OTJIWARONGO: A group of 17 bikers from Angola and Namibia on Thursday held a street procession in Otjiwarongo’s Hage Geingob Avenue in preparation for their 2024 Africa Ubuntu Run show, which is set for Karibib on Sunday.
The parade, led by Otjiwarongo Municipality traffic vehicles, started at the police roadblock north of town, and attracted hundreds of onlookers.
Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua and Chairperson of the Otjozondjupa Regional Council, Marlayn Mbakera accompanied by their officials also attended show.
President of Windhoek-based Eenghoshi Bikers Club, Jekonia Bezana, told the gathering that the bikers’ show at Otjiwarongo was in preparation for their big event set for Karibib in the Erongo Region on Sunday.
‘About 10 countries from the Southern African bikers clubs are expected to participate in the event,’ he said.
He explained that in Namibia alone over 30 bikers clubs are active, and their members will also participate in Sunday’s Africa Ubuntu Run show.
Speaking on behalf of the A
ngolan bikers, Jose Eduardo said about 10 of them travelled from Lubango on bikes and that they were still fit to participate in the Karibib show.
He praised the Namibian government for maintaining its road infrastructure throughout the country.
The Africa Ubuntu Run show, he said, has become an annual biker event each January since 2015 with a participation of several trained bikers from his country, Angola, South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho among others.
Source: Namibia Press Agency
President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Gaza genocide case against Israel.
This comes after the United Nations (UN) top court ordered Israel to take steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza and do more to help Palestinian civilians, as Israel continues to wage war against Hamas militants.
In a landmark judgment, the ICJ determined that it was ‘plausible’ that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide Convention.
‘We have called Israel’s attacks on Gaza genocidal acts; acts for which Israel should and must be held accountable. Today the International Court of Justice has vindicated us,’ President Ramaphosa said on Friday.
The country’s First Citizen was speaking to the nation in a televised address following the landmark ruling by the ICJ.
The war which began in October last year has already claimed more than 25 000 lives in Gaza, of which more than 16 000 of the dead are women and children.
The President cited the UN Children’s Fun
d, which labelled Gaza as a ‘graveyard for thousands of children’.
It is for this reason the President believes today’s judgment marks an important first step in the quest to secure justice for the people of Gaza.
The President said South Africa stands on the side of freedom and justice for all.
‘Thirty years ago, following our first democratic elections, President Nelson Mandela declared, ‘Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another’.’
South Africa approached the ICJ in December last year, under the Genocide Convention, for alleged attacks committed by Israel in Gaza.
In its application, South Africa pleaded with the court to indicate provisional measures to ‘protect against further severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention’.
The country also requested the ICJ to ensure Israel does not engage in genocide.
Handing
down the court’s unanimous decision, ICJ Judge President Joan Donoghue said it was necessary pending its final decision to indicate certain measures to protect the rights claimed by South Africa.
Donoghue also stated that Israel must per its obligations under the Genocide Convention take all measures within its power to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of Article II of the Convention.
Acts of genocide named in the convention include the killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to the members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.
‘We firmly believe that following this judgment there should now be a more concerted effort towards a ceasefire and negotiations should commence on a permanent two-state solution, to enable Israel and Palestine to live side by side as independent states,’ said the Pres
ident.
President Ramaphosa thanked the international community who have supported the country’s application and those who declared their intention to be part of the application.
‘We will not waiver in our commitment to the Palestinian people and their quest for self-determination. Our own painful history obliges us to do no less.’
He also thanked the World Court for holding those guilty of genocide accountable and thanked the lawyers and the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Justice and Correctional Services.
‘It is our earnest hope and wish that this court order paves the way for an end to this crisis, for an end to the terrible loss of life and hardship, and for the crucial first steps to be taken towards reconciliation and a just, lasting peace.’
The transcript of proceedings can be accessed at https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-ord-01-00-en.pdf.
Source: South African Government News Agency