주간 정치 사회 동향(09.05.04-05.08)

[south africa]

WEEKLY POLITICAL & SOCIAL NEWS

(MAY 4^TH – MAY 8^TH)

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

Politics

§         Jacob Zuma warns party members unhappy with Premier candidates

§         Mosiuoa Lekota declines seat in Parliament

§         Chief Justice Pius Langa swears in new Members of Parliament

§         Members of Parliament optimistic about Zuma Presidency

§         Baleka Mbete not sworn in as Member of Parliament

§         South Africa’s first male Speaker of Parliament elected

§         Jacob Zuma elected as SA President by National Assembly

§         Democratic Alliance names new Parliamentary leader

§         Speculation rife over composition of Jacob Zuma’s new Cabinet

§         Plans secure for Jacob Zuma’s inauguration

Foreign Relations

§         Department of Home Affairs lifts visa restrictions on Zimbabweans

§         Sudanese President to miss out on Jacob Zuma’s inauguration

Crime

§         Correctional Services denies security threat

§         New trial date expected for Jackie Selebi

§         Jackie Selebi livid over lengthy postponement of trial

§         Police Commissioner’s son appears in court

Other Social Issues

§         South Africa ready to deal with swine flu

§         SA couple quarantined after swine flu contamination

§         Local man checks into hospital over swine flu

§         Mossel Bay woman cleared of swine flu but stays on suspect list

§         Unemployment in South Africa continues to rise

§         African attempts to guard against swine flu

§         South Africans advised to get flu vaccination

Neighbouring Countries

§         Former Malagasy President denies seeking asylum

§         COSATU - Swazi king not welcome at Presidential Inauguration

§         Namibia begins clean-up after devastating floods

POLITICS

Jacob Zuma warns party members unhappy with Premier candidates

African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma has warned party members who are unhappy at the final choice of provincial premiers that they are acting contrary to National Executive Committee (NEC) resolutions.

The ruling party's NEC has named female premier candidates for four of the eight provinces won by the ANC in the April 22 election.  The ANC Youth League has already complained the fact that Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile will be replaced by a woman.

Mr Zuma also says he is humbled by his party's confidence in him to lead the country.  He will be elected by Parliament as President of the country on Wednesday ahead of his inauguration in Pretoria on Saturday.  Meanwhile, Mr Zuma has warned there will be no jobs for friends in his new Cabinet, as criticism within the ANC mounts against some of the newly chosen premiers.

Mr Zuma told a rally in Zwide, Nelson Mandela Bay, in the Eastern Cape Province last Sunday, “There will be no favours and there are no friends.  Those not put in government must not cry.”

Mosiuoa Lekota declines seat in Parliament

The Congress of the People’s (COPE) top decision-making structure met on Monday to discuss the role of the party’s President, Mosiuoa Lekota.  Controversy shrouds whether or not Mr Lekota will go to Parliament.  Last week, COPE’s Working Committee decided it would be in the best interests of the party for Mr Lekota to go to Parliament despite his repeated insistence he will not be returning to the National Assembly.

Mr Lekota has written to Parliament informing the Secretary that he will not be taking up his seat.  Sources in party say Mr Lekota realized from the response of his colleagues that he could not publicly justify the about-turn.  The party’s Central National Committee will meet in Cape Town to confirm‎ this decision and to reflect on whether it is a two-face strategy that worked in its favour during the recent elections.  Thirty COPE members will be preparing to be sworn in as Members of Parliament this week.  The National Assembly will sit on Wednesday when the Speaker and the President of South Africa will be officially elected.

Chief Justice Pius Langa swears in new Members of Parliament

South Africa’s 4^th democratically elected Parliament was officially constituted on Wednesday as the National Assembly sat for the first time.  Chief Justice Pius Langa presided over the ceremony where Members of Parliament (MPs) were sworn into office, in groups of 10.  Amongst them was ANC leader and President-Elect Jacob Zuma, who in a spectacular comeback returns to the National Assembly after being dismissed by former President Thabo Mbeki in June 2005.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Langa will invite nominations for the position of President of South Africa and if an opposition party puts forward a candidate a secret ballot will be held.  Once the President is elected he immediately ceases to be a Member of Parliament.  Current South African President Kgalema Motlanthe will not be amongst those being sworn in as he will remain Head of State until Mr Zuma’s official inauguration on Saturday.  The process of appointing a Speaker of Parliament will also take place on Wednesday, with ANC veteran Max Sisulu set to fill the role. 

While the corridors of Parliament are familiar for Mr Zuma and other ANC veterans, dozens of fresh faces will walk through the doors of the National Assembly and the opposition benches will look very different this time around.  Not only will the opposition benches be greatly enlarged, as the ruling party lost its two-thirds majority, but representatives of the Congress of the People (COPE) will also take their seats in Parliament as the first day of a 5-year administration commences. 

Several Premiers-Elect will also be sworn into office on Wednesday, including Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, who will be elected as Gauteng’s new Premier.  Former Gauteng Premier Paul Mashitile is expected to be sworn in as a Member of Gauteng’s provincial legislature.  The programme was expected to begin early on Wednesday morning, when Gauteng Province’s Deputy Judge-President Jeremiah Shongwe took over the provincial legislature.  He will swear in new members of the provincial legislature and preside as they elect a Provincial Speaker before they elect a new Premier.  Ms Nomvula Mokonyane will assume the office of Premier, as the ANC has an absolute majority, and will address Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) before they retire for a celebratory lunch.

[South Africa's new Cabinet will be announced on Sunday, 10 May at 14h00.  A Presidency spokesperson says the composition of the cabinet will be announced in Pretoria on Sunday, a day after the inauguration of ruling ANC leader Jacob Zuma as the country’s President].

Members of Parliament optimistic about Zuma Presidency

A number of the country’s incoming Members of Parliament (MPs) say they are looking forward to the challenges under Jacob Zuma’s Presidency.  Mr Zuma led the first group of MPs who were sworn in by Chief Justice Pius Langa on Wednesday morning.  The 400 MPs will be asked to elect a President, a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker.

The ANC’s nominations of Jacob Zuma for President, Max Sisulu for Speaker and Nomaindia Mfeketo as Deputy Speaker are likely to be endorsed.  ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe says that Mr Zuma has already given MPs their orders on exactly what is expected of them.  The Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP) Koos Van der Merwe is also upbeat, saying that even though this is his 32^nd year in Parliament there is something new this time and something exciting.  ANC veteran and ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who will also be sworn in as an MP on Wednesday, says she is looking forward to helping establish a people’s Parliament.

Baleka Mbete not sworn in as Member of Parliament

Questions are being raised after current Deputy President Ms Baleka Mbete was not sworn in as a Member of Parliament (MP) on Wednesday.  Outgoing South African President Kgalema Motlanthe did not take the oath because if he were to become an MP he would cease to be Head of State.  Both national and provincial MPs were sworn in on Wednesday.

Chief Justice Pius Langa called Ms Mbete’s name right after Mr Zuma’s name but she remained seated while Mr Zuma took the oath as an MP.  According to law there was no reason for Ms Mbete not to become a parliamentarian, the South African Constitution only affects the President.  A Government spokesperson has referred queries to the African National Congress, which is not responding to calls.  The ANC caucus spokesperson says he is trying to find out what happened.  The outgoing Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge has refused to comment on reports that she quit as an MP this week because she was unhappy about being demoted to the position of ANC caucus chairperson.

[The ANC has downplayed Ms Baleka Mbete’s decision not to be sworn in as an MP.  The former Deputy President’s absence from the National Assembly chamber when Jacob Zuma was elected president raised some eyebrows.  The ANC says it was a legal difficulty that prevented her from taking the prescribed oath on Wednesday.  The advice she was given is that she cannot be the Deputy President of the 3^rd Parliament as well as an MP in the 4^th Parliament.  Ms Mbete remains Deputy President until Saturday when President-elect Zuma will be sworn in.  It is still unclear what role Ms Mbete will play in the new administration]. 

South Africa’s first male Speaker of Parliament elected

Veteran African National Congress member Max Sisulu was elected Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday.  During the first sitting of the National Assembly, 400 Members of Parliament (MPs) were sworn in.  President-in-waiting Jacob Zuma was sworn in as an MP.  Mr Sisulu was nominated by ANC stalwart Andrew Mlangeni, a nomination that went unopposed.  Loud clapping echoed around the House as Chief Justice Pius Langa declared Mr Sisulu the Speaker of the National Assembly.

In his acceptance speech Mr Sisuslu, who was the first male to fill the position in democratic South Africa, joked he expected MPs to make the mistake of calling him Madam Speaker.  Former Cape Town Mayor Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo was elected as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.  The President will be elected on Wednesday afternoon.

The House erupted into laughter and cheers as the names of the Congress of the People’s (COPE) leaders were read out.  The COPE members, including Mvume Dandala, Mbhazima Shilowa, Ms Linda Ondendaal, Smuts Ngonyama and Willie Madisha, were sworn in as the fledgling party’s MPs, which became official when they took their oath of office.

Jacob Zuma elected as SA President by National Assembly

On Wednesday, President-elect Jacob Zuma pledged to lead the country towards the realization of Nelson Mandela’s vision.  Members of Parliament voted overwhelmingly to have him installed as the country’s President.  Chief Justice Pius Langa announced the results of the secret ballot which granted Mvume Dandala (presidential candidate of the Congress of the People) 47 votes and Mr Zuma 277 votes.  Mr Zuma says he knows he is taking on a huge responsibility by becoming the country’s next President.

During his address, Mr Zuma told his fellow Parliamentarians, “I stand before this House and the nation overwhelmed by the responsibility that is being thrust upon my shoulders.  I am truly humbled by the opportunity to serve as the fourth President of the Republic of South Africa.”

Mr Zuma told the Members of Parliament that he hopes to take South Africa down a path of unity and reconciliation and has vowed to start a new chapter of co-operation with opposition parties and to discourage the dogmatic approach which has turned every issue into a conflict.  Mr Zuma spoke about how he had sat in all corners of the National Assembly and how he was unceremoniously kicked out as Deputy President by then President Thabo Mbeki in June 2005.  The battle for the Presidency was a foregone conclusion but the Congress of the People’s decision to nominate Mr Dandala as President drew cheers, boos and jeers from his parliamentary colleagues.

Newly-elected Speaker of Parliament Max Sisulu says his appointment is a great honour, commenting “I assure the honourable members that your trust is not misplaced and I vow to execute my duties as Speaker in a manner that befits your trust and the requirements of our Constitution.”

Democratic Alliance names new Parliamentary leader

On Thursday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) named its Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip as the party's new parliamentary leader.  Mr Trollip (aged 45) was elected over DA chief executive Ryan Coetzee in a vote in the party caucus despite only becoming a Member of Parliament for the first time on Wednesday.

The fluent Xhosa-speaker says he would like to "build bridges" with the ANC, but insists that his party wants a competent court to review the withdrawal of corruption charges against Jacob Zuma last month.  Mr Trollip will succeed Ms Sandra Botha, who quit the position to take up a post as South Africa’s Ambassador to Prague.

Speculation rife over composition of Jacob Zuma’s new Cabinet

This week, the ANC’s top brass was considering who the country’s next Deputy President will be would be as President-elect Jacob Zuma finalized his Cabinet.  He will make a final announcement on the composition of his new Cabinet on Sunday afternoon.

The main point of contention appears to be whether the post of Deputy President will be filled by the current incumbent, Ms Baleka Mbete or the current State President, Kgalema Motlanthe.  The other centre of speculation is whether Trevor Manual will stay in his post as Finance Minister but signals from the ANC indicate that he will.  New faces in the Cabinet will probably include ANC Women’s League President Ms Angie Motshekga and the ANC’s 2009 Elections Head, Fikile Mbalula.

Plans secure for Jacob Zuma’s inauguration

On Friday, the South African government announced that everything was going according to plan in preparation for Jacob Zuma’s Presidential Inauguration ceremony in the Amphitheatre at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.  Over 5 000 invited guests and 30 000 other guests are expected to be seated on the lawns at the Union Buildings on Saturday morning but there is still a dispute over President-elect Zuma’s guest list, with many parties and unions not wanting Swaziland’s King Mswati III or Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe to attend the ceremony.  They claim the ceremony is a celebration of democracy and these countries’ leaders do not practice these values.

South African government spokesperson Themba Maseko says the programme of events should run like clockwork on Saturday.  He says this has a lot to do with the fact that planning for the event started almost 6 months ago.  Mr Maseko says all security measures are being intensified to ensure the safety of all dignitaries in attendance on Saturday.  Meanwhile, the country is waiting in anticipation for President-elect Zuma to announce his Cabinet and to see who the country’s Deputy President will be.  The ANC is still considering Deputy President Baleka Mbete’s future and her position will only be clarified on Sunday.

[On Saturday, the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Zuma will be followed by an official luncheon for invited guests and the day’s events will end with a glitzy dinner and cultural evening at the Monte Casino in Johannesburg].

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Department of Home Affairs lifts visa restrictions on Zimbabweans

The South African Minister of Home Affairs Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with her Zimbabwean counterparts on Monday after two years of negotiations.  Minister Mapisa-Nqakula also announced the lifting of visa restrictions against Zimbabweans visiting South Africa.

In terms of the new regulation which came into effect last week, a free 90-day visa waiver will be granted to Zimbabweans entering South Africa, in an effort to reduce the number of undocumented immigrants in South Africa.  The permit will also allow Zimbabweans to do casual work in South Africa.  Last month, the Department of Home Affairs changed the rules to let those already in South Africa illegally to apply for a special dispensation, allowing them to stay here - this will be renewable every six months.

Minister Mapisa-Nqakula says these measures form part of South Africa’s efforts to rebuild Zimbabwe’s ruined economy.  The Minister says that lifting the restrictions for Zimbabweans is a further step towards implementing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol on the facilitation of movement, which South Africa has signed.

[Zimbabweans hoping to make use of the special 90-day visitors’ permit will have to meet several requirements.  The South African Department of Home Affairs has emphasized the terms for the visitors’ permit, which include: *entering the country via an official port of entry; *having travel documents; *having financial sustainability for 90 days; and *returning to Zimbabwe when the 90 days expire].

Sudanese President to miss out on Jacob Zuma’s inauguration

With hundreds of high profile delegates attending the Presidential Inauguration this weekend, Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir will not be on the guest list.  There is a warrant of arrest out for the Sudanese Head of State, issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with crimes against humanity.

It is unlikely that President El-Bashir will ever visit South Africa and if he ever had to set foot in the country, authorities would be compelled to arrest him in accordance with the warrant of arrest.  The ICC was set up using what’s referred to as the Rome Statute, of which South Africa is a signatory.  International laws also compel the Sudanese government to arrest President El-Bashir although this is highly unlikely.  The Law Society of South Africa says the ICC often runs into difficulties when dealing with alleged perpetrators who are in countries which may not be signatories to the Rome Statute.  Former President Thabo Mbeki has repeatedly warned against arresting President El-Bashir and it remains to be seen whether Mr Zuma’s administration will adopt the same stance.

CRIME

Correctional Services denies security threat

The Correctional Services Department insists that no security threat exists at the country’s prisons.  Reports have surfaced that a surveillance contract between the Department and a security firm has expired, posing a serious threat to security at 66 of the country’s prisons.

The company which runs the access control, metal detectors and the closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, apparently submitted a report warning of security risks.  The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative says this implies that additional personnel will have to be brought in, increasing expenditure.  There may be increased risk situations because the CCTVs may not be monitored as closely as possible however Correctional Services officials say that contingency plans are in place to ensure there are no problems.

New trial date expected for Jackie Selebi

The suspended National Police Commissioner, Jackie Selebi was expected in court again on Monday this week, when a new trial date was expected to be set.  Mr Selebi’s corruption trial was due to start last month but was delayed for three weeks because of a continued dispute over evidence.

When Mr Selebi last appeared in the South Gauteng High Court in mid-April, Judge Meyer Joffe ordered both parties to fulfil certain requirements.  The defence and the prosecution have since filed papers in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), where their prolonged fight over evidence is set to continue, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it has still to hear from the SCA whether its application will be heard.  The State has asked for a postponement until next year to wrap up this battle but Mr Selebi is maintaining that justice delayed is justice denied.

Jackie Selebi livid over lengthy postponement of trial

The suspended National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi says his accusers should have the courage to put their allegations to him in open court.  His corruption trial was postponed until 5 October in the South Gauteng High Court on Monday.  The judge issued a stern warning to both the prosecution and the defence that ongoing delays were bringing the administration of justice into disrepute.

After the proceedings, Mr Selebi responded angrily to Judge Meyer Joffee’s decision to postpone the case until October.  Judge Joffee apologized to Mr Selebi for the delay, saying he would have preferred the trial to begin much earlier.  The prosecution requested a postponement after it emerged that the South African Police Service had declassified secret information and a crucial police file had gone missing.  Prosecutors say they are hoping to be ready for trial by October.

[The investigation against Mr Selebi began in 2006 and he is facing two charges of corruption and one of defeating the ends of justice relating to payments he allegedly received from the slain mining magnate, Brett Kebble and his associate, Glenn Agliotti, who is accused of murdering Mr Kebble.  Mr Selebi is on fully-paid extended leave and his current contract as National Police Commissioner expires on 30 June 2009].

Police Commissioner’s son appears in court

A female police Commissioner’s son and one of his alleged accomplices appeared in court on Wednesday on charges of armed robbery.  A third suspect has been recovering in hospital, under police guard, after being wounded during a shoot-out with police, however, authorities are continuing their search for their alleged accomplices.

Three suspected robbers were arrested on Monday after a dramatic high-speed car chase from Moreleta Park (a middle-class suburb in the east of Pretoria) to western Pretoria.  The Commissioner’s son was said to have threatened officers during his arrest, saying his mother would take action against them.  Police say the gang may be responsible for a number of other violent robberies in Pretoria East and more charges could be added as the investigation progresses.

OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES

South Africa ready to deal with swine flu

The African Genome Education Institute’s Executive Chairman believes that South Africa is ready to tackle swine flu should it break out in the country.  Hundreds of people around the world have been infected with the virus that broke out in Mexico over a week ago.

The Institute’s Professor Wilmot James says that South Africa is ready to tackle a possible outbreak, giving assurances that surveillance systems are tuned in as well as promises from government that there is enough stock to deal with the virus.  There are reports from Canada that the virus has defied previous opinion and mutated to infect a herd of pigs.  However, the South African Society for the Prevention of Cruelty towards Animals (SPCA) says it is unlikely that the virus would be able to infect domestic animals.  The multi-strain virus is believed to be made of part human, part avian and part swine flu.  The SPCA says the virus appears to be constantly adapting and everybody is on alert because the virus has mutated from animals to humans so there is a possibility it could mutate again and infect animals again.

SA couple quarantined after swine flu contamination

A South African couple quarantined in a Hong Kong hotel says they are anxiously waiting for clearance from officials to come home.  They were placed under an 8-day quarantine at the Metro Park Hotel in Wanchai after authorities confirmed a Mexican guest had the virus. 

The South African woman spent a night in hospital after a medical check revealed she had a temperature over 37°C.  The couple says they are bored as there is little in the hotel to entertain them.  They say they have not received any consular assistance from South African officials in Hong Kong, who told them that they can only assist with lost identity documents, visas and passports.

The South African Health Department is expected to confirm‎ soon whether a Mossel Bay (a coastal town in the Western Cape Province) woman has contracted swine flu but private lab tests have come up negative.  The woman displayed flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip to Mexico.  The Health Department says it is hoping to get the results this week but still wants to conduct its own tests to demonstrate the ability of its systems to respond to the crisis.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization has warned that swine flu may re-emerge stronger than ever.  If this should happen it would be the largest outbreak the world has faced in the 21st century.  Eighteen countries have reported cases of swine flu while Mexico has confirmed 22 deaths.

Local man checks into hospital over swine flu

The Cape Town Medi-Clinic has placed a local man in isolation after he returned from Argentina with flu-like symptoms.  The man presented himself at the hospital as a precautionary measure.

The World Health Organization issued a level five alert last week after an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico.  Approximately 1 000 people have been infected with the virus, while 26 people have died as a result of the flu.  The Cape Town Medi-clinic is currently awaiting the results of the man’s blood tests and says, at this stage, he just has a raised temperature.  A woman from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape who was suspected of having swine flu has tested negative for the illness.  She was the only person thought to have the virus in South Africa.

Mossel Bay woman cleared of swine flu but stays on suspect list

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that a Mossel Bay (a coastal town in the Western Cape Province) woman, who was tested for swine flu, will remain on its watch list despite having tested negative for the potentially deadly disease.

NICD officials have reported that the woman is recovering well after showing flu-like symptoms.  The Institute insists that people who have come into contact with the woman have not shown any signs of infection and she has been given the all-clear after laboratory tests came back negative.

The NICD says the woman is well so there no risk is posed to the community at large.  The woman was the only person suspected of having the swine flu virus in South Africa.  The illness has claimed the lives of 26 people and left almost a thousand others infected globally.

Unemployment in South Africa continues to rise

South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen again.  Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) has released its quarterly Labour Force Survey which shows that unemployment rose to 23,5% in the first quarter of this year.  This is up from 21,9% in the last quarter of 2008.

Stats SA says 208 000 people lost their jobs between December 2008 and March 2009, adding the number of unemployed people climbed to 311 000.  About 106 000 new entrants into the labour market could not find jobs, however the number of employed people in the county remained stable.

African attempts to guard against swine flu

African countries have begun scrambling to prevent the swine flu virus reaching the continent although no infections have been confirmed.  The continent is fearful that the burden of AIDS and malaria will make the deadly disease even more devastating in Africa than it is in North America or Asia.

African countries have increased surveillance at airports and border posts even though resources are limited.  At least 22 million people in Africa have weakened immune systems because of HIV, making them particularly vulnerable to infection.  Poor villagers, with limited access to health facilities, poor food, overcrowding and inadequate shelter are particularly susceptible.  Medical experts across Africa say that, while every effort must be made to prevent swine flu from devastating Africa, other diseases that kill millions of Africans annually cannot be ignored.

South Africans advised to get flu vaccination

The South African National Department of Health has advised South Africans to get vaccinated against flu.   The Department says that officials are taking every precaution to prevent swine flu from entering the country’s borders.  Although there have been no confirmed cases of swine flu in South Africa, health officials are prepared to deal with the possibility of an outbreak.

The Department says people should get vaccinated against the common flu as South Africa is entering its influenza season and a flu vaccination is an effective measure to prevent people from contracting flu.

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Former Malagasy President denies seeking asylum

Madagascar’s deposed leader Marc Ravalomanana has denied rumours that he is seeking political asylum abroad and has condemned violations of human rights under the new government.  Many people fear that his possible return to the crisis-wracked Indian Ocean Island will trigger more of the political violence that battered the country earlier this year.

Mr Ravalomanana, who surrendered power in March 2009 under pressure from the army and fled to Southern Africa, insists that he remains the legitimate leader of the country and has rejected sharing power with new President Andry Rajoelina.  Relative calm has returned to the streets of the volatile capital city, Antananarivo, though tensions remain high after a spate of political arrests and a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrators.

Mr Ravalomanana calls the protracted political crisis a fight for citizens’ rights, a struggle he says he is prepared to lead.  However observers, who say the self-made millionaire lacks popular and military support, suggest his return is improbable while there remains a warrant for his arrest.

COSATU - Swazi king not welcome at Presidential Inauguration

The giant labour federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says that Swaziland’s King Mswati III is not welcome at President-elect Jacob Zuma’s inauguration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Saturday.  The king was widely condemned as a dictator when he ascended to the throne at the age of 18 in one of Africa’s last monarchies.

COSATU says it will not be appropriate for King Mswati III to attend President-elect Zuma’s inauguration where democracy will be celebrated.  COSATU believes it would be entirely inappropriate to welcome the Swazi king, who has been elected by no one and inherited his position, is an absolute monarch, bans opposition parties and ruthlessly suppresses any demonstrations against his rule.

Namibia begins clean-up after devastating floods

As flood waters in northern Namibia subside after nearly four months, residents are slowly repairing their homesteads, harvesting the few remaining crops and sending their children back to school.  Schools are supposed to be on holiday now, but after floods forced closures across the region, thousands of students now sit in class to catch up during the break.

More than 200 schools were closed because they were surrounded by water or because young children were too small to walk across the huge flat pans filled with 1-metre deep water.  These shallow pans have no real river beds and, as unusually heavy seasonal rains hit Namibia and neighbouring Angola earlier this year, the water silently filled the pans.  Once they were full, even more rain connected the pans to form vast shallow lakes stretching for many kilometres and taking months to dry up. 

At least 102 people have died since January in the worst flooding since 1972, which has affected 600,000 people across northern Namibia.  The Namibian government says it will cost about US$240-million to clean up and repair infrastructure to prevent future disasters.  Many people have lost their millet crops because the flooding put their fields under water for weeks.  Millet is a traditional crop that the 600,000 Oshiwambo-speaking people, who populate this part of Namibia, brought with them when they settled here 400 years ago from the Great Lakes region.  The Namibian government's latest damage estimate says that 20,000 people lost 49,000 hectares of crops while some 9,000 livestock died and nearly 82,000 people will need food rations over the next few months.  Subsistence farmers find some comfort watching their few cattle getting fat from the lush grass growing now, but others blame bad town planning and poor drainage for roads built across pans during dry years.