Day: September 14, 2024

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that struggle stalwart and Cabinet veteran Pravin Gordhan will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Thursday, 19 September 2024.

Former Minister Gordhan passed away in the early hours of Friday, 13 September 2024, at the age of 75, following a period of illness.

‘On Thursday, 19 September, Gordhan will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral which will encompass ceremonial elements performed by the South African Police Service. Details of this occasion will be made known in the coming days,’ said the President’s office on Friday.

The President has also directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from Saturday, 14 September 2024, until the evening of the funeral.

Gordhan served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017.

He also served as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018 until his March 2024 announ
cement of planned retirement.

Gordhan was appointed as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in 1999, after a period as Deputy Commissioner.

According to the Presidency, his contribution to the public sector arose from his involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle, including his role in student and civic movements in the 1970s and 1980s, as an executive member of the Natal Indian Congress and military operative in the armed wing of the African National Congress.

‘President Ramaphosa has offered his deep condolences to Mr Gordhan’s spouse, Ms Vanitha Raju, daughters Anisha and Priyesha, as well as the former Minister’s older brother, Manecklal Gordhan, and sister Shanta Harilal.

‘The President’s thoughts are also with the former Minister’s extended family, comrades, associates and organisations with whom he established relationships as a family and community member, freedom fighter, public sector executive and Member of the National Executive,’ said the Presidency.

President Ramaphosa, who vi
sited Gordhan in his final hours, has paid tribute to the former Minister as a leader who had fought to liberate South Africa from the shackles of apartheid, from inequality, from poverty and from hunger.

The President said Gordhan had been driven by a vision of a society in which all people may achieve their full potential and in which all may realise their dreams.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Venezuelan President , Nicol á s Maduro , on Thursday posthumously awarded late Namibian President , Dr Hage Geingob , with a first – class Libertadores de Venezuela Sword of Honour . The award was received by Nangula Geingos , the late Geingob ‘ s daughter , who was in Venezuela participating in the inaugural World Congress Against Fascism , Neo – Fascism , and similar expressions . According to Maduro , Geingob was a great leader of Africa , one of the founders of independent Namibia and one of the great revolutionary fighters . Geingos told Nampa on Friday that she was deeply humbled to receive this highest distinction of heroism from the people of Venezuela on behalf of her late father .

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

At least two people were killed and 29 others injured on Saturday in a two-train collision in Sharqiya Province north of the Egyptian capital Cairo, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Health.

A total of 39 ambulances were dispatched to the scene of the accident in Zagazig City of Sharqiya, according to a statement from the ministry.

The statement noted that the figure is a preliminary toll and rescue operations are still in progress. Enditem

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Saturday called for continuous efforts to enhance defense and security cooperation, and inject more positive energy into regional peace and stability.

Dong made the remarks while meeting separately with Fijian Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua, and Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania’s minister of defense and national service.

The two guests are in Beijing to attend the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which opened on Friday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Ferocious clashes erupted on Saturday between Houthi militants and pro-government forces in the country’s southern province of Lahj, a military official told Xinhua.

The local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that armed confrontations broke out when Houthi forces attempted to seize control of strategic mountainous positions along the administrative borders of Lahj and Taiz provinces.

The official confirmed that two soldiers were killed and five others left injured as a result of the Houthi offensive, and heavy weapons were used in the hours-long confrontations.

The Houthis failed to capture new territory, but they established military positions near the contact lines, according to the source.

Local media outlets reported that the intensification of hostilities prompted many families in affected areas to evacuate their homes, raising concerns about potential humanitarian consequences.

The recent outbreak of violence followed limited engagements between the two sides in the same area
last week, which resulted in the killing of a number of people.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi group seized several northern provinces, forcing the Yemeni internationally recognized government out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad Mohamed Ali Nafti on Friday reiterated Tunisia’s commitment to continue supporting the United Nations (UN) efforts in Libya and the mandate of the UN mission.

Nafti made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs for Libya in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Koury in Tunis.

The Tunisian minister expressed Tunisia’s full readiness to contribute to what will support dialogue, consensus and reconciliation efforts to reach a permanent political solution in Libya.

For her part, Koury expressed her appreciation for Tunisia’s continued support for the UN mediation in Libya and her deep gratitude for Tunisia’s fruitful cooperation, support for UNSMIL and all the facilities provided to enable UNSMIL to carry out its tasks.

Libya has struggled with fragmentation since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the oil-rich country essentially divided
between a UN-recognized western-based government in Tripoli, supported by the Libyan Presidential Council, and an eastern-based rival administration in Benghazi, led by self-styled Libyan National Army General Khalifa Haftar and backed by the House of Representatives.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency