Category: General

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has encouraged citizens of the province to use this year’s Heritage Month to foster social cohesion, forge unity and work to promote the country’s democratic values, as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

The Premier made the call as South Africa marks the beginning of Heritage Month under the theme, ‘Celebrating our Cultural Diversity in a Democratic South Africa’, which underscores the declaration of the Constitution that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in their diversity.

Dube-Ncube said this year’s theme for Heritage Month aims to reinforce the message of building a united and prosperous nation. She said the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government fully embraces this theme and will utilise this year’s celebration to deepen social cohesion, engender solidarity amongst the different communities, and drive growth and prosperity.

“Ours is a province that boasts a rich history and is home to a number of diverse cultures and icons who have helped shape not only our province, but the world. From the founder of the AmaZulu Nation, King Shaka of Senzangakhona, to the global icon of non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi.

“Over the centuries, we have produced women and men who have changed the course of history globally. It is through embracing this diversity that our province has gained recognition as a province where the country and the world’s seminal moments are made,” Dube-Ncube said.

The Premier noted that over the years, the province has seen various cultures, including African, Indian, Afrikaner and English, amongst others, merge into an all-embracing KwaZulu-Natal culture that gives the province its cultural uniqueness.

“It is these various cultures that must come to the fore during this month, proving in the process, the maturity of our democracy.”

She also urged all South Africans to observe this month through events and meaningful engagements, whose aim is to celebrate and show case the provinces’ diverse cultures, forge unity and celebrate the country’s democracy.

The province will kick off its Heritage Month partnering with the Zulu Royal Household in celebrating the Royal Reed Dance (UMkhosi WoMhlanga), which will be presided over by His Majesty, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.

The two-tiered Reed Festival will be held at Emachobeni Royal Palace in Jozini Local Municipality and at Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma Local Municipality on 2 – 3 September and 9 – 10 September 2023, respectively.

Source: South African Government News Agency

A South African government inquiry has found no evidence to support claims by the US that a Russian ship collected a cargo of weapons in the country last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday.

The US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, accused Pretoria in May of supplying Russia with arms and ammunition, which he claimed had been loaded onto the Lady R cargo ship in the port of Simon’s Town in December of 2022. Brigety condemned South Africa for allegedly failing to adhere to its non-alignment policy amid the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The allegations resulted in Brigety being summoned to the South African Foreign Ministry, while President Ramaphosa criticized the US for “undermining the spirit of cooperation.” The leader stated at the time that there was no evidence to support the envoy’s claims, although he pledged to open an investigation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advised Brigety to “mind his own business” and not interfere in relations between Moscow and Pretoria.

Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that a government panel had “found no evidence that any cargo of weapons was loaded for export onto the ship Lady R,” or that the vessel had transported arms destined for Russia. He added that the allegations had damaged South Africa’s economy and global standing, and that the people behind them had provided no evidence to back them up.

According to Ramaphosa, the inquiry included testimonies from nearly 50 people and examined more than 100 documents. It established that the ship had delivered equipment ordered for the South African military by Armscor, a weapons-procuring company. However, he refused to make the report public or provide details on the equipment delivered, arguing that doing so could compromise “critical [South African] military operations.”

Ramaphosa said the relevant permits had been obtained for the import of the goods, and that no evidence of criminal conduct had been found.

South Africa has close ties to Russia dating back to the Soviet era. It has declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has accused the West of hurting “bystander countries” through its sanctions on Moscow. Last month, South Africa hosted a key summit of the BRICS economic group, which counts Russia among its members. In February it held naval exercises with Moscow and Beijing, a move criticized by Washington.

Source: Russia Today

Mines and Energy Minister, Tom Alweendo, said that Namibia and other developing nations should retain the right to exploit fossil fuel resources, despite ongoing global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Alweendo said this during the Namibia-Korea Energy and Resource Business Forum held here on Monday, emphasising the importance of tapping into the substantial oil and gas reserves recently discovered offshore in the Orange River Basin.

“You’ll hear that recently we have discovered oil and gas. Although this discovery was made at a time when the energy transition discussion has reached its crescendo, we are still of the view that this is a resource that we need to exploit in such a way that it can improve our livelihood.”

“And when we say that, it is not because we are denying the fact that there is climate change. It is simply to say that the energy transition that has been talked about has to be an energy transition that is just. Just in the sense that countries that have resources such as fossil fuel should be allowed to use that resource.”

Despite acknowledging climate change concerns, Alweendo pointed out that developing countries like Namibia should not bear the sole responsibility for global warming.

“We need to transition, but especially in developing countries like ours, we always say our contribution to emissions is very minimal. Even if we were to make use of all those resources, it would not even account for one percent of the global emissions.”

Alweendo informed a South Korean business delegation that Namibia has embarked on a strategy to produce green hydrogen, stating that, “when that happens, we can also affirm that we have been contributing to the solutions to address climate change.”

Sanghoon Lee, President of the Korea Energy Agency, praised Namibia and South Korea for their unwavering commitment to energy development. He highlighted South Korea’s distinction as the first country in the world to establish a green hydrogen plant, while acknowledging Namibia’s leadership in the green hydrogen economy. He also mentioned Korea’s launch of its first large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing pilot project last year.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Four suspects were arrested in Walvis Bay on Friday after allegedly being found on possession of drugs worth N.dollars 5 320 during a police search, the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has reported.

NamPol, in a crime report on Sunday, said the four suspects, whose ages ranged from 25 to 56, were allegedly found in possession of 46 grams of marijuana and 81 half-tablets of Mandrax around 19h00 in Plein Street.

The suspects were expected to appear before the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

In a similar incident, a 19-year-old male culprit was allegedly arrested for being in possession of six pieces of crack cocaine valued at N.dollars 600 after a police search in Narraville on Friday.

The suspect was apprehended around 21h00 in Sipper Street, NamPol reported.

He was set to appear before the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Leader of the Batswana Ba Namibia in Aminuis in the Omaheke Region, Andrew Mongwaketsi Kgosiemang says his people need more land as the tribe is growing.

Speaking recently at the Tsjaka Industrial and Agricultural Show the traditional authority leader said he is ready to advise on the land issue with the country’s leaders and urged them to consider availing more land to the Batswana Ba Namibia.

“I am informed that the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform wishes to revisit the resettlement programme, we are willing to share our experiences when the time is right,” he said.

Kgosiemang further said in the early 1980s the Batswana administrative authority bought the 10 farms around Tsjaka which were allocated to Batswana farmers and they, according to him, divided it into units.

“Although these farms or units were bought for Batswana, people from other tribes were also included and they are here with us. Programmes were initiated to change the then communal farmers to commercial farmers,” he said.

“Through mentor programmes, I am proud to announce that indeed some communal farmers graduated and some bought commercial farms, and they are still proud farmers,” he added.

The traditional leader said there is still confusion after more than 30 years about whether the area is communal or used for resettlement and this has become a problem as they do not benefit from many projects given to communal areas and resettled farmers.

“This confusion has cost our farmers. I am in contact with the land reform ministry and hope very soon this issue will be resolved. I am requesting [President Hage Geingob] to look into purchasing more farms, because families have grown,” he said.

The chief said land is an issue because even their children who went abroad for greener pastures are coming back to Namibia and they too will need land, thus he also advised those who can, to start buying farms and apply for resettlement farms.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 28-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting her 63-year-old mother at Ongudi village in the Ohangwena Region on Friday.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in a crime report on Sunday reported that the suspect allegedly attacked her mother with a panga, inflicting wounds on her hands, chest and mouth.

“The victim was taken to the Oshakati State Hospital for treatment,” the crime report said.

The police also reported that a 30-year-old male suspect was arrested for allegedly stabbing a 21-year-old man in the head with a kitchen knife in Windhoek’s Otjomuise residential area on Friday.

The victim has been admitted to the hospital and police investigations continue.

Meanwhile, a man died instantly after being struck in the head with an empty bottle by a 21-year-old woman at Ouholamo in the Eenhana Constituency on Friday.

The deceased has been identified as 33-year-old Matias Mwetufa.

It is alleged that the suspect was assaulting a young man when Mwetufa tried to intervene.

She then allegedly turned on him, went into a shebeen and came out with the bottle and hit the deceased over the head.

The woman has been arrested.

The deceased’s next of kin were informed, and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency