The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cyril Ramaphosa

  • S’Africa rules out redress as govt mulls legal option

    SOUTH Africa has snubbed Nigeria’s quest for compensation for its citizens who incurred losses from xenophobic attacks.

    Nigeria is pressing for full compensation for victims of the unprovoked attacks and wanton killings.

    The Federal Government’s envoy is in Pretoria in a diplomatic move to end the impasse created by the situation.

    But South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, said on Thursday that payment of compensation was not in the country’s law.

    Following persistent attacks over the years, many Nigerians – about 200 – have been killed. Many more have lost properties and goods worth millions of dollars, according to the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa Adeola Olubajo.

    As a result of this, the Federal Government has been pressing for compensation.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama reiterated the demand for compensation on Thursday in an interview with reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said: Our citizens there have suffered a lot. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that they are compensated and we will take measures necessary and do whatever we have to do to ensure that they are compensated.”

    On Tuesday, Onyeama said:  “Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians loss their property and it is a long drawn out process and very often are not compensated for it. But on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count.”

    The South African foreign minister also alleged that Nigerians are involved in drug and human trafficking.

    Pandor spoke while responding to criticisms that South Africa’s security agencies were not doing enough to protect foreigners in the wave of xenophobia rocking the country.

    In an interview with eNCA, a South African outfit, Pandor said South Africans believe many Nigerians are “harming our young people.”

    Asked if the country’s security agencies had helped in protecting foreigners including Nigerians, she responded: “I would appreciate them in helping us as well to address the belief our people have and the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria dealing in drugs in our country.

    “I believe that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices.

    “These kind of assistance of ensuring that such persons do not come to our country will be of great assistance to our nation.”

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    The xenophobic attacks forced Nigeria to pull out of the ongoing World Economic Forum in South Africa.

    In its initial response to the fresh attacks, the federal government summoned Bobby Monroe, South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria.

    The Nigerian government is now considering the option of suing the South Africa government to force her to pay compensation, as shown by the move being made by the federal ministry of justice.

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa who addressed the nation yesterday on his attacks, did not mention the concern of Nigerians on the killing of her nationals.

    He merely said at least 10 persons were killed, two of them foreigners, in a wave of riots and attacks.

    In the televised address in Johannesburg, he said: “Over the past few days, our country has been deeply traumatised and troubled by acts of violence and criminality directed against foreign nationals and our own citizens,” Ramaphosa said.

    “People have lost their lives, families have been traumatised … We know that at least 10 people have been killed in the violence. Two of whom were foreign nationals.”

    South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed five deaths as riots in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria intensified on Tuesday, spreading to surrounding townships with roving groups attacking mainly foreign-owned shops.

    “We can’t rule out pure criminality of criminals using a sensitive situation where there are real grievances on issues of unemployment and foreign nationals,” police minister Bheki Cele said.

  • Nigeria draws red line with South Africa over killings

    THE unabated xenophobic attacks have sparked a diplomatic row between Africa’s giant economies – Nigeria and South Africa.

    The Federal Government is considering a full range of measures in retaliation for the killing of Nigerians including a withdrawal of its high commissioner.

    Nigerians have been worse-hit by the killings and attacks on foreigners’ businesses in South Africa.

    About two hundred Nigerians have been killed in recent years and millions of dollars lost to attacks on businesses.

    Nigeria and some African countries boycotted the World Economic Forum (WEF) which began in Cape Town on Wednesday.

    A report by the envoy despatched to Pretoria to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa will guide the Federal Government’s further action.

    President Muhammadu Buhari met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyema on Wednesday on the continuous attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and the reaction of Nigerians who angrily attacked businesses linked to South Africa across the country.

    The minister, who spoke to the media after meeting with the President and vice president, said a red line had been drawn with South Africa, where almost 200 Nigerians.

    According to him, recalling the Nigerian High Commisioner “is one of the options we are considering.”

    He explained that the envoy sent to Pretoria “will need to come back. But, we feel he (the high commissioner) should come back after the envoy has gone there, so that Mr. President will also have the benefits of the full and comprehensive brief from all the individuals who have the position to have seen things at a close range.” He however did not name the envoy.

    Onyema said Prof. Osinbajo boycotted the WEF because of the tension unleashed by the xenophobic attacks.

    The minister said the Nigerian government would insist on full compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attacks.

    He said: “We have made it clear that what has happened in South Africa is totally unacceptable. We will not accept it and as I said earlier, enough is enough and we are not going to come back to this. We are going to address it once and for all.

    “We are going to draw a red line here. Whatever measures that needs to be taken to ensure the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, we will take.

    “We have been in touch with the South African government at the very highest level with the President of South Africa as to what we want to achieve. The special envoy has very clear directives about the commitment and the guarantees that we expect from the South African government.

    “Of course, a lot of things have been circulating in social media which have not helped matters. Some of them have really distorted the situation that has impacted in our response.

    “So, number one is that the information we have from the High Commission, from the Consul-General in South Africa is that no Nigerian life has been lost during this (current) crisis.

    “I think that is very important because on social media, there is a lot of stories going around of Nigerians being killed, jumping off buildings and being burnt. This is not the case. What we know is that premises, shops of Nigerians have been looted and property destroyed.”

    He also pointed out that the President was taken aback by the retaliatory act of vandalism that has taken place in Nigeria.

    The government, he said, believed that Nigerians have to take the moral high ground on the matter.

    Onyeama said: “We are victims here and have made that position clear to the international community and to the South African government. We here in Nigeria must not fall into the temptation of also resorting to the acts that we are condemning in others.”

    Read Also: Uproar over killing of Nigerians in South Africa

    Noting that the President had pleaded with Nigerians, he said that President Buhari is likely to make a statement on this.

    He urged Nigerians to desist from vandalism, aggression and destruction of property.

    “Now, these businesses- Shoprite, MTN and others, yes, they are South African. But, these are subsidiaries in Nigeria owned by Nigerians. So, as attacks are made against shoprite and other such institutions, it is actually the property owned by Nigerians within Nigeria and the people working there are Nigerians.

    “So, the people that will suffer from those acts of vandalism and aggression are not South Africans or anyone else but Nigerians. But morally, it is wrong not even because of who will suffer and not suffer.

    “Mr. President is appealing to Nigerians, the government is acting, we cannot state everything in public domain with regards to what we are doing obviously.

    “But, we want to assure all Nigerians that this government is determined that the red line has been drawn and we will not give in on this occasion and that the South African government has to assumed its responsibilities and do the right thing, protect Nigerians and other Africans. I might say in South Africa and we have to hold them to count.”

    On compensation, the minister said: “Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians lose their property and it is a long drawn out process and every often are not compensated for it.

    “But, on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count. And we are going to consider other options to ensure that the message gets across to the government of South Africa.

    “It is not a question of weakness or anything of the sort but we have to move decisively and that is precisely what the government is going to do.

    He said the President will address the nation, following the return of the special envoy.

    He added: “Hopefully, the envoy will be back by the end of this week. Ideally, Mr. President will decide how he will communicate to the nation whether through live address or a written statement.”

    “But, we feel that it will be better for him to do once he has all the elements. We feel it will be better, let the special envoy come back and then we will have everything that we need then he will address the nation on that.

    “The identity of the special envoy will be revealed in due course. There are certain reasons we don’t want to do so immediately.”

    Onyeama said the Federal Government will not compromise the protection and wellbeing of Nigerians in any part of the globe.

    He added: “Of course, the security agencies are fully aware of the threats that are now existing to various businesses in Nigeria at the moment and they are fully mobilized to address that.”

    The minister, who could not ascertain the bone of contention between South Africans and Nigerians said: “Our basic premise is this, there is no justification whatsoever for individuals or coming as a group to take the laws into their own hands and to target Nigerians.

    He added: “As we act with the South Africans going forward, for us it’s not a balancing art, putting things on the scale. For us, it is simply that the government of South Africa over many years now has allowed hoards of individuals to come together and persistently target Nigerian citizens there, or in some cases, killing them, looting and destroying their properties and this is totally unacceptable.

    “At times it is not only Nigerians but we are responsible for Nigerians.

    It is important to note that there is now an African consensus building around this, it is totally abhorrent and unacceptable that there should be xenophobia against Africans on African soil, not to talk about what a Nigeria has done for South Africa, even everybody knows that during the years of apartheid.

    “But, we understand that the president of Rwanda will not attend the World Economic Forum, the president of Democratic Republic of Congo, the president of Malawi, the Zambian football team that were supposed to play in South Africa also stepped down that match and it is not going ahead with it.

    “And so is the African Union, the President of the African Union has also come out with a statement condemning what is happening in South Africa. The large number of victims are Nigerians and we will not tolerate it.

    The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that Air Peace Airline will begin the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in South Africa as from tomorrow.

    The decision followed the recent attacks on them in the former apartheid enclave.

    According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, the airline proprietor, Allen Onyema, had volunteered an aircraft as from tomorrow to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home free of charge.

     

  • Falana urges redress for victims

    ACTIVIST lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has advised the Federal Government to seek legal redress for Nigerians who are victims of attacks in South African courts.

    He said this has become necessary because the Cyril Ramaphosa administration is not likely to accede to government’s demand for compensation for the victims of the attacks.

    Falana, who is also the National Chairman, Peoples Alternative Front (PAF), in a statement yesterday titled: “Beyond the condemnation of xenophobic attacks by the federal government”, counselled that the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria should be directed to coordinate the legal defence.

    Read Also: Army lacks power to probe Taraba killings, says Falana

    “In view of the regular harassment of Nigerians in South Africa and a few other African countries, the federal government should make the declaration to enable individual victims of human rights abuse to access the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights sitting in Arusha, Tanzania.

    “Since there is no assurance that Nigerians and other Africans will no longer be subjected to xenophobic attacks the federal government should boycott the World Economic Forum scheduled to commence in South Africa.

    ”Even though apartheid was defeated by the people of South Africa over two decades ago, the unjust socioeconomic system erected by capitalism has not been dismantled.

     

  • Uproar over killing of Nigerians in South Africa

    ANGRY youths in their hundreds on Tuesday protested the continuous killing of Nigerians in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    They attacked businesses linked to South Africa, whose citizens have been ceaselessly killing Nigerians and destroying their businesses.

    There was an attack on Shoprite outlets at Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, which turned bloody, MTN facilities at Apapa also in Lagos and in Uyo, the  Akwa Ibom State capital.

    The Uyo office of MTN had its glass doors and windows smashed by the angry youths. Attempts by protesters to torch some other MTN offices in Lagos were foiled by security operatives.

    Some placard-carrying youths were at the Ikeja Shopping Mall to protest the killings. They chanted revolutionary songs and disrupted businesses at the Ikeja Mall, which houses the Shoprite outlet.

    The Ibadan Mall where Shoprite is located was picketed by youths.

    In Surulere, Lagos, another set of youths attacked and looted PEP shops at Eric Moore before the police came to disperse them. PEP is South African largest single brand retailer.

    At the Lekki Mall, two people were feared dead in the confrontation between the police and the youths while no fewer than five policemen were taken away injured.

    More than 60 people were arrested.

    A police van was burnt by the rampaging youths who carted away goods including electronics and other household items from the stores after driving out workers.

    The attack which started in the afternoon was still ongoing as at 9pm with the police struggling to contain the protesters. The police shot sporadically when the youths refused to heed the advice to halt their activities, leading to stray bullets hitting the people that died. But there was no official confirmation of deaths as at 10pm last night.

    Both the federal and the Lagos State governments called for restraint.

    The Federal Government condemned the killing of Nigerians, which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described as “unacceptable and unconscionable”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched a delegation to South Africa to meet tomorrow with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    In Abuja, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffery Onyema summoned the South African High Commissioner and requested for a halt to the killing of Nigerians and the attack on their businesses. He also called for compensation for the victims.

    The attacks on businesses linked to South Africa in the country followed consistent killings of Nigerians in South Africa and the looting and destruction of their shops.

    Businesses at Shoprite outlet in Osapa London, Sangotedo on Lekki-Epe Expressway, were said to have been grounded as protesters specifically ordered all customers inside the outlets to leave.

    The Lekki protest which commenced around 3:30pm turned violent after stray bullets killed two young men. Policemen were drafted to disperse the youths, who had forced their way into the mall.

    According to sources, the protests started when a group of angry women, said to be relatives of those who fell victims to the attacks in South Africa, entered the Lekki Shoprite started and upturning shelves with groceries and toiletries.

    The police shot sporadically following attempts by the mob to set Shoprite ablaze.

    Read Also: Foreign minister’s tweet on Xenophobia sparks row

    It was learnt that three youths died. But there was no confirmation from the police.

    In no time, more youths converged and ordered everyone out of the outlet gathering used tyres in preparation to setting the place on fire.

    According to a resident, Semiu Ibrahim, more than 17 police vehicles were deployed as they released teargas canisters.

    He said a young man killed was an observer.

    “Those protesting wanted to burn down the place and the police started shooting. They threw teargas as well. The whole thing started around 3:30pm. They came and asked people in the mall to leave. They wanted to burn the place.

    “The police pleaded with them not to do it but they were not listening and the police started shooting. Bullet hit and killed a young man who was observing what was happening.

    “There were about 20 police vehicles there. The protesters were more than 100”, he said.

    Lagos Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said they had to send reinforcement to the place because the mob was out to burn the facility which “doesn’t even belong to South Africans in the first place.”

    He said: “We are still battling with this issue. I do not know for now if anyone was killed. But I can tell you that those youths were not protesters. They were out to burn down the shopping mall and cause problem.

    “The police had to quickly move in to prevent that. They are riotous and we had to send in reinforcement. We are still here,” he said last night.

    Some youths staged a peaceful protest at the Dugbe, Ibadan branches of Shoprite and StanbicIBTC Bank.

    The two are among the popular companies owned by South Africans in Nigeria.

    An eye witness told The Nation that the youths, numbering about 50, stormed Shoprite around 5:00 pm to register their displeasure over the killings. He said they did not disturb operation of the company though they caused a stir in the shopping mall which houses many other retailers and the historic Cocoa House.

    On sighting the protesters, the management of Odu’a Investments Limited, owners of the property, alerted the police which quickly drafted its men to the premises.

    The eye witness added that the youths moved over to the nearby branch of StanbicIBTC Bank after only 15 minutes before moving over to the bank.

    In Uyo, Scores of youths launched an attack on the MTN office located along Ikot Ekpene road and a few metres from the town campus of the University of Uyo.

    Earlier on Tuesday, some private radio stations aired phone-in programmes on the killings and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    Many callers expressed their anger over the unfortunate plight of Nigerians and called on the government to take drastic actions to stop the onslaught.

    The Nation gathered that the attack on the MTN building started at about 2.30pm with the rampaging youths destroying glass doors and windows of the facility.

    A sales lady at the shop who narrowly escaped the attack told our correspondent that valuable items were destroyed while phones and cash were stolen by the attackers

    She said: “They ordered people out, destroyed computers, and took away cash and customers’ phones. We ran away through the backdoor to safety.”

    There was no casualty.

    It is not clear if the attack was an isolated incident.

    The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, did not immediately respond to calls and text messages sent to him.

    However, an eyewitness who pleaded not to be named said: “The attack on the MTN shop in Uyo is most unfortunate because neither the building nor the computers belong to the South African people or government,” a citizen who did not want his name in print, said, adding, even the people working there are our brothers and sisters.”

  • Death toll rises to 87 in South Africa floods

    The South African authorities on Friday revised the death toll from the recent flooding to 87, up from the previous 70.

    The widespread flooding over the Easter weekend resulted in the loss of 87 lives in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Free State provinces.

    Kwa-Zulu Natal, however, accounts for 71 of the fatalities, the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) said.

    Heavy storms swept through the three provinces late April, causing severe flooding, which left behind a trail of destruction and displaced thousands of people.

    The storms inflicted massive damage on critical public and private infrastructure, including health and educational facilities; as well as road and railway infrastructure across the three provinces, most notably in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the NDMC said.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Tuesday declared a period of national mourning for the flood victims in what was believed to be the worst natural disaster in the country for years.

    Read Also: Kalu seeks greater Nigeria, South Africa ties

    During the mourning period from May 1 to May 7, the national flag would fly at half-mast at every station in the country.

    Also on Friday, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zweli Mkhize, classified the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal as a provincial disaster.

    Mkhize said his ministry was working closely with other ministries, including human settlements, defence, police, social development, water and sanitation.

    He listed others as public works, health, basic education and home affairs ministries to ensure that priority post-disaster activities were undertaken.

    NAN

  • South Africa unveils plan to reduce high unemployment

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a package of reforms, which would create more 275,000 jobs a year, to bring down high unemployment and improve the economy.

    More than two decades after the end of white minority rule, South Africa still has one of the highest unemployment rates among major global economies, with more than a quarter of its workforce unemployed.

    Ramaphosa, who took over from scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma in February, has made boosting job creation a cornerstone of his reform drive. But his efforts were dealt a blow last month when data showed the economy had fallen into recession for the first time in a decade.

    “Unemployment is the greatest challenge facing our country,” Ramaphosa told a gathering of top officials, business leaders and trade unionists outside Johannesburg.

    “Extreme unemployment in this country is the product of an economy that for several decades has been starved of investment in its human capital where most people have been denied the opportunity to own assets.”

    Ramaphosa said the measures unveiled include agreements by top public and private firms to boost local procurement and an export drive that would prioritise manufactured and processed goods.

    The financial sector will invest 100 billion rand ($6.8 billion) over five years in black-owned industrial enterprises, and the country will aim to expand its horticultural trade from 54 billion rand to 90 billion rand by 2030, the president added.

    International organisations including the World Bank have been calling for decisive action to address South Africa’s high levels of unemployment and inequality for many years.

  • South Africa’s rand weakens after World Bank cuts growth forecast

    South Africa’s rand retreated early after the World Bank cut its economic growth forecast and took a dim view of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stimulus plan.

    The rand was 0.29 percent weaker at 14.6875 per dollar at 0650 GMT, having closed in New York at 14.6450.

    The currency is expected to trade between 14.4500 and 14.8500 to the dollar, NKC African Economics wrote in a note.

    The World Bank cut South Africa’s economic growth forecast for 2018 to 1 percent from an earlier forecast of 1.4 percent.

    Investors remain skittish on the rand following the announcement on September 21 of a stimulus programme that will see a reallocation of the budget but does not involve an injection of new cash.

    In fixed income, the yield on the benchmark government bond due in 2026 flat at 9.090 percent.

    Stocks are due open weaker at 0700 GMT, with the JSE securities exchange’s Top-40 futures index down 1.26 percent.

    Mining firms say Zambia’s tax hike plan would ruin economy

    Zambia’s proposed mining tax increases would hobble Africa’s second biggest copper industry, companies said, a further warning to investors already concerned about the country’s mounting debt.

    Several mines would become unprofitable if the tax plans were implemented with overall copper production likely to fall, Zambia Chamber of Mines President Nathan Chishimba said.

    “More tax regime instability, massive increases, and novel taxes not seen anywhere else in the world, will hurt the mining industry and all those who rely on its success,” Chishimba said in a statement.

    “As industry production shrinks through the impact, there will be less jobs, less taxes and as a result there will be less in the government’s bank account for many years to come.”

    Some companies have already scrapped expansion plans since Zambia announced new mining duties and an increase in royalties to help bring down mounting debt, Chishimba said.

    Zambia argues that its mainstay copper industry unfairly benefits foreign companies like First Quantum, Glencore and Vedanta Resources, while millions of its citizens suffer without basic services.

    Chishimba said attracting investment was the only way to boost growth and increase government revenue. Mining accounts for more than 70 percent of Zambia’s foreign exchange earnings.

    Concerns about Zambia’s rising debt, alongside accusations of additional hidden borrowing and government corruption, have spooked investors and Western donors in recent months.

  • Ramaphosa thanks PM May for returning sunken WWI ship’s bell

    President Cyril Ramaphosa of South africa oon Tuesday thanked thanked British Prime Minister Theresa May for handing over the bell of a World War I ship on which over 600 black South African troops perished when it sunk in 1917.

    “We were extremely honoured to have been presented with the ship’s bell of the SS Mendi,” Ramaphosa said at the close of May’s visit to the former British colony.

    The gesture “honours the memory and the sacrifices of all those who perished so far away from their homes and loved ones,” he added.

    May’s trade trip to South Africa – which will be followed by stops in Kenya and Nigeria – comes as Britain seeks to shore up trade partners ahead of their exit next year from the European Union.

    “Both our countries have identified key sectors for investment to boost economic growth and development,” Ramaphosa said after meeting with May.

    “We also confirmed our wish that the negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union are concluded in a manner that restores stability to economic and financial markets,” he said.

    Earlier, May kicked off her first Africa trip in Cape Town, saying she saw huge potential for investment in the continent.

    May’s trip comes as she seeks to shore up trade partners ahead of Britain’s exit next year from the European Union, with British businesses sounding the alarm about the potential negative impact.

    She announced plans for about 5 billion dollars in investment for Africa and said job creation should be at the “very heart” of the British-African partnership.

    Britain was South Africa’s sixth largest trading partner in 2017.

    She spoke about the need to continue British aid to Africa, saying “I want to be clear, foreign aid works,” and offered assurances on Britain’s engagement with the wide world even as it prepares to break away from Europe.

    “We will remain a global champion for aid spending, humanitarian relief and international development,” she said in an address.

    On the plane to South Africa, May tried to calm fears of what would happen if Britain leaves the European Union without a negotiated Brexit deal, saying it “wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

    Britain published 24 documents last week on preparations for a no-deal Brexit, which analysts warn could have dire consequences for the economy.

    Read Also: Buhari, Ramaphosa to discuss security of Nigerians in South Africa

    At the press conference, May also voiced support for South Africa’s controversial land reform plans.

    Her U.S. counterpart Donald Trump last week angered the South African government after tweeting concerns about their intention to expropriate land without compensation in order to address historical inequality.

    “The UK has for some time now supported land reform … land reform that is legal, transparent,” she said, adding that she welcomed assurances already given by South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa that there would be “no smash and grab.”

    May’s comments will come as a relief to many in the country who were worried the land policy could scare off investment.

    The prime minister, however, stressed the need for strong legal frameworks and anti-corruption mechanisms in African countries in order for investors to be secure.

    “Corruption and dirty money,” she said, “both have the potential to push development off course.”

    More widely, the prime minister promised that Britain would support a permanent position for Africa on the United Nations Security Council.

    Britain will also be opening more embassies on the continent, including in Chad and Niger, May said, countries that have a closer connection to France because of their colonial history, but which are threatened by terror groups.

    “We will invest more in countries like Mali, Chad and Niger that are waging a battle against terrorism in the Sahel,” she said referring to the fight against islamist groups like Boko Haram.

    May will now meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa and, weather permitting, go to Robben Island – where South Africa’s first democratic leader Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for years by the apartheid regime.

    She then heads to Nigeria, where she’ll meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday as well as speak to victims of modern slavery.

    On the third leg of the trip, in Kenya, she will meet President Uhuru Kenyatta and see British soldiers training troops who will ultimately be sent to fight Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

  • Buhari to sign Continental Free Trade Agreement soon

    Criminals behind killings of Nigerians – Ramaphosa

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday disclosed that he will soon sign the Continental Free Trade Agreement.

    He made the disclosure during joint briefing at the end of South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, he is still studying the agreement.

    Read Also: Buhari, South African President meet in Aso Rock

    But he noted that he is careful about what he signs and that many Nigerian industries that will provide jobs for the teeming Nigerian youths are still coming up and would not be exposed to unfavorable competition.

    Answering questions on the frequent killings of Nigerians in South Africa, Ramaphosa said that there was no intentional killings of Nigerians.

    According to him, what led to the killings were acts of criminality, which his administration is determined to end.

  • Buhari, South African President meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday met behind closed doors with South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started at about 3:00 p.m. after Ramaphosa arrived the forecourt of the State House, Abuja.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.