Category: South Africa - Page 4 - African News Today

Time For Youths to Takeover Power, Obasanjo to African Youths

13Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Ghana, Kenya, Mali, News, Nigeria, South Africa

Time For Youths to Takeover Power, Obasanjo to African Youths

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former President has said the time has come for African youths to occupy leadership positions.He said youth participation in the activities of political parties is key to taking over their structure and stand a better chance of occupying elective positions.Obasanjo disclosed this on Wednesday during a keynote address at a virtual interactive which took place to mark the International Youth Day, 2020.The Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta organised the event.The former President said that unless the youths stand up to the older generation of leaders who occupy various leadership roles, they will continue to be relegated to the background. “Unless you squeeze out those who are in the office ...

3Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria, Press Statement, South Africa

Shoprite Commences Process to Shut down Operation in Nigeria

South Africa’s grocery retail giant, ShopRite, plans to discontinue its operation in Nigeria. Shoprite first made its way to Nigerian market in Lagos in December 2005. On Monday morning, the firm said in a trading update filed at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that it plans to stop operations in Nigeria. International supermarkets (excluding Nigeria) contributed 11.6 per cent to group sales and reported 1.4 per cent decline in sales from 2018. 78 percent of overall sales was contributed by South African operations and accounted for 8.7 percent increase for the year. The company said it had received offers from investors seeking to take over its Nigerian operations. It said it was deliberating a total sale of its operations or selling a majority stake to Nigerian subsidia...

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

23Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South African to Kickoff Clinical Trials of Coronavirus Vaccine on Wednesday

Clinical trials of a United Kingdom (UK) manufactured COVID-19 vaccine is set to take place in South Africa on Wednesday as the country tackles the spread of the dreaded disease. SABC News reports that the University of Oxford manufactured vaccine would be tried among about 2,000 people aged 18-35 in South Africa. Half of the participants would be given the drug while the rest will be given a placebo. It will commence with a set of HIV negative individuals who will be given two doses of the vaccine over four weeks duration. Personnel from the Medical Research Council and Wits University would on Wednesday, administer the drug on a set 50 people. South African has been taking planned actions to curtail the spread of COVID-19. It pioneered local capacity for laboratory testing in...

Minibus Taxis in South Africa Embark on Strike Over Insufficient COVID-19 Relief Funds

22Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Economy, News, South Africa, Transportation

Minibus Taxis in South Africa Embark on Strike Over Insufficient COVID-19 Relief Funds

Multitude of people were left stranded in South Africa due to strike action by minibus taxi drivers over what they termed inadequate corona virus relief funds. On Monday morning, taxi drivers in Johannesburg and capital city of Pretoria in the province of Gauteng barricaded roads and declined transporting workers. Local media report that police used rubber bullets to disperse protesting drivers in Pretoria. The nationwide lockdown which was imposed in March to curb the prevalence of COVID-19 have adversely affected the transport sector in South Africa thereby reducing the income of drivers. As the country continue to ease restrictions, many citizens who depend on minibus as means of transportation to work will need the buses once the economy returns to full operation. Restrictions...

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

21Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, South Africa

South Africa Closing in on 100,000 COVID-19 Cases

South Africa is fast closing in on 100,000 confirmed cases of novel corona virus after the nation’s Minister of Health announced a spike to 92,681 on Saturday. The Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, reported 4,966 addition to existing cases just in the last 24 hours, marking the highest number of cases recorded in a single day since the index case in March. According to Mkhize, 46 casualties were recorded as the virus continues to take its toll, amounting to 1,877 deaths- 11 from Eastern Cape, three from KwaZulu-Natal and a further 32 from Western Cape. Western Cape Province appears to be the most hit by the virus with 50,173 patients and 1,392 victims recorded, while Gauteng follows with 18,978 cases and 114 deaths, the Eastern Cape with 14,721 cases and 268 deaths, and KwaZulu-Natal ...

Thuli Madonsela Expresses Lack of Interest in Public Office

14Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, South Africa

Thuli Madonsela Expresses Lack of Interest in Public Office

Erstwhile South African public protector, Thuli Madonsela has expressed a lack of interest to contest election for parliament. Speculations in the media had promoted Thuli Madonsela as a candidate for parliament. However, Madonsela has said she does not fancy the job at the moment. In a chat with Sunday Times after the order for parliament to amend the Electoral Act to pave way for independent citizens to run for general elections outside the party-political lists by Constitutional Court, in South Africa, Madonsela posited the judgement would aid eradicate the arrogance of political office holders. Madonsela urged parliament to utilize the opportunity to implement the 17 years old recommendations of Van Zyl Slabbert commission report which had been ignored for ages. She is quo...

South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears

14Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, South Africa, Youths

South Africa: Student Union Threatens to Close Schools Across SA Over Covid-19 Fears

The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) have said the body will be “shutting down all schools over SA” from Monday. The union said in a statement, “We want to put it on record that we are not giving anyone an option but we are taking a radical approach, we will save the lives of innocent scholars by hook or crook.” Cosas said it would mobilise at a school in Cape Town where it believed a Covid-19 case had been reported, “from there we will move to any other school that is operating”. This comes after recent reopening of schools in South Africa. Cosas is believed to be of the view that school reopening amid corona virus threat is undue. Source: TimesLive

Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa

9Jun

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Africa, Covid-19, Education, News, Safety, South Africa

Corona Virus: Schools Resume in South Africa

School children in South Africa resumed classroom activities on Monday, 8th June 2020, as government starts to ease restrictions imposed on the country to curb the spread of corona virus. Resumption of schools was delayed in the country after teachers’ union advised members to ignore the order by the government to resume last week, stating that schools lacked adequate health measures to keep both teachers and pupils safe. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga had earlier stated on Sunday that government concluded efforts to equip schools in the past week and that 95% of primary and secondary schools in the country are now able to restart. “The golden rule is there will be no school that will resume if not ready to do so,” Motshekga said. She also stated that government will...

Lagos Assembly Condemns Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians

5Sep

By Debo OmilaniNo Comments

Human Rights, Lagos News, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Security, South Africa

Lagos Assembly Condemns Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians

Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday condemned in strong terms the xenophobic attacks by South Africans on Nigerians living in their country. The condemnation is sequel to a motion moved by Hon. Tunde Braimoh under Matters of Urgent Public Importance. Hon Braimoh had drawn the attention of other lawmakers to recent brutal attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa, where many lives were lost and several Nigerians brutally assaulted and killed. He recalled that the Nigerian Government and her Citizens aided in the eradication of apartheid in South Africa, condemning the barbaric attacks on Nigeria and the ineptitude of South African Government in curbing the attacks and finding a lasting solution. He therefore solicited the support of his colleagues to the ...

Xenophobia: Sanwo-Olu Calls for Calm, Warns Against Reprisal Attacks on Foreigners

4Sep

By Debo OmilaniNo Comments

Crime, Human Rights, Lagos News, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, South Africa

Xenophobia: Sanwo-Olu Calls for Calm, Warns Against Reprisal Attacks on Foreigners

....we’ll deal with troublemakers, Gov vows Lagos State Governor has vowed to deal with troublemakers exploiting the ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa to foment trouble in the state. Issuing a stern warning on Wednesday to people engaging in reprisals against innocent people in Lagos in response to events South Africa, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he would not condone violence of form on innocent residents and businesses in the state by any person or group. The Governor advised parents to warn their children against taking to violence, stressing that the full wrath of the law would be brought on anyone caught in reprisal against peace-loving foreigners and businesses in the state. He said: “We have watched the disturbing videos of attacks and van...