The View Point

Over 2000 military veterans plan to bring a class-action suit against President Cyril Ramaphosa over unpaid benefits. The former MK, APLA, and AZANLA members are demanding R4 million each. They claim the President disregarded their demands for reparations and benefits which include pensions, housing, and medical benefits among others.

Last month, they marched to the Union Buildings but there were no recipients to accept their memorandum. They also wrote to the President indicating their intentions to go the legal route if he fails to respond before April.

But only 2000 members are part of this, what about the other half? Are these members not in unison on this matter?

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Andries Nkome ]

Position AND org.:   [• Legal Representative and attorney at Phosa Loot attorneys ] 

We’re talking about the National State of Disaster and what the possible outcomes for the Command Council meeting could be. If there is an extension - what would it entail?  If it is done away with, will it mean the end of social distancing and the death of a vaccination drive that has been battling to get a favourable response?

Title:                          [• Dr. Mr. ]

Name:                        [• Kgosi Letlape]

Social enterprise, Kusini Water, based in Gauteng builds water treatment systems from nanotechnology and macadamia nut shells. A few months ago, they launched their biggest water purification plant at eMalahleni in partnership with DuPoint, producing 10,000 litres of water per hour.

With so many parts of the country facing a water crisis, we hear more about this social enterprise and what it hopes to achieve.

Title:                          [• Mr. ]

Name:                        [• Murendi Mafumo  ]

Position AND org.:   [• Founder of Kusini Water]

Tomorrow, the Walk Free Foundation project, will host an event for a global signing declaration to end modern day slavery. Other events have taken place in the DRC and in kenya.This global initiative was started with Pope Francis declaring his support at the Vatican and calling on global leaders to support this important movement.

In a just world, everyone, everywhere has the right to a life free from slavery. But right now, millions of children and adults are trapped in slavery in every single country in the world. Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. Modern slavery is all around us, but often just out of sight.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Franca Pellegrini  ]

Position AND org.:   [• Director for the Global Freedom Network Director ] 

#TuesdayTakeover - Kenneth McCallion

Kenneth McCallion heads an accomplished team of civil litigation and human rights attorneys at McCallion & Associates LLP in New York. He is an internationally recognized expert on various fields in the law industry.  McCallion spent the early part of his law career working as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, handling high-profile organized crime prosecutions and working on major labor racketeering cases, including some investigations that dealt with labor racketeering involving the construction of Trump Tower and other major construction projects in the New York area. He also worked on numerous sensitive counterintelligence investigations involving Russian espionage in the U.S.

Kenneth also represented Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Prime Minister of Ukraine, in her civil RICO case against Paul Manafort and others in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York that served as part of the basis for the Department of Justice and Special Counsel Mueller’s indictments of Mr. Manafort and Mr. Gates for various federal criminal offenses.

Additionally, he represented thousands of World War II victims of forced and slave labor in their successful settlement claims against the German government and German industries. He also represented families of the victims of the American Airlines crash Flight 587 and veterans of the first Gulf War (in 1991) who were injured after exposure to chemicals sold to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq by various European chemical companies.

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Kenneth McCallion]

Position AND org.:   [• Civil litigation and human rights attorney based in New York ] 

Title:                          [• Dr. Mr.]

Name:                        [• Ngondi Kamatuka]

Position AND org.:   [• Director for the Center for Educational Opportunity Programs at the University of Kansas ] 

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Veraa Barnabas Katuuo]

Position AND org.:   [• An architect in New York] 

The language of Afrikaans remains a contested issue in South Africa. The controversy over the medium of instruction at traditionally Afrikaans universities such as Stellenbosch has brought this to the fore again. Should it be in Afrikaans, English, a combination, or a hybrid which will include other South African languages?

Afrikaans is a creole language that evolved during the 19th century under colonialism in southern Africa. This simplified, creolised language had its roots mainly in Dutch, mixed with seafarer variants of Malay, Portuguese, Indonesian and the indigenous Khoekhoe and San languages.

Title:                          [• Prof. Ms]

Name:                        [• Hein Willemse]

Position AND org.:   [• Professor of Afrikaans at the University of Pretoria ]

Following a grueling and rowdy series of Judicial Service Commission interviews, the ball of who will become the next chief justice of South Africa is now firmly in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s court. As many have stated, the decision ultimately lies with the President, despite the JSC’s recommendation of Supreme Court of Appeal President Mandisa Maya.

We’re in conversation with Judges Matter, looking at some of the hot issues that will sit at the top of the new chief justice’s in-tray in the first few days.

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Mbekezeli Benjamin]

Position AND org.:   [• Researcher at Judges Matter] 

Contacts details:      [• ]

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) says it it ready for the long-awaited auctioning of high demand spectrum. The regulator says the auctioning of the spectrum would involve six bidders, which included Cell C, Liquid Telecoms, Rain Networks, MTN and Telkom.But despite its benefits to the economy, the auction process has been hindered by several legal challenges, and a case lodged by Telkom against the process is set for 11 to 14 April. It is not yet clear if the outcome of the case would impact the results of the auction.

Icasa said a public announcement of the winners would be made at the end of the opt-in auction as well as the amount of spectrum they won and the amount they will need to pay.

Title:                          [• Dr. Ms]

Name:                        [• Keabetswe Modimoeng]

Position AND org.:   [• Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Chairperson]

Contact:                    [•   ]

Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences recently hosted an international high-level delegation, led by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The university’s Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers spoke about the significance of the visit and how the new Biomedical Research Institute is one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world, but more importantly, it’s part of Stellenbosch University’s drive to advance knowledge in service of society

Title:                          [• Prof. Mr ]

Name:                        [• Wim de Villiers]

Position AND org.:   [• Stellenbosch University's Rector and Vice-Chancellor]

Contact:                    [•  ]

Anti-apartheid activists believe the Neil Aggett ruling is a step towards justice for many families still seeking answers. Trade unionist and medical doctor, Neil Aggett was found hanging from his cell at John Vorster Square in 1982.

A first inquest ruled his death a suicide. However, the recent Johannesburg High Court judgment that trade unionist and medical doctor didn’t commit suicide, but was instead killed by apartheid-era police, is believed to be a step forward towards justice for many families still seeking answers.

40-years after anti-apartheid activist, Neil Aggett, was declared dead by suicide, the Johannesburg High Court has nullified the inquest. The re-opened inquest found that Aggett was murdered by the apartheid regime’s security branch.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Jill Burger]

Position AND org.:   [• Dr Neil Aggett’s sister] 

Contacts details:      [• ] She in the UK