Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan
South Africa's Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on Monday filed a defamation complaint against radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leaders who have accused him and his daughter of corruption.
In a speech last week, EFF leader Julius Malema said Gordhan's daughter Anisha was awarded government contracts as a result of her father's position in government. Gordhan denies any wrongdoing, and also says his daughter is not corrupt.
The case between Gordhan and Malema could open a new avenue of political jostling between the parties months before a national election, where the smaller EFF is trying to use an anti-corruption platform to challenge key figures in the ruling African National Congress party.
At least 30 people were killed after a cruise boat capsized due to bad weather in Lake Victoria in Uganda on Saturday evening, police said on Sunday.“27 people have so far been rescued. Marine teams are doing whatever they can to find more bodies,” Patrick Onyango, deputy spokesman for the police, told Anadolu Agency via telephone.He could not give the exact number of passengers who were aboard the boat saying they are still waiting for the passenger list.“Survivors are telling us there were between 70 to 80 passengers on board,” he said.The embattled vessel was transporting passengers on a pleasure cruise on Lake Victoria for the weekend.According to the police, this is the first major accident that happen on the Ugandan side of Lake Victoria in a period of two years.The lake is shared among three east African nations including Kenya and Tanzania.More than 200 people died in September when a Tanzania ferry sank in Lake Victoria, which is the world’s second biggest lake and the largest in Africa.Uganda boat which sank was carrying more than twice its capacity
At least thirty killed as boat capsized in Uganda
Kenya has put a 3 million shillings bounty (around $30,000) on suspected abductors of an Italian aid worker from the coastal region of the country.In a statement, Kenya’s Inspector General of police Joseph Boinett said the abductors of 23-year-old Silvia Romano have been identified as Ibrahim Adam Omar, Yusuf Kuno Adan and Said Adan Abdi, who he warned are “armed and dangerous.”Earlier this week, some armed bandits kidnapped Romano and wounded five people when they attacked Chakama Trading Center in Kilifi county.“We consequently appeal to the public to inform the nearest police officer or police station for further action, should they see any of the three persons. A cash reward will be offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the suspects,” the statement said.Boinett added that a multi-agency team has been assembled to rescue the Italian lady.Over 170 ‘stranded’ Nigerians repatriated from LibyaCentral African Republic militia leader appears at ICCAfrican Union reveals list of abuses within commissionTurkey, Africa should forge closer ties: Businessman
Kenya puts bounty on Italian aid worker abductors
Gordhan, a former finance minister respected by international investors for standing up to former president Jacob Zuma, filed a complaint of crimen injuria and criminal defamation and asked the police to investigate any incitement to violence contained in Malema's speech.
Crimen injuria is an act of unlawfully, intentionally and seriously impairing the dignity of another.
Gordhan also laid another complaint at the Equality Court, seeking an apology from Malema and his deputy Floyd Shivambu, as well as damages of 150,000 rand ($11,000).
"The determined defence of corruption and the corrupt, using personal attacks, racism and alleged hate speech is not acceptable and must be challenged," Gordhan said.
Dozens of pro-Biafran protesters were arrested in Nigeria’s southeastern region during fresh protests which resulted in the death of a policeman, severe injuries to two others, a police spokesman said on Saturday.In a statement, Mohammed Haruna said that hundreds of members of the secessionist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) converged in Nnewi town Friday evening chanting anti-government slogans and threatening to bar next year's election in the region.Haruna said riot police units were immediately deployed to the area to ward off attack on citizens as the secessionists were armed.Over 170 ‘stranded’ Nigerians repatriated from Libya“As soon as police arrived the scene, the rampaging IPOB members descended on the police, set ablaze one patrol vehicle and attacked them with machetes and stones.The protesters also marched, shouting "no election referendum", according to the police spokesman.Haruna said the attack left one police officer dead while injured two others who "were rushed to the hospital for medical attention".He said the violence also resulted in heavy security reinforcements and arrest of 34 IPOB members who have since been detained for questioning. Nigeria has grappled with a fresh wave of Igbo secessionist bid since 2015.Led by IPOB chief Nnamdi Kanu who is now standing treason trial in absentia, the secessionist bod mirrors the botched attempt by ethnic Igbo to break away from Nigeria in 1967, culminating in a 30-month civil war that claimed nearly 2 million people, mostly Igbo civilians.Daesh claims attacks in West Africa caused 118 casualtiesEight killed in attack on Foraco well site in Niger
34 pro-Biafran protesters held in Southern Nigeria
A war crimes suspect from the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for a pre-trial hearing.The court heard Alfred Yekatom who commanded a group of Christian militias, known as the anti-balaka, had committed crimes against humanity, the ICC said in a statement.He is accused of torturing, murdering and forcing tens of thousands of Muslims to flee the country from December 2013 to August 2014.The pre-trial court said it found reasonable grounds to believe he committed or otherwise ordered the crimes.Tunisians urge demonstrations ahead of bin Salman visitYekatom was arrested in CAR late last month and handed over to the court on Nov. 17.CAR, a mineral rich country descended into conflict in 2013 after seleka rebels, said to be predominantly Muslim, ousted the government of President Francois Bozize, a Christian, and installed Michel Djotodia, a Muslim.Thousands of both Muslim and Christian civilians have fled their homes to internally displaced peoples camps or across neighboring countries.Despite electing a new president, the country is still plagued by tit-for-tat communal violence.African Union reveals list of abuses within commissionDaesh claims attacks in West Africa caused 118 casualties
Central African Republic militia leader appears at ICC
"I have not responded until now to the absolute nonsensical and unsubstantiated attacks, but extending these attacks to my family and threatening harmony amongst the people of South Africa was a step too far. Enough is enough."
The EFF spokesman did not answer calls to his mobile phone seeking comment on Gordhan's complaint. An official at the party's headquarters said the EFF leaders were meeting and could issue a statement later.
Malema tweeted that he would open a criminal case against Gordhan on Tuesday on charges ranging from money laundering, corruption, racketeering to fraud. He did not provide details.
Malema made the allegations against Gordhan last week at an EFF rally held outside a building where Gordhan was giving testimony at a judicial inquiry into allegations of state corruption and influence-peddling in Zuma's administration.
Zuma has denied the allegations. The allegations and other scandals surrounding Zuma's nine-year rule forced him out of office in February. ($1 = 13.8090 rand) (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by James Macharia and Alison Williams)
Tunisian activists are calling for protests against an anticipated visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The protest calls come in the aftermath of the Oct. 2 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul."We will protest the visit by a top official [bin Salman] who is waging a brutal war on the Yemeni people and who is involved in the barbaric murder of a Saudi citizen [Khashoggi]," Tunisian activist Tareq al-Kahlawi told Anadolu Agency."This individual should be investigated and prosecuted based on what has been revealed about his involvement in the Khashoggi murder case," he said.Germany urges Saudi Arabia to cooperate with TurkeyAl-Kahlawi went on to assert that Tunisia “respects human rights and therefore cannot accept a visit by this person”.In remarks carried by local media outlets, Saida Karach, a spokeswoman for the Tunisian presidency, confirmed that the Saudi crown prince planned to visit the North African country next Tuesday.“The visit comes upon the request of Crown Prince bin Salman as part of a 10-nation tour that he plans to embark on,” she added.Erdoğan to decide whether to meet bin Salman on G20 sidelines: Turkish FMEarlier this week, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Abdulaziz al-Falih said the crown prince planned to attend a G20 summit in Argentina on Nov. 30 as part of a wider international tour.Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, was killed shortly after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.After weeks of changing its story, Saudi Arabia eventually claimed that Khashoggi had been killed in a botched rendition operation by rogue Saudi agents.Trump dismisses CIA Khashoggi conclusion as 'feelings'
Tunisians urge demonstrations ahead of bin Salman visit
A high-level investigation team set up by the African Union Commission on Friday revealed their findings on alleged abuses within the commission.The team issued a report including a 7-point list of malpractices within the Pan African body's commission."Following allegations of harassment against women leveled through an anonymous letter, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission instituted a High-Level Committee (HLC) on 24 May 2018 to fully investigate all these allegations," read the report.Daesh claims attacks in West Africa caused 118 casualtiesAccording to the report, the chairperson of the commission also entrusted the HLC with a mandate to investigate all alleged institutional malpractices within the commission on March 15, 2017. The aim of the investigation was to independently establish the facts in the light of the commitment he made to staff on assumption of duty to ensure good internal governance throughout the entire commission.Accordingly, the team identified malpractices in Human Resource functions, cases of harassment, bullying and intimidation, governance challenges, gender discrimination, fraud and corruption, impunity and sexual harassment.This is the first scandal openly exposed within the African Union Commission in recent years.
African Union reveals list of abuses within commission