Month: July 2023

In tonight’s edition: Three children are among 17 people killed in a toxic gas leak on the outskirts of Johannesburg. Authorities suspect that equipment used by illegal gold miners is linked to the accident. We also speak about Africa’s energy landscape and unlocking green hydrogen opportunities in South Africa with renewable energy advisor Kelly Alexander. Finally, we see how dancing classes in Nigeria can help dance the blues away. The teacher believes salsa can help boost mental health in a country where talking about such issues is taboo.

Source: France24.com

In South Africa, at least 16 people have died from a toxic gas leak in a settlement on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The deaths are thought to have been caused by a leaking cylinder of nitrate gas — a gas that’s frequently used for illegal mining. FRANCE 24’s Solange Mougin explains.

Source: France24.com

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group and the leading end-to-end financial services provider in Nigeria, recently announced various Board appointments across the Group. These appointments are a reflection of the Group’s commitment to strengthening its leadership teams and driving continued growth and innovation in the financial services sector.

Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, a highly accomplished businesswoman and social entrepreneur, was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. With an extensive experience and deep understanding of business development and sustainability, Ndidi will contribute invaluable insights to the Board’s strategic decision-making processes.

Mr. Yinka Sanni also joined the Board of the Holding Company as a Non-Executive Director. Yinka brings a wealth of experience in the financial services industry, and a strong track record of leadership. His robust industry experience and strategic insight will be instrumental in shaping the company’s growth trajectory. In addition to this role, Yinka will serve as a Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Mrs. Funeka Montjane was appointed Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC. Her rich expertise in banking and financial services across Africa and beyond will be instrumental in achieving the Bank’s strategic objectives and ensuring its continued success.

Mr. Efe Omoduemuke joined the Board of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management as an Executive Director. With broad knowledge in investment management and risk management, Efe will play a pivotal role in driving the next growth phase and development of the asset management business.

Mrs. Joyce Dimpka was appointed Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers. Her vast background across the financial services industry at Senior Management and Board levels will provide valuable insights and guidance to the company’s operations.

Similarly, Mrs. Temitope Popoola was recently appointed as an Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers Limited. Temitope’s wealth of experience, which traverses Finance, Operations, Customer Service, Internal Audit, and Human Capital will be instrumental in achieving the Company’s strategic objectives in delivering excellent service and innovative insurance solutions to clients.

Mr. Oladele Sotubo was appointed as Executive Director on the Board of Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited. With his expertise and experience in the capital markets, Oladele will bring valuable insights and contribute to the growth and success of Stanbic IBTC Capital Limited.

Lastly, Mrs. Titi Ogungbesan was appointed as the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Ventures. With her demonstrated leadership skills and deep understanding of the Nigerian business landscape, Mrs. Ogungbesan will lead the company in identifying and maximizing investment opportunities, driving its growth, and expanding the company’s portfolio.

The Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said: “These appointments represent a significant milestone in the flight plan of Stanbic IBTC as we continue to position ourselves as a leader in the Nigerian financial services industry. The newly appointed directors bring a wealth of multi-dimensional experience, diverse perspectives, and a deep commitment to driving excellence and innovation.”

“We are delighted to welcome these esteemed professionals to our Board of Directors. As we navigate the evolving financial landscape and continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders, clients, and communities, we recognise that people are the driving force behind any company’s growth. Hence, we prioritise people over profits at Stanbic IBTC,” Demola said.

Demola expressed his satisfaction with the newly appointed directors and reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to nurturing its workforce while maintaining exceptional service standards across its subsidiaries.

He encouraged the new appointees to make a meaningful impact in their roles while expressing confidence that their collective experience and skills would further strengthen the organisation’s corporate governance.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi will on Friday, 07 July 2023 conduct a sod-turning ceremony on Road Z431 from N18 to Kgora Farmer Training Centre in Mahikeng.

The road project construction amplifies our efforts to improve rural road infrastructure; and stimulate economic growth as the centre provides training for farmers in the province. Kgosi of Batloung Ba Ga Shole, Kgosi Shole and the Executive Mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality, Cllr Tshepiso Mphehlo will be in attendance.

Source: Government of South Africa

Committee orders a total eradication of illegal mining in Gauteng

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called for a total eradication of illegal mining that remains an enormous and devastating problem in the Province.

This follows allegations that 17 people died after inhaling nitrate oxide at the Angelo Informal Settlement in Boksburg.

The Committee has also noted allegations that the gas cylinder that caused this catastrophic incident was part of an illegal mining operation carried out by zama zamas in the area.

Over the years, Gauteng has recorded countless deaths of innocent residents as a result of illegal mining activity that occasionally springs up in different parts of the province.

The Committee calls on law enforcement agencies to setup dedicated and special units that will see the complete eradication of illegal mining activity in the province.

Committee Chairperson, Honourable Bandile Masuku, said, “We are saddened by these events and call on community members of the Angelo Informal Settlement to work with Police to ensure that those who are responsible for this disturbing incident are brought to book. We also call on the private security industry and community policing forums to form close partnerships with the Police to stamp out all illegal mining in Gauteng.

“We extend our condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones in this terrible incident. We will wait for a detailed report from the management of SAPS in the province that will give an account of what happened and what is being done to eradicate illegal mining in Gauteng,” Hon. Masuku said.

Source: Government of South Africa

Eulogy by Acting President Paul Mashatile on the occasion of the funeral service of late former Minister in the Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad

Programme Director

Comrade Mag Pahad,

Comrades Govan and Amina Pahad,

Comrades Aziz Pahad,

Prof Angina Parekh

Former President Thabo Mbeki,

Comrades and friends.

Today we woke up to the sad news of the passing of a tried-and-tested cadre and leader of the people of South Africa, Comrade Essop Goolam Pahad.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit Cde Essop and his family. It was impossible and most painful to reconcile his frail state with the energetic, assertive, and forthright Comrade Essop I have known throughout the decades of struggle.

Personally, I first encountered Comrade Essop through the archives of the liberation movement, in which he, and his contemporaries feature in photographs on the margins of the 1956 Treason Trial armed with placards and posters outside the court with the unequivocal message: “Hands off our leaders!”

We thus accepted him as our leader because we knew that he grew up at the collective knee of the generation of Oliver Tambo, Yusuf Dadoo, “NT” Naicker, Reggie September, Joe Slovo, Helen Joseph, and other outstanding liberators.

An active member of the Congress Youth Movement, he was one of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress volunteers who produced and distributed ANC pamphlets and posters in the three years after the 1960 banning of the movement. For his activities against the apartheid regime, he was banned for five years and left the country for exile in December 1964.

His maturity into full membership and leadership of the ANC and the South African Communist Party spoke to the importance of political organisation as a school and teacher in society. He also trained in uMkhonto we Sizwe in Angola.

He represented the SACP on the editorial Council for the World Marxist Review from 1975 – 1985. He was thus one of the leading cadres of our movement and did much to advance the international pillar of our struggle.

Comrade Essop internalised the Marxist adage: “To leave error unrefuted is to encourage intellectual immorality.” He was a robust intellectual who always sought the best possible decisions in the organisation’s, the national and ultimately humanity’s interest.

He said about his period in exile: “When you’re in exile, there are times when the light at the end of the tunnel is very dim. You always felt that you were very far away from home.”

To underscore his interest in the free and democratic exchange of ideas, he also said: “You had a great amount of time to read, to study, to discuss, to debate, and to get involved in all of these discussions not only with your own comrades but also with many other people. It was a wonderful opportunity to be able to meet representatives of communist parties from all over the world.”

This was an all-around public intellectual whose political consciousness was shaped under the aegis of the Congress Movement.

In 1994, he became one of the cadres the ANC deployed into the first democratic parliament, which gave us hope about the future of democratic South Africa. When he left public service in 1994, Comrade Essop established The Thinker, a quarterly journal for discussion, which added to the diversity of opinion in our media and public discourse spaces.

This is yet another of his numerous notable and unerasable contributions to the betterment of our society.

Our movement and society is challenged to construct an environment in which, though they do not become clones, young people become as dependable as Essop’s generation. In this way, the democratisation project does not lose its way.

Essop Pahad has left a void. In his lifetime of struggle, he traversed the world to ensure that our struggle delivered victory to the ordinary masses of our people. We who remain are obliged to spare no effort to ensure that we stay the course.

The words of Nikolai Ostrovsky come to mind: “Man’s dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once, and he must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live that, dying, he might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world the fight for the Liberation of Mankind”

He could have been speaking of Essop Goolam Pahad.

On behalf of Government and the people of South Africa, we convey our sincerest condolences to the Pahad family, friends and comrades.

May his soul rest in peace.

I thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa