Rehearsals begin this evening at 17h30, and tomorrow at 17h00, finishing up at midnight in both instances, but a number of roads will be officially closed off for Thursday’s event from midnight on Wednesday, 8 February to around midnight on Thursday 9 February.

You could catch the train, bus or a taxi if you wanted to avoid the chaos that always ensues, or, if you’d still prefer to drive to work, these are your affected streets in and around the Cape Town CBD:

Road closures for rehearsals:

7 February 2012 from 17h30 to 23h59
8 February 2012 from 17h00 to 23h59

• Hertzog Boulevard (incoming): from Eastern Boulevard to Heerengracht
• Nelson Mandela Boulevard: Strand Street off-ramp
• Strand Street (incoming): from Russel Street to Adderley Street
• Adderley Street: from Hans Strijdom Avenue to Wale Street
• Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler Avenue and Hans Strijdom Avenue
• Bureau Street: between Adderley Street and Parliament Street
• Spin Street: between Corporation Street and Parliament Street
• Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to Longmarket Street

State of the nation address Thursday, 9 February 2012

Parking restrictions

From midnight (23h59) Wednesday, 8 February to 23h59 Thursday 9 February 2012

• Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands
• Church Square, corner of Spin Street and Parliament Street
• Roeland Street: Between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street
• Plein Street: Between Roeland Street and Spin Street
• Spin Street: Between Parliament Street and Plein Street
• Parliament Street: Between Longmarket Street and Bureau Street
• Hatfield Street and St John’s Street: Between Roeland Street and Orange Street
• Adderley Street: between Wale Street and Hertzog Boulevard
• St Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area: Between Bouquet Street and Roeland Street
• Gallery Lane
• Queen Victoria Street
• Commercial Street
• Hertzog Boulevard: From Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht

Road closures Thursday, 9 February

17h45 to 19h00 (about 35 minutes)

• Klipper Road, Newlands: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
• Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands: from Newlands Avenue to Union Avenue
• Newlands Avenue, Newlands: from Dean Street to Princess Anne Avenue
• Dean Street, Newlands, westbound: from Main Road (M4) to Newlands Avenue
• M3, Union Avenue, Rhodes Drive, De Waal Drive, City-bound carriageway: from Newlands Avenue to city centre
• Woolsack Drive, Rondebosch, westbound: between Main Road (M4) and Rhodes Drive (M3)
• Anzio Road, Observatory: from Main Road (M4) to De Waal Drive (M3)
• N2, Settlers Way City-bound carriageway: from Main Road (M4) to city centre
• Nelson Mandela Boulevard (N2) City-bound: from Hospital Bend to Oswald Pirow (including the Melbourne Road, Roodebloem Road and Searle Street on-ramps)

16h00 to 20h00

• Nelson Mandela Boulevard: Strand Street off-ramp
• Hertzog Boulevard inbound: from Nelson Mandela Boulevard to Heerengracht
• Strand Street: from Russel Street to Adderley Street
• Strand Street between Long Street and Adderley Street
• Adderley Street: from Hans Strijdom Avenue to Wale Street
• Heerengracht: between Coen Steytler and Hans Strijdom Avenues
• Wale Street outbound: between Queen Victoria Street and Adderley Street
• Bureau Street: between Adderley Street and Parliament Street
• Spin Street: between Corporation Street and Parliament Street
• Parliament Street from the gates of Parliament to approximately 35m before Longmarket Street (excluding the parking garage situated in Parliament Street)
• Plein Street between Barrack Street and Spin Street
• Closure of the Company Gardens

16h00 on 9 February to 1h00 on 10 February

• Commercial Street from Plein Street to the end of the Nieuw Meester parking facility

06h00 on 9 February to 01h00 on 10 February

• Plein Street: between Roeland Street and Barrack Street
• Roeland Street: between Plein Street and Buitenkant Street – deliveries to businesses or access to private dwellings will not be affected as provisions will be made.
• Government Avenue
• Gallery Lane
• St John’s Road: between Plein Street and Vrede Street
• Commercial Street: to be closed at Plein Street and to become bi-directional from 06h00 until 23h59
• Bouquet Street

[Source: SouthAfricanGovernmentInformation]

The slogan reads: “In OUR future, you wouldn’t give a shit”.

Here you go:

[Source: ZANews]

Zulu Monarch, King Goodwill Zwelethini took to the podium at yesterday’s 133rd commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana, and addressed some of the key challenges facing South Africa, including how same sex relationships have no basis in traditional African cultures and are “wrong” and “rotten”.

Big words for a man who parades around all day in a leather thong and feather head dress.

Resplendent in his traditional get up, Zwelethini had these pearls for his audience:

Traditionally, there were no people who engaged in same sex-relationships. There was nothing like that and if you do it, you must know that you are rotten. I don’t care how you feel about it. If you do it, you must know that it is wrong and you are rotten. Same sex is not acceptable.

Also in the audience was our beloved President, Jacob Zuma, you know, the guy charged with defending the constitution and all minorities and cultures in our country? Dressed in the skins of several large beasts of burden, he took on King Goodwill’s bigotry in a typically roundabout fashion, saying:

Today, we are faced with different challenges. Challenges of reconciliation and of building a nation that does not discriminate against other people because of their colour or sexual orientation.

Bam! You really got him, JZ.

[Source: TIMES Live]

The acquisition project, codenamed: “Project Millennium”, has been in the making for a while, and was initially setup during Thabo Mbeki’s reign as president, but is temporarily on ice as the South African National Defence Force waits for the Defence Review to be approved by Parliament.

The purchase would form part of what’s called a “strategic lift” capability – enabling soldiers and equipment to be ferried quickly to and from points off foreign countries, and then lifted onto land by helicopter.

Spokesperson for the Department of Defence, Ndivhuwo Wa Ha Mabaya, told the Mail and Guardian:

I can categorically state: There is no formal order of any warship at this stage.

We are contemplating equipping the navy with several pieces of equipment but it all depends on the outcome of the defence review currently being conducted by the department.

We can’t pre-empt the outcomes of the review, but if there is deemed to be a need for the navy to acquire a warship of any kind, we would consider it.

The Citizen newspaper reports that we are looking at a number of vessels including the French-built “Mistrale” warships (pictured above), one of which visited Simon’s Town in 2007, as well as smaller vessels from Holland and Germany.

The ship would have the capability of operating more than a dozen helicopters, and possibly even vertical take-off jets.

Greyling van den Berg, spokesman for the South African Navy, said:

Project Millennium, the acquisition of a strategic lift capability for the SANDF, has been officially deferred until such time as the Defence Review, being conducted by the Minister of Defence, has been approved by Parliament and promulgated.

Should the Defence Review stipulate that a strategic sea lift capability is a future requirement of the Department of Defence, the project could be reactivated. Time scales will depend on when this requirement is required by.

So, what does Tony have to do with all of this? Well, he’s on the Defence Review Committee that would ultimately decide who would get the contract to supply the ship.

And we all know what happened last time we purchased expensive naval equipment: Yengeni was convicted of defrauding Parliament in 2003 after he obtained a discount on a luxury Mercedes Benz for his part in securing contracts for foreign arms companies during the controversial Arms Deal.

Director of the Southern Africa Institute for Accountability, Advocate Paul Hoffman SC, hasn’t tried to hide how he thinks this could all pan out:

The usefulness of the project is … questionable. If Yengeni remains on the review committee, it could cogently be argued that the success of the project will depend on the size of the bribes.

Chairman of Economists Allied for Arms Reduction, Terry Crawford-Browne, explained that he thought that proceeding with such a purchase would simply be “madness”.

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza had this to add:

We are not aware of President Zuma wanting any warship. If he did it wouldn’t be a secret. While it could be that someone is being mischievous if the supposed perpetrators of any rumour think there is something to hide, there certainly isn’t.

On the plus side, with such a vessel, we may be able to help the rest of Africa deal with the rise in pirate activity, which is also creeping increasingly closer to our own South African waters.

[Sources: Citizen, M&G]

Nombembe has not stated his specific concerns about the presidency audit, but has suggested that all but three of the 39 government departments also received questionable compliance ratings. The only departments to which these concerns do not currently apply are environmental affairs, public enterprises and science.

The presidency and the majority of departments received a financially unqualified audit with findings, because they had not “fully addressed deficiencies in their reporting on predetermined objectives and/or compliance with laws and regulations”.

According to Nombembe, the biggest area of concern is supply chain and procurement. Does he mean corruption?

Nevertheless, Nombembe says there’s been an overall improvement in government departments striving for clean audits, and that this has been driven by leadership.

[Source: Times Live]

The Presidency in Pretoria has released our own Dear Leader’s message to the nation on the (almost) eve of the new year, and while he forgoes an opulent Christmas tree in the background, or an elegant frock in the foreground, or filming it at all, our very own version of the Queen’s Christmas Message is as redolant of the trials and triumphs of a long year passed as anything Her Maj might offer up. It appears we can give ourselves a collective pat on the back. Here’s the full text:

“Season’s Greetings to all South Africans and all our guests from many parts of Africa and the world.

We have come to the end of yet another eventful and in some ways challenging year; a year that represents another critical milestone along our development as a young democratic nation.

No matter how we evaluate 2011, we can come to one conclusion.

We are ending the year better off than we were back in January, and certainly far better off than we were 17 years ago.

Although challenges remain, each passing year, our country moves forward, towards a better life for all.

We have made visible progress in reducing serious and violent crimes, in improving health care, rural development, education, social security and the general expansion of access to basic services.

We have built strong partnerships for job creation and laid a firm foundation to improve infrastructure development.

We have played a critical role within the African continent, and also through co-operation with both the developed world and the emerging economies of the South, and multilateral organizations.

A major achievement for the country was the successful hosting of the United Nations COP17 Climate Change Conference in Durban.

The four political agreements reached at the COP 17 conference are accepted as a significant advance in climate change negotiations.

In July we had the pleasure of hosting the International Olympic Committee General Assembly meeting.

The two events further enhanced our country’s image as first class organisers of mega international events.

We participated in major international sporting events through the Springboks, Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana and our netball team Amantombazane amongst others.

While luck was not on our side, we nevertheless demonstrated that the passion and pride we share as compatriots when supporting our teams, is sometimes more important than the numbers on the scoreboard.

I will elaborate more on these activities and others in the evening of the 9th of February 2012, during the State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

Compatriots, looking ahead to the New Year, let me urge each South African to make 2012 the year of unity and the celebration of the country’s rich political heritage.

We have an opportunity to showcase our country’s remarkable successes, given the historic celebration of the centenary of the ruling party, the African National Congress, on the 8th of January 2012.

A number of Heads of State and Government, Eminent Persons and friends of South Africa from the continent and other parts of the world are expected to converge in Mangaung in the Free State province to mark this historic occasion.

They are coming to South Africa to congratulate not just the ruling party, but all South Africans on the strides that the country and its people have made in destroying colonial oppression and apartheid, and promoting reconciliation and nation building.

Our country proved to the world that it is possible to rise above institutionalized racism, hatred, colonial oppression and apartheid, and build on its ruins a modern democracy which enshrines justice, human rights and dignity.

Our founding President, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, reminds us constantly that millions of South Africans deserve praise for the role they played in bringing about freedom and democracy, for they contributed in various ways.

We must therefore use 2012 to celebrate our individual and collective contributions to the attainment of freedom and democracy in our country, all of us, black and white, united in our diversity.

We must also use the year to thank the millions in Africa and the world who took interest in our country, and helped us to make South Africa the free, non-racial, non-sexist democratic society we now live in.

The struggle for a better life continues and it needs all of us to work together, united in our diversity.

Let us make a concerted effort to recognize and highlight what is good and great about our country in 2012, and play our part, to make South Africa succeed.

I wish all South Africans, and visitors to our land, a very happy and prosperous 2012!

I thank you.

Stirring stuff indeed, and seemingly co-written by the Department of Tourism. One thing is true: we are better off than we were in January, and much better off than we were 17 years ago, or, if that’s too saccharine for you, simply: we survived. All the best for the New Year, everyone.

[Source: IOL]

The SCA has unanimously decided to set the appointment of Simelane aside, on the basis that it was inconsistent with the Constitution if read with the National Prosecuting Authority Act.

In its judgment, the court said that Zuma had “misconstrued his powers and acted irrationally” in his appointment of Simelane two years ago.

[Source: IOL]

The South African photographer, born in 1930, is well known in international and local circles as one of South Africa’s most famous documentary photographers.

His work has featured all over the world and some of it will always remain symbolic in respect of the struggle against the Apartheid regime.

Goldblatt has now decided to denounce receiving the Order of Ikhamanga Silver, which is an award for excellent achievement in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports, and he’s done it with an open letter to President Jacob Zuma.

Poignantly, he gave two reasons for denouncing the award, one is in pure protest against the bill as it stands, and the second is that he feels he must “protest against what has been done to the spirit in which the award was created.”

The letter in full:

Dear Mr. President,

On March 29 2011 I was informed by the Chancellor of Orders that I had been awarded the Order of Ikhamanga Silver which I accepted with gratitude and in humble awareness of the honour that had been bestowed on me. I was not able to attend the ceremony of presentation on April 27. However, I was informed that the award would be presented to me on April 27 2012.

I profoundly regret to inform you that I now decline the award. I do this for two reasons.

Firstly in protest against the Protection of State Information Bill that was passed in Parliament on Tuesday 23 November. The damage done to our democracy by the very passing of this bill, and the damage that is likely to ensue should you sign it into law, has been emphatically and eloquently stated by others and I will not attempt to describe it here. Suffice to say that this action severely undermines our brave but fragile democracy and the rule of law.

Secondly, I decline the award in protest against what has been done to the spirit in which the award was created. I quote from the official history of our National Orders:

South Africa has taken many strides away from its past of exclusion and discrimination on the basis of sex, colour and creed. The country has been steadily moving forward in a direction that reasserts our humanity. In this march towards humanity, a new culture of human rights and a respect for the dignity of the human spirit have become characteristics of South Africa.

One of the symbolic moments of the exodus from the past was the raising of the new flag in 1994. This moment aptly affirmed the pride and dignity of an unfolding country and a celebration of humanity. Another was the unveiling of a new Coat of Arms on 27 April 2000 that embraced the collective historical essence of the people of the country. In so doing, a new aesthetic that takes consideration of Africa and her symbols became part of the new culture that informs a South African rebirth.

The new National Orders have been conceived in the spirit of that rebirth.

I submit Mr President that you, your Government and the party that passed this bill are in contempt of that spirit. The bill itself, the manner in which it was pushed through Parliament in the face of clear rejection by substantial numbers of people and respected organs of civil society and, if it is signed by you, the existence of such legislation in our law, are the very antithesis of the spirit in which our National Awards were conceived.

To accept the Order of Ikhamanga from you on April 27 would be to endorse your contempt. I refuse to do that and, very sadly, I decline the honour.

David Goldblatt

Among his top honours, Goldblatt received the 2006 Hasselblad Foundation Award in photography, which is considered the most prestigious photographic award.

[Source: MailandGuardian]

After the National Assembly had voted to approve the controversial legislation on Tuesday, the minutes showed 229 MP’s voted in favour of the bill’s passing, and 107 voted against the Bill, with two abstentions. 34 ANC MP’s were also shown to be absent from the vote for a number of reasons.

Two ANC MP’s in particular, had consciences on Tuesday. Gloria Borman abstained from voting and party veteran, Ben Turok, snuck out of Parliament’s chambers just before the vote took place.

Clearly pissed off about this, ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza had the following to say:

Everybody that has come out publicly to criticise the Bill and show their disapproval, be it in Parliament or otherwise, has shown a severe form of ill-discipline.

The ANC will discuss taking appropriate measures against members who are found to have been in opposition to the passing of the Bill and also engage the office of our chief whip in Parliament.

We believe it could have been handled differently by raising objection within party channels.

Turok, using his logic, spoke about his decision in an interview yesterday:

I will vote happily for something I believe in, however, we’re not at that stage. There are too many unknown factors.

Borman also used her logic:

I’m not a legal person, but there will be routes to follow [as recourse]. But [as] with most corruption, it’s usually the people on the ground – the poor people – that suffer and they don’t have the resources to follow these routes.

She also felt that the bill would hinder the reporting of corrupt officials – something that is rife at both local and national government levels.

Of course, the bill still has a few stages to get through before it becomes actual law: it will need to pass through the National Council of Provinces and, if approved, it will be taken to the Constitutional Court.

Khoza continued:

We expect more from our members, especially those in the National Assembly, to thoroughly understand legislation that is tabled in Parliament.

He was also not amused with the way in which the ANC’s WikiPedia page had been abused, saying it was “conduct that it not consistent with a civilised society.”

[Source: MailandGuardian]

Aside from the ANC Gold President Zuma medallion, measuring 10 centimetres in diameter, the ANC Gold Unity in Diversity medallion is also for sale. It too, weighs one kilogram and measures 10 centimetres in diameter, but is cheaper than its counterpart.

A third medallion, the 0,5 kilogram ANC Gold Unity in Diversity medallion, is six-and-a-half centimeters in diameter.

Some of these coins have already made their way on to South African auction website, bidorbuy.co.za.

Price wise, the Zuma medallion is listed at R1 254 000, the ten centimeter Diversity medallion at R1 122 000, and the smallest of the lot is valued at R594 000.

Gold is big at the moment, and the seller (going by the alias “ANCgold100years”) says that their historical value could push the prices higher, even claiming they may be “the most valuable medallions in the world”.

The three 100 anniversary medallions were minted in limited editions of 100 of each, and are expected to increase in value, as they represent not just commemoration, but investment too.

Smaller five-ounce and one-ounce medallions, 50 and 38 millimetres in diameter respectively, have also been minted in larger quantities of 1 000 and 2 500 each. Their prices were at R211 200 and R72 600.

Other items for sale include gold dog tags, gold tie clips and gold cuff links – all plated in 24 carat gold.

The coins were also available through the official ANC Gold Celebration Coin website, at lower prices than those listed on the auction website.

[Source: bidorbuy]

Some 51 000 members of the general public in 25 countries voted the former South African president number one on the visibility and perception scale, followed immediately (and somewhat surprisingly) by tennis star Roger Federer. Microsoft’s Bill Gates came in at third place, and investor Warren Buffet, business mogul Richard Branson and Apple’s Steve Jobs took fourth, fifth and sixth place respectively. Oprah Winfrey holds the eighth spot and U2′s Bono also made the top 10 in ninth position.

Other notable rankings were: the Dalai Lama, 13; US president Barack Obama, 14; Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 20; footballer David Beckham, 24; the Pope, 26; Prince Albert of Monaco, 28; and Madonna, 29.

Meanwhile, our current prez, Jacob Zuma beat Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (who came 37th), Lady Gaga (41), Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela (49), George W Bush (50) and Cuban leader Fidel Castro (51). A very good showing by the Saffers, then.

While respondents in the survey recognised Mandela as an inspirational character, it’s not mentioned how positive or otherwise the perception of JZ is worldwide.

[Source: Citizen]

Well, nearly everyone. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will not receive a salary as he enjoys the “pension benefits of a former president.” Still, not bad for someone who was only president for eight months.

[Source: EWN]

This is from the official statement on the ANC’s website:

The ANC National Disciplinary Committee would like to confirm that the African National Congress, through its National Officials, served charges this morning on one of its members, namely Comrade Julius Malema, who is also the President of the ANC Youth League. Comrade Julius Malema has been charged with various violations of the ANC Constitution, including bringing the ANC into disrepute through his utterances and statements on Botswana and sowing divisions in the ranks of the African National Congress.

The disciplinary matter concerning Comrade Julius is now in the hands of the ANC National Disciplinary Committee, will henceforth deal with the date, venue and time of the hearing.

When Malema was found guilty of similar infringements of bringing the ANC into disrepute last year, he was told he would be expelled from the party should he be convicted again and found guilty of violating his suspended sentence.

This should be interesting.

[Source: ANC]

Carien du Plessis, one of the Maverick’s senior reporters, received word from sources that the ruling party is preparing to give Julius more than just a rap over the knuckles for a change.

Supposedly Julius and other members of the league have managed to infringe upon the ANC’s constitution and this has not gone down well with senior members of the party.

How have they done this? At the end of July, Malema told journalists that the league wanted to work with opposition parties in Botswana to oust the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in South Africa’s northern neighbouring state, amongst other things.

In an interview with the BBC on Monday, President Jacob Zuma’s spin doctor Mac Maharaj put it pretty simply:

You’ll be surprised how it [the ANCYL] needs to be attended to – it doesn’t just require a rap on the knuckles.

The officials who attended the main meeting included President Zuma, Kgalema Motlanthe, Gwede Mantashe, his deputy Thandi Modise, chairwoman Baleka Mbete and treasurer-general Mathews Phosa.

Details of what the charges entail have not yet been revealed, and the charge sheets have apparently not been delivered to the youth league yet either.

Du Plessis wasn’t able to coax a lot of information out of Gwede Mantashe when she called him for his opinion on the matter and he danced around her questions pressing for information about the charges.

Gwede chose to say he didn’t know what was going on, but did let out a giggle when questioned about whether charges will be brought against the league.

The ANCYL also sidestepped her questions and youth league secretary-general, Sindiso Magaqa, said:

You must ask that from the ANC. It was a meeting of the ANC. You must ask them, ask Gwede.

The league has not been shy about wanting a replacement for Zuma and it was only a matter of time before enough people got irritated enough to do something about this.

If the charges are brought against Malema, it could be an indication that Zuma is intent on hanging around for another term as president.

Last year, Malema was given a suspended sentence when he was convicted of causing trouble within the party by comparing the leadership of Zuma with that of Thabo Mbeki.

Effectively what this means is that if Malema is convicted again before April next year, he will be suspended from the ANC.

[Source: DailyMaverick]

As Dumb & Dumber is the official choice of 2oceansVibe as Greatest Film of All Time, we fully endorse this latest bout of hackery.

A note, to whoever is behind this latest bout of mischief. Stop it. It’s getting naughty. (Keep going.)

[Thanks, Ciro]

Zuma’s daughters, Gugulethu and Nokuthula Zuma, are starring alongside each other in Mzansi Magic’s locally-produced comedy, It’s For Life (channel 107, dsTV). Besides being the executive producer, Gugulethu developed the story with her sister, and co-wrote the storyline.

According to the press release, the story is centred on four 20-something friends as they navigate their way through demanding careers, relationships and the accompanying dramas as well as finding their own voices in the fast-paced, cosmopolitan city of Jozi. And that’s the most I’ll ever know about it.

The use of hashtags is #impressive, JZ.

Follow the J-train on twitter, here.

There are four packages to choose from. On the cheap side, at R50 000, is the “Anton Muziwakhe Lembede founders package” for one participant. And on the other end of the spectrum is the “Walter Ulyate Max Sisulu recruiters package”, for five participants, which will set you back R180 000.

The Youth League says that the prices allowed customers/ worshippers certain levels of access, and are limited to a certain number of people. This concept is familiar to Tom Cruise.

My favourite bit, apart from being granted an audience with the king and his clown, is the wording on the site. For the price you pay, you’ll be able to receive special “networking” opportunities, and lest we forget the “many other special opportunities” available to club members.

For more, check the website, which is so amateurish it makes me think that it’s some kind of cheap scam, oh wait, I see.

[Source : News24, ANCYL Business Networking Lounge]

The official declined to be named because the information was not in the public domain at the time, claiming the new intelligence had been learned over the past week.

Allied forces have intensified their attacks on the Gaddafi regime this week, and both President Barack Obama and the UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron vowed two days ago to step up the pressure on him.

It’s also rumoured that senior commanders in Gaddafi’s force’s have stopped using their mobile phones because of concerns that their conversations were being intercepted by French, British and US intelligence, crippling the regime’s top ranks from communicating effectively, the official said.

British ministers have given approval, in principle, to deploy Apache attack helicopters another UK official said yesterday.

NATO increased its air campaign in support of anti-Gaddafi rebels and said it has “effectively” pushed the Libyan leader into hiding.

President Obama said during his visit to London that “enormous progress” has been made and that they [the Allies] won’t let up the pressure until the Libyan leader is ousted.

President Jacob Zuma is to meet with Gaddafi next week and an official close to the president has been quoted in the media this morning saying there will be an appeal for sanity:

Representatives of the rebels came to the president and asked him to please have a discussion with Gaddafi about the way forward. The president is going to see if he can bring sanity to the issues.

He wants to have a real discussion and for that to happen, more than three people in the room is a problem. He can’t take other people along.

In Arab culture a man of his stature cannot be seen as weak, so compromise is a big thing for him. The new way will need to be sold to him so that it is not seen as a surrender or weakness.

Zuma tweeted his reassurance on the Hammerl issue this morning too:

In a live eNews Channel interview this morning, the president’s spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, refused to outright deny Gaddafi would be granted asylum in South Africa, should the situation get to that.

It’s however hoped that Zuma will be able to convince Gaddafi to keep in place a ceasefire this time and then begin some sort of discussions about the road ahead.

[Sources: Bloomberg; Mail&Guardian, eNewsChannel]

The letter comes at a time when the presidency has also had to deny reports that Gaddafi would be granted asylum in South Africa should he seek it.

Their appeal to Zuma:

26 May 2011

Dear Mr President,

We come to you in this, the darkest hour of our lives.

For 45 days we campaigned to have Anton Hammerl found, freed and brought home from Libya.

In all those weeks we did not imagine that we would now be campaigning to have the remains of our son, our husband, our brother and our father brought home.

All we, as his family, have at our disposal to negotiate with Libya is you and the South African government. Anton was not backed by a big media corporation.

Today we beseech you, as a family man and father, as a South African, but mostly as president of this country, which has good relations with Libya and which is influential on the continent, to help locate Anton’s remains and have them returned home so that he can be put to rest.

We ask you to please be our hearts and to be our voices in appealing to Libya for the whereabouts of Anton’s remains.

It is imperative for us that he is not failed on this level.

We ourselves cannot rest until Anton is given a proper burial in South Africa at a site that will become a place where his children, Aurora (11), Neo (7) and Hiro (15 weeks) can come to pay tribute to their father.

Anton was a proud South African and a photographer with decades of experience covering South Africa. He was a true ambassador for the country in the journalistic profession.

From the moment Anton disappeared in Libya, we have lived an unimaginable nightmare, which became a living one when we heard last Thursday that he had been killed.

Our lives have come to a standstill and even though we now have some idea of what happened to Anton on April 5, our hearts and minds are still in Libya every waking moment, trying to reach out to our son, our husband, our brother and our father, not knowing where his body is.

We ask you to please use your influence on the continent to help finally bring Anton home to us, so that he can rest under the South African skies that he loved so much.

Our nightmare cannot end until he is home.

Yours sincerely,

Penny (wife), Freda (mother) Ludwig (father) Alex (brother) Aurora (daughter), Neo (son) and Hiro (son)

One can only hope that this will help pave the way for common decency to now prevail.

[Source: Facebook]

In as statement yesterday the ANC said:

We are perturbed and shocked by the acting judge’s decision as we believe that he appears to have misunderstood the nature of the relief which was sought by the ANC.”

In his judgment, acting Judge Leon Halgryn said :

“…the publication and chanting of the words ‘dubula ibhunu’, prima facie satisfies the crime of incitement to murder”.

This was an amendment judge Halgryn made to his original order, that only contained the word “incitement”, that formed part of the judgment that dismissed the ANC’s attempt to intervene in the matter and appeal his order.

The ANC says that it’s not over and they’ll take it all the way the Supreme Court of Appeals if they have to:

The African National Congress is extremely disappointed and puzzled with the ruling of the South Gauteng High court to refuse our request for leave to appeal an earlier finding by the same court relating to the singing of a freedom song (dubula ibhunu).

The ANC had earlier approached the South Gauteng High Court to grant us leave to appeal its earlier ruling that the singing of the freedom song was unconstitutional and fitted the crime of incitement.

We have thus instructed our lawyers to approach either the Full Bench of the South Gauteng High Court or the Supreme Court of Appeals to grant us the leave to appeal.

The ANC also says that they reckon another judge would have come to a different decision.

In addition to his refusal to grant us leave to appeal his earlier finding… Acting Judge Halgryn went beyond the request before him and made a finding that the singing of the song incited the commission of murder and constituted hate speech.

Despite the judgment being separate from the Malema vs. Afriforum case, its influence may just reach right into Mr Malema’s orbit.

[Source : News24]

Gwen was speaking at a presser in Pretoria yesterday and explained that no refurbishment of Zuma’s residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu, was currently taking place.

It is a residence that really needed to be worked on some years ago. We haven’t done that and we were in the process of doing it, but the cost is what has caused us to stop.

We felt that with the R177-million that is earmarked we could do quite a lot of saving. There is no house that is built for R177-million.

Well done, Gwen. We’re glad you found this to be as ridiculous as we did.

More good news is that the fancy military hospital has also been scrapped. “We are not building a hospital at the Bryntirion Estate.”

However, there was a need to accommodate the medical staff based at the estate, who apparently work out of caravans. She explained the department was therefore considering housing the medical staff in the unused Marula House on the estate.

That’s the end of the conversation as far as we’re concerned, Gwen. Your next mission is that home in Bryanston that we discussed.

Go!

[Source: m&g]

According to the presidency: “In terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act, 1994, President Jacob Zuma has declared 18 May 2011 as a public holiday throughout the republic.”

My favourite quote though is: “The president wishes all political parties well as they prepare for the elections.” Sure he does.

[Source : News24 via SAPA]

The miraculously healthy yet terminally ill Schabir Shaik has been at it again. This time he has reportedly gotten stuck into a fellow worshipper outside a mosque, Masjid Al-Hilal in Overport in central Durban, on Friday.

The alleged incident took place when during the noon prayer session, Mahomed Ismail, 42, received a call from doctors asking him to assist with his five-year-old daughter, who suffers from nephrotic syndrome, a condition in which damaged kidneys leak large amounts of protein from the blood into the urine.

Schabir had parked on the driveway and Ismail’s way out was blocked as a result. After waiting about 15 minutes, Schabir eventually emerged and didn’t even apologise to Ismail. So he hooted at Shaik.

An argument developed and these are Mahomed’s views of what happened:

He started punching me. He just pounded at me. It’s the first time in my life that someone’s hit me.

I felt violated … as if I was raped. I’m still shaken. I wanted to lay a charge but after talking to my wife I realised we didn’t need further trauma in our lives.

As he did after Shaik’s first alleged assault incident a mere three weeks back, James Selfe, the DA’s Shadow Minister of Correctional Services, has been quick on the draw with offering his opinion on the matter:

Schabir Shaik needs to be properly investigated by correctional services authorities. This matter deserves the immediate attention of the correctional authorities.

It is clear that Shaik has egregiously breached his parole conditions on at least three occasions now.

He needs to return to prison.

It’s not looking good for another one of Zuma’s mates as Correctional Services Minister, Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula, confirms his rearrest.

[Sources: TimesLive, DA, @MandyWiener]

BBC Monitoring, a division of BBC that monitors media sources from around the world, quoted Zuma on Monday as calling on the African Union to “take decisive action and uncover the conspiracy that Libya is facing.”

It also quoted him as “stressing the need not to depend on tendentious reports circulated by foreign media outlets,” and to listen to the Libyan media in this regard.

And by listen to the Libyan media you mean full on listen to real propaganda, boss?

Anyway, these quotes also prompted DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip to put it to Zuma on Wednesday and ask for some rightly deserved clarity on the phone call. He wanted to know why Zuma didn’t think the Colonel should be stepping down.

Good friends hold hands

As usual, good old number two, Zizi Kodwa, also JZ’s spokesperson, has come out and not really said anything of substance in attempting to back his man and quell the public’s curiosity.

“The Presidency will not be drawn into rumours and distortions of the conversation with the Leader of Libya, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who had called to explain his side of the story,” explained number two in an official statement on the Presidency’s website late Wednesday evening.

Supposedly money changed hands during that little aforementioned visit that took place in 2006 too. No guesses as to which way that exchanging went.

[Sources: M&G, ThePresidency]

The news of Mr. Manuel’s gangsterism came as a shock to me via an open letter from Paul Ngobeni in the Sunday Independent. Ngobeni, who is a stand-up character with a reputation that precedes him, and is also best friends with President JZ, said in the letter that Manuel acted as if he was “the king of coloured people” and is a gangster of the worst kind.

He also said that Manuel was undermining the president and cabinet for their appointment of Jimmy Manyi as government spokesman. As if his point hadn’t been made already, Ngobeni strongly suggested that Manuel be given the old heave-ho post haste.

Ngobeni then continued his letter by stating: “I was appalled by your cowardly, unwarranted and racist attacks on Manyi.” Clearly Mr Ngobeni hasn’t heard the term “irony”.

But his most serious accusation, and one that the South African Police Services might want to check out, is, “In gangster-like fashion some of you have deliberately targeted Manyi and have relentlessly pursued an agenda of driving him out of any position where his views may be heard.”

The letter was a response to an open letter that Manuel wrote to Manyi, accusing him of being a racist, in response to proposed changes in BEE legislation.

Let’s just hope this beef don’t end up in a gun-fight in Nelson Mandela Drive.

[Source : Sunday Independent]

I, like the story starved journalists that broke the story, was also shocked by such reprehensible behaviour.  ”Touching” and “joking”?  How dare she.  Like I said, the man already has three wives, the last thing he needs is some floozy throwing herself at him. 

To Zuma’s credit, he maintained his composure when other lesser leaders would have faltered, remaining “aloof yet polite”.

But eventually reinforcements had to be called in when she almost stumbled into the president’s arms, with his bodyguards swooping in and moving the woman one seat away. 

That’s when one brave soul stepped up, the unnamed wife of an Eskom civil engineer to be exact.  She braved our leaders immense sexual magnetism and took the flirtatious woman’s place, successfully shielding him from ‘danger’ and saving the day.  

And don’t you worry about JZ, later in the night he managed to put the incident behind him and ripped up the dance floor, impressing onlookers with his swift footwork and gyrating hips.  Julius, on the other hand, was rumoured to have danced with as much rhythm as your average white Anglo-Saxon, which is not saying much.   

But that’s beside the point.  Instead, let us all take a moment to salute JZ, as well as his cockblocking saviour, for showing such poise in the face of utter degradation.    

And while were at it, let’s commend the two journalists that broke the story, for taking the time to turn this seemingly miniscule incident into an episode of ‘My Super Sweet Sixteen’.

[Source: The Star]

That’s right, 200 bar. That’s worth an F-bomb if ever there was a need for one.

The following emerged as part of budget expenditure estimates for 2011:

refurbishment of Mahlamba Ndlopfu at the Bryntirion Estate will begin in April 2011 for a duration of 15 months and at a total cost of R191-million.

Because it’s obviously necessary to haemorrhage that amount of cash after the previous R40 million spent since 2005 hasn’t made it pleasurable enough.

Note that R13.9 million was dropped on Genadendal here in Cape Town last year and R1.9 million on Kings House in Durban too.

Make of this what you will, and at the same time bare in mind another R60 million is also going on a new hospital on the Pretoria estate.

I wonder if he’s getting iPads to control everything too?

[Source: Mail&Guardian]

As you are probably well aware, U2 is in Cape Town for their show on Friday. Luckily Bono had just enough time to fit Jacob in for a bit of a chin-wag and some good ‘ol fashioned self congratulation and vigorous mutual admiration.

Zuma looked visibly nervous at the specter that is Bono, so much so that he could barely manage to complete a sentence, and as one wasn’t written down for him, who could blame him.

Here are the highlights from this extraordinary press occasion:

Zuma said that he had expected more music and singing and that we should know that he loves music.

He said that he is pleased, as Bono is concerned about the African continent.

He also learned all about Bono’s passion for Africa and that that is the reason that U2 has come to entertain us here.

Bono then went on to deliver some truly insightful and well thought out comments.

Here’s a quote: “This man’s leadership, your president’s leadership, on the scourge that is HIV/ AIDS is remarkable…”

Bono also made some insightful comments on the equal and fair distribution of mineral wealth. I for one am glad that he’s given this some thought. Perhaps he should take it up with Mr Malema, who I know also has some interesting thoughts on the subject.

[Source : News24]

Stunning!

[thanks gen]

The gravy train pulled into Polokwane last week for three celebrations rolled into one: The ANC’s 99^th birthday, the ANC’s January 8 statement and the opening of the Frans Mohlala House – the ANC’s shiny new R40-million provincial office.

From the get-go things were loose and lekker.

On Thursday night the ANCYL(biters) got things going with a generous subsidy on all beer (R5) and selected whiskies (R10 per tot) at the Raging Bull restaurant. That jol lasted until 3:30am.

The offer spilled over to Friday night’s celebration at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium featuring kwaito stars, dancing and more beer. In conjunction with this craziness there was the lavish ANC gala dinner where you could dig into boerewors dripping with Jack Daniel’s and herbed leg of lamb. Regrettably, all whiskies and beer here were full price.

Saturday saw the official 99^th anniversary celebrations birthday and reading of the January 8 statement.

On Sunday the by now weary party goers dragged their battered livers to yet another stadium for yet three more celebrations rolled into one: A tribute to Makhaya Ntini, the 150 year anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa and the arrival of Government’s latest mouthpiece – the New Age newspaper. JZ – looking remarkably fresh after four days’ kuier – took to the stage and delivered a spirited speech during which he used the word “wonderful” a whopping nine times. He also declared the New Age Friendship celebration concert an annual event from here on in. Another promise we can keep an eye on.

Today, like for so many of us, it’s back to work for Government. Until Friday when we can again celebrate the end of the week, the middle of the month and our health.

Allegations emerged last year of an affair between Ntuli-Zuma and one of her body guards, who was taken care of committed suicide in the wake of the allegations.

The fruit of someone’s loins has since been born to Ntuli-Zuma, and the usual crop badmouthers have appeared on platforms like Facebook, who have once more asserted that the child born to Ntuli-Zuma is not the progeny of Jacob Zuma, but of the deceased body guard.

What is Ntuli-Zuma’s defence for these allegations?

“My child resembles the president. That is why I do not concern myself a lot about all these things that are said about me because I know where they come from,”

Sure, maybe. But every baby looks like Jacob Zuma.

Drumroll…

Boom.

[Source : IOL]

Wow.

Now I get a lot of crap in my inbox from you lot out there and I’m quite well tuned into what is and isn’t rubbish. I can get two emails, both with the subject “Brilliant!!” and, before reading them, I can somehow smell which one really is brilliant, and which one is turd.

It’s interesting to see the various angles people go for, as they rate their particular piece of suggested content. Some go for the overly-cool “use it, don’t use it,” while others are aware of how far down the chain they probably are and almost make you feel bad about it. Like, “I’m probably the 100th person that has sent this to you so, you know, whatever. Who cares.”

Hilarious.

Anyway, there was just something about the raw confidence our boy @thegoodcount was throwing around. You don’t go that far unless you know for an absolute unadulterated FACT that it’s amazing.

And my God it was…

Behold, the ANC range of Leather Jackets. Available ONLINE for purchase!

CLICK HERE for the Leather Jackets page on the ANC website

Our less informed readers should be aware that the ANC is the African National Congress, which is South Africa’s governing party of which our national president, Jacob Zuma, is leader.

It goes without saying that he would wear the first leather jacket in the image above (see website here), called the “President Number 1.” That’s the one I would get if I was going to get one.

No bru, I am not joking. This is real life and you’re in it.

Breathe it in – it’s beautiful.

South African president, Jacob “Jay-Z” Zuma got his turn on CNN with the same lady. She didn’t pussy-foot around, either. South Africa’s AIDS policy came up (onions/beetroot et al), and so did crime, jobs, Zuma’s rape case, the shower scene, Zimbabwe/Mugabe, “quiet diplomacy” and much, much more.

On AIDS and Thabo Mbeki’s previous statements, Zuma basically punished him and said that Thabo had given his own personal views, rather than that of thr ANC. Refreshing, to say the least.

It goes on – it’s all pretty good. Quite cool seeing our wet-behind-the-ears prez on a massive global news talk show!

And yes, he did use the words “actually” and “in fact,” every now and then.

In fact.

Actually.

Check it out:

PART 1 : (Discussing running a new government during the recession, un/employment, crime, weapon trading with Syria, comments on Sudan)

PART 2 : (AIDS, rape case, shower scene)

PART 3 : (Zimbabwe, Mugabe, Football World Cup, worker (wehkas) threats, potential violence, goals as president, the rainbow nation)

Pretty impressive stuff all in all, although he definitely seemed a tad out of his depth. Welcome to the first world, my boy! And I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. I call a lot of my friends “boy.” Including whites, Asians and prawns. My mother calls me “boy,” I might add!

Back to Zuma, he really should learn how to busk, rather than ramble. Other than that, I was fine with the overall package.

What did you think?

Because that’s how he rolls.

He has also just met Jacob Zuma face-to-face as presidents for the first time at the G8 Summit.

Zuma asked for a pic for his Facebook page.

Barack Obama meets Jacob Zuma
Shades on. Amazing vibe.

Apparently Obama hinted on Friday that he’ll be attending next year’s World Cup soccer championship in South Africa.

When asked whether he’ll be attending the matches, his reply was “That’s my goal.”

[no spice]

The White House said Obama has agreed to meet with the head of FIFA, the governing body of the sport, about the World Cup.

Because that’s how he rolls.

But then enjoy this. After answering the question, the U.S. president playfully asked, “Did you get that?”

[The joke. He was asking if they got the joke he made with the play on words "that's my goal." (ie. football goal - for the dof ones out there). Don't you love that vibe about him? He cracks a joke and then isn't shy to check if the journo's got it? Incredible. My god he is wonderful.]

Anyway, back to the Ghana vibe. This is his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president and therefore his first solely-focused speech and message to Africa and Africans.

It’s quite a big deal.

So here it is..

The Obama’s cruise into Ghana

Text of President Obama’s speech Saturday in Accra, Ghana, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House:

Good morning.

It is an honor for me to be in Accra, and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana.

I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I’ve received, as are Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama. Ghana’s history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States.

I am speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia, for a Summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy, for a meeting of the world’s leading economies. And I have come here, to Ghana, for a simple reason: the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America’s. Your health and security can contribute to the world’s. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world — as partners with America on behalf of the future that we want for all our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility, and that is what I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family’s own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

My grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him “boy” for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya’s liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn’t simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade — it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at an extraordinary moment of promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father’s generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways. History was on the move.

But despite the progress that has been made — and there has been considerable progress in parts of Africa — we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya, which had a per capita economy larger than South Korea’s when I was born, have been badly outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father’s generation gave way to cynicism, even despair.

It is easy to point fingers, and to pin the blame for these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense bred conflict, and the West has often approached Africa as a patron, rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father’s life, it was partly tribalism and patronage in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is a daily fact of life for far too many.

Of course, we also know that is not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or the need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana’s economy has shown impressive rates of growth.

This progress may lack the drama of the 20th century’s liberation struggles, but make no mistake: it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of another nation, it is even more important to build one’s own.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana — and for Africa — as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of promise. Only this time, we have learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa’s future. Instead, it will be you — the men and women in Ghana’s Parliament, and the people you represent. Above all, it will be the young people — brimming with talent and energy and hope — who can claim the future that so many in my father’s generation never found.

To realize that promise, we must first recognize a fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: development depends upon good governance. That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That is the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I have pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa’s interest and America’s. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of aid that helps people scrape by — it is whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy; opportunity; health; and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments.

As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: governments that respect the will of their own people are more prosperous, more stable and more successful than governments that do not.

This is about more than holding elections — it’s also about what happens between them. Repression takes many forms, and too many nations are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.

In the 21st century, capable, reliable and transparent institutions are the key to success — strong parliaments and honest police forces; independent judges and journalists; a vibrant private sector and civil society. Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in peoples’ lives.

Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person’s vote is their sacred right.

Make no mistake: history is on the side of these brave Africans and not with those who use coups or change Constitutions to stay in power. Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.

America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation — the essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. What we will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance — on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard; on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting, automating services, strengthening hot lines and protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

As we provide this support, I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights report. People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don’t, and that is exactly what America will do.

This leads directly to our second area of partnership — supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base for prosperity. The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities — or on a single export — concentrates wealth in the hands of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.

In Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and infrastructure; when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we will put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves. That is why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers — not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed.

America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; and financial services that reach poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interest — for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, new markets will open for our own goods.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine and conflict. All of us — particularly the developed world — have a responsibility to slow these trends — through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping the dirtier phase of development. Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coast to South Africa’s crops — Africa’s boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They’re about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It’s about the dignity of work. It
s about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it is also critical to the third area that I will talk about — strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn’t kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives — often provided by donor nations — many African doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

Across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care — for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.

America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy. Because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience and our common interest. When a child dies of a preventable illness in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

That is why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and eradicating polio. We will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won’t confront illnesses in isolation — we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.

As we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings — and so the final area that I will address is conflict.

Now let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at war. But for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

These conflicts are a millstone around Africa’s neck. We all have many identities — of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa’s diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God’s children. We all share common aspirations — to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. All of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, Ghana is helping to point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon, and in your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational force to bear when needed.

America has a responsibility to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems — they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response. That is why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy, technical assistance, and logistical support, and will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. That must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don’t, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa’s future is up to Africans.
The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country, African-Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past, and we have drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; in Harare and right here in Accra.

Fifty-two years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: “It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice.”

Now, that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people. In places like Ghana, you make up over half of the population. Here is what you must know: the world will be what you make of it.

You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can. Because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if you take responsibility for your future. It won’t be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you. As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity won’t come from any other place, though — it must come from the decisions that you make, the things that you do, and the hope that you hold in your hearts.

Freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom’s foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say that this was the time when the promise was realized — this was the moment when prosperity was forged; pain was overcome; and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Thank you.
is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.”

He added: “Africa doesn’t need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.”

Obama was on a 21-hour visit to the West African nation to highlight that country’s democratic tradition and engagement with the West. His visit, his first to sub-Saharan Africa as president, was greeted as a “spiritual reunion” Saturday by Ghanian legislators.

[source:AP & CBS] & DallasNews]

Jay Z

The Sunday Times exposed Thabo Mbeki on the weekend for his involvement in the never-ending Arms Deal probe. An interesting development at a time which features headlines suggesting people will kill for his potential successor, Jacob Zuma. People who also vaguely threaten war at the suggestion that he (Zuma) is even tried in court for his own prior spicy dealings.

I don’t like to make public assumptions in this regard and prefer, as is often the case, to turn to The Marketer, Jonty Fisher who writes for Mail & Guardian’s Thought Leader opinion blog and forum.

Jonty kicks off with:

The recent reports of Mbeki’s alleged misdemeanours in the Sunday Times, along with the elevated rhetoric from those in the Zuma camp over the last week, have surprised and rightly concerned many. Rumours of Mbeki’s involvement in the arms deal have been whispered and deliberated in the corridors of ANC power for some time now, but the timing of the â€Å“leak” of this report is in no way coincidental, and forms part of a wider campaign to force the country to accept the final option open to guarantee Zuma’s freedom.

Last week’s decision by the Constitutional Court to allow the damning documents seized from Zuma’s home and office saw Zuma’s last real chance for freedom spurned. So what is left for Zuma? The answer to that question has been coming for months now, certainly ever since Polokwane, and we are currently ringside at the final outcome. The last page of the Zuma playbook is a blanket amnesty for all those involved in the arms deal, thus ridding Zuma of his presidential shackles and damning Mbeki by implication.

More here..

Nice. A spicy time we’re living in!

Apart from his Mail & Guardian offering, Jonty’s thoughts can also be had at his very own blog, The Fishbowl.

Aah, South Africa – never a dull moment!