The Nation Newspaper

Tag: S/Africa

  • EU lifts four-year fresh ostrich meat ban on S/Africa

    The European Union(EU) has lifted a four-year ban on the import of fresh ostrich meat from South Africa, following an outbreak of H5N2 avian flu, the country’s main exporting region said.

    The 2011 outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain hit the 1 billion rand ($80 million) industry, which exports meat, leather and feathers to its main EU market.

    The industry has recovered slightly with the export of processed or pre-heated meat.

    “Resuming exports to the EU will play an important role in increasing the number of jobs in this industry, which currently employs over 50,000 residents,” said Alan Winde, minister of economic development in the Western Cape provincial government.

    Around 10,000 ostriches were culled in the Klein Karoo and southern Cape regions in 2011, where the industry is concentrated, after diseased birds were detected in the area.

    Outbreaks of avian flu has affected several countries in the recent past, including China, France and the United States, and is a health concern because certain virulent strains are deadly to humans.

    Francois de Wet, chairman of the South African Ostrich Business Chamber, said after the outbreak four years ago, the country improved its bio-security measures, such as chlorinating water and restricting movement of the birds.

    De Wet said the South Africa is expected to resume fresh meat exports to the EU after August 26.

  • S/Africa must improve business regulation, power output: OECD

    South Africa needs to improve business regulation to support job creation and privatise state-owned companies in markets with sufficient competition, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Friday.

    South Africa also needs to boost electricity generation by speeding up the independent power producer programme and facilitating private co-generation, the international think tank said in a report.

    Growth in Africa’s most developed economy was also being hampered by inadequate tax revenue needed to support infrastructure projects.

    “The public sector will face considerable resource needs in the years ahead to expand social and economic infrastructure,” the OECD said.

    “Meeting these needs will require increased revenues, but this must be equitable and not penalise growth.”

  • Xenophobic attacks: Indigenes warn S/Africa

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) indigenes have threatened to close down South African businesses operating in the nation’s capital as a reprisal for the Xenophobic attacks in that country.

    The group has given the South African Government 48 hours to apologise to Nigerians and other nationals of African countries for the wanton killings during the xenophobic attack.

    The group also demanded that concrete steps be taken by the South African authority to tackle the menace.

    The threat was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the FCT Residents Association meeting in collaboration with some traditional rulers in the territory, which was jointly signed by the Secretary-General of the Forum, Comrade Yunusa Yusuf and the Eze Igbo of Abuja, His Royal Highness (HRH) Ibe Nwosu and made available to reporters.

    The natives stressed that Africans must integrate as a continent to battle the xenophobic attack in South Africa. They said: “We pledge to remain our brother’s keeper irrespective of nations, tribes and tongues and we will continue to act as such within the limit of our laws and international conventions.

    “That there have been relentless attempts by the South African Government to undermine peace in the continent and replace it with a different ideology based on xenophobia. We are confident that the Federal Government of Nigeria will handle the situation in South Africa at the international level.

    “That we the host community of multi-nationals including South Africa business community, are not happy with the onslaught in South Africa on flimsy and baseless guise of xenophobia.

    “That, having studied the situation in South Africa vis-a-vis the trauma our brothers are subjected to in the past weeks, we have resolved to give the South African Authority Forty Eight (48) hour’s ultimatum to apologise to Nigerians and other nationals of other African countries for the wanton killings and destruction of property of other nationals resident in South Africa.

    “That failure to come up with permanent solution within the stipulated 48 hours ultimatum, drastic measures, including attacks on the business interests of South Africa in the Federal Capital Territory will be ruthlessly carried out as a reprisal to the ongoing xenophobia attacks.

    “That the business interests of South Africa operating in the Federal Capital Territory listed for attack include but not limited to Shoprite, DSTV, Barcelos, Pick ‘n’ Pay, Spar, Steer, MTN, Debonairs, Hungry Lion and Mr. Price, among others”

    The group regretted that despite that South Africa businesses operating in the FCT have continued to marginalise Abuja natives in area of employment, Abuja natives have allowed them to operate without intimidation from any quarters, stressing that the South African Government should forthwith demonstrate the spirit of brotherhood towards other nationals resident in South Africa or face the consequences.will be ruthlessly carried out as a reprisal to the ongoing xenophobia attacks

  • Nigerians and S/Africa’s gun violence

    SIR: South Africa has become the Mecca and the place of refuge for Nigerian economic migrants. But, daily, we are regaled with tales of how some Nigerians were killed in gun fight in South-Africa, the rain-bow nation. Those killed were alleged to be involved in illicit and illegal drug trafficking.

    Like America, South Africa has a gun culture that permits people to own guns. So, some people in these countries do use their mercanhdise of death to dispatch their friends and relatives to the great beyond when they’re emotionally troubled. And, armed robbers, terrorists, and kidnappers carry out their operations with guns, too.

    Lucky Dube, the great cultural ambassador of South Africa, was shot dead in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa, as he dropped off his daughter and son. Reeva Steenkamp, the beautiful model and lawyer, was another victim of the reprehensible gun violence in South Africa. Oscar Pistorious, the paralympian champion, who overcame physical disabilities, to achieve global fame shot and killed Ms SteenKamp, on Valentine’s Day in 2013. He was convicted of culpable homicide by Judge Thokozile Masipa.

    Again, Senzo Meyiwa, the South African football captain, was killed while staying in his girlfriend’s house. The killing of Meyiwa sparked off outrage in South Africa. Zanokhule Mbatha, who was suspected of killing him, was arrested after a nation-wide manhunt.

    The government of South Africa should enact laws to curtail the possession of guns by its citizens. And, those that violate the country’s gun laws should be punished by the existing gun laws in the country. Nigerians who are living in that country should abide by the laws governing South Africa. They should desist from engaging in criminal activities, which can attract unpalatable repercussions to them.

     

    • Chiedu Uche Okoye,

    Uruowulu-Obosi, Anambra State

  • S’Africa agrees to repatriate Libya’ funds hidden in country

    South Africa said it will track and repatriate Libyan funds and assets that were hidden in the country during the rule of dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

    Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan reached the agreement after talks with Libyan officials, including Usama al Abid, minister in the office of Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zaidan, on June 4, according to a statement from the South African finance ministry. The repatriation will be done under United Nations protocols.

    Libya, which ousted Qaddafi last year, is seeking the return of overseas assets after the value of its sovereign wealth fund dropped. The Libyan Investment Authority’s assets are about $57 billion, down from about $61 billion in 2008, outgoing sovereign wealth head Mohsen Derregia said in March.

    The country is also examining losses on derivative contracts it entered into with Societe Generale SA and Goldman Sachs Group that contributed to the declines, he said.

     

  • Eagles begin 2-week training in S/Africa Jan. 4

    Eagles begin 2-week training in S/Africa Jan. 4

    Nigeria have announced that the country’s final preparation for the 2013 AFCON will be in South Africa from January 4.

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) general secretary Musa Amadu disclosed that the Eagles’ final phase of Nations Cup camping will begin on January 4.

    “It’s a known fact that clubs would not release players for the AFCON until two weeks to the tournament. What this means is that coach Stephen Keshi has at least two weeks for intensive training. So, with that in mind the Eagles would begin final preparation on January 4,” Amadu said.

    NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green, who is just back from South Africa where they inspected training sites and facilities ahead of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, disclosed that the federation plan to first set up a training camp in Europe before the team move to South Africa.

    “We are thinking of assembling the players in Faro, Portugal, before proceeding to South Africa for the team’s final phase of camping. The idea is to begin the camp in Faro with players from the home front, then have the foreign-based join up,” he said.

    “We have put several factors into consideration one of which is weather.”

    Nigeria are drawn in Group C in Nelspruit along with defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

    The Eagles’ training camp opens this weekend in Abuja ahead of a friendly against Venezuela in Miami, United States of America, on November 14.