The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South Africa

  • Emulate South Africa

    SIR: When the South Africans knew that Nelson Mandela could fix South Africa for them, they did not say that he was too old, or that he had been in prison for 27 years and had, therefore, lost touch with what was going on outside the prison walls, or that he was an ex-convict. They made him their President, and they were not disappointed. He did more than what they had anticipated he would do. He fixed South Africa within the four years’ tenure, and left the Presidency, and watched the fruits of his performance before he died.

    Nigerians should emulate South Africa and vote General Muhammadu Buhari as President, come March 28, in the presidential elections. Goodluck E. Jonathan has had six years and has not improved Nigeria, instead Nigeria is in ruins – even infants know that.

    Even in his campaigns for re-election, he has not been able to defend his inability to handle cases of corruption and insecurity; his failure to honour agreements with the organised workers’ unions has resulted in many strikes. Apart from General Buhari, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has several other presidential materials who are each better than Goodluck Jonathan. Things get better not by chance but by change.

    Nigerians are assured of true change, when they give the APC the anticipated mandate. It will not be transformation from bad to worse. General Buhari will fix Nigeria in record time.

    It is obvious that the Electoral Act’s provision for minimum educational qualification is to ensure that people who are involved in governance have some education to do the needful. I am sure that the educational qualifications of General Buhari are more than the equivalence of the WASC. Only nincompoops would say that General Buhari be disqualified on account of paper qualifications. Some of those who say so are even being cantankerous.

     

    • Kpamor Dr. J.T. Orkar,

    Makurdi, Benue State

  • South Africa, Djibouti players hail Quadri

    South Africa, Djibouti players hail Quadri

    That he is the best  player in the world does  not matter to Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri and the Portugal-based star has been an inspiration to players across the continent at the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships in Cairo.

    Players from South Africa, Djibouti and Angola were all over the place trying to have a chat with the Nigerian, whom they described as their role model with his conduct on and off the table.

    For South Africa’s Keegan Lingeveldt, 19, Quadri is a player every African should emulate because he is a fantastic athlete, whose qualities are unrivalled.

    “I admire Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri because he has good accomplishment in the game and even in the team event final against Egypt; he played well and won two matches for his team. But his team let him down, yet he did not get angry with them and he was also encouraging them on table. For this act, I think I respect him for this because that is a good spirit from him,” the South Africa captain said.

    Also, Djibouti’s Mohammed Houmed Saido, 21, believes nothing can stop Quadri from clinching the men’s singles title with his style of play.

    “I have now seen myself that Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri is a world-class player, whom I admire because he is full of confidence and he hardly makes mistakes whenever he is playing. I think he has the ability to win the singles’ title and the only player that can play him well is Egypt’s Omar Assar and for me, he is indeed a champion and a good image for Africa,” Saido said.

    Saido’s compatriot, Mousa Adnan, 18, believes Africa is lucky to have a quality player like Quadri. “I love Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri because he is a fantastic player who plays very well while his precision on table is superb. I think I am going to be watching a lot of his matches to gain something from him,” Adnan said.

  • South Africa APC warns against rigging

    South Africa APC warns against rigging

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), South Africa Chapter, has warned against rigging in the general elections.

    It said any bid to alter the people’s mandate will be resisted.

    The chapter said: “We appeal to the entire role players in the 2015 General election at all levels to allow the will of the people to be done.

    “Any attempt to rig the election in favour of any politician, a group of politicians or a political party will be vehemently resisted.

    “Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of justice. A peaceful atmosphere of electioneering will include a free and fair election in which all the candidate will freely allow the will of the people and accept the outcome of the election.

    “The power of incumbency, political thuggery, insensitivity, and all manners of behaviour that may thwart the peaceful conduct of 2015 election must be shelved in the interest of our nation,” it said.

    Its Protem Chairman, Bola Babarinde, and Protem Secretary, Fasina Oludayo, sais in a statement that the South Africa  APC is unhappy about the decision to disallow Diaspora voting.

    Babarinde said: “As of 2006, a total of 91 countries worldwide allowed voting by emigrants including 21 African nations, 13 North and South American countries, 15 Asian countries, six Pacific countries and 36 European countries.

    “By 2013, the list has lengthened to include at least 113 countries and territories but Nigeria kept lagging further and drag behind in the list of these progressive countries.”

    He added that some countries such as France, Portugal and Italy allow their citizens abroad not only to exercise their franchise, but reserve parliamentary seats for them.

    “The question can therefore, be rightly asked: Given the immense contributions of the diasporan Nigerians, is it not justified that they should be allowed to vote and be voted for?

    “Who is afraid of the vote of the diasporan Nigerians? Is it the politicians who want to continue to play on the ignorance of the local voters and who see the diasporan voters as a potent voting constituency that cannot be bought over by the languid and spineless campaign tactics that currently operate or the government in power who want to maintain power at the centre through the disenfranchisement of foreign-based votes?” the members asked.

    APC South Africa said Nigeria will need to fashion out how voting will be permitted for its citizens that live outside the country.

    “For example, certain countries allowed voting by registered voters through the use of valid passport of the country; others allow only diplomatic and military personnel on foreign mission to vote at the embassies and high commissions; certain countries placed age restrictions while others allowed one to vote only by having attained a certain status in the country of domiciliary.

    “Allowing Nigerians abroad to vote and be voted for in the national, state and local election may bring an interesting bend of diversities to the Nigerian polity and introduce a new dimension and fresh ideas to our political system.

    “E-voting may be a good alternative to cut the cost associated with voting abroad and it is easily auditable and verifiable. It will also allow the national and regional government test the popularity of its policies with the enlightened and socially active communities abroad.

    “The diasporan voters does not constitute a threat to national democracy and these election can be organised much cheaply compared to the home based election as our embassies and foreign mission can easily host these elections,” the APC members added.

    On the need for Nigerians abroad to vote, the communique added: “This can also become a potent means of getting a near accurate register of Nigerians living abroad, a project that has constantly failed to date.

    “The authorities will need to come up with a system that will allow them to register voters from abroad while preventing fraud, and decide on the logistics that will support how these individuals must vote and be voted for.

    “As a matter of reminder, the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan promised to work towards the implementation of the diasporan election come 2015. Here we are on the path to that same election and the large Nigerian population are still disenfranchise.

    “A Nigerian leader that will facilitate the voting by Nigerians living abroad will have won the hearts of many Nigerians living overseas. The line between Democracy and Xenocracy remains thin.”

    On insurgency, Babarinde said the level of insecurities has currently reached an all time high.

    “While security is an issue that needs the contribution of all and sundry, it needs to be driven by the leadership. We use this medium to appeal to the leadership of Nigeria at all levels to take the issue of security seriously and frontally tackle insurgencies and provide an enabling environment for the citizens of Nigeria.

    “In recent times, the killing of many Nigerians living abroad who visited home on holidays have taken a centre stage among others. We condemn such attack and appeal to the leadership to ensure that both our airport and the roads in Nigeria are safe. The security forces should be empowered to respond promptly to threats to lives and properties,” the communique added.

  • UK to deport man over wife’s low salary

    UK to deport man over wife’s low salary

    A South African, Michael Engel, is set to be deported from the United Kingdom (UK) after a court ruled that his British wife’s salary was not high enough.

    Mr. Engel, a 31-year-old living in Cornwall, said he and wife Natalie plan to go back to South Africa with their 18-month-old daughter Nyana.

    A Home Office spokesman said the rules were designed to stop foreign spouses from becoming reliant on UK taxpayers.

    The BBC reports that the couple were told of the immigration tribunal’s ruling after they had appealed on the grounds of a right to family life.

    Responding, Engel said the “bizarre” Immigration System Rules were “attacking British citizens”.

    However, under the rules that were introduced in 2012, British citizens who want to bring a foreign spouse to the UK must earn £18,600 a year and a further £3,800 – a total of £22,400 – if the couple have a child.

    Mrs. Engel’s business made £19,786 in 2014 which was deemed not enough by the tribunal panel, which met on 3 December.

    She said the decision made her feel like her family was being “kicked out” of the country.

    She said: “I’m gobsmacked, lost for words, angry and deflated. I’m not so proud to be British right now.”

    But Judge Michael Wilson, who heard the appeal, said UK taxpayers “should not be expected to have to financially support the appellant in the event of him not obtaining work”.

    The couple are now awaiting a deportation date.

    Mr. Engel said: “We did everything in our power to tick all the boxes.

    “They are just attacking the wrong people – they are attacking British citizens.”

    Engel and Natalie met in 2009 while working on a cruise ship and lived in South Africa for four years.

    They moved to the UK in January 2013 with Mr. Engel on a holiday visa, living first in Yorkshire and then in Cornwall.

    In a statement the Home Office said: “Our family rules were brought in to make sure that spouses coming to the UK do not become reliant on the taxpayer for financial support.

    “This is fair to applicants and to the rest of the public, and has been upheld by the Court of Appeal.”

    Average gross full time pay in Cornwall was £23,305 for the year ending April 2014, compared with £27,195 for the UK, according to the Office for National Statistic.

    North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, said in October: “It’s absolutely right that anyone who comes to settle in this country has the resources to do that and is not going to claim benefits straight away.

    “But I think it’s also important that we get the thresholds right, so that in low income areas like Cornwall, we are not disadvantaging people.

    “We need to keep families together who want to settle here.”

  • South Africa: Judge throws out Dewani murder case

    South Africa: Judge throws out Dewani murder case

    British businessman Shrien Dewani has been cleared of murdering his wife during their South Africa honeymoon, after the judge threw out the case.

    Judge Jeanette Traverso said the evidence presented by the prosecution fell “far below the threshold” of what a reasonable court could convict on.

    She said the evidence of the prosecution’s main witness was “riddled with contradictions”.

    Anni’s family said they had been failed by the justice system.

    Announcing her ruling, the judge said the only reason not to grant the application would be in the hope that Mr Dewani would implicate himself if he gave evidence.

    But to do so would be a “manifest misdirection”, she said.

    Ami Denborg, the sister of Anni Dewani weeps as she walks away after making a statement expressing the family’s shock at the South African justice system

    Mr Dewani, from Bristol, was extradited to South Africa this year to face trial accused of planning the murder of his wife in November 2010.

    He listened intently as key evidence against him was criticised by the judge as she gave her ruling over almost three hours.

    Mr Dewani, 34, went straight down to the cells to prepare for his release, following the decision, as his family embraced.

    It is believed he left the court, without making a comment, through a side entrance.

    Mrs Dewani’s family, who had said it would it be a “nightmare” if the trial did not continue, immediately left the court room.

    Prosecutors said bisexual Mr Dewani had long planned to get out of the relationship to Swedish-raised Anni

    Speaking outside the Western Cape high Court, Mrs Dewani’s sister Ami Denborg said: “Today we feel as a family that the justice system has failed us and we are deeply disappointed.

  • South Africa draw Ghana, Senegal, Algeria

    South Africa draw Ghana, Senegal, Algeria

    Bafana Bafana were  drawn against African  football heavyweights in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) on Wednesday night.

    Shakes Mashaba’s charges are in Group C with Algeria, Senegal and Ghana.

    The draw was conducted by Secretary-General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Hicham El Amrani with the help of Mohamed Aboutreika (ex-Egyptian, multiple AFCONwinner), Alphonse Tchami (ex-Cameroon & FIFA World Cup 1994, 1998) and former South Africa winning coach Shakes Mashaba. African Champions, Nigeria failed to qualify as they finished third behind Group A winners South Africa while Congo Brazzaville took the other automatic spot.

    Meanwhile, Ivory Coast have been paired alongside Cameroon in Group D after the draw for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations took place on Wednesday, while Algeria and Ghana will meet in Group C of the tournament. Cameroon hit form to thrash Ivory Coast 4-1 during the qualifiers for the tournament in September, a result that the likes of Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony will look to avenge when they meet next year.

    Group B comprises of Zambia, Cape Verde, Tunisia and DR Congo.

    Elsewhere, Equatorial Guinea are in Group A alongside Congo, Burkina Faso and Gabon, where all eyes will be on Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

    The tournament will take place from  January 17 to February 8.

    FULL DRAW

    Group A – Equtorial Guinea, Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso

    Group B – Zambia, DR Congo, Cape Verde, Tunisia

    Group C – Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, Algeria

    Group D – Ivory Coast, Mali, Cameroon, Guinea

  • South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya rule Africa’s gambling market

    South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya rule Africa’s gambling market

    • 2014-2018 outlook promising

    THE gambling industry in Africa’s emerging market may be receding but South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya continue to lead the pack, according to the outcome of a recent study.

    The report tagged: ‘Raising the stakes in Africa: Gambling outlook 2014-2018 (South Africa – Nigeria – Kenya)’ which is the third annual edition on the gambling sub-sector by PricewaterhouseCoopers stated that gross gambling and casino revenues showed subdued growth in 2013 in the wake of a faltering economy.

    Gross gambling increased only 4.3per cent. The slowdown in gross gambling revenue was centred on casinos, the largest category at 76 per cent of the market or R16.5 billion.

    Some casino operators in certain regions believe the slowdown in 2013 was due in part to growing competition from electronic bingo terminals, limited payout machines (LPMs) and sports betting shops, which are becoming more prevalent in the industry.

    The publication focuses on segments within the gambling industry with detailed forecasts and analysis. The National Gambling Board of South Africa is the source for South African historical data.

    Of the three countries included in the analysis, South Africa has the largest overall gambling market as well as the largest land-based casino gambling market. Gross land-based casino gambling revenues totalled R16.5 billion in South Africa in 2013 compared with only R428 million in Nigeria and R195 million in Kenya.

    Nikki Forster, PwC Hospitality and Gambling Industry Leader for South Africa, says: “We expect slower economic growth to lead to slower gross casino gambling revenues in Nigeria and Kenya and continued slow growth over the next two years. We then look for a pick-up in growth in each country as economic conditions improve.”

    “Gross gambling revenues as a whole are expected to expand from R21.8 billion in 2013 to R29.5 billion in 2018, a 6.2 per cent compound annual increase,” says Forster.

    Currently there are three licensed casinos in Nigeria. Most forms of gambling are illegal, other than skill-based card games, backgammon, and the national online lottery. Casino gross gambling revenues have grown at double-digit rates during the past three years, including a 19.4 per cent increase in 2013.

    “On the whole, the outlook for the industry is positive, with the further rollout of LPMs and electronic bingo machines in the pipeline that will further contribute to the expected growth in revenues.”

  • South Africa’s dead and Nigeria’s forgotten hordes

    South Africa’s dead and Nigeria’s forgotten hordes

    On Saturday, October 15, 2014 South Africa executed a clinical military/civilian operation to repatriate 74 of her citizens who perished when a six-storey guesthouse at the Synagogue Church of All Nations on September 12. In all it is suspected that close to 80 persons from that country may have lost their lives in that disaster.

    In the intervening two months while DNA tests were being carried out the South Africans piled unrelenting pressure in the media and through diplomatic channels seeking a proper accounting for, and the repatriation of their dead. President Jacob Zuma even appointed one of his ministers, Jeff Radebe, as Special Envoy to Nigeria for the sole purpose of bringing the Synagogue dead back home.

    Mind you some of the remains had badly deteriorated because of the delay in allowing emergency services access to the site of the tragedy. In the end because of very high humidity in these parts, putrefaction set in quickly. Still, the South Africans desperately pushed to recover their dead – the good, bad and ugly. What a lesson in human dignity and concern for your people.

    The number of her citizens that died at Synagogue is nowhere near the body count from some Boko Haram attacks. The Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja, attack alone produced a gory harvest of at least 88 bodies. After a quick photo-op at the hospital, President Goodluck Jonathan sped off to Kano to dance at a rally for a defecting politician.

    The day after a suicide bomber eviscerated 47 school kids in Potiskum, and with images of their broken limbs making many sick online, our humble, caring president was dancing again at Eagle Square – listening to sycophants telling him all was well in the land.

    Ever week hundreds are slaughtered in our killing fields. The response from those charged with protecting lives and property is to issue another canned press statement threatening to deal decisively with the perpetrators. We don’t treat our people – living or dead – with dignity. Is it any surprise that other countries find it convenient to trample all over us?

  • Synagogue building: 66 South African corpses released

    Synagogue building: 66 South African corpses released

    Sixty-six corpses of South African victims of the September 12 collapsed guest house, owned by the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in Lagos have been released.

    Forty bodies were released to South Africa Government officials by the Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State Professor John Obafunwa at the General Hospital, Yaba and 26 others at Isolo General Hospital,

    The Nation gathered that two planes arrived the country from South Africa Friday midnight for conveying them back home.

  • Scuffle in South African Parliament

    Scuffle in South African Parliament

    No fewer than four South African Lawmakers have been injured in a scuffle that ensued in the country’s parliament.

    Parliamentarians on Thursday almost came to blows after they traded insults on the floor of the chamber that opposition leaders say is fast becoming the lair of the ruling African National Congress.

    On Friday, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) raised concerns that recent disruptions by opposition parties in parliament could lead to the institution losing its integrity.

    The parliament reportedly turned into a scene of chaos when lawmakers told Baleka Mbete, National Assembly Speaker “you must go!” after she attempted to delay discussions over a corruption report involving President Jacob Zuma.

    According to reports from Al Jazeera, Mbete’s move enraged lawmakers in the parliament resulting in opposition parties demanding the speaker reverse her decision.
    Opposition politicians accused Mbete, a member of the ruling ANC, of bias after she postponed the debate on the $23m state-funded upgrade to the president’s private residence.

    One of its members shouted at Mbete: “You won’t get away with this one.” John Henry Steenhuisen, chief whip of the main opposition Democratic Alliance, said the speaker changed the order of debate at the behest of ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe.

    “I am amazed by your excitement,” Mbete said, eventually overturning her decision. The ruckus was captured and streamed live online and on a paid-for television channel and went viral on the social media almost immediately, drawing outrage and ridicule from South African citizens all over.
    One opposition parliamentarian, Ngwanamakwetle Mashabela from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was asked to withdraw her statement that described Zuma as a “criminal”.
    Mashabela, who was quoted to have said, “President Zuma is a thief. He is a criminal. He is the greatest thief in the world”, was thrown out by public order Police officers after she refused to stop her outrageous statements.

    There is the belief that if EFF’s Mashabela MP opines that President Zuma is a thief, surely she should be able to say so in parliament and not be assaulted by SAPS. However, her manners of presentation were in question.

    A statement issued by Spokesman Zizi Kodwa reads: “Yesterday [Thursday]… the nation watched with shock and horror as the National Assembly degenerated into a chaotic circus due to the unruly conduct of members,” spokesman Zizi Kodwa said in a statement.
    Public Protector Thuli Madonsela reported in March that Zuma had “benefited unduly” from some of the upgrades, which included a cattle enclosure and amphitheatre, and should pay back some of the costs of the unnecessary renovations.
    The alternative parliamentary report cleared Zuma of any blame over the upgrades but opposition lawmakers were expected to reject the findings and call for the president to resign.
    The national assembly report was compiled only by ANC members after opponents walked out of the committee, saying it was created solely to protect Zuma.
    Police officials are not allowed to enter parliament unless the speaker or deputy speaker requests their presence.