WEEKLY POLITICAL & SOCIAL NEWS (JULY 13
th- JULY 17
th)
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
Politics
Business as usual for the Congress of the People
Shilowa and Lekota remain at the helm of COPE
ANC in-fighting on agenda at NEC talks
President Zuma to tour South Africa’s provinces
'The problems of COPE are in the leadership'
Mvume Dandala - reports of resignation untrue
ANC leadership in Western Cape under pressure
Foreign Relations
President Zuma attends 15th NAM Summit in Egypt
President Zuma addresses 15th NAM Summit in Egypt
SADC Ministers meet in SA to discuss implementation of ICDP
Crime
Hawks urged to show their claws
Police search for traffic cop’s attackers
SAA employee faces drug charges
Tour guides in Gauteng shocked by spate of robberies
Other Social Issues
Global anticipation ahead of Mandela Day
Swine flu shelves international choir competition in Korea
Swine flu cannot be contained in South Africa
Private school in Johannesburg placed on swine flu alert
Another strike on the cards?
2010 World Cup construction workers end strike
Almost 100 swine flu cases in South Africa
Swine flu pandemic has reached South Africa
Local celebrities will join in on Mandela Day
Schools in Gauteng will be monitored for swine flu
Neighbouring Countries
Former Mozambican President in Madagascar to resolve political crisis
Government of Lesotho rules out new talks on poll dispute
POLITICS
Business as usual for the Congress of the People
Although it is not quite business as usual for the Congress of the People (COPE), the party has moved on after the resignation of Ms Lynda Odendaal, the party’s second deputy president who stepped down last week. The head of the fledgling party’s election campaign, Simon Grindrod, also resigned from the party’s senior structures but he remains a member of the organization.
These moves have intensified speculation that the party is riddled with internal wrangling and leadership squabbles.
Party officials met last weekend to plot the way forward and while the party has admitted that Ms Odendaal’s resignation is unfortunate it was not the main topic at last weekend’s discussions. The party’s national committee spoke about a number of issues at its meeting, including: ways to strengthen the party, putting branches in place and reviewing the party’s policies.
Shilowa and Lekota remain at the helm of COPE
The Congress of the People (COPE) has confirmed that the party will only formally elect a new party leader in December 2010, despite reports of tensions among the party’s top leaders.
COPE’s second deputy president, Ms Lynda Odendaal resigned last week amid allegations of party in-fighting. The party’s election head, Simon Grindrod also resigned from his leadership positions and has subsequently been suspended from the party. However, COPE has rejected claims about the uncertainty of the roles of Deputy President Mbhazima Shilowa and President Mosiuoa Lekota. COPE General-Secretary, Ms Charlotte Lobe says, “Both Mr Shilowa and Mr Lekota, as President and First Deputy President respectively, remain key leaders of the Congress of the People and they compliment each other.”
Ms Lobe has also denied allegations that the party’s Eastern Cape leader tried to intimidate Ms Odendaal after she spoke out about her resignation.
ANC in-fighting on agenda at NEC talks
Turmoil in the structures of at least three provinces is expected to top the agenda of the African National Congress’
(ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) 3-day meeting in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, which starts on Friday.
Service delivery issues, industrial action and debate on the nationalization of mines will also feature during the meeting.
A team tasked with looking into the state of the ANC in the Western Cape is due to report back to the NEC on its decision on how to resolve problems in that province, which was lost to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) in the April general election. There are strong calls from within the ANC to disband the provincial structures, while others want the national leadership to establish support structures in the Western Cape, saying disbanding structures would only make martyrs of the current provincial leaders. The ANC’s Western Cape Secretary has acknowledged that the provincial ANC is in a state of chaos – the party is paralyzed, with inactive branches, weak regional structures and a lethargic provincial executive committee.
During its meeting, the NEC is also expected to discuss calls for an early elective conference to be held in North West, where there is unhappiness about the state of the current leadership. The Eastern Cape's fiercely contested upcoming conference is also expected to come under the spotlight, amid talk that it might not be held before the end-of-July deadline set by the NEC. The wave of service delivery protests currently sweeping the country and threatening stability in some parts will also be discussed, as the ANC has made a commitment to improving oversight of service delivery.
The NEC is also expected to discuss industrial action - by doctors and construction workers - which is threatening to cripple the economy. The ANC Youth League's (ANCYL) call to nationalize the mines is also likely to be discussed, as ANC leaders seem to have different opinions on this matter. The NEC will also review the first session of the new Parliament, which ended last week. Former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) chief and NEC member, Billy Masetlha is to join the ANC's policy unit in Luthuli House (ANC Headquarters in downtown Johannesburg). The unit is headed by Justice Minister Jeff Radebe and Mr Masetlha will be the 9th NEC member to be posted full-time to the ANC's headquarters.
President Zuma to tour South Africa’s provinces
President Jacob Zuma will begin a tour of eight provinces in July to thank voters for returning the ANC to power and to inform them of the government's programme. The programme will stretch over two months and start with a visit to former President Nelson Mandela at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg on Saturday to congratulate him on his 91st birthday. President Zuma will then visit elderly people at Ivory Park on Johannesburg’s East Rand as part of Nelson Mandela Day, a new initiative which calls on South Africans to do something charitable for 67 minutes - one for every year the struggle icon committed his life to politics.
On Thursday next week, President Zuma and those Cabinet Ministers heading economic portfolios will engage with Black businessmen at the Sandton Convention Centre to explain how the ruling party intends to implement its election promises amid the recession. Two days later, the President will be in KwaZulu-Natal to tour the new soccer stadium built for the 2010 World Cup, the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, and to address supporters of the ruling party in Black townships. On 11 August, President Zuma will host an inter-faith meeting at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, with a view to establishing a new working group to advise him on religious matters. This working group will consist of Jews, Muslims, Christians and leaders of other religious communities and be modelled on the economic working group advising the President that dates back to the Mbeki administration. President Zuma caused a stir when Rhema Church leader, Pastor Ray McCauley endorsed his bid for the Presidency from the pulpit at a service in the run-up to the April 2009 general election. Some members of the congregation walked out in protest, and opposition leaders demanded, and were denied, the same reception by the church.
From 15 August, President Zuma will address so-called Siyabonga (which means ‘thank you’ in Zulu) rallies in the Free State, Northern Cape, Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, where the last rally will take place on 26 September. President Zuma has pledged to be accessible to the electorate and has installed a special hotline in the Presidency to allow ordinary citizens to communicate their concerns.
'The problems of COPE are in the leadership'
Congress of the People (COPE) co-founder Mluleki George says that the fledgling opposition party's problems are in its leadership. Mr George says, “Our biggest challenge as COPE is to be a strong organization, to do what COPE was founded for, because the problems of COPE are not on the ground, the problems of COPE are in the leadership which, to me, even that one is a temporary problem.”
Mr George made these comments while addressing the media in Polokwane, Limpopo Province on Tuesday evening, where the party's national executive committee was meeting provincial leaders. COPE has been plagued by in- fighting, with its former election head Simon Grindrod being suspended and former second deputy president, Ms Lynda Odendaal resigning last week. On Tuesday, COPE’s former spokesperson, Sipho Ngwema, published a letter to Ms Odendaal on Facebook, in which he called her a novice and said she was the "Sarah Palin" of COPE.
Former ANC veterans Mbhazima Shilowa, Mosiuoa Lekota and former Deputy Defence Minister George broke away from the ruling party late last year to form COPE. On Monday, the party's General Secretary, Ms Charlotte Lobe briefed the media about decisions taken at last weekend’s congress national committee (CNC) meeting, where plans to strengthen the party were discussed. Ms Lobe says the party has co-opted former South African Deputy President, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, into its national leadership. Ms Mlambo-Ngucka’s office says she has accepted the move but points out that she may not have much time available as she is frequently out of the country. Ms Mlambo- Ngcuka (a staunch ally of former President Thabo Mbeki) was unveiled as a COPE member in the run-up to elections, but refused then to be part of the leadership team. It is still unclear whether Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka will be a candidate for the party’s presidency and the matter will be discussed at the party’s next CNC meeting. The decision to bring Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka into the party’s leadership is seen as an attempt to defuse leadership tensions between Mr Lekota and Mr Shilowa.
Despite continued denials that there is a leadership tussle in the party, Ms Lobe says COPE’s priority is to fight the emergence of tendencies that have the potential of destroying the party, such as factionalism, opportunism and tribalism. In a first sign that the party acknowledges that Mr Lekota and Mr Shilowa have ambitions to occupy the presidency of the party, Ms Lobe says that leadership contests within COPE do not constitute divisions but are a sign of democracy. Ms Lobe says it would be a myth to pretend that COPE does not have challenges, but says that these challenges do not amount to a crisis.
Mvume Dandala - reports of resignation untrue
Congress of the People (COPE) Parliamentary leader, Mvume Dandala (who is a former Methodist Church Bishop) has dismissed media reports that he might resign from his position. In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr Dandala said, “I wish to state that this is not true. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.”
The Times daily newspaper reported that Mr Dandala might be axed to make way for the party’s first deputy president, Mbhazima Shilowa. The newspaper claims that senior party members told it that the leadership organizational structure for the party is being reviewed and that Mr Dandala is seen as "one of the hangers-on". Mr Dandala says he remains committed to the party, commenting “I remain committed to serve the Congress of the People in whatever position it deploys me in and am currently doing work in my constituency.”
The fledgling party has been racked by tensions recently, with co-founder Mluleki George admitting earlier this week that there are problems in its leadership.
ANC leadership in Western Cape under pressure
It remains to be seen whether the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) will move to dissolve the party’s Western Cape leadership when the top decision-making body gathers for a 3-day meeting in Kempton Park, Johannesburg on
Friday. The Western Cape ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) has been severely criticized in recent months from, among others, the South African Communist Party (SACP) and pressure is mounting for several leaders to be sacked.
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and a number of NEC members have also called for decisive action to be taken against the provincial leaders in the Western Cape. The party’s provincial chairperson, Mcebisi Skwatsha has largely been blamed for weakening the organization in that province. The ruling party lost crucial by-elections in the run-up to the 22 April general election and also lost the province to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). ANC Provincial Executive Committee members have admitted that there are problems in the Western Cape but they have always been quick to add that these problems are being addressed.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
President Zuma attends 15th NAM Summit in Egypt
President Jacob Zuma, supported by the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Ms Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, led the South African delegation to the XV Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit at Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this week (15-16 July).
South Africa became a member of NAM in 1994 and participates in its meetings within the context of promoting South-South cooperation and advancing the interests of the developing countries on the global stage. This year, the XV NAM Summit convened under the theme “International Solidarity for Peace and Development” and focused on the following areas: *International solidarity for peace and development; *International financial crisis and its impact on NAM members, and means to deal with the financial crises.
The Summit is expected to adopt outcomes documents on the following major issues:
• Global Issues including the review of the international situation; international law; promotion and preservation of multilateralism; peaceful settlement of disputes and non-use of threats or use of force; culture of peace and dialogue among civilisations; religions and cultures; right to self-determination and decolonisation; follow-up to the Millennium Declaration and the outcomes of Major UN Summits and Conferences; United Nations-related issues including reform;
disarmament and international security; terrorism; democracy; North-South dialogue and co-operation; Role of regional organisations.
• Regional and Sub-Regional issues in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Development, Social and Human Rights issues including least developed countries; landlocked developing countries and small island states; trade; South-South co-operation; human rights and fundamental freedoms; International Humanitarian Law; information and communication technology; advancement of women; health; transnational organized crime; drug trafficking; and corruption.
As a build-up to the XV NAM Summit, a Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Co-ordinating Bureau was held in Havana, Cuba, from 27 to 30 April 2009, and agreed on draft documents for presentation to the Heads of States at the XV NAM Summit. President Zuma was given an opportunity to address the Summit on Wednesday and, upon conclusion of the Summit, returned to South Africa on Thursday.
President Zuma addresses 15th NAM Summit in Egypt
The global financial architecture must change to ensure that developing countries are represented, President Jacob Zuma told the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt in a speech on Wednesday.
President Zuma told Summit delegates, “The total inability of the financial institutions to respond to the financial and economic crises and to prevent a global recession is proof enough of the need for change and renewal. These structures need to change from self-regulatory, unrepresentative institutions to ones that reflect the changing economic realities of the world, which provide a voice and representation to developing countries.”
Furthermore, President Zuma said it was necessary to continue to push for transformation and renewal in relations with the North, to make sure that commitments made by the developed world were kept, as the global financial crisis placed many economies under strain. President Zuma added, “South Africa has always promoted active engagement with the North, based on the principle of equality. We need to continue pushing for transformation and renewal in these relations and to ensure the implementation of commitments made by the developed world.”
President Zuma also addressed the issue of UN reform and said that during South Africa's two-year tenure on the UN Security Council, the country had experienced first-hand the body's inability to protect the weak and vulnerable.
SADC Ministers meet in SA to discuss implementation of ICDP
Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) responsible for population and development met in Johannesburg on Thursday - Friday this week to review the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICDP) Programme of Action. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the ICPD and reminds obligated countries that only five years remain to fulfil their commitments.
The ICDP was adopted during the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt in 1994.
The 20-year programme of actions focuses on individuals' needs and rights, rather than achieving demographic targets. The 179 participating countries agreed that population and development are inextricably linked and that empowering women and meeting people's needs for education and health as well as reproductive health, are necessary for both individual advancement and balanced development.
This week’s 2-day conference in Johannesburg (hosted by the South African Minister of Social Development, Ms Edna Molewa) aims to consider progress on the implementation of the programme of action in the SADC region. Ministers will also agree on the region's population and development priorities during the next five years. Among the key focus of the discussions at the conference will include development themes such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, population and migration, urbanization and youth empowerment. South Africa is the current chair of SADC and Minister Molewa addressed the delegation on Friday. Delegates participating in the conference include officials from Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Uganda, Seychelles, Mauritius, Namibia as well as the United Nations Population Fund and Partners in Population and Development.
CRIME
Hawks urged to show their claws
The independent think-tank, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has urged the new crime fighting unit, the Hawks, to remain viciously independent. The fledgling crime investigations unit made at least three arrests in Cape Town during its first week of operations. However, there are questions about how the unit managed to make the arrests because it is understood it does not have enough staff yet.
One of the people arrested was an official from the Department of Home Affairs, based at the controversial Nyanga Refugee Reception Centre outside Cape Town. The Home Affairs official was arrested last week on charges of corruption for allegedly selling fake permits to asylum seekers. The Hawks, officially known as the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI) unit, have inherited almost 300 cases from their predecessor, the Scorpions. The ISS says the new crime-fighting unit must not be afraid to crack down on corruption, including malpractice in business and government sectors.
Police search for traffic cop’s attackers
The Western Cape police are continuing their search for a group of men who shot a traffic officer. The officer walked in on a robbery at a garage convenience store in Kraaifontein (a northern suburb of Cape Town) last weekend. He was shot in the stomach and he is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
The shooting came just a few months after another traffic officer was shot dead after pulling over three men in a bakkie (a pick-up truck with an open back) for a traffic offence. The suspects were allegedly speeding from the scene of an armed robbery at the time. Western Cape traffic officials are not obliged to carry firearms when they are on duty.
SAA employee faces drug charges
South African Airways (SAA) has confirmed that British authorities have dropped the drug-smuggling charges against all but one of its employees, who were held in separate drug busts at London’s Heathrow Airport. British authorities will only prosecute Mmatshuma Matlhara, who was arrested upon returning home from Britain and charged with drug trafficking, after a security guard came forward with incriminating information.
The first group of 15 SAA crew members was arrested in January this year after police found 54 kilograms of drugs in their luggage, while the second group was arrested a month later after 5 kilograms of drugs was found in their luggage. SAA’s Robyn Chalmers explains, “The British authorities have indicated, however, that it is a matter of policy that they retain the right to re-open the case against any individuals if any new evidence should emerge.”
Tour guides in Gauteng shocked by spate of robberies
The Premier of Gauteng, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane says she is extremely concerned about foreign tourists being robbed by bogus police officers. Several tour operators say they have been held up and robbed by blue-light gangs in the last few weeks. In most incidents, foreign tourists were robbed of their cash and other personal valuables.
During the past month there have been at least five separate attacks on shuttles transporting tourists. One tour guide says the incident took him completely by surprise when his passengers were robbed of large amounts of cash.
Another tour guide, whose passengers where robbed last weekend, says she does not know what to do about the current situation anymore.
A German tourist who was robbed of thousands of rands this week says she does not feel safe in South Africa. She and her husband had been in the country for just two hours when the shuttle they were travelling in was attacked.
Fortunately, the German tourists say they do not bear a grudge and will try to forget their unpleasant experience.
OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES
Global anticipation ahead of Mandela Day
The world is gearing up to celebrate the first ever Mandela Day and New York City in the United States will be taking the lead in the run-up to the occasion. Mandela Day, which takes place on Saturday, 18 July (Nelson Mandela’s birthday) is a global call to action for people to follow the former President’s example and give of their time to a charity of their choice.
From Monday this week, a number of events will be taking place in New York to honour Madiba (the name which South Africans fondly use for Mr Mandela) and explore the concept of Mandela Day. Some of the events include an exhibition at Grand Central Station, volunteer days and a gala and auction dinner to which VIP guests, such as Oscar- winning actor Forest Whitaker, have been invited. Although Madiba himself will not be able to make the event, his wife Graça Michel will be the host of the gala dinner. The week’s events will culminate in a concert at Radio City Music Hall where the likes of Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and a host of local artists will perform.
Swine flu shelves international choir competition in Korea
Cape Town members of the South African Youth choir are finally home after the World Choir Championships in Korea was cancelled to due to an outbreak of the H1N1 virus (swine flu). The 80 high school children travelled to the Far East for the international choir competition but they only made it as far as Dubai International Airport when they heard that the competition in Korea had been cancelled. They never had visas to enter Dubai and were stuck at the airport.
Swine flu cannot be contained in South Africa
By Monday this week, the number of swine flu cases in South Africa had reached 75. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says there is no way to prevent the virus from spreading, however health officials say they are not overly concerned about the latest number of infections.
The NICD’s Professor Barry Schoub says there are more cases of seasonal flu than the swine flu virus, commenting
“We really have had the regular winter season influenza. In fact, we have a lot cases that we have recognized of that virus than we have of the swine flu virus.”
Professor Schoub affirms that it is impossible to stop the swine flu from spreading, saying “No country in the world has succeeded in really containing it. It will really be impossible to contain and I think what we really advocate are measures to try and limit the spread of the disease”.
Private school in Johannesburg placed on swine flu alert
Health authorities have urged people not to panic about the swine flu virus, despite a private school in Johannesburg being placed on alert. A pupil from St Stithians College in Johannesburg is recovering after contracting the disease.
Health officials have warned that the number of H1N1 flu cases will increase next week as the winter school holidays come to an end.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says the number of swine flu cases in the country will continue rising. On Tuesday, there were 75 confirmed cases of the virus in the country. The NICD’s Professor Barry Schoub says that many of these infected people recently travelled abroad and infected other people they came into close contact with. Professor Schoub explains, “After the one hundredth case we will do surveillance, in other words we will have a monitoring system in place.”
Professor Schoub urges people not to panic and advises, “People who have got influenza symptoms must obviously see a doctor but we are really advising the majority of patients with influenza just to treat their symptoms.”
Swine flu has killed nearly 430 people around the world while no one in South Africa has died from the disease yet.
Another strike on the cards?
Thousands of workers in the petroleum, chemical, pharmaceutical and paper industries will embark on an indefinite strike from Monday next week. Trade union, CEPPWAWU has demanded a 10% pay hike, among other things. The union’s initial demand was for a 13% wage increase.
Employers in the various sectors are currently offering between 6% and 9%. CEPPWAWU Deputy General-Secretary, Thabane Mdlalose says the industrial action will drag on for as long as is necessary, commenting “When we go out next week on the strike, we will go out indefinitely.”
2010 World Cup construction workers end strike
South African soccer boss, Danny Jordaan has praised the parties involved in the resolution of a pay strike at 2010 World Cup stadiums across the country. Mr Jordaan made the following statement on Wednesday: “The 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee South Africa (OC) wishes to thank the unions representing the construction workers and their employers for reaching an agreement to end the strike.”
Mr Jordaan, the CEO of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) says workers and employers have paved the way for the timely construction of stadiums to be used during the FIFA World Cup next year. Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) General-Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi says construction workers never wanted to disrupt the completion of 2010 soccer stadiums or undermine the country's World Cup or the people of South Africa. Mr Vavi says workers just wanted the benefits of 2010 to be shared with everybody, not only the employers. The South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) says a 12% wage offer has been agreed on, which ended a week-long strike by 70 000 workers at World Cup construction sites around the country. One of the contentious issues during negotiations was the employer requiring an undertaking by unions that they would not strike again before the 2010 World Cup tournament. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has described the wage agreement as very good for workers. The agreement between NUM, the Building Construction and Allied Workers' Union, and SAFCEC was concluded in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Almost 100 swine flu cases in South Africa
Four new swine flu cases have been reported in the Western Cape, the provincial health department said on Wednesday. These four new cases, which the provincial health department was notified about on Tuesday night, bring the provincial tally to 12. All are travel cases, having travelled from countries that have high infection rates.
The four people are in isolation at home as these cases are mild – three are adults and one is a teenager.
The teenager had taken part in a squash tournament in Johannesburg where 11 university students contracted the virus. Another person had recently returned from travels in Thailand and Singapore, while the other two people had returned from China and Mauritius, respectively. According to statistics posted on Tuesday evening on the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) website, 93 cases of the AH1N1 influenza had been reported in the country. The bulk of these cases are in Gauteng (51 cases), with the Eastern Cape and Western Cape each reporting 12 cases. Limpopo Province remains free of swine flu, according to the latest figures.
NICD deputy director Dr Lucille Blumberg says once South Africa had reported 100 cases, it will follow the directive of the World Health Organization (WHO) and begin to focus on serious cases in people who already had underlying health issues. Dr Blumberg says the figure of 100 cases is just an "arbitrary number" designed to ensure that resources are best managed since most flu cases are not serious.
Swine flu pandemic has reached South Africa
On Thursday, South Africa passed the 100 mark for the number of confirmed swine flu cases, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). This means that, in line with a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation last week, the Institute will cease routine testing of suspected cases as it has established that the pandemic has reached South Africa.
The NICD now expects a shift from cases detected in people with a history of recent global travel, to community transmission. The Institute says, “Fortunately all cases so far had been relatively mild, presenting no differently to the regular winter seasonal influenza which is in fact more common in the country at present. There is therefore little reason to continue with the very resource-intensive practice of testing all suspect cases as, in the great majority of these cases it offers very little advantage to clinicians managing individual patients.”
The NICD will do laboratory testing for the H1N1 virus which causes the illness if it is warranted and will continue to chart the behaviour of the virus and monitor any changes in its characteristics. At a briefing earlier this week, the Institute said there may be an increase in cases next week as public schools return for the new school term. Most cases have been reported through the private health system and there are no clear indications yet how it is affecting the wider community which relies on public hospitals.
Local celebrities will join in on Mandela Day
Dozens of local and international celebrities have sent their well wishes to Nelson Mandela ahead of his birthday on Saturday. Mr Mandela, who turns 91, has urged people across the world to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to help their communities. It represents the 67 years Madiba (the name which South Africans fondly use for Mr Mandela) has dedicated to campaigning for the human rights of every South African. 18 July will also become known as Mandela Day.
Renowned actor and playwright John Kani says he and his relatives will be joining in to help their communities in Johannesburg. Mr Kani and his whole family will be going to the neighbouring school and cleaning. Comedian Leon Schuster says he too will be honouring Madiba’s legacy on Saturday, commenting “One of the few people in the world who is not counting the years, but counting only the memories. I will take my 67 minutes and reflect on this.”
IDOLS judge Mara Louw says she will be helping her church choir record African songs. Madiba will be celebrating his birthday in Johannesburg but there will be parties honouring him around the world. The main Mandela Day festivities will take place in New York, United States, where international stars and dignitaries have been gathering since the beginning of the week. Singer Gloria Gaynor says her birthday wish for the elder statesman is that he finds himself in a place where he can receive all the wonderful gifts that God would like to bestow on him. Another
musician who will be celebrating Mr Mandela’s birthday is Josh Groban, who commented, “Ninety one! God bless him.
It’s incredible. I hope that wherever he is that he feels this energy, he feels the love, he feels that not only are we here to celebrate his life but we are here to try to make a difference like he has shown by leading by example.”
Schools in Gauteng will be monitored for swine flu
The Gauteng Health Department has assured parents that all schools will be monitored for swine flu next week.
Concerns have been raised about the spread of the H1N1 virus when schools open on Monday. There are now over 100 confirmed cases of swine flu in South Africa.
The Gauteng Health Department says outbreak response teams will be visiting schools in the province. A Health Departmentl spokesperson says, “We do not want people to panic. We have put in place teams consisting of medical doctors and public health promoters to monitor schools as to how they can manage swine flu but it is just a precautionary measure.”
NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Former Mozambican President in Madagascar to resolve political crisis
Former Mozambican President, Joaquim Chissano arrived in Madagascar late last week to lead talks aimed at resolving that country's political crisis. Mr Chisssano remarked upon his arrival, “I have come to make contact with the political, economic and social situation in Madagascar.”
However, Mr Chissano says that any negotiations will have to wait until he has seen all concerned parties. The talks will include Andry Rajoelina, who seized power with army support after street protests in March. Marc Ravalomanana, the ousted President, will not be present at the talks but will be represented by his supporters. Mr Rajoelina has threatened to arrest Mr Ravalomanana if he returns to Madagascar.
The visiting SADC team’s main mission is to assist Madagascar to return to constitutional normality. Mr Chissano says negotiations will not start until plans have been laid and all parties have been involved in preliminary talks, including civic, religious and cultural leaders, as well as the politicians. Former Malagasy President Ravalomanana fled the country on 25 March but he is still recognized by the international community as the island's rightful leader. On 21 June, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) appointed the highly-respected Mr Chissano to mediate in Madagascar’s political crisis and he is expected to stay in Madagascar for a couple of days.
Government of Lesotho rules out new talks on poll dispute
This week, Lesotho's government ruled out any further talks with the opposition over the disputed 2007 election results, following a breakdown in regional mediation efforts last week. The Basotho Communications Minister, Mothetjoa Metsing says the government believes the dispute over the allocation of parliamentary seats was settled after Lesotho's High Court decided last year not to become embroiled in the conflict after the election commission made its decision.
Regional leaders in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have named former Botswana President, Sir Ketumile Masire as a mediator in the dispute, but he abruptly ended a mission in Lesotho last week, complaining that the Lesotho government had refused to engage in dialogue. Sir Masire issued a brief report last week which appeared to side with the opposition, saying that the electoral commission had miscalculated the number of seats that should go to the governing alliance. Basotho opposition parties have accused the electoral commission of wrongly allocating 21 of the 120 seats in Parliament to the alliance led by the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD). Lesotho's former dictator turned opposition leader, Metsing Lekhanya says opposition parties still want to find a peaceful way of settling the dispute. Mr Lekhanya led a military junta from 1986-1989 and now heads the opposition Basotho National Party (BNP).
Political violence erupted in the tiny mountain kingdom in April this year, when gunmen staged a military-style attack on Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's residence in Maseru. The government has accused the opposition of masterminding this attack, a charge which they deny.
