European House - Ambrosetti was recognized by Top Employers Institute as one of the 147 Top Employers 2024 in Italy. For more information, please visit www.ambrosetti.eu

To highlight a few of their Partners

https://www.ambrosetti.eu/en/topmanagement/

Valerio De Molli: “He was the local organizer of the 2004 Bilderberg meeting in Italy.”

Daniela Bianco: “She is also the Head of the “Health and Pharmaceutical” Practice and has handled many projects over the years in the field of strategy, organizational change and development of scenarios and sector studies for Italian and international clients… In 1997 she started working at Millward Brown and later, from 1998 to 2001, at Bayer.”

Paolo Borzatta: “He assisted several of the world’s largest companies in the development of their strategies. He has worked and lived in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China. In the last years, he has also been involved in strategic projects in Asia and in Africa. A substantial part of his advisory activity has been devoted to assisting European and Chinese enterprises in entering (respectively) the Chinese and European markets.”

Benedetta Brioschi: “Within the Food&Beverage and Sustainability Area, she carried out strategic studies and customised researcher for ADM – Associazione Distribuzione Moderna, Amadori, Cavit, Celli Group, Coldiretti, Conad, Coop, Parmacotto, Elior, Federalimentare, Federdistribuzione, Fiere di Parma, Italmercati, Nestlé, and many others.”

Carlo Cici: “Before joining The European House - Ambrosetti worked for Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Rga and EY.”

Gianluca Consonni: “From 1998 to 2006 he grew professionally in the software department of IBM, being repeatedly promoted to higher managerial positions.”

>>20452953

“CEO Community meeting with South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile - Jan. 2024”: Nhlanhla Nene and Maurizio Mariano

https://youtu.be/pqBpOnXBNks

Feb 1, 2024

South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile was the keynote speaker at the first 2024 meeting of The European House - Ambrosetti's #CEOCommunity – African Chapter.

A great opportunity to discuss the future of the country in a closed-door session chaired by Nhlanhla Nene (Chairman of TEHA Africa) and Maurizio Mariano (Deputy Chairman of TEHA Africa).

https://theconversation.com/the-removal-of-south-africas-finance-minister-is-bad-news-for-the-country-52170

Published: December 10, 2015 1.05pm CET

The fallout from President Jacob Zuma’s decision to remove South Africa’s respected Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene was felt immediately in the foreign currency markets where the rand suffered an immediate and dramatic fall.

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/africa/article/2167776/south-africa-finance-minister-resigns-after-admitting-meetings

Published: 11:23am, 10 Oct, 2018

South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene resigned Tuesday over undisclosed meetings with a business family at the heart of a corruption scandal, dealing a blow to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

https://eventi.ambrosetti.eu/southern-africa-europe-ceo-dialogue-2020/speakers/maurizio-mariano/

MAURIZIO MARIANO

Special Advisor in South Africa - The European House – Ambrosetti

A lawyer by profession with a Masters degree in International Law, Maurizio Mariano is a co-founder of BBM Inc. Attorneys [https://www.bbmlaw.co.za/], a general practice firm with a national footprint across South Africa. With a focus on strengthening economic co-operation between Italy and South Africa, he advises across the relevant stakeholder groups. In line with his interest in community development and cross-cultural engagement, he serves as a Trustee of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation [Kgalema Motlanthe: “South African politician who served as the third president of South Africa from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki.”]and the David Makhura Charity Fund Trust, amongst others. In 2018, he was a recipient of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his contribution to Italian and South African affairs.

>>20452962

>South Africa's Deputy President Paul Mashatile

“DA lays criminal charges against Paul Mashatile – John Steenhuisen”

https://www.politicsweb.co.za/politics/da-lays-criminal-charges-against-paul-mashatile–j

12 February 2024

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) formally laid criminal charges against Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, following severe allegations of corruption levelled against him which span almost two decades.

These include an intricate web of nepotism and family patronage of which Mashatile is allegedly the ultimate beneficiary, with the most recent scandal being the purchase of a Constantia mansion by Mashatile’s son-in-law, Nonkwelo, at a cost of R28,9 million by his company which allegedly still owes the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements R7 million for a failed Alexandria housing project.

The DA has also submitted a formal complaint to parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests for a breach of the members’ Code of Conduct by Mashatile, for failure to disclose registrable interests, or for wilfully or grossly negligently, providing the Registrar with incorrect or misleading details. Mashatile also faces allegations for having misled parliament for failing to properly declare his use of various properties, including a R37 million Waterfall house in Gauteng. In addition to this, Mashatile also breached the Code of Conduct by failing to act in all respects in a manner that is consistent with the integrity of their office or the government.

Given that the appointment of the Deputy President is made solely at the discretion of the President of the Republic, the DA submitted a dossier of allegations levelled against Paul Mashatile to the Union Buildings for the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, 2 February 2024.

It comes as no surprise that President Ramaphosa has, once again, done nothing to act against the corrupt cadres within his government and within his own party. In light of President Ramaphosa’s indifference and sheer paralysis, the DA has now taken matters into our own hands to rid our country and its government of the ANC’s corruption.

Furthermore, had President Ramphosa instituted lifestyle audits for his cabinet ministers, as promised in his first SONA, all of the allegations levelled against Paul Mashatile would have come to light for the requisite action to be taken. This entire sordid debacle is proof that President Ramaphosa was never serious about dealing with corruption in his government and within the ANC.

Furthermore, we cannot allow President Cyril Ramaphosa to float above his own party’s corruption when he aided and abetted it at every turn along the way.

South Africans deserves far better than Paul Mashatile, and it deserves far better than the ANC.

The DA will continue to hold the most corrupt in our country to account to truly Rescue South Africa.

>>20403291

>>20403293

>>20379812

>>20379826

>>20395003

>>20403282

>>20395018

“SA unfazed by US Bill threat”

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/weekend-argus-saturday-edition/20240217/281522231008356

17 Feb 2024

THE South African government says threats by two US congressmen to table legislation in the US House of Representatives, which seeks to punish South Africa over its foreign relations, will come to nought.

Democratic Party representative Jared Moskowitz and representative John James, his Republican counterpart on the House Foreign Relations Committee, have threatened a bill that would “require a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa”.

But Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela was defiant yesterday, saying: “We don't think that bill will go anywhere. The USA government values the mutually beneficial relations with South Africa and they don't share the views of the drafters of that proposed bill.”

The bill needs to be adopted by the Foreign Relations Committee and then sent to the desk of Speaker Mike Johnson who will bring it up for a vote in the House of Representatives, where the Republicans have a razor-thin majority. It then has to pass in the Senate, and eventually be signed into law by US President Joe Biden.

The text of the bill states that the South African government has, despite its claims of nonalignment, “a history of siding with malign actors, including Hamas, a US designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and a proxy of the Iranian regime, and continues to pursue closer ties with the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation”.

“Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes the findings of the review.” But International Relations and Co-operation Minister Naledi Pandor, through her office, said: “The USA is a significant trade partner for South Africa and I value our relationship. I believe South Africa offers quality products to the US market and I wish that relationship to grow.

“We have dif¬ferent views on a number of foreign policy matters but as a democracy we affirm the sovereign right of states to frame their own foreign policy.

“I am concerned at the bill drafters' attempt to associate our country with terrorism and the atrocious attack against civilians in Israel.

“It is well known that South Africa condemned the killing of civilians [what about the murder rate in South Africa? >>20451446] and hostage-taking [What about kidnappings in South Africa?]. “Our government would encourage a more informed and balanced perspective and will continue to work at strengthening our relationship.”

Pandor said there were several issues with which the South African government disagreed with its American counterpart, including calls for fair trade rules and the Russian-Ukraine war, in which South Africa had “argued for peace, not war”.

South Africa also supported Palestine, “which asserts our belief that all human beings must enjoy justice, freedom and human dignity”, said Pandor. [Tell that to the women and children of South Africa. Unless she means “justice, freedom and human dignity” for criminals.]

>>20457742

>It is well known that South Africa condemned the killing of civilians [what about the murder rate in South Africa? >>20451446] and hostage-taking [What about kidnappings in South Africa?]

“South Africa Sees 11% Rise in Kidnapping Cases, Posing Challenges for Law Enforcement”

https://bnnbreaking.com/breaking-news/crime/south-africas-alarming-spike-in-kidnapping-cases-a-nation-grapples-with-organized-crime-and-human-trafficking

17 Feb 2024 10:06 EST

An 11% rise in kidnapping cases has South Africa on high alert, as ransom demands and human trafficking highlight the need for a united front against organized crime. Police Minister Bheki Cele remains committed to curbing the tide of abductions, yet questions remain on the effectiveness of current measures.

In the shadow of an ever-evolving urban landscape, South Africa grapples with a concerning spike in kidnapping cases, a stark reminder of the challenges facing its criminal justice system. In the third quarter of 2023, the nation witnessed an 11% increase in such incidents, with a total of 4,577 cases reported, painting a grim picture of the security situation on the ground. Gauteng, the country's economic powerhouse, bore the brunt with 2,367 incidents, casting a long shadow over its bustling streets and vibrant communities.

Digging deeper into the statistics reveals a more nuanced narrative. Of the 3,975 cases analyzed, a demand for ransom was made in 138 instances, signaling a disturbing trend towards kidnapping for profit.

Moreover, the specter of human trafficking looms large, with 23 cases identified, 15 of which occurred in the Northern Cape, a region not typically associated with such crimes. This data underscores a multifaceted challenge, intertwining issues of poverty, unemployment, and criminal enterprise in a complex web of societal woes.

In response to this surge, Police Minister Bheki Cele has been vocal about the efforts to curb the tide of kidnappings.

Highlighting the lucrative nature of kidnapping for ransom in the realm of organized crime, Cele pointed out that over 300 suspects have been arrested in the past two years, a testament to the dedication of South Africa's law enforcement agencies. Yet, the question remains: is it enough to stem the flow of such crimes, or are these measures merely a drop in the ocean?

>>20452931

>A R6.2bn ($413m) [AfDB] loan to Transnet, the state-owned freight rail and logistics company that operates the country’s ports and port terminals.

>Daniel Mminele, a career central banker and the former CEO of big four bank Absa, will head the [Presidential Climate Finance Task Team].

“Schreiber: Concrete proof ANC forced ‘all-top-jobs-for-useless-cadres’ onto SA, collapsing economy”

https://youtu.be/UfXp7vCIV_E

Feb 22, 2024

After a three-year court battle, the ANC was compelled on Monday to release over 1,300 documents revealing details of actions taken by its three-decade-old cadre deployment system overseen by a communist-style central committee. SA’s economic woes - high and growing unemployment, rising debt, stagnant GDP growth - are a direct consequence of the injection by this committee of thousands of unqualified and often useless party loyalists to the leadership of corrupted and bankrupt State Owned Enterprises like Eskom and Transnet; and the broader public sector. In this compelling interview the DA’s shadow Minister of Public Service and Administration, Dr. Leon Schreiber, explains why he has been obsessed with forcing these disclosures, the root cause of so much wrong in the country. Previously a senior research specialist at esteemed Princeton University, Schreiber also provides context on the revelations, which parallels the seismic impact of ‘Gupta Leaks’ in 2017. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

14:54 – “This is where President Ramaphosa becomes such a fascinating case study in actually State Capture because he himself is a beneficiary of BEE, of crony capitalism, of being a connected ANC cadre in the private sector and then he went on from 2013 to actually Chair the Deployment Committee that did the same thing to the State. I think that this is a very important part of what we’re discussing is that once and for all any suggestion that Cyril Ramaphosa was not part of the State Capture project is dead. Once you see how the cadre Deployment Committee operates and understand that he was the Chairman of this thing throughout the Zuma years.”

15:35 – “But the mind boggles. Maria Ramos goes from a deployed cadre position to CEO of ABSA. Gill Marcus goes from communication specialist to Chairman of ABSA. Trevor Manuel goes from the Finance Minister to Chairman of Old Mutual and so on and so on and so on. How deep this runs I guess will only become evident over time.”

“Cadre deployment records released by DA and ANC”

https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/news/cadre-deployment-records-released-by-da-and-anc-727535f8-3cfe-44d1-8f45-68756e051d82

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2024

Following a lengthy court battle, the Constitutional Court ordered the ANC to hand over its deployment records from 2013 onwards to the DA by Monday.

Both the ANC and the DA made the documents publicly available on Wednesday, although they only cover the period from 2018, with President Cyril Ramaphosa telling the Zondo Commission into State Capture that it has no records of its deployment committee meetings and decisions between 2013 and 2018 because no minutes were taken.

Meanwhile, the DA on Wednesday lost its bid to have the court overturn the ANC’s cadre deployment policy.

The fight is, however, far from over, with the DA saying that it had already instructed its legal team to appeal this ruling as a matter of urgency.

“'I was never a spy': SA President Ramaphosa responds to sell out accusations”

https://youtu.be/8-PHcxKaH5A

Feb 14, 2019

Is Cyril Ramaphosa a CIA spy? Part 1

Sequence of events

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-late-edition/20211223/281509344509290

23 Dec 2021

A “TOP “secret” report, titled “Intelligence Brief: US interest in ANC party dynamics”, which was allegedly compiled by the South African State Security Agency (SSA), has revealed how the political office of the embassy of the US in Pretoria is working with some of the top ANC leaders to influence policy direction in South Africa.

The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News is in possession of the highly classified intelligence report dated November 5, 2020, (referenced DMS: 10001242724).

“The Political Office of the US Embassy in Tshwane continues to gather information related to the ruling party, which is then sent to the US State Department.

“This brief confirms that the US Embassy is part of the US intelligence community, and has a network of ANC party officials who, wittingly or unwittingly, share privileged information,” read the intelligence report.

The document also stated that there was very close co-operation taking place between the US diplomatic community and the US intelligence community in South Africa to guard and enhance US economic and political agendas on targeted countries like South Africa.

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-argus/20220520/page/0/textview

20 May 2022

INDEPENDENT Media is forging ahead with its legal battle against the State Security Agency (SSA) to get a suspiciously classified intelligence report laid bare.

The report, the content of which cannot be fully disclosed since the matter will be heard behind closed court chambers in Pretoria on Tuesday, was allegedly compiled by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) spies based at the US embassy in Pretoria

>>20457925

>>20457780

>This is where President Ramaphosa becomes such a fascinating case study in actually State Capture because he himself is a beneficiary of BEE, of crony capitalism, of being a connected ANC cadre in the private sector and then he went on from 2013 to actually Chair the Deployment Committee that did the same thing to the State.

>Both the ANC and the DA made the documents publicly available on Wednesday, although they only cover the period from 2018, with President Cyril Ramaphosa telling the Zondo Commission into State Capture that it has no records of its deployment committee meetings and decisions between 2013 and 2018 because no minutes were taken.

“Mosiuoa Lekota calls President Cyril Ramaphosa a “sellout””

https://youtu.be/npR-XiqI9oQ

Feb 14, 2019

Is Cyril Ramaphosa a CIA spy? Part 2

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-star-south-africa-early-edition/20220926/281479280285534

26 Sep 2022

According to the itinerary Ramaphosa was only set to meet Biden a day after he had arrived but the plan was changed without the knowledge of Dirco and its representatives and no South African officials were allowed in and around the high-level meetings.

According to the sources, Ramaphosa wanted strict privacy with no minutes or records of meetings and acted outside of the embassy and against diplomatic protocol.

The highly placed sources believe that Ramaphosa may have travelled to the US to seek a favour from Biden and the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) to help him win the much-contested election.

In May The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News. exposed a clandestine document linking the CIA, Ramaphosa and the State Security Agency (SSA).

After hefty attempts, including court action, by the SSA to get Independent Media to drop the story, the group proceeded to publish.

The report was allegedly compiled by CIA spies based at the US embassy in Pretoria. When the Daily News asked questions about the document, the SSA went to court and obtained an interim interdict until the matter was argued in court.

https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/ramaphosa-is-a-spy-working-with-cia-zuma-755efb6e-708f-42f4-9b7e-14dc4f70b4aa

Published Nov 21, 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa is a spy and working with the CIA. These are claims made by former president Jacob Zuma, speaking at an ANC Youth League event in Philippi, Cape Town.

>>20457938

>According to the itinerary Ramaphosa was only set to meet Biden a day after he had arrived but the plan was changed without the knowledge of Dirco and its representatives and no South African officials were allowed in and around the high-level meetings.

>>20252093

>I feel betrayed.

“Plot For Peace Special Preview at Curzon Hall in London” [Feb 3, 2014]: Ivor Ichikowitz speech

https://youtu.be/IzrLn77PkFU

Then Cyril Ramaphosa’s aircraft was grounded in Poland: "Plot for Peace" Failure

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-06-18-why-was-ramaphosas-security-detail-grounded-in-poland-pro-russia-perceptions-or-underprepared-securocrats/

18 Jun 2023

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema had a total of 24 officials – of whom about a dozen were security officers – travelling with him on the African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia on Friday and Saturday.

Comorian President Azali Assoumani was accompanied by two security officers and four other officials, other sources said.

Senegalese President Macky Sall probably had about the same number of security guards as Hichilema.

As a result of having such small security contingents, these and the other three state officials participating in the peace mission were able to travel with their guards to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday and to St Petersburg to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

President Ramaphosa, meanwhile – with a huge security detail numbering about 120, plus about 12 containers of weaponry (reportedly including heavy arms fit for combat, not just personal protection) – couldn’t take them either to Kyiv or St Petersburg, because the small South African army caused such alarm along the way.

Particularly to the Poles. The Polish government grounded the South African Airways charter aircraft at Warsaw airport, refusing to allow the guards or the weapons off the plane.

At that point, it looked as though the security team’s aircraft, having missed Ramaphosa’s trip to Ukraine, would at least get to cover the Russian leg, when Ramaphosa and the rest of the African mission were to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg.

But that didn’t happen either, for reasons that are not quite clear. It was conjectured that SA couldn’t get overflight permissions.

Hungary was mentioned in some reports, which made no geographical sense at all, since it is way off the route between Warsaw and St Petersburg. It has also been reported that it was Estonia that refused overflight. That makes more sense geographically, as it does lie on the direct line between Warsaw and St Petersburg. But SA could then have detoured around Estonia by flying over Belarus – Russia’s closest ally – into Russian airspace.

Ramaphosa, Sall and Assoumani were the only three presidents on the mission, while the four other African governments involved were represented by their officials. Of these, the most senior was Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who had quite a substantial security detail – though nothing like Ramaphosa’s, diplomats said.

Uganda and the Republic of Congo were represented by lower-ranking officials, and their security details were small, the sources said.

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/african-peace-mission-one-step-forward-one-step-back

23 JUN 2023

The central, behind-the-scenes role of the London-based Brazzaville Foundation, headed by French businessman Jean-Yves Ollivier, is particularly odd given the many diplomatic avenues open to African leaders. Reports linking a South African businessman in the global arms and defence industry, Ivor Ichikowitz, to the mission create further suspicions around its independence and credibility. Besides his arms trade interests, Ichikowitz financially supports South Africa’s ruling African National Congress. [This “Plot for Peace” failed.]

https://mg.co.za/politics/2023-06-19-the-arms-dealer-behind-the-african-peace-mission-to-ukraine/

“Private lander makes first US moon landing in more than 50 years”

https://youtu.be/UFe8sqK5KtU

Feb 22, 2024

It is curious that there was a lot of commercial moon landing failures yet America was able to land people on its first and only mission in 1969.

Initial ANC Bun

>>20242815 ANC sponsored violence in South Africa (video)

>>20362830 ANC suspends former President Jacob Zuma

>>20379836, >>20379966, >>20379849 Ronnie Kasrils addresses the III International Dilemmas of Humanity Conference (video)

>>20395076 Research Paper 2022: Elites and economic policy in South Africa’s transition and beyond

>>20418277 Does the ANC want to declare a state of emergency to prevent elections in South Africa? (video)

>>20457780 Schreiber: Concrete proof ANC forced ‘all-top-jobs-for-useless-cadres’ onto SA, collapsing economy (video)

Initial BRICS Bun

>>20065199 (General Research #24627) West sees BRICS expansion as direct threat analyst

>>20177955 (Canada #51) Saudi Arabia officially joins BRICS – state media

Initial Commodities Bun

>>19660255 Two Top Execs at South Africa's Port and Rail Operator Resign

>>19952053 Chronic congestion building along the east coast of South Africa

>>19692449 Africa Might Emerge As A Major Supplier Of Halal Food

>>20114651 (Canada #50) Oil Tumbles After Angola Announces It Is Leaving OPEC

>>20115757 Red Sea Ripples: Prolonged Voyages, Soaring Fuel Costs, and Escalating Carbon Emissions Concerns

>>20114680 (Canada #50) Beijing Imposes Export Controls On Rare-Earth Processing Tech As Mineral War With US Heats Up

>>20230322 South Africa seeks emergency external help to remedy dire situation across the nation’s ports

>>20279240 The Oil Market Is Making Plans For Red Sea Chaos To Last Weeks

>>20434931 The "Old Money" Family That Controls Africa: The Oppenheimers (video)

>>20452927, >>20452931 South Africa: AfDB boosts Ramaphosa’s investment drive, eyes $27bn Just Transition fundraising (Parts 1

Initial Covid & Other Pestilence Bun

>>20056501 (Canada #50) Here We Go: CDC Issues Health Alert Over Deadly, Fast-Spreading Strain of Monkeypox

Initial Cyril Ramaphosa Bun

>>20340636 “MTN Sued For Funding The Iranian Regime. It involves Cyril Ramaphosa, SA President, when he was MTN’s Chairman” (video)

>>20372592 Accountability Now seemed to have protected President Cyril Ramaphosa (video)

>>20457925, >>20457938 Is Cyril Ramaphosa a CIA spy? (Parts 1&2)

>>20462524, >>20462545 Then Cyril Ramaphosa’s aircraft was grounded in Poland: "Plot for Peace" Failure (video)

Initial ICJ Suit Bun

>>20227263 (Canada #51) Israel Calls South Africa The "Legal Arm Of Hamas" After 1st Day Of Hague Genocide Case

>>20252093 “Ivor Ichikowitz: South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is rank hypocrisy” (video)

>>20341222 ICJ verdict: SA Chief Rabbi's call to fight back (video)

>>20341240 “Ramaphosa warns of political repercussions following SA's genocide case against Israel” (video)

>>20372567 Did Iran fund South Africa’s approach to the ICJ over Israel? (video)

>>20372630 “You are Iran’s 'useful idiots'" - Chief Rabbi to SA government and global opponents of Israel (video)

>>20372747 Professor Dire Tladi sworn in as a new judge at ICJ (video)

>>20377791 Gaza war: Why did Arab states not join South Africa's case against Israel in the ICJ?

>>20379812, >>20379826 Dilemmas of Humanity Conference [Naledi] Pandor: "The world can't ignore Palestinians' suffering" (Parts 1&2 video)

>>20395018 South African foreign minister alleges intimidation by Israel after ICJ case

>>20403282 Battle Continues - South Africa's President and Palestine Just Met (video)

>>20403286 “Nelson Mandela's pro-Palestinian legacy lives on”: Mandla Mandela (video)

>>20403291, >>20403293 US congress receives bill to review SA relations following ‘politically motivated’ ICJ case (Parts 1&2)

>>20407809 South Africa makes urgent request to ICJ on Israel’s Rafah offensive

Initial Maldives Bun

>>20423234 Islamic State lead deadly attack on Mozambique troops as Total gears up for LNG project

>>20425381 Maldives Grapples with Repatriation Amidst Rising Religious Extremism

>>20422392 Islamic extremism in the Maldives

>>20425407 USAID to Provide Additional $7.2M of Assistance to Maldives

>>20425438 Administrator Samantha Power at the Swearing-In Ceremony for the Incoming Mission Director for Maldives Gabriel “Gabe” Grau

>>20429148 Egg on Their Faces: The Maldives Still Above the Waves 30 Years After Environmentalist Prediction

Initial Rwanda Bun

>>20445882 Red flags in SA DRC deployment: R2B, operational constraints, strategy, Rwanda - Prof Esterhuyse (video)

>>20446076 Rwanda Just Warned & Blocked UN Support For South Africa-led Force in Congo (video)

>>20446222 Rwandan government tried to silence opponents, Human rights watch report claims (video)

>>20446234, >>20446240 Rwanda's disappearing dissidents (Parts 1&2)

>>20446459 Paul Kagame

>>20446488 Rwanda's Kagame says he will run for fourth term • FRANCE 24 English (video)

>>20451268, >>20451271 The Dark Side of Rwanda’s Rebirth (Parts 1&2)

>>20451276 Rwandan President Kagame 'sparked 1994 genocide

>>20451301 Can Museveni [Uganda] and Kagame’s [Rwanda] renewed bromance inspire regional peace? (video)

>>20451317 Explainer-Why fighting is flaring in eastern Congo and threatening regional stability

>>20451326 Anti-Rwanda protests spread throughout eastern DRC

>>20451329 UN Security Council sanctions rebels in DR Congo as violence escalates

>>20451331 Rwanda and Uganda Commence Power Trade Through the 220kV 172 km Shango -- Mbarara Power Interconnection

>>20451343 Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program Coordination Unit (NELSAP-CU) headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda

Initial Violence and Crime Bun

>>19692458, >>19692463, >>19692470 ‘Open hunting ground’: South Africa in spotlight again over [Jihadist] terror funding (Parts 1-3)

>>20340605 “Open hunting ground: South Africa in spotlight again over [Islamic] terror funding”

>>19692232 Property developer Shafiq Naser killed by assassins on superbikes in Cape Town

>>20362713 8 things you need to know about farm murders in South Africa (video)

>>20395068 1989 Corruption Scandals, just prior to South Africa’s “transformation’ – Sol Kerzner, politicians, etc

>>20397875, >>20406078 South Africa’s Racist EFF Leader Vows to Take the Farmlands and Redistribute to “Our People” (video)

>>20407598 Political Assassination Rocks South African Province: A Call for Justice

>>20407726 Resilient voices - Farm attack survivors tell their stories: Ep 2 (video)

>>20410783 (Canada #53) South Africa: White Farmers Arrested for Protesting, Which is “Inciting Violence”

>>20418196 We Read The EFF Manifesto (260 pages) (video)

>>20423259 South Africa a growing conduit for Islamic State funds, says new UN report

>>20442095 KZN SALGA decries increase in political killings (video)

>>20445849 Explosive claims against some of South Africa's magistrates (video)

>>20451446 REVEALED: A total of 86 people are KILLED every day in SA (video)

>>20452972 DA lays criminal charges against Paul Mashatile – John Steenhuisen

>>20457755 South Africa Sees 11% Rise in Kidnapping Cases, Posing Challenges for Law Enforcement

Initial Jacob Zuma Bun

>>20361546 Corruption in South Africa now worse than under Zuma (video)

>>20362731 Umkhonto Wesizwe's real Founders turning in their graves: SACP on Zuma, MK Party (video)

Notables are NOT Endorsements

passing 150

#12

>>19692232 Property developer Shafiq Naser killed by assassins on superbikes in Cape Town

>>19692436 Africarare Ubuntuland Partners with HAQQ to Innovate Sharia Law Education and Ethical Community Engagement in Mixed Reality

>>19692443, >>19692449 South Africa: The Halal Kingdom, Although it holds the world’s smallest percentage of Muslims

>>19731387 (General Research #24226) Eight UN peacekeepers detained over sex abuse claims in DR Congo

>>19782011 Patrisse Cullors, Co-Founder Black Lives Matters: “Palestine is our generation in South Africa”

>>19782021 ANCYL President Collen Malatji has told President Cyril Ramaphosa to close the Israeli embassy

>>19782035 Ramaphosa Rules Out South Africa Abandoning Neutral Stance on War in Ukraine

>>19821993 Tankers Line Up Off South Africa to Ensure Diesel Power

>>20027327 (General Research #24583) Harvard’s Shocking Admission: Affirmative Action and Critical Race Theory Killed South Africa

>>20242629 Harry Oppenheimer; did business with the Soviet Union (who trained and supported the ANC) during the Cold War and used Hollywood and the Royal Family to promote diamonds (video)

>>20362707 ‘Fake’ UN official allegedly received briefings from SA’s top security cluster

>>20242709, >>20242774 ony Hollingsworth got Bishop Trevor Huddleston’s ‘blessing’ to hold a concert in 1988 for the release of Nelson Mandela to influence the world (Parts 1 &2 video)

>>20407571 How liberators turn into oppressors: a study of southern African states

>>20445854 Oppenheimer’s granddaughter backs RISE Mzansi with R15m

>>20445866, >>20445869 Spraying of controversial herbicide on Vaal River water lettuce begins – critics urge caution (Parts 1&2)

>>20452953, >>20452962 The European House - Ambrosetti - Who we are (video)

>>20457742 SA unfazed by US Bill threat

>>20462672 Initial ANC Bun | Initial BRICS Bun | Initial Commodities Bun

>>20462673 Initial Covid & Other Pestilence Bun | Initial Cyril Ramaphosa Bun | Initial ICJ Suit Bun

>>20462676 Initial Maldives Bun | Initial Rwanda Bun

>>20462677 Initial Violence and Crime Bun | Initial Jacob Zuma Bun

“The surging violence in the eastern DRC”

https://youtu.be/EAMTBFcirA4

Feb 23, 2024

Hugo Ribatika unpacks the surging violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the army and Rwandan-backed M23 Tutsi-led rebels with political commentator Joseph Ochieno.

4:20 – “So if this plunder of the DRC or support of the M23 rebels by Rwanda and Uganda as you say so blatant. Where is the rest of the world while this is happening? Where is Africa? I think it’s only now that the United States I think in the last few days has called out Rwanda and Congo and said guys get your act together… I think that’s a very important question… You can actually say Congo’s conflict has been amongst the most forgotten conflicts in the world and particular the African continent has actually been a shame. I have been and many of us have written and have been very critical about the irresponsibility of the African Union, irresponsibility of the African governments but of course also irresponsibility of the global community. Part of the reason is being really because Rwanda and Uganda for a very long time have been the darlings of the West where they never went wrong on anything African wherever they put their fingers. But it has also been suggested that both regimes have also been, if you like, extensions to particularly western influences that seek to continue to [support] Rwanda in order to exploit resources in Congo. Of course Uganda and Rwanda both of them are very strategic allies to western powers particularly led by the US and Britain. So for that matter, for a very long time they’re untouchables.”

6:13 – “Ironically, when about 10 or so years ago, there was a ceasefire between this particular group of rebels and the Congo administration. Most of these rebels were resettled in Uganda and people have always been asking, these guys got resettled in Uganda as part of arrangement of some sort. How did they sneak out of Uganda, found themselves either back into Congo or into some other establishments where they now continue again to cause havoc? Not many observers like yourselves have asked the Ugandan authorities this question nor have they asked the East African authorities this question nor indeed for that matter the African Union.”

7:21 – “I think I gave you part of the historical context. The United States would possibly be amongst the last to have interest in the settlement in Congo because United States and Belgium were really the earliest guys responsible causing instability. Remember the first independence Prime Minister of Congo, Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated with tacit support of the US and the Belgium authorities… Beyond that, Mobutu [Sese Seko] and Joseph Kasavubu were really the 2 nearest darlings to the West… Under that is this huge amount of resources in Congo; gold, platinum and tungsten… The interest has been strategically economical, historically and then of course in more recent times has been political.”

9:59- “So basically, they’re basically using these African leaders as front men… to serve a particular, in this case, political and/or in many cases a very very economic interest. Unfortunately.”

>>20451271

>But the sons and daughters of refugees and migrants had had enough of the abuses and second-class citizenship in Uganda and set out to reclaim their rights and home in Rwanda.

>For Museveni, there was only one optimal choice: support the exodus and arm them.

>>20451301

>Ties between Museveni and Kagame date back to the late 1970s. The latter was one of 27 rebels who launched a bush war in 1981, that brought Museveni to power five years later.

>>20463933

>“Ironically, when about 10 or so years ago, there was a ceasefire between this particular group of rebels and the Congo administration. Most of these rebels were resettled in Uganda and people have always been asking, these guys got resettled in Uganda as part of arrangement of some sort. How did they sneak out of Uganda, found themselves either back into Congo or into some other establishments where they now continue again to cause havoc? Not many observers like yourselves have asked the Ugandan authorities this question nor have they asked the East African authorities this question nor indeed for that matter the African Union.”

History repeating?

“Paul Kagame's Powerful Declaration: We Will Fight Like We Have Nothing to Lose!”

https://youtu.be/zR8p4lxujI8

Jan 27, 2024

2:19 – “Rwanda did not in any way create this war that is happening in Eastern Congo… go and investigate and prove me wrong… but with time, there has been an effort to actually make it our war. Now using what? If you see the combination of hate speech and displacement of these people, you come to understand what is actually behind it. Maybe somebody thought they were being smart and they thought that was the way to end the M23 problem which was there in 2012 because it’s ethnic cleansing. Pushing these ethnic Tutsis to Rwanda to belong there because that’s where they belong and Kagame is a Tutsi and is the President of Rwanda. Let them go and join their President. This is what is behind it.“

4:51 – “I asked specifically that one responsible for Congo. I said we are not going to address anything unless you come out clearly to tell us facts about the situation… I asked him, “are these people in M23 Congolese or not?” And he said to me and there were other leaders in the meeting that “absolutely. These are Congolese.”… He was confirming that these are Congolese. So I said fine. So how do they become Rwanda’s problem?”

9:49 – “You may associate us with M23, you may blame us for everything M23. What do you say about FDLR that is in Eastern Congo for the last 30 years more or less? I thought even the UN forces that were put in Congo were put there to actually address this problem and maybe other problems… They’ve been there for decades, it has been so costly but the problem is still there.”

10:59 – “In fact, one time, I one time told the President of DRC… You don’t know that these people are there in this place and in this place, that place and they’ve been even manning road blocks and they collect taxes… He remembered that that has been happening. So I said so what are we talking about? FDLR who have taken over territories in Eastern Congo and are collecting taxes and you’re telling me they are not there? We know this came to some point and this war was raging and this time it turned into where the government of Kinshasa wanted to mobilise the people, they thought they would now push [M23] into Rwanda and this still remains by the way the aim. This is their goal. So I told our friends, this is the powerful friends of ours. I’ve even said it publicly. When it comes to defending this country that has suffered for so long and nobody came to help, I don’t need permission from anybody to do what we have to do to protect ourselves.”

13:27 – “There will be nothing crossing these borders of this small country of ours.”

“250 Ekurhuleni metro police workers have criminal records”

https://youtu.be/15fvQ0VHiEU

Feb 23, 2024

Ekurhuleni Community Safety MMC Letlhogonolo Moseki says 250 metro police department workers have criminal records for various crimes including rape and murder. The DA is reportedly accusing the city council of hiring convicts and not taking accountability for it. Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa says these records were acquired after the employment of these workers.

>>20457780

>After a three-year court battle, the ANC was compelled on Monday to release over 1,300 documents revealing details of actions taken by its three-decade-old cadre deployment system overseen by a communist-style central committee.

>Meanwhile, the DA on Wednesday lost its bid to have the court overturn the ANC’s cadre deployment policy.

>The fight is, however, far from over, with the DA saying that it had already instructed its legal team to appeal this ruling as a matter of urgency.

“The WhatsApp Group That Controls South Africa.”

https://youtu.be/DTQ8Bxu86cU

Premiered Feb 26, 2024

0:14 - “Now the interesting thing about that is that DA took the government to court to get cadre deployment declared illegal right after Zondo said it was illegal and unconstitutional but it would appear that cadre deployed judge said no, it's not… then like these two paragraphs [of the judgement] saying how great President Ramaphosa as a president and that he didn't commit perjury at the Zondo Commission even though he said cadre deployment never existed and the committee was a figment of the imagination of the opposition. That's literally what he said on the bench at the Zondo Commission. Only for him three years later having been forced to divulge all of the minutes of the meetings of the Deployment Committee of the ANC.”

2:07 - “In fact as we've seen from the cadre deployment records that people within the ANC including government ministers like freaking bloody Gordhan Pravin. I mean that's pretty serious man. I mean he's a very senior member of Staff. He has himself been disciplined by the cadre deployment committee for making decisions without running it through the cadre deployment committee.”

3:34 - “This one really takes the cake. It's the nuclear regulator and it basically says we need eight people we've got eight people, they're all ANC members, the Chairman's ANC person. Great approved. That's literally the decision… You deploy cadres for ideology but they still deploy them to the nuclear energy regulator, the regulator of nuclear energy.”

5:59 - “Now you may recall that the ANC adopted their cadre deployment policy in 1997, yeah in Mandela's era, by the way.”

9:38 - “Gwede Mantashe himself has come out and said to the DA directly, you can make it illegal, you can tell us not to do it, you can say whatever you want, we're going to do it anyway because we don't care. It's part of our policies.”

>>20362830

>a new party, uMkhonto We Sizwe (MK) or Spear of the Nation, named after the ANC’s former armed wing during the anti-apartheid struggle.

“‘He took the spear and stabbed himself with it’: Mbalula on Zuma and MK party”