A new inquest will be held into the mysterious death in 1967 of South Africa's anti-apartheid leader and first Nobel Peace Prize winner Chief Albert Luthuli, justice minister Ronald Lamola has said.

Guest: Sandile Luthuli -Grandson of Albert Luthuli,

 

Afrika Update Report

19 December 2024

1.      Egypt- Cairo

D-8 Summit: ‘Chaos management’

On Thursday morning in Cairo, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi is scheduled to open the 10th summit meeting of the D-8 group of developing nations. Formed in 1997, D-8 includes Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

An Egyptian government source said that the agenda of the D-8 summit will essentially focus on cooperation between the eight Muslim majority developing countries and their “ambitious plan to expand trade and economic cooperation” by 2030.

2.Liberia- Monrovia

Liberia's parliament building catches fire as protests enter a second day

Emergency services in Liberia were tackling a fire in the parliament building yesterday which broke out as opposition protests spilled into a second day. Authorities did not immediately confirm the cause of the fire in the capital, Monrovia. President Joseph Boakai, who visited the scene and ordered an investigation into the incident, condemned the “wanton destruction in this country.”

3.Ghana- Accra

In-coming President Mahama assembles team to drive anti-corruption agenda before taking office

President-elect John Dramani Mahama has taken a decisive first step in his anti-corruption crusade by establishing a preparatory team to spearhead his flagship agenda, "Operation Recover All Loo" (ORAL), ahead of his assumption of office.

4.      South Afrika – Mozambique

South Africa, Mozambique to bolster security measures at border

The governments of South Africa and Mozambique announced yesterday that they would be stepping up security measures to mitigate the impact of the electoral protests in Mozambique, considering that there is a “risk of food and energy insecurity”.

5.      In our historical archives, it was on this day 19 December 1982 when a well-planned attack on the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town, carried by ANC Military Wing- Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) causes heavy damage with no injuries, reported.

MK sabotaged the Koeberg plant, at the time Africa's only nuclear reactor plant to dispel allegations that the ANC and MK existed only in neighbouring countries.

 

The Morning Brief  

Afrika Update Report  

17 December 2024 

1. Mozambique- South Afrika  

Lamola to lead delegation in meeting with Mozambique  

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola will lead a delegation of South African ministers in a bilateral engagement with Mozambique on Wednesday, 18 December 2024. 

The objective of this meeting is to discuss the challenges faced by the neighbouring country as the post-election turmoil in Mozambique continues to cause disruption. 

2.Belgium- France- DR Congo 

DRC files criminal case against Apple over alleged use of illegal minerals 

Multinational tech giant, Apple, is in the spotlight after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) filed a criminal case against its subsidiaries in Belgium and France. 

3.Ethiopia- Kenya- Tanzania 

Ethiopia Commences Power Supply Trial From Kenya to Tanzania 

Ethiopia has successfully commenced power supply trial from Kenya to Tanzania, according to local media report. 

The East Africa Electric Highway project, a key component of the power infrastructure initiative ,linking Kenya to Tanzania 

This milestone follows the successful establishment of the first power connection between Ethiopia and Kenya, made possible by an advanced power supply network, it was learnt. 

4. Angola – United Kingdom  

Angolan tycoon Isabel dos Santos, once dubbed "Africa's richest woman", has hit out at the UK for imposing sanctions on her, telling the BBC the move came as a surprise as she had not been found guilty of "any corruption in any court in any country". 

Last month, the daughter of Angola's former president was described by the UK government as a "notorious kleptocrat" and slapped with an asset freeze and travel ban for allegedly siphoning wealth out of oil-rich Angola. 

5. In our historical archives, it was on this day 18 December 1946 when Bantu Steve Biko was born in Tarkastad in the Eastern Province (now Eastern Cape), the third child of Mzingaye Biko and Nokuzola Macethe Duna. 

The killing of three officers in KwaZulu-Natal on duty at the weekend highlights the challenges facing police in the fight against crime in the province, says provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He was speaking on Tuesday during the handover of 36 vehicles worth more than R14m donated by the provincial government to bolster crime-fighting efforts. 

Guest: Thami Ntuli – KZN Premier 

 

Guest: William Gumede, associate professor at the School of Governance at Wits University 

THE SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has rejected the government’s plan to streamline its workforce by encouraging early retirement among public servants, warning that this cost-cutting measure, aimed at reducing the public sector wage bill, threatens service delivery and jeopardises the livelihoods of thousands of working-class families. 

 

Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi – General Secretary of SAFTU 

A top Russian general accused by Ukraine of being responsible for the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops was assassinated in Moscow by Ukraine's SBU intelligence service on Tuesday morning in the most high-profile killing of its kind. 

Guest: Abel Esterhuyse - Professor Of Strategy: Faculty Of Military Science: Stellenbosch University 

 

Guest: Rebecca Phala - Santaco Spokesperson 

 

Guest: Tshepo Matseba – Founder of Reputation 1st 

 

 

Guest: Vusi Vokwana - founder of KASI CATALYST