South Africa, Russia, And China Conducting Joint Naval Exercises Off South Africa's East Coast

 

VOA: Russian Warship Drills with South African, Chinese Navies Amid Criticism 

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — Joint naval exercises including South Africa, Russia, and China get underway in waters off South Africa's east coast Friday, despite U.S. concerns and Ukrainian condemnation. Critics say the 10-day military drills will do little to benefit South Africa and act as a propaganda boost for Moscow on the one-year anniversary of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

While the West is upping its arms shipments to help Ukraine fend off Russia’s invasion, South Africa begins wargames today with Russian warships that proudly support the offensive. 

Russia’s “Admiral Gorshkov,” which arrived in Cape Town this week, is marked with the Kremlin’s pro-war symbol, the letter 'Z.'  

Read more ....

 South Africa, Russia, And China Conducting Joint Naval Exercises Off South Africa's East Coast  

S.Africa's Navy Stages Controversial Exercises With China, Russia -- AFP  

Russia to test missile in drills with China and South Africa -- AP  

Russia to test hypersonic missile in drills with China, South Africa – a first for an international exercise -- FOX News  

Russia set for joint naval drills 'with hypersonic missile' as major security summit begins -- SKY News

South Africa: Russia-China drills strain ties with West -- DW  

South Africa's naval exercise with Russia, China raises Western alarm -- Reuters  

Why is South Africa's navy joining exercises with Russia and China? -- BBC

Fire Reignites At South Africa's Parliament. Roof Has Collapsed And Entire Floors Have Been Gutted

 

The Guardian/Reuters: South Africa firefighters struggle as parliament blaze flares up again 

Flames break out as man charged with arson day after fire extensively damages national assembly building 

South African firefighters are struggling to extinguish another fire at the complex housing the country’s parliament in Cape Town, a day after a blaze swept through the buildings. 

Police have charged a 49-year-old man with arson and other offences including theft. He is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. 

The speaker of the national assembly said arson, if confirmed, would represent an attack on South Africa’s democracy.

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: It looks like the national assembly building is a write-off. A suspect has been charged for arson .... South Africa Parliament: Suspect Charged in Fire to Appear in Court (New York Times). 

Fire Reignites At South Africa's Parliament. Roof Has Collapsed And Entire Floors Have Been Gutted  

Fire Reignites at South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town -- AP  

Large fire tears through South Africa's parliament, collapsing roof and gutting entire floors -- CNN  

Firefighters tackle fresh blaze at S. African parliament, suspect charged with arson -- France 24

South African Parliament On Fire

 

BBC: Cape Town: Major blaze rips through South Africa parliament building 

A large fire has severely damaged the Houses of Parliament in the South African city of Cape Town. 

Video footage showed a plume of black smoke filling the sky, with huge flames coming out from the roof of the building. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the scene and called it a "terrible and devastating event". 

A 51-year-old man was being held and questioned by the authorities, police said. 

The blaze, which began shortly after 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT), came the day after Archbishop Desmond Tutu's state funeral at St George's Cathedral, near parliament.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Fire erupts at South Africa's parliament building in Cape Town (NBC/AP)  

Update #2: Fire breaks out in South African parliament in Cape Town (The Guardian/AFP)  

WNU Editor: Major damage is being reported.

The Unrest And Widesperad Violence In South Africa Will Return

 

The Guardian: South Africa’s leaders fear fresh wave of violence by Zuma loyalists  

Attacks by supporters of jailed former president ‘are bid for pardon or to unseat government’ 

South African authorities fear a new wave of attacks aimed at undermining the economy, investment and the rule of law as networks loyal to former president Jacob Zuma seek to force his return to power. 

Investigators believe the unrest last week, which killed more than 200 and caused massive damage across a swath of the country, was deliberately provoked as part of a broader strategy by political opponents to force president Cyril Ramaphosa to pardon Zuma or even step down.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. With half of the country not working, the unrest and violence will not stop. In the meantime the Covid pandemic in South Africa continues .... Real South African Covid-19 Death Toll May Be Around 200000 (Bloomberg). 

More News On The Unrest In South Africa  

Death toll in South Africa riots rises to 276, minister says -- Reuters  

South Africa unrest hits 40,000 businesses, government says -- East African/AFP  

What is Driving the Protests, Looting and Riots in South Africa? -- UN Dispatch 

The insurrection in South Africa is about more than freeing Zuma -- Benjamin Fogel, Al Jazeera

Despair In South Africa After Unrest Leaves More Than 200 Dead And Communities Gutted By Looting And Arson

 

Washington Post: ‘I am broken’: South African communities are gutted by a wave of looting, arson and loss 

KATLEHONG, South Africa — As thousands of people pillaged Chris Hani Mall, named after the famed militant communist who led the armed struggle against apartheid, Zandile Dlamini figured she’d go watch. 

To the 18-year-old, the moment felt historic: the crumbling of society that so many had long predicted here, where inequality has ballooned, fueled by corruption and neglect. 

The looters were the poor who had scarcely benefited from the end of White rule 27 years ago, leaving their homes in the townships that shadow Johannesburg as a wave of lawlessness swept across South Africa’s two most populous provinces this week. 

Her brother Vusi, even though four years younger, felt concerned — and responsible — for her safety. He jumped on his bike and headed toward the mall, thinking he would bring her home. 

It was Zandile who found him instead, dead on the ground with a single gunshot to the head. Who shot Vusi isn’t clear, but he is one of at least 212 who have died in the mayhem — killed by police or vigilantes, or crushed in stampedes as people fled law enforcement. 

South Africa has deployed 10,000 soldiers in addition to its police and expects to deploy 15,000 more in coming days even as the looting has lessened.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: South Africa’s leader vows to restore order, catch plotters -- AP  

Update #2: South African leader says calm has been restored to most places -- Reuters  

WNU editor: In the middle of this chaos the pandemic is still ravaging the country .... Brace for Covid-19 surge: WHO warns South Africa after riots (Bloomberg).

South African Government Deploys 25,000 Troops To Stop The Unrest And Looting

 

Daily Mail: 'We are on the verge of eating each other': Vigilantes say they are 'prepared to die' defending shops as South Africa sends 25,000 soldiers to stop looters 

* Vigilantes have formed groups to protect shops from looting and said they are 'prepared to die' while doing so 

* Raging unrest first erupted last Friday after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed over corruption charges 

* Law-abiding citizens formed queues outside supermarkets amid fears of food shortages caused by the riots 

* The national health service warned it was also running low on oxygen and drugs due to chaos on the streets 

* Body of boy, 13, discovered today outside a mall that vigilante taxi drivers have been protecting from looting 

Vigilantes have said they are 'prepared to die' defending shops from looters as South Africa's lawlessness entered its seventh consecutive day and the government mobilised 25,000 troops to quell the chaos. 

Armed locals started defending shops after thousands were ransacked in riots across the country after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed on Friday for failing to appear in court on corruption charges. 

At least 72 have so far died during the chaos, with police forces totally absent or in some cases, officers participating in looting. 

Vigilantes in Soweto have rallied around Maponya Mall, one of the few shopping centres still standing after 200 others were ransacked, defending it from looters in an effort to end the unrest.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The death toll is now at 117 .... South Africa Violence, Looting Ebbs but Death Toll up to 117 (US News and World Report/Reuters). 

More News On The South African Government Deploying 25,000 Troops To Stop The Unrest And Looting  

South Africa deploys 25,000 troops to end week of rioting -- FOX News/AP  

South Africa looting: Government to deploy 25,000 troops after unrest -- BBC  

Death toll in South Africa climbs above 100 as thousands of soldiers deployed on streets -- The Independent  

South Africa will deploy 25,000 troops to help quell unrest -- DW  

WHO Warns South Africa to Brace For Covid-19 Surge After Riots -- Bloomberg

South Africa Unrest Continues -- News Updates July 14, 2021

 

Daily Mail: 'Please protest and loot responsibly': Jailed Jacob Zuma's son urges father's supporters to show restraint as South Africa's lawlessness spreads and even POLICE are caught raiding shops 

* Duduzane Zuma took to Instagram to call for his father to be freed and the Covid lockdown to end, 

* He warned that with troops deployed SA is 'just one massacre away from a complete spiralling out of control' 

* The 37-year-old said that 'finger pointing' was not going to help because the government must 'feed the poor' 

* He blamed the looting on lockdown-fuelled inequity, saying that many of these looters were 'middle-class' 

* Raging unrest first erupted last Friday after former president Jacob Zuma was jailed over corruption charges 

* But the wanton lawlessness has lost any political ties, with thousands looting their local malls and warehouses 

* Law-abiding citizens formed queues outside supermarkets amid fears of food shortages caused by the riots 

* The national health service warned it was also running low on oxygen and drugs due to chaos on the streets 

* Body of boy, 13, discovered today outside a mall that vigilante taxi drivers have been protecting from looting 

Jacob Zuma's son has urged looters to 'do so responsibly' and called for his father to be freed after South Africa's lawlessness entered its sixth consecutive day amid fears of a 'humanitarian crisis' with food, fuel and Covid medicine shortages. 

The former president was locked up last Friday over corruption charges, prompting riots and looting across the country, with police forces totally absent or in some cases, officers participating. 

Duduzane Zuma took to Instagram to call for his father to be freed and the Covid lockdown to end, claiming that with troops now deployed the country was 'just one massacre away from a complete spiralling out of control.'  

Read more .... 

South Africa Unrest Continues -- News Updates July 14, 2021  

South Africa unrest continues after ex-leader’s imprisonment -- AP 

Chaos spreads in South Africa as authorities struggle to contain looting, violence -- FOX News  

72 killed as South Africa grapples with its worst political violence since apartheid -- CBS  

More than 70 killed in South Africa protests after former leader Jacob Zuma is jailed -- CNN  

Food Shortage Set to Grip South Africa After Rioters Rampage -- Bloomberg  

Over 70 Killed As South Africa "Crumbles" Despite Military Intervention -- Zero Hedge  

Residents arm themselves against S. African looters -- Reuters  

South Africa in flames: spontaneous outbreak or insurrection? -- The Conversation

South Africa Deploys Military Forces To Quell Growing Unrest And Chaos

 

Daily Mail: South Africa in chaos: Shopkeepers fire on mob to protect their stores and ten people are killed in mall looting stampede as death toll in riots sparked by President Zuma's jailing passes 40 

* South Africa has been hit by five days of mob violence sparked by jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma 

* Violence centered in provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Guateng, with shops looted and people killed 

* Death toll stands at 45, including 10 people who were trampled in a stampede at a looted shopping centre 

* Shopkeepers have been filmed opening fire on a mob while woman threw her baby from the top of a burning shopping centre as flames threatened the apartment buildings above 

South Africa is in the grip of its worst unrest since the end of apartheid with shopkeepers firing at looters and a woman throwing her baby from a burning mall roof as violence sparked by the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma entered its fifth day today. 

At least 45 people have now died - including 10 trampled to death during a stampede at a looted shopping mall - in riots centered around KwaZulu-Natal and Guateng provinces that began last week and raged through the weekend after 79-year-old Zuma was jailed for failing to cooperate with a corruption probe. 

The army has been called in to help stem the unrest after fearful citizens began forming 'defence squads' to protect their homes and businesses amid warnings that food supplies could soon run short as supermarket owners shut up shop amid the widespread looting.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Some of the images of mass looting are truly astounding (see video below). 

 

 More News On The Unrest In South Africa  

Cyril Ramaphosa address: South Africa president order military deployment to end violence, looting -- BBC  

Death toll mounts in South Africa rioting after Zuma jailing -- AP  

South Africa: 45 dead as unrest linked to Zuma jailing intensifies -- The Guardian  

Rioting Forces South Africa to Halt Covid Vaccines in Key Provinces -- Bloomberg  

Unrest spreads in South Africa in wake of Zuma jailing as grievances boil over -- France 24  

Stores Close Across South Africa as Violent Riots Intensify -- Bloomberg

South African Xenophobic Attacks On Foreigners Continue

BBC: South Africa: Two dead in new bout of mob violence

A fresh bout of mob violence in South Africa has left two people dead.

It began after a speech in the commercial hub Johannesburg by a veteran politician, who was trying to quell tensions over xenophobia.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi was heckled by a rowdy section of the crowd on Sunday, who later clashed with security forces.

Ten people, including two foreigners, were killed in the city last week when mobs attacked foreign-owned businesses.

The trouble led to diplomatic tensions with other African countries, most notably Nigeria.

Read more ....

More News On South African Xenophobic Attacks On Foreigners Continuing

South African attacks on foreign shops continue; 12 dead -- AP
12 dead, 639 arrested following xenophobic violence -- News 24
South Africa: Anti-migrant clashes kill 1, injure several -- DW
One killed, five wounded in new Johannesburg violence -- Al Jazeera
Police confirm 12 people dead as result of xenophobia attacks -- EWN
Xenophobia: Armed South African Youths Renew Calls For Foreigners To Leave -- Channels TV

Flyover For South Africa's Presidential Inauguration (Video)

May 25: Two South African Airways A340 in formation with the South African air force performed a flyby today during the SA presidential inauguration at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria #AvGeek

Credit: @BongaDlulane pic.twitter.com/qpQB5xooOz

— AeroSkippah (@AeroSkippah) May 25, 2019

Warzone/The Drive: The Flyover For South Africa's Presidential Inauguration Was Absolutely Bonkers

The A340s doing a very low-altitude break over the airport was even more impressive!

South Africa is swearing in their new President and with the festivities came one of the most incredible flyovers we have seen for a long time. The event was held at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the heart of Pretoria and was part of a slew of festivities to welcome Cyril Ramaphosa into office.

The flyover consisted of a pair of South African Airways Airbus A340-600s flanked by the South African Air Force's Silver Falcons display team in their Pilatus PC-7 Mk.IIs.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: That is something that you do not see everyday.

South African Elections -- News Roundup

VOX News: South Africa’s election was a test for Nelson Mandela’s party. It’s now poised to win.

The ruling ANC party was beleaguered by corruption. Twenty-five years after the fall of apartheid, the party is set to win — but likely with less support.

South Africans voted Wednesday in the country’s sixth national election since the formation of its democratic government 25 years ago.

This election was seen as a test for President Cyril Ramaphosa and his party, the African National Congress (ANC), which has led South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Ramaphosa and the ANC were expected to prevail, and early results, which started trickling in Thursday, suggest they will do so — but likely with a reduced majority.

Read more ....

South Africa's Elections -- News Roundup

The Latest: Polls closing in South Africa's election -- AP
South Africa election: ANC leads as votes counted -- BBC
South Africa election: early results point to reduced ANC majority -- The Guardian
South Africa election: ruling ANC set for reduced majority -- DW
A.N.C. Leads in South Africa Election, as Voters Give Party 'One Last Chance' -- The New York Times
South Africa's ruling ANC takes lead as vote counting continues -- Al Jazeera
Three party leaders seeking to win S.Africa election -- AFP

South Africans Go To The Polls Today To Vote For A President And Parliament

The Guardian: South Africa goes to polls as ANC hopes to reverse slide in support

Many South Africans have been alienated by corruption scandals and flagging economy

Millions of people have started voting in a landmark general election in South Africa, where the ruling African National Congress party (ANC) is hoping to reverse a slide in support 25 years after the country’s first free elections ushered in a new democratic era.

In Alexandra, a poor neighbourhood in Johannesburg, long queues formed at polling stations shortly after they opened at 7am. “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain afterwards. This election will change so many things,” said Neziswa Tshwangana, 34.

Many South Africans have been alienated by repeated corruption scandals and the ANC’s continuing failure to deal with a flagging economy, collapsing public services, soaring unemployment and high levels of violent crime. There is also rising anger at the party’s failure to hold its officials to account after graft investigations.

Read more ....

More News On South Africa's Election

South Africa votes with corruption, unemployment big issues -- AP
South Africans vote in crunch election -- DW
South Africa votes as ruling ANC seeks to reverse sliding support -- Al Jazeera
In South Africa Election, Ramaphosa Faces Verdict From Disillusioned Voters -- The New York Times
South Africa election: ANC faces tough test 25 years after apartheid -- BBC
Immigration a key issue in South Africa elections amid economic woes -- France 24
ANC corruption is a major cause of South Africa’s failure – and the polls will show it -- William Gumede, The Guardian
SA's sixth free elections: Will the ANC be punished for state capture? -- Pieter du Toit, News24
South Africa elections explained in 60 seconds -- BBC
South Africans go to the polls – in pictures -- The Guardian

South Africa Is In A Recession

Business Insider: South Africa stumbles into a recession

* South Africa's economy entered a recession for the first time in nearly a decade.
* Gross domestic product fell 0.7% in the second quarter, dragged down by weak performance in the agricultural sector.
* The South African rand plunged more than 2% following the report.

South Africa's economic growth slowed unexpectedly in the second quarter, pushing the country into a recession for the first time since 2009.

Gross domestic product in Africa's most developed economy fell by 0.7% from April to June, the national statistics agency said in a report Tuesday, compared with expectations for 0.6% growth. That followed a 2.6% contraction in the previous quarter.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Everyone is surprised with this "unexpected" recession. Why should they be? Threatening to take property without compensation is going to destroy your economy .... a fact that the current government in South Africa and its supporters have trouble in understanding.

More News On Reports That South Africa Is Now In A Recession

South Africa Unexpectedly Slides Into Recession For The First Time Since 2009 -- Zero Hedge
South Africa in recession for first time since 2009; rand slumps -- Reuters
South Africa Slips Into Recession as Economy Contracts -- Bloomberg
Rand plummets after South Africa enters technical recession -- CNBC
South Africa slides into recession amid failing government reforms -- RT

South Africa’s Ruling ANC Withdraws Its Land Expropriation Bill For Further Consideration

RT: South Africa’s ruling ANC says land expropriation bill withdrawn for further reconsideration

A bill allowing the South African government to seize private land without compensation has been withdrawn by the Portfolio Committee on Public Works pending further study, according to the ruling African National Congress.

In 2015, the ANC proposed a constitutional amendment allowing the government to seize and redistribute land without any compensation to its owners. The draft, which has not been adopted so far, evoked widespread international outrage and multiple media reports of alleged violence against white South African farmers, including murders.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: RT is the only news website carrying this story. If true, this decision to withdraw the bill tells me that saner heads in the South African government realized what the consequences would have been if such expropriations were undertaken. On a side note .... hours before this announcement to withdraw the bill, visiting UK Prime Minister May endorsed it .... Ramaphosa's land reform policy gets backing from British PM Theresa May (News24). Sighhh .... she is always behind in the news.

President Trump Tweets On South Africa's Land Seizures And On The Murder Of Hundreds Of White Farmers

I have asked Secretary of State @SecPompeo to closely study the South Africa land and farm seizures and expropriations and the large scale killing of farmers. “South African Government is now seizing land from white farmers.” @TuckerCarlson @FoxNews

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2018

Wall Street Journal: Trump Tweet on South African Land Reform Draws Government’s Ire

Rand falls after Trump says U.S. is looking at South Africa's efforts to overhaul land ownership

JOHANNESBURG—South Africa’s government on Thursday criticized a tweet by President Donald Trump in which he said he asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to study efforts to overhaul land ownership and “large scale killing of farmers” in Africa’s most-developed economy.

Mr. Trump’s overnight tweet referenced a report by Fox News host Tucker Carlson attacking the U.S. government’s stance on land reform in South Africa, which he suggested was too lax.

South Africa’s rand fell against the dollar after the tweet, and was 1.3% lower in Thursday morning trade.

The ruling African National Congress has said it plans to change the constitution to explicitly allow the expropriation of land without compensation in an effort to overcome deep inequalities in land ownership the country, which shed white-minority rule in 1994. White South Africans, who make up around 8% of the country’s population, still own 73% of agricultural land, according to estimates from farmers association Agri SA.

Read more ....

More News On President Trump Tweets On South Africa's Land Seizures And The Murder Of White Farmers

Rand Rally Sputters as Trump's Tweet Triggers Sanctions Concern -- Bloomberg
Trump Leaps Into South Africa’s Racially Charged Land Seizure Debate -- Bloomberg
Trump wants Pompeo to study 'killing of farmers' in South Africa -- Reuters
Trump orders Pompeo to ‘closely study’ South Africa’s land expropriation -- RT

WNU Editor: I am old enough to remember when Zimbabwe President Mugabe green-lighted the seizure of white farms and his reaction (and the reaction among his media allies in the West like the Independent) to those who opposed his measures. I am now seeing on the news and reading on the web the exact same language used by the South African government (and their media allies in the West) to condemn reaction to their policy of seizing white farms . I do not care what a person's ethnic background is. Ethnic cleansing is ethnic cleansing, and should be condemn universally when it happens, and it is now happening in South Africa.

South Africa totally rejects this narrow perception which only seeks to divide our nation and reminds us of our colonial past. #landexpropriation @realDonaldTrump @PresidencyZA

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) August 23, 2018

South Africa hits back at Trump over land seizure tweet -- CBS/AP
South Africa hits back at 'unfortunate' Trump tweet on land reform -- CNN
S.Africa hits back at Trump over land 'seizure' tweet -- AFP
The truth about white farmers in South Africa - and why the right is obsessed with them -- The Independent

South Africa Begins Seizing White Farms

These farms are on the goverment's #farmlist that ⁦@afriforum⁩ exposed. And yet government still denies that the list exists... but it is now clear that government is lying to the public. https://t.co/U40G0U1GIv

— Kallie Kriel (@kalliekriel) August 19, 2018

News.com.au: South Africa begins seizing white-owned farms

SOUTH Africa has targeted the first two farms for unilateral seizure after the owners refused an offer of one-tenth of the land’s value.

THE South African government has begun the process of seizing land from white farmers.

Local newspaper City Press reports two game farms in the northern province of Limpopo are the first to be targeted for unilateral seizure after negotiations with the owners to purchase the properties stalled.

While the government says it intends to pay, owners Akkerland Boerdery wanted 200 million rand ($18.7 million) for the land — they’re being offered just 20 million rand ($1.87 million).

“Notice is hereby given that a terrain inspection will be held on the farms on April 5, 2018 at 10am in order to conduct an audit of the assets and a handover of the farm’s keys to the state,” a letter sent to the owners earlier this year said.

Read more ....

Update: South Africa farm seizures BEGIN: Chaos as first expropriation of white-owned farms starts (Express)

WNU Editor: It looks like South Africa now wants to be known as Zimbabwe II. And in South Africa's politics, the rise of Black leaders who are just as bad as former Zimbabwe President Mugabe are on the rise .... Malema Turns Up Heat on South Africa's ANC (Bloomberg). Bottom line .... the future of South Africa's non-blacks are very grim.

South African Government Readies To Change The Constitution So White Farmlands Can Be Seized Without Compensation

Newsweek: South African President Pushes to Seize Farms Without Compensation, Sparking Opposition Anger

South Africa’s opposition has reacted angrily to a push from the country’s ruling party to change the constitution to allow the expropriation of land from farmers without compensation.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa for announcing that his ruling African National Congress (ANC) party would try to push through the amendment to Article 25.

About one-tenth of land in white ownership has been transferred to black ownership since the end of apartheid, which is only about a third of the ANC’s target, the BBC reported.

The ANC had tried to test whether land redistribution could be allowed under current laws, but Ramaphosa said in a video address Tuesday that this needed to be clarified.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Meanwhile attacks against white South African farmers are taking a deadly toll .... 'The white minority took our land. Enough is enough' (ABC News Online). More here .... ‘Their throats were slit, they were tortured’: Foreign Correspondent investigates South Africa farm attacks (Frank Chung, News.com.au).

More News On The South African Government Preparing To Seize White Farmlands Without Compensation

South Africa's ANC to try to change constitution to allow seizing land -- DW
South Africa's ANC to amend constitution to allow land expropriation -- Reuters
South Africa to change its constitution to speed up redistribution of white-owned land to the country's poor black majority -- Daily Mail
ANC Pushes South African Land-Seizure Plan as Election Looms -- Bloomberg
South African white lobby group calls ANC land plan "catastrophic" -- Reuters
South Africa's new land war is economic insanity -- Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner

Protests Grow In South Africa Over Corruption And Failing Services

The Guardian/AFP: South Africa riots force president to leave Commonwealth summit

Cyril Ramaphosa travels to North West province where police have fired rubber bullets during protests over alleged corruption and failing services.

South African police have fired rubber bullets at protesters as violent riots forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to cut short his attendance at the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in London.

Shops were looted, roads were blocked and vehicles set alight in North West province on Friday in unrest over alleged government corruption and poor public services. At least 23 people were arrested and one man was reported to have died in sporadic violence that erupted this week in Mahikeng, the provincial capital.

Read more ....

More News On the Growing Unrest In South Africa

South Africa's Ramaphosa flies in to try and quell northern protests -- Reuters
S. Africa leader curtails Britain trip over unrest at home -- AFP
South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa seeks to quell violent regional protests -- DW
Big Protests in South Africa Force Ramaphosa to End London Visit -- New York Times
Is a South African renaissance in the making? -- News24

Winnie Mandela Has Died At The Age Of 81

Reuters: Winnie Mandela, 'mother', then 'mugger', of new South Africa

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Hailed as mother of the ‘new’ South Africa, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s legacy as an anti-apartheid heroine was undone when she was revealed to be a ruthless ideologue prepared to sacrifice laws and lives in pursuit of revolution and redress.

Her uncompromising methods and refusal to forgive contrasted sharply with the reconciliation espoused by her husband Nelson Mandela as he worked to forge a stable, pluralistic democracy from the racial division and oppression of apartheid.

The contradiction helped kill their marriage and destroyed the esteem in which she was held by many South Africans, although the firebrand activist retained the support of radical black nationalists to the end.

In her twilight years, Madikizela-Mandela, who died on Monday aged 81, had frequent run-ins with authority that further undermined her reputation as a fighter against the white-minority regime that ran Africa’s most advanced economy from 1948 to 1994.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The only ones who will miss her will be the country's radical black nationalists and their sympathizers.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma To Face Corruption Trial

The Guardian: South Africa reinstates corruption charges against Jacob Zuma

Chief prosecutor says ex-president will face prosecution on charges that dogged him in office

South Africa’s chief prosecutor has said the former president Jacob Zuma will face prosecution on corruption charges that haunted much of his term in office.

Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) last month, will be prosecuted for corruption relating to a 30bn-rand (£1.8bn) arms deal in the late 1990s, Shaun Abrahams told a media conference on Friday.

Read more ....

More News On Former South African President Jacob Zuma To Face Corruption Trial

Jacob Zuma: Former South African president faces corruption trial -- BBC
S.Africa ex-president Zuma to face graft prosecution -- AFP
South Africa hits fallen Zuma with arms deal corruption charges -- Reuters
Ex-South Africa president faces 16 counts of corruption -- UPI
South Africa to prosecute ex-President Jacob Zuma on corruption charges -- DW
Ex-South Africa leader Jacob Zuma to face corruption charges -- Al Jazeera
Zuma's five biggest career scandals -- AFP
How S.Africa's Zuma dodged arms deal bribery charges -- AFP